[SaraHap] SARA Happenings June 2008

[Chris Hoare]

Hi All: 

SARA Happenings is issued to foster communication within the Search and Rescue community in Alberta. It is going to 328 e-mail addresses that are listed as the primary contact of SAR Alberta member groups or which were requested to be added to the mailing list.

Subscription and unsubscription information is at the end of the newsletter. 




First of all, here are the names of your new SAR AB Executive:

President - Monica Ahlstrom mavada at cruzinternet.com

Vice Pres/Training Coordinator - Ric Henderson rjh1 at telusplanet.net 

Secretary - Kelly James kelly at oliverirrigation.com 

Treasurer - Rodney Dietrich accountinggod at shaw.ca 

Editors Note:

The SAR Alberta Website is up and running again and several items SARA Happenings received for this issue are available there. In the interest of keeping this newsletter file size down for those members with e-mail restrictions, please go to http://www.saralberta.org/ to see the new Regional Directors and Deputy Directors.

Also posted there is the value statement, but not the President's message which you will find here, next.




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PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

Back when SAR Alberta first started, the goal of the organization was a simple one - we wanted to make it as easy as possible for search and rescue volunteers to do their job. It was felt that one of the best ways to accomplish this goal was to bring all of the teams together in Alberta to work through common issues and to stand as a unified voice for search and rescue across the province. I believe these basic principles still hold true today. 

Over the years, SAR Alberta has been very good at identifying issues and developing strategic direction, but like most volunteer organizations we have struggled with the implementation of those ideas. The approach this year is to take this information and act upon it. In order to do this, SAR Alberta, as a team, is going to try some new things. Our meetings will be differently structured - they will be broken into three sections - strategic planning, tactical planning and administration. We have dissolved all but a few committees and will be moving toward a project model where individual SAR teams will be given projects to implement on behalf of SAR Alberta. The projects will have clearly defined outcomes and due dates.

This model is not a new one to search and rescue - it is basically how we run a search. I figure we may as well use what we know operationally and put it into practice administratively. In that sense, the SAR Alberta board will be the overhead team and we will be making some major decisions this year. Teams will be expected to give their input on issues that affect search and rescue in this province. This means, that as a team, you will have to ensure that you are briefed and debriefed on the issues and objectives so you can provide adequate input to SAR Alberta. As in a search, you and your team will need to make sure you have the information you need to do your job, and you need to come back with the information the overhead team needs, so they can move the decision making process forward. 

There will also be a strong focus on team building and leadership this year - not only for the SAR Alberta board but for teams in general. For many years I have noted that we are great at teaching people to find lost persons but we have fallen down on teaching people to run effective organizations. We need to develop leaders and strong teams to help move our organizations forward.

I also think we should put some fun back into search and rescue. While the work we do is often very serious we don't always need to be. Some of the best times I have ever had have been in search and rescue - often those good times helped me and others in the group, through the moments that were tragic and not so good. 

So on that note I would like to say what an honor and privilege it is to be a part of the SAR Alberta team. It has already started out great, and I am looking forward to the year ahead and working with you all. It's going to be fun!

Sincerely, 

Monica 




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SAR AB BOARD MEETING - MAY 31, 2008

1. Identified Issues which include (in no particular order):

Lack of communication

Need for more efficient and timely way of getting team reports to their Directors

Website (Lack of.)

Standardized training for all SAR AB teams (ie. Access to information of what the accepted courses are and who instructs these courses)

Non-functioning committees (in some cases)

Division of SAR AB Executive and Board vs. SAR AB search teams due to lack of trust.

Need for administrative support - possible paid person to take on admin duties

Over-arching Goal for the Year:



To show value of SAR AB's role to all teams.

To re-establish trust of teams in its Executive and Board.

To demonstrate strong leadership for SAR AB teams by being a strong cohesive Board.



Other Discussions

Team Development and Networking

Need for budget review and restructuring to fit our operational requirements

Governance models

Grievance policies

AEMA's perception of their role with SAR AB vs. SAR AB's perception of AEMA's role.

SAR AB IS and should be the Provincial voice for all SAR AB Teams. AEMA should be our supporting agency only- not our lead agency.

Discussed and voted to dissolve "Committees" and instead develop Projects (with a beginning and an end). Please note that the Telecommunications and Training Committees will remain as such but may be redeveloped and restructured as we grow. This is not to say that ANY work already done on any committee will be thrown out and forgotten about. The work will still be recognized but with a new approach and redevelopment..with YOUR input. 

Two of the resources we are using for team building and meeting structure are the 5 Dysfunctions of a Team and Death by Meeting by Pat Lencioni .. Maybe some of the other teams may be interested as well.

SAR AB will be asking AEMA to postpone the Advisory Board meeting until a clearer role for that organization is established.




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DEVIL'S LAKE SEARCH

Mike Self mike.self at rcmp-grc.gc.ca sent a link which contains news update and photos of Devil's Lake search.
http://www.inews880.com/Channels/Reg/iReports/Story.aspx?ID=1011074 





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WESTERN CANADA SAREX