No subject

Mon Jun 2 23:15:55 MDT 2008

CASARA Red Deer Zone is hosting a CASARA Western Canada SAREX in Red =
Deer 8-10 Aug. Our search area will be from Carstairs, into the =
mountains, up past the Ram River Airstrip, Nordegg, Drayton Valley, =
Rimbey, Forestburg, to Three Hills. We expect to have 15 aircraft and =
crews from Manitoba, Saskatchewan, AB, BC, NWT and possibly Yukon, plus =
some military C130 Hercs and possibly some helos. We may be looking for =
some "live" targets to be strategically placed along the search area, so =
we may be contacting GSAR groups who may be interested in doing a summer =
campout and wouldn't mind being targets for us to find.=20

As we get closer, I will provide further information and contact numbers =
for those who would like to participate.=20

Thanks=20

Jim Thoreson jimthoreson at shaw.ca=20

CASARA Red Deer=20

Zone Commander

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SARA HAPPENINGS SUBMISSIONS=20

Our regular publication date for mailings of SARA Happenings is the =
middle of each month. Please note that the deadline for material is the =
14th of each month.=20

Does your group have an event posting for the SARA Happenings mailing? =
If so, please send information 1-1/2 months prior to the dates you wish =
advertised. It will then give ample time for those reading it to =
respond.=20

Please send all material to the editor; Chris Hoare at choare at shaw.ca =
PLEASE DO include contact information for members to gain further =
information.

To subscribe or unsubscribe visit =
http://castrov.dyndns.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/sara-happenings enter =
your e-mail address and click on "Edit Options". Automatic subscribers =
will need to click on "EMail My Password to Me". You can subscribe and =
unsubscribe on the same page.=20

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Hi All: 
SARA Happenings is issued to foster communication =
within the=20
Search and Rescue community in Alberta. It is going to 328 e-mail =
addresses that=20
are listed as the primary contact of SAR Alberta member groups or which =
were=20
requested to be added to the mailing list.
Subscription and unsubscription information is at the =
end of the=20
newsletter. 
&nbsp;

First of all, here are the names of your new SAR AB=20
Executive:
<DIR>
<DIR>
President =96 Monica Ahlstrom <A=20
href=3D"mailto:mavada at cruzinternet.com"><FONT=20
size=3D3>mavada at cruzinternet.com</A>
Vice Pres/Training Coordinator =96 Ric Henderson =
<A=20
href=3D"mailto:rjh1 at telusplantet.net"><FONT=20
size=3D3>rjh1 at telusplanet.net</A>=20

Secretary =96 Kelly James <A=20
href=3D"mailto:kelly at oliverirrigation.com"><FONT=20
size=3D3>kelly at oliverirrigation.com</A><FONT=20
size=3D3> 
Treasurer =96 Rodney Dietrich <A=20
href=3D"mailto:accountinggod at shaw.ca"><FONT=20
size=3D3>accountinggod at shaw.ca</A>=20
</DIR></DIR>
Editors Note:
The SAR Alberta Website is up and running again and =
several=20
items SARA Happenings received for this issue are available there. In =
the=20
interest of keeping this newsletter file size down for those members =
with e-mail=20
restrictions, please go to <A=20
href=3D"http://www.saralberta.org/"><FONT=20
size=3D3>http://www.saralberta.org/</A><FONT=20
size=3D3> to see the new Regional Directors and Deputy =
Directors.
Also posted there is the value statement, but not the=20
President=92s message which you will find here, next.
&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>

<HR>

PRESIDENT=92S MESSAGE
Back when SAR Alberta first started, the goal of the=20
organization was a simple one =96 we wanted to make it as easy as =
possible for=20
search and rescue volunteers to do their job. It was felt that one of =
the best=20
ways to accomplish this goal was to bring all of the teams together in =
Alberta=20
to work through common issues and to stand as a unified voice for search =
and=20
rescue across the province. I believe these basic principles still hold =
true=20
today. 
Over the years, SAR Alberta has been very good at =
identifying=20
issues and developing strategic direction, but like most volunteer =
organizations=20
we have struggled with the implementation of those ideas. The approach =
this year=20
is to take this information and act upon it. In order to do this, SAR =
Alberta,=20
as a team, is going to try some new things. Our meetings will be =
differently=20
structured - they will be broken into three sections =96 strategic =
planning,=20
tactical planning and administration. We have dissolved all but a few =
committees=20
and will be moving toward a project model where individual SAR teams =
will be=20
given projects to implement on behalf of SAR Alberta. The projects will =
have=20
clearly defined outcomes and due dates.
This model is not a new one to search and rescue =96 =
it is=20
basically how we run a search. I figure we may as well use what we know=20
operationally and put it into practice administratively. In that sense, =
the SAR=20
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=20
affect search and rescue in this province. This means, that as a team, =
you will=20
have to ensure that you are briefed and debriefed on the issues and =
objectives=20
so you can provide adequate input to SAR Alberta. As in a search, you =
and your=20
team will need to make sure you have the information you need to do your =
job,=20
and you need to come back with the information the overhead team needs, =
so they=20
can move the decision making process forward. 
There will also be a strong focus on team building and =

leadership this year =96 not only for the SAR Alberta board but for =
teams in=20
general. For many years I have noted that we are great at teaching =
people to=20
find lost persons but we have fallen down on teaching people to run =
effective=20
organizations. We need to develop leaders and strong teams to help move =
our=20
organizations forward.
I also think we should put some fun back into search =
and rescue.=20
While the work we do is often very serious we don=92t always need to be. =
Some of=20
the best times I have ever had have been in search and rescue =96 often =
those good=20
times helped me and others in the group, through the moments that were =
tragic=20
and not so good. 
So on that note I would like to say what an honor and =
privilege=20
it is to be a part of the SAR Alberta team. It has already started out =
great,=20
and I am looking forward to the year ahead and working with you all. =
It=92s going=20
to be fun!
Sincerely, 
Monica 
&nbsp;

<HR>

SAR AB BOARD MEETING =96 MAY 31, =
2008
1. Identified Issues which include (in no particular=20
order):
<DIR>
<DIR>
Lack of communication
Need for more efficient and timely way of getting team =
reports=20
to their Directors
Website (Lack of=85)
Standardized training for all SAR AB teams (ie. Access =
to=20
information of what the accepted courses are and who instructs these=20
courses)
Non-functioning committees (in some cases)
Division of SAR AB Executive and Board vs. SAR AB =
search teams=20
due to lack of trust.
Need for administrative support =96 possible paid =
person to take=20
on admin duties</DIR></DIR>
Over-arching Goal for the Year:
&nbsp;
<DIR>
<DIR>
To show value of SAR AB=92s role to all =
teams.
To re-establish trust of teams in its Executive and=20
Board.
To demonstrate strong leadership for SAR AB teams by=20
being a strong cohesive =
Board.
&nbsp;</DIR></DIR>
Other Discussions
<DIR>
<DIR>
Team Development and Networking
Need for budget review and restructuring to fit our operational=20
requirements
Governance models
Grievance policies
AEMA=92s perception of their role with SAR AB vs. SAR AB=92s =
perception of AEMA=92s=20
role.
SAR AB IS and should be the Provincial voice for all =
SAR AB=20
Teams. AEMA should be our supporting agency only- not our =
lead=20
agency.
Discussed and voted to dissolve "Committees" and instead develop =
Projects=20
(with a beginning and an end). Please note that the Telecommunications =
and=20
Training Committees will remain as such but may be redeveloped and =
restructured=20
as we grow. This is not to say that ANY work already done on any=20
committee will be thrown out and forgotten about. The work will still be =

recognized but with a new approach and redevelopment=85=85with =
YOUR=20
input. =

Two of the resources we are using for team building and meeting =
structure are=20
the 5 Dysfunctions of a Team and Death by Meeting by Pat Lencioni =85. =
Maybe some=20
of the other teams may be interested as well.
SAR AB will be asking AEMA to postpone the Advisory Board meeting =
until a=20
clearer role for that organization is established.
&nbsp;

<HR>
</DIR></DIR>
DEVIL=92S LAKE SEARCH
Mike Self <A=20
href=3D"mailto:mike.self at rcmp-grc.gc.ca"><FONT=20
face=3D"Times New Roman"=20
size=3D3>mike.self at rcmp-grc.gc.ca</A><FONT=20
size=3D3> sent a link which contains news update and photos of Devil's =
Lake=20
search. <A=20
href=3D"http://www.inews880.com/Channels/Reg/iReports/Story.aspx?ID=3D101=
1074">http://www.inews880.com/Channels/Reg/iReports/Story.aspx?ID=
=3D1011074</A>=20

 &nbsp;

<HR>

WESTERN CANADA SAREX
From the CASARA Side of the house. 
CASARA Red Deer Zone is hosting a CASARA Western =
Canada SAREX in=20
Red Deer 8-10 Aug. Our search area will be from Carstairs, into the =
mountains,=20
up past the Ram River Airstrip, Nordegg, Drayton Valley, Rimbey, =
Forestburg, to=20
Three Hills. We expect to have 15 aircraft and crews from Manitoba,=20
Saskatchewan, AB, BC, NWT and possibly Yukon, plus some military C130 =
Hercs and=20
possibly some helos. We may be looking for some "live" targets to be=20
strategically placed along the search area, so we may be contacting GSAR =
groups=20
who may be interested in doing a summer campout and wouldn't mind being =
targets=20
for us to find. 
As we get closer, I will provide further information =
and contact=20
numbers for those who would like to participate. 
Thanks 
Jim Thoreson <A=20
href=3D"mailto:jimthoreson at shaw.ca"><FONT=20
size=3D3>jimthoreson at shaw.ca</A>=20

CASARA Red Deer 
Zone Commander
&nbsp;

<HR>

SARA HAPPENINGS SUBMISSIONS 
Our regular publication date for mailings of SARA =
Happenings is=20
the middle of each month. Please note that the deadline for material is =
the=20
14th of each month. 

Does your group have an event posting =
for the SARA=20
Happenings mailing? If so, please send information 1-1/2 months prior to =
the=20
dates you wish advertised. It will then give ample time for those =
reading it to=20
respond. 

Please send all material to the editor; =
Chris Hoare=20
at <A href=3D"d=D1"><FONT=20
size=3D3>choare at shaw.ca</A> PLEASE=20
DO include contact information for members to gain further=20
information.

&nbsp;
To subscribe or unsubscribe visit=20
http://castrov.dyndns.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/sara-happenings enter =
your=20
e-mail address and click on "Edit Options". Automatic subscribers will =
need to=20
click on "EMail My Password to Me". You can subscribe and unsubscribe on =
the=20
same page. </DIV></BODY></HTML>

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