[SaraHap] SARA Happenings Supplement -- Aug 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. 


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NOTE

I don't do this often but two time sensitive items missed my mail-out date on August 15th. Wouldn't you know I was on time when it would have been an advantage to be late.

For future submissions I must hold firmly to the cut-off date of one day before the stated time of newsletter mailing - generally the 14th of each month. To ensure everyone has time to see the posting about your event I direct your attention to the request at the bottom of the newsletter. It's to your advantage to send the item to SARA Happenings early enough for it to appear in at least 2 issues.


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SAR ALBERTA STANDARDS COMMITTEE

Cindy Heselton has volunteered to chair the SAR Alberta Standards Committee and was appointed at the Jul 5, 2008 SAR Alberta Board Meeting. She asked for this extra issue of SARA Happenings as, you may see, it is hoped the committee is able to start work at the end of August.

The next newsletter item below this is part of her Terms of Reference for the committee, which she is also posting to SAR Alberta website. I just reproduce part of the notice. Immediately following is from her cover letter and addressed to all SAR Alberta members.

Please review the attached document (on the website) (includes Draft Terms of Reference) for more information. The Committee is seeking 4 - 6 dedicated, enthusiastic individuals who have:

* 
Experience and knowledge in the development/implementation of standards and accreditation/certification processes
* 
Ability to engage people, build relationships and maintain an open positive attitude
* 
Willingness to work outside of meetings/discussions and can meet internal deadlines* 
Organization and time management skills
* 
Desire to further SAR from a provincial perspective

The Committee will also be seeking members who have the above qualifications as well as specific knowledge in related SAR topics to form working groups as required (i.e. to develop standards in specific SAR topic areas). 

Please contact Cindy via email if you are interested and provide a short description on how you meet the above qualifications and whether or not you are interested in the Committee or a specific working group (indicate SAR topic that you are interested in focusing on). Provide your return email address and phone number so she can follow-up with you. Please submit your applications as soon as possible. Ideally, committee members will be finalized by August 31. If you know of people who are away for summer holidays and have expressed interest in this work, please notify her as well.

Cindy goes on to say - Regardless of committee membership, I intend for work to begin immediately with communications primarily being via email / phone / internet and once we have a few members on board we'll look at scheduling a committee meeting. A top priority will be member engagement so if you are not able to serve on the Committee or inea Working Group, mechanisms will be set up early to provide everyone with the opportunity for input and perspective at various points throughout the Committee's work. Our committee and AEMA will also be scheduling some forums to give members a chance to provide feedback on aspects related to the development of standards, accreditation and certification and topics related to AEMA's training initiative.

I'm looking forward to our continued work so that others may live! I look forward to hearing from you.

Cindy Heselton 
Director, South Central Region sarasouthcentraldirector at yahoo.ca 
Search and Rescue Alberta (SAR AB)
Day (403) 268-5561 | Eve (403) 295-6474


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DRAFT TERMS OF REFERENCE

DRAFT SAR Alberta Standards Committee Terms of Reference (This is abbreviated for the newsletter.)

Structure

The SAR Alberta Standards Committee is a standing committee that reports to the SAR Alberta Board . Its members consist of:

Chair - appointed by SAR Alberta Board (does not have to be a member of the SAR Alberta Board)

Vice Chair - appointed by Standards Committee

Members - appointed by the Chair and Vice Chair

Ideally, committee members should have knowledge and skills in the following areas:

Concepts and development of standards, certification, accreditation

Stakeholder engagement and relationship building

Organization and time management

Desire to further SAR from a provincial perspective

The Standards Committee will strike working groups as needed to develop the specific standards as identified by the committee. The working groups will be made up of one or more individuals who are considered subject matter experts for the standard being developed and led by someone designated within the working group upon approval of the Standards Committee.

Purpose of the Committee and its Working Groups (or Project Teams)

On behalf of SAR Alberta and its members:

Develop, implement and review mechanisms for engaging SAR Alberta members, volunteers and stakeholders with respect to the development of standards

Meetings and workshops (may be done utilizing AEMA resources and in partnership with AEMA as described in AEMA's training initiative)

Wiki page

Email / newsletters

One on one discussion

Research and review existing SAR related standards, criteria and guidelines (extensive coordination with AEMA research as well as independent research)

Develop, implement and review accreditation / certification mechanisms (partner with AEMA training initiative efforts on initial development accreditation / certification process, implementation to follow at a later date)

Conduct gap analysis and needs assessment for SAR standards

Prioritize standards needing to be reviewed / developed

Risk and liability to member organizations

Need for consistency and interoperability

Ease of development (i.e. standard exists in practice but needs to be documented and reviewed)

Develop and review training, operational and administrative standards

Develop, implement and review documentation mechanisms

Review the existing standards approval process and propose revisions if necessary

For additional information please contact - 

Cindy Heselton 
Director, South Central Region sarasouthcentraldirector at yahoo.ca 


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CISM TRAINING

This from South Eastern Alberta Search and Rescue Association

Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM): Group Crisis Intervention

When: 

October 18 and 19, 2008; 8:30-4:30 p.m.

Where:

# 8, 49 Viscount Ave. SW

(Old Terminal at Medicine Hat Airport)

Medicine Hat, Alberta T1A 5G4

The Group Crisis Intervention training program is designed to present the core elements of a comprehensive, systematic and multicomponent crisis intervention curriculum. The two day course prepares participants to understand a wide range of crisis intervention services including pre- and post-incident crisis education, significant-other support services, on-scene support services, demobilizations (Rest Information Transition Session) after large scale traumatic incidents, Immediate Small Group Support (defusing), Powerful Event Group Support (PEGS/CISD) and more.

The Group Crisis Intervention training is open to any person who wishes to know more about crisis intervention techniques. Emergency services and disaster workers, security, safety, military, industrial and school system personnel, EAPs, human resources personnel, mental health professionals and others can all benefit from the Group Crisis Intervention training. Gail Eastman is an ICISF Approved Instructor.

Only those attending the entire 14 hours will receive a certificate from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Temperature in venue may vary, please dress accordingly

Send registration and payment to: SEASAR

Before October 1, 2008 $170.00

After October 1, 2008 $185.00

To: Sue Berner

#8-49 Viscount Ave SW

Medicine Hat AB T1A 5G4

1-403-527-8592

Info from: De Lea mapskd at shockware.com 

Space is limited - workshop maybe cancelled due to low registration. Following info required.

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Name:

Organization:

Phone: 

Address:


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SARA HAPPENINGS SUBMISSIONS 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. 


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. 

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. 
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