[SaraHap] Supplement to October SARA Happenings

Tue Oct 21 21:50:44 MDT 2008

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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WHOOPS ........... GOOFED AGAIN

While delaying this month's newsletter to catch that article I failed to notice that the President's mail to me about it also included an open letter to the membership for me to publish. So here it is -- Editor. 

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LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT 

Now that SAR Alberta's board has had a few meetings I wanted to bring you up to date on some of the things that are happening. We are focusing our efforts on a few key areas, communications, standards and defining our working relationship with AEMA and other agencies.

Under communications we have two main projects: redevelopment of the website and a PR package for government and media. We are redesigning the website with an updated look and making it more user friendly. With the PR project we will be writing and producing materials to send to Cabinet Ministers, MLA's, and others in the provincial government. The teams will be asked to participate in this process by delivering the PR package to the MLA in your area and arranging a meeting to introduce your team and search and rescue to your MLA (if you haven't already). Kelly Kobe from Calgary SAR is looking after the website project and Darlene Holden from Edmonton SAR is coordinating the PR project, contact them if you are interested in helping with either project.

A standards committee has been set up under the direction of Cindy Heselton. A call for people to sit on this committee was sent out last month. A process for how the work on this committee will be carried out is being done. The initial priority of this committee will be to determine how certification and accreditation for SAR will work in this province. From there standards will be developed - much will be based on what is already out there - we are trying to keep this complex issue as simple as possible and to adopt standards already available when and where we can.

Vice President Ric Henderson and I have been to a number of meetings over the last few months with AEMA. Most recently I met with Ernie Polsom, Acting Fire Commissioner to discuss how SAR Alberta and AEMA can move forward. Some initial points taken from that meeting were: 

1.We need to revamp the training grant and find a way to make it work better for both SAR and AEMA;

2.SAR Alberta needs administrative support - we are going to explore options for this and see what solutions may be available in both the short term and long term;

3.AEMA will work with SAR Alberta to develop standards;

4.The two organizations will look at ways to revamp the Civil Emergency Response Program - perhaps through a NIF grant;

5.RCMP K-Division needs to be kept in the loop and they need to know they still have an important role to play in search and rescue in the province;

6.We need to sort out liability issues - insurance etc, for SAR teams and individuals

7.Some research should be done on emerging SAR issues such as the possible increase in search for Alzheimer's patients and what kind of extra training may be needed.

AEMA and SAR Alberta both want to start moving forward on these and other issues and we seem to have come to a place where we better understand what each organization is trying to achieve. I will continue to update you on the issues as SAR Alberta and AEMA work through them, having said that, if you want to get involved or feel strongly about an issue please get in touch with me or your regional representative - it is important that you and your team be heard.

Along with AEMA SAR Alberta wants to re-establish our relationship with a number of agencies and groups including Parks Canada, provincial parks, Fish and Wildlife, fire departments, municipal police forces, municipalities and the Canadian military. It is also important to encourage the Solicitor General to keep an interest in SAR - as we are a very well used policing resource.

During the week of Oct 12-19 I will be at the national conference, SARSCENE, in Newfoundland. I will be representing SAR Alberta at the SARVAC (Search and Rescue Volunteer Association of Canada) meetings which will be held on Oct 13 and 14. A number of major initiatives are being undertaken by SARVAC this year. One major project is being funded through a federal NIF grant. Three people from each province and territory are being sent to St John's to train in two programs. One is called Adventure Smart - a basic wilderness survival course for pre-teens to adults, the second course will be on how to set up SAR exercises. The three people chosen from Alberta are Carianne Budalich, Natasha Jensen and Ian Oxton. 

On a final note, we are looking to set up a meeting for all the teams in January or February - a location is needed so if anyone can help with this it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Monica Ahlstrom mavada at cruzinternet.com 

President SAR Alberta

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D'JUNO 

Something lighter from Jerry Fochler, jerry at inroads.ca 

If you have an analog wrist watch, you can use the time to find north. Hold your watch up in front of you, and let the short hand, red on the figure, that indicates hours point at the sun. While holding it like this, cut the angle between the red arrow and 12 o'clock in two, (noonwards if the time is before 6am or after 6pm), that way is south. (The reason you need to cut it in two, is because the clock takes two rotations while the sun takes one around the earth, it is of course the other way around, but never mind.) 

Many people wear digital watches these days (I do myself, if I wear one at all). If you do, draw an analog watch face on a piece of paper, and then mark the hour hand on using the digital watch. The rest of the method is identical. 

This method can be used even when it is pretty foggy. Although you may not be able to see the sun, it may still cast a shadow. If you take up a straw or a tiny stick, and you may see a shadow. You just have to remember that the shadow points the opposite way from the sun, but the rest of it is quite similar as above.

(While I read this I thought of the somewhat more accurate method of gaining the azimuth of the sun I used when surveying in the Arctic. Does anyone think it would be useful to know, or do you all already know it? It's a calculation involving the sun's hour angle and the local longitude. I can add it to a future newsletter if you like. Editor.)

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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.

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