[SaraHap] SARA Happenings October 2009

Thu Oct 15 20:17:32 MDT 2009

Hi All: 

SARA Happenings is issued to foster communication within the Search and Rescue community in Alberta. It is going to 226 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. 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

IT'S ONLY 10 DAYS AWAY

Operation Octopus will officially be underway in less than 10 days. October 24th and 25th. We are excited to report that we have at least 130 searchers who have confirmed their attendance and at least another 25-20 support and technical personnel who will be joining us for this exciting learning endeavor.

A few new notes to pass on to you:

* Canada Task Force 2 (CAN2) will be attending and will be providing some much anticipated warmth and sustenance. Seeing what this team has to offer will make it very much worthwhile to come out

*There will registration both at the gate to Chambers Creek as well as official exercise registration for those actively in the search which will be at the command post. Please make sure you put yourself down so we can accurately reflect our numbers

*There will be supper on Saturday night from 1700-1900 for ALL to attend.

*Sunday morning there will be breakfast for everyone there and this will be followed at 0900 by an education session.

*We would request that each team attending have one team leader/representative that will be able to attend the final debriefing at 1100 on Sunday and speak on behalf of their team. This same person will also be responsible for collecting mileage and accommodation receipts and submitting them. We will have an expense form available for people to fill out. We are very optimistic that there will be reimbursement potential, but until all bills and receipts are in exact amounts cannot be tabulated. Therefore we are asking everyone to submit their mileage and receipts to Rocky Search and Rescue by November 6, 2009.

*There is some random camping available at the area, but as previously mentioned Hela Ventures also have tenting and RV sites available as well as some cabins. This site is only 5 minutes from the search base. As well, there are a number of possibilities in Rocky which is 32 km from the search base. The Walking Eagle Lodge (403-845-2804) in particular has allowed for a corporate rate ($55-97), so if booking with them please mention that you will be attending.

Any other last minute questions can be directed to Edward Van Heeren at president at rockysar.com 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FROM THE SARA PRESIDENT

InsuranceThere has been no announcement or any indication from the Minister Ray Danyluk's office on what direction they are going to take with the insurance. When asked for an update and what options were being looked at the reply was that a briefing note "with all the salient points" had been sent to the Minister but protocol did not allow them to release what was in that briefing - only the Minister could release the information. Though AEMA has called SAR Alberta for information it has at no time sat down and discussed the various options on the table and possible solutions. SAR Alberta will continue to pursue the matter to ensure that teams are adequately covered in the province.

Provincial Exercise 

Over 150 participants are expected to attend the provincial exercise on Oct 24 and 25. Invited guests for the event will include Search and Rescue Volunteer Association of Canada President Harry Blackmore and Executive Director David Day who will be coming out from Newfoundland. SAR Alberta appreciates all those SAR volunteers who have committed their time to participate in the event. We hope you have a good time and that it is a useful and fun experience for all that attend.

Contract position

SAR Alberta is now advertising for the contract position to help in building the capacity for the organization. If you are interested or know of someone who may be interested in this position please contact your board member or the SAR Alberta Executive.

Adventure Smart 

SAR Alberta now has 13 people trained in the Adventure Smart program who will eventually be training other trainers in the province. A committee has been set up to work on the roll out of the program across the province. Carianne Budalich from Grande Prairie Technical SAR is the committee chair. All teams are encouraged to get the initial training in of the three modules within the program. All those who currently teach Hug-A-Tree should learn the new Adventure Smart program as Hug-A-Tree is copyrighted and must be taught in a specific way. 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

STANDARDS COMMITTEE

Good day fellow SAR providers

The standards committee has made some progress over the summer with regards to Quad, Snowmobile, and the Boat standard. The standards were submitted in the appropriate format by Al Tomalty and were presented to the SAR AB exec and board members that attended the Sept board meeting by myself. The board voted to accept the standards with one small change to the snowmobile standard, recognizing the Portage college as a course provider. Keep in mind that these are the minimum standards and if the situation that your particular team is in requires extra JPR's ( job performance requirements ) you can customize the course, with the approved instructor, to meet your requirements. 

The standards committee is working with AEMA on the Basic SAR Skills standard and we should see something in the near future on this matter. The new standards were sent to the board members for distribution on Sept 27th and should have been forwarded to all members of all teams by now. If you have not seen them please e-mail your regional rep or myself to receive a copy. We all need to be diligent at being on the same page in the knowledge department as far as standards implementation.

Don Drebert ddrebert at telus.net  

Vice President

Search and Rescue Alberta

780-542-2817 (H)

780-202-2817 (C)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SAR SERVICE AWARDS

Mike Self has submitted the following request for everyone to remember that applications for the SAR Service Awards must be submitted on the proper form and format. Quote "As you are aware our call letter and application form for SAR Service Awards has gone out through SARAB for posting on their site. We are starting to receive service award submissions on the wrong forms, incomplete submissions and submissions involving only names on simple e-mails."

The instructions are appended below.

September 24th, 2009

An open letter to all Civilian Search and Rescue Volunteers:

The experience and commitment of SAR volunteers is an important resource in assisting the RCMP in our delivery of Search and Rescue Service throughout Alberta. Consequently, the "K" Division RCMP has implemented an award program to acknowledge the contribution of Civilian Search and Rescue Volunteers to the RCMP at our detachments throughout Alberta. 

The award consists of a uniquely designed certificate and lapel pin which will be presented to volunteers who have completed five, ten, or fifteen years of Search and Rescue service. All Search and Rescue volunteers are eligible to apply for the award, regardless of their role with the team. The only eligibility requirements are that the volunteers be a current member in good standing with his or her Search and Rescue team and that they have volunteered the required number of years for the award requested

It is our intention to maintain the program through the future, and in the fullness of time, the award levels will be increased to recognize volunteers reaching twenty or more years of service. Once the years of historical service are accounted for and acknowledged, the program will settle into a pattern of presenting the awards with natural progression as volunteers move through the years of service landmarks.

As 2003 saw the launch of the program, we realize that the service periods for eligible volunteers will vary widely, the cut off date for the year 2009 eligible service has been set at December 31st, 2009, and any volunteers having completed five, ten, fifteen or 20 years of service as of that date are eligible for one or more awards, matching their years of service. Search and Rescue groups are invited to review their records and submit the names of eligible candidates, and where applicable, indicate those volunteers deserving of multiple awards. 

It is the responsibility the volunteer's Search and Rescue team, as well as the volunteer, to ensure that an application is submitted to request an award. Applications must be submitted to the RCMP "K" Division SAR Coordinator by February 28th, 2010. Incomplete applications will not be considered and will be returned. Completed forms must be sent to the RCMP "K" Division SAR Coordinator via E-MAIL: mike.self at rcmp-grc.gc.ca OR al.fraser at rcmp-grc.gc.ca This is applicable to the initial launch as well as through coming years. The RCMP will not be maintaining a database of Search and Rescue volunteers and automatically generating the awards. 

The partnership between the RCMP and the civilian Search and Rescue community is an integral part of our Search and Rescue presence in Alberta and we are grateful for your unselfish commitment to your community. 

Sincerely yours

M. W. (Mike) SELF, Sgt. Mike.SELF at rcmp-grc.gc.ca 

"K" Division Criminal Operations

SAR Coordinator

11140 - 109th Street

Edmonton, AB, T5G 2T4

RCMP "K" DIVISION 2009

CIVILIAN SAR VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION AWARD

INSTRUCTION for COMPLETION

1.Applications for the RCMP "K" Division Civilian SAR Volunteer recognition Award must be submitted on the included form. (See SARA website)

2.An eligible applicant is any Civilian SAR Volunteer who is a current member in good standing with a SAR team and has completed the required number of years of volunteer SAR service for the award requested as of December 31st 2009.

3.Applications must be received no later than February 28th 2010.

4.Applications must be signed by a member of the applicant's SAR team executive confirming that eligibility requirements have been met.

5.SAR service is calculated on the total years of SAR service and does not have to be continuous. Likewise, volunteer SAR service with multiple groups is acceptable. 

a. example 1: A volunteer who has five years of continuous SAR service divided into 2 years service with SAR Team "A" followed by 3 years service with SAR team "B" would be eligible for an award. 

b. Example 2: A volunteer who has a total of five years of non-continuous SAR service, e.g. 2 years of service with SAR Team "A" followed by 2 years with no SAR involvement, concluding with 3 years service with SAR team "B" would be eligible for a five year award, albeit the total calendar period spanned more than five calendar years

Note: These provisions are included to ensure that volunteers who are forced to relocate or are unable to dedicate to SAR for a period due to work or personal commitments retain their eligibility.

6. Incomplete forms will be not be considered and will be returned to the applicant.

The application forms can be downloaded from the SAR Alberta website http://www.saralberta.org/ 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ALBERTA EMERGENCY SERVICE MEDAL

Michelle Limoges and Mary-Ann Warren of the Search & Rescue Dog Association of Alberta (SARDAA) were awarded the Alberta Emergency Service Medal September 30, 2009. 

These medals are presented, upon application supported by an official agency, to those who have at least 12 years service within the SAR community. Michelle is celebrating 20 years with SARDAA as Secretary and a dog handler; Mary-Ann is celebrating 15 years as a dog handler and contributes her expertise as SARDAA's Training Director.

Chief Mike Boyd, Edmonton Police Service, presented the medals on behalf of the Province at a ceremony in Police Headquarters during a regular meeting of the EPS Executive Officers Team. Michelle and Mary-Ann are honoured to have received these medals, particularly since they were presented by Edmonton Police Service with whom we have worked on many SAR incidents.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

RACE AGAINST TIME 

This from Bev Sliger, President, Red Deer Search and Rescue. The images cannot be reproduced here but the two links worked for me.

http://media.albertalocalnews.com/images/320*216/A012+rescuers.jpg.jpg  

Two search and rescuers returned home on Wednesday after spending a full day scouring for earthquake survivors in Indonesia. Marcel Schur and Adam Beverley of the Red Deer-based Canadian International Rescue Organization rushed to help after a powerful earthquake, measuring 7.6 in magnitude, struck the city of Padang and obliterated several... more 

http://www.zedfm.com/UserFiles/Image/News/RESCUE1.jpg

Red Deer men home from rescue mission (Oct 7) - it has been quite a week for two members of the Canadian International Rescue Organisation, based in Red Deer. Team leader Marcel Schur and technical search specialist Adam Beverly left one week ago (Thurs.) for Padang, Indonesia to help U.N. crews search for live victims of two earthquakes. Both men had to put up their own money to go. Schur says they searched collapsed buildings in the city for survivors, but he says unfortunately none were found alive. Beverley and Schur arrived back in Red Deer Tuesday night.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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. 
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://castrov.dyndns.org/pipermail/sara-happenings/attachments/20091015/bfd0658b/attachment.htm 