SARA Happenings, September 18, 1999

Table of Contents

• 2000 Conference Volunteers Needed
• Telecommunications Workshop
• GPS Roll-Over
• Annual Statistics
• SAR Fundamentals Course in Sundre
• ERI Canada Courses
• Red Deer Regional Mock Search
• Bumper Stickers
• Coveralls Purchase
• SAR Alberta Board Meeting
• Let's Hear from You!

Hi,

This is a regular mailing intended to improve communication within the Search and Rescue community in Alberta. It's going out to over 120 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. If you want to be added or removed from the list, please contact Brett Wuth wuth@acm.org.

Here are some of the happenings in SAR in Alberta:

Next year's provincial SAR conference (April 7 -- 9, 2000) is being hosted by SAR Alberta as a whole. We want to draw upon volunteers from across the province, and make this conference truely province-wide in nature.

Here is your opportunity to really help out on the provincial scene. Volunteers of all types are needed, to help out at the conference, to do some of the preparation work, and to help out in the organizing. Please contact Rod Dietrich at accountinggod@home.com or 403 343-6219 and let him know you are willing to help out.

The Radio Telecommunications Workshop is set for 12:00 -- 16:00, Saturday September 25, 1999 at the Red Deer RCMP City Detachment (4811 49 St).

The purpose of the workshop is to develop a radio telecommunications plan for SAR in Alberta.

The member groups, tasking agencies, Alberta Disaster Services, and Industry Canada have been invited. If you have not already done so, please send the name and contact information for the person in your group to Brett Wuth wuth@acm.org 403 627-2460.

Last issue, we mentioned the roll over of the Global Position System as it reached its maximum time count of 1024 weeks in August and started over from zero again.

Reg Shewchuk shewchuk@rttinc.com mentioned that on a search in Red Deer shortly after the roll-over date one of the GPS's in use wouldn't register. Another had no problems. He recommends the US Coast Guard's web site http://www.navcen.uscg.mil for related information.

Chris Hoare has found some of his older GPS's continue to operate, but give dates 19.6 years too old. He's working on software that will correct the dates. Contact Chris gpsurvey@telusplanet.net 403 628-3802 if you'd like to share ideas on working with older equipment.

SAR Alberta will be sending out forms to collect statistics for the 1999 calendar year. As with last year, we will be asking for information regarding membership numbers, missions, mission results, and volunteer hours. Last year only about half the member groups of SAR Alberta were able to provide information.

Statistics are important to all SAR organizations within Alberta. They are used for research, for fundraising, for advocacy and for short and long term planning purposes. Organizations like the Coast Guard and the Department of Defence are very good at tracking and reporting their information. Decision makers have naturally been influenced to place the majority of SAR money with these organization.

All member organizations are asked to spend the time to keep track of the basic statistics and report them in the new year. Contact Brad Marshall bmarshall@canada.com 780 417-6604.

Sundre SAR will be having a SAR Fundamentals course the weekends of November 6--7 and 13--14. They expect to have room for outside attendees. Contact Roger Tetreault roger_tetreault@sunpine.com 403 638-3435.

Richard Smith writes to tell us about the courses ERI Canada will be offering over the next few months.

• Wilderness Survival (Fall): October 9 and 10 in Nordegg. Cost is $75.00 for members.
• Wilderness Survival (Winter): One course for snowmobiles December 11 and 12 and one course for skiers and snowshoers. Cost is $75.00. Location is in the Nordegg area.
• Search and Rescue Managers Update: Includes new computer programs, table top exercise, latest trends from around the world. Jan 2000, date to be announced. Two day course. Cost is $75.00 for members.
• Snowshoe and cross-country ski clinic: Jan 2000, Nordegg area, date to be announced, includes equipment supplied. Cost is $120.00 per member. Meals and accommodation included.
• Avalanche Awareness Workshop: Nordegg area. Cost is $120.00 per member which includes accommodation and meals.

Contact Richard Smith eri_can@telusplanet.net 403 721-2121.

The annual Red Deer Regional Mock Search will be Sunday, October 17 near Sundre. Participants are invited from all regions. Contact Roger Tetreault roger_tetreault@sunpine.com 403 638-3435.

You may have noticed the Search and Rescue bumper stickers that people returned with from one of the national or provincial conferences. If your group would like some more, you can get them from the National Search and Rescue Secretariat. Jennifer Reaney writes that to get bumper stickers just have whoever wants them email or phone. They have a pretty good supply but get them before SARSCENE '99 (October 13--17), because they fly when we hit conference time.

Jennifer also mentions they have lots of back issues of SARSCENE Magazine and brochures, etc. So if any group is having a fundraiser or open house they can send out boxes of stuff!

Contact Jennifer Reaney jreaney@nss.gc.ca 1 800 727-9414.

Sundre SAR is in the process of arranging a new purchase of yellow coveralls. If your group is interested in their experience with the supplier or would like to get in on a bulk purchase contact Roger Tetreault roger_tetreault@sunpine.com 403 638-3435.

The SAR Alberta board will be meeting Saturday, October 2, in Edmonton. As always, the meetings are open to everyone in the SAR community. If you would like to have some time in the meeting agenda, please let me know. Meeting time is 12:00 to 16:00. The location is the Community Room at the West Edmonton Police Station, 16505 - 100 Avenue. The meeting is being hosted by the Edmonton Regional Search and Rescue Association. Contact Brett Wuth wuth@acm.org 403 627-2460.

What's happening in your group? What training exercises do you have coming up? What would you like help with? Send me a note and I'll pass the word along. Contact Brett Wuth wuth@acm.org, 403 627-2460.

This document was generated on 18 September 1999 using the texi2html translator version 1.54.