SARA Happenings, January 23, 2000

Table of Contents

• Newsletters
• Mock Search in Hinton
• Mountain Rescue Association meets in Nordegg
• Parkland SAR Training Schedule
• Kit for New SAR Groups
• 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 130 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:

Does your group produce its own newsletter? Please consider sending a copy to SAR Alberta's newsletter editor. It may be a great source of story ideas, or we may request to pick up an article directly from you. Contact Rose Saunders rosesaunders@hotmail.com 403 625-3312; Box 2402, Claresholm, AB, TOL OTO.

Hinton Search and Rescue is hosting a mock search on April 15, 2000, starting at 5 p.m. Accommodation for out of town searchers is available. Contact Paul Grimley grimley@telusplanet.net.

Rocky Mountain House Volunteer Search and Rescue (RMHSAR) will be hosting the 42nd annual Mountain Rescue Association (MRA) Annual General Meeting and Workshop on June 22nd to 25th, 2000 in Nordegg, Alberta

Currently RMHSAR is the only fully accredited Canadian team within the MRA. RMHSAR is extending invitations to Canadian Teams/Groups that meet or could meet the MRA membership qualifications (see below) and have representatives of these teams/groups attend the MRA AGM to find out more of the "Who" and "What" the MRA is and then take that information back to their teams.

"MRA Membership Qualifications:

1. Regular Membership: Regular membership is limited to teams which meet the definition of mountain rescue found in the MRA Bylaws: "A search and rescue organization engaged in search and rescue in a mountainous environment, and demonstrating proficiency in search, non-technical rescue and technical rescue in a four-season alpine environment.

2. Ex-Officio Membership: Ex-Officio membership is primarily intended for governmental agencies which conduct mountain search and rescue operations, but which may not otherwise meet the qualifications for Regular Membership stated above. Ex-Officio membership may be Accredited or Non-Accredited.

3. Associate Membership: Associate Membership is intended for organizations that support mountain rescue and for search and rescue teams that do not qualify for Regular Membership because of a lack of one or more of the Regular Membership qualifications."

If your team/group meets the above requirements, are planning to branch in that direction, or have any other questions please contact Michael Templeton - Chairperson - MRA 2000 Committee - RMHSAR.

Email - Michael.Templeton@gov.ab.ca rmhsar@telusplanet.com

Phone - (403) 721-3965 (work) 721-2005 (home) 721-3930 (fax)

Parkland SAR announces the following training activities and invites SAR workers from other groups to participate.

Jan 25 Introduction to Global Positioning System

Jan 30 GPS Field Exercise

Feb 8 Casualty and Stretcher Handling

Feb 12 Orienteering Exercise

Feb 22 Survival: Signals and Wilderness Travel

Feb 27 Navigation for Search Dog Teams

March 7 Medical Exercises

Mar 11 Low Angle Rescue

Mar 21 Understanding Alzheimer

Mar 26 Survival: Food and Water

For more information contact Gerry Gallagher at SurvivalAB@aol.com,(780) 968-8857, or check out their web site at http://www.parklandsar.org.

Chris Jorgensen has prepared a kit for SAR Alberta of information for SAR groups which are newly forming. It is currently in the review stage. For a copy see your regional representative. Or to contribute your ideas contact Chris cjorg@telusplanet.net or 403 327-4389.

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 23 January 2000 using the texi2html translator version 1.54.