SARA Happenings July 2001
Table of Contents
Hi, This is a regular mailing intended to improve communication within the Search and Rescue community in Alberta. It's going out to over 160 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 send mail to sara-happenings-request@castrov.cuug.ab.ca. Here are some of the happenings in SAR in Alberta: Standard and Training Committees The old committee has been reorganized into two committees. The Chairs of the new committees are:- Standards Committee: Reg Shewchuk shewchuk@rttinc.com Day: (403)391-3317 Evening: (403)886-4277 Fax: (403)886-4008 Training Committee: Fred McFall fredm@monarch.net Fax(403) 528-4694 The 2002 SAR Alberta Provincial Conference Will be held March 1st to 3rd 2002 in Edmonton. Further information as SARA Happenings receives it. We do know that the 2003 Conference will be hosted by SEASAR, Medicine Hat. Contact: Paul Olmstead polmstead@compusmart.ab.ca RCMP Training Volunteers for FLIR Derek Simmonds derek.simmonds@rcmp-grc.gc.ca has reported that the RCMP will be training volunteers to operate the FLIR system for SAR searches. FLIR is the Forward Looking Infra Red optical system operating in helicopters. The selection criteria and training standards are being developed at present, but it is hoped that training will start in the Fall. This newsletter will provide more information as the process develops. Four regional reports from the last board meeting, June 16th, will be posted on the website. Edmonton, Calgary, Lethbridge, & Peace River. http://www.saralberta.org/ SARA Happenings Editor Changes Our thanks to Kristine Borrowes the past editor for all her work and contributions. The new editor is Christopher Hoare gpsurvey@telusplanet.net Please send in your contributions and notices for future editions of SARA Happenings. When I have some idea how to fit in my work on the newsletter I will post a deadline date and an intended publication date for the future issues. Our thanks to Chris Jorgensen for all his work editing, publishing this start-up kit. For those who've not seen one, the kit is a collection of suggestions and best practices for SAR groups in the process of formation. Contributions came from various established groups and were collated by Chris into a workable format. Chris is looking for someone to take over the continuous updating and improvement process, if you feel you could volunteer for this contact John Rotheisler mailto:%20jroth@telusplanet.net SARVAC, the National Organization has produced a brochure and material for preventive SAR in an effort to reduce the number of SAR incidents by making the public more prepared and informed what to do in a SAR situation. Paul Olmstead polmstead@compusmart.ab.ca has the trip forms and reflective cards available for any SAR group to distribute to the public. Please contact him if your group would like to have some of this material. New Brunswick Service Level Agreement A Service Level Agreement has recently signed by the NBGSARA and the
RCMP "J" Division. To our knowledge, this is the first such agreement
in Canada and thus is of historic significance. The agreement covers approximately
83% of the calls received by the NB GSAR teams. There are three features
of the agreement that we might highlight: Pincher Creek SAR is considering establishing a confidentiality policy. What level of information does your group keep confidential - that the search was conducted, what went wrong, the category of lost person? If your group has suggestions or a working policy in place please e-mail Linette Reed lynbob@telusplanet.net During the Koopmans search over 250 untrained people volunteered. This strained the management resources of the City Police and the SAR Groups. Pincher Creek SAR would like to set up a pre-plan for dealing with spontaneous volunteers. If you have suggestions, or knowledge of what has worked in similar situations please contact Brett Wuth wuth@acm.org In tribute to those whose lives were lost in the Pine Lake tornado, and those affected by it one year ago, a private memorial service will be held at Green Acres Campground, Pine Lake, Alberta on July 14th, 2001 at 2:00pm. The service will be an opportunity for family, friends and those directly affected by the Pine Lake tornado to honour their loved ones and the many agencies, organizations and volunteers that provided their services following the tornado. A permanent memorial, located at the Green Acres campground, will be unveiled during the service. For information please contact: Kathryn Kranenburg 403-229-7085 Ric Henderson Alberta Disaster Services 403-340-5102 Does your group have a posting for the SAR A Happenings mailing? If so, to see that it is sent out on time send information 1-1/2 months prior to the dates wished advertised. It will then give ample notice to those reading it to respond. Contact: Chris Hoare Ph. 403-628-3802 gpsurvey@telusplanet.net
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