SARA Happenings June 2002
Table of Contents
Hi, This is our 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-ctl@castrov.cuug.ab.ca. 2001-2002 TRAINING GRANT SUMMARYThe year-end summary for ground search and rescue training, funded through the grant from Disaster Services, is in and the outcome is rather impressive. $128,850 was provided through 22 sponsoring municipalities to fund ground search and rescue training. 22 SAR Alberta member organizations hosted the training. Based on the class lists received, and the reports from the host municipalities, it is estimated that at least 74 sessions/courses were held, with a total of 1,375 people accessing the training. In addition to the training courses, $17,000 was provided for the March 2002 conference/workshops and $5,000 for development of the Civil Emergency Response Course. 2002-2003 grant-sponsored training is well under way this year, and we encourage all SAR Teams to keep in contact with the Training Committee, so attendance to these courses can be maximized. TRACKING COURSE IN HINTONHinton SAR is hosting a UTS Tracking Course on Aug 31st - Sept 2nd. Those wishing information about Universal Tracking Services may visit their website at http://utstrackingservices.com. For information about the Hinton course, contact P.Grimley 780-865-5047 or grimley@telusplanet.net for information or registration. NEW AIRBORNE SAR SERVICEThe Canadian Aircorps Volunteer Association is proposing a rapid response air search and rescue service that features a fixed wing FLIR equipped aircraft. They aim to be authorized by Transport Canada and crewed by experienced career commercial pilots. They do not intend to compete with nor hinder DND or CASARA operations. They have determined that rural communities that lack municipal police and or permanent R.C.M.P. stations often have to wait for air support. They view their primary role to be the locating of lost or missing persons, and feel that they would provide a tangible benefit to these communities. The organization is interested in hearing your comments. Their website is: http://www.cava-rescue.org SARSCENE 2002
- No Call For Help Goes Unanswered - SARSCENE is an annual national workshop organized by the National Search and Rescue Secretariat (NSS) with the help of provincial or territorial hosts. The Workshop travels to different regions of Canada each year, working with various SAR organizations in each region. This year, the NSS and the Nova Scotia Ground Search and Rescue Association(NSGSARA) are working together with the Nova Scotia Emergency Measures Organization to help bring you SARSCENE 2002. Being held on September 11-14, the location this year is back at Halifax. For more information and to register, visit: www.nss.gc.ca/sarscene/workshop/ss2002/Webcoverpage_e.htm SAR DAY IN MAYThe 3rd Annual Provincial SAR Day in May was successfully held this year on May 4th. 15+ different events were hosted all across Alberta, with many SAR Teams partnering with adjacent organizations to put on joint activities. SAR Day is a great opportunity for our members to expand interest and understanding in the services we deliver to the public on behalf of the provincial government. SAR Alberta is proud to have coordinated this successful event through the efforts of Provincial SAR Day Coordinator, Craig Goddard. We are already looking forward to next year, hoping you'll join SAR Alberta in making the event another great success! PREVENTIVE EDUCATION COMMITTEE MEETINGLast year, membership brought to the attention of SAR Alberta, the need for provincial coordination and support in the delivery of preventive education by SAR Teams throughout the province. To address this need, SAR Alberta established the Preventative Education Committee. Chair Allen Hachey, who has recently stepped down, initially tackled start-up work with the committee. With Allen's departure, the Executive Committee has appointed Anita Schmidt as the new Chair. The committee has new terms of reference in hand, and wants to get moving on the work before it. To kick things into high drive, Anita has called for a meeting of all SAR Teams in the province, that either currently deliver preventive education, or would like to. This meeting is to take place in Edmonton (exact location TBA) on Saturday AUGUST 17th, starting at 1200hrs. Please make sure notice of this meeting is forwarded to the person(s) responsible for preventive education in your SAR Team so they can attend. For more information about the work of the committee, or regarding the scheduled meeting, contact Anita Schmidt amsco@telusplanet.net 7th ANNUAL PROVINCIAL SAR CONFERENCE
- The Wide World of Communication - The South Eastern Alberta Search and Rescue (SEASAR) Team, SAR Alberta and The Eagles Nest Ranch have joined forces to host the 2003 SAR Alberta Conference with a TWIST! With the proximity to the USA and to the Saskatchewan Border we are going INTERNATIONAL in scope. Located at the South West Corner of the Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park, this unique and well hidden outdoor oasis offers the SAR Alberta Conference attendees a total immersion into the SAR Scene with NO outside distractions. Cell phones don't work here! Most Pagers don't work here! Unless someone knows where you are, they won't find you! Conference dates are March 7, 8, & 9th 2003. Information and registration form is already up on the SEASAR website, with more information being posted each month as the event draws nearer. SEASAR website address: http://www.memlane.com/nonprofit/seasar SARA HAPPENINGS SUBMISSIONSThe publication dates for future mailings of SARA Happenings has been moved to the middle of each month. Please note that the new deadline for material will be the 10th 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 Communications Coordinator, Brad Marshall at bmarsh@telusplanet.net. This document was generated on 18 June 2002 using texi2html 1.56k.
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