Meeting November 20, 2004
Official minutes
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Art Jordan, Sharon Fisher, Sarah Jordan, Darrell Monroe, Glenn Schultz, Jim Peters, Jake Weber, Scott Miller, Doyle Wenzel, Wanda Hightower, Brooks Hanford, Terry Lawrence
GUESTS PRESENT:
Sarah Czarnecki
Next SARVAC Meeting: March 19, 2005 Camp Murray EOC
Board meeting 11:30 a.m., General meeting 12:00 p.m.
SARVAC meetings are held every year at the Washington State SAR Conference.
In addition, meetings are held the 3rd Saturday of March, September, and November.
The future meeting dates and locations are as follows:
March 19, 2005 at Camp Murray EOC. Board Meeting 11:30 a.m. General Meeting 12:00 p.m.
May 21, 2005 State SAR Conference TBA
September 17, 2005 City Council Chamber (small conference room) at 102 N. Pearl, Ellensburg, WA
Board Meeting 11:30 a.m. General Meeting 12:00 p.m.
November 19, 2005 Camp Murray EOC Board Meeting 11:30 a.m.General Meeting 12:00 p.m.
November 20, 2004
The meeting was called to order at 12:04 p.m.
Introductions
Everyone at the meeting introduced themselves to the group.
Acceptance of the minutes
The minutes were accepted. Scott Miller moved and Glenn Schultz seconded that the minutes be approved. The motion passed unanimously.
President's Report:
Art was not able to attend the Governor’s Advisory Emergency Management Council meeting in September. Scott Miller did attend and shared that nothing pertinent to SAR was discussed. He did share that Homeland Security funds are allocated to states based on the population and the risk factors in that state. Washington State should get about the same amount in 2005 as was allocated for the state in 2004. The 2005 monies, however, probably won’t be available until the next year. At this point it looks like CERT funds will be significantly less in 2005 than previously.
Secretary’s Report
Members were reminded that nominations for SARVAC awards would be accepted from November – March 1, 2004. The information is on the SARVAC website.
Treasurer’s Report
The following counties have paid for their 2004 membership in SARVAC: Clallam, Clark, Cowlitz, Grant, Grays Harbor, Kitsap, Okanogan, Snohomish,Thurston, Whatcom and Yakima. The following council representatives have been identified: Clallam – Don Kelly, Clark – David Parson, Cowlitz – Chuck Dunnavant, Thurston – Bill Gillespie, Okanogan – Scott Miller, Snohomish – Glenn Schultz, and Yakima – Jake Weber.
The balance on 11/20/2004 was: $1,789.20. This amount includes the $500 that is to be sent to Chelan for the 2005 conference. Terry Lawrence moved and Scott Miller seconded that the treasurer’s report be accepted.Old Business
State SAR Conferences: 2005 Chelan County 2007 TBA (East side)
2006 King County 2008 TBA (West side)
According to the bylaws (Article # Section 3.1), SARVAC is to have 2 Members at Large and a Past President. SARVAC has had 3 Members at Large and a Past President. To be in compliance, Terry Lawrence will no longer be a Member at Large.
Terry Lawrence willingly gave up his position, as he is not currently a member of a SAR team. He shared that as of October 1, 2004, the SAR team he was a member of in Jefferson County disbanded. As per their bylaws, the local volunteer fire department got the money in the team’s account and the equipment that belonged to the team.
Terry was also representing SARVAC at the WSSARCA meetings. Scott Miller and Jim Peters will take turns representing SARVAC at those meetings.
Out-of-County Standards were discussed. WSSARCA wants to work closely with SARVAC on these. The format was taken to the Sheriff’s Association meeting. We are waiting to see if it was accepted or not before looking more closely at the individual items included. Ongoing discussions will be held as the process continues.
It was proposed by Brooks Hanford and seconded by Wanda Hightower that SARVAC support the format of the Out-of-County Standards. It passed unanimously. Jim and/or Scott will share this at the next WSSARCA meeting.
New Business
A representative from Washington State Fire Fighters Association inquired if SARVAC would be interested in linking with volunteer fire. There could possibly be some benefits for long-term volunteer service. However, since SAR is the responsibility of Sheriff Officers and volunteer fire is under the State Patrol, they function under different commands so linking is not viable.
Another inquiry was made as to whether SARVAC could pursue getting exempt license plates for SAR volunteer vehicles. Since exempt plates can’t be on private vehicles, it is not possible. Exempt plates are on county vehicles or vehicles donated to the county. It was discussed that volunteer SAR units should pursue this possibility with their own counties versus at the state level.
Scott Miller shared about CERT. Homeland Security monies are available for CERT training. It was originally designed for neighborhood security and now it is regional. Disaster preparation qualifies for CERT monies. CERT is a resource to help in times of emergency from traffic control to emergency response. If SAR volunteers are trained as CERT volunteers, you can access funds for the cost of training, equipment, etc. The training/equipment, however, must be directed related to Homeland Security /disaster issues to qualify.
SAR in Yakima County is currently managing project Lifesaver, which provides transmitters and receivers for individuals who are at risk for becoming lost. It is available for individuals in Snohomish and Okanogan Counties as well. The training and some equipment may be available for free. It was suggested that Project Lifesaver is a service that SAR should be involved in.
Scott Miller shared that forest counties get monies from the feds to help compensate for the lack of tax revenue. His county has purchased Garmins and Map Tech 6.03 and used them to manage searches. Scott shared that using GPS’s and a mapping program enables the search manager to download where searchers have been and then it can be shown on a map of the area.
Glenn Schultz shared that he uses the National Geographic mapping program. He adds trails, roads, bridges, etc. and can use different colors to show differences on a map.
Unit Reports
Okanogan – It’s going very well in Okanogan. 22 missions to date this year. They plan to continue CERT trainings in 2005. Their latest search was for a missing woodcutter. After a week of searching, it turned out that the man had been murdered and one of the people involved led law enforcement officers to the body.
Yakima – The SAR team will be moving to the new sheriff’s complex (an old lumber supply). They will be able to store SAR vehicles under cover although the buildings are not enclosed. In early 2005, an academy for new members will be held.
The 534th out of Yakima has supported SAR and helped with searches and rescues, especially with the Mt. Adams area. It will be much more difficult when the 534th is withdrawn from the area. The Coast Guard will only be available for maritime assistance after the beginning of 2005. SAR is feeling the effects of the Iraq war through the loss of resources that used to be available locally.
Kitsap: 3 missions since October. One search lasted 3 days while searchers looked for a 9 yr old girl. She was found staying with a family friend. Two evidence searches proved successful.
The team will be training with the S.O. Marine Division. Deployments to Iraq are affecting the Kitsap team with members leaving for Iraq.
Cowlitz – Multiple “turn around” searches. No lost hunters, but there was a lost mushroom picker. The weather has been nice which impacts the # of people lost. When it is not rainy or foggy, people don’t get lost! The team is currently taking new members and continuing training.
Snohomish – 5 missions since the last meeting. Turn arounds and walk aways. It has been fairly quiet.
Nominations – Nominations for Board positions were taken. Wanda Hightower was nominated for Member at Large by Glenn Schultz, Jim Peters was nominated for Vice President by Wanda Hightower, and Sarah Jordan was nominated for Secretary by Terry Lawrence.
Additional nominations will be accepted at the March meeting prior to voting.
AdjournedMotion to adjourn was made by Terry Lawrence at 3:10 p.m. and seconded by Scott Miller. The motion unanimously passed.
SARVAC's mailing address the address as follows:
SARVAC
Washington EMD
Camp Murray WA 98430-5122SARVAC web site.
The newsletters will be posted there.
Any information you would like to see announced, may be addressed to SARVAC's web manager. Noel McRae, a life member of Cowlitz County Search and Rescue Team, has agreed to be the webtech.
The web address is: http://wasar.bizland.com/
For information about the site you can contact the webtech at webtech@wasar.bizland.com
Chris Long [the State SAR Coordinator of WA]
can be reached at the web address: c.long@emd.wa.gov,
WA-SAR.net: www.wa.gov/wsem.
From this web page you select SAR.
You can down load forms and find out what is going on within the state.