SAR Alberta/Mass communication/2016-10-17 Training/Message

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From: Michael Kary <training@saralberta.ca>
Date: Mon, 17 Oct 2016 23:19:41 -0600
Message-ID: <CAHkZyPTDdA6L8s=wXcjOPdZo=o52PUdW8_uhTE60tz3tu4HPbg@mail.gmail.com>
Subject: Training Communication - Action Required!
To: undisclosed-recipients:;

Hello Everyone,

I wanted to drop you all a quick email now that I have arrived home from SARscene. I apologize for the long winded email but i have some important things to say. I ask that you please forward this to *EVERY MEMBER OF YOUR TEAM*. I have had a lot of feedback that people are not passing on information and many members are oblivious to what is going on in our province.

I first want to say THANKS to all of the volunteers who worked tirelessly and came together to pull off SARscene. It was great to see so many faces from Alberta at the conference and the feedback I heard from our colleagues from across the country that it came together quite well. Of course there are hiccups that you may have experienced, but no large event runs without their hiccups. With all the challenges faced, mainly due to the bureaucratic processes as well as the changes in government (moving GSAR from DND to Public Safety Canada) the planning committee pushed forward and brought it together. The planning committee, and everyone that supported them, deserve a huge pat on the back.

I noticed a lot of teams, strategically tackling the various sessions over the last couple days. That strategy is great, and that truly maximizes the value for your teams! Now I must say there were some amazing topics and sessions that I sat through, and I hope all of you enjoyed them as much as I did and you see the impact of coming together, learning together, building relationships and helping advance the world of SAR together. Right now you have an great opportunity at your finger tips, and I hope to empower you to utilize the momentum gained from participating in SARscene to now help your team and to bring them up to speed on what you learned and took away. Try to set up opportunities to share the knowledge you gained right now while it is fresh in your mind. Look back at those contacts you made from around Canada and the US and solidify the relationship by touching base with them. Relationships are priceless!

I also wanted to share with you all a discussion I had with representatives from across Canada during lunch today. During our field days activities there were four of our provinces members representing Foothills SAR and Edmonton Regional SAR that deserve a shout out. These four members decided on Saturday morning, I believe after only meeting each other this weekend and possibly minutes before this, that they would enter the skills competition. These four were Robert Rossie (FSAR), Lisa Van Ee (FSAR), Elisha Anderson (ERSARA), and Michael Cooley (ERSARA). These four individuals ended up pulling together and winning 3rd place (actually not far from winning 2nd place) in the competition and, let me tell you, the country noticed. I had people from around the country express to me how strong of a display of interoperability that was, and how impressed they were with the display of teamwork our province showed through these 4 members. These 4 deserve a huge round of applause and a pat on the back!

This kind of interoperability is strengthened in many ways. One of these ways is through training together. SARscene was obviously one of these opportunities, much like the Provincial Training Days that we have hosted over the past years. On our door step right now is another one of these, the SARVAC/SAR Alberta Regional Workshop on January 20-22, 2017. I got word the other day that SARVAC had signed the contract with the facility and that I could now let the cat out of the bag, so, we will be hosting it at the Goldeye Centre near Nordegg, Alberta.

Back in July I sent a call for submissions out to all of you for topics and sessions. It read "*The workshop/conference will consist of concurrently running sessions, intended to educate and inform our members on new developments, technological advances, best practices, innovations and program updates. Sessions lengths are 1 hour, 1.25 hours, or 1.5 hours. If you have an idea/suggestion that you would like to present at the workshop/conference, please submit you presentation idea to training@saralberta.ca <training@saralberta.ca> by September 30, 2016. Please send your submission with the subject line "SARVAC Workshop Submission".*"

As of last week I have to admit I was very disappointed as I had only had two people even respond to me with a submission. I am happy to say that over the past weekend I have been able to get a number of others to commit to doing sessions. We do still have room for more topics, so please contact me asap so we can get you involved. As I explained to many people this weekend, I do not want to choose the topic selection. I want YOU to guide the topics that you feel are relevant to SAR in YOUR province, and I will provide the forum for you to all come together and learn from each other. Right now we have sessions on: 

  - AdventureSmart Update for Presenters (NIF Requirement)
  - GSAR Standards Update (NIF Requirement)
  - ICS (NIF Requirement - Need Presenter still, *cough cough*... Simon or
  Ian )
  - Training in Alberta, Where we are and Where we are going
  - Cave Rescue
  - Amateur Radio in the 21st Century
  - Mountain Rescue Team - Challenges to maintain operational abilities
  - Tracking
  - Equine SAR
  - UAVs for SAR In Alberta

Also in my email I had stated the following "*The NIF Grant is very specific in how it can be used, including what can and can not be covered for the workshops. So, what is being covered by grant funding, you ask? Well, your accommodations, meals and snacks will be provided and are covered while you are on site. What is not covered? Travel and expenses related your travel or consumables you bring (ie. food while traveling, gas, cigarettes, alcohol, etc.).*" Since that time I received further information, and IF YOU ARE PRESENTING AT THE WORKSHOP YOU TRAVEL WILL BE COVERED based on the governments rates. I encourage as many teams as possible to present and then carpool with their members to maximize this opportunity. The registration page will be opening soon and will be distributed out to all the teams. I am just working with SARVAC on that as we have to use there system for this.

I will leave you with all that to take in, and I reiterate what I first said, please forward this to *EVERY MEMBER OF YOUR TEAM*. We need to get better as a province at communicating with each other and the opportunities for our province to advance need to be provided to everyone.

Thanks, Michael Kary, CRSP

  • Manager; Certification, Training and Standards*
  • Search and Rescue Alberta*
  • www.saralberta.ca* <http://www.saralberta.ca>
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