ISSAR

Idaho State

Search And Rescue

2001 Summer Convention Minutes

June 24th, 2001

Grangeville, ID - Hosted by Idaho Co.

Commander Phil Courtney called the meeting to order @ 0900.

Brent Lewis (PSC & PNC) gave the Invocation.

Marie Wothe (National 1st Vice) led  the Pledge of Allegiance.

Roll call

Officers present: Commander Phil Courtney, 1st Vice Dale Crowther, 2nd Vice John Wilson, Treasurer Olivia Bailey, Secretary Evelyn Courtney

Communications Warney May asked to be excused while he was in China.

10 Units were represented by 23 members.

Phil thanked Idaho County for their hospitality, food, training, and fellowship.

Phil recognized Mike Ayers and Larry Dasenbrock of Idaho County, the only unit commander and sheriff present.

PSC's: Walt Charles, Brent Lewis, Pete Stuck, Gordon Wothe, Stan Fenn

PNC’s: JD Drury, Brent Lewis, Ot Lemm, C Lemm, Gordon Wothe, Walt Rhodes

A moment of silence was held for Darrel Alford, a member from Island Park (Fremont), who passed away this month

Officer’s reports:

1^st Vice, Dale Crowther - Reported that  he had only one request for training funds and that was the Bloodhound Seminar in Bonner. They requested $1300, but will receive $400. They will receive $2,000 from the state fund. Marsha Davis stated that she will take the ISSAR funds to Bonner County and will inform them of the need for receipts for all expenditures associated with the seminar. Dale Crowther reported that some zones do no use their funds. Dale also stated that he is trying to get in contact with a lady who has a horse that tracks/scents and that he would prefer to ride a horse than chase a dog. John Davis noted that is is rather difficult to find a motel that would take a horse.

2nd Vice, John Wilson  - Reported that there was 4 units in the state that have not paid their dues. There are 1130 members. Olivia stated that Elmore County had paid and the she would get a copy  of the roster to Evelyn to include their 30 members in the state roster.

Treasurer, Olivia Bailey - passed out the Financial Report and reported that the current balance is $8,213.70. She also distributed copies of the proposed and actual budget. Stan Fenn asked about the $856.00 spent on training. Olivia elaborated on the expenditure stating that about $400 was to Mountain West Dogs and not knowing which zone they were in, she took it out of this account. A financial report of the Training Funds by Zone was distributed. Marsha Davis stated that the balance of Zone 1 is reduced by $400; this amount is to go to Bonner County for their Bloodhound Seminar. Zone 2 has a balance of $55, and Zone 3 has $300.

Treasurer reported that Teton County is now under the ISSAR's 501(c)3 group exemption. This makes 22 units in the group with 8 others having their own 501(c)3 exemption.

Quartermaster, Olivia Bailey - Olivia reported on SAR license plates. She stated that there was a $3,000 start up cost and that we would need to sell 1,000 plates. In her opinion, it would not be beneficial. It also appeared to be the consensus of the membership.

Secretary, Evelyn Courtney - Stated that she is scanning ISSAR documents and will send them to the new secretary on a CD. Hopefully this will preclude the need for ISSAR secretaries to cart 3 or 4 boxes of records to each meeting.

Communications, Warney May - Excused, while in China

Units present:

Bear Lake, Bonner, Bonneville, Butte, Franklin, Idaho, Kootenai, Latah, Mini-Cassia, Salmon

Committee Reports: 

Sheriff's Association: Larry Dasenbrock read an email that he had received from Sheriff Steve Southwick, Chairman of Idaho Sheriff's Association SAR Committee. The ISA is asking for search statistics from all counties so that the ISA can support fund increases. Information needed is number of searches, length of searches, cost, and whether the search was submitted for reimbursement. More specific guidelines for the training funds have been requested. Phil Courtney asked Stan Fenn to chair a committee to work with the ISA to develop appropriate guidelines; other committee members are Brent Lewis, Marsha Davis, and Mike Ayers.

Legislature - Walt Charles reported that $85,527.39 were received and $91,712.05 has been spent. With the changes in funding, there are no funds available. It should be better in the long run but right now it is depleted.

Audit Committee- Marsha Davis reported that financial books were in order.

Everett Bogart Award - Deloy Braswell, 2001 recipient of the award, stated that units must have their nominations in to the committee before or by the winter meeting where the recipient is selected. He named himself, Virgil Valentine and Jerry Colvin as permanent members. Gordon Wothe stated that, as a trustee of Virginia Bogart, he was  permanent member. Phil Courtney asked that minutes or other documentation be made available at the next meeting so that an appropriate  decision could be made regarding permanent and floating membership on the Everett Bogart Award Committee.

Zone Reps:

(also see 1st Vice report)

Zone 3, Walt Charles - 

Zone 2, DeLoy Braswell - said that no one in his zone requested funds.

Zone 1, Marsha Davis - reported that "Nature's Compass", a free 8 hour program is being presented from 800 to 1600, Aug. 4 by Don Wilke.

Unfinished business:

Minutes - Brent Lewis asked that the March Minutes be corrected; Terry Stewart is NSAR Treasurer (not Terry Smith). Marsha Davis moved and Brent seconded that the minutes be approved as corrected. The motion passed.

New Business:

Webpage/ Internet Communications, Evelyn Courtney -reminded the membership of the Commander's goal to improve communication. About the only avenue that has not been effectively utilized is the National SAR paper. As members email addresses are known, they are added to the list serv, which currently has about 160 members' addresses. Yahoo Groups also has a calendar of events with reminders and a polling feature. The message archives contain emails of current interest. Obsolete messages are deleted periodically. The web page on geocities.com, also a Yahoo feature, is fairly basic. It is a free service and therefore limited. If the new secretary and the membership so desires, Evelyn stated that she would continue to maintain both or either. She also told the membership that there would be expenses associated with the web page, if they wished to establish a domain name and increase its size.

Marsha Davis moved that we get our own domain name, Stan Fenn seconded and the motion carried. Marsha Davis moved that $500 be added to the budget which would include Evelyn's ISP costs, domain registration and hosting. Olivia Bailey seconded the motion and it was approved by the membership. Larry Dasenbrock suggested that Evelyn might also need additional software.

Meeting Information - Need to get information about the meetings out early so that individuals can make plans. Marsha Davis stated that the next summer meeting should be determined at this meeting. Walt Charles said that the date and place needs to be announced no later than the first of the year. The suggestion was made to send post cars to the 1600 members to remind them of the upcoming meetings. The need for a Convention Coordinator was discussed to assist the host unit, trouble shoot problems, and maintain timelines.

Term Limit for Commander was discussed. The general consensus of the membership appeared to be that the vote of the membership was the proper limit of a Commander's term. Phil stated that he was imposing his own term limit and would not accept nomination for reelection.

Phil thanked the membership for the honor of serving as their Commander and his wife, Evelyn, for serving as his secretary.

Election Results:

Commander - Dale Crowther (Mini-Cassia)

1st Vice - John Wilson (Salmon)

2nd Vice - Walt Rhodes (Bear Lake)

Treasurer- Olivia Bailey (Bonner)

Communications - Marsha Davis (Kootenai)

Secretary- Norma Charles (Mini-Cassia)

Future meetings:

2001 Fall Trailride is Aug.31-Sep.2, 2001, hosted by JD & Sandra Drury and Mike & Rachelle Oliverson of Franklin County. JD Drury showed a video of the area.

2002 Winter Meet- Marsha said that a unit in Zone 1 would host the winter meeting.

2002 Summer Convention- Walt Charles reported that a unit in Zone 3 would host the summer meeting

Meeting adjourned at approximately 1200.