ISSAR

Idaho State

Search And Rescue

2002 Summer Convention Minutes

 June 14th - June 16

Mountain Home, ID - Hosted by Elmore Co.

Commander Dale Crowther (Mini-Cassia) called the meeting to order.

Brent Lewis (Bear Lake) gave the Invocation.

Walt Rhodes (Bear Lake) led us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Roll call

Sheriffs of Lincoln & Bonner County.

Special Guests: Ot and C Lemm from Montana

PNC’s present: Gordon Wothe, Walt Rhodes, JD & Sandra Drury, Brent Lewis

Past State Commanders: Brent Lewis, Stan Fenn, Walt Charles, Phil Courtney

Commander Dale thanked the Elmore County Unit for hosting the convention.

A minute of silence was held for the members that have passed on: Butch Thomas (Fremont), Rodney Webb, Pete Stuck (Idaho), and the dog from Arco (Butte)

Officer’s reports:

1^st Vice, John Wilson - He thanked Elmore County for having a fine convention. He said no one has put in for training funds at this time. Also thanked everyone for their prayers to get well.

2nd Vice, Walt Rhodes  - Thanked Elmore County for a great convention. Also thanks to everyone who sent cards to him and his wife, Joann during their illness. He apologized for not attending the Spring Meeting due to being ill. As 2nd vice, he made some contacts to try to get units back into the association, but due to illness it was hard.

Communications, Marsha Davis- Excused, as she is in Alaska for the summer.

Secretary, Norma Charles - Thanks to Elmore County for the great job they did putting on this convention. Food, Road Rally, Company were super!

Treasurer, Olivia Bailey- Actual Balance $5,762.92. Of that amount, $1,520 is in the Training Reimbursement Fund. Our expenses were $2,127.65. Olivia proposed a budget for 2003. Gordon Wothe made the motion to accept the proposed budget. Evelyn seconded. Motion passed.

Quartermaster, Olivia Bailey - She has been hearing from the membership about the magnetic emblems, so between now and September, she is going to check on the silver and gold and dark blue magnetic to get it back to what the original state used to look like. It has a more elegant look, but it is more expensive because the price of the silver background has increased quite a bit. If anyone can give her a name of a supplier where she can get them, she would appreciate it. Also she was thinking of taking the State of Idaho out and putting the "ISSAR-Neighbor Helping Neighbor" into the star and putting balls on the tips of the star. She will give a proposed cost at the Fall meeting. Also she would like to thank Elmore County for such a wonderful time. Food was great, company superb. The road rally course was the toughest she had been on.

Units present:

Bear Lake, Bonner, Bonneville, Butte, Elmore, Franklin, Gooding, IMSARU, Latah, Lincoln, Mini-Cassia, Salmon, Valley

Committee Reports: 

Audit Committee; Marie Wothe, C Lemm, Wart Charles - After doing the audit, which was precise and accurate right to the penny, they recommended to subtotal at the bottom of each page to make it easier for the auditors.

Everett Bogart Guidelines - New guidelines were read to the members by Gordon Wothe (Salmon) and voted on to be incorporated in the bylaws. The motion was made by DeLoy Braswell (Butte), 2nded by Dareld Hazeltine (Latah). Motion passed. The guidelines are included at the end of these minutes.

Web page, Evelyn Courtney- said that the web page is up and running. Now that she has retired, she can spend more time on it. National web page is http:\\natlsar.tripod.com and Elmore county is ecsar.home.att.net  If you want to send pictures to Evelyn, go to evelyn@issar.org. George Gunn thanked Evelyn in helping people to go through the computer. The State thanks her also.

Sheriff's Association, Sheriff Steve Southwick - Steve would like to pass on the appreciation of the sheriffs of the state for the Search & Rescue Units. At the last legislature, the Sheriff's Association was trying to get new sources of funding from off road vehicles for our reimbursement fund. They had serious opposition from the snowmobile association, so they decided to get better data. All of the search reimbursement forms go to him (Lincoln Co. Sheriff Steve Southwick, 111 West B. Shoshone, 83352). Out of 40 searches, there were 13 snow machines, 10 hunters. He would like to have all the searches sent in, even if you don't want to be reimbursed, so they can gather data to show the legislators. Just put a note on the form that you don't want to be reimbursed. At the ISA meeting in Twin Falls, they approved a new form with a lot more categories in hopes of being easier to fill out; from a 4 page to 2. We won't accept any requests except on this form. We're anticipating a bill to go after the hunting licenses separately, and the snow machines and ATV's. We don't want to do like California; they have the county pay for searches. We would like you to do for us is to get the legislators in your back pocket so that they know the people are behind them.

R. Knopp made the comment that there is a lot of misconception between different organizations. We need to distinguish what Search & Rescue is; what needs to be reimbursed out of the funds.

If we utilize the funds, Steve doesn't feel we will have any problems. We get 1% of the gas tax that goes to parks & Rec. (6 cents of every $1000). We get about $90,000 a year and we spend more than that. We have never had any monies go into the catastrophic fund. Regular reimbursement is up to $4,000. The equipment fund is functioning well. The training fund is being well used. If we work together it will make things better for everybody. Reimbursements should be in 90 days from the end of the search. Evident searches are not reimbursable. If it ain't on paper, it didn't happen.

District Reps:

Zone 3, Walt Charles -  As a district rep, we receive applications for reimbursements; where it was application for zone fund originally. It has been redesigned for application for reimbursement. He has a problem with that as the application that they received from northern Idaho has no receipts to show what it was spent for. On the application form that has been redesigned, it's situated as a zone reimbursement training fund, which means the receipts should be submitted before the state can reimburse the unit. Gordon Wothe made the motion to have receipts in hand for the training that has taken place before the unit can be reimbursed. Warney May seconded. Motion passed. Funds need to be ok-ed by 1st Vice. This money is only to bring in instructors.

Walt C. made the motion to give Elmore County $200 for the use of the convention plus the $300 from the training fund. Evelyn seconded. Motion passed.
Gooding County is having a seminar on GPS, June 29 at the fairgrounds. All are welcome.

Zone 2, DeLoy Braswell - Hasn't heard from anyone from his zone.

Zone 1, Marsha Davis - Excused

Training,  Charlie Bowers - as First Aid Coordinator for the Latah Council Units, mentioned they have done an excellent job in training on searches, but we have done very little on what to do when we find a person. He proposed to have annual hands on seminar of actual experiences in the field. Train members to be able to recognize what needs to be done for the lost person. He wanted to know if the rest of the state would be interested in a  regional seminar. JD Drury reminded everyone that the state use to have a first aid competition during the state convention with 3 problems to solve, one was CPR. Walt C agreed that the regional could possibly bring back more participation. Stan F agreed but he mentioned that the participation is dropping. If they are going to do it to arrange it with the state EMS and get it approved ahead of time and get credits for the classes. Continued Ed is the most important thing of our lives right now. Shirley Halford (Mini-Cassia) is an EMS instructor and there is a big push to get emergency people to be at least first aid certified or a first responder. There is an interest in a pre-hospital class called B TAC. We're getting approval from the state and it deals with quick act, how to deal with a person who needs medical attention right now, till the ambulance gets there. American heart is incorporating a new first aid program into their curriculum and she is in favor to have a regional program, it would be awesome.

Rod Knopp, Idaho Mtn. Search & Rescue: The whole EMS thing is very interesting and complex and changing. He urges every individual to focus your training on what your needs are in your area. Training opportunities with hands on are great.

Commander Dale suggested that the Zone Reps take that up in their own zones.

Unfinished business:

PSC Name Badge - Commander Dale gave Brent Lewis his badge for being commander in 94-95, as he wasn't at the last meeting.

New Business:

Everett Bogart Award: Brent Lewis explained the "Everett Bogart Memorial Award". It was to honor him for everything he had done. The award is given to the individual who does outstanding work in their SAR unit and State. In the past, we have only gotten one or two in a year. all the applicants that we have received will stay on the file for 2 years, that gives us a pool to pull from. The nomination can be sent to a committee person or to the officers. The person that was awarded for 2002 was Marsha Davis.

Application for Bonner County Sheriff Emergency Services Search & Rescue Unit to the State Association was approved. Gordon Wothe made the motion; Warney May seconded. Motion passed.

PSC Name Badge -John Wilson presented Dale Crowther with a Past Commander badge.

Elections Results:

Commander: Dale Crowther (Mini Cassia)

1st Vice: JD Drury (Franklin)

2nd Vice: Walt Rhodes (Bear Lake)

Quartermaster: Olivia Bailey (Bonner)

Communications: Marsha Davis (Kootenai)

Secretary: Norma Charles (Mini Cassia)

Future meetings:

National Search & Rescue Board Meeting will be hosted by JD Drury. Terry Stewart (2nd Vice) explained why units need to be a member of National.

2002 Fall Trailride will be hosted by Salmon SAR. Rick Pruett is in charge. 16 miles out of Salmon. There will be a GPS course. Labor Day weekend.

2003 Winter Meet will be hosted by Mini-Cassia.

2003 Summer Convention will be in Bonners Ferry.

Meeting adjournment motioned by Stan Fenn; seconded by Evelyn Courtney (Bonner), at 11:20 AM

Officers took Oath of Office after meeting.