ISSAR

Idaho State

Search And Rescue

2008 Summer Convention Minutes

 June 15^th, 2008

Bonners Ferry, ID - Hosted by Boundary Co.

Commander Brett Mackert called the meeting to order at 0910 hrs.

Happy Father’s Day.

Invocation was given by Dave Kramer.

Pledge of Allegiance was lead by Barry Pauls.

Roll call

Officers:

Commander Brett Mackert                                    Present

1^st Vice Commander Rick Pruett                           Present

2^nd Vice Commander Tony Funk                         Absent

Secretary Brian Lenz                                              Present

Treasurer/ Quartermaster Steve Clinkscales      Present

Communication Jim Gay                                        Present

8 counties being represented

Past State Commanders: Gordon Wothe asked to be excused

National officers present: none

A moment of silence was held for deceased or seriously ill members:

Former Sheriff Steve Southwick (Lincoln Co) passed away from a motorcycle accident in April. Steve had worked with ISSAR as the ISA liaison for several years. The ISSAR board members attended his viewing in Shoshone.

Hosting Unit Remarks, Don Stolley - Thanks for coming. We hope you had fun & learned a lot.

Commander Mackert - The training was great and was also fun.

Officer's Reports

Commander, Brett Mackert – Still working on getting funding for at least one vehicle to attend the state meets covered by the search reimbursement. This will ease the financial burden of trying to make it to state meetings and boost attendance.

1st Vice, Rick Pruett – I have been working with Brett on getting the search reimbursement fund to cover attending state meets. Also attended Steve Southwick’s viewing in Shoshone.

Secretary, Brian Lenz – no report

Treasurer, Steve Clinkscales - Steve reviewed the balances in the accounts, training fund $4,876.00, general fund $2,984.78, with a total current balance of $7,860.78. Copies of the report are available.

Communications, Jim Gay - Our licenses are in order. Idaho State EMS is providing grants for radios, paying to replace old radio equipment. One round of grants is over, but there will be another upcoming one. There are certain requirements that must be met. Contact Jim about getting a jump start on meeting the new requirements. This is an excellent opportunity to upgrade equipment. The unit must be NIMS compliant. ICS classes.

Unit Reports

Bannock, Steve Clinkscales- 6 searches in the first quarter of 2008; 1 extrication, 2 fire asst., 2 med asst, 25 police asst., 4 searches. Total 4,157 miles; 327.75 man hrs.

Idaho Mountain, Tom Kearney  – 8 missions; 1 recovery, 3 snowmobile searches

Boundary, Don Stolley – 1 evidence search

Franklin, Mike Oliverson- 3 searches; 2 snowmobile, 1 city assist in search for lost child. We did some training with Parks & Rec. Department & communication training. New rhino.

Fremont, Kent Daniels – Since the first of the year, we’ve had 9 snowmobile searches, 2 water searches. We did the Free Annual Fisherman’s Breakfast, serving over 5,000 people.

Latah, Josh Nelson – 1 search, an ATV who didn’t report back to camp, he had ran out of gas & walked back to camp.

Salmon, Rick Pruett – Since March meet, we’ve had 6 extrications, 1 was a semi on it’s side; 1 drowning involving a 3 mile pack out.

Lincoln, Jim Gay – 15 calls to respond to wrecks, 3 extrications; 4 wilderness survival runaways including one aggravated battery when a kid hit over head with wood splitting maul. We rescued 3 stranded snowmobilers, involved Idaho Power snowcat assistance. We lost our former Sheriff Steve Southwick.

Committee reports

Bylaws – no report

Web page, Dawn Lenz - I’ve been working on updating the resources page; working on getting new software implemented.

Brett proposed a new addition to the resources page, highlighting a unit’s training specialties potential. (GPS, Dog Training, Fast Water Rescue, etc.) This would be available on the website to help counties looking for training in specialized fields. Provide resource info, names & contact information, to Dawn.

Sheriff’s Association –

Legislative issue, Jim Gay- Search & rescue code has been moved from disaster services code to sheriff’s code. It now states that the sheriff is in charge of & commands ground search & rescue, & puts civil air patrol in charge of air searches. New wording defines search & rescue as any search for a lost person, doesn’t define SAR as it use to. Main area of concern, in the disaster services code the sheriff was responsible for all rescues; concern that this new wording may have diluted our responsibility & authority in that area.

Brett commented that there will be two aspects to an aircraft search. First, using air patrol to locate the party, then the sheriff’s part will come into effect & follow through with the ground portion of the event.

Scrapbook, Tony Funk – absent

Jr. Membership – nothing

Search Reimbursements, Brett Mackert  There is a new search reimbursement form, just issued last week. It includes a larger comment section to expand your narrative information. The Idaho Sheriff’s Association would like to see more information provided about the searches. Snowmobile search reimbursements come from a different funding source (missing snowmobilers vs. using snowmobiles as a vehicle for looking for missing individuals). Word format will be posted on website; a PDF format will follow in a short while.

Old Business:

Phone Solicitation Scam Update, Brett Mackert – working with Ada county officials, but long & short, we do not solicit for funds. What we can do is update your local law enforcement to keep them aware of this issue.

501c3 Status, Steve Clinkscales – individual units don’t have to file, the treasurer will file for the whole group. Steve will keep us notified of any status changes.

Everett Bogart Award – We can’t award the Everett Bogart Award at this time, as we don’t have any past recipients here. Please continue to submit your nominations. There are a lot of good people that deserve this award. Forms are available online.

Recess while Mitch Hansen conducted a financial audit.

Audit Report - An audit was done by Mitch Hansen and found all the books to be in proper form and well maintained.

New Business:

Award Presentation, Don Stolley – Jerry Colvin furnished a 2007-2008 Commanders plaque to be presented to Brett Mackert for his service to ISSAR. Brett thanked everyone & it was his pleasure to be involved in this wonderful organization. Thank you to Don & Jerry.

Elections, Don Stolley -Elections were held for new officers for 2008-2009. 

Results:

Commander - Brett Mackert, Fremont Co.

1^st Vice - Rick Pruett, Salmon

2^nd Vice - Mike Oliverson, Franklin Co.

Quartermaster/Treasurer - Steve Clinkscales, Bannock Co.

Communications - Jim Gay, Lincoln Co.

Secretary - Brian Lenz, Fremont Co.

Congratulations to all the officers.

Boundary County Sheriff Greg Sprungl swore the officers in.

Future meetings:

ISSAR Fall Trailride- hosted by Power County. Information will be posted on the web site.

ISSAR Winter meeting is open. We’re looking for a unit to step forward & host this meeting.

Fremont Co. offered to host the 2009 Summer Convention, which is the 40^th Anniversary of ISSAR.

National Summer Convention will be held next weekend in Montpelier, Bear Lake County.

National Fall Meet will be held in Pioche, NV on the 3^rd weekend (?) in September.

Again, thanks to Boundary County for the beautiful weekend & training.

With no further business, Commander Mackert entertained a motion to adjourn; seconded.

Meeting adjourned 10:30am.

Respectfully submitted,

Secretary Brian Lenz

Commander Brett Mackert