ISSAR

Idaho State

Search And Rescue

2009 Summer Convention Minutes

 July 12^th, 2009

Mill Creek Campground, Island Park, ID - Hosted by Fremont Co.

Commander Brett Mackert called the meeting to order at 0900 hrs.

Invocation was given by Jay Henson

Pledge of Allegiance was lead by Rick Pruett

Roll call

Officers:

Commander Brett Mackert                               Present

1^st Vice Commander Rick Pruett                      Present

2^nd Vice Commander Mike Oliverson              Present

Secretary Brian Lenz                                         Present

Treasurer/ Quartermaster Steve Clinkscales     Present

Communication Jim Gay                                   Present

10 counties being represented

Past State Commanders present: Cole Colvin, Stan Fenn, Gordon Wothe, Brent Lewis, JD Drury, and Brent Lewis.

National officers present: Commander Mike Oliverson, Secretary Marie Wothe, Communications Kay Stillwell.

Past National Commanders present were Gordon Wothe, Marie Wothe, JD Drury, Sandra Drury, Brent Lewis, Ot Lemm, C Lemm, Cole Colvin and Jerry Colvin,

A moment of silence was held for deceased or seriously ill members. Virginia Bogart passed away this last year. Al Cantill passed away.

Hosting Unit Remarks, Brett Mackert: "Thanks for coming out, hope you enjoyed yourselves & learned a lot. Also, my thanks to Fremont Rescue members for their labor & expertise in putting this meet together."

Sheriff Len Humphries welcomed ISSAR to Fremont County and expressed his thanks for all that you do. He then read a letter from the family of Lance Glen Jensen, who recently drowned while swimming at the St. Anthony sandbar.

Unit Reports

Bannock, Steve Clinkscales- no report

Bear Lake, - upcoming salmon BBQ on July 25^th in Bear Lake/St. Charles

Idaho Mountain, - 11 missions, 1,115 hours, 6,085 miles, 3 hours of training for every hour in the field. General training/ medical training/specialty training including K-9, technical rescue, tracking Total= 3,159 training hours. You can read about details in newsletters. Have been doing inter-agency training, two 10-hour search manager classes in Challis & Cascade. We sponsored 16 hour man-tracking class, with 6 search & rescue teams participating in McCall. If you’re interested, Joel Hardin is offering a man-tracking class in Stanley, spaces are still available. We had some interesting searches involving the Idaho Army National Guard hoist helicopter, as well as an On-Star search. On September 26, we will celebrate 60 years of continuous service. Our 5 year recertification is coming up.

Bonneville, Stan Fenn - no report

Boundary, Don Stolley – it’s been quiet

Franklin, JD Drury – a few call-outs, campground patrol, waterways, security, traffic control. A spray plane on its top. JD also commented on the letter read by Sheriff Humphries, regarding the young man that drowned in St. Anthony. The family is from Franklin County and JD expressed a sincere thank you, and stated how impressed the family is with Search & Rescue.

Fremont, Jerah Martindale – We’ve had several searches, snowmobiles, snowshoes, suicide, stranded swimmers, sandbar drowning, rivers are running high with undertows, cautioned of dangers.

Salmon, Rick Pruett – Since our winter board meeting, we’ve had 6 extrications, 3 vehicles in river, 1 stranded motorist, 1 lost person, 1 lost floater. We utilized the Resource page on the website for assistance from 4 members of Idaho Mountain and 2 Bonneville High Angle Rescue team. 2 days of medical assist at motocross races, duck race, demolition derby, 4^th of July parade, and Father’s Day weekend displayed our gear at the car show.

Lincoln, Jim Gay – 12 wreck calls, 2 extrication calls, 1 down aircraft – ELT false alarm, a 7-year-old girl drowning at the sandbar at Shoshone City Park. We also utilized the Resource page on the website & obtained assistance from Cassia County Dive Rescue, as well as Twin Falls SAR. Cooperation between the units has been fantastic.

Power, Pete Williams – One land search, 4-5 river rescues due to higher than normal river levels.

Yesterday, we held our annual Salmon BBQ. Upcoming MIA/POW breakfast. Upcoming fundraiser for one of our members/firefighter who has been suffering some health issues due to his pacemaker. “Gil”- keep him in your prayers.

Officer's Reports

Commander, Brett Mackert – We’ve had one of our members, Richard Birch, develop a program to help calculate search reimbursements/ billing. Thanks to him and his time & effort, writing over 1000 lines of code to get this configured. It’s an open office system. We will discuss how to use this program a little later.

1st Vice, Rick Pruett – been busy trying to put up a new building. Actively working as the Special Olympics coordinator in Salmon.

2^nd Vice, Mike Oliverson – Has been working on the past commander scrapbook, trying to get up to date. There were 7 missing PSC’s, and he’s got 3 done, 4 to go (Pete, Brett, etc.) Attended the National Search & Rescue meeting in American Falls and was elected Commander. Been working with JD on the ISSAR Fall Trailride in September, hopes everyone can attend. Thanks for your help with Rochelle while she’s been hobbling.

Secretary, Brian Lenz – no report

Communications, Jim Gay -  The change-over to narrow band is coming. Make friends with your disaster services rep. 2009 is devoted to communications equipment upgrades on homeland security dollars. Funds could be depleted quickly. Don’t put it off.

Treasurer, Steve Clinkscales -  Financial report as of June 30, 2009: Training Fund $5,856.11, General Fund $443.45. Total = $6,299.56

Quartermaster, Steve – sold ~$600 supplies today

Committees

Bylaws – no changes

Web page, Dawn Lenz- get resource page info to Dawn to be posted on web

Sherriff’s Association, Sheriff Len Humphries- we are grateful to SAR

Legislative, Brett Mackert –just to recap, we spoke last meeting about a wording change, simply changed from “every person that is a member” to “who is a volunteer emergency responder”.

Also, spoke about the Workman’s comp policy/ death benefit policy. Each unit should look at & understand how to handle, if needed. The death benefit policy is NOT a large sum of money – strongly suggest that we revisit this issue when the state is more financially solvent to increase this amount.

Search Reimbursements- Brett Mackert: Spoke in Officer’s Report regarding a new program that will help simplify the process of filling out/submitting form. Hopefully we can finish up a few glitches on it, like how to have the sheriff electronically sign it and get everyone trained to use it, and post on the webpage. Some units are not filing for search reimbursement. Money is available for hours of labor & equipment.

Everett Bogart Award - The Everett Bogart award was awarded to Don & Edith Stolley from Boundary County for their years of dedication & service. Congratulations Don & Edith.

Old Business:

Minutes- motion was made to accept minutes. Seconded. Carried.

New Business:

Election Committee, JD Drury and Gordon Wothe -Elections were held for new officers for 2009-2010. 

Results were:

Commander: Rick Pruett, Salmon

1^st Vice: Jim Gay, Lincoln

2^nd Vice: Smokey Gould, Fremont

Quartermaster/Treasurer Steve Clinkscales, Bannock

Communications: Burt Bates, Fremont

Secretary Brian Lenz, Fremont

Congratulations to all the new officers.

Motion was made to destroy the ballets, seconded, carried.

Thanks went out to Brett Mackert for his past 2 years of service. Brent Lewis presented Brett with a service award on behalf of the membership. Brett expressed his gratitude for this organization and spoke of his belief in what a positive influence it is.

Motion to appropriate funds to purchase a voice recorder, seconded, carried.

New officers were sworn in by Sheriff Humphries.

Future meetings:

Fall Trailride- hosted by Franklin County. Information is currently posted on the web site.

Winter meeting is open (Boundary may take this meeting with unit approval).

Need host for the Summer Convention for 2010.

National Meeting in Salmon at the Eagles Lodge – Sep. 19 weekend. Friday evening registration, Saturday morning meeting & lunch. Afternoon Dog training. Camping is available, if needed, at Rick’s place.

Meeting adjourned.