President: Casey Samsill
Good day all, as always, my prayer is that each of you and your family are having a blessed year. What a year we have had with BRCST, the purpose of this newsletter is to summarize the activity from this last year, so that you are up to date with your organization. Also attached is an excellent article from Pam Higgins, the leader of animal retrieval team.
Our first meeting was in February, which involved discussion with Coconino county sheriffs representative about our desire to create a search organization, after that meeting, we realized, that the requirements the sheriff’s department had were unrealistic for our organization. Next, at our March meeting we began the creation of BRCST, this included establishing the name, Blue Ridge Community Support Team, electing officers, creating a bank account, phone number, and a PO box. At our next meeting, teams were established to begin the creation of our website, charter, and separate entities within, personnel and animal search, vehicle retrieval, CERT, and community welfare. In review, I have to pause and say thank you to so many for all their efforts in creation of BRCST, Rod, Emily, Ken, Kathy, Pam, Cal, Mike H., Brian, Nicole, Jess, Jim C., Dick, JR, and many more. At this time we realized the importance of establishing the heart of this organization, our community welfare division.
Our training team(Jim, Dick, Cal, and Pam) has been extremely busy this year, with coordinating medical training through BRFD ,twice, mock personnel searches, CERT training, animal search training. Nicole has done an amazing job in keeping us organized and establishing our personnel list, and meeting minutes. Thank you Nicole, for all your efforts.
This year we have had 4 vehicle retrievals, 3 lost animal searches, with two retrievals, and 1 personnel search, fortunately she notified family of her location the next morning. Many were involved in these efforts, Calvin, JR., Mike B., Pam, Dick, and more. The community outreach has been very busy, with reorganization of the community medical teams storage building, organizing the outreach meeting for CCP 3&7, 4 5&6, fire coverage luncheon. Also behind the scene help has been accomplished for neighbor’s in need.
Many members have been involved in spreading our name recognition at community events and expanding our group. Currently we are sending notice to all neighbors on the mountain that we will assist in emergency notification during the winter if notified thru the county emergency division. We have become well known as the GO TO entity when there is a need on the mountain, also our CERT training accomplished in September has established a close tie with the Sherriff’s department, their comment was when there is a need, they will contact us. Also, the last personnel search was a need sent to us by Blue Ridge Fire Department, this leads to better notification to BRCST when BRFD is contacted by the county.
All this has been accomplished in less than 9 months, thank you all for your involvement, and a special thank you for each of you directly involved with BRCST becoming a community entity, you know who you are.
Be sure to check out Pam’s article on “Best way to find a lost dog in the woods“.
Casey Samsill