NSGSARA  WEB SITE

NEWS

          On this page if you are running Internet Explorer the background music is 

"Farewell To Nova Scotia".  

 "Midi files sequenced by Lesley Nelson." 

Update:  26 May, 2005

Members Only Section  - The DRAFT Minutes for the February 2005 GM have been placed in the Members only section of the Site.  As well the minutes for the 2004 AGM have had DRAFT removed and have been made compliant to the corrections made when accepted by the Directors.

 

Next Meeting - GM for Saturday, June 04 and Sunday, June 05, 2005 -  The next General Meeting of the NSGSARA will be at Aldershot, as sent out by email to the Directors, earlier this Month.  The meeting will start at 1 pm on Saturday, after lunch at Aldershot.  The meeting will conclude by 12 noon on Sunday.

 

 

Updated: February 13, 2005

Members Only Section  - The Webmaster (/ President) has worked hard to meet a promise made to the Directors to the NSGSARA regarding old copies of minutes (i.e., non electronic copies) as well as newer copies, simply not entered.  I did not meet the timeline of year end of 2004, but I have a whole list of excuses ready.  In any case, it is now done and any GSAR member can access them in the "members only" section of this Website under "Minutes".  As well the " Draft " Minutes for the Annual General Meeting of 07 November, 2004 are now on the site.

- Opps ! In uploading the site I ran up against a barrier in the size of our Web Site...we have exceeded the size which has been allotted for us...for the short term I am going to try and make sure the latest minutes are present, I am cutting out the SARSCENE page which was incomplete, and I will ask our provider about getting more space this week, if possible.  Sorry, for the further delay...

 

 

Next General Meeting - The next meeting will be at Camp Aldershot on Saturday, February 26th starting at 1pm.  The meeting on Saturday will run to approx 5 pm.  There will be breakoff sessions on Saturday evening and the General Meeting will reconvene at 9 am on Sunday Morning.  The meeting is planned to adjourn by 12 noon.  The Vice-President Ann Theriault will be contacting all Diectors on times and information.  For those staying overnight, don't forget that this is not a hotel you need to take everything except bedding with you...towels, face cloth, shampoo, soap, alarm clock...etc.  Don't forget that the rooms have lockers and that any items you want to keep secure, if you take your own padlock with you, you can secure them in the locker.

 

 

 

Update: 10 October, 2004

 

Update - Apologies...First update of Website for a while...I don't have a real good excuse...but will try harder through the winter to keep it current.  Once the winter sets in it is a lot easier to spend the time in front of the computer.  Hopefully will have a lot of info to add after SARSCENE 2004 in Calgary, next week.

 

Members Only Section - For all GSAR Members in Nova Scotia, there were problems with the Internet Provider this summer and if you have found that the username and password you have no longer work...The problem has been fixed and the username and password you have are still valid, EXCEPT you have to use all lower case, NO CAPITALS.

 

The 2004 Fall Training Workshop and Annual General Meeting - The 2004 Fall Training Workshop will open at 09:00 am Saturday, November 06th, at CFB Aldershot in the Valley, the AGM will be at the same location on Sunday, November 7th, starting at 9am.

 

Travel for those teams in the Eastern Zone and those teams with greater than three hours travel will have accommodations available Friday Night at CFB Aldershot.  Those team members who are planning on arriving on Friday night, should notify a member of the Executive, no later than Wednesday of that week, so that we can ensure that we have enough rooms available.  Check this website for more information and updates before the Fall Training Workshop and AGM.

 

Each team Director can bring up to three additional team members, who will have meals and accommodations provided.  The NSGSARA can not pay for additional vehicles (Directors, Executive, Committee members are only vehicles covered for mileage) nor personnel.  If any of those wish to take their own vehicle, that is fine as long as they realize that no mileage, etc will be paid. 

 

If your team wants to send more than the three persons plus the Director (as well as Executive and NSGSARA Committee members), to attend the workshop and/or AGM this may be possible, but there would be no additional accommodations available and meals would be the responsibility of the individual.  Contact the President, no earlier than the last week of October to confirm.

 

Our Vice-President, Ann Theriaut, will be contacting all team Directors by phone to make sure they are aware of the increased number of personnel who can attend.

 

At this time, we can not confirm any of the opening speakers, presenters or presentations.  We have made arrangements for three classrooms at Aldershot, so there may be up to three different things going on at the same time.  Those attending will have to choose between three different presentations/workshops throughout the day.  One session, will be an overview of  SARSCENE 2004, by some of those in attendance.  There may also be a workshop on how to plan a training exercise.  We should also have the first workshop for the Directors who have agreed to work on the Safety Committee.  Where the presenters time permits, we may be able to repeat some sessions.

 

IMPORTANT:  There is no liquor allowed in the rooms and barracks!  There is a 'mess' where liquor can be purchased and consumed, and it will be available to us.  Although conditions may be somewhat relaxed for the GSAR Members, please be aware that we must follow the rules of the base. 

 

If the facilities are as reasonable as we have heard, the Directors agree and the facilities continue to be available to us, we may be able to return to three or more meetings in 2005.

 

The AGM will also have the elections for President, Treasurer, for two year terms, and the election for Secretary to finish out the one year term.

          Updated: 28 March, 2004

General Meeting - The first General Meeting of the NSGSARA for 2004, will take place at the Debert Hospitality Center on Saturday, April 03rd, starting at 1pm and on Sunday, April 04th, ending by 12 noon.  This meeting will have the normal format of a two day meeting, with a Breakoff Session on Saturday evening after supper.

 

If you have questions or have not been to this location before please contact the Webmaster for Information.

 

 

Updated: 15 February, 2004

 

From The Webmaster - This is the first update of the Web Site for 2004.  For those of you visiting our site for the first time, welcome.  For those who are visiting again, welcome back.  There should be more updates this year to the site, to keep it up to date, check back and see.  Comments are very welcome, as there is not a lot of feedback, especially from GSAR members, on what they want to see and need from the site.  The "Members Only" Site has had more work and all of the Team Contact Lists are up-to-date.  If you are a member of a GSAR Team in Nova Scotia, you should have access to the Member's Only Site.  If you do not have the user name and password, contact the Director to the GSAR from your team.

 

There is also a new page in the "Members Only" section, Directors to the Association and team members should check out, it has news and info for you.

 

NSGSARA Committees - The NSGSARA Executive is searching for GSAR Team Members to assist the Provincial Association. 

 

Some background information:   The NSGSARA, as a Society, does not have individual memberships.  The GSAR Teams in Nova Scotia are the only members.  The teams have one Director to the Association to represent them.  The Executive, is picked by the Directors from among their number.  So, there are no additional members to assist in Association business.

 

The Directors to the NSGSARA from the 24 member teams are typically involved in the operational, business, and executive parts of their own team, so any additional time for the NSGSARA is limited.  GSAR Team Members, who were not Directors, but were members of member teams, have taken on jobs for the NSGSARA.  So there are precedents for this request.

 

There is a need to formalize our committee system and to create a limited number of standing committees.  For example; Bylaws, Nominating, Finance and AGM Committees. 

 

If you would be interested in volunteering some time to assist the Provincial Association and you are a member of a Nova Scotia GSAR Team, please contact your Team's Director or the NSGSARA Executive.     

 

Memorandum Of Understanding [MOU] - The MOU with Parks Canada, EMO(NS) and the NSGSARA will be signed on Wednesday, 03 March, 2004.  The President of the NSGSARA, Charlie Strickland will sign for the Association.  A phone poll was performed by the Vice-President, Ann Theriault, as permitted by a motion passed at the AGM.  There was a clear majority from the Directors to proceed with both this and the first Municipal Police Department.  Nothing new at this time re the Police MOU.

 

This will be the first MOU between Parks Canada and a provincial GSAR Asssociation in Canada.  Another first for Nova Scotia.
  

 Updated: 27 July, 2003

WEB Site - UPDATE - The revision of the WEB Site has started.  This is the first step in getting every page revised and 100% current.  The "What's New" button has been removed, all new information will be on the "News" page.  A new "Training" button has been added on both the Public Site and the Members Only Section.  New style "Buttons" have  been added to all pages, similar to the ones on this page. 

 

Updated: 17 April, 2003

WEB Site - UPDATE - The "NSGSARA WEB Site "Members Only" section is open for business!!!  Thanks to PCHG, our Internet Provider, for their hard work in getting this Password Protected area up and running.  There were some difficult technical problems but they have got it working.  Username and Password will be available through your home Team's NSGSARA Director and Team Executive.

 

1.  Individual Search Team Members are asked to please not give the access to anyone who is not a member of their team. 

2.  Police Agencies (RCMP or Municipal) in your Teams Area can have access granted through the local team Executive, where there is a need.

3   EMO have been given access by the NSGSARA Executive.

4.  Any requests for access to the Members Only part of the WEB Site from inside Nova Scotia by persons or agencies other than searchers, police and EMO should be referred to the NSGSARA Executive.

5.  Any requests from outside Nova Scotia for Access must be referred to the NSGSARA Executive.

 

Comments, suggestions, action pictures (Search Pictures) are requested for the WEB Site. 

 

Contact the Webmaster

Updated: 12 April, 2003

WEB Site - The Members Only part of the site continues to be a problem.  The NSGSARA Webmaster has requested our internet provider to use any "Username" and "Password" if that would make it easier and quicker.  So we could have access.  Unfortunately this is not the problem.  There is a problem in the server itself and they are having problems getting it to work with the password control.  The Executive continues to follow up on this and as soon as there is access the message will be found here, after we have sent an email to all the Team Directors to the NSGSARA with the access information.  The message here will tell you that there is access and that all the NSGSARA Directors will be receiving the info.  The EMO and Police access will be given access directly by the Executive.  This is for access by the NSGSARA contacts and liaison personnel...If your team wishes to provide access to any local RCMP,  Municipal Police that is at the discretion of the local team Executive.  Individual members are requested not to provide anyone with the access to the Members Only site to anyone not a GSAR member.  Anyone requesting the username and password to this site, from a GSAR member, by someone not a GSAR member should be directed to the local team's Executive. 

Updated: 08 March, 2003

WEB Site - The Members Only part of the WEB Site has been rebuilt since the problems our problems.  If you select the members button the pop-up should appear asking for your 'Username' and 'Password'.  The previous Passwords and Usernames you had... will no longer work.  The new username and password will be given out through the Director from your team to the NSGSARA.  There is a slight delay (had hoped the info would go out with the last meeting minutes) as the Provider has not yet put in the Username and Password we requested.  Hopefully we will receive an update and the new info ASAP.

WEB Site - When you gain access to the 'Members Only' Section of the WEB Site, you will find that the 'Admin' button now works and this will take you to the page for the 'Admin Manual'.  The start of the Admin Manual is complete with all of the pages included in the draft shown to the Directors at the February General Meeting.

Updated: 11 January, 2002

WEB Site - Welcome back... We had some issues and related problems with the WEB Site and it was not up-to-date.  The issues have been resolved and the public site is well on the way to being completely current.  The Members Only Site is next.  Please contact the WEB Master if you are experiencing any problems or if there is something that you would like to see here.  It will be recorded here in "NEWS" when the Members Only Site is accessible.

  SARSCENE Button - The button in the frame, will take you to a page which is under construction.  This was a page for info on the "upcoming" SARSCENE 2002, which took place in September 2002, in Halifax, Nova Scotia.  It is being modified to hold information from that Workshop.

  Valley Search And Rescue (VSAR) - We have a new link under the "Team List" and "Links" buttons.  Valley Search And Rescue has created a very professional looking site which you should visit.  Congratulations Valley on a first class job.  Shortcut !...go directly there now... click  VALLEY SAR

11 December, 2001

Background Music - The NSGSARA Web Site now has background music on many of the pages.  The music is all on ".mid" aka "midi" files, that is electronic or synthesized music.  The particular music you will encounter is folk music from Scotland, Ireland, Wales and England (with a little from North America).  The problem with putting music on any Web Site is that you could use copyrighted material and that could bring legal problems.  This older or traditional folk music is in the public domain.  There can still be a problem with this music, as although it is in the public domain, the work in sequencing or creating it isn't!  In this particular case it can be used if credit is given to the person who sequenced it and/or linking to the Web Site.  Before using music on your site or page always check to see if it can be used and/or what the requirements are.

The music is a test.  I would appreciate your comments on what you think of it, good or bad.  I tried to pick some lively songs which reflect the NSGSARA site as Nova Scotian and as being "New Scotland".   Please understand that there are only so many songs to pick from.  It is set to play only once when the page opens, so it won't be too annoying for those who don't care for music, I hope.  If you want to hear a particular song over again, just hit the refresh button on the toolbar of whatever browser (i.e., Netscape, Explorer) you are on.  If you think that the song should run continuously let me know. Comments to:  searchr@pchg.net

New Link - Check the "LINKS" button, and on that page you will find a new link to "Folk Music".  This is where all the songs in use on our site came from.  Many of the songs have a separate page with the word/lyrics, the song is downloadable and the history of the song as well as additional links have been provided.  Enjoy!