Volume 7, Issue 4
| Top of the Hill | Boots and Blisters | Business as Usual | |||||
| Who's Who and New | Bronze Boot | Feature Article | |||||
| Web News | Disclaimer/Copyright |
| Top of the Hill | by David Dixon , President |
After the war Rick came back to the States, married, went to college, then to law school. He lead a very good life of loving his wife, children and grandchildren. He was very good man. Sometimes bad things happen to good men though and when Rick was 50 prostate cancer struck. He was given less than a year. But he and his family were stronger than cancer and in two years with their help he was cancer free. Rick Rescola had fought another battle and won. This time he was a hero to his family.
Rick Rescorla was also a hard worker, and in 1998 after a distinguished law career he became Vice-President of Security for a firm in the World Trade Center, Building 2. It was a large company, 2700 people on 4 upper floors. In his new position he immediately saw the need for better evacuation procedures. He developed drills, and implemented those drills, incessantly. Most people probably didn't like them nor understood. Rick also warned of plane crashes and took that devastating possibility into account in his evacuation plans. On September 11th, right after the first plane hit, his drills became reality. His people started their well-practiced evacuation and, even though orders were given to all those in Building Two to stay put, he ignored those orders and continued. That head start and his planning made a difference. Every one of the employees of his company got down and out alive. Everyone but Rick. He died going back up to save others. Rick Rescorla was a hero again. And this time to 2700 people. People who now understood.
Today in Cornish men still sing. But they now sing of Rick Rescorla, a national hero. On a Sandia mission a few years ago I had my first "find". I should say my team did. A couple teen-agers who tried to do too much without enough and had to spend the night. It was a tough 12 hours on the west face in winter and I was proud of myself, although pretty beat up. But I wasn't in a war, or a holocaust, or fighting for my life. In the morning, when we reached the bottom a family member thanked me and said, "you're a hero". It was a good feeling, one of those that has helped keep me going with Cibola, now into grandpahood. It made me feel proud to be a search and rescue volunteer. But a hero, god know, Rick Rescorla is a hero.
This is one of the many stories from September 11th. Our hearts go out to all the Rick Rescorla's who died saving others.
It's time for the annual ESCAPE Search and Rescue Conference in May. Last year Cibola did not have as many attendees as we normally do and I would like to see more of us there this year. We usually have one of the highest team attendance. It's always a great time to learn, interact and this year see some fantastic northern New Mexico scenery at Philmont. We'll even reimburse you for some (most) of your expenses!
Stay humble but strong - and good searching.
| Boots and Blisters | by Aaron Hall, Training Officer |
The registration deadline is APRIL 15 so don't miss it! If you do it will cost you more, and you may have trouble getting the housing you want. You can get a copy of the registration form by contacting any of the Cibola officers, or by calling (505) 376-2281. Registration fees for the conference are $25 before April 15 and $30 after April 15. Housing options, from cabins to tent sites, and meals are available all at a nominal fee. Speaking of those expenses Cibola will reimburse members and prospectives up to $50 (with a $1000 team maximum) so there's no reason not to go! Just make sure you save your receipts to turn in.
This year's Escape conference will feature 30 different classes geared toward search and rescue. Here are some of the highlights: Wilderness Medicine Accepted Clinical Guidelines by Carl Gilmore (1.5 BLS CE's); Canines in Urban Search and Rescue; Amateur Radio Technician class Review; Amateur Radio Licensing Exam; Interview and Investigation Techniques; If a Body Falls in the Woods, Does it Make a Sound (Common Sense Crime Scene Operations); Searching for the Alzheimer's Patient; 4X4 and SUV for SAR Response; I'm Responsible for What? (Legal foundations for Search and Rescue); and lots more!. There will also be an opportunity to take the PACE exam, and the Amateur Radio Licensing Exam. Bottom line, Escape will be a lot of fun, and well worth the time.
We have a training and evaluation on Litter Handling Techniques in April. The Training is 9 a.m. Saturday the 13th at the Embudo trailhead (East end of Indian School) and the follow-up Evaluation two weeks later on the 27th at the same location. If you have any questions about how to use or handle a stokes litter or knots, April is the month to have them answered. Try to make both the Training and if you need it the Eval. Also remember that the Airport Disaster Drill is coming up on May 21st.
Finally, I want to say thanks to everyone who has helped me arrange trainings and evals lately, its a big job and the help really makes a difference. Also, we have two big training events coming up in the next few months and I'm going to need a lot of help to pull them off. The first is our annual Mock Search, I'd like to make this year's one to remember, so please see me or Steve Buckley if you are interested in helping to plan it. The second is our annual summer bivy, see me if you would like to help plan this.
| Business as Usual:Meeting Minutes | by Joyce Rumschlag, Secretary |
Premeeting mini-lesson was presented by Aaron Hall. He demonstrated and members practiced the knots that we are required to know.
David Dixon opened the meeting at 1915 with the introduction of officers and all others introduced themselves as we went around the room. He touched on old business dealing with litter protocol matters with AMRC. Pictures were taken with bronze boot awardees David Chapek, and Frances Robertson.. New members Lili Ziesmann and Stephen Hochmann were "patched".
Aaron reviewed the dates of trainings and evaluations coming up this month.
Aaron reported for treasurer Art Fischer that we received $500. in contributions and had expenses of $200.
Stephen Buckley had done 3 orientations this month. He corrected the date for the next business meeting to be on April 11 not Sunday April 14. He also reminded people about the upcoming PACE exam. We need mentors, please volunteer for this rewarding position.
Joyce Rumschlag brought up the point that often training officers are so concerned with getting members trained and evaluated that they often fail to be evaluated themselves therefore resulting in NFC being placed next to their name the month after there term is over. Discussion came from David Dixon suggesting that if the training officer (or anyone) does two evals a year, he/she would also be given credit for being evaluated. Aaron Hall suggested that it should be three evals. Since a fair number of seasoned members were not present further discussion of this issue was differed until the next meeting. It was also brought up how much if anything we should pay for WFRs to get their CEs. It was suggested that CSAR would pay half of the expenses. Financial reinbursements for members going to ESCAPE was voted on by the membership. By a vote of 8 to 0 it was decided that CSAR would pay up to $50 to each member attending ESCAPE up to a maximum of $1000. Receipts are necessary to receive any reinbusement.
We need a new sign up sheet for cache as well as Cibola stickers and patches. It was decided that we would order these items from business we have ordered from before to avoid set up fees.
David Dixon reminded members that any one can attend these meetings. They are held every other month on the last Wednesday.
| Who's Who and New | by Steven Buckley, Membership Officer |
| Bronze Boot | by David Dixon |
For her initiative and hard work to help others in need Lili is awarded the Bronze Boot this month. A big congratulations and thanks to Lili.
| Web News | by Czerzno Nyews |
| Feature Article: CISM, Part 2 --- Turn Signals Optional | by Joyce Rumschlag |
Whoa! Let's back up here a minute. "Appropriate?" Again, it's the fight of flight thing from out primitive brain that ensures our survival. The brain did interpret this as a threat to our existence. We're reluctantly aware that there is nothing that we can do. That helpless feeling is our realization that we have lost control of a situation that we are involved in. By recreating the situation and swerving in front of the offending driver and slamming on our brakes, we are perceiving ourselves as putting ourselves back in control. We have also repeated a truly stupid act and may very well have put ourselves and other innocent people in danger. Therefore, this also is not considered acceptable behavior.
Do you know what most people do? They proceed to their destination and the first person who asks how they are, gets the "stupidest driver" story. This is acceptable behavior and besides, who doesn't have one of these stories themselves? Talk out your stress. It helps until you can get the opportunity to work them out. Talking may also be an end in itself. It is truly a fortunate person who has a trusted friend or significant other who will listen to them without judgement or criticism. We all have emotions that cause us distress. They are natural responses to living. Talk about them, talk about them, and talk about them. That's the best and safest way to live with them.
Next month: Be prepared.
| Disclaimer and Copyright notice | the Editors |