BOARD MEMBERS
The NMSARC board consists of up to eleven members, who are elected at large by voting delegates as defined in Article IV of the bylaws.  The board may appoint a non-voting committee member with areas of appropriate expertise or experience.  The board is empowered to conduct all business of the council to include but not limited to organizing and conducting training, collection of dues, distribution of information or any purpose stated in Article II.   No more than two representatives of any council member team shall serve on the board at one time, including Individual Members who may also be team members of an organizational member.  If you are interested in serving the NMSAR community in a statewide function, then consider running for the NMSARC board.  Please send your letter of intent and SAR resumé to the NMSARC secretary.
All NMSARC board meetings are open to the public; please see the Events page for more details. 
While the Board is an important part of the Council it would be nothing without its Member Teams. Thank you to all the Member Teams who answer the call in the middle of the night!  - NMSARC BOARD
NMSARC BOARD MEMBERS
Currently Serving:
Lauri Dodge, Cibola SAR (2027)
Marina Hein, Socorro SAR (2026)
Robert Garcia, OMTRS (2026)
Betsy McLelland,  New Mexico Mounted SAR ​(2026)
Art Fischer, Sandia Search Dogs (2027)
Peter Kane, Mesilla Valley SAR (2027)
Andy Montgomery (2025)
Robert Garcia
Board Chair
NMSARC Chair 2023 - Current

Organ Mountain Technical Rescue Squad
Joined NMSAR 2010

Field Coordinator District 4&8

SAR Background
Hiking, Kayaking & Canoeing, Camping, Overlanding, Climbing, Range Sports, Scuba Diving, Ice Climbing.
Started as Technical Ropes and Communications, went into Tracking and IMT after that. Became an FC when there was a need in the local area.
 
SAR Interests
Integrating Technology into SAR & Implementing Caltopo
Make SAR less stressful on our Searchers
Betsy McLelland
Board Vice-CHair
NM SAR Vice-Chair 2023

NM SAR Membership Lead

New Mexico Mounted SAR
2014 to present.

Current President of NMMSAR

SAR Background
I’m a lifelong horsewoman who loves the outdoors and helping others. Being a member of search and rescue has allowed me to put all the things I love together. It’s a great way to serve my community and meet extraordinary people.

SAR Interests
Learning and implementing new skills.
Lauri Dodge
BOARD Treasurer
NMSAR Treasurer 2024

NMSAR Operations Section Chief

Cibola SAR Team

SAR Background

Incident Management Team (IMT) as Ops Section Chief
Snowshoe Instructor (US Nt’l Champion Age Group Snowshoe racer 2020 & 2021)
 Ground Pounder, 4x4/ATV Team, ELT/PLB Team
 
SAR Interests
Continue to grow as IMT, Supplement Caltopo knowledge for field teams, Assist with winter training for teams, Learn more about AI and technology for SAR
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Art Fischer
BOARD MEMBER
2024 - Current

SAR Background

Cibola Search & Rescue
2000 – 2010 (Estimated)
Ground Search & Rescue
 Vehicle 4 x 4

Sandia Search Dogs
2000 - Present
Canine Search & Rescue
Multiple Certified Canines (Current Dog is Loke)
Escape Instructor
IMT Operations Section Chief

 
SAR Interests
Canine SAR training (human remains detection, live find air scent), non-SAR dog training (agility, obedience, etc.), hiking, backpacking, camping, diving, travel

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Marina Hein
BOARD Secretary
NMSAR Secretary

NMSAR Media Manager 

Socorro SAR Team

SAR Background

Marina is an ecologist who spends much of her time working in rugged conditions throughout
the southwest and beyond. Along the way she became a certified Wilderness First Responder.
She joined Socorro Search and Rescue in 2020 to help her community in a tangible way.
 
SAR Interests
Tracking
Wilderness medicine
Peter Kane
Board Chair
Mesilla Valley Search and Rescue (MVSAR)

Joined NMSAR 2020

SAR Background
 
Communications Team (KI5YIE), Tracking Team (certified level II Tracker), UTV team and of course
ground pounder. I also support the administration of MVSAR by backing up the treasurer responsibilities and grant writing as needed.
 
SAR Interests

After 40 plus years as a defense contractor and corporate leader, SAR was my choice to give back to
the community. I try to leverage learning opportunities and technology to improve my personal
contribution as well as the broader team’s ability to execute SAR missions.
Art Fischer
BOARD MEMBER
2024 - Current

SAR Background

Santa Fe Search and Rescue Group
2022 to present

Team Secretary

Ground pounder, field team leader
Avid hiker, backpacker, trail maintenance worker
​
 
SAR Interests
Searching for and rescuing lost or injured persons


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OFFICERS
CHAIR  - Robert Garcia -   [email protected]
VICE CHAIR - Betsy McLelland - [email protected]
SECRETARY  - Marina Hein - [email protected]
TREASURER  -  Lauri Dodge - [email protected]
COMMITTEES
ESCAPE  CHAIR  -  Larry Zentner  -  [email protected]
CALTOPO​ - Bob Howell -   [email protected]
MEMBERSHIP  -  Betsy McLelland-  [email protected]
COMMUNICATIONS   -  [email protected]
TRAINING  -  - [email protected]
OFFICER RESPONSIBILITIES
  • CHAIR: To open the session at the time at which the assembly is to meet; calling the members to order; to announce the business before the assembly in the order in which it is acted upon; to recognize members entitled to the floor; to state and put to a vote all questions which are regularly moved, and to announce the result of the vote; to protect the assembly from annoyance from evidently frivolous or dilatory motions by refusing to recognize them; to assist in expediting business in every way compatible with the rights of the members; to restrain the members when engaged in debate within the rules of order; to enforce on all occasions the observance of order and decorum; among the members; to authenticate, by his or her signature, when necessary, all the acts, orders, and proceedings of the assembly declaring its will and in all things, obeying its commands.  The Chair/President will normally only vote in the case of a tie vote on an issue.
  • VICE-CHAIR: In the event the Chair/President is unable to carry out the duties of the Chair, it shall fall upon the responsibility of the Vice-Chair/Vice-President.  The Vice-Chair/Vice-President shall have all voting rights and privileges as any member of the Board of Directors.
  • SECRETARY: Responsible for keeping all records of the organization and its meetings; to keep a register, or roll, of the members and to call the roll when required; to notify officers, committees, and delegates of their appointments, and to furnish committees all papers associated with them; to send out proper notices of all called meetings, and other meetings when necessary, and to conduct the correspondence of the organization, except as otherwise provided.
  • TREASURER:  Acts as the banker for the organization, merely holding funds deposited with him/her and paying them out on the order of the organization, signed by the President or the Secretary; to make an annual report to the organization; should submit all records to an auditor, or an auditing committee, if so required.
Emergency?  Call 911  |  New Mexico Search and Rescue Council  |  P.O. Box 3396  |  Albuquerque, NM  87190  |  [email protected]