ESCAPE 2016 - Highlights
A GREAT CONFERENCE "UP NORTH"
This year’s ESCAPE event was held at the Buffalo Thunder Resort & Casino just north of Santa Fe. About 137 volunteers from 27 New Mexico teams attended this year’s event either as participants or instructors or both! We had 38 instructors help us sharpen our SAR skills and learn new ones over the three-day event. And we had a number of guests and folks from other SAR-related organizations, too. The weekend’s events left us with 30 new Field Certified volunteers. Four individuals passed their HAM exam and another upgraded to the General License.
Special guests included Robert Rodgers, State Resource Officer, Bryan Enberg of NASAR, Paul French of the SAR Volunteer Association of Canada, and Herb Kincey (NMSARC’s Honorary Member). Herb shared his experiences with SAR in New Mexico from the early 1970s at lunch on Saturday. And Paul French introduced the new Hug a Tree video, designed to help children be safe in the wilderness.
We also had vendors this year! SearchGear traveled all the way from San Diego to be with us and brought a huge assortment of SAR necessities. And Rescue Tactics and Training from Albuquerque also attended. Exhibits included PHI Air Medical, Civil Air Patrol, NMSARC Communications, and the NMSARC Mapping Program, one of our best kept secrets.
We also recognized our fallen heroes: Donald Fenstermacher (NM SAR Support Team); David Hail Travis (Bootheel SAR); and K-9s Zatoichi (Handler Delinda VanneBrightyn), Abbey (Handlers Terry Morton & Drew Johnson) and Jackie (Handler Sarah Crothers).
This year’s ESCAPE event was held at the Buffalo Thunder Resort & Casino just north of Santa Fe. About 137 volunteers from 27 New Mexico teams attended this year’s event either as participants or instructors or both! We had 38 instructors help us sharpen our SAR skills and learn new ones over the three-day event. And we had a number of guests and folks from other SAR-related organizations, too. The weekend’s events left us with 30 new Field Certified volunteers. Four individuals passed their HAM exam and another upgraded to the General License.
Special guests included Robert Rodgers, State Resource Officer, Bryan Enberg of NASAR, Paul French of the SAR Volunteer Association of Canada, and Herb Kincey (NMSARC’s Honorary Member). Herb shared his experiences with SAR in New Mexico from the early 1970s at lunch on Saturday. And Paul French introduced the new Hug a Tree video, designed to help children be safe in the wilderness.
We also had vendors this year! SearchGear traveled all the way from San Diego to be with us and brought a huge assortment of SAR necessities. And Rescue Tactics and Training from Albuquerque also attended. Exhibits included PHI Air Medical, Civil Air Patrol, NMSARC Communications, and the NMSARC Mapping Program, one of our best kept secrets.
We also recognized our fallen heroes: Donald Fenstermacher (NM SAR Support Team); David Hail Travis (Bootheel SAR); and K-9s Zatoichi (Handler Delinda VanneBrightyn), Abbey (Handlers Terry Morton & Drew Johnson) and Jackie (Handler Sarah Crothers).
During the General Meeting:
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Many thanks to this year’s ESCAPE Track Leads:
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We welcomed many new members to the NMSARC Board this year:
Aimee Adamek (Atalaya SAR), Michaela Buenemann (DACSAR, OMTRS), Terry Morton (NM Working K-9s, Santa Fe SAR), and Verena Weissenborn (AMRC), all Board appointees this year, were elected to full three-year terms. In addition, three new members were elected: David Price (OMTRS), Eric Roybal (Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Posse), and Sean McGann (Mountain Canine Corps). With our three continuing board members (Roberta Armstrong, Mary Walker, and Larry Zentner), this brings the Board to 10! The NMSARC Board is considering options in the south for ESCAPE 2017. Keep an eye on the NMSAR Forum for updates regarding next year’s event!
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SILENT AUCTION SPONSORS
The council especially thanks Barbara Zabriskie for her assistance with the Silent Auction, which raised more than $3,000 to support NMSARC activities.
The following donated or solicited items for this year’s silent auction:
Aimee Adamek; Angel Fire SAR; Atrisco Cafe & Bar; Barbara Zabriskie; Best of Friends; Big 5 Sporting Goods; Capitol Ford Lincoln - Santa Fe; Creative Designs – Alamogordo; Dayna Dominguez; Dogology--Delinda VanneBrightyn; Eclectics Art Gallery; Eddy County SAR; Eldorado Country Pet & Wild Bird; Ernestine M. Valdez; Five Star Burgers; Friend(s) of NM SAR; Harry's Roadhouse; Hilton Buffalo Thunder; Insight Fused Glass-Maria McGrane & Rick Allen; Jinja Bar & Bistro; John Brooks Eldorado Supermarket; Kathy Olshefsky; Larry Zentner; Mary Walker; Michael Pekarcik; New Mexico Search & Rescue Council; NM Mounted SAR; NM Working K9s/East Mtn K9 Search Team; Pecos Trail Café; REI New Mexico; Rescue Tactics and Training; Robert Valdez; Ruffwear; Santa Fe Bar and Grill; Santa Fe Big R Store; Santa Fe Brewing; Search Gear; Second Street Brewery; Spenser Moreland; Roberta Armstrong; Tao Amateur Radio Club; Yvonne Gillespie
The council especially thanks Barbara Zabriskie for her assistance with the Silent Auction, which raised more than $3,000 to support NMSARC activities.
The following donated or solicited items for this year’s silent auction:
Aimee Adamek; Angel Fire SAR; Atrisco Cafe & Bar; Barbara Zabriskie; Best of Friends; Big 5 Sporting Goods; Capitol Ford Lincoln - Santa Fe; Creative Designs – Alamogordo; Dayna Dominguez; Dogology--Delinda VanneBrightyn; Eclectics Art Gallery; Eddy County SAR; Eldorado Country Pet & Wild Bird; Ernestine M. Valdez; Five Star Burgers; Friend(s) of NM SAR; Harry's Roadhouse; Hilton Buffalo Thunder; Insight Fused Glass-Maria McGrane & Rick Allen; Jinja Bar & Bistro; John Brooks Eldorado Supermarket; Kathy Olshefsky; Larry Zentner; Mary Walker; Michael Pekarcik; New Mexico Search & Rescue Council; NM Mounted SAR; NM Working K9s/East Mtn K9 Search Team; Pecos Trail Café; REI New Mexico; Rescue Tactics and Training; Robert Valdez; Ruffwear; Santa Fe Bar and Grill; Santa Fe Big R Store; Santa Fe Brewing; Search Gear; Second Street Brewery; Spenser Moreland; Roberta Armstrong; Tao Amateur Radio Club; Yvonne Gillespie
FINANCIAL SPONSORS
We had many wonderful financial sponsors this year; many not only assisted us financially but also donated items for the Silent Auction.
We had many wonderful financial sponsors this year; many not only assisted us financially but also donated items for the Silent Auction.
- Platinum Level ($600 or more): Hilton Santa Fe Buffalo Thunder; Mechdyne Corporation; NASAR; and two significant anonymous contributions
- Gold Level ($300 - $600): Albuquerque Mountain Rescue Corp; Eubank Animal Clinic; New Mexico Mounted SAR; Organ Mountain Technical Rescue Squad; and Santa Fe Search and Rescue
- Silver Level ($150 - $300): Gordon Groff, CPA PC; Long Leash on Life; and two anonymous sponsors
- Bronze Level ($50 - $149): Avenger Way Self Storage; Cibola SAR; Ruidoso Animal Clinic; and Toyota of Santa Fe
ESCAPE Photo Gallery
courtesy of Chris Nail, Santa Fe
courtesy of Chris Nail, Santa Fe
Emergency? Call 911 | New Mexico Search and Rescue Council | P.O. Box 3396 | Albuquerque, NM 87190 | [email protected]