MASAR Spring Gathering Saturday May 8 SERE School Rangeley

 The following is from Jim Bridge the MASAR (Maine Association of Search & Rescue)  Education director. FSAR is helping to organize the annual MASAR conference which will be held in Rangeley. Last year's conference was held at Sunday River, it was at Acadia the year before. This year's conference will only be a 1 day event (2-3 days in the past). Steve Yates will likely need additional assistance in making arrangements, please contact him if you can help.   -Mit

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Good Morning,

Thursday, Steve Yates and I went to SERE School and did a site survey on the facility.  The site will work well for us and I believe we will have a productive and fun spring gathering of the MASAR clans.  Here’s the start of the plan to pass to your unit personnel.  More will follow as we develop it.

·         Annual MASAR training conference Saturday 8 MAY

·         The event will be held at the Navy SERE (Survival Evasion Resistance Escape) school just outside of Rangeley (WGS-84     45 00 04.0N/070 30 38.49W)

·         People may arrive afternoon/evening of Friday the 7^th and we will all depart around sundown on Saturday.  The road is gated and must be manned when open so we will define times that the gate is open Friday afternoon and evening and Saturday as we get closer. 

·         Tent camping spots and lean-tos are available at SERE school otherwise a list of places to stay in town will be provided in a couple weeks

·         We are on our own for dinner Friday and breakfast Saturday, lunch will be provided Saturday (probably soup and sandwiches)

·         Cost will probably be between $20 and 30 per person payable upon arrival and covers the facility, instruction and lunch

·         SERE instructors will provide training on Saturday (we are discussing the plan and it might include survival, ready pack, evidence awareness, navigation…)

·         Instruction will be mostly outside with limited classroom time so come dressed for the weather

·         In addition to the lean-tos, the facility has a classroom for approximately 60 with a small separate instructors’ area, this building has electricity and heat, there are porta potties; water is obtained from a stream and should be filtered or purified before consumption or bring your water

·         Parking in limited.  There is parking at the facility for about 15 vehicles and will be reserved for the instructors and people managing the event.  Other vehicles may come up to drop off people and camping gear.  We have a couple parking areas and will identify them as people arrive because which we use is weather dependant.

·         The assistance of Franklin SAR in helping set up the local logistics is greatly appreciated and has already been of great assistance

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RSVP’s by team for food planning and allocation of lean-tos would be greatly appreciated.  Approximate numbers of people coming and if they will camp or not would be sufficient for now.

As the plan comes together, we will pass it on to keep you fully informed.  Look forward to seeing folks, here is what we have for responses to date:

• North Star – not attending prior commitment
• MESARD     3
• Franklin yes number undeclared
• Unity possibly, number undeclared (although this is finals time so I doubt they will have a significant presence)
• Waldo 10 – 14 in Friday night and out Saturday evening to be home for Mother’s Day
• YCERT 2 for sure and 2 more possible
• McSAR ~10 in Friday night and out Saturday evening to be home for Mother’s Day

Thanks,

Jim

Jim Bridge

Education Director

Maine Association for Search And Rescue