From: James Hightower, President                                          July 31, 2008

To: All Team Members

Info: Minutes of July Meeting

The meeting was called to order at 1900 on July 31, 2008 with 4 members present. Members present were Wanda Hightower, Art Wilkinson, Scott Miller, and Roger Retzlaff. The following information was included, discussed or motioned:

a. Reading of the last months minutes:


Minutes were read and accepted with no changes.

b. Communication from the President: We nee to pick two training dates and sites in August for some good training to get back on course. The boat is fixed and ready to be used. The cause of breakdown was a bolt cam loose in the engine along with three wires.


c. Treasurer’s report: Account balance is $7,649.43 in the checking as of 6/26/08. There are no outstanding debts.


d. Committee reports: No reports.


e. Old business:
1. Wanda is working the claim for the lost gear at Trails End Lake.
2. Long Lake training scheduled for 7/28 was cancelled.
3. Wanda is putting together the list for all who want T-shirts and Jackets and will let everyone know how much they owe.


f. New business:
1. For the DEM conference in Las Vegas on October 22-24, Wanda and Jim have a condo that sleeps six and a studio apartment. This can be used if needed for those attending DEM conference.
2. Wanda is currently with YTB Travel is taking the certification course for Passport to Giving. After certified, anyone booking travel on their website, USRV will get 60% of the profit. Cost is $500.00. It is a continuous fundraiser. Wanda is still researching other fees. Will make a motion in the future.
3. Art will be researching webpage options and Front Page program and will report results.


FUTURE TRAININGS and DIVES:


· 16 Aug – 0730. Swift Water Search. Agate Pass. Meet at Port Orchard Boat Launch at 0730.
· 24 Aug – 1630. Underwater Navigation. Warren Ave Bridge (South side)


g. Report of lessons learned: None


h. Wanda motioned to adjourn the meeting. Scott seconded the motion. The meeting was adjourned at 1940. Next meeting will be at 7:00 PM on Thursday, August 28, 2008 at Sound Dive Center.


James R. Hightower

From: James Hightower, President                                                May 29, 2008

To: All Team Members

Info: Minutes of May Meeting

The meeting was called to order at 7:10 PM on May 29, 2008 with 7 members present. Members present were Jim Hightower, Art Wilkinson, Roy Brown, Alice Friend, Leo Ferrera, Christina Ferrera, and Tracy Retzlaff. The following information was included, discussed or motioned:

a. Reading of the last months minutes:


Minutes were accepted with no changes.


b. Communication from the President:


We had a really good time at the SAR Conference in Cashmere a couple of weekends ago. It was hot but not humid.
c. Treasurer’s report:


Current account balance is $6,523.90. There are no outstanding debts.


d. Committee reports:


No comments from committee members.


e. Old business:


The Search and Rescue Conference was held in Cashmere WA 16-18 May. All members attending now have the WAC required Helicopter Basic and Intermediate. There were many other classes including 24 Hour SAR Pack and Swift Water Awareness.


f. New business:


Kid’s Day is on June 7 at the Kitsap Fairgrounds Presidents Hall. The team needs 4 or 5 divers and admin personnel to assist with the tank. We will have divers in the tank playing Tic Tac Toe with the kids on the outside. The kids will have markers and the divers will use suction cups. Wanda is working obtaining water safety pamphlets. The team will be cleaning up Trails End Lake near Tahuya 14 and 15 June. The lake is providing electric motors with batteries, additional boats for trash removal, and lunch. Bring all your tanks. We have more pilots that need capsule training so Jim will be holding Capsule training at his house on 1 June from 1300-1600. We are anxiously awaiting the return of Felix next month. He is due to return in June and we will be glad to have him back. We still need to comb Long Lake and find more swords.

Jim’s boat is up and running and ready to answer all bells.



FUTURE TRAININGS and DIVES:


· Sun 1 June 1300-1600 Capsule Training – Jim Hightower’s House
· Sat 7 June 1000-1430 Kids Day – Kitsap Fairgrounds Presidents Hall
· Sat and Sun 14-15 June 1000-1800 Lakes and Trails Cleanup – Trails End Lake (near Tahuya).
· Sat 28 June 1200-1900 Klaus Rock on Hood Canal. Meet at Shine Tidelands State Park Boat Launch on north end of Hood Canal Bridge.


g. Report of lessons learned:


None to report


h. Art motioned to adjourn the meeting. The motion was seconded by Leo. The meeting was adjourned at 2010. Next meeting will be at 7:00 PM on Thursday, June 26, 2008.


James R. Hightower

From: James Hightower, President                                                March 27, 2008

To: All Team Members

Info: Minutes of March Meeting

The meeting was called to order at 7:10 PM on March 27, 2008 with 5 members present. Members present were Jim Hightower, Wanda Hightower, Art Wilkinson, Scott Miller, and Tiffany Clement. The following information was included, discussed or motioned:

a. Reading of the last months minutes:

Minutes were read and accepted with no changes.

b. Communication from the President:

The team met at Long Lake for a search pattern training to recover an unidentified object. Due to illnesses and injuries, the training was conducted on land. The training provided positive results for all team members present.

One of the donated boats was sold for $3500.00, which was deposited in the account. We are still trying to sell the remaining boat.

Jim went to Hood Canal approximately two weeks ago to study geoducks. The dives were different to say the least. They consisted of three dives at 70, 50, and 30 foot depths. We will be going back on May 26-30 and will be taking our six divers to complete the tasks. The organization will be completing 1-week tests every other month until October.

c. Treasurer’s report:

Current account balance is $5306.93. We received $3500.00 for selling the boat and $240.00 collected from annual dues. The books were balanced out in preparation for the 2007 Combined Federal Campaign Fund. In 2007, the team had $2,406.81 in income and $2,770.80 in expenditures. This puts the team at $364.07 in the red for the year.

d. Committee reports:

No comments from committee members.

e. Old business:

We decided to purchase rope and make throw bags for team members. Harbor Freight has red rope in 100 ft lengths for about $8.00 each. The team decided to go with yellow rope and enough for 10 team members. We had a call out for an evidence search at the Manette Bridge in Bremerton on 2/29 and 3/1 and was assisted by the Kitsap County Sheriff. After several passes, no evidence was found. The suspect’s stories changed and now we will be looking at a new location in the same area.

f. New business:

DEM and Jim’s insurance has covered the difference of the cost for the repair of the boat. The boat is still not running. The mechanic is waiting for parts.

Wanda asked if the dives we are doing this weekend would count for the PSD course. The answer is no. However, Jim will review all students’ training records, find out who needs what dives and will schedule dates for make up dives. The dates will be firm and if the students do not make the dives, they will not complete the course.

Upcoming dives:
- Manette Bridge – 3/29 and 3/30 – Evidence search. Meet at Evergreen Park at 0700.
- Long Lake – 4/19 – Search patterns. Meet at county park at 0900.
- Sandy Shore Lake – 5/4 – Sled training and search patterns with scooter. Meet at 1000.

Janelle Wilkinson is updating the team’s website. If there are any suggestions for the website, email ideas to Art at wilkinson68@comcast.net. Wanda made a motion to pay Janelle $50 to $100 dollars for updating the website and making it more professional. Art seconded the motion. The motion was approved unanimously.

Art made a motion to send a goody package to Felix who is “protecting freedom” in Cuba. Motion was seconded by Wanda. Motion was approved unanimously. Wanda agreed to gather goodies and get them in the mail.

From a vote in a previous meeting, Tiffany is going to purchase a housing for the underwater camera so that it can convert from still camera to video.

Tiffany and Tom’s expiration dates are approaching rapidly. Tiffany has already received her new registration and will forward information to Art for inclusion into the record.

g. Report of lessons learned:

No reports of lessons learned were presented.

h. Tiffany motioned to adjourn the meeting. The motion was seconded by Art. The meeting was adjourned at 2030. Next meeting will be at 7:00 PM on Thursday, April 24 2008.


James R. Hightower

Subject: April General Meeting
Date: Thursday, 26 Apr 2007 19:00-20:00



A) Call to order:
       19:15, in attendance were TJ Clements, Felix Crisostomo

B) Reading of last months minutes:
       Minutes were read and accepted as written.

C) Communications from the President:
       All team members are required to go to http://training.fe.a.gov/emiweb/is/ and complete the following:
       IS-100 Incident Command System
       IS-700 National Incident Management System

D) Report of the Treasurer:
       Balance as of April 11, 2007 is $4306.99
       Monies received this month:
              $501.00 from CFC Kitsap County
              $1303.50 from CFC King County
              $100.00 Donation from Tall Chief For Chad's Memorial
              $60.00 from collected dues

E) Reports of all committees:
       Training on Saturday May 26, 2007 at Seal Rock will go from 09:00-16:00. Wanda will supply hot dogs and cocoa!

F) Old business:
       Jessica, we need you to submit your photo for your I.D. card.
       Volunteers still needed to staff our booth for Kid's Day at the Kitsap Fair Grounds on June 9th at 08:30.
       Volunteers still needed to drive chase boats in the kayak race at Manchester State Park on June 9th at 09:00.

G) New business:
       Wanda put together a packet for the last three years of our 990 reports for an IRS audit. Haven't heard back from
              them yet.
       We need dates for Jim's PSDA open water dives.
       We need dates for Felix's PADI SAR open water dives.

H) Report of "Lessons Learned" by the membership:
       It is imperative that we make time to dive together. If you can not make the team training dives, at least get
       together for recreation dives. Knowing your dive partner's style and habits will make you a stronger dive team.

I) Adjournment:
       20:08 motion to adjourn was made by TJ and seconded by Felix.

Subject: News Letter
Date: Tue, 3 Apr 2007 16:36 - 19:00



Information from the minutes of the meeting. We sure need to get more members committed to being at the meetings and have time to come to trainings.

Board members for 2007 are as follows:

      President Jim Hightower
      Vice President Tracy Retzlaff
      Secretary/Treasurer Wanda Hightower
      Board Member Tom Tucker
      Board Member Roger Retzlaff
      Board Member Felix Crisostomo

Dive training at Agate Pass on April 7th 9AM - 4PM
Dive training Sandy Shore Lake Hood Canal 10:00 AM If they can open the lake for us? Will let you know?
Dive training at Seal Rock State Park May 26 9AM - 4PM Jim said it might be nice as it's a state park to go camping?

Kids day who can help with the dive tank. Some of us will be gone to the Hydro race? You can have the board with the pictures? Please let me know if you would be interested it's June 9th. Jim & I will get the tank to you. He's going to be painting it to look better so let me know?

The SAR conference is on the same weekend this year as a hydro race and I did talk with them and there isn't much for the divers. Most all of us have the into to basic helicopter and this is the place to get it.

I'm working hard to get all the paperwork done for CFC now we have to include in our letter to them how we can impact the county with the presence of our team being there?

The Oleachea's donated dive gear to the team and if you would like to see the stuff we have it here come and look?

We did get another $100.00 from the family and friends of the person that drowned a couple months ago. I have sent them a sticker and a thanks for their donations.

If you would all get your dews in to me that would also be a help. Be sure to send your new auto insurance paperwork also as I have to keep up the files if we are inspected the new paperwork has to be there.

Everyone on the team now has to take the NIMS class National Incident Management Systems. go to http://training.fema.gov/emiweb/is/ you are then looking for is 700 and is 100 read the information or come and see me and I can help you with it. It doesn't take a long time. When you take the test then you print out a certificate.

I will be putting in the training request with DEM and hope to have more of you come to the trainings? Brian & Keith can you ask the company if they will make us some more shirts the people at the last meeting would like Sweat Shirts and t-shirts see what you can do for us please?

Thanks to all of you for supporting the team!!

FROM: James Hightower, President                                                                                    January 18, 2007

TO: USRV-KC Membership

SUBJ: Up Coming Events

                                                                   MEETING AND TRAINING DATES

GENERAL MEETINGS

A. JANUARY 25, 2007
B. FEBRUARY 22, 2007
C. MARCH 29, 2007
D. APRIL 26, 2007
E. MAY 31, 2007
F. JUNE 28, 2007
G. JULY 26, 2007
H. AUGUST 30, 2007
I. SEPTEMBER 27, 2007
J. OCTOBER 25, 2007
K. NOVEMBER 29, 2007
L. DECEMBER 8, 2007 POT LUCK HIGHTOWERS HOUSE


TRAINING

JANUARY 27, 2007 CURRENT DIVE AGATE PASS (Meet at Port Orchard Marina) 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

FEBRUARY 4, 2007 CPR&FIRST AID, BLOOD BORNE PATHAGONS 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM (Meet at the Hightower's 15998 Bethal Burley RD SE Port Orchard, WA 98367)

FEBRUARY 18, 2007 SANDY SHORE LAKE 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

JANUARY 25, 2007 SAR BANQUET ISLAND LAKE COMMUNITY CENTER 6:00 PM

MAY 14 – 18, 2007 SAR CONFERENCE CRYSTAL MOUNTIAN RESORT



JAMES R. HIGHTOWER
President






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FROM: James Hightower, President                                                                                                            January 18, 2007

TO: USRV-KC Membership

SUBJ: News Letter



Welcome to the New Year and hopefully everyone had a great holiday time with his or her family and friends. We would like to start out well with this year.

Our general meeting is scheduled for the last Thursday of each month and DEM has scheduled the SAR banquet for the same night as our meeting. We are hoping that everyone will take the time to come to the banquet and our group is to supply salads of some sort or vegetable & fruit trays of some sort dips if needed and I know we all will have a great evening. The Search & Rescue banquet will be held on Jan 25, 2007 6:00 pm at Island Lake Community Center.

We will be doing training on current runs at Agate Pass on Jan 27, 2007. We can meet at Port Orchard at 10:00 AM and go by boat. If you want to drive you can meet us there? This will start out the training for 2007 and I hope to see many of our volunteers there. I’ve included a list of training and also the general meeting dates for everyone to post on the refrigerator or wall to know when we will be meeting?

February 18th we will be going to Sandy Shore Lake it’s just past Hood Canal Bridge on the left. We can do search patterns, use our sleds and bring everyone together to dive in teams and get our skills updated in areas we need training in. Our team is a great asset for the county when we are needed and it’s even better when everyone shows up for training and learns the capabilities of each other’s diving techniques. I’m truly hoping that this year we can build a great training program and have lots of camaraderie and fun in learning new skills and meeting more new friends in the diving industry.

May 14 – 18, 2007 will be the SAR conference to be held at Crystal Mountain Resort. You can go onto the computer and type in www.co.peirce.wa.us/sar2007.htm. If this doesn’t work go to the search engine type in SAR conference 2007 it will also take you there. They already have some classes outlined for you to look at.

February 4th 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM I will be scheduling a class here for CPR & First Aid to get everyone updated on what’s required for WAC 118-04 to be a Search & Rescue Volunteer. I will also have him cover the Blood Borne Pathogens for everyone that needs to have this updated. We also want to copy your driver’s license and insurance card to be placed in your file this is also a requirement for SAR volunteers. We have a copy machine available to make the copies for you. It will be nice to start the new year out with all the paperwork together right away. I will put forth a lot of effort to keep the web site up to date and hopefully working with DEM to get a better site easier to manage for us? If you have any pictures please send them to me and I want to put together a photo album for when we have static displays there will be updated pictures for everyone to see.

We are now taking nominations for officer positions on the board. We vote for officers at the February meeting so please e-mail me your nominations, as we might not have a lot of time at the banquet to discuss these at that time.

Right now the nominations we have are as follows:

      Jim Hightower for President
      Roger Retzlaff for Board Member
      Felix Crisostomo for Vice President
      Keith Houmard for President
      Tiffany Clement for Vice President
      Tracy Retzlaff for Board Member
      Joyce Belnap for Board member
      Wanda Hightower for Secretary/Treasurer


We will be having training here at my house for the PSDA class for those that need a make up in the book area or just a refresher classes on Wednesday January 31, 2007 at 6:30 PM. Some of the training on Saturday will go towards the qualifications of this class. Please come and let’s get things together for all the training this year.

We did receive the radios from DEM through homeland security. We are hoping to put together a list of things that the team needs and perhaps DEM can help us to acquire more equipment that will help advance us in training to be better equipped for the needs of our county. This past year we have had great help in team members with getting our broachers done and flyers done through Hardware Wholesales Bryan & Keith Oleachea have been donating these products for our team. Tom Tucker has been getting business cards done for the officers and board members each year for free. These things are a big help in being able to advertise our unit and keep information current. Again we can’t do everything without everyone’s support.

Thanks to all the team members for a great year in 2006 and we will have a great 2007 see all of you real soon.



JAMES R. HIGHTOWER
President

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Contact Wanda Hightower for further information.