Swan Mission Search and Rescue
Miscellaneous Information

• By Laws (1999)
• Radio Alpha Codes
• Radio 10 Codes
• Survival Pack   (Items that should be carried at all times)

REVISED 1999                                                                                                                                                          page 1

SEC. 1  The name of this non-profit corporation shall be:
             SWAN MISSION SEARCH AND RESCUE ASSOCIATION, INCORPORATED

SEC. 2  The general purpose and plan of this association shall be:
            A.   To aid and assist in the saving of life, recovery and preservation of property.
            B.   To aid persons in situations dangerous to life, limb, and property.
            C.   To train and equip search and rescue teams.
            D.   To assist any law enforcement officer.
            E.   To own, purchase, lease, in whole or in part, acquire, mortgage, pledge, sell, assign, transfer or otherwise
                  dispose of personal or real property.
            F.   To execute and issue promissory notes and other negotiable instruments.
            G.  To do any and all things necessary, convenient or proper for the purpose of carrying out the primary purpose of
                  the association.

SEC. 1  There shall be four classes of members:
          A. PROBATIONARY MEMBER / NEW MEMBER - shall have a probation period of at least six months (subject
               to evaluation).  Dues shall accompany    application for membership.  Probationary members shall be a non-voting
               member and are subject to the general memberships majority approval for acceptance as a new member and as a
               general member.
          B. SPECIAL MEMBERS - Those for whom good cause has been shown, and with the approval of the Board of
               Directors, are unable to make meeting requirements.  They retain all rights as a general member except voting
               privileges.
          C. GENERAL MEMBER - Dues will be set by membership.  A general member shall have voting rights at all regular
               meetings, except Board meetings.  General members must be of legal age (18).
          D. HONORARY MEMBERS - Non voting membership will be for one year and must be voted on by the membership
               present at any regular meeting.

SEC. 2  Dues are payable to the treasurer on the first of each calendar year.

SEC. 3  Members will conduct themselves in an exemplary manor and refrain from the    use of alcohol while on a mission or at
             a general meeting.

SEC. 1. REGULAR MEETINGS:  Shall be held on the first Monday of each month.  If the above days should fall on a holiday
             then the meeting shall be on the Monday following.

SEC. 2. SPECIAL MEETINGS:  Shall be called by the president or three members of the Board of Directors.

SEC. 3. QUORUM:  One-fourth of the general membership including two members of the Board of Directors shall constitute a
             quorum for the transaction of business at any regular meeting or special meeting.

SEC. 4. NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETINGS:  Shall be given to the membership by the secretary.

SEC. 5  BOARD MEETINGS:  May be called by the president or by three members of the Board of Directors whenever
             deemed necessary.  Notice of Board Meetings will be given by the secretary.  The Board of Directors Meeting will be
             authorized to vote for the expenditure of any moneys from the Association  fund.

SEC. 1  OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS:  Officers shall consist of the President, Vice President, Secretary, and Executive
             Treasurer. Directors shall consist of  the President, Vice President, Executive Treasurer, and Two Directors from the
             general membership at large.

SEC. 2  ELECTIONS:  Officers and Directors at the general meeting of January shall present to the general membership a slate
             of nominees.  The slate of nominees shall be presented at least one month prior to the date of the election.  Nominees
             from the floor may be presented until the election.

SEC. 3  TERMS OF OFFICE:  President, Vice President, Secretary, and Directors shall be for one year.  The Executive
             Treasurer shall be appointed by the Board of Directors for an indefinite period of time.

SEC. 4  All officers shall be elected by a simple majority of the quorum present.

SEC. 5  Any officer may be recalled in their term of office by a majority vote of the  membership at a special meeting called for
             that purpose; whenever in the best judgment of the membership the interest of the corporation will be served thereby.

SEC. 1  PRESIDENT:   Shall preside at all regular, special, and directors meetings.  Shall conduct the administrative business of
             the association and act as Chairman of the Board of Directors.  Shall sign all orders and directives to the members.
             Shall appoint any committee that is necessary to conduct the business of the association.

SEC. 2  VICE PRESIDENT:  Shall preside in the absence of the President at any regular, special, or Board of Directors
             meetings.  Shall act as a member of the Board of Directors.

SEC. 3  SECRETARY:  Shall keep a record of the proceedings of all regular, special, and Board of Directors meeting.  Shall
             maintain a ledger of and a roster of all members.  Shall notify members of special meetings.

SEC. 4  EXECUTIVE TREASURER:  Shall disperse any funds necessary to the affairs of the Association.  Shall collect all dues
             and accept any moneys due or donated to the Association and deposit all moneys into a bank designated by  the Board
            of Directors and report the financial status of the Association at each regular meeting.  Shall have custody of all moneys
            and maintain a suitable ledger and accounting procedure. Shall have custody of all books, records, papers, and other
            documents of the Association.

SEC. 5  DIRECTORS:  Shall oversee the administration and assist in the conduct and operation of the affairs of the Association.
             They shall provide for an annual audit of the finances of the Association and report the results of that audit to the
             membership.  They shall approve or disapprove the execution, on behalf of the Association, of contracts, notes,
             mortgages, bonds, or other documents necessary to the business of the Association.  There will be two Board members
             other than those in Article V Sec. 1, 2, & 4.

SEC. 5  A quorum of Directors shall consist of three Directors and/or Officers,  present at any Board of Directors meetings.

SEC. 6  RESIGNATIONS:  of any above named officers, or of any coordinator, may be in writing, and be presented to the
             secretary for reading at the next regular meeting following the date of the resignation.  Resignations may also be made
             verbally before the general membership at a regularly scheduled meeting or a scheduled meeting of the Board of
             Directors.  This resignation will be entered into the minutes of the meeting and shall suffice as a written notification of
             resignation.

SEC. 7  VACANCIES:  occurring shall be filled by a simple majority vote of membership present at the next regular meeting
             following the date of the vacancy and the elected shall serve the unexpired term of his/her predecessor.

SEC. 1  COORDINATORS:  There shall be two coordinators to share in the following:
             Duties of the coordinators are to receive mission reports and to compile same into annual written reports and present it
             to the membership.  They shall provide and maintain an inventory of all property and equipment of the Association
             showing the location of same.  All request and placement of equipment shall be presented to the Board of Directors.  In
             the case of an    emergency, temporary placement of equipment may be made without the approval of the Board of
             Directors.  They shall maintain a roster of search teams and their equipment.  They shall provide training to conduct or
             participate in search and rescue missions.  They shall recommend and provide rules of communication procedures. They
             shall provide to the members any    equipment that may become available.  They shall receive reports of lost persons or
             request for aid from any person.  They shall answer all request for aid or reports of lost persons by organizing search
             and rescue teams and equipment and they shall direct search and rescue teams in the field.  They shall maintain base
             communications and liaison with law enforcement officers and agencies.  They shall receive all pertinent data relative to
             the search and provide same to all members participating in the search.  They shall report all expense requests relative to
             the search mission, to the membership. They shall present to the membership a report of each mission at the next regular
             meeting following the mission.  They shall provide written reports of all search missions and make them a part of the
             permanent records of the Association.

SEC. 2  Coordinators are appointed for an indefinite period of time.  In the event of an opening the Board of Directors will
             appoint a replacement.

SEC. 1  Each member Swan Mission Search and Rescue Association, Inc. will answer to all calls for assistance from the public
             within the scope of Article I Sec. 2, and shall evaluate the degree of the requested emergency and attempt to obtain all
             pertinent data relative to the requested aid (name, physical description, license plate number, area, clothing, etc.).
             He/she shall then immediately report the matter to the coordinator. He/she shall then present himself/herself for duty with
             any equipment deemed necessary that he/she has under his/her control.  He/she shall then follow the directions of the
             coordinator in charge and assist all other members in the effort.

SEC. 1  Any change or amendment of the constitution or by-laws of the Swan Mission Search and Rescue Association, Inc.
             shall be by a 2/3 (two-thirds) majority vote of the members present at a special meeting called for that purpose.

SEC. 2  Notice of meetings for the purpose of changing or amending the constitution or by-laws shall be given at the regular
             business meeting preceding the date of the special meeting called for that purpose (with at least 30 days notice).

SEC. 3  A reading of the proposed changes or amendments shall be given at the regular business meeting preceding the special
             meeting called for that purpose.

SEC. 1  The purpose of the above by-laws is to provide an organizational format for the Swan Mission Search and Rescue
             Association, Inc.

SEC. 2  To establish responsibility in the administration of the Association.

SEC. 3  To establish responsibility of search and rescue missions.

THIS DOCUMENT WAS EXECUTED ON MARCH 1, 1999 AND SIGNED BELOW BY CURRENT OFFICE HOLDERS.
 

/s/ Dennis Lawrence___________________ 3/1/99__________________
DENNIS LAWRENCE (PRES.)                           DATE
 

/s/ Scott Bradstreet___________________ 3/1/99__________________
SCOTT BRADSTREET (V.P.)                             Date
 

/s/ John K. Ganiere___________________     3/1/99__________________
JOHN GANIERE (SEC./TREAS)                         DATE
 

/s/ Carol Field_______________________     3/1/99__________________
CAROL FIELD (DIRECTOR)  DATE
 

/s/ Bret Childers______________________     3/1/99__________________
BRET CHILDERS (DIRECTOR)                           DATE
 

/s/ Ed Buttrey________________________     3/1/99__________________
ED BUTTREY (DIRECTOR)                                 DATE
 
 

The phonetic alphabet should be used for spelling out unusual names or persons and locations.  The names after each letter have been found to be the most understandable over the air.  They should always be given as “A” - Adam, “B” - Boy...never “A” as in Adam, “B” as in Boy, etc.  The alphabet is easily memorized.  Two different systems are in common use, the system on the right is internationally recognized.
 
 

These are the signs which aerial searchers recognize immediately.  Tramp out the appropriate symbol in the snow or make it from brush or strips of cloth.  Be sure the sign is large enough to be seen from the air.  (As wide as the space and available materials permit and at least 10 feet in depth).  Pilots say it is also very important that whatever you use to make your symbol, it should contrast as sharply as possible with the background.

I       Require doctor - serious injury
II      Require medical supplies
X     Unable to proceed
F     Need food and water
v      Indicate direction to proceed
->    Am proceeding in this direction
LL  All is well
Ø     Need map and compass
 
 

There are almost as many different codes as there are agencies using codes.  The following are officially suggested by the Associated Public Safety Communications Officers (APCO):
 
 
 

  1.   Fanny Pack or Belt Pack
  2.   Canteen full of water
  3.   Water-proof matches and butane lighter
  4.   Camper’s (GI) can opener
  5.   Chocolate bars or high-energy food bars
  6.   Ground Cloth
  7.   Chapstick
  8.   Allergy medications
  9.   Candle
10.   Whistle
11.   Flashlight (extra batteries)
12.   Map
13.   Compass
14.   Knife
15.   50’ of 1/4” nylon rope
16.   Aspirin
17.   Band-aids
18.   Safety pins
19.   Water purification tablets
20.   ‘Gerber’ type Combo tool
21.   Kleenex

Additional Mandatory Items for S.A.R. Field Operations

22.   Complete change of clothing including boots & socks
23.   Day pack - ready to go
24.   Toilet articles (toothbrush, etc.)
25.   Bug repellant
26.   Notebook and Pencil/Pen