MASKGI Meeting
Minutes:
Date:
January 17th, 2008
Location:
Department of Health & Human Services, Augusta
Attendees: Scott Shea, Karen Francoeur, Dave Legere, Alice Bean Andrenyak, Bob Myron, Ernie Forgione, Paul Dumdey, Elaine Brassard, Paul Faria, Ben Fuller. Guests: Paul F. Joyce, Sharon Machon-Ames.
SHOWS:
March 28-30, 2008 New Jersey Paddler
April 4-6, 2008 Kittery Trade Post, UNH Durham, NH
April 12, 2008 Paddlesmart, Bangor
End of April Cape Elizabeth
COURSES:
April 12, 13, 19, 20, 2008 ACA-IDW – Freeport – OLTOA Bob Myron
May 2-5, 2008 ACA – ICE – Freeport – OLTOA Bob Myron
April 25-27, 2008 ACA- IDW & Sea Kayak Guide Preparation Course – Castine – Castine Kayak
May 3 & 4, 2008 Practical Session in addition to earlier weekend - Castine – Castine Kayak
May 17 & 18 ACA- ICE - Castine – Castine Kayak
April 19, 20, 26, 27, 2008 Sea Kayak Guide Preparation Course - Bar Harbor by Aquaterra Adventures
April 18-20, 2008 Sea Kayak Guide Preparation Course – Freeport by L.L. Bean
Call to order at 6:40pm by President Scott Shea. Introductions were made for speakers and guests.
Treasurer’s report: $2,333.89 in our checking account. We have been sending out renewal notices and if everyone renews we will have over $3,000 coming in very soon. If you have not renewed or had your employees renew or join, please do so now.
Membership: Please renew ASAP. Every current MASKGI member has been offered a full MITA membership for only $10 which will include the trail book. If you fill out your MITA membership and send it in directly to MITA, be sure to put MASKGI member notation on the top of the form. MITA is planning to be at nearly 12 public events/shows in the next few months and we have been forging a positive cooperative relationship. Would our members be willing to offer some sort of a discount or special guided tours to MITA members or those that have attended a special event? To be discussed further at a future meeting.
Sharon Machon – Ames, USCG Search & Rescue Controller, Sector Northern New England 767-0303
Based in Portland since 1999 but also stationed in Boothbay is our special speaker for the evening. Her presentation centered about how the Coast Guard does Search and Rescue.
The Coast Guard requests that before you go: Check the weather through NOAA and check the buoys, check safety gear, check radios, submit a float plan – have with a friend/family/business, pick a partner when you go in groups so each group looks out for another and each member in the group.
Carry at least the following equipment: GPS, Cell/VHF-FM radio, PFD, PEPIRB, Flares, Day/Night Flare, signal mirror, strobe light, rescue knife, whistle, spare paddle, plus extra water and emergency food.
Help searchers by knowing and transmitting to the Coast Guard:
Last known position & time of position, number of people on board, nature of distress, description of vessel & people, experience level, medical emergency & what equipment we have to help, overdue check sheet. People description need to include: height, weight, what lost client was wearing especially boot/shoe for footprint pattern, lost client’s health, etc.
The Coast Guard uses CESM (Cold Exposure Survival Model) designed by Canadians to predict survival times for cold air exposure and cold water immersion. It predicts functional time – mild hypothermia, the person is incapacitated and is at his limits of self help. While it appeared to those present that the maximum amount of time that a client could survive in the water to be long, the Coast Guard then doubles the CESM time to decide how long they will search for a victim.
A reminder to all - make the call sooner than later if you are concerned about the paddler(s). The Coast Guard works well with the Department of Marine Resources on coastal searches as DMR has small boats and can get closer to shore, while the Coast Guard is better equipped to do larger area searches further offshore because of the size of their boats, in addition to working with local police departments & fire departments.
Paul Joyce, DMR Paul.Joyce@maine.gov – When should you call the Coast Guard? What is your obligation once Coast Guard & Department of Marine Resources has been activated? Your role is to stay to the bitter end to look for your customer who is lost. DMR is required to look beyond the presented scenario and consider law enforcement issues of foul play. You still need to be in charge of your group & maintaining their equilibrium and safety even when you are searching for the lost client(s).
911 Syndrome – Rushing around everyone wants to get out fast! Count to 10 and check the easy & obvious spots first while getting Point Last Scene (PLS) and information on the “lost paddler” before calling. Always call having the information necessary to answer = Who, What, When, Why, Where.
What is a long extensive search and what to do? Land your clients as a group, secure them & give them activities, and settle them. Make them comfortable. Use second VHF so they can hear what you are doing. Have the group do a shoreline search two together. Get the PLS concretely fixed. DMR will be trying to discount areas (eliminate them from the search). Continue to search until relieved of your duties but continue to check on your clients.
Joe Mocry – A search and rescue is never the same and even using conversion charts on survival, float & drift, and all others but is the person helping himself? Swimming? Letting go and floating? Their struggle for survival is all encompassing. His version of a conversion factor for a drifting person: Wind velocity knots x 0.05 = drift (20 knots X 0.05= 1 mile towards the way that the wind is blowing. Water current drift will be approximately 1 mile/hour in open water. If they are in their boat therefore drifting into the wind creates a different scenario.
What is going on in Augusta –
Mandatory Safety Education for Boaters as an issue. We did not discuss a MASKGI position, but please let your State Senator and State House Representatives know of your personal position.
Consolidation of State Departments will force (if not amended) could force four agencies (Department of Agriculture, Department of Marine Resources, Inland Fishing &Wildlife, Dept of Conservation) into two agencies. Reports of different combinations are being submitted to the governor’s office by 1/1/09.
Other than just the monetary issues, there is a need to maintain the identity of the individual units, yet not all of the units function 24 hours a day. Previously there has been some consolidation and reassignment of duties that have forced departments to become more lean & mean, with fewer employees, yet maintain the level of professionalism that the public expects. Further confusion has been confused by the different income sources and where they go within the overall State budget.
Approvals:
Upcoming Shows need volunteers. At NJ Paddler, Dave Mention representing MITA & Karen Francoeur representing MASKGI will officially be representing both organizations from the same booth. Anyone that would like to help design a booth please contact Karen ASAP. Kittery Trading Post’s Paddle Show held at UNH in Durham, NH will have a similar booth layout as we are also sharing booth space again. Hopefully we are going to be doing some seminars at Kittery’s show, but there has been some reshuffling of presenters and that may force us out. At Paddlesmart in Bangor volunteers are needed to work the event as well as help plan it. Please contact Karen Francoeur if you would like to help.
Motions: Approved to spend up to $800 for NJ Paddler show, and $250 for Paddlesmart.
$1,000 approved for 2008 rack card. Outfitters on the back could be rearranged by regions rather than alphabetically. Scott will take the responsibility to contact all those outfitters who haven’t renewed.
Karen Francoeur will be assuming the role of President as Scott Shea has chosen not to continue with the extended term.
We have a vacancy for Vice President and will welcome self nominations.
Secretary and Treasurer remain the same.
Adjourned at 8:56pm.
Alice Bean Andrenyak,
Secretary