Membership Information
Joining Superstition
Search and Rescue can be very rewarding, but it also
requires a large commitment. In addition to requiring
ownership of various technical gear, group membership
also requires significant time - you may be called on a rescue that may
last days. We realize that not all members can just take time off whenever there
is a callout, but many members will work extra shifts to make
up time at work or even use vacation days for searches.
You will need to coordinate with your employer about
your involvement with the rescue group.
Your
family also plays a role in your membership.
Rescues and training take you away from your
family for hours or even days at a time. Your
loved ones may not understand your
commitment to the group and they might
sometimes have to take a back seat to the needs
of lost or injured individuals.
Make sure your family fully understands the role
and responsibilities of Superstition Search and
Rescue before you decide to join. Click on
thumbnail to see full-sized
photo.
On the positive side, there is nothing better
than the feeling you get after finding lost or
injured individuals and returning them to
safety. The heartfelt thank-you's received from
subjects and their families add to a truly
wonderful and rewarding experience.
If you are ready to make the commitment, then
your fist step is to come to a general meeting. At the
monthly meetings (click
here for 2007 meeting dates) you will learn more about the
organization, get to know team members, listen
to stories or recaps of the latest missions and
get additional information about membership requirements.
SSAR consists of three
main personnel divisions: Field Team (includes specialty
units such as Dive, Technical Rescue & Mountain
Rescue Teams), Base Camp, and our new Support Team -
Friends of SSAR. Use the links at right to learn
more about new member requirements for each group.
Field Team - Minimum Physical & Equipment
Requirements:
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- personal and family commitment
- personal interview with board members
- background check through the Pinal County Sheriff's Office
- physical fitness test (3 mile uphill hike with 35 lb pack to be completed in 1 hour)
- group alpha pager
- rescue pack
- personal first aid kit
- personal survival kit
- signal mirror
- compass
- required maps
- whistle
- headlamp, secondary light, extra bulbs, extra batteries
- windproof/waterproof matches
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- rescue knife (one-handed opener)
- flagging tape
- notepad & pencil
- binoculars
- goggles and earplugs (helicopter operations)
- 4 quarts water (minimum)
- camelback-type water bladder
- two days high-energy food
- team shirt
- tan hiking pants (full-length)
- climbing helmet
- waterproof hooded jacket
- all leather boots
- GPS (strongly recommended)
- radio and remote mike (optional)
- radio chest harness (optional)
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Base Camp
& Support Team Members:
If you feel
you can't hike 3 miles in 1 hour or don't have the money
to get all of the equipment, don't worry - you can still
join the group and assist with Base Camp operations, or
you may sign up to be part of our Support Team - Friends
of SSAR. Base
Camp and Support Team personnel are just as
important as Field Team personnel.
The volunteers
in Base Camp provide various levels of necessary support,
such as:
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- Base Radio
- Helicopter
Landing Operations
- Security
- Family
Support
- Snacks and
Beverages
- Logistics
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Friends of SSAR members, while
not field-qualified, still provide an essential service
to the team through fund-raising, community education and
events. There are no physical requirements to be a
member of the Support Team, and many individuals are
able to lend their professional skills to the team to
help with marketing, grant-writing, event-planning, and
more.
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Dues & Application Process:
Membership
dues for all volunteers (Rescue, Base Camp & Support
Teams) are $40 annually, and an application and background
check are required. New members will undergo a
1-year probationary period while they obtain preliminary
training, and acquire appropriate gear. While this
is a volunteer organization, attendance and
participation in training events and searches are very
important.
So, if you
are interested, have support from your family and a
willingness to learn new things, feel free to attend a
meeting and meet the group. Visit our Events
page for meeting times and locations. We hope to
see you there! |
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