BAMSAR MINUTES
Minutes of the February, 2007, BAMSAR meeting, held at Brookhaven. Thanks to Mike Banovitch and his dive team for their hospitality.
Present: Patchogue, Hagerman, South Country, Bellport, Brookhaven, Mastic Beach, Center Moriches and Westhampton Beach.
Excused: Ed Michels (EHTMP), Jim Bowra (SCSD), Coast Guard, North Patchogue and Mastic.
Old Business:
Dive Rescue 1 course was discussed. Dates are 17-20 May (Thursday & Friday nights, all day Saturday & Sunday). Jim Bowra has again agreed to instruct. John will get letter out to Sheriff, formally requesting him to allow Jim to do so. Count on possible number of participants: Westhampton Beach: 10; Center Moriches: 2; Bellport: 3; Hagerman: 2; Mastic Beach: 2.
Coast Guard boat operator class: A calendar is out with the dates of the class. They are at the following CG Stations:
Eaton’s Neck: 3&4 March; 6&10 March
Montauk: 17&18 March; 20&24 March
Shinnecock: 24&25 March; 27&31 March
Fire Island: 31 March & 1 April; 3&7 April
Coast Guard is requesting a minimum of one officer and one boat operator to attend the classes. Call the Station that serves your area and request to get on the list, as class size may be limited. John Foley was asked to see if further classes could be made available to BAMSAR, as we’d like to get as many boat operators as possible, and the last time we held a class like this, we had an overwhelming response.
Please have your Chiefs write in support of having the Sheriff’s boat remain in the water up until at least 1 November, instead of them pulling it out in October. The extra eyes and hands out there can only enhance safety.
No discussion on the suggested breakfast with the BAMSAR and surrounding Chiefs.
New Business:
The Secretary will be sending out a request for information, with these minutes, in order to update our Resource Matrix. The matrix hasn’t been updated in three years, and many units have added equipment to their inventory, or the number of trained personnel has changed. As we need to pass this information on to the Coast Guard, for inclusion in their resource list, we ask that you fill out and return the questionnaire by no later than 31 March. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.
There is an organization, similar to ours, on the North Shore. They’re about a year old, or so, and their membership runs (roughly) from Setauket to Riverhead. John F. has been asked to make contact with them, and help find ways that we can work together.
Treasurer’s report given; we’re in good shape. Five departments have paid, so far. Dues will be payable up to, and including, the March meeting.
Jack Blaum (NPFD) advises that there is a law enforcement diver course that is available, through County. This is an in-depth course on working with law enforcement personnel, identification, mapping and preservation of evidence, etc. He also advises that the SCPD Marine Division will, if asked, attend any maritime rescue drill. He reminds us that the pool at SCCC Brentwood, is open to rescue dive teams on Sundays, from 1230-1500.
Get well wishes to Jim Bowra. We hope he’s up and running again, soon.
Congressman Bishop has two grant writing seminars scheduled for this month. The first will be on Wednesday, 21 February, at FRES, at 1900. The second will be on Thursday, 22 February, 1000 hrs., at Eastport FD. Any unit looking to upgrade it’s water rescue capabilities should try to attend.
Brookhaven has a new dive truck, currently being painted and lettered. It was demonstrated on Thursday night. Nicely laid out, with plenty of storage and work room. Best of luck with it!
Training:
Brookhaven is hosting an ice rescue course on the 18th of February, from 0800-1600, at their firehouse. Given by Long Island Rescue (Dive Rescue Int’l. certification). Cost per man, is $125. They also have secured the SCCC pool for Sunday, 25 February.
Patchogue is hosting an open water certification class (through County). For details, please contact Scott P. at e-mail: stp82@optonline.net.
If anyone has, or knows of, any training going on that may be of interest to the membership, please feel free to send notice of the training to either the BAMSAR webmaster at webmaster@bamsar.org, or to the Secretary, at o_foghladha@yahoo.com.
Next meeting: Thursday, 08 March, 2007, at 1930, at Patchogue FD.
Anyone needing directions, please contact the Secretary. Any unit that is unable to host their assigned meeting, please contact the Secretary.
Any corrections, additions, or questions; please contact the Secretary.
Respectfully,
John Foley