Commander’s Corner

I want to wish everyone the best during this years holiday season.  This is usually the busiest and most expensive time of the year for most of us. 

December is also elections for the open board positions.  We have some excellent people running for these positions this year.  If you haven’t already mailed your ballot in, please remember to bring your ballot to the general meeting the 8^th of December.  I hope to see everyone there. 

Missions have been non-existent the past few months.  What’s up with that?!?!

Again Happy Holidays to everyone. 
Stay active and stay healthy

 Dave Pirtle
Commander   

 Don’t forget; the meetings this month are December 6th for the Board and December 8^th for the General Meeting.

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Annual GCSO Christmas Party

Sunday Dec 18^th at 6:00PM at the American Legion Hall, 709 E. Hwy 260.

Sign up for a potluck dish; entrée, bread, salad or dessert. Call Michelle Keegan 474-2208 ext 2833

Optional gift exchange, $10.00 limit.

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Condolences

Commander Dave’s mother lost her battle with cancer on November 19^th. She was a wonderful lady and among her other notable accomplishments, raised 4 great sons; Dave, Larry, Bill and Randall.

We are here for you Dave; we know it has been a tough time.

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Squad Officer Candidates Profiles

 For Commander: Bill Pitterle

Legally William J. Pitterle, His wife, Elise is a Lt Colonel in USAF Reserves and they have four children, one of which is still in college, one still in high school. Bill has been an Engineer with IBM for 25 years.

Bill joined the Squad in Aug 2002, took position of Secretary in 2003, elected to Vice-Commander for term 2004-2005. He is a Ropes Rescue Instructor plus having had many years outdoor experience including cold weather survival, plus a great interest in Search and Rescue.

His answer to the question, “What do you plan to accomplish if elected?” was:

I plan to continue the outstanding commitment of previous TRSAR commanders to maintain a high level of training and preparedness.  The professionalism we demonstrate on a mission reflects highly on us in successful missions, in our local community, and in the Search and Rescue community.

 For Secretary: Margaret Bullard

Margaret Bullard; and her husband Dave live in Wonder Valley, have 4 children; Candace 15,
Matt 13, Dustin 11, Dave Jr. 7. She teaches Junior High Math & Social Studies at Pine-Strawberry Elementary School. Her qualifications with the Squad: Over 3 years in TRSAR - the last 2 years performing as Secretary.  She is a certified rope team member, a certified man tracker, an EMT, and has a quad and horse to use for squad missions as needed. 

Her answer to the question, “What do you plan to accomplish if elected?” was:

I plan to fulfill the duties of Secretary for the next 2 years.
It is truly a pleasure to serve the community as a part of the TRSAR team.

 For Board Member: (Alphabetically)

Hal Baas; His wife Kathy is also a Squad member, and they have one daughter and her family in California. Their extended family lives in Oregon and Florida. Hal retired as an Aerospace Engineer before relocating to Payson.

They have been members of TRSAR for one short year but have been totally involved in all aspects. Hal has had many years of leadership/decision making roles in various organizations over the years.

His answer to the question, “What do you plan to accomplish if elected?” was:

I was requested to do so by the Commander, personally I feel the other two candidates are highly qualified and have a great deal more SAR experience.

 Ira Gibel; and his wife of 35 years live in Pine, have two sons; the oldest son, Keith, a JAG attorney for the Navy, stationed in Portland, Ore. with his wife and two children.  Youngest son, Brian, working for the State Dept. as a diplomat, is stationed in Seoul, Korea, with his wife, an English teacher. Ira is a retired high school health education teacher, he taught for a total of 32 years, and also coached wrestling for 37 years. 

Ira has been a TRSAR member since 1999.  A Member of the rope squad since 2000, he has also been  Safety Officer since March of 2000,  YES and SAFE presenter,  First Responder and CPR and First Aid instructor. .  Also, he served previously on the Board.  He has been president of the Take Pride Project in Pine and Strawberry for two years, secretary for one and reelected to President for 2006.

His answer to the question, “What do you plan to accomplish if elected?” was:

I chose to accept the nomination because I hope I can be a positive addition to our board.  I plan to help keep our organization, TRSAR, an elite group of talented, well-trained and dedicated individuals that I am proud to be working with, on top of all the SAR groups nationwide.

 Roger Miotto; and his wife Tammy (who just joined TRSAR) have two children, Doni and Anthony plus Sarg the Shepherd. They also live in Pine where Roger is a General Contractor as well as a licensed Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator, Grade 3; Wastewater Collection Grade 2 and AZ State certified Aerobic Wastewater Inspector, as well as being Chairman of his HOA.

Roger has been a member of TRSAR for 9 years, is serving on the Board as member currently, as well as chairing the Personnel Committee, Property Management Officer and Rope Rescue Instructor. His training includes First Responder, man-tracker, investigative tracking, CPR, First Aid and use of the PLS tracking equipment.

His answer to the question, “What do you plan to accomplish if elected?” was:

I Plan to strengthen our Rope Team with more training. Send more members to Rope School, support TRSAR in what it stands for, help other members with anything within my ability and find others who can assist us with their abilities.

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 VIP MEMBER PROFILES

This is a new feature presented by John Boyles wherein each month several members will be spotlighted in order for all of us to get better acquainted. Thanks for stepping up to the plate again, John. You’re #1.
 

 Ron Crimmins 526L

 Raised on the banks of the Mississippi River in Red Wing, Minnesota, Ron married his high school sweetheart, over fifty years ago.  He and Val have five children, twenty grandchildren and six great grand children.  Graduating from Mankato State Teachers College, Ron also served six years with the US Army National Guard.  He worked for many years as a State Farm Insurance Company Agency Manager before retiring in 1996.  During their married life Ron and Val have lived in most of the upper Midwest states.

 Ron is our biggest member physically and in perhaps other ways as well.  Even with artificial knees, Ron has been an active Certified Rope Team member, certified tracker and superior hiker.  He has always participated where needed, helping in nearly all TRSAR active missions, trainings and fund raising events.  He served as treasurer and board member.  His expertise in insurance matters has been invaluable to us.  Ron worked hard to establish a good financial picture for the squad managing the checking account with unquestionable accuracy.  He would have made a very fine Commander of Tonto Rim and I would have been very proud to serve under his leadership.  However all these activities took a large part of Ron’s time.  We must remember he has a personal life as well, and therefore chose to take his Life Membership, freeing up his time for family.  While still helping with Tonto Rim when available, Ron now divides his time between Mesa and Pine.  These final paragraphs are a direct quote from Ron’s response to my VIP questionnaire.  I could not have said it any better.  It truly shows the character of this really great man.

 “My life has always centered on my Lord and my family, with my career being last.  God has blessed us with a beautiful family that all walk with the Lord.  Val and I were foster parents for 22 years.  We developed a love for special-needs children. There are so many fond and sad memories that is would be difficult to be specific.  We and our children and their spouses have developed a real love for these children.   Nine of our grandchildren were special-needs foster children and have been adopted by three of our children and their families.

 We have spent most of our time in Pine and I have been very active in TRSAR.  In recent months, we have made big changes in our lives.  We have missed out on much of our families’ lives and have decided to spend more time in the valley as we have two children and their families in Mesa.  I also have a 93 year old mother in Mesa and need to be near her more.  Therefore we are spending four days a week in Mesa and three days here in Pine.  This will reduce my time with TRSAR significantly but we need to look at the priorities in our life.”

 This tells it all. Isn’t this a truly big man!   It has been our pleasure, Ron.

 John E Boyles 510L

Charlie Conover 509

 Charlie is another of our active members with a Southern California connection. He was born in Burbank, grew up in Glendale, and attended Glendale College.  Charlie served three years in the U. S. Army, including duty as a medic in Germany. On his return to Glendale, armed with a degree in Fire Science, he started to climb the ladder at Glendale Fire Department.  After thirty-four years of dedicated service, he retired with the rank of Captain. The Glendale Fire Department benefited greatly with his involvement during the design and construction of three new fire stations.

 Charlie Conover joined TRSAR seven years ago. He is a certified tracker and rope team member. His participation has been exemplary for anyone to follow. Training, missions, special assignments or committee chairman, Charlie’s attention to detail and leadership have served TRSAR very well.

 All of his life has not been just work. The Rim Country 4 Wheelers has held much of his attention in the past. Traveling, hunting and fishing, Payson Civil Air Patrol, and board member of Diamond Star Fire District, has taken some of his time from work. With his wife Betty they raised two sons to become Eagle Scouts, and outstanding student athletes both attended United States Naval Academy and are pilots with Marines and Navy.

 Thank you Charlie, for all of your contributions to the Squad. It’s my great pleasure to have known you.  Ahaaaa, don’t put that black hat down where I can catch hold of it.

  John Boyles 510L

ROBERT HOLMES 547R

 We want to welcome one of our newest members Robert Holmes.  Growing up in Southern California Bob must have been overwhelmed when he moved to the Rim Country with the lack of smog, traffic and high cost of housing!  Married to Margaret, they have two children, Tom and Teresa.  Rounding out the household are two dogs and a cat.  He is an experienced camper, hunter and fisherman.  Bob retired as an engineer. He brings to Tonto Rim a valuable background in HAM and VHF and disaster radio operation.  We know how difficult communication can be in our canyons and somehow, we will be better for this resource on board.  Being an avid radio controlled airplane enthusiast, Bob has presented an idea which also may become a valuable asset.  The possibility of using a radio controlled aircraft as a search tool by attaching a small video camera to the plane we would be able to immediately look into some of our remote inaccessible areas.  I think this is an idea that warrants exploration.

One of the big advantages of new blood in any organization is new ideas.  Bob has already shown he will be a willing participant with TRSAR’s activities.  Welcome, Bob.

John E Boyles 510L

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Website

Tonto Rim SAR Members can now have your very own email address through our site. Just contact our Webmaster at Mail for the TRSAR Webmaster  to arrange for it, no cost to you or us.


We are promoted and you’ll also find our newsletter on the Rim Country Volunteer site;
http://www.inpayson.com/TRSAR-Payson-Rim-Country-Area.htm

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December 2005 Training Schedule