First off, it's Christmas Eve, so Happy Christmas Eve and a Merry Christmas to you and your family and loved ones. I hope everyone has a good time with family and surrounding yourself with those you love.
As we near the end of yet another year, I can't help but think as each year comes, the faster it goes by. 2012....wow, already. Totally not ready to begin this, but also looking forward to what the new year is to begin.
My year in review. Went to Skywarn training held at Lakeview Middle School to become a certified Storm Spotter for Skywarn. From there I became interested in becoming part of Battle Creek's Search & Rescue. Our team is known as the Southwest Michigan Emergency Response Team/Search & Rescue.
After a few months of becoming part of the program and getting a little training from KCSAR in Grand Rapids, with a few lessons from FEMA, I am well on my way to being educated in Emergency Preparedness. A good friend, Bronson was the man in charge for Recruitment & Retention/Event Coordinator, and asked me to take over for him as he headed to Basic. I agreed, with the intent no one else had any objections to it being I was still pretty new to the program, but felt honored and still am.
About a month after that I finally got my Amateur Radio License and joined RACES and got the privilege to work with another great group of people.
And from a few months, I believe it was October when Ken, our President and Emergency Coordinator wanted to step down at the end of his term, which is this year. During our monthly meeting, he told the group they needed to elect nominate a new president for the next term and that he did not want it anymore.
So within the last few months left, a few veterans stepped down and retired from Search & Rescue and their talent and experience will be missed as well as them. From here, Ken nominated me for President to take over the program. I am proud to have this honor, and I hope the next three years will go great.
We have so many plans and ideas breaking out for the upcoming year, and Mike our Emergency Manager is working very hard with us and for us.
As we continue to grow and evolve together, this upcoming year our boundaries will disappear and different teams will work together helping each other and complementing them as well. A great way to really show what we're really here for and that is for the safety of our people in our community.
Together working together: MiSARN, SMERT, RACES, ARES, HOMELAND SECURITY, FEMA, BCPD, SWAT, PUBLIC SAFETY, EMS, FIRE DEPARTMENTS, and surrounding jurisdictions when needed.
The end of 2011 going into the future of 2012. Hope everyone had a great year, and an even better one to come. For those in the Battle Creek area interested in joining Search & Rescue, we'd love to have you join us.
So I end this with a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
-Chad Hayes-E39-KD8RCF
Twitter:iChad
Our Battle Creek Emergency Twitter updates: SMERTSAR
Our Battle Creek RACES Twitter: CALHOUNRACES
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