Minutes of the May 18, 2002 meeting of the Tampa Chapter SAR

President Tetrick called the meeting to order at 12:04. Jim Washburn offered the invocation. The secretary led the pledge to the flag and the President led the pledge to the SAR.

Members present: Jim Washburn, Marty Miller, Dwight Tetrick, Fred Patton, Daniel Stutzman, Walter Lane, Ryan Smith, Winfield Nelson, Bob Yarnell, and Kevin Yarnell.

Welcome guests: Paul Francoeur, June Patton, Diane and Roger Picard, Betty Nelson, and Jessie (the canine partner of Officer Picard)

The SAR membership approved the minutes of the April meeting as published in the newsletter.

The treasurer reported a balance of $2,369.46.

The secretary reported receiving a thank you note from one of the ROTC cadets with regard to our April meeting. It was printed in the May newsletter. In total, the chapter presented 9 Jr. ROTC medals and 3 Sr. ROTC medals this past year.

He also reported on the State Society’s annual meeting held last weekend in Panama City. The meeting was attended by the National Society President General. As chairman of the State Knight Essay contest, Kevin announced the winners of this year’s contest. He passed on to the membership the verbal commendation received by the state chairman for the ROTC awards for our fine work this past year, as well as information about a pending bylaw change for the National Society allowing the trustees to fix dues and fees. This change is not being supported by the Florida Society.

Finally, the secretary reported that he’d been reappointed to the position of state chairman of the Knight Essay contest.

Thanks to the efforts of Janett Tetrick we have sent in applications for two new members, Richard Reynolds and Daniel Reynolds. These gentlemen, a father and son, came via the grandmother of one of the men who is a member of the DAR.

President Tetrick reported receiving information regarding an SAR meeting in Mexico to be held in October to which all SAR members are invited.

The President then inducted our two newest members, Ryan Smith and Winfield Nelson into the society.

There being no other business the meeting recessed for lunch.

President Tetrick reconvened the meeting and introduced Office Roger Picard, a twenty-two year veteran Firefighter / Paramedic and his dog Jessie. Currently Officer Picard is engaged in teaching fire safety to both children and adults. Jessie is trained as an Urban Search and Rescue dog, meaning she is trained to find buried survivors. Both spent about two weeks working at the site of the World Trade center collapse arriving six days after the attack.

Office Picard recalled for the members his involvement in the rescue operation. He showed many pictures and detailed the extent of the effort required to secure the area and search the tower remains as well as the surrounding area. Unfortunately, no survivors were found after the third day of the disaster but they did not give up hope throughout the deployment.

A question session followed the remarks.

President Tetrick then presented Officer Picard with the SAR Fire Safety Commendation medal.

President Tetrick led the recessional and Jim Washburn gave the benediction. The meeting adjourned at 2:00.

Respectfully submitted,

Kevin Yarnell

Chapter Secretary