This time next week everyone will be here for the JSAR. We'll have the opening evening and a few events over for the night. Though there were initially great plans today for getting lots done, fate interviened and we ended up getting ready to respond to a call out and continued on a bit of an adventure and had a joint exercise with another local rescue group. It was a fantastic day and it was great to do more varied things.
The to do list can wiat until tomorrow, there's still a whole week!
Friday, April 30, 2010
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
9 days to go....
Now that we're down to single figures, it's starting to hit home how close it's all getting. After another long day in the station, we've been through nearly all the paperwork and have sent some to be printed. The discussions about logistics and transportation are funny to listen to... we'd be able to mobilise anything in the event of an emergency after listening to the long lists of what equipment we have and how we're going to transport everything.
As I'm typing this, the team are still chatting away about what we can do for all the little bits. I really am proud of all the time and effort that the team has put in, over the last year and especially in the last few months. I know we're all volunteers and everyone has work, family and friends; but these guys really have put their heart and soul into everything that has been asked of them. There's no way of conveying how proud I am of them and how well they have all pulled together to come up with such a hectic and varied array of events.
I'm excited about getting people here to try out all our games and hopefully, they'll enjoy playing them as much as we've had making them and testing them out.
As I'm typing this, the team are still chatting away about what we can do for all the little bits. I really am proud of all the time and effort that the team has put in, over the last year and especially in the last few months. I know we're all volunteers and everyone has work, family and friends; but these guys really have put their heart and soul into everything that has been asked of them. There's no way of conveying how proud I am of them and how well they have all pulled together to come up with such a hectic and varied array of events.
I'm excited about getting people here to try out all our games and hopefully, they'll enjoy playing them as much as we've had making them and testing them out.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
10 days left...
One phone call to check one chart work question has us still in the Station 13 hours later. Not satisfied that anything can be taken for granted, we're maticulously going over EVERYTHING that we can for the games for the JSAR. We've spent the day and several different people later going over charts, maps and all the instructions. With so many opinions there are always suggestions about changes and alterations; the games could be like paintings, you could keep painting and painting and end up with something different to what you started with, so tomorrow is our deadline for ammendments, then it's all off to the printers.
It's not all work though, there was for a solid 15 minutes that all we did was laugh at a variation of one of the games that we ammended for our own amusement this evening, but I can't describe any of it as it would give too much away....
A lot of the activities we've been involved in recently are top secret and it'll be great when we're able to talk about it all soon, even family and friends are being kept in the dark so that the surprises aren't spoiled.
It's not all work though, there was for a solid 15 minutes that all we did was laugh at a variation of one of the games that we ammended for our own amusement this evening, but I can't describe any of it as it would give too much away....
A lot of the activities we've been involved in recently are top secret and it'll be great when we're able to talk about it all soon, even family and friends are being kept in the dark so that the surprises aren't spoiled.
Monday, April 26, 2010
JSAR Countdown
With only 11 days left until JSAR 2010, the preparations are in their final stages. We have spent the last 11 months talking about it all, trying to cover all the angles, coming up with the games and trying and testing them.
Now we're down to the final paperwork, we've the timetable finalised, the games are prepared and we're in the final stages of writing the documents for the event. We're getting into the small things to polish off the event such as sorting the PA system, the projector, where exactly the flags are going to be...
It's hard to believe that it was 50 weeks ago since we were asked if we'd host the event and thought that it was ages away. There has been a lot of time and effort put into every aspect of the event, from picking the dates and theme to coming up with ideas for games. Up to this point, we have not given away any information about the games and have been limited in what we could publish on Facebook or tell people so that we would not spoil any of the surprise.
During the last few days leading up to the JSAR we'll put up some of the information about the final preparations and will get people to give us little their experiences of the day to help describe the events and how the weekend feels as a whole.
From what I remember of the JSAR events in Howth 2008 when I competed, I remember being exhausted after a busy weekend that went by like a blur, but had great fun, met loads of brilliant people and got to put all the things I had learned over the years in the Coast Guard into practice. I'd definitely recommend it to every member to take part in the events, as you get to meet similar people with similar interests.
Now we're down to the final paperwork, we've the timetable finalised, the games are prepared and we're in the final stages of writing the documents for the event. We're getting into the small things to polish off the event such as sorting the PA system, the projector, where exactly the flags are going to be...
It's hard to believe that it was 50 weeks ago since we were asked if we'd host the event and thought that it was ages away. There has been a lot of time and effort put into every aspect of the event, from picking the dates and theme to coming up with ideas for games. Up to this point, we have not given away any information about the games and have been limited in what we could publish on Facebook or tell people so that we would not spoil any of the surprise.
During the last few days leading up to the JSAR we'll put up some of the information about the final preparations and will get people to give us little their experiences of the day to help describe the events and how the weekend feels as a whole.
From what I remember of the JSAR events in Howth 2008 when I competed, I remember being exhausted after a busy weekend that went by like a blur, but had great fun, met loads of brilliant people and got to put all the things I had learned over the years in the Coast Guard into practice. I'd definitely recommend it to every member to take part in the events, as you get to meet similar people with similar interests.
General JSAR information
Coast Guard Volunteers from the four corners of Ireland have converged in this last 4 years for a training exercise with a difference! Mulroy Coast Guard Unit, based in Downings, is the base for the 2010 Joint Search and Rescue (JSAR) games which involve members of the Northern Ireland Coastguard and the Irish Coast Guard. Now in its fifth year, the event aims to increase the professionalism of all participants and to enhance co-operation between both Services' through friendly competition.
Twelve team members from each division (Malin, Valentia, Dublin and Northern Ireland) compete in the events. Each of the four-person teams are either competing on behalf of their division, or are part of an inter-divisional (North-South) team, trying to secure one of the four awards up for grabs at this year's games. There will be two teams per Division (e.g. Valentia A and Valentia B, made up of four people from that Division) and 4 mixed team with one person from each Division making up the teams.
During the competitions the 48 competitors, will be faced with a range of emergency situations which they may encounter throughout their service and some with a more light hearted twist on team work and communications. These competitions will test the skills they use in their emergency service roles. These will include leadership; search planning; chart work; communications; compass work, first aid, helicopter landing procedures and rope work.
The Captain Kirwan Cup will be awarded to the best overall team; the JSAR Shield will be presented to the best divisional team; the Canadian Award will be presented to the best inter-divisional team and the fourth award, a silver cup, will be awarded to the competitor who has exhibited the best leadership skills.
The theme of the event, “From Ship Yard to Ship Wreck” was chosen as our Station is based in the local Boat Yard where numerous ships have been built down through the years and there have also been high numbers of wreckages in the area; one of which can be seen from the Station.
Other information about the Mulroy Unit can be found on our Facebook page by adding Mulroy Coast Guard as a friend, in which you’ll get to see lots of local pictures and the range of activities that we’re involved in.
Twelve team members from each division (Malin, Valentia, Dublin and Northern Ireland) compete in the events. Each of the four-person teams are either competing on behalf of their division, or are part of an inter-divisional (North-South) team, trying to secure one of the four awards up for grabs at this year's games. There will be two teams per Division (e.g. Valentia A and Valentia B, made up of four people from that Division) and 4 mixed team with one person from each Division making up the teams.
During the competitions the 48 competitors, will be faced with a range of emergency situations which they may encounter throughout their service and some with a more light hearted twist on team work and communications. These competitions will test the skills they use in their emergency service roles. These will include leadership; search planning; chart work; communications; compass work, first aid, helicopter landing procedures and rope work.
The Captain Kirwan Cup will be awarded to the best overall team; the JSAR Shield will be presented to the best divisional team; the Canadian Award will be presented to the best inter-divisional team and the fourth award, a silver cup, will be awarded to the competitor who has exhibited the best leadership skills.
The theme of the event, “From Ship Yard to Ship Wreck” was chosen as our Station is based in the local Boat Yard where numerous ships have been built down through the years and there have also been high numbers of wreckages in the area; one of which can be seen from the Station.
Other information about the Mulroy Unit can be found on our Facebook page by adding Mulroy Coast Guard as a friend, in which you’ll get to see lots of local pictures and the range of activities that we’re involved in.
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