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Washington State Search and Rescue Conference
May 19, 2017 - May 21, 2017
Every year the Washington State Search and Rescue Volunteer Advisory Council sponsors an annual State Search and Rescue Conference. This year the Council selected Ferry County Search and Rescue to host the Conference on May 19, 20 and 21.
A typical Washington State search and rescue conference attracts about 400 search and rescue members from the west coast, Idaho and Canada. The general public is also invited to attend by simply paying the registration fee. The Ferry County Fairgrounds will provide the location for the Conference and some of the buildings are being reconfigured for leader-led classroom presentations. The many open areas provide an ideal setting for hands-on field training exercises.
The Washington State Search and Rescue Conference is the largest annual gathering of search and rescue volunteers and professionals in the Pacific Northwest. The 2017 conference will feature classroom instructional courses, technical field training exercises, search equipment demonstrations and other training events catering to all experience levels. From seasoned incident commanders to first-year SAR members, to the general public, everyone will have the opportunity to learn new skills. The knowledge and experience gained at the conference will return with each person to their community with the potential to actually save lives.
As a direct result of hosting the SAR conference in Republic, the anticipated increased spending at local businesses will also have a ripple effect throughout the county. Additional financial gain that happens as employees, business owners and others spend their income in the local economy may be the fiscal highlight for Ferry County. In fact, according to the U.S. Small Business Association, for every $100 spent at local businesses, $68 will stay in the community.
The 2017 WASAR conference takes full advantage of the internet to access information. The official website for the conference lists all the restaurants, food stores, motels, resorts, camping and RV sites in Ferry county and surrounding areas.