New members may join anytime throughout the year.

ESAR Board Meetings are the 1^st Thursday of each month at 7:00 pm. Board Meetings are where the business of the organization is conducted and decisions made.

General ESAR membership meetings are held on the 3^rd Thursday of each month at 7:00 pm. These meetings are an update for upcoming events and activities, a review of past missions, trainings, education and social opportunities.

All meeting are currently held at the Peace Community Center, 2106 South 19th St., Tacoma.

There are a number of ways you can help:

Field personnel Communications Finance/Grant writing Base assistance Database/Record keeping Callout Mechanical Equipment Management

Membership and Records Public Relations Graphic Arts Training Unit Activities Newsletter Recruiting Financial Support

Annual membership fees (subject to change): $10.00 +$3.00 for BSA membership and insurance

Equipment ranging from $0 to $500.00

• Register with the BSA
• Complete ESAR training requirements
• Trainees must be fourteen years old by the end of the training seasons in order to become a certified member
• Maintain a 2.0 grade point average

Each person requesting membership will be required to register for, and then maintain, a current Department of Emergency Management Emergency Services worker card. (DEM card) All search and rescue volunteers are registered through the Washington State Department of Emergency management as Emergency Service Workers. This means that you are insured while on missions, as well as to and from the mission. The DEM Emergency worker card expires every three years and is renewed by the unit if you are active and your membership fees are current. The initial issuance of the card includes a police background check, which you must pass.

Your personal medical insurance is your primary insurance coverage for injury on a search mission.

ESAR carries a BSA insurance policy as a secondary policy to support and augment your personal policy. (This is paid for from part of the membership fees.)

The Washington State Department of Emergency Management manages a state fund to pay for damage and injury to emergency service workers or their property to augment personal insurance.