Saving lives is not easy work. And yes, mountain rescue is about saving lives. You all know the difficulties- the anxious call outs, the search before the rescue, the long approaches, operating technical systems in the dark, the blood, and sometimes worse. Then there is paperwork, training, recruitment, equipment maintenance, the budget and all the other administrative work that is just as crucial to a high-performing team.
As we ease out of the pandemic and into 2023 I am looking forward to the MRA Winter Business Meeting and the Spring Conference and the opportunity to see so many of you face to face. These meetings allow us to showcase what the MRA provides to its members and develop strategic initiatives. There is great networking, hospitality suites, training events and storytelling; and providing these opportunities is also not easy work.
The wonderful thing I have seen in SAR is how selfless and hardworking so many of you are. As in every SAR team, the hard work of the MRA is inevitably done by a dedicated few. These are our leaders. As the MRA leans into inclusion, leadership development, and the professionalization of our volunteer organizations, I want to acknowledge and praise all our hardworking MRA members, especially the leadership, for their outstanding efforts. I also want to challenge them to train their replacements.
At last year’s Estes Park conference there was much discussion and multiple presentations on leadership development. High quality, thoughtful mentorship is a vital skill in a leader. No one lasts forever. Promoting advancement in an organization is investing in its future and longevity. It motivates newer members and gives them goals. It helps prevent stagnation.
As you read this, consider where you fit in your SAR team (and the MRA). Just getting started? Look to the leaders you admire and reach out for advice or suggestions on where your energies would be most helpful. Middle management? Ask the expert to help you develop your weaknesses. Use your strengths to improve team performance. Already leadership? Don’t be intimidated by the new talent. Mentor them and help them advance; it gets you closer to retirement! If you love what you are doing but are not ready to retire, please consider mentoring your successors anyways. Share your knowledge and experience, support growth and innovation. You may leave a legacy, like saving a life.
Alison Sheets
President, Mountain Rescue Association
