A Place to Call Home: Mono SAR Team dedicates new building

To:         All News Outlets

From:    Jennifer Hansen, Public Information Officer

Date:     November 26, 2013

RE:        A Place to Call Home: Mono County Sheriff Search and Rescue Team dedicates new building

On Saturday, November 23, 2013, the Mono County Sheriff Search and Rescue (SAR) Team welcomed the local community, distinguished donors and guests to the dedication and open house of their new building.

Because of all the donations that have been made over recent years, the new SAR building was made possible. As the dedication event started, SAR Team President, Dan Corning, took the stage, welcomed the roomful of guests, and simply said, “We couldn’t have done this without you.” He introduced the first speaker, Sheriff Ralph Obenberger. “I would like to welcome each and every one of you to a very special day in the history of the Mono County Sheriff Search and Rescue Team. The SAR Team is a fantastic group of individuals that put their safety at risk, not to  be patted on the back, but just to help someone in need. I am very proud to call the SAR Team an integral part of the Sheriff’s Department. I would like to thank all the donors, whether you donated monetarily; with your building expertise; or in any other way. This project could not have been done without you.” Thanks were definitely the theme of the event. SAR Team Vice President, Jutta Schmidt, took the stage and said, “Today is all about thanks. Thank you everyone for making this possible. We’ve been in the building for a year and still can’t believe this is our home. I’m glad this event fell near Thanksgiving – what a perfect way to give thanks. We have to say thank you to the Mammoth Community Water District for the land lease. You can’t have a building without a place to put it. Thank you to all the donors whether you gave monetarily or via space, food, ideas and time. It’s amazing what people are willing to do to help. Thank you to our major donors including the Arthur B. Schultz Foundation for their $250,000 matching grant and to Bev Langston for the $200,000 donation. It is gratifying to have support of a community like ours. Every dollar or penny or act matters. We couldn’t do it without you. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!” Supervisor Byng Hunt, of the Mono County Board of Supervisors, said a few words, “The Mono County Board of Supervisors recently approved a new vehicle purchase for the SAR Team from funds of the old sprung structure. Personally, and on behalf of the Board of Supervisors, thank you! Thank you to an amazing job well done. For a volunteer organization, you can’t be beat.” To finish off the speaking portion of the event, Greg Dallas of MMSA stood up, “This team puts millions of hours into training and in the field, nothing deters them. They get up and respond to each and every call. There is no team more deserving of having a ‘home.’ It is a comforting feeling for the team support to their community. Your fundraising efforts, and the fact you got this building accomplished, is a true testament to what you do out there.”

All SAR Team members, community members, distinguished donors and guests gathered outside for the official rope cutting ceremony (yes, rope not ribbon – this is SAR after all). The rope was cut and the dedication of the SAR building concluded with lunch, provided by Mammoth Mountain Ski Area (MMSA), great conversation, and many more thank-you’s. For more information on the SAR Team, to make a donation, or ways to become a volunteer, please visit www.monosar.org.

Reported and written by: Jennifer M. Hansen, Public Information Officer