VALBONA MOUNTAIN Rescue Service Plan and Strategy Report Valbona Mountain Rescue Service Plan and Strategy Report

February, 2016

Written by: Catherine Bohne-Selimaj Translated by: Mariana Susaj

Contributors:

Valbona Volunteers: Skender Selimaj, Ardit Jubani, Fatjon Ismalaj, Florant Metaliaj, Sajmir Selimaj, Dashnor Hysaj, Kelmend Selimaj and Adenis Selimaj

Foreign Rescue Partners: Dominik Brozek and Jiri Brozek of the Czech Mountain Rescue Service, and Jan Goriak of the Polish Mountain Rescue Service

We would like to express our gratitude to the Czech, Polish, Slovak and Hungarian Embassies in Albania, without whose support this project would never even have been imagined, and to the International Visegrad Fund, without whom it wouldn’t have started.

Thanks are also due to Mr. Zamir Dedaj of NAPA and Mr. Blerant Lushaj of RAPA, who support local participation in Protected Areas management and whose vision makes us all believe in a brighter future for Albania’s National Parks.

And a Special Thank You from us all to Alfred Selimaj who takes responsibility on a local level, and makes things happen. Even when he can’t quite believe it himself, he never gives up.

On behalf of everyone who walks these Mountains, we thank you all for strengthening the environment, for your contribution to Albania’s future, and for the gift you have given to our shared community.

Mire se Erdhet!

Printed in Tirana, 2016 by One Design www.1-design.com Introduction Vision

The goal of our NGO is to establish a functional Mountain Rescue Service based in Valbona National Park (Valbona MRS), providing a fast and effective emergency response for anyone lost, injured or disappeared in our mountains. This service will be initially comprised of volunteer members who undertake to locate and retrieve visitors in need of assistance from our surrounding mountains, providing the minimum of first aid necessary to stabilize them for transport. We additionally promise to be ready to assess, refer, and organize transfer for those people needing more sophiticated medical treatment, as quickly and efficiently as possible. In order to achieve this, we must not only train and equip volunteer rescuers, but create an administrative framework, establish working cooperation with local and national institutions and improve communiciation infrastructure and publicity.

Our primary and immediate impetus in establishing this service is to respond to the existing need we perceive. Many 1000s of tourists visit Valbona Valley and venture into surrounding areas every year. They get lost, they have accidents and health emergencies, and we perceive an urgent need to have an organized, professional service ready to offer aid.

We also have long term goals however. It is our vision that we should grow from a committed, volunteer-based local service into a strong, self-sustaining Albanian institution. Working with the Protected Areas administration of Albania, we will create a model service, which can expand to cross-border cooperations, as well as become a resource for all Albania, offering training and assistance in creating related services in other protected areas and tourism destinations. This is an important undertaking, as it promises to significantly improve the quality of Albanian public safety, as well as tourism appeal both domestically and internationally. 3 4 5 Location

Valbona MRS is based in Northern Albania, in Valbona Valley, a National Park since 1996. There is a natural boundary to the West, at the mountains dividing our valley from the Shala Valley (and Theth National Park), to the North is the Albanian border (with Montenegro’s Prokletije National Park on the other side). To the East we neighbor Gashi Vally, an IUCN category I “Strictly Protected Area” inhabited only in summer by shepherds, but in parts a very popular hiking destination. Given its isolation and lack of infrastructure combined with its popularity as a destination, we plan to offer service also in Gashi. To the South is another natural mountain boundary separating Valbona from the Curraj Valley of Lekbibaj. Our aim is to promise visitors that they can count on us to come to their assistance, until they reach their next developed destination. Therefore, although we will initially use these natural physical boundaries, we will also operate outside them when necessary. (See Appendix I: Map of Service Coverage)

6 Who is Served?

The goal of Valbona MRS is that anyone within the defined boundaries of our area should have access to free search and rescue service from our volunteers, as well as more sophisticated services from our extended network (police, hospital, ambulance). This includes registered guests, but also daytrippers, hikers, campers, those who have wandered into Albania by accident (and laugh, but this happens from the Montenegro side) and also of course the local summer population. There are three major challenges in providing this service: Creating the Service, Publicity (making sure people know the service exists) and Communication (as large areas here are outside of functioning telephone networks). More about this later.

7 Participation

Valbona Mountain Rescue Service will rely on 4 groups of cooperating participants. At the center are the Volunteer Rescuers, currently numbering 12. These local volunteers are committed to taking responsibility for responding to calls for assistance beginning in 2015. In fact this is in some ways only a formality, since local people have been rescuing people for years, albeit without any organization or infrastructure. (See Appendix II: Rescue Volunteer Profiles) The next level of participation is the Administrative Partner, responsible for overview, management and communication. During the ‘Establishment Phase’ these duties will be performed by the NGO ShAV, using a combination of their own resources as well as by working with all possible assistance from the National Agency for Protected Areas (NAPA). During the Sustainability Phase it is intended to create an independent office for administration, with a paid employee. The next level of participants are the Local Partners. Valbona MRS will establish and maintain relationships with local Police, the Bajram Curri Hospital and the Regional Agency for Protected Areas (RAPA), ensuring that working lines of communication are established and all regional services are ready to respond to emergencies when needed. The final level are theNational and International Partners. From the beginning, Valbona MRS has been in communication with NAPA, which is an agency of the Ministry of Environment, responsible for administering the National Park. Although established in 1996, Valbona National Park has never had a management plan and thus no staff or budget although a plan is currently being actively worked on with hopes of ratification in early 2016. Pending establishment of a functioning park staff but perceiving the urgent need for rescue services, we have the support of NAPA head Mr. Zamir Dedaj in creating Valbona MRS as a sustainable, independent service, working with full cooperation of NAPA and in respect of all NAPA’s recommendations. Valbona MRS is also actively pursing a working cooperation with a major hospital in Tirana offering helicopter service, in the case of serious injuries which are not able to be treated locally. We are also pursing a relationship with a

8 major Albanian telephone provider, in order to improve communications within the boundaries of the service area. Finally, we are very proud of our relationships with the Czech, Polish and Slovak Mountain Rescue teams, and grateful for all the time and energy they have already given us. We look forward to a long and fruitful working relationship.

9 Strategy

We anticipate development of this service in 3 Phases. First is the Establishment Phase, in which we create what we can with our limited resources potentially aided by grant income. The goal of this phase is to make reliable basic search and rescue a reality. Second is the Sustainable Phase in which we solidify the service, and develop it to be more effective and self-sustaining, reaching out to other partners who will contribute when there is an existing service on which to rely. The goal of this phase is to realize a self-sustaining, professional service. The Third Phase is the Expansion Phase, in which we develop our existing service to truly top-notch, international standards, while at the same time making ourselves available for training and collaboration in other Albanian and cross-border services.

History to Date

The project was begun in 2015 by our local NGO, The Shoqata e Akomodimit Valbone (the Valbona Tourism Association or ShAV). With encouragement from the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Albania, we applied for a € 6,000 minigrant from the International Visegrad Fund, working with the Czech, Polish and Slovak Mountain Rescue Services as partners. (See Appendix III: 2015 Visegrad Grant Application) With these funds we were able to bring 3 senior staff of their Rescue Services to Valbona in September 2015 for a 3 day training workshop, during which local volunteers were exposed to information about existing established services and their practises, as well as beginning training in rescue response and first aid, map reading and GPS skills. In October 2015, 5 local volunteers travelled to Prague, where they began a 4 day tour of Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia, visiting Rescue Team offices and facilities, as well as continuing training in using more sophisticated first aid equipment as well as other search and rescue skills like climbing with ropes. The final product of this minigrant is the planning document which you are now reading. We anticipate implementing the Phase I Establishment measures by summer of 2016. 10 Financial Considerations

As a project of our NGO, all financial transactions regarding the project will be processed through a dedicated bank account, and reported under the tax requirements of the NGO, until such time as Valbona MRS either becomes an independent entity, or falls under the aegis of a functioning Park Management. While the project is at heart volunteer- based we believe it must become self-sustaining, and hope that the service may yet provide financial benefit to the organization and its volunteer members. Toward this end, we have various ideas of how Valbona MRS can offer additional services and generate income, to be further described in the following text.

11 1. Establishment Phase Details

1.1 The Rescue Team As mentioned in the introduction, while the Rescuers are the heart of making the serivce a reality, Valbona MRS depends on the on contribution from four levels of participants. Here follows a description of each participants composition and responsibilities.

1.1.1 Volunteer Rescuers In 2015, our first team formed, comprised of 12 committed members. These men are all local inhabitants and grew up in the area. Their knowledge of the mountains is detailed and exact. Seven come from families owning and operating Guesthouses. Six have worked as guides with international tourism agencies. Five have foreign language skills. Eight have frequently participated in ‘ad hoc’ rescue missions predating the creation of Valbona MRS.

In 2015, they began training with Czech, Polish and Slovak rescue services during the workshop and study trip provided by the Visegrad Fund minigrant. Such trainings included map reading, using the GPS, basic first aid and emergency response. In addition, they contracted with Red Cross Albania to bring trainers to Valbona, and 10 are now Red Cross certified, including CPR. We also have an informal promise from Albanian Tourism company Outdoor Albania, to donate ski equipment for all 12 members, and we have interest from the “Blue Balkans” initiatve of Patagonia Outdoor Gear company to provide ski training by their ‘initiative ambassador’ who will travel here, just as soon as there is snow (which there was not in winter 2015-2016). In April 2016, a Volunteer member

12 13 of Czech RS responsible for training rescue dogs will visit Valbona with 3 dogs, and demonstrate the potential of trained canines. In 2016 we plan to continue training with Czech Mountain Rescue by sending 3-5 Valbona volunteers to participate in their regular summer training, as well as possibly volunteering for an extended period with Czech Rescue.

Volunteers commit to being ready 24/7 to answer calls for assistance. Situations requiring assistence will arise either from calls to our contact number, or from non-arrival of registered hikers (see “1.1.2 Administration” for registration details). Responsibility for answering calls to the Valbona MRS telephone number will be shared during Establishment Phase by the Guesthouses of Quku i Valbones and Kol Gjoni, where there are are English speaking staff members present 24/7, able to communicate with foreigners in various states of panic. Non-arrival of registered hikers will be monitored by NGO administration (again, see below for details).

Volunteers are organized into 4 Squads, based on the 3 inhabited areas of the Valley: Rrogam (to the West), Valbona (in the Center – 2 squads) and Dragobia (to the East). Each Squad has a Leader and at least 2 Members. Leaders must speak English, and will take charge of the rescue, issuing orders for maximum speed and efficiency of response, as well as having a smart phone allowing maximum means of communication and information exchange during the rescue. Each squad includes at least one English speaker, at least one member who took part in the Czech Study Trip (thus having seen first-hand professional rescue services), at least one Red Cross trained volunteer and access to at least one vehicle.

Once an emergency has been established, the Guesthouse or NGO staff member who received initial contact will contact the Leader of the Squad nearest to the percieved location of the emergency. This Squad Leader will then call their Squad Members. At any point, if either Leader or Members are unreachable, the call passes to the next nearest Squad Leader and/or Members. In this way complete Squads can be mobilized in the minimum time.

14 Figure 1: Rescue Response Network. (See also Appendix IV: Rescue Response Network)

An additional and crucial level of volunteer contribution will be provided by the 2 Guesthouses “manning” the emergency hotline number during the Establishment Phase. Staff of both guesthouses – Quku i Valbones and Kol Gjoni – (both of which have rescue team volunteer members) have been trained by Czech RS how to extract maximum pertinent and clear information from people in emergency situations, in order to understand their needs and locate them to best ability. This process has been further clarified in the “Rescue Response Intake Form,” which will be used when answering emergency calls to extract and record all necessary information. (See Appendix V: Rescue Response Intake Form) Incidentally, these intake forms can be used later to quantify and study emergency and rescue statistics. Volunteers anticipate dealing visitors engaged in the following potential activities:

• Camping • Day Trips • Hiking • Backpacking • Biking • Motorcycle or 4WD • Climbers • Skiiers • Kayaking/Water sports • Illegal Activities (hunting)

Which may lead to the following types of emergency:

• Injuries: Bleeding, sprains and breaks • Hypothermia • Avalanche • Stuck Climbers • Food Poisoning • Wildlife encounters (bears, snakes) • Lost • Disappeared • Land Mines • Death

16 1.1.2 Administration The next crucial level of organization is the Administrative. During Establishment Phase, this work will be contributed by the staff of our NGO ShAV. It is anticipated that during the Sustainability Phase this role becomes a paid position.

Responsibilities of Administration fall into four broad areas: Organization, Service, Financial and Outreach.

1.1.2.1 Organization The most immediate and necessary administrative work is to assist in organizing the Volunteers. Thus adminstrative work includes creation and maintenance of written protocols (as in the case of the Response Network and the Response Intake Form already discussed), modifying, updating and creating as we learn by doing. The administrative office will also be responsible for scheduling trainings for Volunteers both with external providers, but also to make a good schedule of independent practise locally. The administrator will also organize the schedules under which the two Guesthouses share responsibility for the Emergency Hotline Number, as well as making best effort to track when volunteers will be knowingly unavailable.

As we anticipate that Valbona MRS will soon have quite a lot of equipment, the administration must also be responsible for maining a secure facility and an accurate inventory.

Administration must organize with trail networks, to insure that appropriate signage and information are in place (more about this later). Happily, as it is our NGO which is also doing the majority of local trailmarking, this is a natural synergy.

Finally, Administration will begin to collect incidence histories, in order to create a record and statistical database.

17 18 1.1.2.2 Service All of the above refers to internal organization. There must also be an outreach organization for initially dealing with tourists: informing them about our services, answering questions and taking registration information.

Better than rescuing people is making sure they don’t get into trouble in the first place, so we will implement preventative services. By creating a small “shop” of select items, we can sell things which help keep people out of trouble (good maps, water purification systems, first aid kits, and emergency kits). This can incidentally serve as an important source of sustaining income for Valbona MRS.

We will additionally offer premptive services such as registering hikers, tracking them and contracting to guarantee search and rescue in the case of non-arrival at next destination after leaving Valbona.

We also plan to have strategic devices available for rental including handheld GPS devices and SPOT satellite locaters. Our GPS devices can be pre-loaded with the guests’ preferred route. The SPOT device is a small “panic button” which transmits GPS coordinates to a pre-set contact which in our case will be Valbona MRS. SPOT devices are available on an annual contract basis. This can be a great immediate solution to the lack of communication infrasturcture within our service area.

1.1.2.3 Financial As these services will involve payments, it is better if during the Establishment Phase this is organized from one location. During Sustainability Phase it would be nice if there could be several convenient points of sale. (See Appendix VI: Initial Services and Products)

The Administrative Parnter will also be responsible for all financial reporting and accounting, as well as inventory control, ordering and payments.

19 1.1.2.4 Outreach Finally, the MRS will only be effective if visitors know it exists and are able to contact it. Therefore the administrative partner will be responsbile for publicity, producing both public signs in keeping with the environment of the protected area, as well as printed publications which can be available in guesthouses and tourism information centers. Information will also be made available to strategic national partners such as tourism agencies.

Once visitors have set off on adventures, there must be ways of helping them communicate from remote wilderness areas. We anticipate adapting existing trail signage, using junction signs to help hikers better pinpoint their location. We will produce a map showing locations of telephone coverage, helping hikers navigate to the nearest communication point, and we will work with mountain shepherds to be prepared to help hikers in need communicate with Valbona MRS.

During the Establishment phase, Administration will also pursue sponsorship from national and international institutions, as well as continue to explore grant opportunities.

1.1.3 Local Support In certain situations it is necessary to involve local services.

Valbona MRS will establish good lines of communication with local police, and work with them to create efficient systems, as in the case of life- threatening or fatal situations when it is necessary to file police reports and witness statements may be necessary. We will also make sure police are able to access the service, in cases of calls coming directly to them; in the past the police have often had to waste time looking for local volunteers who are knowledgeble about the terrain.

Valbona MRS will also establish a good working relationship with Bajram Curri hospital, making sure we are able to mobilize ambulance services and communicate special needs. A goal of the Rescue Service is to bring a medical specialist into the training program, to create the possibility of

20 21 bringing a qualified medical staff person to emergency locations when desirable.

The Regional Agency of Protected Areas (RAPA) is the local branch of the National Agency of Protected Areas (NAPA), part of the Ministry of Environment responsible for wilderness areas. Valbona MRS will at all times keep the agencies of Protected Areas aware of our activities, making sure that infrastructure and communications programs which we undertake are in keeping with national vision and stategy, with the hope that the Rescue Service can some day become part of Protected Areas administration.

1.1.4 National & International Partners On a national level, it is important that Valbona MRS establish a good relationship with a Tirana hospital of international standards. Bajram Curri Hospital does not have the capacity to deal with complicted injuries (such as bone breaks requiring surgery), and sufferers with complex conditions are usually taken by helicopter to Tirana, to the national Ushtarak Hospital.

Given the proximity of Valbona to the Montenegrin border and their Prokletije National Park, as well as Kosovo and their Bjeshket e Nemuna National Park, hikers often cross borders for example when participating in the Peaks of the Balkans trail. As the goal of Valbona MRS is to ensure the safety of all our guests until they reach their next developed destination, we must be able to work with our neighboring protected areas to coordinate services.

As communication promises to be a challenge in the area for the foreseeable future, we must establish relationships with innovative communications providers, and have already received valuable creative suggestions from one major Albanian telecommunications company.

Training will remain an ongoing need, and we are happy to have established working relationships with Albanian Red Cross and the

22 23 Albanian Ski Association. At the center of the Valbona MRS project is our relationship with the Czech, Polish and Slovak Mountain Rescue Services which we look forward to continuing on a long-term basis. In addition we have begun communication with European Alpine Rescue associations like ICAR (International Commission for Alpine Rescue).

Finally, relationships with suppliers will be very important. Without even a single outdoor sporting goods shop in all of Albania, it will be a challenge for Valbona MRS to keep our own volunteers supplied with needed equipment, as well as providing preventative items for visitors to purchase. The Service will need clothing, medical equipment and emergency response equipment, none of which is possible to purchase inside Albania.

1.2 Equipment In addition to organization, one of the the things that will distinguish a true Rescue Service from the ad hoc activities that have gone on before is the availability of good quality and efficient rescue equipment. No state-of-the art equipment is available for purchase in Albania We have broken our percieved needs into the following categories:

1.2.1 Individual Volunteer Equpiment Each Volunteer member of Valbona MRS should have a dedicated backpack, packed and ready to go. Each backpack should contain basic first aid equipment, including flexible splints of the “SAM” type and bandages, heat blankets and howler whistles. Each volunteer should also have “official” Valbona MRS all-weather clothing, ideally identifying Rescue Team members. Each squad should have at minimum one GPS device, and possibly radio devices for communicating with each other. Each volunteer should have full map sets for the area, binoculars, and flares.

1.2.2 Service Equipment In addition to individual equipment, the service overall should have access to professional equipment for dealing with extreme situations

24 25 when needed. It would be nice if a bar code system could be used to allow for identification of items, as well as speed in “checking them out” during emergency situations. Our Czech Rescue Service Partners recommend investing in “stretchers” - professionally designed devices for transporting seriously injured people. Such stretchers include simple transportation devices, hand held, as well as Stretchers with wheels on the principle of a wheelbarrow, but also “vacuum stretchers” which inflate to cushion people with broken bones for transport down rugged trails.

Some transportation equipment would also be good, should this fall within a grant proposal including a dedicated 4x4 vehicle, as well as a “quad” for moving Rescue Volunteers to the nearest possible contact point.

As training progresses, it would be ideal if Valbona MRS had a cache of climbing equipment, in order to reach people stuck in inaccesible areas.

For extensive search operations in the case of “disappeared” hikers, it would be good to have satellite phones available for use as necessary.

Assuming winter tourism will grow during the upcoming years, it would also be wise for Valbona MRS to have access to winter-condition equipement, including snow shoes, skis, and possibly a snow-mobile.

1.2.3 Equipment for public As already mentioned, Valbona MRS plans to take a proactive role towards prevention by ensuring hikers have every opportunity to be well equipped. This will consist of 1) creating a small shop where useful items can be sold, thus also generating income for the service (See Appendix VI) and 2) having “SPOT” devices available for rental (see Appendix VII: SPOT Devices for device details) which will ensure that the location of visitors experiencing an emergency can be pinpointed in minimum time.

26 27 1.2.4 Storage and Inventory Control Individual volunteers will be responsible for their personal gear. Squad Leaders will make monthly inventory of their squad’s bags, checking that everything is ready. In the case of materials having been used without any Emergency recorded, volunteers will be responsible for cost of replacing missing items.

The preventative items for sale or rent will be kept inside a shop which is locked when administrator is not present. Monthly inventory will be taken to make sure items are not going missing.

Service equipment will be kept in a centrally located, locked storage facility. Any gear or equipment removed must be signed out and in again. Again, monthly inventories will be carried out. Squad leaders and administrator only should have keys for this facility.

Any large vehicles should also be kept, locked, at the central storage facility.

1.3 Training Training will be ongoing, in order to acquire new skills, but also to keep improving speed and performance.

1.3.1 Internal training schedule and commitment Volunteers are committed to spending one day per month training in winter (November-April) and one day every two weeks in summer (May- October). The purpose of these trainings will be to improve skills such as map reading, use of GPS, first aid, rescue response and team work. Squads may train on their own, although it will be incouraged for members of different squads to interact and train together. In summer, once a month, an overnight hiking trip will be planned, in order to introduce Volunteers to new areas, familiarize with terrain, pracise skills and spot potential dangers due to environmental events (landslides, dangerous animal activity, etc). In winter monthly day hikes will be scheduled.(see Appendix VIII: Internal Training Schedule)

28 29 People who will answer the dedicated emergency phone number must also train in communication skills, in order to be able to extract maximum information in minimum time from potentially panicked visitors. Guesthouse staffs should also be trained in how to inform their guests about Valbona MRS services.

1.3.2 External Training Volunteers will continue to pursue training with external sources, such as medical and first aid (continuing with Albanian Red Cross), climbing (by working with the Rock Tirana climbing school), snake bite response, and skiing (with the Albanian Ski Association). In addition, we strongly believe that language training should be pursued.

We look forward to continuing our relationship with the Czech, Polish and Slovak Mountain Rescue Services, and hope to send Valbona volunteers for training in Czech Republic regularly as well as welcoming their trainers here.

1.3.3 Training Topics Volunteers anticipate training in the following areas:

• Speed Response • Search & Rescue • First Aid • Snake bite • Use of GPS • Map Skills • Climbing • Winter skills (including skiing) • Rescue Communication (what questions do you as in what situations) • Dog training • Survival Skills • Tracking • Language

30 31 • Official certification courses • Phone Apps (for weather, navigation and communication)

1.4 Rescue Communication Communication is key in all aspects of the Rescue organization, including:

• publicity to let visitors know about the service and how to access it • the ability of visitors experiencing an emergency to communicate with Valbona MRS • the ability of volunteers to communicate with each other during a rescue • extended long term communication with network of sponsors and supporters

In order to satsify these needs we will create the following:

1.4.1 Publicity Signs should be posted at the public road entry of the valley (larger), as well as in all major passes from neighboring areas (small signs here), giving the emergency phone number, web address and physical location of nearest facility (on the entry sign).

The phone number should also be posted on all trail junction sign-posts.

A4 folded fliers should be produced in Albanian and English and distributed to local guesthouses, restaurant and information centers, as well as guesthouses in neighboring areas and major tour operators.

A website and will be created, for now to be hosted as part of AlbanianAlps.net, giving information about services, potential charges, range of coverage, contact possibilities etc. We will encourage as many tourism websites as possible to include links to this dedicated webpage.

32 33 1.4.2 Emergency Communication We promise to be available 24/7 throught the dedicated Emergency Phone number. This will work for anyone with a working phone signal. Unfortunately, large parts of the wilderness and hiking areas have no phone signal. Thus we must compensate by helping guests find other ways of getting our attention. 1) is to make clear to them where there IS telephone signal. We will thus make and print a map of “areas of telephone service” 2) post on all trail junction signs the location, direction and distance to nearest telephone signal 3) offer the SPOT devices for rental (which simply sends us a message that they need help, with their GPS coordinates) and 4) try to remain aware of where hikers are by registering them and tracking their arrival or non-arrival at next destination (as described in the Admin section).

Towards this end, we will also work with Shepherds – to establish a system of “checking in” at stans (shepherd huts) to help us pinpoint where they were last seen. During the sustainability phase, we will explore installing solar based “recharging stations” at the stans - even with telephone signal a phone with a dead battery won’t work. Another idea, in the case of camping, is to provide a recognizable strips of brightly colored printed cloth, which can be tied at campsites so rescuers know the visitors were there.

Eventually we would like to institute a series of “Registration Books” to be kept at all Trailheads and Guesthouses, as in the US Park Service (hikers sign in where they are going and when they expect to return). However as this will require monitoring by park rangers, it must wait until we have such park infrastructure.

1.4.3 Communication of the Rescuers The final element of emergency communication is the internal communication of the rescuers themselves. During the initial response, this is covered by the Telephone Tree system described under

34 35 “Volunteers” as well as the Emergency Response training.

Once they are in the mountains however, they will be subject to the same communications challeges as the visitors. One simple solution will be to ensure that volunteers have “howler” whistles, and a simple system of coded whistles to communicate (including “I FOUND THEM!”).

During sustainability phase it would be nice to invest in statellite phones or radios for the volunteers (although we believe radio phones don’t work well in our mountains).

1.4.4 Outreach Communication Finally there is the (much less exciting) administrative work of outreach with sponsors, partners, suppliers, potential visitors and international organizations.

1.5 Publicity & Marketing As mentioned under Communication, the service needs to create an identity and “brand.” We will achieve this with our Logo, volunteer “official” clothing and gear, our standardized signage, the website and a dedicated facebook page.

These elements will all also be reflected in the printed materials we produce, through press releases and non-profit advertising,

By working with Tourism agencies and organizations, national and international, we hope to be able to spread word of Valbona MRS far and wide.

1.6 Finance As mentioned, during the Establishment phase Valbona MRS will remain a project of our NGO, ShAV, which will therefore be responsible for all financial activities.

36 1.6.1 Income Generation It is important that the Service become financially self-sustaining as quickly as possible, if it is to survive and thrive. For this reason we begin in the Establishment Phase offering some services or products for sale, as well as the basic, free, search and rescue service. As mentioned in the Admin section, these include: • Preventative and Safety Merchandise, for sale at a central location • Safety Device rental (SPOT) • Payable services like “Destination Arrival Tracking”

1.6.2 Financial Management On the incoming side, all cash payments and agreement for services will be made at one constant “official” location, staffed by an NGO member. The location of this facility is still to be determined, as there is hope that space may soon become available at the National Park’s one “official” building (The Valbona Tourism Information Point). Otherwise it will be housed in the NGOs office at Rilindja.

Payments for supplies and equipment will be managed from the NGO office, and will all be done by Bank Transfer.

Although credit card payments are unusual in Albania, and unheard of in the North, we feel it is important to establish a credit card contract for the Rescue Service, as it will be necessary to take deposits on rental equipment.

A dedicated bank account will be established for the Service, to avoid mixing funds with the NGO.

1.6.3 Reporting During Establishment phase, all financial activities of Valbona MRS will be reported for tax purposes as part of our NGO ShAV. In addition, an annual financial report will be prepared and available on request, in order to promote transparency and good practices.

37 38 2. Sustainable Phase Details

The Sustainability Phase is planned to begin at end of summer 2016, or in 2017 at ideal latest, as we have opportunity to build on an existing MRS and infrastructure with the beginning of a proven track record to apply for grants, collaboration and donations. Predictions regarding this phase are somewhat less concrete, as some decisions should be based only on experience gained during Establishment, and of course what funds can be obtained.

2.1 Expanding the Rescue Team

2.1.1 Volunteer Rescuers In inception (Establishment Phase) the core of Valbona MRS are the first 1 volunteers. We believe that time and experience willshow the benefits of being involved, and that soon there will more people interested in joining the service.

Over time, we hope that MRS will be able to become paid work and provide salaries for key people – certainly in the near future the National Parks Administration must look to hire rangers, and we hope our volunteers can fulfill that role. At such time, we will adopt the Czech model, and require a 2 year volunteer period, before anyone can be considered for a paid position.

We will continue trainings in any case, and try to make the MRS a source of opportunity for all local people.

2.1.2 Administration As mentioned above, we believe it is crucial that Valbona MRS becomes financially self-sustaining to such a degree that it can afford to pay someone for all the very time consuming work it takes to run the Service. 39 2.1.3 Local Service A long term goal of Valbona MRS must be to secure interest of local medical staff. During Establishment phase our goal is mainly to find people and bring them out of the mountains, delivering them to medical attention. But over time it would be better to have contracted expert medical staff capable of being on site and available for extreme situations.

2.1.4 Non-local Partners Many organizations have expressed interest in Valbona MRS, but most are (understandably) unwilling to become involved until there is an actual tested service. During the Sustainability Phase we will look to take advantage of these expressions of interest. A priority will be to find a committed communications partner, and jointly apply for funds to create innovative, non-destructive infrastructure solutions for the communications challenges of our remote wilderness areas. Likewise, we hope to work more closely with National Park Administration who are frankly somewhat under-budgeted and overwhelmed at present.

2.2 Equipment Assuming that the Sustainability phase includes securing Grant income, we would like to expand the kinds of equipment to which our service has access.

2.2.1 Volunteer Equipment The problem of communication in rescue situations can be addressed in the future with the addition of radios and/or satellite phones for Rescue Volunteers. We also feel that they can probably benefit from more sophisticated personal gear.

2.2.2 Service Equipment Again, with increased income we hope to be able to purchase more equipment for the service including climbing gear, vehicles, winter- condition equipment and better technology.

40 2.2.3 Equipment for Public With greater funds, the range of products and services available for public could be expanded. The Preventative, fund-raising “shop” selling useful items could be duplicated in a range of convenient locations.

In addition to SPOT devices, satellite phones could be made available on a rental basis to the public.

2.2.4 Storage and Facilities Over time, it will become increasing important for Valbona MRS to have dedicated facilities, including secure storage, but also office space to dedicate to ongoing administrative work. At the present time (Spring 2016), the National Park Management has no facility within the park boundaries. Thus there is effectively no active administrative presence for the protected area. We anticipate working closely with Park Administration to lobby for creation of facilities.

2.3 Training It is harder to predict how training will change during sustainability phase, as changes in focus will most certainly be the result of lessons learned during Establishment.

Nonetheless, assuming that the Sustainability Phase may have greater access to funds, we would anticipate increasing external training, by sending as many Volunteers as possible to our sponsor-partners in Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland, as well as being able to sponsor more visits from a diverse range of external trainers.

We would like to explore the possibilities of training Search and Rescue dogs.

2.4 Rescue Communication An important goal is to think about how to work with the high Alpine shepherd communities to improve their communication abilities – for example through solar cell-phone charging stations, as well as by

41 someday providing strategic fixed satellite phone stations. Access to creative communication improvements will not only help rescue services, but provide incidentally a much needed improvement to quality of life for the local community. As mentioned above under “Establishment,” we would hope that improvements in National Park staffing will permit the creation of “log books” at trailheads and in guesthouses, in which visitors record where they are going, and when they expect to return. In case of NON-return, rescue services could be sent out after them, or at the very least a greater and better functioning infrastructure could attempt to find out where they actually are.

2.5 Publicity and Marketing It is a little difficult to envisage how this might change during Sustainability, until we learn what is needed from the Establishment phase.

However, we can easily imagine an expansion of web-based services, as well as dedicating more funds to printed materials.

2.6 Finance & Legal

2.6.1 Income Generation An additional source of (fun) income for the service could be creation of “mountain skills training courses” offered by the Service, for example in climbing. This however will be dependent on the Service gaining equipment and certified training according to international standards.

Grants and sponsorships must be aggressively pursued during the Sustainability phase.

Although Albania is currently a relatively “insurance-free zone” it would be interesting to talk with Albanian Insurance providers about the possibility of creating short term insurance policies which Valbona MRS could offer.

42 43 2.6.2 Financial Management Ideally, as soon as the MRS becomes financially self-sustaining, it would be desirable to create an independent legal identity for the service including registry as an independent NGO. As stated above, we would hope that this service will someday become part of the National Parks Service, but given their current level of effectiveness, this seems to be more of a long-term goal. 3. Expansion Phase Details

In all honesty, the Expansion Phase of Valbona MRS is even more imaginary, viewed from early 2016. However, there is no harm in dreaming, and certainly having a vision is useful.

3.1 The Rescue Team In the future, we would hope that Valbona MRS would be comprised of key paid people, with a large network of serious, trained volunteers. Our sponsors in Czech Republic report having several hundreds of volunteers, many of whom may only be on call for certain days of the year.

Once well established locally, the rescue team will look to expand services by partnering with nearby, cross-border protected areas including the Prokletije National Park of Montenegro and the Bjeshket e Nemuna National Park of Kosova. We will addtionally be ready to begin training other Albanian Rescue Teams in other Albanian protected areas and tourism destinations.

3.2 Equipment I think we’d all be happy to have our own helicopters.

3.3 Training As Valbona MRS becomes more established, we would look to participate in more sophisticated trainings. Over time we hope to be able to send volunteers for European or internationally recognized certification courses.

45 It is assumed that over time, a winter tourism season will grow in Valbona (unless global warming negates this), and it is possible that in several years we will mirror the experience of our Czech sponsors and find that we have more rescues in winter than in summer. In this case we must be ready to begin training even small children in Valbona to have ski and winter condition skills.

We would hope also that the training required by Valbona MRS might include areas (like language, or specific technical skills) that not only make the service better, but turn the service into an important educational opportunity for local people.

Ultimately, it should be the goal of Valbona MRS to form the first, core, serious and professional Rescue Service in Albania, from which reality Albania can become eligble as a country to join respected international institutions like ICAR (the International Commission for Alpine Rescue).

3.4 Rescue Communication We would also all be happy if Valbona MRS could be a prime mover in finding good, non-destructive communication solutions for Albania’s Wilderness Areas, providing a model for other protected areas in Albania and the Balkans. At present, the only real model for improving communications is to install more mobile phone antennas, but this would have a a devastating effect on Albanian’s protected areas, as mobile phone antennas require fueling sources (ie, installation of electricity lines) and access roads, both of which are clearly destructive in virgin areas.

46 47 Appendix I

48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 Appendix II

Volunteer Profile

Name: Skender Selimaj Team Role: Squad Member “Dragobi Squad” Age: 33 years old Address: Quku i Valbones Village, Valbona Contact Number: +355 67 30 45 110 Volunteer Since: 2015 Profession: Mountain Guide and Guesthouse Manager Experience: 5 year Training & Certification: Red Cross First Aid Training, Valbona MRS Workshop 2015, and Czech Study Trip 2015, Culture and Hiking Guide Training from the Mountaineering School of the German Alpine Club. Languages: English & Albanian

Physical area of expert knowledge: The areas I know best are Cerem, Gashi, Gjarper and Pecmarra.

Personal statement: This project is a very good thing for our valley. The thing I desire the most is to save the life of people, and I am glad that I have this opportunity.

56 Volunteer Profile

Name: Ardit Jubani Team Role: Squad Leader of “Squad Rrogami” Age: 23 years old Address: Rranxa e Brise, Rrogam Contact Number: +355 67 37 92 047 Volunteer Since: 2015 Profession: Tourist Guide Training & Certification: Red Cross First Aid Training, Valbona MRS Workshop 2015, and Czech Study Trip 2015 Languages: Albanian & English

Experience: I have been working for several years with the company Outdoor Albania as an Outdoor Guide for Incoming Groups of foreign tourists

Physical area of expert knowledge: I grew up roaming the mountains of Papluka, Rosi, Jezerces and Zhaborre, but as a guide I have visited all parts of Northern Albania

Personal statement: I am interested in the Mountain Rescue Team because I want to help people. I like this project because it creates a more stable and safe tourism.

Desired Future Direction for Valbona MRS? I hope that in the near future ‘Albanian Mountain Rescue Team’ will be compared to that of developed European Countries, with a more professional team and with many more members.

57 Volunteer Profile

Name: Fatjon Ismalaj Team Role: Squad Member “Dragobi Squad” Age: 31 years old Address: Kikaj, Dragobia Contact Number: +355 68 58 49 002 Volunteer Since: 2015 Profession: Farmer, Driver and Nature Guiding Training & Certification: Red Cross First Aid Training, Valbona MRS Workshop 2015, and Czech Study Trip 2015. Languages: Albanian

Experience: I have have supported my family of parents and grandparents since I was 20 years old, but I love nature and spend as much time as I can in the mountains. I have guided biologists who were interested in animals as well as taken botanists on collecting trips. In 2015 I also began working as a sport-fishing guide (catch and release).

Physical area of expert knowledge: The areas I know best are Cerem, Gashi, Gjarper and Pecmarra.

Personal statement: This project is a very good thing for our valley. The thing I desire the most is to save the life of people, and I am glad that I have this opportunity.

Desired Future Direction for Valbona MRS? We need more help and training. This is a necessity for our valley to help tourists, and to further develop our zone

58 Volunteer Profile

Name: Sajmir Selimaj Team Role: Squad Leader “Squad Valbona 2” Age: 21 years old Address: Quku i Valbones, Valbona Contact Number: +355 68 50 68 105 Volunteer Since: 2015 Profession: Tourism Hospitality Training & Certification: Red Cross First Aid Training, Valbona MRS Workshop 2015, and Czech Study Trip 2015 Languages: Albanian & English

Experience: I have worked in Rilindja restaurant since 2010, and in 2015 I was manager. I have also trained for guiding in Tirana.

Physical area of expert knowledge: My physical area knowledge about Valbona is practical, which means that I have been exploring this valley this because I was born here. To be more specific, I have most explored around Kollata, Pecmarra, and Gjarper.

Personal statement: I want to help people in every possible way and I think that being part of this Team it is the best way to achieve my goal. This is a good thing for Valbona too and also for the safety of visitors.

59 Volunteer Profile

Name: Florant Metaliaj Team Role: Squad Member “Squad Dragobi” Age: 37 years old Address: Livadhet e Gjarperit, Dragobi Contact Number: +355 68 54 20 457 / +355 67 30 14 643 Volunteer Since: 2015 Profession: Driver and Guiding. I also operate wonderful accommodation for the tourists in traditional shepherd’s summer farm! Experience: I have been working with tourists for 6 years Training & Certification: First Aid, Red Cross, Valbona Workshop 2015 Languages: Albanian

Physical area of expert knowledge: My knowledge about the physical area is general, although I have spent most time in Maja e Gjarperit, Gryka e Motines, Gashi, and Kollata.

Personal statement: I believe I possess the required knowledge regarding the area and also in giving First Aid. This project is good because it supports and gives help to those who visit our country. It creates further spaces for the development of tourism in our valley. I like this program because I am excited to be part of it and I express my solidarity to be a volunteer in order to help people who might be in risky situations.

60 Volunteer Profile

Name: Adenis Selimaj Team Role: Squad Leader of Squad “Valbona 1” Age: 18 years old Address: Quku i Valbones Village, Valbone Contact Number: +355 67 49 35 561 Volunteer Since: 2015 Profession: Horse Guide Training & Certification: Red Cross First Aid, Valbona MRS Workshop 2015 Languages: Albanian & English

Experience: I have worked as a guide with my horse in the mountains since I was 14 years old. I also help in the guesthouses of my cousins sometimes, and like working with tourists. When I was a child we used to spend summers living up in the Bjeshk (Alpine Pastures) so I am used to living in the mountains without any technology.

Physical area of expert knowledge: My areas of best knowledge are the Mountains of Pecmara, Kollata and Gjarper as well as the land between Valbona and Theth. I have excellent knowledge of my valley; I know the mountains, roads and our peaks, and I think I know every place of Valbona.

Personal statement: I am interested in Valbona MRS because I like to help people who might be in difficult situations. I like to help people who are in danger or might have lost direction, so my work is to help people. I am happy when I help people.

Desired Future Direction for Valbona MRS? I want to give my best in the Rescue Team. I want to be successful with the work I do, that is why I will try to work hard in achieving our goals as a team.

61 Volunteer Profile

Name: Dashnor Hysaj Team Role: Valbona Mountain Rescue Age: 42 Address: Valbone Contact Number: +355 67 32 29 611 Volunteer Since: 2015 Training & Certification: Red Cross First Aid, Valbona MRS Workshop 2015 Languages: Albanian

Physical area of expert knowledge: I have a good knowledge of the mountainous terrain especially some places such as for example Jezerca Peak, Rosi Peak, Kollata Peak, and also the Northern and Western parts of Valbona.

Personal statement: I am committed to help all the Albanian citizens and foreigners, regardless their citizenship, as much as I can and to give my best at rescuing people. It is crucial for the project to have a correct maintenance and a professional staff, because in our country everyday and more the number of tourists is increasing and being aware that many tourists can find themselves in difficult situations this makes our work as rescuers important. In any case that our help is needed we should be ready to give the First Aid and all the necessary services for each case.

Desired Future Direction for Valbona MRS? At the near future I believe that by working hard and by being committed we will have a well-equipped team, with a professional staff and all the necessary equipments, so to have less difficulty while helping and to give our First Aid in time for all those people whom life is under threat.

62 63 Appendix III

64 65 66 67 68 Appendix IV

69 Appendix V

Rescue Response

Date: ______Time:______

Responder: ______

Incident #: ______Name:

Emergency: Lost Injured Non-arrival

How can we contact you:

How many are you:

Do you know where you are? Yes No

How can we help you?

Do you have heavy equipment with you needing additional transportation?

[If extra service needed, can they pay?]

Medical:

Description of problem:

Do you take any medication:

Do you have any condition:

Location:

Do you know your GPS coordinates?

Do you know where you are on a map?

What is the last signpost you passed?

How long did you walk since then?

What is the last distinctive landmark you saw?

How long did you walk since then?

What can you see from where you are now?

70 Response:

Estimate of Location:

Squad Leader(s) contacted:

Time:

Number of Volunteers Despatched:

Equipment needed:

Other Services contacted: Police Hospital

Type of Call: emergency registered insured

Potential Costs:

Results: Reported by:

Volunteers Participating:

Time at which person was reached:

Actions Taken:

Results:

Time of end of intervention:

Other organizations ultimately involved:

Costs incurred by Valbona MRS:

Contribution from rescued person:

71 Reg. # ______

Completed By: ______

Guest Registration

Date:

Name:

How many people are in your group:

Date of Departure:

Date of Planned Arrival at Next Destination:

Next Destination (which has telephone/internet):

Do you have a reservation there? Yes No

If yes, how can we contact this destination?

If you have no planned destination, you must promise to contact us by your planned arrival date.

Do you agree? Yes No

If you forget, what is the best way to contact you?

Planned Route:

Will you be sleeping out?

How many nights and approximately where:

In the case that you do not arrive at your next planned destination by the expected date, and/or that you do not contact us by your expected arrival date (in short if we think you've disappeared) do you want Valbona MRS to come find you?

Yes No If not, what would you like us to do?

If you would like guaranteed retrieval, we ask that you rent one of our SPOT devices and/or accept that we reserve the right to charge you 50€ per volunteer per day spent searching, minimum 2 volunteers per day. Please sign to acknowledge your acceptance of this advice:

72 Medical Conditions? Document Family Contact Contact Nr./email Nationality DoB Last Name Last First Name 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Please give the following information for all people in the group: the in people all for information following the give Please

73 Appendix VI

2016 Rates and Charges

Prevention Items sold by MRS

Emergency Kits 12-80€ Signals & Howler Whistles 10€ Waterproof poncho 15€ Heat Blankets 15-25€ Water Purification Tablets 12€ Blister Medic and Moleskin 10€ Telephone Signal Service Map 1€ Hiking Maps 2-10€ Bug Spray (DEET free) 10€ Duct Tape 5€ Flashlight/Headlamp/Batteries 15€-35€ Energy Bars 3€ Phone Rechargers 30-100€

Prevention Services

SPOT device rental 10€/day (plus deposit) GPS rental 10€/day Hiker Registration suggested donation Guaranteed Retrieval recommend SPOT rental, 50€ per day per volunteer

Emergency Response Services

Search and Rescue on Foot free Splints and Bandages 10€ Snakebite Serum 80€ Bring a doctor to you 100€ Helicopter transport -- Offroad Vehicle Transport 8€/km

74 Appendix VII

75 Appendix VIII

2016 Training Schedule

May 2016

May 3 Tues All Squads Training Review Meet at Valbona School Review Training so far: First Aid, Rescue Response, Strategy for 2016

May 17 Tues Squad Training Meet at Valbona School GPS Training

May 24-25 Tues-Wed Monthly Summer Hike & Camping Rosi Mountain: Camp at Buni i Brahimit. Practise Map Reading, GPS use. Also check out state of trails and junction sign posts. Ideally install new signs.

June 2016

June 7 Tues Squad Training Independent Bandaging. Try to make new splints.

June 21 Tues Squad Training From home Practise Rescue Response with phones.

June 28-29 Tues-Wed Monthly Summer Hike & Camping Gjarjper Mountain: Camp at Livadhet e Gjarperit. Practise Map Reading, GPS use. Also check out state of trails and junction sign posts. Ideally install new signs.

76 July 2016

July 5 Tues Squad Training Meet at Valbona School GPS Hide & Seek

2016 Training Schedule July 19 Tues Squad Training Independent GPS Hide & Seek around Squad Area

May 2016 July 26-27 Tues-Wed Monthly Summer Hike & Camping Jezerca. Trail marking and sign post installation. Note Phone Reception, and measure/map Glaciers. May 3 Tues All Squads Training Review Meet at Valbona School August 2016 Review Training so far: First Aid, Rescue Response, Strategy for 2016

May 17 Aug 2 Tues Squad Training Tues Squad Training Meet at Valbona School Meet at Valbona School GPS Training Location Training from Descriptions (map reading, communication). Whistle codes. May 24-25 Tues-Wed Monthly Summer Hike & Camping Aug 16 Rosi Mountain: Camp at Buni i Brahimit. Practise Map Reading, GPS use. Also Tues Squad Training check out state of trails and junction sign posts. Ideally install new signs. Independent Map Practise around Squad Area

June 2016 Aug 30-31 Tues-Wed Monthly Summer Hike & Camping Pecmarra. Sign post installation, trailmarking. Practise Whistle codes. June 7 Tues Squad Training Independent September 2016 Bandaging. Try to make new splints.

June 21 Sept 6 Tues Squad Training Tues Squad Training From home TBA Practise Rescue Response with phones. Sept 20 June 28-29 Tues Squad Training Tues-Wed Monthly Summer Hike & Camping TBA Gjarjper Mountain: Camp at Livadhet e Gjarperit. Practise Map Reading, GPS use. Also check out state of trails and junction sign posts. Ideally install new signs.

77 Sept 27-28 Tues-Wed Monthly Summer Hike & Camping Kollata. Sign post installation, trailmarking.

October 2016

Oct 4 Tues Squad Training TBA

Oct 18 Tues Squad Training TBA

Oct 25-26 Tues-Wed Monthly Summer Hike & Camping Make-up Date OR Qafa e Ndroqes/Curraj. Sign post installation, trailmarking.

November 2016

Nov 15 Tues Squad Training Meet at Valbona School Review Summer 2016. Celebration Dinner!

78 Appendix IX

Valbona MRS Budget

Establishment Phase Total Sept 27-28 1.1 Rescue Team Needs Subtotal: 0Timeframe 4,500 750 Tues-Wed Monthly Summer Hike & Camping Item Cost Qty Monthly # months URGENT Establishment Long Term 1.1.1 Volunteers Kollata. Sign post installation, trailmarking. 1.1.2 Administrative Employee 200 12 2,400 2,400 Computer 1,000 1 1,000 1,000 Printer 500 1 500 500 October 2016 Office Supplies 50 12 600 600 1.1.3 Local Mtgs 50 3 150 150 1.1.41.2National Equipment Mtgs 200 3 600Subtotal: 7,720 8,220 6000

Oct 4 1.2.1 Individual Volunteer Backpack 50 15 750 750 Tues Squad Training First Aid Kit 100 15 1,500 1,500 TBA Sam Splints 10 30 300 300 Bandages 5 30 150 150 Howler Whistles 6 20 120 120 Heat Blankets (strong) 13 20 250 250 Oct 18 Heat Bivvy 23 20 450 450 Survival Tool 23 12 270 270 Tues Squad Training Waterproof Jacket 100 15 1,500 1,500 “” Pants 200 15 3,000 3,000 TBA Insulation 200 15 3,000 3,000 Winter Jacket 300 15 4,500 4,500 1.2.2 Service EquipmentTshirts 10 15 150Subtotal: 2,200150 22,615 32,500 Oct 25-26 GPS 300 12 3,600 1,200 2,400 Tues-Wed Monthly Summer Hike & Camping Binoculars 200 4 800 800 Headlamps 50 12 600 600 Make-up Date OR Qafa e Ndroqes/Curraj. Sign post installation, trailmarking. First Aid Kit 300 5 1,500 1,500 Basket Stretcher 350 2 700 700 Folding Stretcher 200 2 400 400 Vaccum Stretcher 500 2 1,000 1,000 Litter Cover 250 2 500 500 Stretcher Wheel 1,000 1 1,000 1,000 November 2016 Quad 10,000 1 10,000 10,000 Vehicle 10,000 1 10,000 10,000 Climbing Equipment 500 6 3,000 3,000 Satellite Phone 750 6 4,500 4,500 Solar Recharger 150 10 1,500 1,500 Nov 15 Snow Shoes 250 15 3,750 3,750 Skiis 500 12 6,000 6,000 Tues Squad Training Snow Mobile 5,000 1 5,000 5,000 Meet at Valbona School 1.2.3 Equipment for Public Survival Tool 23 5 113 113 Review Summer 2016. Celebration Dinner! Emergency Heat Blanket 3 30 90 90 Sport Utility Blanket 13 10 125 125 Suvival Poncho 8 15 113 113 Scout Survival Kit 15 20 300 300 Pocket Survival 45 2 90 90 Howler Whistles 4 30 120 120 Mirror Signaler 6 15 90 90 Mini Lamps LED 9 12 108 108 Fire Cubes (cooking) 7 30 210 210 Fire Starter 7 10 70 70 Spot Devices 279 3 837 837 1.2.4 Storage and Inventory Control 1.3 Training Facility Rental 100 12 1,200Subtotal: 0 12,9501,200 0

1.3.1 Internal Training Tents 300 8 2,400 2,400 Sleeping Bag 100 12 1,200 1,200 Sleeping Mats 50 12 600 600 1.3.2 External Training Red Cross Training 50 15 750 750 Czech Training 1,000 5 5,000 5,000 1.4 Rescue CommunicationVisiting Trainers 600 5 3,000Subtotal: 6,600 3,000700 0

1.4.1 Publicity Large Signs for car entry 250 1 250 250 Trail Head signs 150 15 2,250 2,250 Junction Signs 50 30 1,500 1,500 Entering MRS/Alb Signs 150 10 1,500 1,500 A4 Publicity Folders (1000) 300 1 300 300 Website 50 12 600 600 1.4.2 Emergency Communication Dedicated Phone number 50 12 600 600 Phone area Map (500) 200 1 200 200 Camping Strips 1 100 100 100 1.5 Publicity andTelephone Marketing Recharging Stations Subtotal:0 0 0 0

1.6(covered Finanace under “communication”) Subtotal: 0 900 0

TOTALS Accountant 75 12 99,655900 16,520 49,885900 33,250