Membership in the Pennsylvania Search and Rescue Council is open to teams and other organizations with an interest in lost person search and rescue  The main membership categories and requirements are described below.   More detailed information and information on other membership types can be found in the document Information for Prospective Members.  An application for membership in the Council can be found here.

This category is for new SAR groups or organizations wishing to join the Council.  Groups or organizations are on probationary membership for one year prior to being changed to Active Membership.  During that year the team must meet the following requirements:

Probationary Membership Status in the Council:

• Is available to SAR groups or organizations

• Does not have voting rights

• Is on the Council Call Out and Resource List

• Is required to have a representative at four Council meetings in a calendar year

• Is required to provide a written protocol for ethical violations by its members

• Is required to provide a written protocol for criminal background checks of its members

To obtain Probationary Member Status, the group must meet the general guidelines for membership and:

• Be sponsored by an Operational Group

• Be recommended for Probationary Team status by the Membership Committee

• Provide to the Council Membership Committee:

  • A copy the groups by-laws

  • A copy of the groups 501(c)3 election

Active Membership

Groups or organizations that maintain Active status have full rights as a member of PSARC. 

Active Membership Status in the Council:

• Is available to groups

• Has full voting rights

• Is on the Council Call Out List

• Is on the Council Resource List

• Has members that may be nominated for offices in the Council

To become a Active Member of the Council, the group needs to meet the general guidelines for membership and:

• Meet the requirements of a Probationary Team Member of the Council

• Have been a Probationary member for at least one year

• Be sponsored by an Active Group

• File an annual training and mission report

• Have a majority of it’s members obtain FTM status.  Certifying organizations are, but not limited to, ASRC, DCNR…