Establishment of the Award
The award was established in 1974 by the NASAR Board of Directors to recognize
significant contributions to search and rescue AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL.
The award is granted solely on merit. It may be granted to an individual or to a "unit". It may be granted posthumously
and is the most prestigious award presented by NASAR.
The award is named for Hal Foss, who died during a climb in
Washington
State
, was the Washington State SAR Coordinator, and is generally credited with forming
the organization that has evolved into NASAR.
Basis for the Award
Any type of contribution to SAR, on a national basis, shall qualify an individual/unit
as a nominee for the NASAR Hal Foss Award, providing the following criteria are
met:
- The contribution can be substantiated as having had a demonstrable consequence
on national search and rescue. Evidence must be included in the nomination.
- The contribution must be shown to be independent of service to NASAR or to some
other organization, although the contribution may have been rendered through such
organization (i.e., the result of the contribution must have an end use beyond
the organization).
- Contribution must be clearly shown to have gone beyond the scope of a state or
smaller political entity, or of an organization.
- The contribution must be shown to have had a positive consequence on the "victims"
or potential "victims" of SAR.
- The contribution can be in the form of a single act or action, or sustained effort
over a period of time.
- The outcome or results, rather than the process of the contribution, must be
described and substantiated in the nomination package.
