What happened to all the volunteer coordinators?

Recently it seems like less and less volunteer newsletters and correspondence from non-profits are being received. Less communication across the board.

Communication that is received appears to be primarily through Facebook groups, with articles of national interest, not related to the local community.

Could it be the days of one-on-one communication is a thing of the past?

What could be the root to this?

Could it be the organizations are focusing more on corporations for major donations (to sustain their staff) with less focus on the volunteers?

Or could it be a lot less complicated? With the economy, we have seen many positions cut and staff turn-over (due to low salaries) at non-profits, along with a change of focus. Could it be that the non-profits can no longer afford to focus on the individual active volunteer?

Could it be that the people who were best at communication and working one-on-one with volunteers are no longer there?

Recently when trying to reach out to a volunteer coordinator, it was determined, she was no longer with the organization. When going to the website to see who the new contact was, no one was listed. You needed to re-register as a volunteer, for someone to contact you.

This does not make sense. When a staff member moves on, so do the volunteers? How can we avoid this and keep the momentum going with staff turn-over?

Solving the problem, if THERE IS a problem

The lesson here might be with a volunteer management system. Another Citizen Corps Affiliate organization has a volunteer registration system and when the staff member moved on, communication actually increased and the new staff member was very responsive to emails.

Another example, with a Citizen Corps core program where a few people moved on to other roles, that system maintained the list of volunteers, but communications has lessened. Hopes are that with National Preparedness Month just around the corner this will pick up.

In summary, good people help motivate good volunteers. When staff moves on, the volunteers shouldn't. Non-profits need to understand this is an issue.

Communication is key to sustaining the volunteer workforce. A very simple concept, but an issue that should not be overlooked.

Volunteers Provide Communications During WV Mine Explosion

Several weeks ago, we discussed volunteers being trained in the National Capital Region on ECRV 4703. The Red Cross Emergency Communications Response Vehicle, staffed by volunteers, provided vital communications during the recent mine explosion in West Virginia.

Detailed information about the response can be found on the Red Cross website.

American Red Cross Urges "Shelter in Place"

Working with Local Jurisdictions as Partners in Preparedness

Fairfax, VA, 10 Feb 2010 – The American Red Cross in the National Capital Region continues to provide disaster (volunteer) workers to support emergency operations throughout the area. Following the issuance of a blizzard warning by the National Weather Service, the Red Cross is working with local government agencies to urge residents to minimize travel and take safety precautions.

The Red Cross is following instructions to remain off the roads; disaster (volunteer) workers continue to staff shelters..." throughout the region.

(Source: http://www.redcrossnca.org/index.php/all-chapter-events/361-american-red-cross-urges-shelter-in-place.html)

Join Multiple Citizen Corps Organizations To Make A Bigger Difference

H1N1 Clinics
Fairfax County Medical Reserve Corps (MRC)
We Train. We Exercise. We Do.

Several folks from other Citizen Corps programs have inquired how they can join others and help out with the Fairfax County Health Department H1N1 Vaccination Clinics.

For example, the Fairfax Coutny CERTs you have seen at the clinics, are also Fairfax County MRC volunteers. Many volunteers in Fairfax County are also members of and trained in other Citizen Corps programs.

In order to volunteer with the clinics, you are required to be an MRC volunteer. If you are interested in joining MRC, you can signup at https://www.fairfaxmrc.org/regprocess.php

You will then need to attend MRC 101 Orientation. The next class is December 16th from 7-9pm.

Questions Requested For Daily H1V1 Briefing

This morning a request went out for public questions for the daily H1V1 briefing. The following question and comment was sent to: hhsstudio@hhs.gov

"There are programs, such as the Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) across the United States where volunteers can help if mass distribution is needed. Residents should be reassured that volunteers have been training with professionals for quite a few years. This is not to say that more trained volunteers are not needed.

What plans are in place for areas of the country that do not have a robust MRC or volunteer network, and areas where more volunteers are needed, including potentially leveraging volunteers from the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), Red Cross, religious organizations, and other affiliated Citizen Corps programs?

As we learned from September 11, it is times like this when people see the need to act. However, with time, that need fades.

Thank you for keeping the public regularly updated.

Neighbors Helping Neighbors
http://citizencorps.blogspot.com"

Let's Eat - To Avoid Trouble

We have read story after story about the economy and the impact it has had on everyday people. Most people know a family member, neighbor, or even themselves have been impacted.

The following article highlights a great way for neighbors to get to know each other and "How potlucks help home values".

So why do communities often come together?

"It starts with trouble

In spite of the many benefits of building strong communities, it usually takes threats — particularly crime and land-use proposals — to galvanize a neighborhood, says Elton Gatewood, president of Neighborhoods USA, a national group of organizers from local governments and neighborhoods."

Looking for a no cost way to recognize your volunteers or improve security in your neighborhood? If so, check out the following article:

http://realestate.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=17560110&gt1=35000

Neighbors getting to know their neighbors really does make a difference.

Stay'n Alive Without Funding

As most have heard, local jurisdictions are facing budget issues.

The following webpage includes details of reduction options presented to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.

How do you feel about closing a police station?

What about elimination of Clinic Room Aides from School Health Program?

And the many volunteer programs that could be impacted.

Take a look at the following presentations for detailed proposed options.

http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dmb/lobs/agency_lobs_presentations.htm

Partnering With Your Local Schools

This week, we have been focusing on partnering.

While reading an article from a small town in upstate New York, it became clear that many have overlooked one of the most valuable partners in our community.

The local schools.

Rescue Squad Needs Rescue

Resident of this town and other communities that struggle with this same problem may benefit from partnering with their local schools and getting students involved.

The following highlights one very successful program.

Students In Emergency Preparedness Programs Not A New Concept For Fairfax County

Another Virginia Group Responds to Hurricane Gustav

CONTACTS:

Gordon Hickey, Governor's Office (804) 225-4260; (804) 291-8977 (cell); http://www.governor.virginia.gov/

Laura Southard, VDEM (804) 674-2400; http://www.vaemergency.com/

For Immediate Release

Aug. 30, 2008

VIRGINIA RESPONDS TO HURRICANE GUSTAV
-- DGIF team will deploy to Louisiana --

RICHMOND, Va. -- Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced that resources from the Commonwealth of Virginia will be dispatched to Louisiana in response to the threat of Hurricane Gustav, a major storm aiming for the Gulf Coast.

A Task Force team of 30 law enforcement officers with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries will leave Sunday, Aug. 31, to arrive at a staging area in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, at the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries by Monday morning. They are trained to work in law enforcement as well as search, rescue and evacuation operations in high water areas. The team is equipped with chainsaws, axes, extra fuel, parts and equipment designed for self-sufficiency in the bayou areas of south Louisiana. It is expected that the team will work for about a week before returning to Virginia.

"We have been working for several days with other states to be ready to respond as soon as requests come in from affected areas," Governor Kaine said. "We will share our resources and help in any way we can."

Governor Kaine activated the Emergency Management Assistance Compact Friday, Aug. 29, to help states on the Gulf Coast prepare for and respond to the potential impacts of Hurricane Gustav. EMAC is a national interstate mutual aid agreement that enables states to share resources during times of disaster.

As a result of EMAC activation, many Virginia state agencies, localities and organizations identified and readied resources that can be deployed and are standing by to respond to additional requests as they are received.

Governor Kaine asks any volunteers or first responders to refrain from self-deploying to the area. Those who wish to help should contact a volunteer organization with a response mission, such as those listed on the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster Web site, http://www.nvoad.org/.

Locals make a difference with disaster response to Gustav

The American Red Cross of the National Capital Area has dispatched vehicles, equipment and volunteers to respond to the needs of the Gulf Coast Red Cross in advance of the landfall of Hurricane Gustav, on course to hit that region as early as Labor Day.

On Wednesday, Aug. 27, our chapter deployed two Emergency Response Vehicles (ERVs) and four volunteers to a staging area in Alabama.

On Thursday, we deployed two additional ERVs and additional volunteers Other volunteers are enroute to the area. The National Capital Area has activated its Regional Disaster Coordination Center (RDCC) at its Fairfax headquarters.

Your help is needed now. Please donate now to the Disaster Relief Fund

Be Red Cross Ready!

Source: redcrossnca.org

Regional Disaster Coodinating Council Takes Lead In Rescue Efforts - Mindanao Times

In the past few weeks, Col. Verner Monsanto was featured in this blog for his efforts leading Central 911 and the Davao City Disaster Coordinating Council. According to front page reports from multiple newspapers, Col. Verner Monsanto took the lead in response and recovery efforts for the recent military plane incident.

One of the stories can be found at: http://www.mindanaotimes.com.ph/story.php?id=21488

Who would have ever thought that so soon after all the Incident Command System (ICS) training and exercises that so many of the different organizations we worked with would need to come together.

"If I look back at all the time I spent with you, your people, and the many organizations you touch, I would have never thought that so many of them would come together so soon to respond to such an incident. We can look back at all the people who have seen the video "Who's In Charge" and they all know with you as the Incident Commander, the people of Davao and Samal should be proud of the leadership, professional responders, volunteers, and many prepared disaster response organizations."

Festival VIP Treatment and Protection

The Kadayawan Festival was made even more special with all the VIP treatment we received. Thank you to all of the people we have met during the time we spent in the region.

It was great for groups of people to come up to us, while doing their role at the festival and thanking us for the training, knowledge, and friendship we provided.

But was even better was to know that in the event of a major emergency or disaster that many of the people that were there protecting us, are all well trained in the Incident Command System (ICS) and can all answer the question "Who's In Charge".

From the volunteers, to the response teams, to the NGOs, to the University students, to the government folks. It was great to see everyone come together for such a great celebration. You are a team! And a role model for others around the world.

The following is a list of SOME of the many organizations we worked with.

• Central 911
• Davao City Disaster Coordinating Council
• Region XI Disaster Coordinating Council
• Office of Civil Defense
• Philippine Army
• Philippine National Police
• Task Force Davao
• Philippines Coast Guard
• Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)
• Barangay Fire and Rescue
• Department of Health
• Filipino Chinese Firefighters Foundation
• Davao Volunteer Fire Brigade
• Barangay Captains
• Silver Needles
• Davao City Police
• Davao City Traffic Division
• Davao City Jail
• Davao City Bomb Squad
• Davao City Special Anti-Terrorism Unit
• United Nations
• Panabo City
• Island Garden City of Samal
• Tribal Community
• Davao City Government
• Davao Light and Power Company
• Davao City Water District
• Office of the President, Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCo)
• Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)
• Davao City Council, City Administrator, and Legislators
• Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Industry
• Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry
• Davao Tourism
• DabaweGNU
• Davao International Airport
• Port of Davao
• Toril International Fish Port
• Davao Doctors Hospital
• Davao Medical Center Hospital
• Philippines National Red Cross
• University of Mindanao
• Ateneo de Davao University
• University of the Immaculate Conception
• University of Southeastern Philippines
• Holly Cross University
• Council of Deans for IT Education
• Philippine Society of Information Technology Educators Foundation
• Davao Technopreneurship
  
  and last but not least, all the VOLUNTEERS and all the people of the region.

Enabling Those To Enable Others

During our time in the Philippines, there was also the opportunity to conduct multiple train-the-trainer (T3) sessions. Some of the topics included:

• IS-100: Introduction to Incident Command System
• IS-200: ICS for Single Resources and Initial Action Incidents
• IS-244: Developing and Managing Volunteers
• IS-317: Introduction to Community Emergency Response Teams
• IS-650: Building Partnerships with Tribal Governments
• IS-700: National Incident Management System (NIMS)
• IS-701: NIMS Multiagency Coordination Systems
• IS-800: National Response Framework
  
  
• ICS-300: Intermediate ICS for Expanding Incidents
• ICS-400: Advanced ICS Command and General Staff - Complex Incidents
  
  
• HSEEP: Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program
• CERT: Community Emergency Response Team

Many of the resources for these courses can be found in prior blog entries or in the right frame under "Relates Websites".

The Environment and our Volunteers two Precious Resources

Today, we had the opportunity to plant Waling-Waling plants, in honor of the people and all the volunteers we have met in the Philippines. And another plant in honor of those volunteers back home.

At the same time giving back to the environment, an orchid that was "threatened to distinction after almost a century of neglect".

The environment and our volunteers, two precious resources.

National CERT Group - CERT connecting to CERT One Neighbor and Community at a time.

As we get closer to National Night Out and National Preparedness Month 2008, please consider joining the Linked In Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Group.

There were several non-location specific CERT groups on Linked In and the managers of those five groups got together to form this one group, linking CERT volunteers across the United States.

Please note: This is not a new CERT team, but a way to link CERT volunteers.