Fairfax County CERT Takes on DC Metro - And Is Prepared

Members of Fairfax County CERT completed WMATA training and became members of the Metro Citizen Corps.

The program consisted of three modules:

Module I – Program Orientation / Terrorist Activity Recognition and Reaction Training

Module II – Passenger Train Familiarization at the Metro rail yard

Module III – MetroRail Familiarization / Tunnel Walk (Actually entering the MetroRail tunnel system during operating hours)

Thank you to the Metro Transit Police Department and Department of Emergency Management for conducting this training.

Additional photos can be found at (including a train running by us just a few feet away):http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=80706&id=746279659&l=4835874bea

(Originally Posted By Andrew Levy on http://fairfaxcountycert.blogspot.com/)

The photo above also includes some of our instructors from WMATA Police/Emergency Management that also responded to the Metro incident on June 22. Our thoughts go out to the families and the response of all the rescuers.

This was an excellent program that really prepared us to react in the event of an emergency.

For additional information, please contact neighborshelpingneighbors@live.com

Fact, Fiction, You?

This fall, through the collective reach of the entertainment industry in an unprecedented cooperative effort led by the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF), Americans will be asked to give their time and talents to a cause they care about. The entertainment industry will also shine a spotlight on the great service and volunteer heroes who are changing our world for the better, both at home and abroad. The effort will begin with TV programming and will expand to other media later on.

We expect that virtually every American will hear this rallying message multiple times. PSA’s will point the public to a powerful web-based tool where they can find opportunities to serve with nonprofit organizations or through neighborhood projects. They will find “Do It Yourself” projects they can do on their own or with a group, family, or friends. Everyone will be able to find a way to make a meaningful contribution that fits his or her unique preferences.

This campaign will highlight five areas identified by President and Mrs. Obama as priorities for the country where needs in our communities are great and where volunteers can play a vital part in solving problems and lifting up communities:

1. Education and youth
2. Environmental conservation and reduced energy consumption
3. Health and well-being of all generations
4. Economic development and financial security
5. Supporting our troops and keeping America safe

To make this campaign successful, the entertainment industry needs our help. They need organizations to offer service opportunities, as well as “DIY” projects that people can do on their own. But first, they need stories to highlight the impact of service.

As a first step, EIF is looking for real-life stories that can be fictionalized for use in television episodes. If you have any such stories, please submit them by June 18. Stories can be submitted through the ServiceNation website at www.servicenation.org/stories.

Thank you to Alan Khazei (akhazei@bethechangeinc.org) for sharing this opportunity.

Every Active Volunteer Has A Reason

In December 1992, Andrew Levy’s parents were called by the doctors at Strong Memorial Hospital and told he had less than 3 hours to live. It was a 6 hour drive for them to get to Rochester, NY.

After several tests, he was hospitalized as the result of Guillain-Barré (GBS), an illness that impacts the peripheral nervous system. He was paralyzed for several months, confined to a wheelchair. Once he regained control of his muscle and nerve systems, he needed to relearn how to walk.

Today, fully recovered, Mr. Levy continues his commitment to volunteer work in a major way. In addition to his career as a certified senior managing consultant with IBM’s U.S. Federal Office of the CTO, he gives his time to numerous community organizations and through an IBM program called On Demand Community.

He actively volunteers with Engineering Week, Take Your Child To Work Day, Mentoring, MentorNet, Powerup, Earth Day, TryScience, College and Accessibility Ambassador, Online Safety, Emergency Preparedness and Response. He was also a part of IBM’s initial teams selected for the Corporate Service Corps, volunteering this summer in Davao City, Philippines.

When Mr. Levy was diagnosed with GBS, the American Red Cross used plasmapheresis to get him on the path to recovery. As he says, “The Red Cross saved my life”. Since then, he became very active in volunteer work, including emergency response, but surprisingly not with the local Red Cross chapter in Northern Virginia.

But this is really only the beginning of the story. What seems like a few years ago, Mr. Levy was volunteering at an American Red Cross of the National Capital Area Save a Life Event, representing other volunteer community response groups. An executive from the Red Cross came over to the volunteers to thank the volunteers. Then she turned to him with such excitement for the partner agencies for being there and asked, why do you volunteer. He explained the story about GBS and how Red Cross played a major role. The tone of the conversation quickly changed and became very emotional. It turns out that this person’s brother currently had GBS and was challenged to find doctors, support network, information, and just someone to talk to, who has been through it. Giving a new friend a hug goes a long way. Is this a case of being in the right place at the right time? Or just something that is core to all Red Cross volunteers, their values.

American Red Cross Values

• Humanitarianism:
  We exist in order to serve others in need, independently and without discrimination, providing relief for victims of disasters and helping people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies.
  
• Stewardship:
  We act responsibly, effectively and efficiently with resources entrusted to us, always seeking to improve.
  
• Helping Others:
  We are attentive and responsible to those who we serve, always listening to their needs and looking for ways to serve through existing or new initiatives.
  
• Respect:
  We acknowledge, respect and support the rights and diversity of each person in our organization and in the communities we serve.
  
• Voluntary Spirit:
  We, as a family of donors, volunteers and staff, search for ways to provide hope to those we serve while demonstrating compassion, generosity and appreciation.
  
• Continuous Learning:
  We seek, collectively and individually, to identify, obtain and maintain competencies and the awareness required for exceptional service.
  
• Integrity:
  We act with honesty, demonstrate courage and accountability under pressure and openly share ideas and information with each other.

It was because of her that Mr. Levy became a Red Cross Volunteer. While she says that he made a difference, helping her through this, she has clearly made a difference in his life. As, it is not what you receive, but the value and help you are able to give to others.

With the Presidential Inauguration and Martin Luther King Day of Community Service in the United States, this marked another major moment in Mr. Levy’s life. During this momentous time in our nation's history, Mr. Levy has reached the President's Call To Service of 4,000 hours, while volunteering this week with the American Red Cross, during MLK Day and Inauguration.

Everybody has a reason why they volunteer. At Neighbors Helping Neighbors, we would like to salute all the American Red Cross volunteers and all volunteers around the world. And give hope to those who are going through some tough times.

Another Look Back (1995) and Looking Forward

In 1995, "Obama Introduces Bill to Create National Emergency Volunteer Corps"

http://obama.senate.gov/press/050908-obama_introduce_1/index.php

"... Unfortunately, my office has received numerous complaints from volunteer doctors that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) did not return their phone calls, did not have information on how they could volunteer, or simply referred them to local authorities who were not able to help them. Doctors who attempted to volunteer their services on the HHS website encountered significant difficulties as well. Such a lack of information and responsiveness is shocking during a time of emergency. Given the urgent need to get medical personnel to affected areas as soon as possible, I am writing to request that you direct DHS, FEMA, HHS, and all other relevant agencies to work with the Red Cross and hospitals in affected areas to eliminate any bureaucratic obstacles preventing much-needed services from getting to hurricane victims. This includes providing more detailed information to the medical profession about how they can volunteer their services, better coordination of volunteer doctors and nurses with the Red Cross and local hospitals, and waivers of liability for volunteer medical professionals. The health of too many people remains at risk, and bureaucratic red tape and run-arounds should not prevent these people from getting the help they need. Sincerely, Barack Obama United States Senator "

While programs such as the Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) have been created, more progress needs to be made.

For example, when an MRC chapter plans to offer Psychological First Aid to MRC volunteers, does it not make sense to use a course that is widely available through a partner agency, such as the Red Cross? If there are elements that are specific to MRC, then add a brief supplement to the Red Cross course, not start from scratch. If something is developed, it needs to be easily made available to other MRC chapters.

In the past few years, we have seen many volunteers who have become very active in multiple organizations. From Medical Reserve Corps (MRC), Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), Volunteer Centers, Neighborhood Watch, Red Cross, Amateur Radio, etc. While the programs have all come to the table through Citizen Corps Council meetings, there has been less focus on the volunteers. Now, more than ever, there is a need to leverage those volunteers who are cross trained. These volunteers can form specialized "action" teams who can help coordinate volunteer efforts between multiple volunteer organizations.

There also needs to be greater focus on having all the volunteer organizations come together through a full scale exercise. During a disaster or major emergency is not the time to have all these trained volunteers work together for the first time. The exercises need to include government agencies, so the volunteers know where they fit, who they will be working with, and also the limitations.

This is not directed to any specific chapter of the MRC, Red Cross, or other Citizen Corps organization. It is directed towards change.