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 Home > Regional MRC Coordinators > Elizabeth H. Fitch > Region IV Newsletters > Region IV MRC Update - June 2006
Welcome New MRC UnitsPlease welcome our newest units: MRC Pandemic Flu Guidance ReleasedThe MRC Program Office, with the help of local and state MRC leaders, has released its Pandemic Flu Guidance Document for MRC units. This document provides background information on pandemic influenza and some suggested activities for MRC units to tailor to their communities’ needs. Categories of suggested activities include:
This information also is now on the PandemicFlu.Gov Web site in the Community Planning and Healthcare Planning sections. MRC Volunteer Recognized for Outstanding Service
We congratulate Dr. Pat Santucci, of the Southwest Florida MRC. She was recently recognized by Florida Governor Jeb Bush with the Points of Light Award for her dedication to volunteerism, working selflessly to help others after the 2005 hurricane season. She also works as coordinator of the national MRC Mental Health Work Group and participates in other MRC initiatives. (The full story is available on the MRC Web site in the News and Events section.) How Can You Recognize YOUR Volunteers?Many states have special forms of recognition for outstanding volunteers. To find out more about recognition opportunities within your state, contact your state's Service Commission (generally called a Commission on Service and Volunteerism or an Office of Faith Based and Community Initiatives). The Points of Light Foundation provides information on a number of national volunteer service awards. Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve participants are eligible for recognition through the Spirit of Service Awards. Upcoming Events of Interest
MRC Program Web Site UpdatesBe sure to check out the new look of the National MRC Web site. If you have not recently taken the time to visit the Web site, there is a lot to see. Be sure to check out the “Did You Know?” section on the main page (hint: it pays to keep your Regional Coordinator up-to-date on your unit’s successes) and the MRC Spotlights page. You also can point your local media to the Media section of the Web site for more information. Online Resource ArchiveJust a reminder: There is a collection of Web sites available that may be useful to MRC unit coordinators. The easiest way to look at these links is by topic—if you go to the archive page, click on the drop-down box next to “filter by topic” (at the top of the page) and you will see the topics available. Pick a topic, such as Risk Management/Liability, click the “search” button, and you will see the Web resources I’ve collected under that topic, along with a brief clipping from the page and possibly a note from me about the link. Recent additions include: The United States Landfalling Hurricane Project, Ready North Carolina, CDC Support for EMAC, and The Public Health Café: Planning a Media Event. Happy Surfing! Upcoming Health Observances
MRC TRAIN Coming SoonAs promised, the MRC TRAIN Web site is coming soon to a computer near you! MRC TRAIN will be a great learning tool for MRC volunteers and a learning management tool for unit leaders. Hundreds of online training opportunities will be available to MRC units, and unit coordinators will have the ability to track their volunteers’ training participation both in the online courses and in classroom training. Although use of MRC TRAIN by units is voluntary, we hope that this will be a useful training and information management tool. MRC TRAIN is collaboration between the MRC and the Public Health Foundation. User guides and login information will be up on the MRC Web site soon and will be announced on the MRC Listserv. Regional Coordinator Contact Information
Last Updated on 8/14/2006 |
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