Past Executive Committee Updates!
| August 2011 |
November 2011 |
| July 2011 | June 2011 |
| April 2011 | May 2011 |
| January 2011 | February 2011 |
| November 2010 | December 2010 |
Is there a “silver lining” when disaster strikes? You bet. And you really don’t need to look very far. The wildfires in Bastrop, Spicewood, and other areas of Texas in recent months have kept many VOAD partners busy yet focused on mission-critical response tactics. We see the evidence of common compassion manifest in the preparation, planning, and prudent execution of all collaborative actions necessary in ultimately seeing to the needs of those who have lost so much.
Amid the calls for help from those who have thus suffered, we hear so many heartwarming stories of their emotional expressions of gratitude to the volunteers, their offerings of relief and refreshment to those who labor behind the scenes as well as in the field, and once they get their own “feet on the ground,” they directly reciprocate by laboring in turn and side-by-side to help their neighbors.
In this season of Thanksgiving, may we take pause to capture and remember those “silver lining” moments. May we keep a watchful eye ahead to continue being “at the ready” for the next need, sure to come. And may we find the strength that comes from continuing to ask, “What more can we do?”
On behalf of the Texas VOAD Executive Committee, Happy Thanksgiving to all!
Blessings and best regards,
Koji
Chairman, Communications Committee
The Texas VOAD Executive Committee is working to build capacity and increase communications with our membership. During the last six months we have connected with smaller non profits and Regional VOADS throughout the state in an effort to bring all groups together as Texas VOAD members. We also recognize the great need for getting critical information to our membership during times of disaster relief and recovery. By encouraging Regional VOADS to become part of the Texas VOAD, we can better leverage our partnerships with FEMA, TDEM, foundations, corporations, Emergency Managers and other disaster organizations.
This is an exciting time of growth for the Texas VOAD and if you would like to be part of this growth, please download a membership packet and email it to our Texas State VOAD Secretary, Brad Watts at Brad_Watts@aidmatrix.org.
I look forward to seeing all of our Member organizations at our September 15, 2011 Quarterly Meeting at the NTCOG in Arlington, TX from 1:00- 4:00 pm and please stay hydrated this Summer!
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Disco-Shearer
July 2011
“Re-energized!” “Reinvigorated!” “Recommitted!” These are just some of the positive sentiments expressed by those who came away from this year’s Austin-based “Texas Unites!” Conference in late June, with a renewed sense of dedication in serving the people of Texas. And as this month of July has begun with the “bang” of Independence Day, we are reminded again of this great land in which we can all consider “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,” both for the giver and for the receiver of such service, rendered in times of disaster as well as in times of peace and preparedness.
The Communications Committee of Texas VOAD continues to make steady progress in launching Convore.com to improve and enhance our response to disasters. For more information on this exciting development, see the new presentation posted to our Texas VOAD web site, and if you haven’t already received an email invitation and instructions to join our group on Convore.com as a vetted partner- or associate-member by the time you read this, you should be receiving that contact very soon.
In the meantime and as always, I hope and pray that each of you will be well, safe, and happy in your daily work. And do keep in touch with your candid comments, forward-thinking suggestions, and interesting anecdotes to keep the Texas VOAD Executive Committees focused on working more effectively for you and for our organization!
Blessings and best regards,
Koji
Chairman, Communications Committee
June 2011
June is the month for the Texas Unites conference where several members of Texas VOAD will be in attendance. The Texas VOAD meeting is scheduled for 5:00 on June 22nd and we look forward to seeing you there. This summer has been extremely busy for me as Texas VOAD continues positive momentum building relationships with Emergency Management offices and incorporating multiple types of Media to create an online presence, while simultaneously my work is dramatically increasing as Aidmatrix is expanding our reach with warehouse, logistics, and procurement management systems being implemented around the world. This workload reminds me that “when [what you are deeply passionate about, what you can be best in the world at and what drives your economic engine] come together, not only does your work move toward greatness, but so does your life. For, in the end, it is impossible to have a great life unless it is a meaningful life. And it is very difficult to have a meaningful life without meaningful work. Perhaps, then, you might gain that rare tranquility that comes from knowing that you’ve had a hand in creating something of intrinsic excellence that makes a contribution. Indeed, you might even gain that deepest of all satisfactions: knowing that your short time here on this earth has been well spent, and that it mattered." — Jim Collins (Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap... and Others Don't).
Brad Watts
May 2011
It’s Conference Time!
As Texas VOAD and citizens from across Texas prepare for hurricane season we’re excited about our upcoming Texas Unites Conference. We anticipate another successful conference with Citizen Corp, our conference partner and co host. Last year, Texas VOAD and the Texas Citizen Corps Program partnered to merge their respective annual conferences. Over 320 people were in attendance. This year, the Texas Unites Conference will have additional training opportunities, discipline tracks, and continuing education credit classes. Presenters from Texas VOAD include, Kate Dischino, Save the Children, Brad Watts, Aidmatrix and Joe Watts, Adventist Community Services. In addition to the educational component, the conference will be an excellent opportunity to network. On Tuesday, June 21, the conference planning committee will host a networking reception showcasing Austin music talent. The conference will be one of the largest annual professional, volunteer and emergency management training summits in Texas and we look forward to seeing you there.
Mozetta
April 2011
The Texas VOAD continues to progress forward with new partnerships being formed and plans to share disaster responsibilities constantly being upgraded. I suspect we are all sharing the same hope that we be able to have another hurricane-less summer. With the extension of our presence into the Homeland Security/Hurricane conference, the Texas Unites conference and other regional conferences, the question may be asked what makes the Texas VOAD such a vital part of the disaster response effort in Texas? From my unique perspective as an EMC and active volunteers, it’s really quite simple. Bureaucracy! Volunteers don’t have a lot of it, the government agencies, by their very nature, do. It was during the Hurricane Katrina response that this fact was pushed to the forefront. Even President Bush’s “After Action Report, Hurricane Katrina, What Went Right and What Went Wrong,” put the spotlight on the volunteer’s organizations and the efficiency with which they were able to respond. VOADs don’t usually ask for a myriad of paperwork to be completed before providing assistance. I am concerned, however, that this may become our Achilles heel. If our ever closer relating to government agencies infects us with the desire to imitate government agencies, we are doomed to become like them, substituting efficiency for bureaucracy. If we decide to stay true to our mission we will defend ourselves against the infection of paperwork. This is why it is so vital that the Texas VOAD remain a cooperative effort of individual organizations who, while maintaining their autonomy, still work in harmony. See you at the Texas Unites Conference.
Larry
February 2011
Dear Texas VOAD Members and Prospective Members:
The Executive Committee and the Membership Committee have worked very diligently this past year to formalize our Membership Application Process. We want to ensure that we have a consistent and equitable process which meets National VOAD Standards for all of our members.
To apply for membership in Texas VOAD, please download an application from this website, complete all the required documentation and email your computer packet to our Secretary, Brad Watts, at brad watts@aidmatrix.org. Please note: A local disaster relief and recovery organization must be a member of a local or Regional VOAD in order to apply for membership in the Texas VOAD. All applicants will be notified of the receipt of their application within 30 days. Applicants will then be notified within 10 business days following the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Texas VOAD of the acceptance, denial, or pending status of their membership application.
We are working on a process for vetting Regional VOADS and we will finalize that process at our March 2011 Meeting.
Current members, please be sure to send our Secretary, Brad Watts any changes in your contact information. You can contact Brad at brad_watts@aidmatrix.org. In times of disasters, it is critical that we have a good 24/7 Contact Person from each organization. Thank you for your support of the Membership and Executive Committee this year.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Disco-Shearer
Membership Chair
Texas VOAD
January 2011
No question!: Last year, each of the component organizations of Texas VOAD generously contributed to the whole cause in time, talents, sacrifice, compassion, and a true understanding of what partnership means. Moving quickly into this New Year 2011 amid a season and a general sense of change and resolution, it is those same fundamental and constant, unchanging “stakes in the ground” from which each of us continue to serve the good people of this great state.
In 2010, we discussed some fresh ideas which will bring this organization up to a new level of efficiency in the way we interact and communicate with each other, toward the goal of strengthening all areas of Cooperation, Communication, Coordination and Collaboration. In 2011, we take action: In the coming days and weeks ahead of our next quarterly member meeting – now scheduled for March in the Dallas area – the Texas VOAD executive and communications committees will be working hand-in-hand to develop and implement key tools necessary to this end. We look forward to the membership at-large to be a part of this evolving process. And my door is always open: I invite you now to contact me directly with your comments as you consider how we can work together to improve communications within Texas VOAD.
May 2011 bring much health, happiness, and prosperity to each of you and yours, and may some of the successes you will see in your own organizations be because of your ongoing support and participation in our great Texas VOAD family!
Best regards,
Koji
December 2010
Texas VOAD continues to make strides to provide opportunities for emergency management agencies and disaster relief nonprofits to better collaborate in times of disaster and recovery. These relationships and education opportunities that we are building together will extremely benefit interactions between dozens of groups who all play a vital role in rebuilding destroyed communities and damaged lives. I remain humbled by the fact that so many great minds and committed passionate people are able to work together for the good of the people of Texas.
At the last Texas VOAD meeting Frank Cantu of TDEM and David Myers of the office of Faith Based and Community Initiatives presented their mission and passion. It was inspiring to hear the support from these State and National offices and their efforts to strengthen partnerships and cooperation among groups like ours. I learned that over 90% of disasters are not federally declared which reasserts the fact that we must maintain positive relationships and instill plans for working together in times of disaster. This reminded me how important it is to continue to be innovative in our approach to relief and recovery and I’m excited about our new push to incorporate new ideas and technology like Twitter to overcome communication and other challenges.
Texas VOAD will continue to update you on our annual conference “Texas Unites.” In collaboration with Citizen Corps, our conference is scheduled for June 20-22, 2011 at the Omni Hotel in downtown Austin. If you have workshop suggestions please send those to jacksonmoz@usa.redcross.org and chigosl@usa.redcross.org. Thanks for your continued commitment to the people of Texas.
Respectfully,
Brad Watts
November 2010
Vice President Update
As we enter the final month of our 2010 hurricane season, Texas VOAD would like to thank all disaster response volunteers for their hard work and commitment to our unified mission. Together, we consistently respond effectively and efficiently. Texas VOAD would also like to thank Anna Tangredi, State VAL, for her leadership during recent disaster responses. Her regular facilitation of conference calls both strengthened our response capability and enhanced Cooperation, Coordination, Communication, and Collaboration. In Texas, we continue to show both tenacity and humanity in the face of disaster
Moving forward, we’ve already began planning for our Annual Conference “ Texas Unites”. In collaboration with Citizen Corps, our conference is scheduled for Summer 2011 in Austin, TX. Last year, over 300 people attended the Conference and there were over 35 workshop and training opportunities. This year we’re planning for an even more comprehensive agenda. If you have workshop suggestions please send to jacksonmoz@usa.redcross.org.
Mozetta Jackson