MRC Volunteer Spotlight

Ed Mello, Jr., RN, EMS specialist is known throughout Hampden County and Western Massachusetts as the “go to guy” for information and assistance for EMT training. Ed’s leadership with the Greater Westfield and Western Hampden County MRC unit extends beyond his volunteer role as the coordinator of the MRC unit.

His commitment to building the MRC unit, which has matured to be an essential part of public health preparedness and response in Westfield, is remarkable. He has recruited a top-notch, diverse group of volunteers with expertise in Amateur Radio (HAM) communications, EMS, and community response. As a faculty member at Westfield State College, Ed has assisted in pioneering the emergency preparedness program that is positioning the college to become the premier educational institution for Homeland Preparedness in the northeast. Look for future announcements about a no-cost conference for MRC Coordinators and MRC team leaders in April 2010 at Westfield State College.

Volunteer Service and the MRC Mission

The following announcement was sent from the national MRC program office:  Please consider joining your local Medical Reserve Corps.

Colleagues: Initiated by Congress in 1994, the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service transforms the federal holiday honoring Dr. King into a national day of community service. The commemoration has grown steadily from a local project to a nationwide movement, which honors the life and teachings of Dr. King.

Instead of seeing January 18th as just a day off from work, the Day of Service seeks to make the holiday a day for volunteerism, where people of all ages and backgrounds can come together to strengthen their community, bridge social barriers, and move our Nation closer to the “beloved community” that Dr. King envisioned.

There are many ways for you and your families to get involved.  To find an opportunity near you, visit: http://www.serve.gov/mlkday.asp#serve

Letter of Thanks to MRC's from Commissioner Auerbach

Dear Colleagues:

I would like to extend my appreciation to the thousands of volunteers in the 45 Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) units based in Massachusetts who have been called upon more often than ever before because of the H1N1 virus. You have lived up to your mission of improving the health and safety of communities across Massachusetts by organizing and utilizing public health, medical and other volunteers.

MRC members have generously provided their time and effort to support hundreds of public H1N1 and seasonal flu clinics throughout the Commonwealth over the past several months. Your support has been and will continue to be crucial to the continued success of our efforts to protect the public from H1N1 through mass vaccination and other means.

MRC members have also assisted in community education and awareness campaigns and assisted in planning and exercises in preparation for the mass vaccination efforts that helped ensure success during the H1N1 pandemic. Many people in the highest-risk groups have been vaccinated for both seasonal and H1N1 influenza. And, for the moment, H1N1 flu illness has declined in most areas. But, we are only at the beginning of the traditional flu season and H1N1 could return with a vengeance. Therefore, we still need your support to continue the vaccination efforts, to educate and inform the public about the flu and to be on call for the unpredictable.

Once again, thank you for your past efforts and for your ongoing commitment to protecting the public’s health. Best wishes to everyone for a happy and healthy new year – with less illness (H1N1 and otherwise) and fewer emergencies.

Sincerely,

John Auerbach,
Commissioner