Volunteer Spotlight
This page highlights the activities of a single volunteer or group.
July, 2011
This article, written by Rachel Hammerman, appeared in Issue 8 of Massachusetts Medical Reserve Corps Newsletter for Unit Leaders. One of our dedicated volunteers, Angela Sabol, was featured in the newsletter.
To view the entire newsletter, click here: MA MRC Newsletter for Unit Leaders
Dream Team, 2006-2008
This team of professionals was the key to the initial success of the Worcester Regional Medical Reserve Corps (WRMRC). Under the direction of Derek Brindisi, Karyn Card as Coordinator of the WRMRC directed a staff of 4 who were responsible of the rapid growth of the WRMRC. Given the size and scope of the WRMRC, to include the 74 communities in the Public Health Region II Emergency Preparedness Coalition, the WRMRC has become a model by initiating the following:
- A database for tracking the over 1100 volunteer applicants
- The use of a region-wide Reverse 911-type alerting system for deploying emergency workers
- Recruitment presentations and orientations
- Training sessions held sometimes four times a day 8-10 times a month in training rooms throughout Worcester County
- A mutual-aid agreement between towns and the WRMRC
Most of the group (4 of 5), moved on at the end of July 2008. One was promoted with the Dept of Health & Human Services, one expanded his family, and two moved South.
We thank them all for making such an impact on the WRMRC and bringing the WRMRC to the position it enjoys today.
April 2007
April was National Volunteer Month and we have our own special volunteer to honor.
The Worcester Regional MRC tested its capabilities during the 2006 and 2007 flu clinics. The 2006 flu clinic was held at the Worcester Senior Center and the 2007 clinic was held at ALL School and Forest Grove School simultaneously. During both exercises, hundreds of volunteers were used and organizing and coordinating that many volunteers was a challenge.
Betsy Colman has played a key role in assigning UMass Medical School Students and UMass Graduate School of Nursing students to volunteer positions during these exercises. She spent countless hours coordinating the students so that they would receive optimum experience working an Emergency Dispensing Site (EDS). All of this was accomplished during a hectic student rotation schedule.
When informed of her selection, Betsy replied, “I really enjoyed volunteering with the MRC because not only did I get to meet wonderful, smart, and motivated people, but I also gained valuable skills in managing stressful situations. These types of skills are applicable to many other areas of my life in addition to the actual disaster situation we were training for. Being a volunteer for the MRC was a wonderful professional development activity, but more importantly, I had a great time! The MRC is something I hope to continue to be a part of throughout my career.”
We appreciate all of her efforts and applaud her in the Volunteer Spotlight!