MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
January | 2021
In This Issue:
  • Prince George's County Recovery Needs
  • Food Delivery Response Thank You
  • Call for Nominating Committee Members for 2021 Board Elections
  • New Maryland VOAD Website Update
  • 4C Spotlight: Serving the National Guard
  • National VOAD Representation and Dues Committee Request
  • Retirement Celebration
  • Other Opportunities and Resources
PG County Flood Response
We continue to work together as Maryland VOAD to help residents in Prince George's (PG) County recover from the flooding that occurred on September 10, 2020.

There are three main types of work that need to be completed: replacing drywall, installing floor coverings and repairing retaining walls.

Right now there is just under $10,000 in funding that is designated to support this response. We estimate that total costs for supplies (excluding the retaining walls) to be around $26,000 leaving a need of around $16,000 currently. More funds will be needed after the estimates for the retaining walls come in.
How to Volunteer
Volunteers and work groups can sign up by contacting Kim Hopkins (kimberly.hopkins@yahoo.com; (340) 643-7516) or on the DART website. Once there, sign up under Individual Registration by clicking "Volunteer". During the registration process you will have the option to also register as a group.

Ways to Provide Funding
Funding can be by check to Maryland VOAD, c/o Bruce Morgenstern, 1911 Hunt Meadow Drive, Annapolis, MD 21403. Electronic funds can be sent via Paypal at this link.
Photo Caption: Top-Baptist Convention of Maryland & Delaware volunteers serving at a house in PG County. Bottom-Flooding in one home that now needs repairs. (Courtesy of Kim Hopkins)
Baltimore County Food Delivery Program Ends
Thank You for the Food Delivery Volunteers!

After our last appeal for the need of Food Delivery Volunteers, we had over 35 people sign up to help. Because of your response, we now have the number of volunteers needed to complete our commitment to deliver of food boxes in Baltimore City.

It is this kind of cooperation, communication, coordination and collaboration (The 4 C's) that gives us the capacity and the ability to be an effective disaster response organization in the State of Maryland.

Again, many thanks for your efforts. Way to go Maryland VOAD!
~Phil Huber, Chairperson, Maryland VOAD

Photo Caption: Food delivery pickup by volunteer at the Baltimore Convention Center. (Courtesy of Maryland VOAD)
Call for Nominating Committee Members for 2021 Board Elections

Maryland VOAD is required by our bylaws to hold elections for the Board Members every year at our Annual Meeting in June.

The Maryland VOAD board is currently in search of member representatives to serve on the Nominations Committee for the 2021 Board Elections. The committee must "consist of three (3) people from different Member Organizations and one (1) Board Member."

If you are available to serve on this team, please contact Pastor Phil Huber at 410.375.5053 (cell) or Chairperson@MarylandVOAD.org by February 26.
New Maryland VOAD Website

Maryland VOAD Board Members are working on populating the brand new Maryland VOAD website that will soon be available. This site is available through National VOAD and a donation from UPS. Our old website is currently inactive and the new one will be available very soon. When it is live, we will share the link and more information.
4C Spotlight
Communication
Cooperation
Coordination
Collaboration
Ahead of the Inauguration, Maryland VOAD shared the need for members to partner with the Salvation Army to provide hand warmers to the Guard Troops serving in D.C. While this is was not a typical Maryland VOAD request, Carolyn Copp of the U.S. Veterans Reserve Corp answered the call with a connection to a corporate donation. Implus stepped up to the need and donated about 1,000 handwarmers to serve the troops who were serving us all.

"You never know what our members might be able to offer or connections they have." ~Chair Phil Huber
National VOAD Representation & Dues Committee
As discussed at the December Conference, National VOAD has sent a request from the Representation and Dues Committee with questions for Maryland VOAD to answer pertaining to voting privileges and dues. Your feedback on the topic is needed as part of Maryland VOAD's response. Please complete this survey by Friday, January 29 for the Board to collate the information and share with National VOAD.
Congratulations Pastor Phil!
Please join us as we celebrate with Pastor Phil Huber in his retirement from fulltime ministry at St. Matthew Lutheran Church at the end of 2020. We are blessed that he will still be able to represent Lutheran Disaster Response (Diakon Lutheran Social Ministries) with Maryland VOAD and continue to serve on our Board and as Chairperson.
OTHER OPPORTUNITIES & RESOURCES
FEMA's Youth Preparedness Council
This program brings teens together from across the country that are interested and engaged in community preparedness. Council members are selected based on their involvement in extracurricular activities, their leadership experience, and their interest in preparedness and emergency management. Students in grades 8 through 11 are eligible to apply. 

During their two-year term, the youth leaders will complete both local and national-level projects and share their ideas regarding youth disaster preparedness with FEMA leadership and national organizations. Youth interested in applying to the Council must submit a completed application form; provide two letters of recommendation, and academic records by March 7, 2021. 
SAVE THE DATE - Maryland VOAD Quarterly Meeting - Mon, Mar 8, 2021 on Zoom
Newsletter Content
Do you have an update, event, or announcement to share with the rest of Maryland VOAD? Send your information and pictures to CommunicationsCoordinator@MarylandVOAD.org to be shared on our Social Media or by the 15th of each month to be included in the next newsletter issue.
Maryland VOAD