Emergency Network of Los Angeles

COPE Preparedness Newsletter

cullen.armet — Wed, 16 May 2012 22:11:57 +0000

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Final Annual VOAD Conference update

astayton — Tue, 15 May 2012 00:19:42 +0000

Dear ENLA members,

Well, I’m back from the Annual VOAD Conference. In the coming weeks, I’ll continue to post links to exciting resources and summaries of the information I learned. Meanwhile, here’s a link to the PowerPoint presentation I gave at the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation workshop, “Community Partnerships: Retaining Membership, Sustaining Donations and Building Movements through Grassroots”. Here I am talking to the group:

The National VOAD staff is going to take a really long nap, and then they’ll start posting links to presentations and other resources that all the presenters offered. I’ll keep you in the loop in the days to come.

Alix

ENLA at 2012 Annual VOAD Conference – day two

astayton — Thu, 10 May 2012 04:49:44 +0000

Hi everyone,

It’s raining today in Norfolk, but that’s not keeping anyone out of the meeting rooms here at the Marriott. We’re learning about ways to improve our processes, meeting peers and potential partners from other areas, and getting the chance to ask questions. Many of the presenters are planning on making their presentations available on the NVOAD website, so I hope to have a long list of links to send to you soon.

I attended a workshop today that addressed the emerging concept of the Business Operations Center; here are a few main ideas on the question of how VOADs can engage for-profit members or partners:

1. Find the right level for communication; for local projects, communicate with the local business location (a local office or store for example), and for corporate level projects, make a connection at the leadership level.
2. Ask them to get involved in preparedness: they need to get their staff prepared, and they may want to help their clients get prepared.
3. Give them a way to engage their employees. Things like competitive fundraisers and volunteer opportunities or other avenues for personal development can engage employees and build teams.
4. Draw on existing social relationships: who do we already know personally?

Both NorCal and SoCal VOAD members met with Peter Gudaitis of NDIN along with new NVOAD members Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) and Islamic Relief USA (who is already an ENLA member), and potential NVOAD members United Sikhs and Sikh Coalition. These faith-based organizations are looking for partners in their newly-emerging domestic disaster relief efforts. They are working to understand how to connect through state and local VOADs, and what these memberships mean. I’m excited to welcome them into the ENLA fold and learn how we can help increase their disaster resilience so that they can become contributing members of the VOAD.

Tomorrow, I’ll be presenting on behalf of ENLA member Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation at their workshop “Community Partnerships: Retaining Membership, Sustaining Donations, and Building Movements through the Grassroots.” I hope to post the slides for your review soon.

Alix

ENLA at the 2012 Annual VOAD Conference

astayton — Wed, 09 May 2012 03:14:42 +0000

The Virginia VOAD ready to welcome AVC participants

Hello ENLA members, partners, and friends,

The 2012 Annual VOAD Conference is under way! Things got off to a running start on Monday, with committee meetings and the first annual VOAD Leadership Orientation training session. The training session got great reviews, and the State Advisory Council is pleased with all the work we put into it. I’ll be posting information about the different tools and information developed to help new VOAD leaders get up to speed and help their VOADs grow and thrive; I presented a draft of the Emergency Response Protocols that the SAC will continue to edit until it’s ready for prime time. I’m looking forward to meeting more of the Region IX VOADs that I represent during my time at the AVC.

Today the State/Territory meeting was held; representatives from NorCal VOAD represented our state, and I was in attendance in my capacity as a SAC member, taking meeting minutes. The group re-elected Mike Manning (IN) as state representative to the board, and three committee members were chosen from among the state VOAD representatives nominated: Nicholas Auck, LA VOAD (Donations Management); Kit O’Neill, ND VOAD (Emotional & Spiritual Care); and Jay Burdick, RI VOAD (Housing).

The group heard presentations from the Ad Council regarding a cash donation toolkit (helping organizations understand how to discourage materials donations in favor of cash donations immediately after disaster and beyond), a FEMA contractor working on an implementation plan for the NIMS credentialing standards, and from the new Executive Director Daniel Stoecker.

Tomorrow I’m looking forward to a workshop on Community Recovery; I hope to gain some new learning to relate to our LACCDR project. In the afternoon, I’ll be attending “Trends in Private Sector Engagement and the Evolution of Business Operations Centers”; as potential participants at the new City of Los Angeles BOC, this workshop sounds like it might provide us some additional perspective in the development and implementation of the BOC model. Just as a note, ENLA has participated as a BOC Task Force member; if you are interested in attending those meetings on behalf of ENLA, please let myself or Brandy know.

Finally, NorCal and SoCal VOAD members, including myself, will be meeting with NYDIS’ Peter Gudaitis. Those of you who attended the DPH Interfaith Summit will remember Peter as the engaging keynote speaker; he’s here working with several of the new NVOAD national partners: Islamic Relief USA, ICNA, and United Sikhs. They all have a presence in California, and Peter is offering us an opportunity to meet with these groups to create relationships and welcome them into our local and state VOADs.

More tomorrow. Is there anything you want to get out of the AVC this year? Let me know!

Alix

ENLA joins the National Preparedness Coalition

astayton — Tue, 01 May 2012 20:29:27 +0000

Today the Emergency Network of Los Angeles joined the National Preparedness Coalition, sponsored by ready.gov:

http://community.fema.gov/connect.ti/readynpm/grouphome

Your organization can benefit by posting your own preparedness events on the calendar, talking to other groups on the discussion boards, and finding resources on this site, among other things. Is your community-based or faith-based organization committing (or re-committing) to be more prepared in 2012? Check out ready.gov.

You can also take a look at the resources on ENLA’s website, at www.enla.org; click on Training, Preparedness, or Response for more information and materials you can use to help your organization become more prepared.

ENLA provides free Disaster Plan Development Workshops to organizations which need to create (or update) a disaster plan. We do this for groups of nonprofits, to reach many organizations at one time. The workshop is no-cost, and requires only a classroom and participants (20 min, 30 max). It takes three hours, and can be done during the workday, in the evening, or on a weekend. Want to host a workshop, or get on the training notifications list? Call or email us today: 213-351-6768 or info@enla.org

Support Group for Suicide Attempt Survivors

cullen.armet — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 00:35:14 +0000

Greetings,

This email is a reminder that the Didi Hirsch Suicide Prevention Center (SPC) offersa support group for people who have survived a suicide attempt or who are struggling with persistent thoughts of suicide. Attached is a flyer about the group. We will be starting a new group in June, so if you know of anyone who may benefit from the group, feel free to share this information with them. Now is the time to enrolled in the next group.

Some basic information about group eligibility is listed below:

·         Potential members must be at least 18 years of age

·         Potential members should live in LA County or Orange County

·         Potential members should show the ability to relate to others andbenefit from a group experience

·         Potential members should not be at imminent risk of suicide (individuals whose life may be in immediate risk from self-harm should call our crisis hotline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or 911

·         The support group is free for all members through Prevention and Early Intervention funds from the Los Angeles Department of Mental Health; members do not need to be current DMH or Didi Hirsch clients

·         Potential members can call 1-310-895-2352 for more information about the group intake procedure

As a national leader in the field of suicide prevention, SPC strives to implement innovative practices in providing suicide prevention services. We believe that providing a support group for suicide attempt survivors is one way that we can do this. In 2007, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline formed a Consumer Subcommittee comprised of individuals who had previously attempted suicide to discuss their opinions on what would be helpful to someone who is thinking of suicide. Many committee members indicated that a support group would be helpful.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me!

Sincerely,

Shari

Shari Sinwelski, MS/Ed.S.

Director of Program Development

Suicide Prevention Center – Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services

4760 South Sepulveda Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232

ssinwelski@didihirsch.org

(310) 895-2352

White House Jobs Council Event

cullen.armet — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 00:57:15 +0000

            The President’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness

Don Graves, Executive Director, President’s Jobs Council

Monica Lozano, CEO, impreMedia and Member, President’s Jobs Council

along with

The President’s Advisory Council on Financial Capability*

Cordially invites you to a

Jobs and Competitiveness Listening and Action Session.

Tuesday, April 24^th, 2012

1:00 p.m. (Doors Open 12:30pm)

Cathedral of the West Angeles Church of God in Christ

3045 South Crenshaw Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA

On Tuesday April 24^th, the President’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness (http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/advisory-boards/jobs-council ) will hold a Jobs and Competitiveness Listening and Action Session in partnership with Operation HOPE’s 20^thanniversary Bus Tour to solicit input from business leaders, workers, and community leaders on how the public and private sectors can partner to create jobs, spur economic development, and address the skills gap to create long term economic opportunity.

The Jobs Council, which includes leaders from business, labor and academia, was created by the President in 2011 to provide diverse perspectives and ideas on how to create jobs and strengthen our nation’s competitiveness. It last met at the White House in January to convey recommendations on the economy and job creation to President Obama. The council works alongside the President’s Advisory Council on Financial Capability to provide analysis and policy recommendations around social and economic issues facing the nation.

(*) Operation HOPE Founder, Chairman and CEO John Hope Bryant has served as a member of the Financial Capability Council for the last three sitting presidents. He was recently appointed to chair the Subcommittee on the Underserved and Community Empowerment for the Council on Financial Capability.

The ideas and information exchanged at this event will help inform the future policy work of the President’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness.

This event is free of charge, however event registration is required and space is limited. RSVPs will be on a first come first served basis. RSVP to PCJC@treasury.gov

We hope you will be able to join us April 24^th as we look forward to discussing these important issues.

Event Details:

Date:               April 24^th, 2012

Time:               1:00 p.m. (Doors Open at 12:30pm)

Location:        Cathedral of the West Angeles Church of God in Christ

3045 South Crenshaw Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA

RSVP to PCJC@Treasury.gov . Seating may be limited. RSVPs will be on a first come first served basis.

$5,000 contest for people 50+ to launch a project for social good

cullen.armet — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 22:31:55 +0000

Dear Alexandra,

I don’t often get to write about movies, as much as I love them.

But today I’m writing to let you know about a beautiful re-coming-of-age movie, starring Judi Dench, Tom Wilkerson, Maggie Smith and Bill Nighy, along with Dev Patel, the young star of “Slumdog Millionaire.”

“The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel,” is about adventure, love and purpose in the encore years. If you love to laugh and travel — and are wondering what’s next in your life — you’re in for a treat.

And you could be in for a prize, too…if you enter the Marigold Ideas for Good Contest.

http://www.takepart.com/marigold/contest?cmpid=encore

The contest is for people over 50 who have great ideas for doing something to improve the quality of life in their communities.

Each month for the next six months, Participant Media — with help from the voting public and Encore.org — will select five winners. Each will win a $5,000 grant; one will win the money plus the trip of a lifetime from Road Scholar.

So if you’ve got an idea about how you can make the world a better place for future generations, I hope you’ll enter today.

http://www.takepart.com/marigold/contest?cmpid=encore

Spread the word. There’s no time like the present to start thinking about what you’d like to do for an encore!

All best,

Marc

Marc Freedman
Founder & CEO, Civic Ventures / Encore.org

Non-profit Times Newsletter

cullen.armet — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 19:02:48 +0000

Click here to see Newsletter:

National Volunteer Week Training Sessions

cullen.armet — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 17:37:00 +0000

Session Overview

All sessions will be two hours in duration and take place in varying locations across Los Angeles.

Date + Time	Training Sessions	Venue (City)
4/16	Skills Based Volunteering	Assistance League of Southern California (Hollywood, CA)
1pm	Learn how to engage skilled volunteers including identifying skill-gaps at your organization, creating high-impact volunteer opportunities and prepare for working with skilled volunteers	Assistance League of Southern California (Hollywood, CA)
4/16	JUST ADDED Engaging the Entertainment Industry	California Endowment (Los Angeles, CA)
1 pm	Learn how to engage the Entertainment Industry, build meaningful relationships and asses your organization’s readiness for the limelight from a Hollywood Insider!	California Endowment (Los Angeles, CA)
4/17	After Volunteer Recruitment: What’s Next?	Volunteer Los Angeles (Panorama City, CA)
10am	Learn how to keep volunteers engaged in a high-impact way and elevate success with your volunteers	Volunteer Los Angeles (Panorama City, CA)
4/17	Microvolunteering: Virtual Service, Real Impact	American Red Cross LA (West Los Angeles, CA)
1pm	Learn about the newest way to volunteer, Microvolunteering, how you can engage volunteers online through new technology and tips for how you can achieve more with virtual volunteers	American Red Cross LA (West Los Angeles, CA)
4/18	Branding for Nonprofits	Location TBA (Central Los Angeles)
10 am	Learn about how to strengthen and leverage your organization’s brand to attract more volunteers, support your fundraising goals and more from a Marketing Expert!	Location TBA (Central Los Angeles)
4/18	Beyond Mandated Service	Volunteer Los Angeles (Panorama City, CA)
1pm	Learn how to effectively and innovatively engage Court Referred Volunteers to help drive your organization’s mission; and hear real-life examples of creative engagement of Court Referred Volunteers from the Agency perspective	Volunteer Los Angeles (Panorama City, CA)
4/18	Microvolunteering: Virtual Service, Real Impact	Assistance League of Southern California (Hollywood, CA)
1pm	Learn about the newest way to volunteer, Microvolunteering, how you can engage volunteers online through new technology and tips for how you can achieve more with virtual volunteers	Assistance League of Southern California (Hollywood, CA)
4/19	After Volunteer Recruitment: What’s Next?	American Red Cross LA (West Los Angeles, CA)
10am	Learn how to engage volunteers in a high-impact way, harness volunteer stewardship and elevate your volunteers	American Red Cross LA (West Los Angeles, CA)

Session Registration

For easy registration, please email information outlined below to register@volunteerlosangeles.org.

1. Your Name & Title

2. Organization

3. Email Address

4. Title of the Training Session(s) you would like to attend

Questions?

Please direct any questions regarding registration to Rafael Castellanos, HandsOn Volunteers Manager, at (323) 450-5053 or rcastellanos@volunteerlosangeles.org.

For general inquiries about the trainings, please contact Pedro Barrientos, Manager of Agency Partnerships & Training, at (323) 450-5087 or pbarrientos@volunteerlosangeles.org.