Upland CERT Goals from our New Chair; Neil Gerard
June 1 ,2015
Thanks for your confidence in selecting me as the new Chair of the Upland CERT program. I will try meet your expectations and continue to help build our CERT program into the organization that we know it can be. Jim McDougal did a great job in getting us started and now I want to help continue our growth and development. I am fortunate to have a strong Executive Committee working with me, and I will be relying on them at every step along the way. As I begin this year, I thought it might be helpful for me to share some of my goals for our organization.
Training – if you are not continuing your training, you’re not trained. I want to continue our robust training schedule and expand on it. I would like to utilize more professionals and subject matter experts (including fire personnel, medical personnel, etc) to enhance the education of our members
Intercity Cooperation – CERTS cannot operate alone. I would like to continue and expand our multi-city approach to training and service with our neighboring CERT programs. Claremont and Rancho Cucamonga have strong programs and we should continue to partner with them, share resources and learn from each other. We also have an opportunity to support Montclair as they try to build their CERT program.
Service – We all joined CERT to learn and to provide service to our community. I would like to find more ways to work with both the Upland Fire Department and the Upland Police Department so that both agencies view us as a valued resource and call us whenever needed.
Growth – The Upland CERT program needs more volunteers. I would like us to reduce the number of “train and release” and increase the number of students who, upon completion of our training, join the organization. There is lots of room for growth and lots of unmet need that can only be accomplished with a larger organization.
I look forward to hearing from each member with your input, ideas and suggestions.
Your is CERT,
Neil
Neil
Neil Gerard, Chair
Upland CERT
