AmeriCorps*VISTA News

VISTA Professional Development

As continuation of their professional development series on disaster management, VISTAs

participated in a Volunteer Reception Center (VRC) simulation and training at Duke University on November 12, 2009. Mrs. Faye Stone, the Deputy Executive Director of the NC Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service, used the morning  to present best practices in volunteer and resource management during a disaster.

During the simulation, VISTAs learned firsthand how to effectively manage “spontaneous volunteers” by experiencing what it would be like to be one of these volunteers as well as a VRC staff member. Kim Caudle, VISTA at ECU, stated, “The VRC training with Faye Stone was a good mix of information and practical application training.  We learned about the history of disaster relief programs, the pieces that make up a volunteer reception center, and the possible worst-case scenarios that can occur at disaster volunteer reception centers.  Overall, the day was a successful learning opportunity and a great chance for all of the VISTAs to reconnect.” VISTAs will take this experience back to their campuses to assist local communities in the unfortunate case of a natural disaster.

Following data collected from a Campus CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) Survey, Mrs. Stone announced the 15 campuses who will qualify for CERT Team training. This training, which will be conducted in the spring of 2010, will assist campuses respond to local emergencies.