EMC262 Use Volunteers? Y/N 5/6
To:   Emergency Communications Units - Information Bulletin
To:   Emergency Management Agencies via Internet and Radio
By:   Auxiliary Communications Service (ACS) of the
      California Governor's Office of Emergency Services  

EMC262 Use Volunteers? Y/N 5/6   Release 11/6/00

These bulletins are a continuation for those in government
who manage emergency response situations regarding the use
of volunteers and common concerns.

1e: As to how to manage them
      (see prior bulletins for parts 1 and 2)
             
    3. For EMCOMM Units (Emergency Communications units such
       as the Auxiliary Communications Service, or ACS) there
       are many helpful materials to aid in their creation,
       development and management. The State of California
       OES ACS Web site at http://acs.oes.ca.gov has a host
       of such materials. There is also direct telephone help
       available from the staff of the Governor's Office of
       Emergency Services from the paid staff coordinator of
       the State ACS program: Telecommunications Coordinator
       Ben Green, 916-262-1603, E-Mail: Ben_Green@OES.CA.GOV
             
 2. As to not having space or equipment for volunteers
       a. Is there work they can take home to do?
       b. Is there part-time staff whose workspace they can use?
       c. Is there some appropriate field work to assign them?
           
 3. As to not having time to prepare work for them
       a. When sorting your own work, what can be delegated?
       b. Can a file be created to save projects for volunteers
       c. Can you delegate this task to a qualified volunteer?
       
 4. As to not having time to train volunteers
       a. Can you delegate training to a qualified volunteer?
       b. Can you piggyback onto or modify existing staff training?      
       c. Can other staff mentor volunteers?
       d. Can they be trained on-the-job?
       e. Is there training available through other sources?
       f. What tasks can be given to volunteers that minimize the
          training time?
          
 5. As to liability issues
       a. Can you adjust insurance coverage to extend to volunteers
       b. Will volunteers be used in disaster response where the
          Disaster Service Worker Program coverage would apply?
       c. Can you anticipate what might be needed and address
          liability issues in advance, as through training and
          information?
       d. Training is an area where it is possible to reduce the
          likelihood of possible injuries, so consider that under
          the training issue, using both experts and volunteers.
          
Series continues next bulletin.           

 Cary Mangum, W6WWW        E-mail: cary.mangum@macnexus.org
                           ---
Bulletins are on the ACS Web page: http://acs.oes.ca.gov  -and a
Landline BBS: 916-262-0856 (graphical & standard interface)
EOM