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IMPORTANT CERT MEMBERS INFORMATION

Upcoming CERT activities:

1. Saturday February 16, 2008 is the planned date for another tabletop disaster simulation to be held in conjunction with the Gerrish Township Police Department, Gerrish Township Fire & EMS Department, Roscommon County Dispatch Center, Roscommon County Haz Mat Team and Gerrish Township CERT Team. This Saturday event is planned to begin at 9:00am and conclude about 12:00 p.m. and will be held at the Gerrish Township Hall. Donuts and coffee will be available to help everyone get going prior to the kickoff meeting at 9:00am. Please advise Elaine or me, as soon as possible whether or not you will be able to attend for planning purposes. Call 821-6481 or email: donel564@charter.net. The only items required are pen, paper, vest, radio, and yourself. We look forward to hearing from you soon and seeing you February 16th.

2. Friday May 2, 3, & 4, 2008: A Citizen Corps Conference for volunteer CERT Team Members is being held in Grayling, Michigan, at the Ramada Inn.

The following note from the Michigan State Police Emergency Management Division gives some details:

"Citizen Corps Region 6 and the Michigan State Police-Emergency Management Headquarters Staff Division will be co-hosting the 2008 Citizen Corps Conference: "A Conference Designed for the Front Line Volunteer. The conference is being held at the Ramada Inn in Grayling, Mi and is being held on May 2, 3, and 4. There is no cost (except for a $25 committal fee from each registrant) for 70 volunteers (10 from each region). Their room, meals, and training materials will be covered using unused 2006 Citizen Corps Grant Dollars and a $5000 regional grant allocation from Region 6. "

"Each region can select another 10 volunteers to attend, but there will be a cost of $200 each to attend (again this includes their lodging, meals, and course materials). It is up to the regions to decide whom they send, but only FRONT LINE VOLUNTEERS will be accepted. This conference is not designed for the Fire Fighter, police officer, emergency manager, etc. who oversees a Citizen Corps program (that is what the Homeland Security Conference is for)."

The Northern Michigan Citizen Corps District 7 (of which Gerrish CERT plays a key role) has been allocated 10 positions, and Gerrish CERT Team has requested 2 of these positions with all costs included. We are applying for grant monies to cover the fee of $25.00 for each position. Hopefully this will be approved. If anyone is interested in attending (the Granzines will be unavailable), please see Elaine or me and we will provide additional details. If more than two people volunteer, there will be a drawing for the free positions. Of course, up to 10 others can go if they are each willing to pay $200.00. Please contact us ASAP if you would like to participate so we get the applications submitted soon.

3. Gerrish CERT began training 12 new team members on January 9, 2008. The trainees include a cross section of individuals from the community including five 17 year old students( we need the stamina of these young adults). The training will conclude on February 27, 2008, and will include a realistic simulation on February 20th at the Gerrish Higgins Middle School, our top secret location. We are looking for current team member volunteers to help Wednesday February 20th from about 5:00pm to 9:00pm. We need some current team members to play the role of victims and some current team members to participate with the trainees in order to add to their teams (the trainees will lead the teams). Please advise Elaine or me ASAP if you can help. Remember, others volunteered when you had your simulation training to make it more realistic.

ATTENTION:

Become an active partner in ensuring your Community Safety!

WE LOOK LIKE THIS.......YOU COULD TOO!

JOIN US....FIND OUT HOW BELOW

The GERRISH TOWNSHIP CERT TEAM is pleased to announce that we are once

again running CERT Training classes beginning Wednesday Jan. 9, 2008 at 6:30 p.m.

at the Gerrish Township Police Department 3075 E. Higgins Lk. Dr.

The class schedule is listed below;

Wednesday-Jan. 9, 2008 @ 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday-Jan. 16, 2008 @ 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday-Jan. 23, 2008 @ 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday-Jan 30, 2008 @ 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday-February 6, 2008 @ 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday-February 13, 2008 @ 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday-February 20, 2008 @ 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday-February 27, 2008 @ 6:30 p.m.

Interested parties who want to register should contact

CERT TEAM COORDINATOR DON GRANZINE

at 989-821-6481 or CHIEF BRIAN HILL

at 989-821-5207 ext. 287 or email me at chief.hill@gerrishtownship.org.

The class size is limited to 12-14 people

It costs nothing but your time. Take home valuable First Aid training, Fire

Suppression training, Emergency Preparedness and the comfort

of knowing how to help others in need.

The equipment and training is paid for by the

GERRISH TOWNSHIP CERT team in cooperation with the

Citizens Corps Council of the Department of Homeland Security.

Please call soon to guarantee your spot!

____________________________________________________________________

On September 17, 2007, the Gerrish Township CERT Group was officially separated

from the ACT-NOW group as far as structure is concerned. Don Granzine was recently

appointed as the Gerrish Township CERT Coordinator. Don will serve on the ACT-NOW Executive

Board as an advisory resource as does the Chief of Police. Both positions on the ACT-NOW Board

carry no voting privileges. In the future this page will be solely used as a source of information for

the CERT MEMBERS to announce their activities and times for reporting to same.

Below, I have provided the current information on CERT activities and a message from

Gerrish Township CERT Coordinator.

Gerrish CERT Team

Thank you to those who assisted the Sheriff's Dept., MSP and Gerrish Police with traffic control at the very well attended Firemen's Memorial Parade. Also, thank you to those who volunteered to work the CERT display table at the Roscommon County Preparedness Day on 9/12 . Six people signed up for our next training class. The Fire Department also thanks all who have been assisting at the many ISO water supply training days held during the summer. CERT team members have been utilized in the community in many varied ways.

Our next CERT meeting as previously announced is Monday, September 24, 2007 @ 7:00pm at the Gerrish Township Hall meeting room. Our agenda includes: Status report on CERT grant monies successfully released from the 7th District to GERRISH TEAM; radio communication & use of new hi-band police radios for CERT Team; refresher on compass use; review contents of CERT bins/ stretchers etc.; orientation on CERT warning lights; review Search and Rescue (S&R) techniques; and review of your CERT backpacks. The review of the backpacks, in accordance with the new police Standard Operating Procedure for CERT which most have recently reviewed/signed, will require you to bring the backpacks fully packed to this meeting. We will have a limited number of batteries for distribution so test flashlights, radios, etc ahead of time. The review of the S&R techniques will be a discussion of those skills our team learned and utilized previously during both simulated and real searches. It is that time of the year when hunters and others take to the woods and may find themselves lost, thus requiring us to utilize S&R skills in actual situations.

As previously communicated, on Wednesday October 3, 2007, CERT will combine with Gerrish Police and Fire Departments in a simulation Search and Rescue event in the local area. Our initial staging area will be the Gerrish Police Department at 5:45pm. We will travel to the actual search area using a limited number of our vehicles. Equipment required includes: vest, helmet, headlamp (recommended), goggles, compass (if you have one), water if desired, and backpack/fanny pack with a minimum of first aid kit(compresses, ties,etc), flashlight, radio, gloves and any item you may feel is important. Please dress appropriately for field operations including: hiking boots/shoes, raingear as necessary, warm clothes, etc. We will be utilizing all CERT skills including: S&R, first aid , radio communication, ICS, etc. This simulation will not be as extensive as some of our previously field operations and should provide a good time for all.

Many have already advised Elaine or myself of your plans for Sept 24th and Oct. 3rd. Those who have not please do so ASAP.

We look forward to seeing all team members on Sept. 24 and Oct. 3rd.

Don and Elaine Granzine