May 13th and 14th

For more than two decades, Points of Light Institute has equipped agencies and nonprofit organizations to celebrate National Volunteer Week, providing visibility, thematic focus and resources to enable them to commemorate this signature week of volunteer recognition.

Through programs such as the President’s Volunteer Service Award, Daily Point of Light Award and the Extra Mile – Points of Light Volunteer Pathway, Points of Light recognizes volunteers and the tremendous impact they are making on our country’s most critical challenges year-round.

• Visit our facebook page to tell us about the impact volunteers are having in our community or through your organization.

opportunities for matching gifts and incentives.

DOVIA (Directors of Volunteers in Agencies) provides a forum for exchange of information on relevant issues facing professional volunteer managers. Through collaborative efforts DOVIA is committed to promoting services and emphasizing professional growth and development of the volunteer professional.

Sarasota County Emergency Management Chief Ed McCrane will be the featured presenter at a community disaster orientation, entitled, "Applying the Lessons Learned." There is no charge for the event. The program will take place on Tuesday, June 12 at 1 p.m. at Imagine School at Palmer Ranch, 6220 McIntosh Road in Sarasota.

The program will include an overview of Sarasota County Emergency Management and a glimpse into this coming hurricane season by Ed McCrane. There will also be presentations on the Sarasota Community Organizations Active in Disaster (COAD) by the coalition's chair Stewart Sterns and "How You Can Get Involved" by Mindi Rohan, executive director of Volunteer Community Connections.

The event is sponsored by Sarasota Community Organizations Active in Disaster (COAD) in conjunction with the Community Alliance of Sarasota County, Sarasota County Government and Volunteer Community Connections.

The Sarasota Community Organizations Active in Disaster (COAD) is a network of Community Organizations working together to promote the efficient, streamlined service delivery and coordination throughout the four phases of disaster: preparation, response, recovery, and mitigation. The Sarasota COAD continually prepares for any type of hazard response which may include pandemics, terrorism, natural disasters, mass causalities and others.    

The COAD was created after Sarasota County participated in the response and recovery effort following Hurricane Charley. The COAD member organizations engage community leaders in discussions to document the lessons learned. They also look for ways to foster partnerships and streamline response and recovery processes to support Sarasota County Emergency Management if and when a weather-related or other type of disaster hits Sarasota County.

To register for the June 12 orientation or for more information about disaster volunteer needs, please call Volunteer Community Connections at 941-953-5965 or email info@vccflorida.org. Volunteer Community Connections has a volunteer registry that will allow you to identify your areas of interested before a disaster and secure the needed training to be effective in your volunteer role.

For more information about the Sarasota COAD, please visit their website at www.sarasotacoad.org

Media contact:  Dianne Shipley, 941-861-2852; cell: 941-302-1058; dianne_shipley@doh.state.fl.us

Project contact: Mindi Rohan, Executive Director, Volunteer Community Connections, 941-953-5965;

Sarasota County Emergency Management Chief Ed McCrane will be the featured presenter at a faith-based and neighborhood association disaster orientation, entitled, "Applying the Lessons Learned." There is no charge for the event. The program will take place on Tuesday, May 29 from 8:30-10:30 a.m. at the Sarasota County Administration Center, Emergency Operations Command Center, 1660 Ringling Boulevard on the sixth floor. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m.

The program will include an overview of Sarasota County Emergency Management and a glimpse into this coming hurricane season by Ed McCrane. There will also be presentations on "Field Experience" by Curtis Hencye of Calvary Chapel Sarasota Relief Ministries, "Identifying Your Role" by Rev. Marion R. Sortore of Charlotte Harbor Trinity United Methodist Church and "How You Can Get Involved" by Mindi Rohan of Volunteer Community Connections, and Ben Kunkel of United Way 211 of Manasota. 

The event is sponsored by Sarasota Community Organizations Active in Disaster (COAD) in conjunction with the Community Alliance of Sarasota County, Sarasota County Government and Volunteer Community Connections.

The Sarasota Community Organizations Active in Disaster (COAD) is a network of Community Organizations working together to promote the efficient, streamlined service delivery and coordination throughout the four phases of disaster: preparation, response, recovery, and mitigation. The Sarasota COAD continually prepares for any type of hazard response which may include pandemics, terrorism, natural disasters, mass causalities and others.      

The COAD was created after Sarasota County participated in the response and recovery effort following Hurricane Charley. The COAD member organizations engage community leaders in discussions to document the lessons learned. They also look for ways to foster partnerships and streamline response and recovery processes to support Sarasota County Emergency Management if and when a weather-related or other type of disaster hits Sarasota County.

To register for the May 29 orientation or for more information about disaster volunteer needs, please call Volunteer Community Connections at 941-953-5965 or email info@vccflorida.org by May 21. 

For more information about the Sarasota COAD, please visit their website at www.sarasotacoad.org