A member of National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster l NVOAD

Tennessee VOAD is a consortium of recognized state voluntary organizations, governmental agencies, and others with an interest in, and / or who are active in disaster relief.  Our mission is to foster more efficient service to people who are affected (imperiled or impacted) by disasters in the State of Tennessee through: COOPERATION, COORDINATION, COMMUNICATION, COLLABORATION, EDUCATION, and MITIGATION at all community levels.

Anyone wishing to post a news item, or a photograph relating to a Tennessee disaster, disaster response,

or a TN VOAD Member Agency training, award, or social event, should contact:

 Craig Irwin (TEMA) at (615) 253-5847

 

At our November 13th meeting, we had 41 in attendance, representing 21 different agencies!  Thanks to Gloria Loftin and American Red Cross for hosting our meeting and providing the program.   Special thanks go to Marla Jackson and the members of the Tennessee Manufactured Housing Foundation for providing the meeting with a catered luncheon. 

 

The next regularly scheduled TN VOAD meeting will be held on February 12th, simultaneously at multiple settings across the state.  Through video conferencing, our members will be able to reduce some of their travel time and expense.  We have never held a meeting from multiple sites before; but this could be the “wave of the future”.  The Disability Law & Advocacy Center of Tennessee will be hosting the meeting at their offices at the following locations:

 

East Tennessee

9050 Executive Park Drive

Suite A-220

Knoxville, Tennessee  37923

 

Contact Jamie Stuart at (865) 670-2944 if further directions are required

 

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Middle Tennessee

2416 21st Avenue South

Suite 100

Nashville, Tennessee  37212

 

Contact Juli Gallup at (615) 298-1080 X 44 if further directions are required

 

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West Tennessee

2670 Union Avenue Extended

Suite 900

Memphis, Tennessee  38112

 

Contact Cookie Johnson at (901) 458-6013 if further directions are required

 

Special note for those attending at the Nashville Location:  Attendees must park in the spaces marked “100” or risk being towed.  Since parking is at somewhat of a premium, if possible carpool to the meeting from your agency, to insure sufficient parking for those who must travel alone.  Additional parking is available on side streets near the office.  Parking should not be a problem in either Knoxville or Memphis.

 

The meeting will begin at 10:00 am CST and conclude at approximately 2:00 pm CST.  We have a full agenda planned, including the election of officers for calendar year 2009.   We’ll see you then, either in person on one of the video screens!

 

 

 

 

The session will convene at 10:00 am CST an last until 2:00 pm CST on November 13, 2008.  We look forward to seeing all of our members and guests there!

 

 

 

Tennessee VOAD

c/o TEMA / SEOC

3041 Sidco Drive

Nashville, Tennessee  37204

Tennessee VOAD generated some excitement at the TEMA / Emergency Management Association of Tennessee’s Training Conference by giving away a 32” High Definition Television.  The give-away was part of a presentation by TN VOAD President David Acres (shown at left) entitled “HD (Highly Desired) Services From Tennessee VOAD”. 

 

EMAT is comprised of representatives from volunteer organizations (including TN VOAD), State, Municipal and County officials, Firefighters, Law Enforcement, Rescue Squads, and Emergency Management staff from across the state of Tennessee.  Membership is also extended to some commercial entities involved in emergency response activities.

 

Reverend Acres’ presentation challenged conference attendees to correctly identify 15 services from a list of 36, that could be provided by TN VOAD members.  “The fix was in” however, since every one of the 36 services listed are provided by TN VOAD agency members.  Our goal was to get the attention of conference attendees in regard to the many ways TN VOAD has the potential to help during emergencies.

The conference was held at the Marriott Hotel and Convention Center in Chattanooga, from Monday October 6th through Thursday October 9th.  There were over 300 conference attendees, from virtually every county, city, town and unincorporated community throughout the State of Tennessee.

 

This was the audience that we needed to reach, and the conference provided us with a perfect venue to highlight the activities of our component agencies.

 

In the photo a the immediate left, Master of Ceremonies Amy Maxwell (Public Information Officer for Hamilton County Emergency Management) and Diane Pryor, TEMA Training Program Manager prepare to announce the winner of our High Definition Television, drawn from the entries of all eligible conference attendees.  State Employees, VOAD Members and Business Representatives were ineligible. 

The lucky conference registant who’s name was drawn is shown in the photo to the right:

 

Mr. Gary Reasons, Crockett County Property Assessor.

 

We know that Gary will enjoy watching his favorite broadcasts or cable shows on the set.

 

In the photo left, eleven of the American Red Cross attendees gather for a group photo after the Conference luncheon.  

 

In the photo (standing, left to right) are: Bob Houguet, Brenda Blackmore, Barbara Alexander, Terry Donald, Jerry Tunnell, John Hitchins, Elaine Clyburn and Ron Smith.  Seated (left to right) are: Mary Beth Birge, Glenda Bobalik and Tennessee VOAD Treasurer Gloria Loftin.

Our thanks to Linda Walters  -  TEMA Publications Officer, for providing the EMAT Conference photos.