 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
Communication
The
Newsletter
National Directory of NVOAD
NVOAD Logo
VOADNET
Public Relations of Public Awareness Committee
NVOAD Poster and Brochure
NVOAD Video
Study of Unmet Needs of Disaster Victims
One of the priority functions of NVOAD is communication which the NVOAD mission statement describes as a priority function through which its mission is accomplished. The function of communication is "To disseminate information through the newsletter, the directory, research and demonstration, case study, and critique"...to which one should add some modern technologies of communication. It is well to note that communication is a basic ingredient in the other six priority functions through which NVOAD pursues its mission. These are cooperation, coordination, education, mitigation, convening mechanisms, and outreach which are described more fully in the NVOAD Directory and Manual. This section sketches briefly the origin and development of the major systems and processes of communication used by NVOAD which were not covered in the previous section on Meetings, Conferences, and Education Programs..
The oldest publication is the NVOAD newsletter, usually identified by the NVOAD logo followed by Newsletter and the name spelled out as a subtitle. .It was first published in 1978 in a 7 by 8* inch size (legal folded once) of eight pages. Publication was four to six times a year. For its first five years The Newsletter was the volunteer effort of the Church World Service, Domestic Disaster Office whose Director was W. D. Dibrell. The editor was his assistant, Brenda Palsgrove. When "Dib" retired and the office was moved from New Windsor, MD to New York City near the end of 1982, there was a brief hiatus. Beginning about the middle of 1983, editing and publishing was assumed by the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee under C. "Neil" Molenaar. The format of the Newsletter was changed to 8* by 11 inches (double letter size folded once). It consisted of four pages and was distributed three or four times a year. Pictures were soon a more regular part of the publication. By 1986 it was expanded to eight pages most of the time. In the spring of 1988 Monte Sahlin of Adventist Community Services took over the editorship and copy preparation. Printing at cost and distribution by volunteer labor was continued by CRWRC.
Traditionally the basic document describing NVOAD has been the National Directory which was first published in 1979. It has contained a section on the purpose and principles of NVOAD, a statement of structure, conditions for and types of membership description of the organization of NVOAD, and program followed by a directory of member organizations. Each member organization was identified by name, address, program director, and its NVOAD representative together with a description of its organization structure and its disaster program as provided by the organization. The Directory was updated in 1985, 1988, 1993 and November 1994. As with most of NVOAD's activities, collection of the data and publication have been a volunteer effort. Copy preparation and printing of the directory have almost always been a contribution of the American Red Cross. The cover design and layout in color were contributed by the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee. The most recent edition, required by a sudden influx of new members, was retitled NVOAD Organizational Directory and lost the traditional logo in color on the cover.
It might be appropriate to digress to the NVOAD logo as a form of communication. Very early in its history NVOAD displayed a logo reproduced below. Evidently it was not totally satisfactory. In the May-June 1979 Newsletter a contest to design a new logo was announced. The guidelines were that the logo should be easily identifiable; easy to reproduce; inexpensive to print; large enough to be visible but small enough to be worn on your clothes, and must contain the words "National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster." Talk about aiming for the moon! - and all this for the grand prize of $25. The deadline for entries was September 10, 1979. Judges would be the Executive Committee at its September 18 meeting. One might wonder how many "judges" dared show up for the judging. The January-February 1980 issue of the Newsletter announced that Christian Reformed World Relief Committee was the winner of the logo contest. The winning entry shown below was presented to the annual meeting January 28,1980 and is still in use. The logo's interpretation was as follows: "The design of this logo respects the individuality of each organization as it carries out its purpose and mission. Through a statement of purpose these various organizations are brought together under an umbrella organization known as NVOAD. The logo depicts a narrowing, selection and channeling process as these various organizations pool their resources. To maximize these resources they become one, yet distinctive, within predetermined parameters, working toward a defined goal to insure that the delivery of services and resources are done efficiently and effectively. By going in one direction, accountability can be increased and results can be measured." In the last few years, The Newsletter masthead interprets it this way, "Uniqueness of diversity funneled into a cooperative goal while maintaining individual identity."
The NVOAD member organizations
and NVOAD itself have begun to utilize the benefits of the recent advances
in communications technology which has literally exploded during the time
span of NVOAD growth. The NVOAD roster has for some years listed the facsimile
phone number (fax) for each member organization. Also to some members
E-mail is old hat. The suggestion that NVOAD look into electronic mail
is not new. The earliest noted in the record was made by Lowell Detweiler
at the June 1988 EXCOM meeting when he suggested tying into the already
existing networks of Church World Service, the American Red Cross or FEMA.
He followed this up in December 1988 with a letter addressed to NVOAD,
ARC, FEMA, and CWS citing the need for a uniform pattern of information
sharing, especially from FEMA and ARC regional levels to voluntary disaster
organizations, and proposing that instead of each organization setting
up its own E-mail network (as seemed to be happening without an effort
to work together) a joint system be set up. He proposed a joint steering
committee to explore feasibility and specifics and asked for responses
to be sent to the NVOAD Chair and himself.
At the March 1989
EXCOM meeting, Detweiler reviewed his letter, and the EXCOM decided to
write FEMA urging participation in a network to exchange disaster information.
EXCOM also named an ad hoc committee of four of its number and the FEMA
liaison to NVOAD to look at system possibilities in support of setting
up a network. So on May 1, 1989 the NVOAD chairman sent a letter to the
FEMA Office of Individual Assistance asking them to assign a staff person
to work with M. Sahlin and the NVOAD ad hoc committee seeking a reliable
ongoing information linkage between FEMA and NVOAD members with special
reference to notifications of declared disasters and inter-agency coordinating
meetings. A status review by EXCOM in March 1990 indicated that no action
had taken place. In June the FEMA liaison reported that responsibility
for notifying voluntary organizations had been transferred within FEMA,
and that delayed their reply to NVOAD's letter. Sahlin reported that conversations
with FEMA staff suggested a simple solution that FEMA would fax each volag
having an agreement with it to notify them of disaster declarations, damage
assessment data, meetings and updates. At the September EXCOM meeting
the FEMA liaison present requested a list of NVOAD members to put on a
notification list for automatic faxing of notifications. By September
1991 EXCOM members reported marked improvement in communications with
FEMA. This took some of the urgency out of proposals to improve the application
of communications technology among NVOAD members.
The matter of networking
communications via computer bulletin board or other technology continued
to receive some NVOAD attention although in the spring of 1992 the reaction
within NVOAD was mostly negative. Several EXCOM members expressed doubts
as to its usefulness and cost efficiency. Still, further study was proposed.
At the EXCOM meeting
in January 1993, Daniel Rift of the Presbyterian Church USA offered the
use of the E-mail network, ECUNET, operated by that denomination as an
ecumenical network. It was basically a bulletin board system which was
already being used for networks by half a dozen organizations including
the Church World Service disaster response program. He reported that the
ECUNET management had no objection to adding a VOAD network even though
their net was originally designed for use of churches and that the Presbyterian
Church would be pleased to make their system's management a part of their
participation in NVOAD. All that would be required was that NVOAD members
join ECUNET if they are not already members. ECUNET would waive its entrance
fee, but there would be a monthly charge of $11 per account. EXCOM voted
to establish a VOADNET on ECUNET system and recommended that all NVOAD
members and VOADs get on line and that D. Rift be the system operator
(SYSOP) and that EXCOM reevaluate it at the end of a year. D. Rift would
provide the necessary information and copies of software to be used (waiving
the cost of the software). The Disaster Communications Network Committee
was reconstituted to oversee the project, At subsequent meetings of the
EXCOM further details were reported. A significant potential was seen
for NVOAD and State VOAD communications if all belonged to VOADNET.
In September 1993
the EXCOM approved Al Vanderpol as SYSOP in place of Dan Rift. Vanderpol
worked as a volunteer with Dan Rift. Work was begun on the structure of
the meetings for VOADNET and other necessary steps to getting VOADNET
operational. A presentation about VOADNET was made at the State VOAD Leadership
Conference in Atlanta that same month offering State VOADs the opportunity
to join VOADNET. By the time of the annual NVOAD meeting in January 1994
the Chair could report that VOADNET was beginning to operate and serve
as a network enabling national members and VOADs to communicate with each
other and exchange information in an inexpensive, effective way. At the
same meeting, Dan Rift made a special report on VOADNET to the national
membership.
In January 1994 oversight
of VOADNET was taken over by NVOAD's standing program Committee on Communications.
This committee had been established the previous year to consider communications
technology as it affects disaster response. (One area of concern is communications
among voluntary organizations during the emergency phase of a major disaster
when normal communications are disrupted over wide geographic areas.)
Kenlynn Schroeder, representative of Church World Service and EXCOM member,
was Chair of this committee. She had been instrumental in setting up the
network for CWS disaster committee under ECUNET. The committee was asked
to consider guidelines for what goes on VOADNET, who is responsible, how
it gets updated, structure, uses and related matters. In January 1995
the Communications Committee presented a resolution recommending that
VOADNET be used by FEMA, ARC, NVOAD and its other national members, and
all VOADs to provide their specific information to assure appropriate
coordination among all agencies for services to disaster survivors. This
recommendation was endorsed by the Board of Directors and approved by
the annual meeting.
Public Relations or Public Awareness Committee
In the fall of 1993 when the standing committees were established, James Furgerson of the Southern Baptist Convention proposed a public relations committee to develop a plan and recommend a public awareness program for NVOAD. This was adopted by EXCOM, and a committee was appointed with Hilary Freeman of Second Harvest as Chair. The committee made a preliminary report in June 1994 and a follow-up report in September. The goals of the plan included increasing public recognition of the services provided by NVOAD members, communicating the benefits and opportunities of NVOAD, and sharing information and resources within the NVOAD membership. It proposed program activities in several key areas. The committee was authorized to implement the plan within budget allocations. In February 1995 EXCOM approved continuing the committee with the task of implementing the plan previously approved. The committee membership was modified, and Gene Slusher of The Salvation Army was made chair since Hilary Freeman had left NVOAD.
In 1987 a request
for display materials about NVOAD for a conference stimulated the EXCOM
to consider materials that might be suitable for an exhibit and handouts
on NVOAD. In March 1988 Ken Mills of the Society of St. Vincent De Paul
made a proposal for a three panel, desk-top display with suggested information
on NVOAD. Cameron Byler, then representing the Southern Baptist Convention,
offered to investigate options and costs with his art department and this
was accepted by EXCOM. After a year's delays it was finally decided to
drop the display-type exhibit in favor of a poster format which could
be reproduced in quantity and easily mailed in shipping tubes for posting
on a bulletin board. The content would follow the principles and program
materials on NVOAD. By September 1989 the poster had been designed by
an artist, printed, and some requests for copies filled. The brochure
lagged behind, and a committee was appointed to review a brochure draft.
However, by the 1990 annual meeting the brochure, now entitled "When
Disaster Strikes," had been completed and printed and was available
in quantity, In January 1994 it was suggested that in the light of four
years of great changes in NVOAD the Public Relations Committee review
the poster and brochure for updating and use in its plan. A revised version
of the poster and brochure were developed and presented in final form
to the annual meeting in January 1995.
NVOAD Video - A companion effort to the poster/brochure development was a proposal to have a video describing NVOAD. It was put into the budget several years after first seeing the light of day in 1987, but it had high cost estimates and low priority. Several times the collection of video footage from disasters from TV news units and other sources was raised by NVOAD members during the period from "Hugo" to the Great Flood of 1993. Possibly some members did accumulate footage. To date this has been a project seemingly considered desirable, but so far not done. In February 1995 the Board (formerly EXCOM) endorsed the goal of making a NVOAD/VOAD video in 1995 using the in-kind donation of services offered by a NVOAD member. The Public Relation Committee was asked to develop and implement a plan for making a video . So progress sometimes moves slowly.
Study
of Unmet Needs of Disaster Victims
Throughout its existence
NVOAD has been a very modestly funded organization. Most members have
been rather limited in discretionary funds since most of the contributions
received are designated for a specific disaster. Substantial support of
research has been out of the question. As a result the study of unmet
needs of disaster victims has been the one significant study conducted
under NVOAD sponsorship during its first 25 years.
In June 1984, Bob
Vessey brought to the attention of the Executive Committee a draft proposal
to identify gaps in Federal and State disaster relief policies. At the
October EXCOM meeting Dennis Mileti, Director, and Roy Popkin, Fellow,
of the Hazard Assessment Laboratory of Colorado State University met with
EXCOM to discuss the draft proposal. Following an extended discussion
covering methodology, appropriateness for NVOAD funding, and sources funding
the projected $13,500 cost, a motion to pledge support provided full funding
could be found was made and then tabled for further design work. At the
next EXCOM meeting ARC reported it was budgeting $3,000, and EXCOM decided
to commit up to $3,000 and solicit members for the rest. Church World
Service and several member churches indicated willingness to contribute
$5,000 making a potential total of $11,000. An ad hoc committee was appointed
to work with the investigators. In line with its purpose to foster more
effective service to persons affected by disaster, NVOAD proposed that
a more pertinent focus for its support would be on determining unmet needs
of disaster victims than on gaps in policy, The investigators concurred
and modified the study accordingly. At the January 1985 annual meeting,
Vessey reported that a revised protocol had been received.. The ad hoc
committee reviewed a further protocol revision and recommended approval.
A mail vote by the membership was unanimous in favor. Funding was confirmed,
and the contract with Colorado State University was signed in May 1985
for $10,931 to be completed by December 31, 1985.
A "purposive
sample" of 88 experienced disaster relief officials from a variety
of organizations was interviewed by telephone in the summer of 1985 concerning
what they thought disaster victims unmet needs were. Of the key areas
of focus, temporary housing, emergency assistance, and transportation
were viewed as most likely handled adequately. Areas viewed as least likely
to be handled adequately, and thus areas of most extensive unmet needs,
were counseling, permanent housing, and "other needs". Death
and injury, price monitoring, and insurance fell in between the extremes.
Five themes emerged
from the study. (1) Needs and resources vary locally and must be identified
at the local level. (2) Lack of inter-organizational coordination and
cooperation "remain serious impediments to the application of existing
resources to relieve disaster victims." (3) Most likely to fall through
the cracks are ethnic minorities, the elderly and disabled, the poor,
and rural residents. (4) Financial resources are inadequate to cover needs,
and not all funds collected for victims find their way to them. (5) Information
needs of victims are critical and are not being met.
The final report was received in time to have a session on the study at the 1986 NVOAD annual meeting. There a panel discussed the study from the perspectives of the authors, a State Emergency Management Office, and FEMA followed by a general discussion. NVOAD was challenged to follow through on methods of resolving the issues and press on to make voluntary organizations a more integral part of the emergency management family. One major difficulty cited with the study was that the report was based on the perceptions of persons which may or may not coincide with real gaps depending on knowledge, recall, and expertise of respondents. It might not be possible to generalize from their particular observations to the country as a whole. Some discussants were concerned about releasing the report without additional cautions, but others viewed the overall message as indicating a problem of coordination and information that needs to be disseminated even if there are limitations in the report. Some saw this as useful as a study guide, as basis for workshops, and as a basis for specific program evaluations in the field. Follow-through by EXCOM specifically on the unmet needs study was to make the study report available for distribution at cost; to publish a series of reports on it in The Newsletter from various perspectives; to focus on the multiple needs of disaster victims in the 1987 regional seminars; and to publicize the report in periodicals addressed to the disaster response community.