Delaware Citizen Corps Wins FEMA's 2016 Outstanding Citizen Corps Council Award

Delaware Citizen Corps will be honored during a ceremony at the White House. The group has been chosen to receive the FEMA “Outstanding Citizen Corps Council Award” for 2016.  The Individual and Community Preparedness Award recognizes the Delaware State Citizen Corp Council for multiple initiatives including:

• Working with the Delaware Governor’s Council of Faith-Based Partnerships
• Partnering with the University of Delaware’s Center For Disabilities Studies
• Partnering with the Public Health Preparedness Section
• Bi-lingual radio campaign
• Preparedness Nights at the Wilmington Blue Rocks and Delaware 87ers games

Marny McLee, the Citizen Corps  and Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program Manager, is a retired U.S. Air Force veteran of over twenty years, and has been part of the Delaware Citizen Corps for 12 years.  The Pittsburgh-native also spearheads the annual Family Emergency Preparedness Day event, held each September.  This year’s event will be held at the Delaware Agricultural Museum on September 24.

The Delaware Citizen Corps received the same award in 2014, the same year that McLee was cited individually with the “Champions of Challenge” award for his program initiatives and leadership.  Delaware Citizen Corps is the recipient of 13 FEMA Region III Awards since 2008.  McLee and Mei Johnson, Citizen Corps & CERT Coordinator, will be honored at White House and FEMA ceremonies in September.

We would like to thank the state, county and local councils, as well as the State CERT Team, for their help throughout the year and at our events. We'd also like to thank the volunteers and partner organizations that assist us in our preparedness outreach events.

Family Emergency Preparedness Day

 Delaware Citizen Corps would like to invite you to our 12th Annual Emergency Preparedness Day. The event will be held on September 24th, at the Delaware Agriculture Museum and Village, located at 866 N. Dupont Highway, Dover, DE. There will be numerous exhibits, displays, demonstrations, and giveaways for the kids. Eagle 97.7 / Cool FM 101.3 will be broadcasting live. The event and food are free to the public. Last year was a great success, and we are looking forward to another great day. A flyer is available for download here.

DHSS CERT Training Class

On July 27th and 28th, the State Community Emergency Response Team, led by Marny McLee Sr., CERT Program Manager, taught a CERT training course at the Herman Holloway Campus in New Castle for the Department of Substance Abuse and Mental Health (DSAMH). Twenty four students attended the two day training, which was made up of administrators, counselors, nurses, police, and security police from Department of Health and Social Services organizations throughout the state.  This was the seventh class taught at the campus.  The DSAMH point of contact for the class was trainer Jessica Washer.

Disaster Preparedness Night Flyer

On Friday, June 3rd, Delaware Citizen Corps, New Castle County Office of Emergency Management, and the City of Wilmington Office of Emergency Management are sponsoring a Disaster Preparedness Night at the Frawley Stadium, home of the Wilmington Blue Rocks. The Blue Rocks are playing the Lynchburg Hellcats at 7:05PM. During the game there will be disaster kit giveaways, preparedness displays, and Jumbotron games for the kids. There are also post-game fireworks. Please see the attached flyer, and feel free to share it with friends and colleagues.

Delaware Skills Center CERT Course

On April 27th and 28th, the State Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), lead by Marny McLee (State CERT Program Manager), taught a CERT training course at the Delaware Skills Center in Wilmington. Sixteen certified nursing assistants and eleven medical assistants attended the two day preparedness course. Training specialist Karen Potts and nursing instructor Mary Ellen Dicesare also attended the course.  This is the State CERT team's fifth time teaching at the Skills Center.

 

Dover Disaster Preparedness Training

On April 2nd, the State Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), led by Marny McLee (Citizen Corps & CERT Program Manager) and Mei Johnson (CERT Coordinator) taught an eight hour CERT Awareness Course in Dover.  The class was held at the Dover Church of Christ, who shares the establishment with the Dover Christian Church. Thirty members of the churches came together to receive the Disaster Preparedness Training.

First Annual 87ers Preparedness Night

On January 29th, the Delaware Citizen Corps, led by Marny McLee (Citizen Corps & CERT Program Manager), sponsored the First Annual Preparedness Night with the Delaware 87ers D-League Basketball, a D-League affiliate of the Philadelphia 76ers. The 87ers play at the Bob Carpenter Center on the University of Delaware Campus in Newark. The game was co-sponsored with Director George Giles, Wilmington EOC/Citizen Corps Council, and Dave Carpenter, Emergency Manager for the New Castle County EOC/Citizen Corps Council. Partner organizations on hand with a display tables were the Delaware Emergency Management Agency, Delaware's Division of Public Health, the American Red Cross, Delaware Medical Reserve Corps, UD Public Safety/Emergency Management, the Center for Disability Studies, UD Citizen Corps Council, and the State Office of Volunteerism. The team wore the Citizen Corps Logo on the front of their shirts, the Citizen Corps Logo was on the on the court, and a banner was presented, which will be displayed the entire season.  There was a silent auction of the players' shirts, with the proceeds being donated to the American Red Cross. Citizen Corps/87ers key chain flashlights were given to the first 3,000 fans, and there was a Bouncer and Face painting for the kids. In addition, children ages twelve and under could go on the court after the game to shoot a foul line shot. The theme of the night was “Family and Faith Night”, and the fans were treated to a free post game concert by the “Journey Church Band.”

Marny, George, Dave, and his staff members were invited into the locker room for the pregame Coaches Chalk Talk and game plan with the players. Marny, George and Dave were introduced pregame for the game-ball presentation to the referees. Marny gave a Citizen Corps/CERT Presentation in the VIP Lounge at halftime to approximately thirty other 87ers sponsors, while George and Dave joined him on court again during the third period for the CCP game shirt presentations.  Overall it was a great night for Delaware Citizen Corps, and a great beginning to our new partnership with the Delaware 87ers.

Disabilities LIFE Conference

On January 20th, Marny McLee, Citizen Corps and CERT Program Manager, donated 500 Citizen Corps lanyards with a 2G Travel USB Drive to the Disabilities LIFE Conference. This is the fifth year that Citizen Corps has been a sponsor for the event and has made a donation of lanyards, which are preloaded with disability forms. Kristin E. Cosden, Social Service Administrator, Delaware Developmental Disabilities Council (DDC), is the point of contact for the Conference.

Marny McLee with the Planning Committee

Citizen Corps Preparedness Night with the 87ers

The Delaware Citizen Corps would like to announce our new partnership with the Delaware 87ers Basketball Team. The 87'ers are a D-League affiliate of the Philadelphia 76ers, and play at the Bob Carpenter Center in Newark, DE.

We will have a Citizen Corps Preparedness Night on January 29th, at 7PM. The event is co-sponsored with the Wilmington and New Castle County EOC/Citizen Corps Councils, and our normal partners, PHPS, DMRC, ARC, and others. The team will wear the Citizen Corps logo on their uniforms, our logo will be on the court, and there will be a silent auction of the players' jerseys, with the proceeds being donated to the American Red Cross. The shirts will be laundered before being sent to the winners.

Through Citizen Corps, there is an opportunity to purchase discounted tickets to  the game. Through our promotion code, 20% of the proceeds of tickets purchased will benefit American Red Cross. We ask that you promote this code to your partners, employees, and supporters. This is a great opportunity to help raise additional proceeds.

Tickets can be purchased by going to http://www.sevens.com/promo and using the code “CitizenCorps”.

There will be display tables for our partners to talk with you and share their outreach materials with you. Additionally, it is Faith and Family Night, and there will be a Kids Zone for children.  It is sure to be a fun night, and we would love your support, so stop out and share the evening with Citizen Corps.

Contact: Marny D. McLee Sr., Citizen Corps Program Manager, if you have any questions at 302 659-2243.