TRAININGS & OTHER NEWS

UMVIM TRAINING NEWS

EARLY RESPONSE TEAM (ERT) training - April 17, 2010, 9 am to 5 pm, south Denver area. ERT's are self-sufficient teams that help in the relief phase of a disaster, e.g., debris removal, installing tarps on roofs, or any jobs requested by the community experiencing a disaster. To sign up, contact Betsy Keyack, bkeyack@att.net

2) UMVIM Team Leader Training, May 8, 2010, First UMC Loveland, CO, 9 am to Noon. To sign up, contact Betsy Keyack, bkeyack@att.net

3) HAITI - plans are underway for hosting volunteer teams. The first teams from the Rocky Mountain Conference will be led by Rev. Jon Laughlin, pastorjon@bresnan.net. Dates are still TBD. Contact Jon to see what openings he has. In the near future, team leaders to Haiti must have prior experience in Haiti. Please also send your name to Betsy Keyack if you are interested in serving in Haiti so she can connect you with a future team.

4) UMVIM Leadership Team - we have some terrific people who have signed up for our new UMVIM Leadership Team, starting July 1, 2010. If you might want to join our team, contact Betsy Keyack and she will send you a job description for the team.

OTHER TRAININGS OUTSIDE THE WESTERN JURISDICTION BUT OPEN TO ALL

INDIANA - April 10, 2010: Early Response Team Training, Mexico New Life UMC. 8:30 - 4:30. Cost: $25, includes snacks, lunch and materials. Contact: Gary Peterson, 260 437-1310 or Bonnie Albert, Indiana UMVIM Coordinator, 219-464-1447. Trainer is Rick Hill, UMCOR consultant.

WEST OHIO, Saturday, May 15, 2010, Early Response Team Training - This class, limited to 35 students, will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Maumee United Methodist Church, 405 Sackett St, Maumee, OH 43537. Coffee and donuts available at 8:30 a.m. If you are interested in attending this class, please send registration information & $25.00 check to Julie Bassett, West Ohio Conference UMC, 32 Wesley Blvd., Worthington, OH 43085-3585, 1-800-437-0028.

· Registration Information needed: Name, Address, City, State, Zip, Phone, email.
· Checks payable to: West Ohio Annual Conference - UMC (ERT in memo line).

May 15, 2010 - Chain Saw Training Course - Starts 9:00 AM, Pine Lake UM Camp. Limited to 10-15 beginners or experienced cutters with emphasis on safety and working with basic hazards evaluation. Anyone using a chain saw as a volunteer for UMVIM must have certified training! Taught by Nathan Stanford, an Independent

Chain Saw Safety Trainer. Course will cover:
1. Personal protective equipment
2. Equipment inspection / safe handling of equipment
3. Chain sharpening
4. Basic hazard evaluation / storm damage
5. Tree felling evaluation
6. Working with trees and branches under spring pressureBring: helmet, ear and eye protection.

Also bring work boots, gloves, chaps and chain saw if you have them. Dress for the weather. You will receive a wallet card for participating or attending a basic chain saw safety course.

Cost: $35.00, includes lunch.
Register by May 7, 2010. Please send your name, address, Phone, email address, and money (Check made out to VIM Camps.) to: Chuck Wedemeyer, 8389 N. Ivy St., Brown Deer, WI 53223, 414-354-8285,

WEST MICHIGAN - May 22, 2010: Lansing District Early Response Team Training - Crossroads UMC (Williamston) is hosting Early Response Team training for the Lansing District. Below are links to the conference website. For more information, please contact Jeremy Wicks, West Michigan Conference ERT Trainer, 517-980-6855. Registration is limited.

West Michigan: TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES OR EARLY RESPONSE TEAM information.

NORTHERN ILLINOIS - April 3, 2010: Conference Office in Elgin, IL. Starts 9:00 AM, promptly. Contact Jane Dunn, 630-605-1020Conference trainer for information.

MICHIGAN Area Festival of Opportunities - April 10, 2010: Brighton, MI. Contact: John Walls, Detroit Conference UMVIM Coordinator, 734-282-5930,

ILLINOIS GREAT RIVERS - April 10, 2010: This training is to prepare teams to go to Haiti when the time is right! Training will be in Springfield at the Conference Center. Contact: Christy Blickensderfer, Conference office, 217-529-2473, to register. Deadline: Wed. March 31st. Cost: $20.00 per person covers lunch and materials.

UMCOR DISASTER RESPONSE TRAINING OPEN TO EVERYONE IN WESTERN JURISDICTION

Photo: The aftermath of a natural disaster, courtesy, gbgm-umc.org. Please read below to see how and where you can be trained to serve those in need after a natural disaster.

UMCOR DISASTER RESPONSE TRAINING

The Cal-Nevada Conference will be hosting an UMCOR Disaster Preparedness and Response Training March 24-28, 2010 at Camp Lodestar, 6135 Blue Mountain Road, Wilseyville, CA 95257. This training is open to those beyond the Cal-Nevada Conference border. If you are interested in attending this training please contact Phil Bandy, the UMVIM Conference Coordinator for the Cal-Nevada Conference at philb@calnevumc.org. The training prices and registration information are as follows:

Full Conference:
Wed.-Sun. Service = $250
(Includes all meals and lodging)

Children in Trauma Class: Add $50

Chainsaw A: Add $50

Chainsaw B
(includes Sun. Lunch): Add $65

Chainsaw B Stand Alone Class
(includes Sat. Lodging & Dinner,
Sun. Breakfast & Lunch): $125

Please register online and pay by check before March 10th. Payable to: "Ca-Nev Conference" Memo line: "Dist. Training + participant’s name"

Mail to: UMVIM - Ca/Nev Conference
P.O. Box 980250,
West Sacramento, CA. 95798-0250

INFORMATION ABOUT UMCOR TRAININGS

In addition to UMVIM Team Leader training, you may want to receive other training depending on how you would like to serve on an UMVIM team. UMCOR offers several trainings each with its own emphasis. Here are some of them listed below. If you are interested in getting an UMCOR training in your annual conference please contact your UMVIM Conference Coordinator.

Basic Disaster Ministry 101
Basic Disaster Ministry is an introduction for all people interested in the unique and important role the faith community plays in disaster readiness and response in the United States. Participants learn about disasters, traditional responses to a disaster and how the faith-based response is different, how to prepare for a disaster, and ways to get involved after disaster strikes.

Early Response Team: Basic
The mission of an ER team is to provide a caring Christian presence in the aftermath of a disaster, under very specific guidelines that enable a team to be productive and caring while causing no further harm or being a burden to the affected community. Team members are given ID badges as evidence of training. You will learn the who, what, when, where and how of doing ministry as well as hands on experience in the specific tasks that early responders are expected to accomplish.

Spiritual and Emotional Care Basic
This introduction on spiritual and emotional care needs of individuals, communities and congregations following disasters, responses to those needs, strategies for disaster responders’ self-care and training on how Care Teams fit into the overall UM disaster response structure.

Early Response Team: Train-the-Trainer
All Early Response Team classes are taught by UMCOR-trained and authorized instructors. This program prepares those Instructors for volunteer ERT training within their United Methodist Conference. Once trained, potential ERT Trainers will be evaluated in a class setting. ERT Trainers become certified after successful completion of the UMCOR ERT Trainer Evaluation.

On Site Management for ER Teams
An overview of the basic ERT and then goes into hosting/receiving ERT’s. Aimed at folks who have time and can be self-sufficient. This class introduces people to the ERT system and guidelines and enables them to set up appropriately for the incoming teams. Special emphasis is placed on permission from home owners for work to be done, coordination of teams and the tools necessary for setting up and reporting activities.

Hosting Volunteers
Volunteers play a critical role in any disaster recovery effort.
This workshop will help prepare you for providing volunteer housing, food, transportation, recreation, and affirmation.

Care Team
A more in depth look at Care Team responsibilities for volunteers planning to serve on a "Care Team" specifically.

Conference Disaster Response Training
The members of the Conference Disaster Response Committee are responsible for developing and implementing the Conference’s disaster response plan. This course will prepare the Committee for this important task, and also covers the roles of the Disaster Response Committee members in all phases of disaster.

Chainsaw
We will provide hands on, supervised safe practices to help chainsaw operators understand the way to approach debris removal that disasters create and the ability to recognize when they are over their head.
Students must provide saws, safety equipment, sharpening tools, fuel, and oil.

Children In Trauma - (Church of the Brethren)
Designed for people who have a heart and passion to help children after a disaster. Participants are trained to recognize and understand the fears and other emotions children experience during and following a disaster and how play and art can start the healing process. Once training is completed, participants have the opportunity to become certified by providing references, criminal and sexual background checks. CDS volunteers provide a calm, safe and reassuring presence in the midst of chaos, by setting up and operating child care centers in disaster locations. Workshop is open to

anyone over the age of 18.

UMVIM TRAINING IN PORTLAND, OR; CAL-NEVADA NEWS ON HAITI; UMCOR HAITI UPDATE

Photo: UMCOR delivering packages with food and supplies. Photo courtesy, Mike DeBose, UMNS.

UMVIM TRAINING IN PORTLAND, OR

There will be an UMVIM Training at Cherry Park UMC in Portland on Monday, March 15, 2010 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Please bring a sack lunch. UMVIM Training manuals will be available for $28.00. For more information, please contact Donna Waltman at 503-622-3226, dgwaltman@juno.com or Betty Pritchard at 503-359-9340, b2c2_2@verizon.net.

NEWS FROM CAL-NEVADA CONFERENCE ON HAITI

The California-Nevada Annual Conference: contributed $246,203.70 so far to the Western Jurisdiction's Lenten project, "Operation Resurrection 2010."

HAITI UPDATE

UMCOR has begun implementation of a five-year work plan that contemplates three phases of assistance to Haiti: emergency, recovery and rehabilitation.

This week’s highlights include:

Anthony Jones, Emergency Consultant in Haiti, is working with the UN through cluster meetings to organize UMCOR activities in relation to other organizations in Haiti.

To subsidize the Methodist Guest House in Haiti until volunteers can begin staying there, UMCOR is providing two months salary to the guest house staff.
UMCOR is working with Haitian Artisans for Peace International (HAPI) to provide immediate infrastructure improvements, including water and sanitation, to meet the needs of displaced rural families in Mizak.

Staff Recruitment:

--Hiring and sending key staff for the office in Haiti--Livelihoods Coordinator (Haiti) position is posted--Haiti Desk Officer (NY) position is posted
In the spirit of collaboration, representatives from UMCOR and GBGM Mission Volunteers met with Volunteers in Mission (VIM) Jurisdictional Coordinators in Florida on Wednesday who were preparing to travel to Haiti. The VIM coordinators are representing United Methodist volunteers and UMCOR, working with the Methodist Church of Haiti to assess and prioritize the future work of volunteers. The team discussed the challenges of transportation and housing for volunteers as well as the enormity of work.

With recent reports indicating that 75 percent of the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince, will need to be rebuilt; volunteers soon will be needed to go to Haiti. Volunteer teams are beginning to mobilize by filling out the registration form.

The team in Haiti has identified a need for layette kits and birthing kits to address the basic needs of babies born in displaced persons camps in Haiti. Volunteers have been preparing kits to send to Haiti.

UMCOR provides emergency relief in many areas of the world. To find out more about UMCOR's ministries, please visit umcor.org. You can donate to any project by placing a contribution in the offering plate at a local United Methodist church; by sending a check to UMCOR, PO Box 9068, New York, NY 10087-9068; or by calling 1-800-554-8583, where credit card donations are accepted. You can also give online by clicking on any of the "Give Now" links.

UMCOR is exempt from tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of the United States and qualifies for the maximum charitable contribution deduction by donors.

And, please pray for those who are hungry, displaced, sick or in poverty because of these and other natural and human-made disasters, and for the workers who minister to them.

TRAINING EVENTS IN THE WESTERN JURISDICTION & DIFFERENT TYPES OF TRAININGS; UMVIM SERVICE OPPORTUNITY IN OREGON

Photo: Debbie Irby, UMVIM Conference Coordinator for the Yellowstone Conference who will be leading trainings in March and April. See below for further detail.

TRAINING DATES & DIFFERENT TRAINING TYPES

YELLOWSTONE ANNUAL CONFERENCE

Billings, MT: UMVIM Team Leader Training March 6, 2010

Helena, MT: UMVIM Team Leader Training TBA

Contact Debbie Irby for further information at dirby@stpauls-helena.org

CALIFORNIA-NEVADA CONFERENCE

UMCOR Training March 24-28, 2010

Contact Phil Bandy for further information at philb@calnevumc.org.

Please stay posted for further information on trainings in other annual conferences closer to your area.

DIFFERENT TRAINING TYPES

There are three different and unique trainings that are talked about in this message: Mission Volunteer Individual Volunteers, Mission Volunteer UMVIM Team Leader Training, UMCOR Disaster Response Training.

1. The Individual Volunteer training which will be held in the early part of 2011 here in the WJ at Aldersgate Retreat Center in CA, is for longer term service. It is led by the Mission Volunteers Unit, GBGM. This is not just for anyone. People must apply and go thru the Individual Volunteer website (www.individualvolunteers.info). Going to serve individually for an extended time does require some different skills than leading a team!

2. The UMVIM TEAM LEADER training that Conferences offer will take 4-5 hours. There is an excellent training manual that goes along with Team Leader Training. It helps if you send me your upcoming schedule so it can be kept up to date. There are lots of people crossing conference lines to get training these days.

3. UMCOR is not in the business of managing volunteers. The Mission Volunteers Unit, GBGM, does the resourcing of volunteers. Conferences train and send out the volunteer teams. If you are interested in Disaster Response training – that is led by UMCOR, but again they turn the job back to the conferences to train and lead these teams.

Please feel free to contact Heather Wilson, UMVIM WJ Coordinator at umvimwj@hotmail.com for further questions.

* OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE FOR UMVIM TEAMS AT ALTON COLLINS RETREAT CENTER, OR

June 27-July 3, 2010

Price: $30.00 per day per person (includes meals and lodging) plus $100.00 per person for supplies. For more information, contact : Rev. Todd Bartlett, Director of Alton L. Collins Retreat Center, toddjbartlett@gmail.com