Do you know where to find potable water in your community if the normal water supply has been contaminated?

Building a safer community

It is not an easy thing to do on a shoe string. It makes for a heavy burden placed on volunteers. Our volunteers are exceptional. At a point in life when they are given the chance to do nothing but have fun with their time they choose instead to give something back. What their motivation is we can only wonder. But are terribly grateful for.

The CERT team meets and trains weekly to be ready for any disaster that might befall our community, minor or major. After two years their numbers stand at 10 to 14. They have a proven track record of accomplishments in our park. 10 to 14 is ok for small emergencies. A major one? It will be tough. In order to accomplish our goal of doing the most good for the most people in a disaster we are reaching out to you now. There are several ways you can help and we are going to list them now.

1. Take the CERT formal training and become a member of our team. Classes will start soon in September and run till January.
2. No time for training? Come to our weekly meetings at the clubhouse on Wednesdays at 11:00am. The team will train you in our emergency procedures so that you will be a valuable asset during a disaster at LVH. Meetings typically last only an hour. We plan to teach volunteers how to be a scribe, communications runners, communications assistants, equipment retrieval, Shelter helpers, nurse assistants, radio relay, patient retrieval and other valuable spots. We can use you regardless of your health .. We can find something you can do. Not only that your life experience will probably yield a solution to perplexing problems from time to time.
   
3. Let us put your lot number on your lamp post out front. It's free. Our rapid deployment system relys on lot numbers rather than street addresses which are confusing in this community.
4. Before the wind and ice storms this season get an FRS/GMRS radio and learn to use it on Ch6 16. More of you need to key your radio and ask for a radio check, often. Practice makes perfect. So much depends on you becoming familiar with your radio. It is your lifeline to help when power and telephones are gone. It's CERT's main instrument of rescue and help and it is Neighborhood Watch's best crime deterrent as well as the community's information source as events occur that affect the neighborhood..
   
5. Consider supporting our safety groups. Comments made by each of you at the clubhouse at the mailboxes and at coffee gatherings that are negative such as, "All they do is yak on the radio." or "They told me not to do that." are not only wrong but serve to downgrade efforts of people who are dedicated to helping everyone. You should know that when you fire your barbs they do eventually work their way back to their intended target.
   

Without power, gas stations cannot pump gas. Are you prepared for that eventuality?

This is so funny

NewsGator Online

NewsGator Online: "Thomas A. Edison 8/15/2007 6:00:00 PM [rss@quotationspage.com (Quotes of the Day)] 'We don't know a millionth of one percent about anything.'"

Peru quake disaster area hit by powerful aftershock�|�Reuters.ca

Peru quake disaster area hit by powerful aftershock�|�Reuters.ca: "Some 510 people have been confirmed dead and 1,000 wounded since the big quake, the United Nations said on Friday, quoting national and local authorities. Thousands of people were homeless and forced to sleep outside. They complained of a lack of medical attention and emergency supplies."

by ron thomas

Editorial: (an editorial is an opinion by one person.. Not an edict)

Why is there a Social Club here? It would seem to me that some folks wanted to have a neighborly relationship in a community where they can interact and have shared experiences, make new friends, celebrate life, and in short have a good time.

Others in our community don’t want to have that experience. To be up front about it most of these others will tell you they are not interested in participating in most activities. They want to be left alone to pursue their own interests perhaps with their own circle of friends.

Strange as it seems, when the Social club formed at LVH the folks that created it thought that everyone would want to be a member and therefore made it a club tenet that every resident was automatically a member whether they wanted to be or not.

The result of that action we have watched for 9 years now and feel justified in telling you in our opinion it does not work. We think the framers of club tenets made a mistake in their generosity extending membership to the entire community without telling them that there would be rules for participation and helping with functions of the club.

What we see now and over the past 9 years and I’ll bet back to the beginning of this club is a few stepping forward to do all the work for functions while a great many take the fruits of their labors in much the same way as Henny Penny’s bread. In fact many have come to the idea that they are owed this as a result of their membership. It is frankly, amazing that those few put up with this situation.

The Social Club is a lot of work. The activities that everyone likes have the same volunteers working in the background over and over until they become burnt out. The amazing thing is that there are always a few that step in and keep the club stumbling along from year to year. The takers continue to grow in direct proportion to how free an event is. In fact they may even bemoan the club making a profit to help support its treasury if you can believe that.

I was brought up to believe that there is no such thing as a free lunch but here at Longview Hills the Social Club provides it again and again to people who do absolutely nothing but show up. A pretty good deal if you can get it.

What would we do if we could change the way things are? Everyone that wants to be a member would be told that they must volunteer when called upon and serve the needs of the club (of course excuses would be allowed). Dues would be assessed. A club has no value if you do not invest in its welfare. All members would be up for nomination to leadership rolls and if nominated must serve a term at least once in their time of membership. The tenet that every resident is automatically a member of the club would be withdrawn and all would be given the opportunity to join under the new rules. Those that don’t join would not be excluded from activities but would be charged a fair fee to participate which would generate a profit for the Social Club treasury. We like the idea that our Fisherman’s club has about offering Associate Membership to non-residents wanting to have fun and think that would add diversity to our club.

I would move that these changes be made on the floor of the next Social Club meeting and that they be seconded and adopted.

What is your opinion...? Discuss it in the comments..

9 Million Toys Recalled - Threat to Nation's Children - Imported from China - Lead & Other Hazards - The Emergency Email & Wireless Network ..........

9 Million Toys Recalled - Threat to Nation's Children - Imported from China - Lead & Other Hazards - The Emergency Email & Wireless Network .......... www. EmergencyEmail.ORG ........ NewsEmergency.com: "Consumers should immediately take these products away from children and contact Mattel to arrange return and to receive a voucher for a replacement toy of the consumer's choice, up to the value of the returned product. (888) 597-6597 U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Mattel are working in cooperation with other regulatory agencies worldwide. Mattel is also working with retailers worldwide to identify and remove affected products from retail shelves. Polly Pocket Barbie and Tanner Magnetic Doggie Day Care Sarge Die Cast Toy Cars Batman and One Piece Action Figure Sets"

Southern California Long Overdue for Quake, Experts Say

Southern California Long Overdue for Quake, Experts Say: "It's only a matter of time before a massive earthquake shakes Southern California to its core, scientists say."

NewsGator Online

NewsGator Online: "'If the Phone Doesn't Ring, It's Me'"

Mini-Seaside becomes Oregon test model for tsunami effects - NewsFlash - OregonLive.com

Mini-Seaside becomes Oregon test model for tsunami effects - NewsFlash - OregonLive.com: "CORVALLIS, Ore. (AP) — A tsunami is headed for a miniature version of the city of Seaside in an Oregon State University research lab. Scientists at the O.H. Hinsdale Wave Research Laboratory have built a small model of downtown Seaside to study the effects of a tsunami in a project that is likely to continue for years. It will encompass everything from numerical models to wave heights, to the amount of water that will remain after a significant event, to possible places of safety. 'It's an interesting project,' said Solomon Yim, a professor of civil engineering and the primary researcher."

Would you join a new club?

NEW POLL

The new poll question... deals with starting a new club dedicated to social activities for its members. It would require all its members to serve in some capacity.. and there would be dues to cover expenses.

Who Are You? - New York Times

Who Are You? - New York Times: "KNOW you. I know you well. It’s true I always have a little trouble with your name, but I do know your name. I just don’t know it at this moment. We’re at a big party. We’ve kissed hello. We’ve had a delightful conversation about how we are the two last people on the face of the earth who don’t kiss on both cheeks. Now we’re having a conversation about how phony all the people are who do kiss on both cheeks. Ha ha ha ha ha ha. You’re so charming. If only I could remember your name."

BBC NEWS | Europe | Ancient forest found in Hungary

BBC NEWS | Europe | Ancient forest found in Hungary: "An ancient forest of cypress trees, estimated to be eight million years old, has been discovered in Hungary. Archaeologists found the 16 preserved trunks in an open cast coal mine in the north-eastern city of Bukkabrany."

























*