wfn.org | CRWRC Passes Baton of National VOAD Presidency to Mickey Caison

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

> IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Bill Adams, CRWRC-DRS director, cell 616-560-2782
Beth DeGraff, CRWRC media contact, cell 616-648-7821

CRWRC Passes Baton of National VOAD Presidency

May 27, 2010?In turning over to Mickey Caison the presidency of the National 
Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (National VOAD) on May 15, Bill 
Adams reached a milestone. Adams is the third Disaster Response Services 
director from the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (CRWRC) to hold the 
top post in National VOAD?s 40-year history.

?It is indeed remarkable how a succession of CRWRC representatives on the 
National VOAD board have contributed to its success,? says Jacob Kramer, CRWRC 
relief team leader. ?By positioning itself as a coordinating point between 
non-profits, volunteers, and with government agencies like FEMA, National VOAD 
has increased the influence of faith-based organizations, making their 
contributions significant, and relevant to communities and society.?

Past National VOAD board presidents from CRWRC include Neil Molenaar and Mike 
Bruinooge, who led the organization at various times in previous years. Each 
CRWRC employee appreciated the contributions they were able to make to the 
National VOAD coalition. Adams says that
?National VOAD exists today because of the consistent work of each volunteer 
board member in the past. It is that kind of commitment that has made National 
VOAD what it is today.?

CRWRC was one of the seven founding members of National VOAD after Hurricane 
Camille?s 200 mph winds and torrential rains devastated coastal Mississippi 
from Gulfport to Bay St. Louis in 1969.  In responding to the devastating 
disaster, the organizations realized that that they could multiply the effects 
of their efforts with better coordination and communication through 
collaboration and cooperation. That?s how National VOAD was created.

Adams also says that in recent years, ?Hurricane Katrina has caused a 
significant shift in disaster response in the U.S?.I felt I could contribute to 
the development of stronger relationships between NATIONAL VOAD, FEMA, and the 
U.S. Office of Faith-based and Community Initiatives. In 2005, Katrina made 
clear the reasons that NATIONAL VOAD was organized in the first place, and its 
work became all the more important.?

Today, NATIONAL VOAD is a leader and voice for nonprofit organizations that 
work in all phases of disaster relief in the U.S.--preparation, response, and 
recovery. Growing from seven founding members to 50 national members ranging 
from the American Red Cross to the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team and the 
Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, NATIONAL VOAD now also includes representatives in 
55 states and territories, hundreds of local representatives, and emergency 
management and private sector partners.

Adams says that CRWRC?s membership in NATIONAL VOAD has benefited CRWRC and 
other member organizations through collaborative networks and partnerships with 
government response agencies. In 2009, the 50 NATIONAL VOAD member 
organizations adopted a ?Spiritual Care Points of Consensus? and in 2010 ?Case 
Management and Rebuild/Repair Points of Consensus? that spell out the 
principles to which they commit when responding to disasters in communities 
around the country.

FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate said in a recent FEMA press release 
that?Volunteer organizations are an important part of every community, which 
makes them equally important to the nation?s emergency management team. It?s 
the faith-based and non-profit groups that know their communities best, and by 
strengthening the partnerships between us, we can help keep the people we serve 
safe.?

Under Adams?s leadership, NATIONAL VOAD formalized their relationship with FEMA 
through a Memorandum of Understanding in 2010 and there are plans for a 
collaborative gathering in 2011 that coincides with FEMA?s Annual Individual 
Assistance Conference to bring together FEMA and State Emergency Managers with 
NATIONAL VOAD members and volunteers.

Although Adams steps down from the NATIONAL VOAD presidency this month, CRWRC?s partnership in the organization will remain strong. ?We?ll remain involved in NATIONAL VOAD as always,? Adams says. 
?NATIONAL VOAD is an acknowledged national leader in integrating the efforts of non-profit voluntary agencies to enhance services to disaster survivors.?

Members of the Press wishing to interview with CRWRC-DRS director Bill Adams, 
call cell 616-560-2782, or call CRWRC media contact Beth DeGraff at cell 
616-648-7821 or 1-800-55-CRWRC.

For more information about these and other programs, visit www.crwrc.org or 
call 1-800-55-CRWRC. In Canada, please call 1-800-730-3490.

CRWRC is a Christian, non-profit ministry of the Christian Reformed Church in 
North America providing development, relief, and justice education to people in 
need around the world since 1962.

> -- Beth DeGraff
> CRWRC Media and Justice Contact
> 2850 Kalamazoo Avenue SE
> Grand Rapids, MI 49560-0600
> 1-800-55-CRWRC
> www.crwrc.org

Note that my email address has changed to bdegraff@crwrc.org.

CRWRC is a registered non-profit agency of the CRC-NA in both the U.S. and 
Canada.