Mission Statement

To foster, through cooperation in mitigation and response, more effective service to people affected (imperiled or impacted) by disaster.

This will be achieved through the following priorities:

A.  Cooperation
To create a climate for cooperation at all levels (including the grass roots) and to provide information.

B.  Coordination
To coordinate police among member organizations and to serve as a liaison, advocate, and countywide voice.

C.  Communication
To disseminate information through the media, a resource directory and research and demonstration.

D.  Education
To provide training and to increases awareness and preparedness in each organization.

E.  Mitigation
To support efforts of federal, state and local agencies and government.

F.  Convening Mechanisms
To put on seminars, meetings, committee meetings, conferences, and training programs.

Membership

Full Membership

Open to any organization whose jurisdictional area contains some or all of Cambria County, Pennsylvania.  The organization will have an interest in disaster mitigation, response, and recovery and will have a not-for-profit structure and qualify under Internal Revenue Service regulation 501(c)(3).

Affiliate Membership

This non-voting status is intended for organizations that do not meet the requirements for full membership.  This would include those such as for profit businesses, government agencies and media.

Structure

The Cambria County VOAD is not limited to the number of organizations that are members.   The member organizations are not limited either in the number of representatives that they may have attend meetings.  However, should a vote be necessary at any time, each member organization is entitled to only one vote.

Executive Committee

This will comprise of full member organizations that were members of the initiating and planning committees.  The executive committee may meet other that at a full VOAD meeting to discuss membership, bylaws, etc. but the executive committee meetings will always be open to other VOAD members.

Meetings

Meetings of the VOAD will be convened as deemed necessary by the executive committee.   However, any full member organization may call a meeting of the VOAD at any time.   Following a disaster in the county where those affected would benefit from a meeting of the VOAD or several agencies are involved in the response or recovery effort, a meeting should be held within 72 hours of the impact.

Members of VOAD

Cambria County Department of Emergency Services
Adventist Community Services
American Radio Relay League Inc.
American Red Cross
Cambria County Community Action Council, Inc.
Catholic Social Services
Cooperative Disaster Child Day Care Program
Greater Johnstown Regional Central Labor Council
Human Society of Cambria County
Penn Woods Council, BSA
Salvation Army United Methodist Human Services
St. Vincent DePual Society
Talus Rock Girl Scout Council
United Way of the Laurel Highlands