Rochester’s Medical Reserve Corps, or MRC, is desperately seeking volunteers to strengthen the Town’s ability to respond to emergency situations that threaten the health and safety of its residents.
The MRC was established after September 11, 2001 at the request of President George W. Bush, and organized to address both public health and medical issues that arise on the community level.
According to Rochester Health Agent Karen Walega, the MRC units are comprised of volunteers in the medical profession, including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, veterinarians, and medics, among other professionals, but also non-medically oriented individuals to assist in providing organizational and logistic support in the event of an emergency.
Walega said the Rochester MRC for example, responded to H1N1 with immunization clinics and shelter needs during blizzards and hurricanes. These are but a few of the ways the MRC serves the public.
“We recognize that our volunteers are limited in number,” said Walega on November 3 before the Rochester Board of Selectmen, “and our community-based MRC could and should be stronger.”
Walega said the MRC is in the process of reorganizing in order to unite with Marion as one MRC unit. She is also soliciting more volunteers for MRC efforts.
“We need people who might be leaders, or have strong organizational skills, or have an interest in logistics or communication,” said Walega. ”We need people who can assist with security, traffic flow, and parking.” She continued, “We also need people who can assist with child care.”
Accompanying Walega, Vincent Ryan said the MRC needs roughly 67 people in order to function.
“Unfortunately we don’t have 67 people,” said Ryan. “It’s very important that this town support itself.”
The MRC will hold a meeting on November 13 at 7:00 pm at the Rochester Council on Aging at 66 Dexter Lane, and asked interested parties to attend or contact her through the Board of Health at 508-763-5421 or 508-748-3530.
In other matters, the selectmen approved an updated town employee vehicle use policy, limiting the use of town-owned vehicles strictly to town employees only, unless in an emergency situation.
The board also briefly spoke with Conservation Agent Laurell Farinon, who said the Rochester Open Spaces Plan will expire in 2015 and a new Open Space Action Committee needs to be established.
The next meeting of the Rochester Board of Selectmen in scheduled for November 17 at 6:30 pm at the Rochester Town Hall.
By Jean Perry
