Autumn 2009 Newsletter

Annual General Meeting

The 21st Annual General Meeting of the Emergency Social Services Association will take place on Tuesday, November 24, 2009 @ 5:15 - 6:30 pm. The meeting will be located at the Sheraton Wall Centre, 1088 Burrard Street, Vancouver. 

The Emergency Social Services Association of BC (ESSA) was informed by the Provincial Emergency Program (PEP), that due to budget cuts, PEP would not be funding ESS training for the 2009-2010 fiscal year. ESSA Board of Directors decided it was imperative that ESSA assist in the short-term, to ensure that ESS training would be available. ESSA applied for and received funds from the BC Direct Access Grant. All of the scheduled provincial ESS training provided by the Justice Institute of BC (JIBC) from May 16, 2009 – March 31, 2010 is funded courtesy of ESSA.

Exercise

ESSA is a non-profit association established to support Emergency Social Services (ESS) volunteers and communities in British Columbia in the development and maintenance of their ESS program. ESSA is not an Emergency Response Organization.

ESSA's role is to provide assistance to more than 5,000 community ESS volunteers around the province through a variety of programs. These ESS volunteers are the people who respond when disasters occur and their fellow citizens' lives are disrupted.  When these events occur, community emergency plans kick into action.  Teams of local ESS volunteers are activated to provide victims and evacuees with food, lodging, clothing and emotional support - services that are essential to their emotional and physical well-being - for up to 72 hours.

Recognize

Through our newsletter, the annual ESS Conference and representation at a variety of provincial conferences, ESSA actively promotes recognition of the work of ESS Volunteers around the province.

Train

ESSA contributes to the ongoing education and awareness of ESS volunteers through a variety of free seminars and workshops held annually in all parts of the province. The Association also publishes a quarterly newsletter to share information on new developments, upcoming events, and policy and procedural changes. The website has a learning section which highlights training opportunities.

Respond

ESSA offers direction to its members. The Association is the voice of ESS volunteers around the province and carries their concerns about issues and preparedness to municipal councils and to the provincial government.