WEDNESDAY JUNE 29, 2005 Citizen Corps needs volunteers by Jaime Baranyai, Staff Writer Joe Counsil discussed the need for more volunteers and new officers for the Citizen Corps Phelps County Disaster Committee at the Phelps County Commission meeting Tuesday morning. Counsil, who has served as president of the group since 2003, said the two-year officer terms have expired and it's time to let others lead the organization. "We desperately need volunteers to keep Citizen Corps going and we also need new leaders," he said. Although the Citizen Corps Phelps County Disaster Committee recently received a $31,000 grant for training volunteers in first-responder disaster skills and educating the general public about emergency preparedness and disaster situations, the organization needs more volunteers than money. "We have the monetary resources to accomplish a lot, but we need people first," Counsil said. "Citizen Corps doesn't work without the citizens." The Citizen Corps Phelps County Disaster Committee consists of members of the volunteer, public-service and public safety agencies in Phelps County that aim to improve coordination and cooperation between volunteer and public safety agencies so that in the event of emergencies and disasters all personnel, and the public in general, can better respond to emergencies. "It's an organization that is set up for the purpose of pulling together the various players that are involved in emergency response," Counsil said. "It encourages cooperative efforts between volunteers and professional agencies in the event of an emergency or a disaster." Counsil said another purpose of the organization is to prepare residents for disasters and emergencies. "We want to train people prior to a disaster or an emergency actually occurring so that if one happens we will be better prepared to deal with it," he said. The Citizen Corps Phelps County Disaster Committee also hosts periodic seminars and provides other educational resources to make people aware of what they should do and who they should turn to in various emergency situations. The next Citizen Corps Phelps County Disaster Committee meeting will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 12, 2005 at the Phelps County Courthouse during the regular Phelps County Commission meeting. The purpose of this meeting will be to elect new officers and develop a future plan for the organization. "We want to encourage everyone to volunteer, become a member or be an officer of Citizen Corps," Counsil said. "We could use all the help we can get." The Phelps County Commission provided its support for Counsil's cause. "The Citizen Corps offers the county a great service," Presiding Commissioner Randy Verkamp said. "We hope that people in Phelps County will take an active interest in this group."