A crisp autumn breeze welcomed attendees as Chair Burton White welcomed members and guests to the monthly Ferrum Forward meeting at the Blue Ridge Institute and Museum on Tues. Nov. 12.
White began by introducing the group’s main focus for the night–something he called a ‘CERP’: a community emergency response plan.
“Now, who can tell me what exactly a disaster is,” asked White as he engaged with the group. “It’s an unexpected, negative event. And the big ones are terrible.”
He continued by elaborating the significance of potential disasters in the Village, as well as its outward neighbors such as Endicott. Natural disasters, soft-terrorism, personal events, and car accidents were just a few that White mentioned.
“You never know what might happen,” he said, “That’s when we need to be prepared like the tight-knit community that we are.”
Ferrum Forward hopes to create a three-section team for the community, involving members and locals together: emergent, urgent, and social.
Typical to emergency response, the emergent team will be prepared for dire emergencies, first aid, and even CPR and search and rescue, while the urgent team serves for more minor events, such as a tree blockading a neighbor’s driveway.
In a more unique perspective, the group also hopes to create a social team, to help folks in the community through offering a friendly face and a welcoming outreach. White considers this to be a branch of emergency response that not every locality may have.
According to White, the brainstorming is done. It is now the time to organize and train.
“All we need to figure out is where to go from here,” White expressed. “It takes a whole community, and that is exactly what we’ve got.”
Ferrum Volunteer Fire Department Assistant Chief Edward Hodges was present at the meeting to share his take on the group’s goal as an official of public safety.
“I think that it’s a great idea,” he said. “We just need to figure out how to ensure proper training, the safety of everyone, the priority of trained professionals, and the avoidance of liability.”
Moving forward, the FF committee approved the October minutes and treasurer’s report.
Community and College Events Chair Tina Hanlon continued and offered a series of events taking place at the college as the students’ fall semester comes to an end.
There are multiple concerts and performances taking place in the next weeks, as well as the return of the Emmet Otter Jugband Christmas performance set to return this December, as well as many other events.
Business and beautification chair Katrina Harrison followed and spoke of the success of the farmer’s market in the absence of membership and fundraising chair Rebecca Saunders, as well as mentioned the upcoming Holiday Craft Bazaar and other community events.
With the committee reports concluding, it was time for new business.
White proposed the idea of a citizenship award, as well as a Christmas decorating competition within the Village.
Before adjourning, White encouraged the members and guests to share kindness, rather than contribute to the political divide following the election.
