H1N1 clinics offer glimpse into successful volunteerism

Something is going on in Cumberland, away from the glare of media coverage, and it's a good thing. Not the usual stuff you read about, of people arguing this way or the other about how to get what needs to be done accomplished. It's a text book case of many official and volunteer organizations in Cumberland working together for the benefit of all. The press isn't hiding the story, their just not allowed to be in the middle of it because of privacy issues.

I'm talking about the H1N1 flu clinics that have been going on at schools to inoculate the children of Cumberland. You may have even been to one and not realized the amount of planning, cooperation, and dedication invested to make them happen. It started years ago with the establishment of C.E.R.T. (Community Emergency Response Teams) in Cumberland, who are volunteers trained by professionals to help when first responders may be over whelmed or unavailable. They exist because the E.M.A. (Emergency Management Agency) in Cumberland has written grants and conducted drills in cooperation with the Police, Fire, Rescue and the School departments. All these groups, plus teachers, parents and politicians have come together to make sure that whatever the need that arises now, and in the future, your town will be ahead of the curve in solving any problem efficiently and professionally

I'm a life long resident and C.E.R.T. volunteer of Cumberland who is very proud and reassured by the degree of dedication all these "town employees" have shown. I would love to mention all of them by name, but I'm sure I would miss half a dozen or so.

If in the future you attend one of these clinics; look around, you'll see the heads of departments holding kids steady to get their shots right next to some teacher giving up their time to greet and comfort a student. You'll see your next door neighbor and the local fire fighter directing people with a comforting smile. There will be gentle words for your anxious child by the inoculators who's already done two other clinics that day and might be a Cumberland volunteer also.

So the next time you here one of those stories about how government can't seem to get the job done right, remember this one, where the system works through concern and cooperation.

Michael Plasse

Cumberland