Five Questions

At the January 31, 2004 General Meeting, EMRG members were split into three groups, with the task of answering five questions. The purpose of this exercise was to find out what people in EMRG think about EMRG and how we can make the group even better.

This group exercise produced some excellent feedback, which will help the management team improve.
The main theme of the comments can be summed up as:

"WE WANT TO BE MORE INVOLVED IN PLANNING AND BUILDING FOR EMRG!"

Why do YOU participate in EMRG?

• To do public service, filling a perceived need
• To pass on experience
• To have fun
• To gain technical skill
• To gain experience in problem solving
• To meet like-minded people
• To build organizational skills

* People may join for one or more reasons, but stay for different reasons

Why do more Amateurs NOT participate in EMRG?

• Past alienation
• Don't know enough about what is involved
• Think they don't have the required skills
• Think they don't have the required equipment
• Have no interest in emergency service
• Haven't seen anything happening in the group
• Amateur population is aging
• Don't understand the potential security restrictions in an emergency
• Busy somewhere else
• Prefer to volunteer for something now, Vs preparing for something that may happen
• Think there is no need for training and planning

What does EMRG do best?

• Exercises
• Organisation
• Relationships with partner agencies
• Identify8ing technical issues, understanding what we need
• Solving technical problems

What does EMRG do worst?

• Getting information out to Amateurs, non-Amateurs, and new members
• Too much history at meetings = Boring meetings
• Not motivating the group
• EMRG members don't get to meet most of the other organisations, or their people
• Not much activity
• Lack of communication within the group and member-to-member (in all directions)
• Not delegating activities, specifically technical opportunities to members

What are you willing to do to make EMRG better?

• Ensure personal preparedness is complete, so people are available to respond quickly
• Participate consistently
• Help with technical issues
• Promote EMRG with other amateurs

Suggestions and Comments

• The management team needs to seek opinions from the membership more often
• Newsletters and Bulletins to get information out