An opportunity to serve www.medicalreservecorps.gov The Palm Beach County Medical Reserve Corps National Priorities…Meeting Local Needs To Apply to be a MRC volunteer go to: www.servfl.com  To complete the application process: CLICK HERE FOR STATE OF FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SOVEREIGN IMMUNITY APPLICATION FORMS   SAVE THE DATE…………. THURSDAY JUNE 12, 2008   WHAT:   THE ANNUAL HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS AND RECOGNITION DINNER WHEN:            6 P.M. TO 8:30 P.M. , THURSDAY JUNE 12, 2008 WHO:             SPONSORED BY THE  PALM BEACH COUNTY HERC AND MEDICAL RESERVE CORPS WHERE:         ATLANTIS COUNTY CLUB, ATLANTIS, FL Click here to register for the MRC June 12th Hurricane Preparedness and Recognition Dinner   The mission of the Palm Beach County, Florida Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) Unit is to improve the health and safety of Palm Beach County, Florida residents by organizing and utilizing public health, medical and other volunteers to respond to natural or man-made disaster events and other local public health needs. The Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) was founded after President Bush's 2002 State of the Union Address, in which he asked all Americans to volunteer in support of their country. MRC is a specialized component of Citizen Corps, a national network of volunteers dedicated to ensuring hometown security. Citizen Corps, along with the Corporation for National and Community Service, and the Peace Corps are all part of the President's USA Freedom Corps, which promotes volunteerism and service throughout the nation.          MRC units are community-based and function as a way to locally organize and utilize volunteers -medical professionals and others - who want to donate their time and expertise to promote healthy living throughout the year and to prepare for and respond to emergencies. MRC volunteers supplement existing local emergency and public health resources.           MRC volunteers include medical and public health professionals such as physicians, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, veterinarians,and epidemiologists. Other community members, such as interpreters, chaplains, office workers and legal advisors,can fill other vital support positions. What Can MRC Volunteers Do? Support local public health, while advancing the priorities of the U.S. Surgeon General:  Improving health literacy Promoting disease prevention Eliminating health disparities Enhancing public health preparedness Assist local hospitals and health departments with surge personnel needs. Participate in mass prophylaxis and vaccine­tion exercises and community disaster drills Train with local emergency response partners. And More… How Can the MRC Benefit Our Local Community? Bolsters public health and emergency response infrastructure­tures by providing supplemental personnel.Enables communities to meet specific health needs. Allows the local community more autonomy -not as reliant on state and national resources. Gives community members the opportunity to participate in developing strategies to make their communities healthier and safer. Provides mechanisms for information sharing and coordina­tion between all partner organizations. Provides a dialogue between emergency management and public health agencies Allows for national recognition of local public health and emergency response efforts. To apply to be a MRC volunteer go to: www.servfl.com  CLICK HERE FOR STATE OF FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SOVEREIGN IMMUNITY APPLICATION FORMS For additional information or to learn how to join the Palm Beach County Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) contact: Dr. Jay Lee, Director of Disaster Service, PBCMS, 3540 Forest Hill Blvd., West Palm Beach, FL  33406    561-433-3944x17 jayL@pbcms.org or MRC LINKS: visit the National MRC web site http:/www.medicalreservecorps.gov/HomePage visit the State of Florida MRC web sit http://www.doh.state.fl.us/PHNursing/MRC/MRC_Main.html   View: Hurricane Guide for Physicians & Patients