Amy Sebring: Welcome to the Virtual Forum Round Table! Amy Sebring: Thanks to those who persevered. Amy Sebring: For the benefit of our first-timers, when you see a blue web address, you can click on it and the referenced Web page should appear in a browser window. Amy Sebring: After the first one, the browser window may not automatically come to the top, so you may need to bring it forward by clicking on a button at the status bar at the bottom of your screen. Amy Sebring: We will start with a presentation, and then follow with a Q&A session for your questions and comments. Right before we begin the Q&A portion we will review the procedure. Amy Sebring: Please do NOT send direct messages to the speaker or moderator as it makes it difficult for us to follow the discussion. Amy Sebring: Today's Round Table is sponsored by the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM) and is somewhat of an update to previous sessions we have had regarding their new international focus. Amy Sebring: Today we are pleased to welcome Marg Verbeek CEM from Ontario, Canada where she serves as Regional Emergency Planning Coordinator. Marg is the International Regional President of the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM) ... Amy Sebring: the Ontario Regional Director for the Canadian Emergency Preparedness Association, and a member of the Board of Directors for the SafeGuard Program. Amy Sebring: Welcome Marg. Thank you for joining us today. Amy Sebring: Ok, now Marg! Amy Sebring: Marg, still with us? Marg Verbeek: We will be talking about current initiatives in Canada in the Emergency Management field, but firstly, we are going to share information about the IAEM delegation going to Italy, and joining other countries from around the world. Marg Verbeek: The State for Civil Protection in Caserta (the Region incorporating Naples) and the government of Italy will host the World's Disaster Managers Seminar in Caserta and Rome from October 1- 6, 1999. Marg Verbeek: The International Association of Emergency Managers was invited many months ago to organize a delegation of up to 50 disaster managers to share their experiences. The scope of the seminar is to put together first line planners and operators to compare each other know-how to become enrichment of each others knowledge. Marg Verbeek: The delegation will meet in Caserta on Oct 1-3 and be transported to Rome to meet on Oct 4-6. Field trips will be made to Vesuvio (volcano), Volturno (flood), Pazzuoli (seismic), Sarno (mud slide), Nocera Umbra (earthquake), as well as other significant risk areas for emergency scenery. Marg Verbeek: One interesting point to note is that we will be joining other countries from around the world! Marg Verbeek: Avagene, I am wondering if you could advise us.. and remind me which countries from around the world will be taking part in this seminar in Italy? Avagene Moore: I don't know for sure, sorry. Marg Verbeek: With respect to current initiatives in Canada regarding Emergency Management, a new organization has been created as of 1998, called the Canadian Emergency Preparedness Association (CEPA). Marg Verbeek: CEPA is a national forum whose main purpose is to promote emergency preparedness across Canada and represent the interests, aims, and opinions of those who are involved in prevention, planning, response, recovery, and mitigation. Marg Verbeek: CEPA is composed of eight regional chapters and a national chapter. The national chapter includes organizations in scope such as major industry, government and non-governmental organizations. Marg Verbeek: Each chapter is governed by its own By-laws. CEPA's principal areas of interest are: information exchange, training, standards, professional accreditation and accreditation by training institutions. Amy Sebring: Thank you very much Marg, here is the IAEM link for the Italy trip .... Amy Sebring: http://www.iaem.com/international_lessons_learned.html Marg Verbeek: Each chapter in Canada now is working on their own By- laws and membership drive Marg Verbeek: any questions about CEPA? Amy Sebring: Marg, do you have the web address for CEPA handy? Amy Sebring: Audience please enter a question mark (?) to indicate you wish to be recognized, go ahead and compose your comment or question, but wait for recognition before hitting the enter key or clicking on Send. Amy Sebring: We now invite your questions or comments for Marg, and perhaps your suggestions or opinions regarding international cooperation between local programs. Amy Sebring: I would also like to know if among those with us today, are there any others going on the trip to Italy and if you will be speaking? Marg Verbeek: lastly, before we go the Q Avagene Moore: I am going Marg Verbeek: One interesting point, there are 2 other Avagene Moore: Will have handouts for the EIIP and related info. Mike Penner: ? Marg Verbeek: Canadians going to Italy Amy Sebring: Mike please. Mike Penner: Are the international trips going to become annual events? Billy Zwerschke: ? Libbi RuckerReed: ? Marg Verbeek: For the delegates going to Italy, we will have to host an Italian delegate . We would like to see this type of forum as an annual event. I trust that we will discuss this at the upcoming conference in KY. Amy Sebring: Billy please. Billy Zwerschke: How many are going to Italy? I keep losing my net connection. Sorry! Marg Verbeek: There are 50 delegates, a few spouses. Amy Sebring: Libbi please. Libbi RuckerReed: What is the selection criteria for going? How do you apply to participate? Avagene Moore: ? Libbi RuckerReed: Participating in something like this would be an awesome learning experience! Marg Verbeek: IAEM HQ through the International Committee developed criteria at the mid year meeting. A note went out in the bulletin, and interested folks were to fill in an application and send it into IAEM. Amy Sebring: Avagene please. Avagene Moore: Marg, Beth Armstrong sent news for our newsletter that states IAEM is hopeful that we can make annual exchange programs a regular thing for the organization. Also do some hosting for sure. My question: Do you know if there will be some type of formal proceedings available through IAEM after the trip? Isabel McCurdy: ? Marg Verbeek: For those folks would could not be supported by their communities to go to Italy, perhaps they can start thinking about IAEM conference in Canada in a few years. I believe that we will do a presentation of some sort at the annual conference on the trip to Italy. I am not sure about formal proceedings. Amy Sebring: Isabel please. Isabel McCurdy: Here is CEPA's web page.