Members of the Goffstown Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and
a group of dignitaries gathered at Stark Hall on Sunday evening for
the 3rd annual recognition dinner. The CERT team had a very active
2008 and took some time to socialize and review the year's
accomplishments. Members of Goffstown's team contributed 3,409
volunteer hours in 2008 for the benefit of the community.
A great dinner of chicken and pasta diner was followed by guest
speakers State Rep. Lou D'Allesandro, Police Chief Pat Sullivan, Fire
Chief Richard O'Brien, Selectman Scott Gross, Selectman Phillip
D'Avanza, Selectman John Caprio, and NH Citizens Corps Coordinator
Domenic DiNatale. In his remarks Selectman Gross said "Goffstown is a
much better place because of all of you." All the speakers expressed
their thanks for the high level of community service provided by CERT.
Domenic DiNatale, another of the speakers, said when referring to the
number of CERT volunteer hours (3,409), "I can honestly tell you I
haven't seen another CERT group with that level of commitment. You
probably have the most hours and the largest group. I'm humbled by all
that you folks do and all the time you put in."
A special highlight of the evening was the Goffstown CERT Certificate
of Merit presentation. It was awarded to Susan Jutras, Goffstown CERT
Director, for her dedication and service culminating in 765.5
volunteer hours in 2008.
The 2008 CERT activities were highlighted with a slideshow
presentation compiled by Bill Wynne.
Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) is a Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) program that educates citizens about the
hazards they face in their community and trains them in lifesaving
skills. If needed following a disaster, we citizen-responders use our
training as part of a neighborhood or workplace team to help others
when professional responders are overwhelmed or not immediately
available. CERT members provide immediate assistance to victims in our
community, organize spontaneous volunteers who have not had the
training, and collect disaster intelligence that will assist
professional responders with prioritization and allocation of
resources when they arrive.
The CERT program is supported by the NH State Bureau of Emergency
Management (BEM), the NH State Citizen Corp Council, the Volunteer NH!
group and the Town of Gofftown. You can learn more about Goffstown
CERT at the CERT web site.
Goffstown CERT Director Susan Jutras, State Rep Lou D'Allesandro,
Police Chief Pat Sullivan, and Fire Chief Richard O'Brien at the CERT
recognition ceremony.
Photos from DaveSuitor Photography
