MONTHLY NEWSLETTER

February | 2026

In This Issue

  • Register for the 2026 Mid-Atlantic VOAD Conference
  • FREE OFFER: Demo CORE Software by Relief Compass
  • Maryland 2026 Quarterly Meeting Schedule
  • Anne Arundel - Annapolis Spring CERT Basic Training
  • Notice: Maryland VOAD Election of Officers
  • Groundswell - No Cost Resilient Maryland Feasibility Opportunity
  • FEMA National Training Center - Feb/March Schedule
  • Space Needed to Park Maryland VOAD Trailers
  • FEMA Winter Safety Toolkit
  • Upcoming Events
  • Facebook page

The Urgency of the 4C’s:

The Importance of State and VOAD Relationships


Don’t miss the 2026 Regional VOAD conference in beautiful Berkeley Spring, WV to be held on March 16th - 18th.  


We have a great collection of non-profit attendees and local and state emergency management representatives registered. Guests also include a group of emerging leaders. These students are focusing their studies on emergency management. Join us for three dynamic days of collaboration and information exchange. 


And we won’t mess up St. Patrick’s Day for you. We have a great Irish band for entertainment Tuesday evening


Our conference brochure includes information about the conference, the conference schedule, and Cacapon Resort State Park Lodge (location, amenities, and room rates).


Register today!


Make your lodging reservations by calling (304) 258-1022. (Code: VOAD)


If you are interested in being a conference sponsor, please click here.


Deadline for registration and room reservations

is March 2nd. Don't delay!!!


CORE Software by Relief Compass

Relief Compass is offering Maryland VOAD Members and Partners an opportunity to experience CORE—their disaster donations management software, in a pilot program during 2026. 


We are very grateful to Jérôme Lebleu and Relief Compass for making this very generous offer to Maryland VOAD participating organizations. Send an email to info@reliefcompass.com to express your organization’s interest.


2026 Maryland VOAD Meeting Schedule

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March 9, 2026: 10am - 2pm


Chesapeake Conference Center of 7th Day Adventist

6600 Martin Rd.

Columbia, Md, 21044


See the construction of the new disaster warehouse.


June 8, 2026: 10am - 2pm

Frederick County Emergency Management

5370 Public Safety Place

Frederick, MD 21704


September 14 and December 14 - We need a host organization for these two dates. The host provides lunch (15–20 people) and usually makes a short presentation on the activities of their organization.


Please contact Phil Huber (chairperson@marylandvoad.org) if your organization would like to host.

Anne Arundel - Annapolis 2026 CERT Basic Training

NOTICE: Maryland VOAD Election of Officers

Elections for all Maryland VOAD Board of Directors positions will be held at the Annual Meeting on June 8. 


This is official notice that we will elect the positiosn of: 

  • Chairperson
  • Vice Chairperson
  • Secretary
  • Treasurer 
  • Communications Coordinator


If your Member Organization would like to nominate someone to one of these positions please send it to:


Burton Goldstein, Nominations Committee, Chair (burton@bgcommunications.com) seven (7) days prior to our March 9, Quarterly Meeting, which is March 2.


Our Constitution states: 

 

"A Nominating Committee will be formed and appointed by the Chairperson. Members of the Nominating Committee will be announced at the Third Quarterly (Q3) Meeting. The committee will consist of three (3) people from different Member Organizations and one (1) Board Member. Notice for Member Organizations to submit suggestions to serve on the Nominating Committee shall be sent thirty (30) days prior to the Third Quarterly Meeting. Suggestions should be sent to the Chairperson no later than seven (7) days prior to the Third Quarterly Meeting."

Groundswell - No-Cost Resilient Maryland Feasibility Opportunity

Groundswell is offering a no cost feasibility assessment to help organizations explore whether their facility could function as a Community Resilience Center. These are community-led spaces designed to support safety, connection, and continuity during disruptions.


Participating organizations will receive:

• A complimentary assessment evaluating the facility’s potential as a Community Resilience Center

• Early stage, pre-construction planning materials that can be used to pursue future implementation funding


There is special interest in partnering with churches, community centers, clinics, schools, and food hubs located in: Caroline, Cecil, Dorchester, Kent, Montgomery, Prince George’s, Queen Anne’s, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico, and Worcester counties.


If you know of an organization or business that is deeply rooted in its community and committed to supporting neighbors during emergencies, we would greatly appreciate your help sharing this opportunity through your networks.


To get involved:




Use this Program Flyer to help spread the word.


FEMA National Training Center Schedule - February/March 2026

FEMA NDEMU has vacancies in upcoming courses.

 

Review the schedule below and apply at:

https://training.fema.gov/generaladmissionsapplication/staticforms/startapplication.aspx

 

For questions and assistance please reach out to the MDEM training team at training.mdem@maryland.gov 

Title

Dates

Email Contact

EOC Resource Skillsets – Course E2306

2/09 - 2/13/2026

emi-nims-ICSTraining@fema.dhs.gov

National Dam Safety Program Technical Seminar – Course E8535

2/18 - 2/19/2026

fema-emi-mit@fema.dhs.gov



State and Tribal Coordinating Officer – Course E0208

2/23 - 2/26/2026

fema-emi-RandR@fema.dhs.gov

EOC Operations and Situational Awareness Skillsets – Couse E2308

2/23 - 2/27/2026

emi-nims-ICSTraining@fema.dhs.gov

Exercise Evaluation and Improvement Planning -Course E0131

3/02 - 3/05/2026

Fema-emi-iemb@fema.dhs.gov

Fundamentals of Grants Management - Course E0705

3/02 - 03/04/2026

fema-ms-branch@fema.dhs.gov



NIMS ICS All-Hazards Situation Unit Leader - Course E0964

3/02 - 3/06/2026

emi-nims-ICSTraining@fema.dhs.gov

Procurement Under Grants - Course E0708

3/05 - 03/02/2026

fema-ms-branch@fema.dhs.gov

Exercise Design and Development - Course E0139

3/16 - 3/17/2026

Fema-emi-iemb@fema.dhs.gov

FEMA Winter Safety Toolkit

winter-weather image

FEMA Winter Safety Messaging Toolkit is designed to help faith leaders and nonprofits proactively share winter safety alerts, provide timely and reliable information, and encourage swift action within your communities.


The toolkit includes ready-to-use, customizable messaging that these entities can easily adapt and distribute.


FREE DOWNLOAD #WinterReady

Space Needed to Park Maryland VOAD Trailers 

Can your organization help us by giving us space to park 1 to 3 trailers?

 

The American Red Cross has graciously given Maryland VOAD space to park our three trailers at their warehouse and logistics lot in Gaithersburg. However, they have lost FEMA funding that supported this facility. They are closing the warehouse necessitating us finding a different place to park the trailers. 


Ideally, they would be parked in a fenced in area for security purposes—but this isn’t an absolute necessity. We need to find a new home by March.

 

If you can provide space please be in contact with either Bruce Morgenstern (bjmorgenstern@comcast.net) or Phil Huber (chairperson@marylandvoad.org).  

DATES

Conference or Training

Event

Location and Registration

March 9, 2026

Maryland VOAD Quarterly meeting

Chesapeake Conference Center of Seventh-day Adventist

6600 Martin Rd.

Columbia, Md, 21044

March 16-18, 2026

2026 Regional VOAD Conference



Cacapon Resort

Berkeley Springs, WV



Registration is open!

March 21-22 &

March 28-29

Anne Arundel-Annapolis Spring CERT Basic Training

Fire Training Academy

415 Maxwell Frye Road

Millersville, MD 21108


Registration is open!

May 4-7, 2026

2026 National VOAD Conference


Schedule At A Glance

Hotel & Travel

The Peppermill

Reno, NV



June 8, 2026

Maryland VOAD Annual meeting

Frederick County Emergency Management

5370 Public Safety Place

Frederick, MD 21704

September 14, 2026

Maryland VOAD Quarterly meeting

Host Needed

December 14, 2026

Maryland VOAD Quarterly meeting

Host Needed

Visit, Like and Share - MDVOAD Facebook Page
Be sure to visit the MD VOAD Facebook page. While there, support our VOAD members by liking and sharing their content. This helps everyone reach broader audiences with our important message.

Newsletter Content

Do you have an update, event, or announcement to share with the rest of Maryland VOAD? Send your information and pictures to CommunicationsCoordinator@MarylandVOAD.org to be shared on our Social Media or by the 25th of each month to be included in the next newsletter issue.

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