Chairman's Blog

OK, OK.... yes I know I should do this more often!

 

I can't believe it has been six months since my last blog post. Things have been really busy but that's not much of an excuse.

 

February saw our first operational call outs in the week of snow with Jason (HT02) having the honour of our first call out. Which ironically enough wasn't even in Hertfordshire as he was called to assist a Paramedic to get to work from near Bedford to Amptill Ambulance Station. The rest of the week saw several call outs but also a number of abortive calls too. This I supposed is to be expected as we were still untried with many of the user agencies and it took a little time to show just what our capabilities are.

 

The following week, I attended a national workshop on "Community Resilience" organised by the Civil Contingencies Secretariat of the Cabinet Office. This was to kick start the Government's agenda for community resilience i.e. communities helping themselves in times of need. Now why does that sound familiar! It was a meeting of voluntry agencies and professionals and it was pleasing to realise just how well known 4x4 Response is becoming.

 

Other good news is that we are on the point of signing a Memorandum of Understanding with HEVEC, the Hertfordshire Emergency Volunteers Committee (Part of the Hertfordshire Resilience Forum), more details on the News Page.

 

We now have our first delivery of jackets, so can present a professional image when called out or attending events. any members who have not yet got one, do get in touch. I am now investigating some hi-viz vests given that we seem to be moving into a heat wave!

 

The 4x4 Response first National AGM was held on the 21st June and I was formerly voted in as National Treasurer, a role I had previously only volunteered myself for. Bob Hatcher (Wessex) was confirmed as Chairman and Alasdair Kirk (Gloucestershire) as Secretary. We also gained two additional trustees in the shape of Simon Bentley (Yorks & Lincs) and Paul Johns (PJ) (Hants & Berks), which will help to share the load.

 

Well that's all for now, hopefully you won't have to wait vanother six months to read anything here!

Seems like ages since I was last here.... because it is!

 

Things are moving ahead nicely, we now have third party liability insurance for the group through the National Charity, so hopefully we can start offering our services to events this year in a support role and maybe do some fundraising too.

 

We are also in the process of formalising our agreement with the East of England Ambulance Service. Although we have no problems there as they have once again put us on standby for the predicted snow later this weekend.

 

Just in the process of sorting uniform jackets, so we should be able to present a professional image very soon!

Good news today as I was at an emergency planning event at the Government Office for the East of England. As the head of Emergency Planning at Hertfordshire County Council was there, I asked what progress had been made on the group being formerly recognised. He was surprised as he thought a reply had already gone out. The upshot is we are to be formerly recognised by Hertfordshire Resilience, the Local Resilience Forum in Hertfordshire and also by the Regional Resilience Team at the Government Office for Eastern England.

 

I also spoke to one of the members of the Regional Resilience Team who confirm that our details, along with all other groups in the East of England (Norfolk & Suffolk 4x4 Response, Suffolk Rover Rescue, Breckland Rover Rescue, Essex Rover Rescue) will be placed on the Regional Contact list that is sent every month to all Emergency Planning organisations across the East of England.

 

Just waiting to see if we get any snow this weekend.

So what's been going on lately?

 

Last week I attended the Beds Herts and Cambs Land Rover Club AGM where it proposed to have an "Emergency Response Coordinator" on the committee. Looks like the club could be working towards being a new Response Group for Bedfordshire as they have already made some good links. Obviously we are happy to offer what assistance we could. Encouraging things was that four Hertfordshire 4x4 Response members were at the meeting as club members as well as a member of BORG (Bux & Oxon 4x4 Response Group).

 

On the National scene we have now negotiated a deal for third party liability insurance with Zurich Insurance for Regional Groups. As a group we were looking at a bill of about £250 for cover but under this scheme we can get it for about £40 a year! The policy won't start until 01.01.09 so from then on we will hopefully be taking advantage.

 

We have also agreed amongst the comittee to register as full voting members of 4x4 Response by paying the appropriate membership fee. This is also necessary to take advantage of the insurance scheme. It means that we have a voice in how things are taken forward nationally.

 

Can I just remind those members that haven't paid their subs, that they are now due and we can start ordering everyone's hi-viz jackets when we have the funds. Details in the last newsletter.

 

Just getting ready for tonights meeting, hopefully we will have a better turn out than the last few. Strangely attendance at meetings has been dropping off at the same time as membership is increasing?

 

Also working on a training exercise for the group so watch this space!

 

Currently without my own 4x4 as the Ninety died on me at the weekend, looks like fuel starvation so the new fuel filter I have been promising to fit for two months now will get fitted at the weekend and I will try and figure out what the problem is.

 

The National Network moves on with 123 members now registered on the new forum. 4x4 Response is now a Registered Charity and formal membership is growing quickly with three groups (Powys, Gloucestershire and Wessex) paid up in the first fortnight since registration. We will need to decide if Hertfordshire will formally join too.

Hi and welcome to this my first post on the Chairman's blog.

 

If you are interested in joining our group please have a good look round the site and feel free to ask any questions via the contact us page.

 

I have been doing a bit of updating on the site today with a few new pictures, a new library for useful doccuments and have finally got the Members Only area up and running.

 

Hopefully this will be a chance to keep things right up to date with what's going on both with Hertfordshire 4x4 Response but also with the National 4x4 Response Network. The Network is now a registered charity and I have agreed to be one of the trustees.

 

Tony