For your information

______________________________________________________
Letter from the Acting Deputy Surgeon General
September 1, 2009

Dear MRC Leaders and Volunteers,

As we plan and prepare for the upcoming seasonal flu season
and the very real
potential for widespread transmission of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza,
there is no doubt that volunteers will be needed in all communities
to assist with
education, vaccination, and other activities.

The Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) is poised to take the lead in volunteer
recruitment, credentialing, training and response.
You will play an integral role in
the health and safety of your towns, cities, counties and states.
I encourage you to plan now for what may lay ahead.

The Medical Reserve Corps continues to have an
amazing impact across the country.
The reports I receive from CAPT Tosatto and staff in the Office of the
Civilian Volunteer Medical Reserve Corps (OCVMRC)
show the impressive extent of the activities you are doing
and initiatives you are promoting.

The White House, Department of Health and Human Services and Office of the
Surgeon General have taken notice of your achievements
and have acknowleged
the important role that you play in a public health emergency, such as
widespread H1N1 flu transmission.

Many of you are already meeting with your health department leaders,
local first responders and emergency management staff
to determine the role of your MRC
unit in a large-scale public health response. That is great!

Keep the lines of communication open
and continue to promote your MRC within your community
as the go-to organization
for public health, medical, and other volunteers for H1N1-related activities.

This is a tremendous opportunity to boost your exposure
and credibility, and to build the resiliency of your community.
When others see what we have seen for several years now,
I am convinced the MRC will reach new levels of success.

By being active participants in your community's planning
process, you will ensure a clear role for your unit in a response.

I strongly urge you to stay in close contact with the volunteers in your unit.
Be sure your members are aware of what their role will be in a possible
response,
ensure that they have personal, family and workplace preparedness plans,
and
discuss their concerns surrounding H1N1.
Take this time to test your activation procedures and conduct other exercises
to prepare your cadre of volunteers.

Individuals who are engaged, trained and prepared - who understand their
role - are more likely to show up when you need them.

As the Acting Deputy Surgeon General (and formerly the OSG Chief of Staff),
I have observed the MRC since its inception.
With H1N1, I believe the MRC network has an incredible potential
to be an even stronger voice for public health.

With more than 180,000 volunteers right now, it would be hard to quantify
your circle of influence,
but you do represent an incredible force mulitiplier .

By simply using your voices and knowledge,
you have a great opportunity to educate your
communities on H1N1 prevention strategies, like proper cough etiquette, hand
washing, and social distancing. In doing so, you influence the behaviors of
hundreds of thousands of people across America .

There are many resources available to you from the CDC, HHS,
and the OCVMRC.
Look for regular email communications, check the MRC webpage
(http://www.medicalreservecorps.gov/H1N1Flu)
and report back to the OCVMRC your unit's activities, plans,
and response efforts. Stay connected so that
everyone can best understand the impact and breadth of activities the MRC
does to strengthen public health.

You have always been wonderful champions of the Surgeon General's
priorities for public health. I thank you for the work you have already done,
and thank you
in advance for the work that you will do this fall and winter.
There has been no more crucial time in recent history to share information
and to help others know what to do to prevent the flu.

We are so proud of what you do everyday. Your talents and skills are a
tremendous asset to your local communities.

With sincere thanks,

Robert C. Williams, P.E., DEE RADM, USPHS
Acting Deputy Surgeon General

____________________________________________________________