CARE elects top officers and volunteer leadership team

Commonwealth Advocates for Recovery Efforts announced its new volunteer leadership team at its general meeting Tuesday. Officers elected to lead the organization include president Alex Sablan, vice president Lauri Ogumoro, and treasurer John Hirsh. The team will provide management for CARE and direction for the implementation of CARE’s mission to build a resilient community and address unmet needs of individuals and families impacted by disaster.

“I’m honored to be asked to lead this important long-term recovery organization,” said Sablan, who has been involved with Soudelor recovery as vice president of Tan Holdings and as manager for its “Project Ayudu,” a fundraising campaign to assist with recovery from Soudelor’s impact. “I am eager to do my part to help address the unmet needs of those impacted by disaster, and wish to thank Geri Willis for her leadership in developing CARE to this important point of transition.” Willis recently stepped down from her initial leadership position facilitating CARE’s formation.

Ogumoro has also been with CARE’s leadership team from its beginning. “Facilitating the delivery of donated resources to those most impacted by disaster, but still with unmet needs, is an important challenge to take on,” said Ogumoro. “I’m proud to be a part of CARE and to work with our partner agencies and community volunteers who are dedicated to seeing this work gets done.” Ogumoro, who was off-island for the meeting Tuesday, is also the executive director of Karidat, which serves as CARE’s fiscal agent.

“Cross-sector collaboration is essential to addressing the unmet needs in our community,” said Hirsh, who has been at the forefront of Soudelor recovery and response as executive director of the American Red Cross NMI Chapter. “I look forward to working with this diverse team to implement CARE’s mission.”

Operating under recently approved bylaws, the Steering Committee is charged with providing direction for the implementation of CARE’s mission to the president, who supervises CARE director Jenny Hegland. CARE officers and Steering Committee members all serve as volunteers. They also make up CARE’s Unmet Needs Table, which has the responsibility for deciding how CARE resources are distributed to those with unmet needs.

CARE is helping to build a more resilient community by facilitating coordination between network partners, business and government leaders, and community volunteers, identifying unmet needs, and delivering long-term support to those most impacted by disaster. For more information, go to www.cnmicare.com. (CARE)