Culver City CERT

Barbara Vineis

Member At Large

I am interested in running for the position of Member At Large.

I am a Registered Nurse and have been a member and instructor of CERT for 20 years.  As an instructor,  I have had the pleasure of co-teaching the Med Ops modules and assisting with other modules. 

Most recently, I have been serving as Member At Large on the CERT          Executive Board and assisting with various projects as needed.

I would like to continue sharing my expertise in this capacity.

Thank you for your consideration.

Barbara Vineis 

Carol Kramer

Member At Large

My name is Carol Kramer, and I have lived in Culver City for the past 30 years. Several misconceptions about what I would learn in the CERT class, i.e. only basic first aid and  search/rescue, prevented me from taking the CERT class prior to the first quarter of 2019.  I am now a firm believer that as many people as possible should take the class to learn how to take care of themselves and possibly neighbors after a major disaster.   

My Experience:

1) Co-coordinator of my NERT (East Sunkist)

2) Volunteered at the 2019 Fire Service Day CERT table  

3) Volunteered at the National Cemetery’s first aid table during the 2019 Memorial Day

     weekend when scouts placed flags on each of the graves

4) Through CERT’s Emergency Food Program, delivering groceries to a senior citizen

5) Coordinating the efforts of approximately 250 city volunteers in response to COVID    

6) Volunteer Liaison for CCPD’s volunteer program

I am running for Member-at-Large because I want to increase participation in CERT classes.  One way is to have a CET board member speak to each of the city’s Neighborhood Watch groups to explain what CERT does, what is taught, and allay common misconceptions.  I also would like to see an  increase in the number of      general meetings each year for existing CERT members. Necessary skills could be reinforced at some of the general meetings as well as during the annual refresher class.  I am a proponent of the “use it or lose it” theory.  If skills are not used or practiced on a regular basis, they are forgotten. I am running for a position on CERT’s Executive Board to increase my participation in an organization I completely believe in.  Thank you for your  support.

Treasurer

Running Unopposed

Steve O’Donnell

My name is Steve O’Donnell.  I am the current Treasurer of Culver City CERT and I am running for re-election.

I have been an active member of CERT for 12 years.  During this time I have participated in a majority of the CERT drills.  I received my Ham license and have been  active in CCARES.  I am also a NERT co-coordinator.  In April 2011 I became the Treasurer of CERT.

When I applied for the position of Treasurer I saw an opportunity to use my professional skills to contribute to CERT in a new way.  I am an accountant and have held various management positions.  My  experience allows me to effectively manage CERT’s funds, prepare meaningful financial reports, and contribute to the management of CERT. I’d like to continue working with the CERT Board as we grow and move this great organization forward.

Thank you. If you elect me as your Treasurer, I will continue to actively support our community’s emergency      response   capabilities.

Secretary

Running Unopposed

Mia Cramer

Hiya, I'm Mia and I'm the current Secretary for Culver City CERT. I'm running for the position of Secretary because I would like to continue giving back to my community. I volunteered for the role in November 2019 when the current Secretary had to cut their term short. I'm a long term resident of Culver City and I currently work at a local studio. I have 18 years of experience in Business Operations/HR. I'm certified in CPR, Stop The Bleed, and recently graduated from the Culver City Citizen Police Academy. 

I've been a member of Culver City CERT for 15 years, and I am currently the Co-Manager for NERT 33. In the past I have also volunteered as a first aid provider at the Memorial Flag Placing at the National Cemetery, and routinely attended final drills to take part as a scribe for the Incident Commander. 

Most recently I have assisted CC CERT’s efforts during the Covid 19 pandemic by helping senior citizens sign up for online delivery of groceries.

You may see me and my dog, Obi, out exercising around the neighborhood or at a Front Yard Friends event ready with a ‘Hiya.'

Cheers,

Mia

Vice President

Running Unopposed

Mike Landau

My Fellow CERTizens,

I have been nominated to run again as your CC CERT Vice President. And, I accept that nomination.

Over the past 4 years, I have been available as a back up to CC CERT President Joel   Falter. On at least one occasion, when Joel was not reachable, I was tasked by the CCFD to organize a group of CC CERT members to assist our CCPD in its efforts to search for an infant believed to have been dumped in a landfill. Although we didn't actually get in the thick of it, I was impressed by the interest of our membership to help in such a difficult situation. And, a few times, I have stepped in to deliver the CC CERT President weekly   report on the CCARES Sunday nite net. I have attended almost every Board meeting unless I was out of town or busy at work.

Being a part of CC CERT has been a passion ever since I took my training back in last quarter of 1999...yes back then there were 4 classes per year. I have done my best to do what ever I could to help our CCFD and the CC CERT organization.

I hope to continue being an asset to CC CERT and offer what I can as your Vice President.

Respectively, Michael D. "Dr. Mike" Landau, M.D., CC CERT VP

President

Running Unopposed

Stephanie Benjamin

My Name is Stephanie Benjamin and I'm running for Culver City CERT President. I am a self motivated, resourceful, and clever small business operator with an  accomplished and demonstrated history of working in the public safety industry. I believe I can bring a re-imagined, collaborative, and experience based perspective to CERT, to help the organization grow. I will be able to draw upon 22 years of education, training and experience including: Masters in Emergency           Management, Fire Investigation & Law Enforcement, numerous certifications in the field of Emergency Management and 22+ years as an EMT. I have taught, responded to emergencies and served communities ranging from providing medical aid, disaster planning, research and program development, project and volunteer management, training communities in emergency preparedness to disaster response; including responding to Louisiana after Hurricanes Katrina/Rita for ~5 months. 

For the last 12 years I've spent my time training businesses, new parents, police officers, neighborhoods, in CPR, First Aid, AED, Emergency Preparedness and designing and selling earthquake kits/first aid kits for homes, offices, and entire neighborhoods. As well as designing emergency plans for neighborhoods, speaking at community events and hiring out as an emergency manager for large events. My background in CERT includes 17 years teaching for CC CERT, volunteering as a member of CERT (managing events, and providing first aid), and holding various roles within the executive and    managing board. This election cycle I felt it was time to take on a larger role to pump some new ideas into the program. Recent activities I have managed and brought to the table include revamping the CERT website, active shooter training in Nov 2019 and the Stop The Bleed Training in Feb 2020, including coordinating the distribution of the STB kits. I have also been managing the CERT response to the Covid19 pandemic; an ongoing assignment I've held since March.

I look forward to serving in a capacity that will bring more opportunities to CERT members to learn and be involved in the program so we all feel safer in our abilities and knowledge to respond and feel safe in an emergency. Thank you for your consideration.