National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) to Host 24th Annual Conference in New Orleans

NEW ORLEANS, May 11, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --   

WHAT: The 24th Annual National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) Conference is expected to bring over 500 participants to New Orleans during the week of May 11, representing nationwide leadership from faith-based, community and other non-profit organizations, as well as from local, state and federal emergency management agencies and other government entities. The conference will take place at the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel and will provide opportunities for continuing education, community service, and networking, for this valuable collection of agencies and professionals.

Tuesday, May 12, Mayor Mitch Landrieu, Mayor of New Orleans, will kick off the conference and greet conference attendees. The same night, National VOAD & UPS (United Parcel Service), will present 12 awards to national community-based and faith-based disaster response organizations at the Welcome and Awards Reception. One of the top awards of the night is this year's "Don Hampton Volunteer of the Year Award." The recipient of this award will receive a Presidential Volunteer Service Award and two tickets to Disney World courtesy of the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH).

At this reception, the Louisiana Seafood Board will thank the volunteers who have come to help Louisiana recover from disasters over the years. Representing the Seafood Promotion Board and preparing dishes for the reception will be:  Sal Sunseri, owner of P & J Oysters and Chairman of the LA Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board; and Chalin Delaune, vice president of Tommy's Fish House and Redemption Seafood Restaurant, also a Louisiana Seafood Board member.

Wednesday, May 13, Governor Haley Barbour, former governor of Mississippi, will keynote and reflect on his experiences during Hurricane Katrina and his work with voluntary organizations. Later that day, National VOAD will host the first ever "VOAD Think Tank". Rich Serino, the former Deputy Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), who is now a Distinguished Visiting Fellow at Harvard School of Public Health, National Preparedness Leadership Initiative, will lead the conversation. Not only will this conversation be held in New Orleans, we will also open the forum to Twitter via the #VOADThinkTank hashtag.

Thursday, May 14, FEMA Administrator, Craig Fugate, will brief national members, state representatives, community leaders, government partners and other key stakeholders on FEMA initiatives. In addition, he will join in the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between FEMA and National VOAD.

WHERE: The National VOAD Conference will take place at the Sheraton New Orleans, 500 Canal St, New Orleans, LA 70130.

WHEN: May 11-15, 2015.

WHO: National VOAD will host approximately 550 participants during this year's conference. Attendees will represent all 55 state and territorial VOADs as well as the National Member organizations.  

To schedule an interview with speakers or any of the partnering VOAD agencies regarding their roles in disasters, contact James McGowan, Director - Strategic Initiatives, by calling 202-580-2335 or emailing [email protected].

About National VOAD:  

National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster is a leader and voice for the non-profit organizations and volunteers that work in all phases of disaster -- preparedness, response, relief, recovery, and mitigation. Members of National VOAD form a coalition of non-profit organizations that respond to disasters as part of their overall mission.  

SOURCE National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster