(MANZANITA, OR. February 2024) – At its January meeting, the EVCNB Board of Directors made several changes to the organization’s leadership.
Margaret Steele, M.D., who was President of the Board for 4 years, officially stepped down from the Board and her duties as President. Dr. Steele has been a strong, tireless advocate for the organization and a guiding force at EVCNB since its inception in 2008. She and the other founders of the organization had the insight to know that North Coast citizens should be aware of and prepared for a variety of potential natural emergencies endemic to the area. A retired physician, Dr. Steele began building EVCNB by harnessing the community’s existing medical organizations and medical volunteers thus creating a strong base from which the organization could grow.
It was their clear vision and leadership skills that helped Dr. Steele and others stitch together a plan that is now a dynamic group with a broad and deep set of volunteers, skills, and resources.
EVCNB is, in fact, a leader in our community, our region, and our state thanks to the unfailing work of so many dedicated people, including Dr. Margaret Steele.
Today, EVCNB boasts an organization chart encompassing areas of Community Preparedness, Prepare Your Neighborhood, Community Training, Emergency Communication, Emergency Response, Community Emergency Response Teams, Medical Reserve Corps, Shelter and Mass Care, with a volunteer roster of more than 100 individuals.
Patricia “Trish” Johnson, PhD, has been Vice President of the Board for the past several years and has taken over the leadership reins as the new President of EVCNB.
Dr. Johnson has been with EVCNB for 9 years and has served in a number of positions, including strategic planning, emergency food training, GoBag training, Prepare Your
Neighborhood Lead for the Sunset-Meadow Neighborhood, and the Prepare Your Neighborhood Leadership Team. She is well known as an excellent group facilitator and has done pro bono work with several local nonprofit organizations. Dr. Johnson has a long career in organizational development and she knows how well-functioning groups and teams should work. She will continue to help EVCNB volunteers and partners fit together synergistically as a well-functioning team that helps all citizens—volunteers and others—access the preparedness skills and systems that EVCNB has created.
Moving into the Vice President position is Brad Hart. Brad started with the organization in 2020 in a technology and supporting role on the Communication and Outreach Team. He joined the Board of Directors as Project Director in 2023. In addition to his duties on the Communications team, he has also built a number of internal systems that help all EVCNB groups work together more efficiently.
Mr. Hart played a key role in helping to develop the EVCNB website and, as one of itsadministrators, continues to make it a valuable tool to educate the community, help market and sell EVCNB classes and events, and give volunteers a direct portal of information and connectedness. He has created pathways through internal and external communication and social media that help make the organization an organic and vibrant entity.
The Emergency Volunteer Corps of Nehalem Bay (EVCNB) is a non-profit organization dedicated to building personal, community and regional resilience, developing programs to ensure readiness, and promoting a culture of emergency preparedness. Learn how to prepare yourself, your family, and your community for emergencies by visiting www.evcnb.org. While there you can sign up to be a volunteer and to receive our newsletter. You can also make inquiries at info@evcnb.org or call (503) 389-5820.