The month of May 2024 has not only been active with regards to severe wind storms, floods, and tornadoes in the western United States but also with ceremonies recognizing those selfless volunteers and emergency staff who have dedicated themselves to helping others.
Holding its three-day annual conference in early May, the Utah Emergency Management Association (UEMA) (www.utahema.org), led the way.
The conference and awards celebration were held on the Utah Tech University Campus in St. George, Utah, as a special gathering dedicated to celebrating the remarkable individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to emergency management in the state of Utah. Realizing the importance of recognizing those individuals who maintain a high level of spirit in the disaster field, the governing board of UEMA nominated the Church of Scientology and Joava Good, Deputy National Director of Churches of Scientology Disaster Response (CSDR) (www.csdr-us.org), for CSDR’s “ unwavering dedication exemplifying the spirit of excellence that the Association aims to celebrate through this award.”
The 2023-2024 Exceptional Non-Profit Partner in Emergency Management Award nomination noted that “the Church of Scientology Disaster Response Organization is always doing so much to help coordinate disaster recovery efforts and makes all others they work with shine too. In 2023 the Mountain West VOAD conference was held in Salt Lake City, at the Church of Scientology.”
Joava Good, who is also the current president of the Mountain West VOAD, noted that “Mountain West was conceived in 2013 and has grown over the years from the original seven states of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Utah, Montana, Wyoming, and Colorado to include North Dakota, South Dakota, Nevada, Nebraska, New Mexico, and Alaska at their 2024 annual conference. Our mission is to help voluntary organizations perform their individual missions, assist survivors, and help one another more easily across state borders by focusing more on the 4Cs of the National VOAD – cooperation, communication, coordination, and collaboration – and to work closely with all our Emergency Managers, and government partners.”
Joava Good, from her position as the Deputy National Director of CSDR, received the UEMA award in St. George. The nomination mentioned that the Church of Scientology is also a strong supporter of the Utah VOAD Partnerships and often “offer up their building to host meetings and workshops for first responders and VOAD Partners and is an amazing organization which wants to strengthen Emergency Management and VOAD ties and help in recovery across all areas in every neighborhood they can help in.”
Ms. Good said, “I am so honored to accept this award on behalf of the Church of Scientology and the Churches of Scientology Disaster Response and its Volunteer Ministers. It has been extremely rewarding in all ways to work together over the last many years with the UEMA and all our State VOAD members to help bring relief to those in need and collaborate and plan on what the future might bring. We look forward to continuing and expanding our collaboration.”
The Salt Lake City Church of Scientology and CSDR was recently featured on: https://www.scientology.tv/series/destination-scientology/salt-lake-city.html