INWCOAD is now INWVOAD

May 17, 2011 the Inland Northwest Community Organizations Active in Disaster (INWCOAD) formally amended their By-laws and changed their name from Inland Northwest Community Organizations Active in Disaster (INWCOAD) back to its former name Inland Northwest Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster (INWVOAD)
Their were two primary reasons for this name change:
The name Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) is now a trade mark protected name. As a result, National VOAD is pushing to have more state, regional, and local VOADs.
The second reason is that a business (no name) has trade marked the name COAD and we can no longer use that name. A quick Google search showed two car dealerships, a government corporation, and one none profit with the name COAD. We are now protected from infringement on our VOAD name.
Our new By-laws say that we will continue to network in our 20 county area (10 counties in Washington and 10 counties in Northern Idaho). In addition, we will encourage County Emergency Managers to form local VOADs in our most remote counties.

Japan Earthquake Update

The Japanese People need our help.

Do not go to Japan and become a Spontaneous Volunteer.

Do not send materials of any kind. Sending clothing, food, blankets etc. is clogging up the Japanese distribution system. Donations Management is often the 2nd disaster.

Send money. Every dollar you send turns over 4 times in Japan and helps the survivors and their economy. With money, the Japanese people can buy all the clothing that they need. Japan is the third largest world economy.

Send your money to the International Red Cross or another well established international aid organization.

The Japanese people need our help. Be a part of the solution, not part of the problem.

Historic Conference Call

This is all that remains of a house in White Swan, Washington after a devestating wind-driven fire destroyed 20 houses on February, 12, 2011. The fire left 78 people without homes.

On Friday, March 11, 2011, around this Council table , a historic conference call was held between the Yakama Tribal Council and Washington Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster (WAVOAD). The goal was for WAVOAD member organizations to join hands with the Yakama Nation for coordination, cooperation, communication and collaboration in the long term recovery of the disaster in White Swan.

March Meeting

Our Next Meeting

Date: March 17, 2011
Time: Noon to 2pm (Bring a sack lunch)
Place: Spokane Chapter, American Red Cross
315 West Nora Avenue, Spokane
Program: Delta Society (Improving Human Health Through Service and Therapy Animals)

January 2011 Meeting

Program #1: HOPE AACR (Animal Assisted Crisis Response)

Program #2: Ray Jackson, PIO, Kootenai Emergency Mgmt.

Date: January 20, 2011 (Thursday)

Time: Noon to 2pm (Bring a sack lunch)

Place: Greater Idaho Chapter, American Red Cross

411 West Haycraft, Suite D2,

Coeur D'Alene, ID 83814

November Meeting Corrected Date

INW COAD Meeting

Date: November 11, 2010, Thursday (Veterans Day)
Time: Noon to 2pm (sack lunch)
Place: American Red Cross
Address: 315 West Nora Avenue, Spokane, 99205

September 2010 Meeting

Our Next Meeting is:

Date: Thursday, September 16, 2010
Time: Noon to 2 pm
Place: Coeur d'Alene UMC
1470 West Hanley, Coeur d'Alene Idaho