Book Recommendations

The national Office of the Civilian Volunteer Medical Reserve Corps (OCVMRC) offered a list of suggested reading in their latest newsletter this month. Below is a summary of the recommended books:

From the Top Down - The Executive Role in Volunteer Management by Susan J. Ellis
This book addresses the senior decision-maker's role in developing strategy and resources for high-quality volunteer engagement.

Blink by Malcolm Gladwell
In Blink, the author explores how decisions are made, specifically those instant decisions that seem easy, but in reality are not.

Disaster Medicine by Gregory Ciottone, MD
Disaster Medicine offers readers a comprehensive guidance on the preparation, assessment, and management of a wide range of disasters. Reading this book may help you to prepare and manage your response to various disaster situations in your community.

Slide:ology: The Art and Science of Creating Great Presentations by Nancy Durate
In Slide:ology, Nancy Durate applies her experience and research on visual communication in order to create effective slide presentations. The book focuses on getting information across to audiences effectively, and there are plenty of examples for inspiration.

The Gendered Terrain of Disaster Through Women's Eyes by Elaine Enarson and Betty Hearn Morrow
This book looks at the different ways that disasters impact women and men, and how disaster managers and crisis-relief providers must address these differences in disaster preparedness and planning. Understanding gendered differences can help planners, organizers, practitioners, and residents alleviate the effects of a disaster, as well as make the community more resilient.

The First 72 Hours: A Community's Approach to Disaster Preparedness by Margaret O'Leary
The First 72 Hours explores the creation of the Suburban Emergency Management Project by leaders in the Chicago area. The book looks at various community perspectives on community resiliency and their roles in a disaster. It is a great resource for MRC leaders to identify and work with key stakeholders.

The New Breed: Understanding and Equipping the 21st Century Volunteer by Jonathan R. McKee and Thomas W. McKee
The New Breed talks about adapting to the changing world of volunteer management. It addresses the benefits of embracing both old and new school techniques that can be used to recruit and engage different types of volunteers.