And so, it begins! A Commentary
Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK
On his first day in office, President Joseph Biden signed seventeen (17) Executive Orders (EOs). Most overturned President Trump’s EOs.
With the stroke of a pen, Biden halted funding for the building of the southern border wall, shut down construction of the Keystone pipeline, reversed the travel ban on several Muslim countries associated with terrorism, rejoined the Paris climate treaty, and rejoined the World Health Organization. He directed the Census Bureau to require ‘non-citizens’ be included in the Census and the factored into the apportionment of congressional representatives. He signed an EO that allows transgendered children to use whichever bathroom they feel comfortable with. “All persons should receive equal treatment under the law, no matter their gender identity or sexual orientation,” Biden said.
Biden restored collective bargaining for federal workers and laid the foundation for a $15 federal minimum wage. Economists agree a hike to the federal minimum wage would kill 3.7 million jobs in the U.S. In his first week, Biden has signed over thirty EOs.
Three observations:
First, Biden’s call for unity in his inaugural speech was disingenuous. Virtually all of his Executive Orders overturned Trump administration policy. That is not uncommon when presidents from opposite Parties follow one another, but Biden’s call for America to come together lacks authenticity.
His actions don’t mirror his rhetoric. Elections have consequences and Biden proved that by signing EOs reversing many of Trump’s policies. Calling for unity while you sow division is the height of condescension, arrogance, and haughtiness. He shouldn’t be preaching unity.
Second, the use of Executive Orders should be curtailed. Trump signed 217 in four years, Obama 276 in eight years, George W , 290 in eight years, Franklin Roosevelt 3,522 in 12 years. The first fifteen presidents in our nation’s history issued 120 total, but starting with Lincoln, they became more common.
Congress can veto an EO with a 2/3 majority, but they seldom do. The legislative branch is supposed to be the most powerful of the three branches, but presidents (in both Parties) are using EOs to circumvent the legislature and sovereignly make and enforce law. It should be stopped and Congress should schedule votes on every EO issued by President Biden(or any president).
Third, Biden will reverse, rescind, overturn, and nullify everything Trump did the past four years. With Democrats in control of both chambers of Congress, he will likely be successful. America is in for a tough couple of years. The mid-term elections of 2022 will likely result in a swing back to the right, but until then expect Biden and Harris to push for socialist policies that will hurt America business and trade.
The hope of America is not Donald Trump running in four years. It is having Trump supporters stay hooked up and work to elect conservatives at the local level(school board, municipal, county). They need to pay attention all the time, not just on election years.
When challenged by a reporter on his trashing of Trump’s response to the coronavirus, President Biden snapped, “Come on- give me a break man!” Sorry, but the president doesn’t get a ‘break.’
Elected officials, at all levels, should be willing to defend themselves, their policy decisions and their votes. When American voters force them to defend their actions, they will have recaptured their government.
NOTE: Steve Fair, a commentator whose columns appear regularly in Oklahoma and around the southwest United States, including on the CapitolBeatOK.com website, is a conservative activist and Republican leader. He is chairman of the Republican Party in Oklahoma’s Fourth Congressional District. He can be reached via email at [email protected]. Steve’s blog is stevefair.blogspot.com.
And so, it begins! A Commentary Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK
0 Comments
OKLAHOMA CITY – Recently, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) took a major step forward in its effort to restructure its aging fleet of research ships. The U.S. Navy has awarded a $178,082,877 contract to Thoma-Sea Marine Constructors LLC, located in Houma, Louisiana, for the detailed design and construction of two new oceanographic ships for NOAA.
The vessels are being acquired by NOAA through an agreement with the Naval Sea Systems Command, a leader in building, providing and procuring large research ships for the nation's research fleet.
“These state-of-the-art ships will play a vital role in collecting high-quality data and leading scientific discoveries,” said Neil Jacobs, Ph.D., acting NOAA administrator. “The science missions aboard these vessels promise to push the boundaries of what is known about our still largely undiscovered ocean.”
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is an American scientific agency within the United States Department of Commerce that focuses on the conditions of the oceans, major waterways, and the atmosphere.
The first ship, to be named Oceanographer, will be homeported in Honolulu. The second ship, to be named Discoverer, will be assigned a homeport at a future date. Both vessels will continue the legacies of their namesakes.
The first Oceanographer (https://ift.tt/3onlgyW) served in the NOAA fleet from 1966 to 1996 and her sister ship, Discoverer (https://ift.tt/3chggJU), served from 1967 to 1996.
The new ships will support a wide variety of missions, ranging from general oceanographic research and exploration to marine life, climate and ocean ecosystem studies. These missions include shallow coastal, continental shelf, and worldwide ocean survey and data collection.
Designed as single-hull ships, Oceanographer and Discoverer will be built to commercial standards. They will incorporate the latest technologies, including high-efficiency, environmentally friendly EPA Tier IV (https://ift.tt/3t2maVa) diesel engines, emissions controls for stack gases, new information technology tools for monitoring shipboard systems, and underwater scientific research and survey equipment, according to the press release.
The ships will be equipped to launch work boats, perform maintenance on buoys and moorings, deploy scientific instruments to collect weather and water column data, and conduct seafloor mapping surveys.
Each vessel will operate with a crew of 20 and will accommodate up to 28 scientists.
“This contract award represents a major step forward in the process to recapitalize NOAA’s ship fleet,” said NOAA Rear Adm. Michael J. Silah, director of the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps and NOAA Office of Marine and Aviation Operations (OMAO). “We thank the Navy, our valued partner, for its assistance with this acquisition.”
The NOAA ship fleet is operated, managed and maintained by the Office of Marine and Aviation Operations (OMAO – https://ift.tt/3a7sX7k), which is composed of civilians and officers with the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps, one of the nation’s eight uniformed services.
To learn more about Thomas-Sea Marine Constructors, visit thoma-sea.com. For more information about NOAA, visit noaa.gov.
Thoma-Sea Marine Constructors to build two new oceanographic ships for NOAA Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK
U.S. Senate, summary of JFK’s ‘Profiles in Courage’ chapter 6
Edmund Ross, a Kansas Republican, cast the deciding vote that ended the impeachment proceedings against President Andrew Johnson.
The proceedings began because doctrinaire "Radical Republicans," then in control of the Senate, passed a Tenure of Office Act to prevent a president from firing cabinet members without Senate consent.
This was done to try to stop Johnson from firing Secretary of War Edwin Stanton. Johnson believed Stanton was a tool of the Radicals who wanted to establish a military dictatorship in the South.
Johnson felt the wiser course would be to reconstruct the Confederate states back into the Union as quickly as possible without unnecessary military intervention, as [Abraham] Lincoln had intended. (https://ift.tt/3celG8m)
When Johnson fired Stanton, the impeachment began. The House voted for impeachment and the trial then moved to the Senate. As the trial went on it became clear that the Republicans had no intention of giving Johnson a fair trial; rather, their emphasis was on convincing enough Senators to find Johnson guilty. (https://ift.tt/3cj7dbr)
Ross was overheard saying that while he had no sympathy for Johnson, he would do his best to see that he was fairly tried. Because Ross had previously been such a partisan Republican, he became the principal target of abuse from the press, the public, and his fellow Republican legislators. (https://ift.tt/3olqAmg)
Nonetheless, Ross voted against convicting Johnson, reasoning that if a president could be forced out of office by insufficient evidence that was based on partisan disagreement, the presidency would then be under the control of whatever congressional faction held sway.
Ross's action unleashed relentless criticism. Neither he nor any other Republican who voted to acquit Andrew Johnson was reelected to the Senate, and Ross and his family suffered ostracism and poverty upon their return to Kansas in 1871.
Eventually, Ross was vindicated by the Supreme Court, which declared the Tenure of Office Act to be unconstitutional, and praised by the press and the public for having saved the country from dictatorship.
https://ift.tt/3pmb0Ir
Summary: Edmund Ross (Chapter VI) from Profiles in Courage by John F. Kennedy Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK
Sentinel Staff Report
Omni Oklahoma City Hotel, a 605-guest room convention center hotel, will soon introduce seven new eclectic food and beverage outlets to Oklahoma City. The hotel is set to open on Tuesday, Jan. 26, at 100 WEST OKLAHOMA CITY BLVD., OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA 73109.
Kickoff for the new hotel will be accompanied by the opening of four of the seven outlets with the remaining opening at a later date. Accomplished corporate chef and restaurateur David Gilbert will serve as the hotel’s executive chef.
“Omni Oklahoma City Hotel will offer enticing options with a variety of dining experiences for any occasion,” Gilbert said. “Whether you are looking to sip on a local beer while watching the Oklahoma City Thunder, experience elevated dining with an aged steak or simply grab a latte for a ride on the Street Car or while visiting Scissortail Park, Omni provides a unique food and beverage destination for those traveling to Oklahoma City, enjoying a staycation, spending time downtown or seeking memorable dining experience for a night out in the city. We look forward to welcoming locals and guests to Omni Oklahoma City Hotel
See this link:
https://ift.tt/3n3iMGe
A recipient of StarChef’s Rising Star Chef Award, a James Beard Foundation Best Chef: Southwest nominee and a published author (https://ift.tt/2MiYSt9 ), Gilbert comes from Dallas, Texas and is well-versed in quick service, fast casual and fine dining with experience working in the hospitality industry. An accomplished chef and sommelier with a proven track record of managing high-end properties, building multi-cultural teams and improving standards, Gilbert’s menus have turned heads across the United States, Europe, Asia, Africa and in international competition.
Omni Oklahoma City Hotel will offer seven culinary outlets, with several restaurants lining Robinson Avenue featuring outdoor patio seating and street entrances. Dining experiences will include a Bob’s Steak & Chop House; lobby bar; two-story sports and entertainment bar; all-day dining outlet with to-go offerings; coffee shop; walk-up burger bar; and a poolside bar and grill.
Besides Bob’s Steak & Chop House, locations opening Tuesday – in coordination with the launch of the Hotel as a whole – include the Basin Bar, OKC Tap House, and Park Grounds.
Three additional venues at the facility will open later: Seltzer’s, Double Decker Bar, and Catbird Seat.
“The breadth of the culinary-forward experiences we are bringing to Oklahoma City will make this an indelible retreat for guests, foodies and locals alike,” Omni Oklahoma City Hotel’s Director of Food & Beverage Jamel Taggart said. “We look forward to working with local brands throughout the city to support the community and bring the Oklahoma adventure alive for all.”
Bringing more than 15 years of experience, Taggart was named director of food & beverage of Omni Oklahoma City Hotel in November 2020. He first began his Omni career in 2014 at Omni Severin Hotel in Indianapolis, Indiana before taking a brief intermission to lead other luxury food and beverage operations such as the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess and the ARIA Las Vegas. Taggart returned to Omni in 2019 where he held the role of director of restaurants at Omni Dallas Hotel.
The 17-story hotel located at 100 West Oklahoma City Blvd. will serve the city’s revitalized downtown area including the future convention center, Scissortail Park and Chesapeake Energy Arena, home of the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder.
The hotel will feature 605 luxurious guest rooms, inclusive of 29 suites, with dramatic views of the 70-acre Scissortail Park and the downtown skyline. A true outdoor recreation, entertainment and culinary destination, Omni Oklahoma City Hotel will offer an expansive pool deck with event space, retail, 76,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space and the Mokara Spa in addition to the food and beverage outlets.
Omni Oklahoma City Hotel will become a part of Omni’s robust, and growing, Convention Center Collection, which features signature properties in Atlanta, Louisville, Dallas, Nashville and Boston (opening in 2021).
The City Sentinel’s previous coverage of the new Omni Oklahoma City Hotel can be seen here:
https://ift.tt/3c70WPL
For more information about the facility, visit: https://ift.tt/3n3iMGe or follow Omni Hotels & Resorts at: https://ift.tt/2Y7BGkm or https://ift.tt/2Mm9I1o.
Note: Publisher Patrick B. McGuigan contributed to this report.
As Omni Oklahoma City Hotel opens, executive chef and food & beverage director introduced Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK
OKLAHOMA CITY – Valentine’s Day celebrators will go wild with a unique dinner experience at the Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden. The OKC Zoo is hosting two socially distant
Valentine’s Dinner (https://ift.tt/3c8mQlG) events at the Zoo’s Sea Lion Stadium on Saturday, February 13 and Sunday, February 14.
Each event will be limited to 122 guests, 21 and older, to ensure adequate social distancing among attendees. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the first course is served at 7 p.m.
Participants will enjoy dining under the stars at private, socially distanced tables, arranged throughout the Zoo’s covered, outdoor venue Sea Lion Stadium. Heat lamps will create a cozy and inviting setting, but dressing warmly is advised.
Both events will feature a three-course dinner provided by Salt and Surrey Cartering
(https://saltandsurrey.com/).
Menu options include a strawberry or tossed salad, south of France chicken, grilled pork loin with peach chutney, or portabella mushroom stack and a sweet ending with strawberry or chocolate mousse for dessert.
Dinners will feature a full bar with domestic beer, wine, mixed drinks, soda and the event’s specialty cocktail, the Love Potion, available for purchase.
Each of the one-of-kind dinners will conclude with a splash as the Zoo’s California sea lions and harbor seals along with their talented caretakers entertain guests with specially-themed presentation, Sealed with a Fish!
“We are excited to expand our adult, 21 and older events and provide Zoo fans with a new, exclusive opportunity to celebrate the Valentine’s holiday in a memorable setting with our beloved wildlife,” said Jenna Dodson, OKC Zoo’s manager of events.
Guests will have the opportunity to complement their dinner with a half-dozen chocolate covered strawberries for an additional $35.
Participants who plan to propose this Valentine’s Day can purchase a proposal package to present during the Valentine’s Dinner and a Zoo representative will reach out to help plan details for the very special occasion.
Valentine’s Dinner admission is $120 per couple for ZOOfriends members and $140 per couple for nonmembers.
During the ticket purchasing process, guests will be asked to give their menu choices and a place to request special seating with friends or other couples.
Tickets are now available at okczoo.org .
okczoo.org. Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable and events will be held rain or shine.
Advance tickets, required for all guests and ZOOfriends members, can be purchased at okczoo.org/tickets .
Zoo tickets are limited each day to maintain social distancing among guests.
Regular admission is $12 for adults and $9 for children ages 3-11 and seniors ages 65 and over. Children two and under are admitted free.
The Oklahoma City Zoo is open Thursday through Monday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with no public access on Tuesdays and Wednesdays
Guests are required to wear masks when in Zoo indoor locations. Masks can be purchased at the Zoo’s gift shop, restaurants and outdoor cafes
Starting at $45, memberships can be purchased at ZOOfriends.org .
and provide access to the OKC Zoo for an entire year plus, additional benefits and discounts.
To learn more about this and other Zoo happenings, call 405-424-3344 or visit okczoo.org .
Love is in the air with Oklahoma City Zoo’s 2021 Valentine’s Dinner Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK
On January 7, the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) launched an online registration portal to help Oklahomans determine when they are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine and how to schedule an appointment when it is their turn.
Health Commissioner Dr. Lance Frye and Deputy Health Commissioner Keith Reed held a virtual news conference to announce the launch of the Vaccine Scheduling Appointment App, or VSAA.
The online tool went live as the state began Phase 2 of its vaccine distribution plan. Oklahomans can visit this portal at vaccinate.oklahoma.gov .
Phase 1, which includes frontline health care workers and long-term care facility residents is still underway statewide.
Oklahoma moved into Phase 2 as the Oklahoma City-County Health Department (OCCHD) began vaccinating people age 65 and older, with additional vaccination clinics to be announced.
To provide increased access, OSDH initiated vaccination “PODS” or Points of Dispensing Sites across the state where individuals who qualify to receive the vaccine can do so safely.
A press release stated that OSDH is exploring additional options for individuals who are not able to access the internet or a computer. For now, the agency recommends consulting with a friend or family member for assistance, or calling their local county health department or 211 hotline (https://ift.tt/38hzrAO) .
Efficient progress through the distribution plan relies on the supply of vaccine doses available and the ability to make them accessible to additional priority groups by distributing to local providers, according to Reed.
However, the roll out hasn’t gone as smoothly as planned.
As reported on Jan. 19 by KFOR-TV (https://ift.tt/360sTF1 ), officials say “close to a quarter of a million Oklahomans have at least gotten their first shot. But many more are waiting and frustration is growing for citizens, as well as Oklahoma State Department of Health officials.”
KFOR also reported that although thousands of residents say they are eligible to receive a vaccine, they have been unable to do so through the state’s vaccine portal.
OSDH encourages Oklahomans to continue using the Vaccinate.oklahoma.gov portal to register and find available appointments when posted.
President Joe Biden has declared that slowing down the spread of Covid-19 and getting 100 million vaccine shots into Americans' arms in his first 100 days in office are of utmost priority.
Officials say Oklahoma gets between 80,000 and 90,000 doses a week, which Reed says “is not nearly enough.”
“When the state’s vaccine portal rolled out, technology gap rooted it’s head again because a lot of seniors don’t have access to computers,” said Eileen Bradshaw (https://ift.tt/393Jn1d ) of Life Senior Services of Tulsa. “Many don’t have email addresses, which are needed to register.”
[As of late this past week,] The U.S. had administered 17.2 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna Inc. vaccines nationally, according to Bloomberg’s Vaccine tracker
(https://ift.tt/39WgMtS ).
This number is far short of the last administration's goal of administering 20 million vaccine doses by the end of 2020.
On Thursday, (Jan. 21) Anthony Fauci, the government’s top infectious disease doctor, said that Johnson & Johnson single dose vaccine now has sufficient data from its late-stage Covid-19 vaccine trial to begin analysis soon.
Currently, Oklahomans 65 and up are the majority of the people waiting for an injection. Reed says they have not opened up shots to people under 65 with comorbidities yet.
“We know there are many who are interested in receiving the vaccine, and the state is continually updating the website to make it easier to use,” Reed added.
“Please keep in mind, there are a limited number of vaccines available, so we ask Oklahomans to be patient, and continue being vigilant utilizing the three W’s (wear a mask, watch your distance and wash your hands).”
For detailed information about the vaccine distribution plan and the priority populations included in each phase, visit oklahoma.gov/COVID10 or call 2-1-1 .
To register and find available appointments for the COVID-19 vaccine, visit here: Vaccinate.Oklahoma.gov .
COVID NEWS UPDATE: OSDH (Oklahoma State Department of Health) and the online portal for COVID-19 vaccine registration Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK Sen. Standridge files social media bill in response to censorship of political/religious speech1/23/2021
OKLAHOMA CITY – State Sen. Rob Standridge, R-Norman, has filed legislation to give Oklahomans civil recourse when social media platforms unfairly target posts or accounts for their political or religious speech. Standridge said Senate Bill 383 is aimed at ensuring such speech is treated fairly.
“I’ve had constituents tell me they’ve had their social media posts censored for reasons that are strictly political, aimed at shutting down conservative views,” Standridge said. “I think when that’s the case, those citizens should be able to take action against those companies.”
Under S.B. 383, the owner or operator of a social media website that contracts with users in the state could be sued if the social media website purposely deletes or censors a social media website user’s political or religious speech, or uses an algorithm to suppress such speech. Users would be able to seek damages of a minimum of $75,000 per intentional deletion or censoring of that user’s speech, along with actual damages and punitive damages if aggravating factors are present. The prevailing party may also be awarded costs and reasonable attorney fees.
The bill would not apply to calls for immediate acts of violence or posts that entice criminal conduct or were the result of an operational error. It would also exempt posts that came from an inauthentic source or involved false impersonation or involved minors bullying minors. The website would not be liable under the bill for an individual user’s censoring of the speech of another user.
“We’ve seen what appears to be selective censoring of opinion on social media. The legislation clearly states violent or other unacceptable content can and should be censored and violators removed if necessary, but any censorship should be applied equally to all,” Standridge said.
“I believe in free speech, and the protection of free political speech is vital to the preservation of our democracy."
Sen. Standridge files social media bill in response to censorship of political/religious speech Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK Oklahoma Senator David Bullard files bills to protect rights of public school and college students1/23/2021 Staff Report
OKLAHOMA CITY – As a teacher with 15 years of experience in public school classrooms, Sen. David Bullard, R-Durant, knows the impact teachers can have on students. As he explained in a late January press release sent to CapitolBeatOK, The City Sentinel and other news organizations, having seen the good and bad, he decided to file Senate Bill 588.
The proposal creates the “Students’ Bill of Rights” to protect public school students from bias and prejudice in the classroom.
A companion measure, S.B. 614 would extend similar protections to students attending Oklahoma’s public colleges and universities.
“Our job as teachers is to help students learn various subjects, like math and reading, that will help them become independent, productive members of society. However, some teachers overstep their boundaries trying to indoctrinate students with socialism, hatred of America and even persuade them away from their faith,” Bullard said.
“This bill clarifies that a student does not relinquish their constitutional rights at the school door. Teachers need to realize there are boundaries and their responsibility is to teach only those subjects for which they were hired, and everything else needs to be left up to parents and guardians.”
Under S.B. 588, students in Oklahoma public schools and public charter schools have the right to:
1. A safe learning environment including freedom from bullying and threatening behavior;
2. An unbiased education that does not endorse, favor or promote socialism, communism, Marxism or anti-American bias;
3. An unbiased learning environment including classrooms and school-sponsored or sanctioned events free from the
4. display of flags or propaganda of any organization or symbol of socialism, communism, Marxism or anti-American sentiment;
5. Privacy protections including clothing and bodily searches;
6. Public and free expression of religion, speech and peaceful assembly such as participating or leading voluntary prayers, observing moments of silence, reading the Bible or having an unbiased education that does not endorse, favor, demean or intentionally undermine any particular religion, nonreligious faith or religious perspective;
7. An appropriate relationship with teachers and school employees free from criminal actions; and
8. Freedom from the use of vulgar language directed toward other individuals by students, teachers, coaches or other district employees.
The Students’ Bill of Rights would be included in school handbooks. School boards and the governing boards of public charter schools would create a due process plan for students, parents or legal guardians and teachers to report violations of the Act. Confirmed violations by school employees would be reported to the State Department of Education, who would be authorized to report any school found not in compliance as deficient on the accreditation report. The bill would also allow the state Board to impose a State Aid penalty for districts that did not comply with the Act or have submitted two or more confirmed violations that have not been addressed.
S.B. 614 would provide students attending any institution within the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education the right to public and free expression of religion, speech and peaceful assembly including the right to participate in religious student associations free from discrimination and engage in expressive activity on campus.
It would also extend the same rights as the Students’ Bill of Rights to college students regarding their right to an unbiased education. Each college and university would be required to establish a Safe Campus Committee, consisting of full-time students and faculty, administration and community representatives, to review reported violations.
“Any teacher, administrator or professor who is willing to attempt to steal or impede on the sacred rights of Oklahoma’s students or force their personal beliefs on them does not deserve the honor of being called a teacher or educator,” Bullard said. “We must protect Oklahoma’s students throughout their public education.”
Oklahoma Senator David Bullard files bills to protect rights of public school and college students Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK
This item has no description. Follow link to view item.
Senate Democrats form Leadership Team Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK
Darla Shelden, The City Sentinel
OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Medical Reserve Corps (OKMRC) is seeking medical and non-medical volunteers to support COVID-19 vaccination efforts at more than 50 points of vaccine dispensing (PODs) locations statewide.
“This is a huge, unprecedented effort to vaccinate the majority of our population of nearly 4 million Oklahomans,” said Lezlie Carter, state coordinator for the Oklahoma Medical Reserve Corps. “We need as much help as we can get from our community to make it possible.”
“When you become a volunteer with the OKMRC, you join hundreds of other citizens involved in the safety, security, health, and well-being in their communities who are ready to make a difference when help is needed most.”
Major emergencies and disasters involving injury or disease to large numbers of people can overwhelm full-time emergency response personnel.
Volunteers can provide an important "surge" capacity and supplement medical and health personnel shortages. The OKMRC (https://www.okmrc.org/) helps fill these gaps with volunteers who've been organized, trained, and assigned to assist where their expertise is best applied.
Any Oklahoma resident or individual employed in Oklahoma can apply to be part of the OKMRC. Many members have medical training, but others have no special training prior to joining.
Possible roles for volunteers include: Vaccinator, Form Review, Registration,Traffic Control, Runners, assisting the elderly, sanitizing, and other duties as needed.
Background checks are conducted on all volunteer applications.
Last week, OKMRC volunteers were requested to support vaccination efforts in 52 Oklahoma counties.
Oklahoma City equine veterinarian Clayton McCook (https://ift.tt/399P5yo ) first volunteered with OKMRC during the Moore tornado in 2013.
“When they started asking for volunteers for the vaccine clinic it seemed like a perfect time to give some of my time to MRC,” McCook said on Facebook. “It was really emotional seeing that first shot. I volunteered at a drive through clinic and I heard a nurse say, ‘it’s hope in a vial,’ and I think that’s really true. “To just be a tiny little part of getting those shots in arms has been a lot more emotional than I expected,” McCook added. “It’s just a monumental task, I don’t think the public has any idea just how difficult this is.
“It’s really been great to get an outsider’s view of public health,” he said.
McCook referred to the nurses and administrators at OKC-County Health Department as having “servant’s hearts.”
“I know we have a long way to go, but just to see how cheerful and grateful everybody is has been really encouraging to me,” McCook said.
For more information, or to apply, visitOKMRC.org . To learn more about COVID-19 and vaccination efforts in Oklahoma, visit Oklahoma.gov/COVID19 .
OKMRC seeks volunteers for statewide COVID-19 vaccination distribution Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK |
Pat McGuiganThe dean of all Oklahoma Journalism, Mr Patrick McGuigan; has a rich history of service in many aspects of both covering the news and producing the information that the public needs to know. Archives
September 2021
Categories |