|
SERV-OR🏅Bulletin | April 2026
|
|
|
During National Volunteer Appreciation Week (April 19-25, 2026) we take the opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate our SERV-OR volunteers for their contributions over the past year. Nominations were received from the public and Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) units in Oregon.
In this special edition of the SERV-OR Bulletin, we are pleased to present the honorees and amplify their service. From the nearly 5000 volunteers in the SERV-OR registry, we are thrilled to spotlight these notable individuals and teams for their dedication to public health preparedness and improving the health security of Oregonians.
|
|
|
Jeanne Arnold, Cannon Beach MRC
|
|
|
Peter Mackwell, Oregon Distaster Medical Team and State Managed Volunteer Pool
|
|
Peter Mackwell
Peter Mackwell has been working on the annual Pathfinder disaster training for years. He donates large amounts of time and energy to make this experience meaningful for all volunteers who participate. In addition, he has spent many hours constructing a response trailer for Region 6 this past year. Peter has brought his passion for Disaster Management to his work for decades!
- Bobbie O'Connell
Peter is a member of the State Managed Volunteer Pool (SMVP) & Oregon Disaster Medical Team (ODMT)
|
|
|
Adele Spegman | Nehalem Bay Medical Reserve Corps
It is our privilege to nominate Adele Spegman, RN (Retired) as our Nehalem Bay MRC volunteer for recognition.
Adele has been the NBMRC Administrator since March 2023. She has worked tirelessly on streamlining the new MRC welcome process, onboarding process and has facilitated the Annual Education "Packet" to be accessible electronically. She is also working with our MRC Education Coordinator to develop a format to document and track completed education.
She supports and assists the NBMRC... CLICK TO CONTINUE.
|
|
Adele Spegman, Nehalem Bay MRC
|
|
|
Lila Wickham and husband with their children and their spouses.
|
|
Lila Wickham
Lila Wickham is the backbone of the Arch Cape/Cannon Beach MRC. For years, her relentless work, gentle humor, and steady leadership have kept our team focused and our operations running. This year, in spite of a devastating personal situation, she still ensured that our supply caches, shelters, and... CLICK TO CONTINUE.
|
|
Lila Wickham with Cannon Beach MRC members at the 4th of July parade.
|
|
|
Faces of some of the Lane County MRC members this past year.
|
|
Lane County Medical Reserve Corps Honorees
As for Lane County, it’s been a difficult half year since we lost the sponsorship of Lane County Public Health. What I appreciate most is that our entire core team of volunteer members has hung in there and we did not, even for a moment, give up the idea that we will somehow continue as an MRC, even though we remain in limbo to this day. In this interim, several members have stepped up to take on small or large tasks, such as setting up a WhatsApp group for communications, taking meeting notes, CLICK TO READ MORE.
|
|
|
Kat Burgess
Kat Burgess has given many years of her life contributing and helping others. She is a retired EMT and belongs to the Coos County MRC, CERT, North Bend Rotary, and the Coast Guard Auxiliary. She does all of this, which is a lifelong dedication, at a stage in life when many would be slowing down. She is an inspiration to many.
- Beth Keller
|
|
Kat Burgess, Coos County MRC
|
|
|
Deschutes County MRC honorees: from top left, David Cook, Helmi Elliot (with husband), Richard Hatchen, and Oliver Steinmeier
|
|
Deschutes County Medical Reserve Corps Honorees
Deschutes County Health Services would like to recognize a group of outstanding Deschutes County MRC (DCMRC) volunteers that have supported harm reduction work over the past year. These DCMRC volunteers have collectively served over 500 hours in 2025, building safety kits and distributing those kits in the field to vulnerable populations. The following DCMRC volunteers have gone above and beyond in their service to ensure harm reduction resources are accessible to the community and have helped to build trust in Deschutes County Health Services:
Linda Burgel, David Cook, Lilli Denneson, Helmi Elliot, Frank Fitzgerald, Richard Hatchen, Connie Hilton, Benja Jacobs, Martha Kneuer, Barbara Pettersen, Melissa Ross, Oliver Steinmeier, Shannan Vines, Rachel Wagner, and Barbie Warren - CLICK HERE FOR MORE
|
|
|
Bulletin Development Team Honorees
With much appreciation these current and former volunteer members of the BDT are recognized for their invaluable service in the production of the SERV-OR Bulletin: Anthony “Tony” Brande, Alex Dolle, Alex Drungil, Jacqueline Felix, Caye Gomez de Soler, Jessica Hamner, Paul Kaplan, Jeff Rubin, Mark Schorr, and Mary Ellen Winterhalter. CLICK HERE TO READ FULL RECOGNITION.
|
|
|
Yamhill County MRC honorees: from top left, Helen Anderson, Ryan Berger, Neil Cohen, Ann Russell, and Alanna Russell (bottom, far right)
|
|
Yamhill County Medical Reserve Corps Honorees
Lynda Claypool, Helen Anderson, Ryan Berger, Cameron Helikson, and especially Ann Russell for supporting all of our Yamhill County Public Health and/or UNIDOS sponsored vaccination clinics.
Angie Hannon and Neil Cohen, our appointed Executive Director and Medical Director, respectively, and Alanna Russell who served as our Operations Manager for the past year and recently transitioned out of that role. With their support we have begun to chart a course toward sustainability for our MRC program in the years to come.
Last, but not least all of our other YCMRC volunteers who helped us get out in the community more... CLICK TO CONTINUE.
|
|
|
Libet Streiff
Libet Streiff has been a tireless volunteer with Clackamas County MRC where I initially met her, and with Washington County, Marion County, and Linn County MRCs. In addition, she has deployed and served with the... CLICK TO READ MORE.
|
|
SERV-OR Volunteer, Libet Streiff with granddaughter.
|
|
|
Tim Quinn Sr., Linn County MRC
|
|
Tim Quinn, Sr. | Linn County Medical Reserve Corps
Tim Quinn Sr. - Linn County MRC Volunteer of the Year
Tim Quinn was there whenever we had something going on and his dedication to the mission of the MRC is awesome! Even when he was having health issues he was there. Tim attended most (if not all) of our yearly first aid events (River Rhythms, Albany Pride, Linn County Fair, Albany Art / Air Festival and the Veterans Day parade). His dedication is very much appreciated.
- Sarah Bates - Linn County MRC Coordinator
|
|
|
Matthew Fricke and Mark Dodge
SERV-OR volunteers, Matthew Fricke and Mark Dodge (not pictured) with others (not affiliated with SERV-OR) are a part of the team of volunteers that support the Santiam Warming Center / Santiam Service Integration.
Kim Dwyer (Service Integration Coordinator, Santiam Hospital & Clinics) wrote, "I am nominating this group as a collective because without all of them, the warming center would not be able to operate. This past January when temperatures were freezing outside, 45 volunteers stepped up to open the only warming center east of Salem in Marion County. They volunteered 299 hours to keep the center open for... CLICK TO CONTINUE READING.
|
|
Matthew Fricke, Linn County MRC and Oregon Veterinary Emergency Response Team
|
|
|
Marvin Lilly, Multnomah County MRC
|
|
Janet Stein, Multnomah County MRC
|
|
|
Frances Munkenbeck
SERV-OR volunteer, Frances Munkenbeck is a part of a team of volunteers that support the Egan Warming Center. Debra George wrote, “With limited shelters, the St. Vincent de Paul Egan Warming Center provides dawn-to-dusk housing for those who have no shelter. Clothing, hot food, and beds are provided. There is never enough shelter available for serving those without shelter. The Egan Warming Center is staffed with volunteers. The shelter volunteers treat people with dignity, respect, and compassion."
Fran is a member of the Lane County Medical Reserve Corps and the State Manager Volunteer Pool.
|
|
Frances Munkenbeck, Lane County MRC and State Managed Volunteer Pool
|
|
|
Greig Fredericks, Washington County MRC and State Manages Volunteer Pool
|
|
Greig Fredericks | Washington County Medical Reserve Corps
I would like to recognize Greig Fredericks. For the last two years our MRC has been in charge of staffing the first-aid tent for the Seattle to Portland bicycle race at the Scappoose location. Greig was instrumental in our success both years. Although we had first-aid supplies and some other items at the cooling stations for riders, Greig brought his own supplies to elevate the cooling/recovery station from basic to one that several riders commented positively on via social media. He brought extra tables, chairs, cots, misting fans, coolers, and several extra Gatorade jugs to fill with water. We saw about 200+ riders over the weekend, and no one was ever left waiting for refills for very long because of all the extra water jugs that Greig brought. Not only that... CLICK TO CONTINUE.
|
|
|
Teri Mills
Teri Mills is a board member and a vast promoter for Grandparents for Vaccines, as well as relentlessly writing articles for national papers and organizations promoting vaccines and scientifically based public health policies. She is a member of the State Managed Volunteer Pool (SMVP) and the Washington County Medical Reserve Corps (MRC). Also, Teri was previously recognized as the Oregon Nurse of the Year by the Oregon Nurses Foundation.
- Recognition submitted anonymously.
|
|
Teri Mills, State Managed Volunteer Pool and Washington County MRC
|
|
|
Kim Singh, Coos County MRC
|
|
Kim Singh | Coos County Medical Reserve Corps
Kim Singh has demonstrated outstanding dedication and service over the past year, as well as throughout her many years with the MRC. She has been reliable, kind, and always willing to step in wherever help is needed. Kim brings a wealth of knowledge and works well with fellow volunteers, helping to create a strong and supportive team environment.
She has been actively involved with her local CERT program, serves as an instructor, and is currently involved with the Coast Guard Auxiliary. Additionally, she is a Master Food Preserver. Her contributions have made a meaningful... CLICK TO CONTINUE.
|
|
Honorees - Listed by individual name or MRC unit |
|
|
Volunteers Building Strong, Healthy, and Prepared Communities.
Mission
SERV-OR is a ready volunteer network that recruits, trains, and mobilizes qualified volunteers to augment healthcare and public health capacity.
Vision
A ready volunteer health workforce that reduces disaster risk and bolsters whole community health before, during, and after emergencies.
|
|
|
|
|