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I am forwarding the following message to all team members.  I received it just prior to Thanksgiving:

-----Original Message-----
From:Gary Sirmons, Acting Director of NDMS

As you hopefully already know, we have mounted an effort to improve the
quality, quantity, and frequency of communications between NDMS and the
teams. Accordingly, we announced this past September an initiative to
communicate with the entire NDMS system whenever any portion of it is
activated.

It was our intent to hold a conference call today for the purpose of
communicating information about this week's Typhoon Lupit/West Pacific
deployment. However, the event itself de-escalated so quickly that our
very
limited resources forced us to choose between holding the scheduled
conference call or focusing our staff efforts on demobilizing our assets in
order to get them home for Thanksgiving. We chose the latter and hope you
all understand and agree with this decision. A more detailed situation
report will be sent your way within the next day or two.

I would like to express my sincere thanks to all of the NDMS family---staff
and team members--- for your continued commitment, dedication, support,
patience, and assistance during the past months while we struggled with the
difficulties inherent in our transition into a new department.

On behalf of the entire NDMS staff, and myself please accept our thanks and
our wishes for a safe and enjoyable celebration of Thanksgiving with
friends
and family.

Cordially,

Gary Sirmons

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I have received many questions about the status of uniforms, patches and logos.  I do wish I had some final answers for you!  At this time nothing has been decided.  The following are excerpts from a letter received from John Gaffney:

"So we are asking that you not make any changes to uniforms, letterhead, business cards, web sites, etc. If you are currently using a particular logo you may continue to do so, but please do not put any time, money, or other resources into changing any of these items for the time being.

For example, don't rip the NDMS patch off of anything, but if you don't currently have the DHS seal on anything, don't do that either. As stated earlier, this is hugely important on a number of levels...."

"As to the uniform policy itself, there has been confusion as to what actually is stated. Again, a short answer is that the current policy still holds and has been validated by the director as being his policy as well." 

Thanks,

John

John K Gaffney

Office of the Director

NDMS Section, Operations Branch

Federal Emergency Management Agency, Response Division

U.S. Department of Homeland Security 

 In other words, until we get a definite answer, nothing will change with our uniforms. (Just be sure to remove the USPHS tape).  T-shirt orders are on hold.   I have received the DMORT-IX rockers and the flags for our uniforms.  If you need some, please let me know.   There is no charge for the first two of each patch.  Addtional ones are $2.50 each.  Please make your checks out to: Western Pacific Forensic Response Institute.

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Another note/request regarding uniforms.  If you know of any place that carries extra narrow or extra wide boots, please let me know.  Several team members are having problems finding boots that fit, and I can pass any information on to them.

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At the Annual Training an announcement was made regarding the certificates and pins many of you have been receiving.  The following is for those of you who still might be wondering about the details:

As you know, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officially 'stood up'

and began operation with its new components - including NDMS - on March 1,

2003. Shortly thereafter it was announced that each person transferring

into the new Department on that date would receive a 'plank owner'

certificate and lapel pin attesting to their having been inaugural employees

of DHS. My office requested that this list include not only the NDMS staff

but every member of an NDMS team that was listed on the NDMS database on

March 1. I am pleased to announce that we have just learned that this was

granted and that the certificates and pins are now being distributed.

The purpose of this Email is to acknowledge that DHS has so recognized our

staff and teams in this manner and to provide you with the ability to

explain the certificates and pins to your team. Should you require

additional information, please refer general questions to John Gaffney of my

office or, in the case of questions about specific team members receiving or

not receiving their certificate and pin, to your administrative specialist

here in Rockville.

/s/ Captain Gary Sirmons, Director (Acting)

National Disaster Medical System Section

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Have you had enough???  I sincerely want to thank all of you for being so flexible and compliant with these many changes. I really do appreciate you and your positive attitudes!!!  Just to let you know, we try to disseminate information to you as soon as we receive it.  Sometimes the Command Staff is given only a  few days notice of new deadlines, so we, too are learning to "go with the flow."   I wish all of you a wonderful holiday season, and definitely look forward to a great new year!

Sincerely,

Barbara