WDC AFFILIATES PROGRAM

The Western Disaster Center (WDC) is interested in establishing alliances with business and industry, educational institutes and government organizations to enhance research, development, understanding and application of advanced technologies for the disaster management mission. The WDC Affiliate Program provides valuable networking opportunities for affiliate organizations, while supporting the WDC's operational, research, education and outreach missions.  The WDC Affiliate Program creates opportunities for cross-participation in collaborative research and demonstration projects enabling members to widely examine and assess the reliability of new and emerging disaster management technologies.  The WDC Affiliates Program also provides members with preferred access to a variety of research, education and technology transfer opportunities.

The WDC Affiliate Program's Unique Features

The Western Disaster Center Affiliates Program is a strategic network  through which member organizations exchange interests, ideas, knowledge and cooperation.  This network will advance the use of computer, communication and information technologies to mitigate, plan for, respond to and recover from natural, environmental and man-made disasters.

The program has several unique features: 

>  Value-Added Benefits -- created with member input to help advance affiliate's strategic interests

>  Focus Groups -- enabling members of similar interests to network with each other and WDC researchers

>  Multi-Sector Participation -- including, manufacturers, consultants, and end users in business, industry and government, to ensure representation of the complete technology "application chain."

The program’s guiding vision is that multi-sector cooperation will lead to greater awareness, understanding, marketplace acceptance, and use of advanced technologies in the disaster management market.  The program fosters mutually-beneficial relationships among affiliates and WDC researchers and provides a forum for exchange and collaboration at all levels.

WDC Focus Groups

WDC Focus Groups address the development and use of specific advanced technologies.  WDC Focus Groups  encourage networking and development of mutually-beneficial initiatives among researchers, manufacturers, consultants, and end-users.  Focus Groups are currently forming in the following topic areas:

>  WDC Center for Crisis Informatics
>  WDC Institute for Search and Rescue
     - 1st Special Response Group, 1SRG
     - Youth in Emergency Services, YES
>  Business Recovery
>  Wireless networks
>  Next Generation Internet
>  Remote Sensing
>  Geospatial Information System
>  Concepts for a US Disaster Information Network, US-DIN

Membership

There is no cost associated with being a WDC Affiliate.  Affiliate status is open to individuals and business and industry, educational institutes and government.  The only requirement is that members agree to be an active participant in the WDC Affiliate Program and the development of the Western Disaster Center.  The WDC also asks permission from members to identify them as WDC Affiliate Program Members in WDC literature and publications.

Affiliate Underwriter Status

WDC Affiliate Program Members who provide significant support to the Western Disaster Center development process will be recognized as a WDC Underwriter.  This support can be provided as an in-kind investment, equipment or staff donation or stock/financial donation.  All donations to the WDC are tax deductible.

The Western Disaster Center, Inc. is a California nonprofit public benefit corporation.  The Western Disaster Center, Inc. has been organized under California Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation Law for charitable and public purposes, Organization Number 2157423.  For additional information on how to make a direct donation to the WDC, click here. 

Further Information

For additional information, contact:

Richard H. Davies
President & Chairman
Western Disaster Center, Inc.

PO Box 230
Moffett Field, CA 94035-0230

650-776-5839 (Tel)
davies@westerndisastercenter.org