Due to unfortunate abuse, the Church has generally disabled the ability to download membership data in CSV (Excel) format. Church technical support will tell you that this feature is completely disabled. That’s not quite true. Stake clerks (and ONLY stake clerks) have this ability. Here is how to download Membership data in CSV, after you have received authorization from your Stake President.

Exploring the composition of CBD gummies

CBD gummies have gained immense popularity in recent years due to their convenient and enjoyable way of consuming cannabidiol (CBD). These delicious treats are not only tasty but also offer a precise dosage of CBD extract derived from hemp plants. Let’s delve into the composition of CBD gummies and understand what makes them so unique.

CBD Extract from Hemp Plants

The main ingredient in CBD gummies is the CBD extract obtained from hemp plants. This extract is rich in cannabinoids, including CBD, which is known for its potential therapeutic properties. Unlike tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), another cannabinoid found in cannabis plants, CBD does not produce psychoactive effects. Therefore, consuming CBD gummies will not make you feel high.

Natural Ingredients and Flavors

To enhance the taste and texture of these chewy treats, manufacturers often include other natural ingredients such as fruit flavors, sweeteners, and gelatin or pectin. These additions not only provide a pleasant taste experience but also contribute to the overall appeal of CBD gummies.

Consistent Dosing

One of the advantages of using CBD gummies is that they offer consistent dosing. Each gummy contains a specific amount of CBD extract, ensuring that you know exactly how much you’re consuming with each treat. This consistency allows for better control over your dosage and helps you achieve your desired effects.

Vegan and Organic Options

In addition to traditional gelatin-based gummies, some brands also offer vegan or organic options for those with specific dietary preferences or restrictions. Vegan-friendly CBD gummies are typically made using pectin instead of gelatin, making them suitable for individuals following a plant-based lifestyle.

Research-backed Benefits

While research on the effects of CBD is still ongoing, some studies suggest that it may have potential health benefits. For example, research has shown that CBD may help reduce anxiety, alleviate pain and inflammation, improve sleep quality, and even aid in the management of certain neurological conditions. However, it’s important to note that more research is needed to fully understand the extent of these benefits.

Safe for Children

CBD gummies are generally considered safe for consumption by children, provided they are used responsibly and under adult supervision. However, it’s crucial to consult with a healthcare professional before giving CBD gummies or any other CBD products to children timesofisrael.

Avoiding Psychoactive Effects

As mentioned earlier, CBD gummies contain minimal amounts of THC, if any at all. This ensures that you can enjoy the potential benefits of CBD without experiencing any psychoactive effects. It’s always recommended to choose CBD products from reputable companies that provide third-party lab testing results to ensure the absence of THC or other harmful substances.

Interacting with the Endocannabinoid System

CBD interacts with our body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS), which plays a crucial role in regulating various physiological processes such as mood, appetite, sleep, and immune function. The cannabinoids found in CBD gummies bind to cannabinoid receptors within the ECS, potentially influencing these processes and promoting overall well-being.

Wide Variety of Options

CBD gummies come in various shapes, flavors, and concentrations to cater to different preferences and needs. Whether you prefer sour gummies or fruity flavors like strawberry or watermelon, there is likely a CBD gummy option out there for you. Some companies offer specialized formulations like nighttime gummies infused with melatonin for better sleep support.

1. Log in to LDS.org

Hopefully you know how to do this step.

2. Go to the Directory

Click Directory, then choose the ward you wish to export, then click the “Export Households” link.

Only Stake Clerks will see the “Export Households” function.

3. You Must Download Each Ward Separately

The church makes it really hard to export data, and you must export each ward individually. Clicking on “Stake Information” will give you no membership data.
If you have 10 units, you will need to do 10 downloads.

4. Yes, I will Use it Only as Directed

I care about privacy a lot (I’m a privacy attorney). I will use the data only as directed, and destroy it after about a month. Someday I’d really like to build a Crisis Caller API so that zero membership data ever leaves church servers, and you view the map through lds.org/maps. But I can’t do that today.

Be sure to get authorization from your Stake President before doing this. Call me at (202) 669-2969 with questions/ concerns.

5. Save the Files. Do not Open.

You will be prompted to either save or open the file. Click “Save” or “Save as…,” depending on your browser. Be sure to save the files in a place you know; do not open them. Warning: The files might automatically download to a default folder, such as your “downloads” folder.

6. Email to aaron [at] crisiscleanup.org

Attach the files to an email, and put the name of the stake in the subject line.

Different Types of Testosterone Boosters in the Market

There are various types available in the market. These options include herbal supplements and prescription medications. Each type has its own unique characteristics and ingredients that can potentially enhance testosterone levels. It’s important to understand these different types to make an informed decision about which one may be suitable for your needs.

Herbal Supplements

One popular type of testosterone booster is herbal supplements timesunion.com. These products are typically made from natural ingredients such as herbs, vitamins, and minerals. They are designed to support the body’s natural production of testosterone. Some common ingredients found in herbal supplements include:

Tribulus Terrestris: This herb has been used for centuries in traditional medicine to improve libido and increase muscle strength.

Fenugreek: Known for its potential ability to boost testosterone levels and improve sexual function.

D-Aspartic Acid: A naturally occurring amino acid that plays a role in regulating testosterone synthesis.

Herbal supplements are often seen as a more natural alternative to prescription medications. They can be easily purchased over-the-counter or online without a doctor’s prescription. However, it’s important to note that the effectiveness of these supplements may vary from person to person.

Prescription Medications

Another option for boosting testosterone is through prescription medications. These medications are typically prescribed by doctors when an individual has low levels of testosterone (a condition known as hypogonadism). Commonly prescribed medications include:

Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT): This involves administering synthetic testosterone either through injections, gels, patches, or pellets.

Clomiphene Citrate: This medication stimulates the production of luteinizing hormone (LH), which in turn stimulates the testes to produce more testosterone.

Anastrozole: Sometimes prescribed alongside TRT, this medication helps prevent the conversion of excess testosterone into estrogen.

Prescription medications offer a more targeted approach to increasing testosterone levels. They are usually prescribed after a thorough evaluation of an individual’s hormone levels and overall health. It’s important to consult with a healthcare professional before considering prescription medications, as they may have potential side effects and require regular monitoring.

Varying Effectiveness

It’s important to understand that different types of testosterone boosters may have varying effectiveness based on individual needs. What works for one person may not work for another. Factors such as age, overall health, and lifestyle can influence how well a testosterone booster works.

Some individuals may find herbal supplements to be sufficient in supporting their testosterone levels, while others may require the intervention of prescription medications. It’s crucial to listen to your body and consult with a healthcare professional who can guide you in choosing the right option for you.

Making an Informed Decision

With so many options available, it can be overwhelming to choose the right testosterone booster. However, understanding the different types and their potential benefits is key to making an informed decision. Here are some steps you can take:

Research: Learn about the various types of testosterone boosters available in the market.

Consult with a Healthcare Professional: Seek guidance from a doctor or specialist who can evaluate your specific needs and provide personalized recommendations.

Consider Your Goals: Determine what you hope to achieve by using a testosterone booster – whether it’s increased energy, improved muscle mass, or enhanced libido.

Read Reviews: Look for reviews from other users who have tried different products to get insights into their experiences.

Check Ingredients: Pay attention to the ingredients used in each product and ensure they align with your personal preferences and any allergies or sensitivities you may have.

By taking these steps, you can make an informed decision about which type of testosterone booster is most suitable for you.

Running is a popular form of exercise for a reason. It doesn’t need much equipment, and you can do it just about anywhere or anytime it is convenient for you. Plus, experts say it improves heart health. ‌

How Running Improves Your Health
Better cardio health. Running, or jogging, is one of the best cardio exercises you can do. Running for at least 10 minutes a day can significantly lower your risk of cardiovascular disease. Runners lower their chances of dying from heart disease by half.

It also lowers your resting heart rate, the number of times your heart beats per minute when you’re at rest. This is an important indicator of your overall health and fitness. The lower the rate, the more efficient your heartbeat. Check this rolex replica.
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Better sleep. Quality sleep is essential for your health. Your body repairs itself when you’re asleep, which is why you wake up feeling refreshed. But try to avoid running too late in the day. This can interfere with how well you sleep at night. Aerobic exercise triggers a release of endorphins, chemicals that help relieve pain or stress. These activate the brain and might keep you awake.

Improved knee and back health. A study of 675 marathon runners found that they had a lower arthritis rate than other people. The runners’ knees and backs were both positively affected. The more you run, the lower your odds of back problems as you age.

Improved memory. If you find that you have problems with your memory, get running. It affects your brain in the short and long term. Aerobic exercise gets your heart rate up and makes you sweat. This can boost the size of your hippocampus, the part of the brain responsible for memory and learning.

Fewer colds. If you start to feel a little off, running for 30 minutes can trigger your immune system to help you feel better. When you do aerobic exercises like running at least 5 days a week, you lower your odds of upper tract respiratory infections by 43%.

Better mood and energy. Many people run because they want to feel better. The exercise helps boost your mood, concentration, and overall quality of life. Runner’s high is real.

Setting Running Goals for Success
Having a running goal in mind will help you stay committed. Be sure to set realistic, specific goals that you can measure. If a marathon seems like too much, try a 5K road race. Some tips to help you succeed:

Make a plan, and stay consistent.
Create a routine you can stick to.
Start with a mix of running and walking.
Combine your running program with other forms of exercise for variety.
Run with a friend, or join a local running club.
Talk with your doctor before making a running plan, especially if you have a medical condition or have not exercised in a long time. Your doctor will help you come up with a running program that won’t overstrain your body or mind.

Tips for Healthy Running
For the best results with your running program:

Eat a healthy and balanced diet.
Don’t run right after eating.
Drink plenty of water before, during, and after your run.
Don’t turn your music up too loud. Stay alert and aware of what’s around you.
Wear reflective clothes if running early in the morning or late in the evening.
Tell someone where you plan to run and when you expect to be back.
Avoid isolated and dangerous areas.
Take regular breaks to let your body rest.
If you get an injury while running, stop and get medical care right away.

Cross-posted here.

Are we there yet?

As Project Manager for Crisis Cleanup, the most frequently asked questions I receive are, “When will it be done?” or “How much money do you need to finish Crisis Cleanup?” A variation on this is, “Well, it works, right? Why do you need more money if it works?”

That’s the problem with innovating (especially non-profit innovation). If you simply explain the idea, nobody takes you seriously. You just have to execute and show everybody a “finished” product. Only then do they see how amazing your idea was. But then you’re in a catch-22. After all, if you built your idea without any help, why do you need help to keep going?

I feel a bit like I just built the Model-T Ford in a world of horse and buggies. Most people could not have conceived of the automobile until they saw it for the first time. Everyone is amazed at the technological marvel, and it is received gratefully and with congratulations. But they don’t understand that they really need an airplane or a rocket. I’m trying to build a rocket, not a Model-T Ford. But to people who are still figuring out how to dismount their horse and use a clutch, a rocket is inconceivable.

Thus, the paradox of innovation continues: Lack of vision and inertia perpetuates inefficiency, which stifles vision.

Quit Whining and Get some Funding

I am do-gooder number 14,000,001 who has thought, “all I need is some funding, and I can really change the world.” Sigh.

In a free market, for-profit ventures can attract funding and resources once you write a compelling business plan. There is at least one consistent pattern to all business plans: You create value for customers, and extract value from those customers—making a profit in the process.

But free markets don’t do very well at helping victims or survivors. First, you can’t treat victms as customers, because extracting value directly from victims (e.g. victims of natural disasters, victims of identity theft, victims of crime, etc.) is unseemly, unethical, or illegal. As a result, interested third parties such as the government or philanthropic organizations must provide the value on behalf of the victims and survivors. But because we live in a liberty-preserving society, these interested third parties are not permitted to make a profit off victims, with the possible exception of lending institutions.

Principles of insurance and market pressures dictate that victims are restored to the minimum degree necessary to prevent (costly) social disorder. Under no circumstance are they, or the people who help them, ever made completely whole or come out ahead.

This reality stands in contrast to the business world, where I can negotiate a high salary if I can make the business even more. But natural downward pressures on do-gooders’ salaries means that nobody (honest) gets rich from just helping victims. As a result, most people who help survivors aren’t driven by money (which is OK with me, because it means that the disaster recovery community is filled with some of the best people on earth).

Tilting Against Windmills

I’ve learned that competing for grant money is a bloodsport. I’m not saying that a grant is impossible, I’m just saying that for me, holding down a full-time job, raising a family (number 6 will arrive in September), church service, while managing the development and deployment of Crisis Cleanup is enough to keep me occupied without tilting against grant-writing windmills as well. I was turned down by the Robin Hood Foundation; dealing with the American Red Cross was perhaps the most Kafkaesque experience of my life, and I have yet to hear a peep from the Knight Foundation.

And that brings me back to the paradox of innovation. Poor vision and inertia perpetuates inefficiency. Unfortunately, most grant-writing organizations aren’t exactly known as bastions of innovative vision. I hope there are some out there, among all of those windmills.

So, if somebody finds a cutting-edge innovative government agency or philanthropic organization with extra grant money that will pay more than they have to on behalf of survivors (now that’s a compound oxymoron if I’ve ever seen one), let me know. In the meantime, I’ll be in my basement tinkering with rocket parts.

Update 24 Mar 2013: I have Finally launched the Official Crisis Cleanup Blog, including a more up-to-date version of this post.

Over the past several months a few developers and I have created a Collaborative Work Order System for disaster recovery (now at CrisisCleanup.org, Twitter: @CrisisCleanup). The project is open source under the Apache 2.0 License, and is a gift to the community. The system is now being used to manage recovery efforts in Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Mississippi, and Georgia. The National VOAD will formally adopt/assume the project in May at the National VOAD conference. Many thanks to the dedicated work of Andy Gimma, Jeremy Pack, Chris Wood and dozens of others who have made this volunteer effort more successful than I could have ever imagined at the outset.

The platform implements a “Craigslist” philosophy to recovery efforts—organizations that are aware of work orders enter them into the system, and organizations with capacity to help can claim and perform the work without interference from any centralized organization. This minimizes duplication and maximizes communication, coordination, and efficiency.

No single organization can guarantee that any of the individuals in the system will be served. However, using the same system will permit inter-agency coordination, situational awareness, and help participating organizations prioritize their limited resources. And sharing work order information among dozens of organizations maximizes the chances that a client will receive help.

As of right now, more than 90 relief organizations and agencies with more than 30,000 combined volunteers are using the system to coordinate Hurricane Sandy relief efforts. The system is managing more than 4,900 homes in need of gutting and rebuilding from Connecticut, Long Island, New York, New Jersey, Mississippi and Georgia.

There are three requirements for an organization to participate in the system:

1. An organization must have a physical presence in the disaster area.
2. An organization must either perform home assessments and/or perform gutting, mucking-out, debris removal, mold abatement, or rebuilding.
3. An organization must be reputable. This generally means that the organization must be non-profit, or a member of National VOAD, a state VOAD, a County VOAD/COAD, a local government agency, or come recommended by a VOAD member or government agency.

The current implementation requires a password. However, I have posted a training video that explains how the system works. I’ve also included screenshots below.

Philosophy Behind and Limits to the Collaborative Work Order System

The system is based upon a few foundational philosophies:

• Retired Admiral Thad Allen observed that in the military, they operate under a “Unity of Command,” but in private sector disaster recovery, the best you can hope for us “Unity of Effort.” This tool facilitates Unity of Effort without striving for the mirage of private sector Unity of Command.
• I don’t want to be in charge of your organization’s activities, or tell you what to do.
• The system should enable, not interfere with your existing business processes.
• No single organization should be in charge of others without their consent.
• The system should make collaboration and communication not only convenient, but required.
• This is not the “One App to Rule them All.” Do not stray too far from the system’s strengths.
• The system is open (but not public), and should therefore not contain sensitive personal information.

App Development Philosophy

There are two approaches to app development. The first is to create a mammoth, fully-integrated system that tries to be all things to all people. Sahana is a great example of this approach. However, even the most successful of these apps can be overwhelming and tend to be a jack of all trades but master of none.

The second approach is to try and create a relatively lightweight app that does only one thing very well. These apps are generally far more user-friendly; but their success comes with a cost. Without careful curation, these apps can be highjacked, forced to do things outside their core competency, and grow into unwieldy mammoths.

The Collaborative Work Order System definitely falls into category 2. There is no such thing as “The One App to Rule Them All,” and this is no exception. The Collaborative Work Order System excels at coordinating tens or hundreds of thousands of volunteers from multiple organizations, to thousands or tens of thousands of work order sites across a large geographic area; improving communication, and improving inter-organization coordination. But there are certain things for which it should never be used.

For example, because the system is open (but not public—there is an important difference), it is inappropriate to use the system to store sensitive personal information. The system’s power to coordinate and facilitate communication comes from its openness; but some things were not meant to be shared, such as confidential case management information, volunteer details, etc. The Collaborative Work Order System is not, and can never be, all things to all people. The Collaborative Work Order System should never be used to store sensitive personal or case management information.

Why a Collaborative Work Order System Hasn’t Been Developed Before

In the disaster recovery community, we talk a good deal about VOAD’s 4Cs: Cooperation, Communication, Coordination, and Collaboration. One reason these ideals are so difficult to achieve is because, even though we don’t like to admit it, most disaster recovery organizations are essentially competitors. Of course, we all get along in the field, forging deep and lasting friendships while we labor side-by-side in the service of our fellows in distress. But almost all relief organizations (with exceptions like Mormon Helping Hands and Occupy Sandy) rely upon grants to fund their operations.

Passive competition for scarce grant resources means that every organization wants to be in charge. In an effort to qualify for the next grant, each organization strives to direct the work of other organizations and, most importantly, each organization wants to control the flow of information. These tensions create natural barriers to the 4Cs.

In addition, organizations with employees have a tendency to perpetuate inefficiency. Even though efficiency saves the organization money, efficiency may also eliminate jobs. Therefore, most bureaucracies are suspicious of or downright hostile towards new or efficient technologies.

In short, a collaborative work order system hasn’t been developed until now because: 1. Everybody wants to be in charge; and 2. Internal bureaucratic interests run counter to efficiency.

My Unique Opportunity

First, allow me to start with a disclaimer: The Collaborative Work Order System is neither developed nor formally endorsed by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints/ Mormon Helping Hands, and this blog post represents my own opinion and not the official position of the Church. In my role as New Jersey VOAD representative for the Church, I have had a wonderful opportunity to tackle these difficult problems during Hurricane Irene, the June 2012 derecho storms, and Hurricane Sandy. First, because Mormon Helping Hands relief efforts do not rely on government grants, it has no economic incentive to be “in charge” of other organizations. We just want to help everyone get the job done.

As a result, I designed the system so that no single organization is capable of controlling the information or governing other organizations without consent. The technology permits, but does not require oversight. Who is in charge? The answer to that question is the same as this question: “Who is in charge of Craigslist?”

This non-threatening approach is designed to facilitate an organization’s existing business processes, rather than impose new processes. As Joseph Smith taught, people can “govern themselves” when they operate according to correct principles. And based upon the participation of more than 90 organizations, the approach works.

Second, unlike most other relief organizations, Mormon Helping Hands relies exclusively on volunteers with families and full-time jobs. Unlike employees, volunteers have a natural inclination to work efficiently, and are therefore more open to adopting disruptive or efficient technologies. Mormon Helping Hands volunteers (as well as Occupy volunteers) don’t get paid, and if they’re anything like me, they must hold down a full-time job make time to see their wife and five cute kids. Volunteering efficiently improves my personal bottom line.

Real Innovation

The Collaborative Work Order System’s technology is not new or particularly innovative. Due to the great work of developers like Jeremy Pack, the user interface is great, but not groundbreaking. In fact, if I leave you with the impression that the Collaborative Work Order System is just a cool technology, then I have failed. This system does not evangelize technology; it evangelizes a philosophy.

The real innovation of this system is the ability to coordinate tens of thousands of volunteers from dozens of organizations to thousands of sites after a disaster. The Collaborative Work Order System proves that it is possible to create a near frictionless technological platform where inter-organization Cooperation, Communication, Coordination, and Collaboration is not only convenient, but required.

Next Steps for Development

Since launching CrisisCleanup.org, the mostly volunter-driven project has received a lot of attention from FEMA, and VOADs across the country. If all goes well, I intend to give long-term stewardship of the project to National VOAD, which will be in a better position to evangelize and maintain the project long-term.

In the meantime, we’re working on some big upgrades. Well, they won’t look big to end users, but they require some heavy lifting in the database. Here is a current list of development priorities:

1. Create a new Incident on the fly
2. Streamline joining CrisisCleanup.org, and allow organizations across the country to join during peacetime.
3. Adapt the tool for Long-Term Recovery (LTR) including Rebuilding and Refurbishing.
4. Import Work Orders
5. Public-facing, de-identified and blurred map
6. Duplicate work order detection and merging
7. Fully-functional administrative back-end
8. Create a Mobile interface
9. Manage Spontaneous Unaffiliated Volunteers (SUVs) and connect SUVs with volunteer organizations
10. Enable a separate “Canvassing” map that will allow others to see which areas have been canvassed, and which have been ignored
11. Send Text Messages to Team Leaders with Work Order Information
12. More easily contact other organizations in the field

As you can see, we have a long list of high priorities. We’re making slow progress, but hopefully we’ll be able to get some funding to continue development.

Participating Organizations

The following organizations are or have participated in the Collaborative Work Order System:

Adopt A House	MHH-Philadelphia PA Stake
All Hands Volunteers	MHH-Plainview NY Stake
American Baptist Men USA	MHH-Queens NY Stake
AmeriCorps St. Louis	MHH-Scotch Plains NJ Stake
Americorps VRC	MHH-Valley Forge PA Stake
Bergen County VOAD	MHH-Westchester NY Stake
Carolina Baptist Relief	MHH-Williamsport PA Stake
Catholic Charities, Diocese of Camden	MHH-Wilmington DE Stake
Christian Aid Ministries	MHH-York PA Stake
Convoy of Hope	MHH-Yorktown CT Stake
Durand Masonic Lodge	Nassau County Office of Emergency Management
Friends of Rockaway-World Bank	NECHAMA
GNJAC Methodist ERT	Never Alone, Never Afraid Inc.
GNJUMC – Methodist ERT	New York Cares
Habitat for Humanity of Bergen County	NJ 211
Habitat for Humanity, Westchester County Chapter	NYAC United Methodist Church
Health and Welfare Council of Long Island	Oceanport NJ OEM
ICNA Relief	Poured-out
Inc. Village of Patchogue	Presbyter of Elizabeth Disaster Recovery Team
Islamic Relief USA	Rebuilding Together Bergen County
Jersey Cares	Rebuilding Together NYC
Lamb’s Chapel	Regional Catastrophic Planning Team
Lindy Manpower	Respond and Rebuild
Long Island Volunteer Center	Samaritan’s Purse
Lutheran Disaster Response	Sayville Chamber
Lutheran Social Ministries of NJ-Lutheran Disaster Response	Staten Island Council of Churches
Mastic Shirley COAD	Team Rubicon
Mennonite Disaster Service	Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief
MHH-Brooklyn NY Stake	The Bonner Center
MHH-Buffalo NY Stake	The Salvation Army – Suffolk
MHH-Caldwell NJ Stake	UMCOR
MHH-Centreville VA Stake	United Methodist Church
MHH-Cherry Hill NJ Stake	United Way 2-1-1 Hudson Valley
MHH-Columbia MD Stake	United Way of Central Jersey
MHH-Dover DE Stake	United Way of Monmouth County
MHH-East Brunswick NJ Stake	United Way of Northern NJ
MHH-Frederick MD Stake	Virtua
MHH-Lynbrook NY District	Volunteer Army Foundation
MHH-Morristown NJ Stake	Washington State Conservation Corps
MHH-New Haven CT Stake	World Cares Center
MHH-New York NY Mission	World Renew Disaster Response
MHH-New York NY Stake	Zakat Foundation of America
MHH-Paterson NJ District

FAQ

1. Scope of Project: The system is primarily focused on the assessment, gutting, and rebuilding phases of recovery. It does NOT handle case management, inventory control, or volunteer management, etc. However, it will track volunteer hours.
2. Can the system be adapted outside of the New York/ New Jersey area? Yes. The system is geographically agnostic.
3. How much does the system cost? I don’t charge (and don’t plan on charging) organizations to use the system. In addition, the code is free to download, adapt, and install. It is open source, provided under the Apache 2.0 license, and was created by volunteers. Although the code is free, hosting and programming is not. Hosting costs vary from $50-$200 per month, depending upon usage. Ongoing programming support will also require funding. Right now a generous volunteer is paying for the hosting out of his own pocket, and volunteer programmers have created the system. I will probably need a long-term funding source.
4. Have you considered crowdsourced funding? Yes, I’ve considered everything, including crowdsourced funding. But I only have so many hours in each day, and when I’m not cleaning up a hurricane or being a dad, I have a pesky full-time job to maintain. If you’d like to help get funding, drop me a line.
5. Can I install a version for myself? Yes, but I wouldn’t recommend that right now. You’ll need your own developer, and because the system is being improved, you’ll have to manually install all new patches as they come out. Instead, the system will be designed to handle any number of new incidents as they arise. You will be able to create a new incident in the existing system, any time.
6. What if a disaster happened tomorrow in my state? Could we use this system? Short answer: Yes. Long answer: Right now it will take 6-12 hours to set up a new incident in the system. We’re making programming improvements that should turn around that time to near zero.
7. What are the long-term plans for the system? The code will always be open source and available to anyone who wants it. I hope to be able to offer the service for free to any voluntary organization who needs to use it, also. But I’m making this up as I go along, and I feel like I’ve been constructing an airplane while in free-fall, writing the owner’s manual and giving status updates for the past 2 1/2 months.
8. Will the system do case management? No. Because of the open nature of the system, it is not appropriate to store or track confidential case management information using this system. The system is primarily focused on the assessment, gutting, cleanup, and rebuilding phases of recovery. It does NOT handle case management, inventory control, volunteer management, etc. However, it will track volunteer hours.
9. Will the system adapt for long term recovery? Yes, with limits. We are adapting the system to do long term recovery for property, but not other aspects of LTR, such as case management.
10. What does the system do best? The system is designed to organize and coordinate tens or hundreds of thousands of volunteers from multiple organizations, to thousands or tens of thousands of work order sites across a large geographic area; improve communication, and improve inter-organization coordination. It has been successfully used to deploy more than 30,000 volunteers during Hurricane Sandy, and manage more than 4,600 work order sites.
11. Will this system manage Spontaneous Unaffiliated Volunteers (SUVs)? No, not really. Because the system includes location and contact information for clients, it would not be prudent to allow the entire public to access the system. Consequently, SUVs must first affiliate with an organization before using the system.
12. This system is great! Can you make it do something else?: Yes! If you give me a programmer (or a grant), it will be done tomorrow. Until then, the answer is probably “not for a while,” but there is probably a workaround that will get the job done for now.
13. Bugs: We’ll fix bugs as volunteer programmers have time.
14. How do I…? I cannot provide technical support. I have found that the training video answers 95% of questions. Please watch it. If you figure out how to do something, chances are someone else would like to hear about it. PLEASE email me your how-to, and I will include it in the knowledge base.
15. Will you give me a report? No. I’ll probably give you a username and password and let you pull your own reports.
16. Information for Programmers: The source code is released under a Apache 2.0 License. Here is a list of open issues. Please grab a bug, submit a patch, and start working!
17. Programmer Skill Set: Python, Javascript, with Google Maps familiarity. Familiarity with appspot.com is beneficial. I also need help developing the database schema, and laying a good foundation for others to build upon.

I’m in desperate need of volunteer programmers. I feel like I’ve been constructing an airplane while in freefall, writing the owners manual and giving hourly status reports for the last 1 1/2 months. We’re now gliding, but I need help building the rudder, landing gear, and gas gauges. Please comment below if you’re interested in helping out. Thanks!

Screenshots