Volunteer Spotlight
Dotty Hodgson and Dick Mahoney
In Marlborough, two friends, Dick Mahoney and Dottie Hodgson, have become a fixture for the city’s emergency preparedness. Both are members of the Region 4A MRC unit and volunteer with multiple organizations including the American Red Cross, their Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and their local Council on Aging. Mr. Mahoney and Ms. Hodgson are some of the most active volunteers in their area. "Every time we have a region or statewide deployment they are always there to support whenever needed and they have participated in so many of the trainings offered by the Region,” said Liisa Jackson, Region 4A MRC Coordinator. "They are truly an asset to their community, region and state.”
Mr. Mahoney and Ms. Hodgson met at a computer class, but their friendship flourished through their volunteering with local emergency response organizations, including the Region 4A MRC. Mr. Mahoney, a retired industrial engineer and a Marlborough resident for over 50 years, became interested in emergency preparedness through his HAM radio hobby. Over the years, he’s been instrumental for the town’s emergency communications. Ms. Hodgson volunteered at senior centers and flu clinics long before the MRC program began. Since the inception of the Region 4A MRC unit, Ms. Hodgson and Mr. Mahoney have regularly attended monthly meetings. "They have participated in almost every community outreach event we have held, and Marlborough has held many,” said Robert Landry, the Marlborough Board of Health administrator.
Both volunteers are just as active for deployments as they are for town meetings. Mr. Mahoney and Ms. Hodgson helped run shelters during the 2008 December ice storms as well as H1N1 flu clinics in Marlborough. Both volunteers have shown a knack for adapting to whatever gets thrown at them. During the ice storm, Mr. Mahoney’s HAM radio skills came in handy when the Marlborough shelter was without electricity. Similarly, Ms. Hodgson was able to quickly register vaccine recipients when the local flu clinic’s computer registration system went down. With their help, the city of Marlborough was able to vaccinate over 800 citizens in one four hour clinic.
Mr. Mahoney and Ms. Hodgson never accept the status quo in emergency preparedness. After the March 22nd H1N1 Lessons Learned Conference in Worcester, both came out with a desire to improve what was already a successful vaccination campaign. "I’m not happy with just a pat on the back,” said Ms. Hodgson. "I think we can really improve upon what we did.” Ms. Hodgson suggested streamlining registration as one means of improving flu clinic operations. Mr. Mahoney took the same attitude towards the 72 hour kit, a list of emergency supplies that everyone should keep in their house. Mr. Mahoney noticed that many of the items listed in a 72 hour kit did not apply to senior citizens and took the initiative to create his own kit designed for the elderly. He and Ms. Hodgson actively reach out to the elderly community to promote their senior friendly 72 hour kit and ensure their safety during a disaster. For two years and counting, they have held a booth at the Massachusetts Senior Conference with their own brochures specifically targeted to seniors.
While they have devoted much of their time to the elderly community, Mr. Mahoney recommends people of all ages join their local MRC unit. "There are only so many people cities and towns can employ to respond to a disaster,” said Mr. Mahoney. "It’s important that citizens get involved, no matter what your age is.”
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