About Us

What We Do

COPIN is a noncommercial association of communications professionals organized to provide information support in response to disasters or other public emergencies. 

COPIN exists to increase awareness and education of the role of public information officers during a crisis, to assist with training opportunities that foster greater disaster communications skills among its members and to facilitate requests for emergency communication backup support from members able to assist qualified organizations that serve community needs. 

COPIN operates in a geographic area of Central Ohio determined by the COPIN Board of Directors.

Board of Directors

Darcy Dooley

Chair

City of Grove City

Gregg Dodd

Vice-Chair

Columbus Metropolitan Library 

Michelle Day

Secretary

Ohio Nurses Association

Kelly McGuire

Director

Franklin County Emergency Management & Homeland Security

Sarah McQuaide

Director

Central Ohio Transit Authority

Rebecca Myers

Director

City of Dublin

Amanda Osborne

Director

Columbus Zoo & Aquarium

Steve Solomon

Director

Central and Southern Ohio Region of Red Cross

Mallory Sribanditmongkol

Director

People In Need, Inc.
of Delaware County, Ohio

Jennifer Thrush

Director

Union County Health Department

Committees

COPIN has three membership committees. Each committee facilitates the efficient operation of COPIN and the ability for COPIN to function during an emergency.

The primary duties of the committee are:

Perform a yearly review and update of the COPIN JIC plan, and submit for approval by the COPIN Board of Directors at the annual meeting. Conduct regular surveys of the physical assets of partner COPIN agencies, including designated JICs, media briefing locations remote from JICs, and resources listed in the COPIN JIC plan. Work with Franklin County Public Health in performing regular review of the inventory, layout, functionality and SOP for use of their Mobile JIC asset.

Work with Franklin County EMA liaison in performing regular review of the inventory, layout, functionality and SOP for use of their stationary JIC. Coordinate involvement of COPIN members in partner agency trainings and exercises as requested.

For questions about the JIC Logistics and Planning Committee, contact COPIN’s Board Chair.
The COPIN Membership Committee is dedicated to ensuring a healthy and productive organization through the development of a strong membership base.  Membership Committee activities include, but are not limited to:

  • Member recruitment
  • Management of the COPIN membership database
  • Recruitment presentations
  • Recruitment support materials
  • The Membership Committee envisions implementing a phased-in approach to expanding overall COPIN membership, determined by both geography and discipline.

Committee member roles include:

  • Outreach to existing COPIN members to solicit contacts and new member prospects
  • Giving presentations to targeted disciplines to solicit new members
  • Administrative support – letter writing, mailings, database maintenance
  • Coordinating member surveys

We are always looking for additional COPIN members to join us in our membership outreach efforts.  If you are interested in helping, please contact Anne Brown, Membership Committee Chair.
The Professional Development Committee assists COPIN members improve and maintain their skills through:

  • Training
  • Exercises and drills
  • Credentialing

Through participation in each of these areas, members have the opportunity to learn and demonstrate their increasing level of skill in emergency communications in a real or simulated crisis situation.

Training will be available to members in a variety of settings and locations, including presentation-style, workshop and distance learning. Training sessions will be included during COPIN meetings and at other times, when available.

Exercises available to COPIN members may include those listed in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP). Those HSEEP-approved methods include drills, tabletop discussions or practical exercises (also known as functional or full-scale exercises). These events may be planned for COPIN exclusively or more often, as part of an exercise previously planned for other agencies.

Using industry-respected standards of excellence for training and actual experience, credentialing will provide members the ability to provide evidence of their professional accomplishments and development, and at the same time ensure that in a crisis members are confident in their ability to respond.

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