Dear Mayor:

We need your help!

The league through its Hometown Security Task Force, which I chair, has been asked by Kathryn Flicker, Assistant Attorney General for Counter-Terrorism to assist her office in developing a state-wide network of Mayors and volunteers to develop Citizen Corps Councils in our communities.

Citizen Corps Councils are the local component of Citizen Corps which is administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and is a vital part of the USA Freedom Corps, President Bush's initiative to encourage and assist all American's to engage in service to their communities, and our country.

At the municipal level, Citizen Corps Councils will help drive citizen participation by identifying volunteer opportunities to support law enforcement and emergency response personnel, and specifying local resources to support Citizens Corps. Citizen Corps includes such programs as the formation of community response teams which will train volunteers to support first responders during emergencies; expansion of Neighborhood Watch Programs to incorporate terrorism prevention education into it's existing prevention mission; and provide volunteers to augment the Police Service and the Medical Reserve Corps. The League will continue to play an integral role in working with the Governor' s Office of Counter Terrorism, NJ Department of State Police and other State and Federal Agencies involved in combating terrorism.

Our success will require a collaborative effort involving you, your fellow elected and appointed officials and most importantly your volunteer groups. We would suggest that you designate a fellow elected or appointed official as your liaison with the League in making this information available to your municipality.

Shortly you will be receiving more details on this program. If you have any questions, call the League's Director, William G. Dressel, at (609) 695-3481 ext. 22.