Membership

ADMISSION PROCEDURE

Meeting Place Map

The following procedure shall be followed to establish membership in the Disaster Aid Response Team:

First Meeting Attended
1. The candidate is introduced to the general membership.
2. The candidate attends an orientation session held during the breakout session of the general meeting.
3. The application form is completed and submitted by the candidate.
4. A Member-at-Large is assigned the candidate as a contact resource.
5. The Coordinator begins a background check on the candidate.

If the DART Executive Board has determined that a membership limit has been reached, the prospective candidate shall sign a wait-list form. When an opening becomes available, wait-listed prospects will be invited by the Board to begin the membership process. The Board reserves the right to select on the basis of skills, availability, and previous experience.

Second Meeting Attended

  • Before this meeting, all background information is gathered by the Coordinator.
  • The prospective member is advised to begin selecting areas of interest that can be explored for individual specialized training.
  • The prospective member schedules training for team standard first aid  and CPR.

Third Meeting Attended
1. At the Board meeting prior to the third meeting attended, the assigned Member-at-Large will recommend to the Board whether the candidate should move to full membership.

    a. If a problem with admission of the candidate surfaces either through the background check or through contact with the subject in the previous period of participation, the candidate's admission status will be continued until such time as the Board has approved admission or dismissed the candidate for cause. In the event of a continuance, the candidate will be interviewed by a member or members of the Board to clarify areas of concern.

    b. The questionable member will be evaluated for admission for a period not to exceed six (6) months from the time of the first meeting attended. At that time, the candidate's admission will be terminated.

2. At the third meeting, the approved new member will be processed for fingerprints, photograph, and identification card.

3. The member may purchase the uniform after this meeting, and may participate in DART activities within the limits of verifiable training and preparation.

4. New members status will remain probationary until certification of DART standard First Aid and CPR has been verified.

At the subsequent Board meeting, the Board will make final approval to full membership for the individual. A call sign will be assigned. At the next general meeting, the new member will be sworn in as an active member of DART, thus qualifying him/her as a Disaster Service Worker. He/she will receive uniform patches and a vehicle dashboard placard. The member will pay the annual dues of $25 to the treasury, prorated from the first meeting attended.

REQUIREMENTS OF MEMBERSHIP

To maintain active membership status, the member must comply with the following each year:

  • Have no more than three (3) unexcused absences to general meetings.
  • Attend all mandatory DART events, including training drills.
  • Maintain a clean police record and positive contact with the Los Gatos Police Department as well as other law enforcement agencies
  • Maintain appropriate conduct while representing DART
  • Pay appropriate dues
  • Obtain the standard DART uniforms
  • Fulfill all standards for appearance and presentation
  • Participate in ongoing skill training
  • Maintain current certification in DART standard First Aid and CPR.

Non-compliance with the requirements of active membership may be grounds for dismissal from DART. The following dismissal procedure may be invoked:

  • The Executive Board, upon quorum majority, shall put a member on notice for not complying with the requirements of active membership.
  • An attempt shall be made to establish with the member methods to correct deficiencies within a specified time.
  • If the deficiencies cannot be corrected, the member will be advised in writing that he or she is dismissed from the group. This notice shall require the member to return any DART-issued property, including, but not limited to, the membership card, patches, and vehicle placard.
  • Any escalation required shall be referred to the Coordinator.