Please join the 200 members of Brookline's Medical Reserve Corps in helping Brookline prevent the flu and be prepared for emergencies. We are looking for non-medical as well as medical volunteers, available either on a weekday or a weekend. We are also looking for those with a second language. The training is short and interesting and means that you would be ready to help with a large-scale vaccination program or public health emergencies.

To date, we have assisted with the water emergency in May, H1N1 vaccinations, winter storm shelters, helped evacuees from Hurricane Katrina, run shelters for the Boston Marathon and participated in disaster drills. Last year, many of us took part in an area-wide flu clinic at Brookline High School, where more than 2400 people were immunized in three hours. The event was carried out smoothly because of the large number of volunteers helping register and guide people as well as those actually giving the immunizations.

There will be an information session at Brookline's Health Department, 11 Pierce Street, Denny Room, Lower Level from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 12, with refreshments provided. To register interest or for further information, please leave your name and number anytime for Dawn Sibor, Brookline's Public Health Emergency Preparedness Coordinator, on (617) 730 2656 or by email
dsibor@brooklinema.gov. Please also visit our website www.brooklinemrc.org.