Another suggestion might be to check your local county government directory...I did, found and joined the county Emergency Management Unit..basically go out after tornados, drownings and other county emergencies. The offer all kinds of training..some pretty sophisticated like storm watching. Pretty helpful course here in Tornado alley.

The last time I went out, a large plant in Muskogee, Ok had a boiler blow up..people missing, whole plant on fire. Our EM unit is the only group in the state that has the manpower and equipment to light up pretty much any scene, so we got called out. Pretty exciting and helping my community too. Plus, and I'm no accountant, but I believe I can write off some of my Emergency Management purchases.

Sounds logical enough, except Montgomery County's emergency management does not seem well organized.

I was trying to get some Pet First Aid training because we were taking our elderly dog with us on a trip at Christmas. I couldn't find any solid Red Cross info on the Web in our country. Most of the links were broken. I couldn't get anyone to return my call.

I had to go outside our county, to Berks County, to get the training. Our instructor in Pet First Aid doesn't understand Montgomery County, either.

He said he's lost money and patience in every encounter he has had with county officials, to the point where he tries to not do any business with Mont Co. Sad but true.

-- Craig