O.Z.O. is a bit of a “choose your own adventure” / “gateway drug.” If you become involved, you will find yourself interested in a variety of programs and offerings from a variety of sources. Many O.Z.O. members are actively pursuing careers in emergency services or related fields after their initial involvement in organization activities.
O.Z.O. is able to bridge the gap of interest from the young that many traditional established organizations have not been so successful in doing. For example, when a kid sees someone in a green vest at a local C.E.R.T. rally-point, they typically don’t have much of an opinion on how they look or what they are doing. When they attend an O.Z.O. event, and see some of the training from C.E.R.T. or the O.E.S. come into play within our organizations themed “fantasy” events, they see the value, and are more easily encouraged to investigate or join such organizations for what they have to offer. O.Z.O. hits the “cool factor” where other organizations fail. Because O.Z.O. uses a subtle form of “edutainment”, and provides adventure in the acts of exploration, preparation and celebration, we very easily appeal to the young and non-traditionalists that others cannot seem to reach. We have often been called the “Boy Scouts” for disenfranchised young adults. We don’t mind that moniker. The Boy Scouts have a lot of skill, knowledge, and values to learn from. We’ve read their manual, and borrowed what we like… just as we do from other organizations where there is something to be learned.
There are a lot of organizations with similar goals to O.Z.O. But none with the same methods.
Organizations that O.Z.O. approves of or members participate in are linked below:
Southern California B.B.B. Group:
Ready 5
C.E.R.T. (Community Emergency Response Team)
San Diego Search and Rescue
O.Z.O. also monitors the following organizations and their approaches to emergency management:
- http://www.fema.gov/
- http://www.calema.ca.gov/Pages/default.aspx
- http://www.sdcounty.ca.gov/oes/
- http://www.sandiego.gov/fire/about/organization/specialteams/emergencymgmt.shtml
History of Civil Defense:
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_defense
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_civil_defense
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Office_of_Emergency_Services