City of Columbia

Volunteer of the month March 2014 – Robert and AnaLee Shatlain

Not long after the Shatlain family moved from Texas to Columbia, Robert, a former Army Sergeant, voluntary firefighter, and Paramedic, started volunteering for the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). He’d return from training and his youngest daughter, 17 year old AnaLee eagerly questioned him about what he was learning. “It sounded so exciting,” AnaLee explains. “I started by sitting in on a couple of classes, decided to join, and am now a full-fledged CERT member.”

As the youngest CERT member in Columbia, AnaLee is also involved with Columbia fire department’s Explorer program. She looks forward to her 18th birthday when she can join the Elk’s club, where her dad serves as the Public Education Chair, and the Red Cross, where her dad volunteers on the Disaster Team.

Helping others is big in the Shatlain household. In the past year, Robert, who oversees all the equipment as the Logistics Officer, has volunteered over 200 hours with CERT. AnaLee joined CERT in July 2013 and has volunteered over 90 hours. Both father and daughter won the Rookie of the Year Award CERT 2013.

“I like preparing for disasters so that when they happen we can quickly help people,” Robert says.

“It’s great to have my dad in CERT because it has bonded us in a different way,” AnaLee says. “I know he always has my back, and I have his.”

Written by volunteer Theresa Nelson