The Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) of Carver County invites residents to attend an orientation session and join as a volunteer.             “We currently have 107 MRC volunteers, and our goal is to create a corps of 200 volunteers who can work with our local Public Health staff in times of a public health emergency,” explained Carolyn Schmidt, Carver County Public Health Disease Prevention and Control Department manager. “We know there are many county residents interested in helping their local community, and we want to get them registered as MRC volunteers.”            Anyone interested in joining the local MRC can find out more about the organization at a free, no-obligation orientation session from 5:30-6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 31, in the Carver County Government Center Administration Building, 600 East Fourth Street in Chaska. Those attending the sessions are asked to enter Door No. 1 by the flagpole.             Refreshments will be served at the orientation session, so those interested in attending are asked to register for the event by calling the MRC Information Line at 952.361.1314 or e-mailing MRC@co.carver.mn.us. Walk-ins are also welcome.            A one-hour training session on Mass Dispensing Sites from 7-8 p.m. will follow the orientation session. The session will explain how local public health departments will set up community Mass Dispensing Sites when there is an urgent need to provide medication to a large number of citizens in a short period of time. MRC volunteers will help staff these sites. The training session is open to new MRC recruits and registered volunteers.            Carver County Public Health began its Medical Reserve Corps recruitment efforts in 2005 by targeting nurses living in the county. In addition to needing people with medical and healthcare skills, the MRC needs volunteers who can help with tasks such as educating the public, answering information line calls, and providing administrative and technical support.            “We learned from the September 11^th terrorist attacks and natural disasters that we need to have registered volunteers who have the necessary training and credentials to work in an emergency situation,” Schmidt said.            “When an emergency happens in Carver County, we will need volunteers who can start working with us immediately to help prevent the spread of illness and injuries and the loss of life. We also want to be able to send qualified trained volunteers to disasters in other parts of the country when the need arises.”            In addition to the hour-long orientation session, the time commitment for MRC volunteers includes one-hour training sessions offered on a quarterly basis. MRC volunteers are also given the option of working with Public Health staff on recruitment and publicity events, health education, immunization clinics, and emergency preparedness trainings and exercises.            For more information on the Medical Reserve Corps, visit www.readycarver.org or call the MRC Information Line at 952.361.1314.