Red Cross Issues Safety Tips for Labor Day Weekend

Many people will be taking road trips, spending time at the beach and having cook outs this weekend. The American Red Cross offers safety tips to help everyone have a safe and enjoyable time.

“We encourage everyone to take a few simple, safety steps when spending time on the road, at the beach and at cook outs,” said Lisa Stanchfield, Community Preparedness Specialist “Start by downloading our free First Aid and Swim apps.”

People should also follow these safety tips:

Tips for Safe Travel

* Take emergency supplies such as food and water, a flashlight and a first aid kit.

* Let someone know your destination, your route and when you expect to arrive.

* Buckle up and obey traffic signs.

* Avoid texting and talking on the phone while driving.

* Don’t drink and drive.

Tips for Safe Swimming

* Check weather and beach conditions throughout the day.

* Always swim in an area supervised by a lifeguard and obey all warnings.

* Provide close and constant attention to children in or near the water.

* Stay within arm’s reach of young children and inexperienced swimmers while they are in the water.

* Young children, inexperienced swimmers and boaters should wear U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets.

Tips for Safe Grilling

* Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

* Keep children and pets away from the grill.

* Never add charcoal starter fluid after coals have been ignited.

* Use long-handled utensils.

* Don’t leave the grill unattended while in use.

The Red Cross has a series of mobile apps in case people run into severe weather or need expert advice on what to do in case of an emergency. People can go to redcross.org/apps for information.

Kerrie Forester Volunteer Award goes to the Extraordinary Territory 3 Disaster Team

June 24, 2014 the American Red Cross of Northeast Wisconsin hosted our spring Celebration of Support event.  We had 260 staff, volunteers, blood donors and community members attend this annual event. Every year we honor a few volunteers who have gone above and behind. Here are their stories.  

Congrats to our entire Territory Three Disaster Team award with the Kerrie Forester Emergency Services Award.

The Kerrie Forester Volunteer Award each year goes to a Disaster Services volunteer who has shared their time and talents above and beyond the high expectations of Disaster Response team members. This award is named after Kerrie Forester who symbolized all this and more, and left us way too soon.

This year we could not pick one single person, because an entire team stepped up when faced with multiple adverse conditions and challenges.

First, our weather – It may be warm and sunny now, but I am sure you remember multiple sub-zero days, wind and snow. No matter what the weather was like, the team was there because they knew help was needed.

Second, thirteen year Disaster Program Manager, Judy Gregory, left on Christmas break and due to a serious medical issue was unable to return to work until April 14th. 

The Red Cross story states we are an agency run by volunteers and this is a prime example of volunteers being leaders.

“It was amazing to see how the volunteers stepped up to the plate, coordinated amongst themselves, and filled in every gap to meet the challenge in Judy’s absence. Whether a large apartment fire, a single family response, or administrative tasks, they exemplified what it means to be a volunteer–led organization.”  Said Travis Waack, Regional Manager, Direct Services

These wonderful volunteers went out of their way and pulled together to continue providing exceptional care to people directly affected by a Disaster.

Congratulations and thank you to our ENTIRE Territory 3 Disaster Team.

It’s World Humanitarian Day!

In December 2008, the sixty-third session of the UN General Assembly decided to designate August 19 as World Humanitarian Day. August 19 is the date on which a brutal terrorist attack on UN headquarters in Baghdad in 2003 killed 22 people, including UN envoy Sergio Vieira de Mello. World Humanitarian Day honors those, who have lost their lives in humanitarian service and those, who continue to bring assistance and relief to millions.

The day also seeks to draw attention to humanitarian needs worldwide and the importance of international cooperation in meeting these needs. Every year, disasters cause immense suffering for millions of people – usually the world’s poorest, most marginalized and vulnerable individuals. Humanitarian aid workers strive to provide life-saving assistance and long term rehabilitation to disaster-affected communities, regardless of where they are in the world and without discrimination based on nationality, social group, religion, sex, race or any other factor.

Down the Street. Across the Country. Around the World. The American Red Cross helps people affected by disasters. Internationally, we accomplish this by working with the global Red Cross and Red Crescent network and other partners to deliver lifesaving services.

Mix & Mingle at the Club Red of NEW Kick-Off Event!

Are you…
• Looking for a change in your life?
• Wanting to make an impact in your community?
• Interested in networking with other young professionals?
• Between the ages of 21-35?

If you answered yes, we have the perfect opportunity for you! We are thrilled to introduce Club Red of NEW. We have developed and put together a framework and structure for the club. Now we are ready to share with our current Red Cross registered members and potential members within this demographic what Club Red will look like, and how we can engage you and other young professionals within Northeast Wisconsin.

Nationally, the American Red Cross recognizes that across the county the segment of the population between 24-34 is an underrepresented segment with in our volunteer base. To build awareness for the Red Cross among young, civic-minded philanthropists, who want to make a difference the Red Cross has developed a tool kit for clubs across the country to develop Young Professional Groups.

About: Club Red of Northeast Wisconsin is a young professional group that provides you with an opportunity to network with other socially conscious professionals and help your community. Our mission is to Give. Guide. Provide. Whether planning social fundraising events or participating in community service projects (Give), you can support events that can help save lives. Club Red Members will also have mentoring opportunities with our youth volunteers (Guide) and leadership development through opportunities available within the group (Provide).

Benefits: Club Red will provide many benefits to its members.
• Social benefits- meet new people
• Professional benefits- mentor/leadership development
• Personal benefits- sense of self, purpose
• Attracts, engages and retains young professionals in the area
• Ensures lasting support that the Red Cross provides to the community

Co-chair member, Erin Thayse, explains what she hopes members will gain from being a part of Club Red, “I hope Club Red members feel they are part of a worthwhile group that understands how important it is to pay it forward. They might not need the services offered by the Red Cross today, but they or someone they know might in the future.”

Requirements: We ask that club members perform a minimum of 25 hours or donate $75/year. Hours and donations are required on a yearly basis.

Mix & Mingle: We would like to see you at our kick-off event on September 25th from 5:30pm-8:00pm at The Marq located on 3177 French Rd, De Pere, WI 54115 to learn more about Club Red. The night will also include networking, appetizers, cash bar and music by local artist, Rob Anthony.

 

Bring your friends! Invite your friends! Share this video on Facebook & Twitter!

Jennesa, events & marketing chair, is excited for the future of Club Red, “I am excited to see where all of the hard work will go, who will all be involved in this young professional group and what kinds of service projects we are going to do for the year.” We hope to see you in Club Red’s future!

If you are interested in potentially joining Club Red: Northeast Wisconsin please RSVP by September 19th:

Jennesa Heiting
heiting.jennesa350@gmail.com

Find our event on Facebook.
Follow us on Twitter.

 

Sharon Davister & Bonnie Rozmarynowski Honored with the Behind-the-Scenes Volunteer Award

June 24, 2014 the American Red Cross of Northeast Wisconsin hosted our spring Celebration of Support event.  We had 260 staff, volunteers, blood donors and community members attend this annual event. Every year we honor a few volunteers who have gone above and behind. Here are their stories.  

(l-r) Jody Weyers, Volunteer and Communications Director, Sharon Davister, Behind-the-Scenes Award Winner and Sue Reineck, Office Manager.

We all know someone who is always there…not in the spotlight, many people might not even know their name, but to the person or area they support they are invaluable.  This year we honored two ladies who started their career with the Red Cross in the same way.  Sharon Davister and Bonnie Rozmarynowski both started at the Red Cross through the N.E.W.Curative Senior Aid program. This program places older adults within an agency to gain job skills for 1-2 years before they are transitioned to a new assignment or gain employment.

After their first term was up both ladies stayed on to help in a second term and then continued on as a loyal volunteer.  

Sharon Davister worked in our Health and Safety department where much transition was happening and the Red Cross was making some hard decisions and changes within the department she served taking the workforce from 5 down to 2. While she served day after day through this growth period there was always a smile on her face and a spring in her step. She made every effort to put smiles and hope in others around her.  She was and is to this day a rock of positive thinking and hope. She strives to focus on the good in people and the positives happening around her. She currently works every Tuesday and will help with whatever projects are needed to be done.  Assisting with data entry projects, mail processing and finances, sewing patches on vests, to other admin support projects. Anything she is asked to do, she does it with a smile on her face. 

Sue Reineck, Office Manager, say “Sharon’s made a great impact in my life and I truly count on her to be “my right hand” in my day–to–day role.

Bonnie Rozmarynowski has a similar story. She worked as a Senior Aide and then after her term was up, continued on as a loyal volunteer. She is a key player in our fundraising department. Who likes to make call after call to ask people for prizes?  She does this task for most of our special events and has much success. She helps call businesses to gather prizes for our golf outing, Soup’s on Fundraiser and the Heroes Musicales event.

She will continue to call a business until she gets a yes or a no, and more times than not with her dedicated follow up and notes, that business does donate to our events. She will also assist when called upon to answer phones at our front desk in the Green Bay office.

Both these ladies and truly behind-the-scenes, but their impact is felt by many within the Red Cross,  it was our honor to present the Behind-the-Scenes Award to Sharon Davister and Bonnie Rozmarynowski. 

Packer 5k- an Interns point of view

by: Cassie DeClerc

Where do I even start when it comes to the Packer 5k?! This was my first experience organizing a large group of volunteers and I learned a lot from it!

When we first posted on here, Facebook, twitter and sent emails out notifying our great volunteers that the American Red Cross would once again be a charity partner with the Packer 5k and that we were looking for volunteers I was a bit overwhelmed. Our amazing community quickly pulled together and sent emails in quicker than I could read them. While it was wonderful to see people volunteer to donate their time, I wasn’t sure I was ever going to be able to organize and contact every single person! Along with the simple challenge of replying to everyone, came the challenge of getting all of the correct information. Some emails came in without shirt sizes, or what area they wanted to work, or even missing the names of individuals which required an extra step of communication which proved to be more fun that I anticipated.

But, through the emails I feel that I got the amazing opportunity to connect with the volunteers. Email made is seem like I was pen pals with 150+ people with some of the biggest hearts I have ever met. With the help of a computer screen and keyboard I was introduced to groups of work friends, people that were long time friends, first time volunteers and volunteers with years of experience, couples, singles, and even families that came together to make a difference and put their community first. Who would ever guess that 150+ strangers could feel like family so quickly!?

As race day neared, I remember being a bit stressed about finding volunteers to fill our open spots on course corners and at the water station. We sent out a social media reminder that we were still looking for volunteers and got 1 response. ONE RESPONSE! I think I had a bit of a panic attack thinking there was no way I would ever fill the positions and because of that it would all be a failure.  (I even had a dream one night of an empty water station with angry thirsty runners!) Jody then reminded me that we had time and we usually end up with just the right number! Our volunteers are certainly awesome like that and come race day we had all spots covered!

Now on to the truly fun and interesting stuff! Goodie bag stuffing was a blast! I loved getting to see the faces behind all of the emails I sent and getting to know some of the volunteers better. We had 2 amazing teams that worked so well we were done early! I cannot say enough about the volunteers at Goodie Bag stuffing. They stuffed bags and folded over 8,000 tshirts! My absolute favorite part of Goodie Bag stuffing was the DePere Baseball team that brought their A game and  helped us all remember what it’s like to be a kid at Lambeau Field!

After a day of rest and recovery we were ready for race day! We started our day at 2pm with packet pick up! We got an awesome picture together (no selfie here, just a normal picture! =]) and then got to send them on their way! We then had a little break before we had to get our course corners and water station ready to go! So Jody and I did what every good runner would do and got prepared for the race! And by that, I mean we got Cold Stone! We had to make sure our sugar was up so we could last through the race!

Our Pre-Race Warm up (or cool down I guess!)

We finally met up with our water station, course corner and medal hand out volunteers! All such wonderful people! In a few short hours these amazing people managed to hand out water, medals and cheer on over 7,000 runners!

This was such an amazing experience in my book. I cannot wait to work with awesome volunteers on events like this in the future!

 

Stop & Take a Pause…..

 By Jody Weyers, Volunteer and Communications Director 

Sometimes you come across something that makes you stop and pause.  That happened to me today.  March 8, 2014 we lost long time blood donor and volunteer James Coleman. He was a proud Red Cross volunteer and blood advocate. As I was going through some files today, I came across this poem he wrote.

 

 

“Today while working at a Red Cross Blood Drive
I realized how great it is to be alive
The Blood they donated helps so many
And what they give does not cost a penny
The friendship we share plus the smiles on each face
Shows me how wonderful it is to be part of the human race”

— Jim Coleman

 

Please think about giving the gift of life. I know someone “upstairs” who will be smiling!    #ChooseYourDay!   Go to www.redcrossblood.org to find a drive near you.

John Mueller Honored with the Andrew Janssen Transportation Award

June 24, 2014 the American Red Cross of Northeast Wisconsin hosted our spring Celebration of Support event.  We had 260 staff, volunteers, blood donors and community members attend this annual event. Every year we honor a few volunteers who have gone above and behind. Here are their stories.  

(l-r) Carol and John Mueller and Tina Whetung, Transportation Manager.

This award is in remembrance of a man who truly enjoyed volunteering for the American Red Cross.  He was a very caring, compassionate individual who went above and beyond each and every time he got behind the wheel of a Red Cross vehicle.

John Mueller has been a dedicated volunteer for Transportation Services for more than 17 years.  Since starting he has seen a lot of changes within the program, including making the move from the basement office on Deckner Ave into the Service Delivery facility, across the street, where we are currently located.  He has also experienced the growing pains of adjusting to new scheduling software and was present for many staff comings and goings.

John is a routine volunteer driver, meaning he commits to driving each Tuesday and Thursday morning, providing rides to the elderly and/or disabled in our community.  The impact this volunteer has made since starting is:  He has volunteered 1,768 times donating 7,956 hours of his time and provided approximately 14,144 rides.  When he is not helping out at the American Red Cross he can be found volunteering either at his church or doing work for the Knights of Columbus.

Congratulations John Mueller, this year’s Andrew Janssen Transportation Award recipient!