By Mark Thomas, Wisconsin Region CEO & Southeast Wisconsin Chapter Executive, American Red Cross
It was December 2018 and, as always with the holidays, it was time for family updates. Checking in with siblings, relatives, loved ones, a roundup on new jobs, relationships, babies and other benchmarks.
From my sister, the update was initially grim: my nephew in Racine had suffered a home fire.
That’s the kind of news that puts so much into perspective. She said he and his girlfriend had gotten out safely. They lost many possessions, including gifts from the holidays. But, as my sister said, they had hope right after the fire, because that’s when they received comfort and help from volunteers at the American Red Cross.
My sister and nephew didn’t even know I had started a new career at the Red Cross. This was just weeks after I had joined. The story from my sister was an unfiltered acknowledgement that fires didn’t just happen to other people. And that hope and help came from the Red Cross for everyone in need, my family included.
Once I had the chance to share about my new role at the Red Cross, I knew from my family’s story that I had come to the right place.
I’m happy to report that my family is back in their place and on solid footing. As for me, I’m now at one year as Regional CEO and Southeast Wisconsin Chapter Executive with the Red Cross. On this anniversary and during a time of year when people are extra reflective, I wanted to revisit a few of the milestone moments from another outstanding year of service by your Red Cross in Wisconsin. I also wanted to share a big lesson I’ve learned and the vision I have for the time ahead.
But back to 2019. As the anecdote I shared at the start shows, our programs and mission became very real in my life right away. Here are a few, high-level bullets of the stand-out moments our Region has been involved with over the past 12 months:
January
- Received the “Region of the Year” recognition for the fundraising success of my predecessors and present leaders on our fund development team
- Brought together our Southeast Chapter Board for my first full meeting (special shout-out to board chair Becky Fitzgerald for your leadership and guidance)
February
- Saw our Service to the Armed Forces team connecting with veterans in need at the Milwaukee Stand Down resources event
- Heard the fast action of our Disaster teams in response to a fatal car pile-up, the biggest in our state’s history
With our team at the Milwaukee Stand Down, held at the Armory.
March
- Met people displaced by a large-scale apartment fire in Bayside, including a dear friend and a local reporter brave enough to share her story
- At a shelter from ice jam flooding in Fond du Lac, watched as strangers brought a turkey on their Harley for people who were displaced, and was impressed by all the volunteers who kept spirits high (my teenage daughter was wowed, too, and impressed me by putting on a Red Cross vest and pitching in)
April
- Welcomed and enthused by our staff at our first, in-person meeting in Madison
- Those feelings multiplied this same month on an introductory meeting with my national colleagues at the historic Red Cross headquarters in Washington, D.C.
May
- Brave Hearts … I am at a loss for words at the turnout and support from this and all our community heroes and fundraising events (and I got a chance to don my on-brand red suit jacket!)
- Later in the month, on what would have been her 91st birthday, marveled at the legacy of Gwen Jackson – an icon for Milwaukee and in community leadership
- Elsewhere in rural northwest Wisconsin, installed my first smoke alarms with a team in homes during our “Sound the Alarm. Save a Life” events
June
- For the first time in my life, I gave the life-saving gift of blood, in a donation at the Milwaukee County Zoo, one of our biggest and best drives
July
- Able to notch success in nearly every way for our fiscal year, which ended in June
- Completed my first CPR training
- Worked alongside local and national Red Cross teams at the LULAC Convention in downtown Milwaukee
Meeting disaster volunteer Ryan Clancy before he headed to help during Hurricane Dorian. Also met a few members of the Milwaukee media, who helped share Ryan’s journey.
August
- Talked with volunteers as they flew off to the large-scale response to Hurricane Dorian and other flooding and fires – what an impressive machine to help people in desperate need
September
- Reminded of the power of our supporters in yet another way, with the kick-off of a program by the Green Bay Packers to sell grass seeds from Lambeau Field, the proceeds from which go solely to the Red Cross … how cool is that?!
October
- Grateful to have Greg Novinska take a new role with our biomedical services team, my colleague in everything happening behind the scenes to merge the full power of the Red Cross for people in our state
November
- Cold weather came early, and with it, the typical spike in home fires … thankfully, our volunteers around the state have once again answered the call for families displaced by this every-day disaster
- Had important discussions around inclusion and diversity with our talented Wisconsin leadership team, such a vital part of plans to make our organization the best place it can be for everyone
December
- For the first time in Wisconsin, the national Centennial Campaign for swim safety launched in Milwaukee, with partners Milwaukee Recreation at four pools in the city
Kids in Milwaukee enjoying swim lessons, with the promise of many more to come thanks to the Centennial Campaign and Milwaukee Rec.
There has been so much from those events and more that have impressed, humbled and energized me about the work we do. From it all, two ideas stand out.
The first is readiness. That word – readiness – means so much more to me, now that I’ve seen us in action. Home fires, floods, staff meetings, volunteer recruitment, fundraising, blood collection, outreach to military families … even as these words are coming together, our teams in Osseo are wrapping up a reception center for people affected by a massive car pile-up. Just before I pulled together these thoughts, one of our long-time and wonderful volunteers, Marge, stopped in and reminded me of the value of openness and being ready to share her passion and ideas for our mission. The countless ways readiness is part of our service at the Red Cross keeps what we do exciting and important.
From that important lesson on readiness, I have a solid foundation on how we build for the days ahead. We have a very strong network across Wisconsin. I am committed to making sure our core service is focused on our customers – including people in need, our volunteers and our supporters – and that it remains inclusive to all. There have been incredible people who have sustained and led this organization for more than 100 years in our state. I will carry that legacy of service. And I aim to make sure every community we serve knows the Red Cross is here to help, the right way. With you, I know we can help our friends, family and neighbors in need for the next 100 years – and beyond.
Filed under: Fundraising, Giving Blood, Health and Safety, Home fire / Sound the Alarm, Hurricane, Preparedness, Services to Armed Forces, Southeast chapter | Tagged: American Red Cross, Mark Thomas, Milwaukee | Leave a comment »
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