Welcome to your Holiday Edition of Volunteer Voice!

We are packed full of information on the happenings with volunteers. We would also liketo welcome Blood Service volunteers as we have merged to keep you updated on allvolunteer activities. Let’s get started!

Holiday 2008 Issue

Volunteer Voice

Inside thisEdition:

College StudentsMaking aDifferenceChair’s Corner Conversations inDiversityFrom the Desk of Disaster Volunteer Leadership Youth in RedCrossDAT HappeningsWinter PreparednessBlood ServicesVolunteer SpotlightAttention: BloodServiceVolunteersSeason’sGreetings

Chair’s Corner

College Students Making a Difference

On Wayne State University’s campus, you will find several volunteers working to impact our community through the WSU Red Cross Club. They are representing our organizationthroughout southeastern Michigan from planting trees to staffing community events.

"Volunteering is not something that 's just nice todo, it's necessary to solveimportant community problems." ~ Robert Grimm (2007)

Greetings. I do not knowabout anyone else, butlately I have a need toreada good book, wrap up in awarm blanket and continueto look forreasons to feelgrateful for the manypositive experiences in mylife.Iam especially thankful thatI chose to be a part of anorganization suchasAmerican Red Cross whichcontinues to serve thecommunity in the faceof local and national financialuncertainty. Although our choices weremany, driven bypersonal conviction, many of us chose to serve theAmerican Red Cross.The other day someone askedme about working for theRedCross. When we got to thepart that I do service not for pay therewas a short momentof silence. "Oh youvolunteer?” I was a littlesurprised by their reactionsince I knew that servicetranslates intosavedthousands of dollars for organizations.As volunteers we know howimportant the work is we doeveryday. Money does notequate with value.To everyone -- create aspecial retreat, take goodcare of yourself, andremindyourself daily how valuableyou are regardless of whatanyonetells you to thecontrary.Happy New Year.

Victoria H. Steward

Chair of Volunteers

Conversations in Diversity

From the Desk of Disaster Volunteer Leadership

The winter season will increase the number of fire responses for the DAT teams. Stoves,ovens, and space heaters are very dangerous and are responsible for many fires. Also,faulty Christmas decorations can be very hazardous. Responding to fires by our DATteams becomes more difficult during extenuating weather conditions. The safety of our volunteers is most important and should be our primary concern. We can only serve our clients if we arrive at the scene in “one piece.”In November, we had a DAT retreat with 50 volunteers attending. Glen Hendricks gavean overview of current Chapter activities, including a program to have laptops in all of theDAT vans, so that the client interview can be directly entered into the CAS system. Thiswill also allow us to issue CAC cards and authorize their use from the van. DATmembers have recently been involved in helping with fund-raisers and picking updonations of blankets and comfort kit items. Salutations to our new DAT members asthey join forces with a very dedicated group of people and continue to strengthen our DAT teams.As we enter this special season, may the blessing of the Holidays be yours andhappiness fills each day of the New Year.

Robert E. York

On Saturday, November 15, 2008, Volunteer Services and our Diversitydepartment facilitated a brief discussion on diversity and its importance inour volunteer work. Tawanna Ward, Manager, Volunteer Services, talkedabout our Fundamental Principles and how they guide our work, our perceptions and interactions with those we serve. Victoria H. Steward,Chapter Chair of Volunteers, talked about variousaspects of diversity andhow we might apply them to our volunteer work. The event took place atthe Disaster Services Retreat. It was a well-attended event. Theseconversations will continue at different venues in the future.

DAT Happenings

Ninety-nine and a Half Won’t Do

The following are excerpts from Disaster Specialist, Patrick Holland’s e-mail “Ninety-nine and a half won’t do.”It is a note to disaster volunteers about the impact their service has on our Chapter:Greetings Team,I just wanted to share with you a few things I witnessed recently during my week of being on-call coordinator. Ialways knew we had an outstanding disaster services program, but please allow me to share with you a fewexamples:I was called to a multiple-dwelling fire in Highland Park, with multiple fatalities. I observed oneof our volunteers connect with a family that had just lost loved ones and work with them andoffer our services in such a clear, caring way……There was a small apartment fire in Ferndale, and not only did the team respond to thedwelling and do the assessment, but they also went to Children’s Hospital to service the familyso they would not have to leave a child’s bedside…And if that last bullet point did not let you know how strong our teams are…a DAT that was not on call and wasdriving to Toledo Ohio and re-routed himself and showed up to help with the fire. Another DAT, after spendingall day at the fire response, went home, changed clothing, and returned to teach a class that same night.That is why I entitled this e-mail “Ninety-nine and a half won’t do,” because when these teams go out they giveonly 110% and above. So I salute them and am extremely grateful to have them fighting alongside of me.

HELP US HELP OTHERS

As the cold weather sets in and the economic crunch continues, more families are at risk of home fires caused by improper heating methods.Now, as always, your financial contributions will help us serve families who have losteverything in a fire. Our dedicated volunteers respond 24/7, 365 days a year, but they needus to provide them with the financial tools and material to provide service to clients.

To contribute

:Mail check to:

American Red Cross –Southeastern Michigan Chapter

100 MackP.O. Box 441280Detroit, MI 48244