Volume 1, Issue 4

4/28/10
AMERICAN RED CROSS T IPPECANOE COUNTY

Disaster Services Volunteer

Newsletter
April DAT Meeting Minutes

The Disaster Committee has received a rough draft of the suggestions from the Homeland Security
students on the drill at Westminster. The biggest comment that was made was that participants felt
they needed more training. The chapter has had to cancel many disaster courses lately due to lack of
enrollment. We are going to try and get more classes that work with people’s schedules, but if you
have a chance, take a course! Upcoming courses include: Client Casework, Fundamentals of Disaster
Service and Disaster Assessment, Serving People with Disabilities in a Disaster, and Bulk Distribution.
For more information on these course, please contact the chapter.

On Saturday April 17th, disaster vehicle cleaning day was held. All five
disaster vehicles were able to be cleaned inside and out. Another
clean up day will be held in the future to work on the DAT room and
garage. Volunteers who helped with the cleanup day included: Mike
Mahn, Ron Corcoran, Joan McShane, Joan Campbell, Michelle Musick,
Dave Fagan, Justin Kramer, Jessie Byslma, John Hannigan, and Gail
Summers.

A big thank you to all of the disaster volunteers that were guest servers at Solo-
mon’s Grille on March 26th, a great time was had by all! Servers included: Chris
Brady, Bob Wollenburg, Dieter Hantschell, Wendy Starr, Melanie Campbell, and
Vicki Priest. Thank you all for your help. There will be another Fish Fry at Solo-
mon’s Grill on May 7th, and if you are interested in being a guest server, please
let us know!

In This Issue…
Volunteer Spotlight-Michelle Muscick

An Update on the Haiti Relief Effort

The True Story of Coffee and Donuts

Recent Disaster Activities

Schedule of Upcoming Trainings and Events

And More!

American Red Cross Tippecanoe County Disaster Services Volunteer Newsletter 1

 Recent Disaster Activities
3/20/2010-Shelter classes were give to approximately 11 Romney United Methodist Church Congregation members. Joan McShane, Dave
Fagan, and Kellie Mattingly were the instructors

3/22/2010- Fulfilling Our Mission and Mass Care Overview classes were give to 5 Purdue student nurses. They also helped with Health
Services Kits. Instructors were Joan McShane and Dave Fagan.

3/24/2010- Psychological First Aid Class: For those of you who couldn’t attend, you missed a great class! We had approximately 20 class
participants, many from other local agencies such as Area IV and Salvation Army. Mary Clifford, a mental health specialist from Indianapo-
lis was the instructor. Mary has been on many Disaster Relief Operations, so she was able to give us many insights on how to use the
psychological first aid during a disaster.

3/28/2010- Single family fair on Wilson St. Single client assisted with food, clothing, and shelter. Family Services casework was provided.
Responders were Joan McShane, Justin Kramer, and John Hannigan. The client stated that she didn’t always have a high opinion of the Red
Cross, but after the care she received from our volunteers, she has changed her mind.

3/31/10-Single family fire on 6th St. in Otterbein. Family Services casework was provided. Food assistance was given to a family of 4, and
luckily their insurance kicked in soon. Responders were Joan McShane and Dave Fagan.

4/7/2010-First United Methodist Church of West Lafayette Young Mothers Group. Disaster Preparedness Education was given to ap-
proximately 12 young ladies. Presenters were Dave Fagan and Chris Brady.

4/8/2010-Fulfilling Our Mission and Mass Care Overview classes were given to volunteers and St. Elizabeth School of Nursing students.
Approximately 15 people attended. The courses were taught by Joan McShane and Dave Fagan.

4/14/2010-First United Methodist Church of West Lafayette Young Mothers Group. How to Beat the Critters and basic First Aid presen-
tations were given. Presenters were Dave Fagan and Chris Brady.

4/20/2010-Tippecanoe Co. Fire Association at West Point. A discussion was held about the 4-H Fair. We might help with the Smoke
House, but nothing is certain. Also, the Hoosier Burn Camp Parade is on June 2.

Heroes Run 2010 A Success!
th
On Saturday April 10 the Purdue
University Red Cross Club hosted the 2nd
annual Heroes 5K Fun Run. This was the
club’s effort to help the Heroes campaign.
Over 100 people came out to run or walk
and the club raised over $1800! The top
three males and females received medals
and prizes. The 1st and 2nd place males
were battling it to the end to see who
won. It was photo finish. The club did an
amazing job coordinating all the
volunteers to make the event run
smoothly. This was the last event the
Purdue club is putting on for the year. If
you missed it this year look for it in 2011!
CPR/First Aid Courses for DAT Volunteers
CPR/First Aid Training is free for DAT
volunteers at the chapter. To sign up all
you need to do is call the chapter. The
number is 765-742-6975.
All DAT members are strongly encouraged
to attend a CPR/First Aid course. If you
have been certified in the past, and your
certification has expired within the last 6
months, you are eligible for the review
course. If you have never taken CPR/First
Aid or your certification expired over 6
months ago, you must take the full class.

American Red Cross Tippecanoe County Disaster Services Volunteer Newsletter 2

 Volunteer Spotlight:
Michelle Musick
This month’s volunteer spotlight features Mi-
chelle Musick. Michelle has been a long time
volunteer and does a lot for the chapter. Mi-
chelle has been a huge help during our March
Heroes Campaign. Thank You Michelle for all
that you do!
How long have you been a volunteer?
.Eight years. It seems like its gone fast, it
doesn’t seem like its been eight years
since I started!
What are some of your favorite things to
do with the Red Cross?
I like going on the fire calls and helping the
clients. I also like working in the office, doing
supply shopping, and working with the other
volunteers and staff.
What is the most rewarding
thing you have done with the
chapter?
Helping clients. For example, at Hur-
ricane Katrina hearing the story of an
eighteen year old girl and how her family was
trapped in their home. Also, I worked the scene of
a wreck and listened to the driver’s story.
What advice would you give to new volun-
teers?
You’ll love it! You’ve got to join, and once you do
you can’t leave it. Everybody is so nice. Fire calls
are interesting when you can watch the firefighters
and see how they work.
What would you tell someone who was
thinking about volunteering with the Red
Cross?
Do the DAT and work in the office. Also, work
the fundraisers, they’re pretty good too!

Heroes Campaign Raises over $75,000!

This year’s Heroes Campaign officially ended on March 31st. The Heroes Campaign is
the chapter’s annual fundraiser, raising funds for all of the local services we provide
Tippecanoe, Benton and Carroll counties.
This year’s goal was $75,000. It was announced at the Heroes Celebration Luncheon
on April 16th that the chapter has raised over $76,000 this year! Great Job Everyone!
What’s even more incredible is that the community has also generously donated over
$70,000 to the Red Cross Haiti Relief Fund. Combined with our Heroes total, the
Greater Lafayette area has donated almost $150,000 to the American Red Cross
since January!
We are very thankful for the amazing support our community provides the Red
Cross. We couldn’t fulfill our mission without the financial support of our donors and
the continued, hardworking support of our volunteers.

American Red Cross Tippecanoe County Disaster Services Volunteer Newsletter 3

 An Update on the Situation in Haiti
Three months after the earthquake in Haiti, our chapter has had over $70,000 donated from local residents, and the American
Red Cross has raised approximately $418 million for the Haiti Relief and Recovery effort. The American Red Cross has spent
a record $111 million dollars to quickly meet the needs of the Haitian People. So far, the Red Cross has helped hundreds of
thousands of earthquake survivors with food, water, shelter, and health programs. The fact that these efforts have reached
nearly 2 million people is evidence that money, so generously donated by the American people, is getting through and a great
deal of progress is being made.

Shelter is a top priority in Haiti. As with any other humanitarian organization working in Haiti, the Red Cross cannot
start building transitional shelters until there are cleared plots of land available for us to use. Two plots in Cite Soleil were
recently released for use by the government, and they are now being prepared for occupation. The Red Cross is also shipping
building supplies for thousands of shelters, and has begun training Haitian Red Cross staff and volunteers to construct these
shelters. In the meantime, the Red Cross is working to prepare communities as best as possible for the rainy season and
upcoming hurricane season. In a coordinated effort among 50 organizations to help displaced Haitians, Red Cross teams in
Haiti recently reached the goal of giving emergency shelter materials to 400,000 people. The Red Cross is currently the largest
single contributor of emergency shelter in Haiti.

Many volunteers have wondered why the Red Cross isn’t deploying large amounts of volunteers to Haiti. The Red
Cross decided that deploying large numbers of volunteers wouldn’t be the best way to help the Haitian people, as these
volunteers wouldn’t speak the language or know the country. This is why, through a coordinated effort, the Red Cross has
deployed 165 people, most of them highly-trained disaster specialists who work with the Haitian Red Cross to deliver relief
supplies through the network of 10,000 Haitian Volunteers.

The American Red Cross will continue to support earthquake survivors in the months and years ahead in a long-term
recovery plan, until the last donated dollar is spent. At this point, the Red Cross spending plan for Haiti estimates that about 40
percent of the planned spending for the recovery period will be for shelter. The Red Cross plans to spend 20 percent each on
emergency relief, and water and sanitation projects, and 15 percent on grants, loans, and other financial assistance. Other
priorities included disaster preparedness and health programs. The allocations in the American Red Cross plan will shift
somewhat in the years ahead in order to be responsive to the fluid situation in Haiti and the evolving needs of the
Haitian people.

Save A Life Saturday 2010

On Saturday March 27, 13 CPR instructors volunteered their time to train over 80 community members in Adult CPR at
Faith Community Center as part of Save a Life Saturday 2010. Save a Life Saturday is held every year in March to help create
awareness in the community about the importance of becoming CPR certified. American Red Cross CPR certification gives
participants the skills they will need to be able to identify emergencies, call for professional help and caring f for a victim until
help arrives. Caring for a victim could Include administrating First Aid, using CPR skills, and utilizing an AEDmachine.
Participants in Save a Life Saturday received Adult CPR training at a reduced cost, and were trained in how to check a victim,
conscious chocking, unconscious choking, and Adult CPR. Volunteers from the local chapter were also present and assisted
with the selling of First Aid products.

American Red Cross Tippecanoe County Disaster Services Volunteer Newsletter 4

 The True Story of Coffee and Donuts
Recently a client stated that she had an unfavorable opinion in the Red Cross in the past, but after
being assisted by the Red Cross, her opinion has changed. This client happened to be a member of
the World War 2 generation, and that generation as a whole has a negative opinion of the Red
Cross. Why you may wonder? The answer may surprise you. Coffee and Donuts.

During World War 2, service agencies in Britain helping British service members were not
as well financed as the American Red Cross. This resulted in British military members being
charged for items that American service members were receiving for free from the American Red
Cross. To avoid further embarrassment to the British, whe were playing host to thousands or U. S.
troops, the U. S. Secretary of War requested that the American Red Cross begin charging American
service members for such items as coffee and doughnuts in its canteens.

The Red Cross interpreted this request as a wartime demand and complied so that it could continue its aid to U.S.
troops. However, the Red Cross sold items at or below cost and never profited a penny from these sales. Since the end of World
War 2, the American Red Cross has not charged military personnel for any wartime services, including services rendered in the
Korean War, Vietnam War, Persian Gulf Conflict, Afghanistan War, and the Iraq War.

In April of 1946, Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, Chief of Staff, United States Army, released the following statement to the
press regarding the charges and the need for Americans to donate to the Red Cross.

“During the current Red Cross fund campaign vast number of patriotic Americans have responded generously to the cause.
Alreadt the majority of chapters hve reache or exceeded their local goals. In some communities, however, I understand the
campaing is laggind, and I am surprised to learn that one of the resons given is the complaints being leveled at the organization’s
overseas operations by returning servicemen. For the most part these criticisms have grown out of a Red Cross policy of making
nominal charges to our forces for food and lodgings in fixed Red Cross installations abroad. These complaints are distressing to
me since this particular Red Cross policy was adopted at the request of the Army, so as to insure an equitable distribution among
all service personnel of Red Cross services.”

The next time someone says they don’t like the Red Cross because they charged for coffee and donuts, you can tell them that
unfortunately that is true, but it was because the army asked us to and since then, all Red Cross assistance has been provided
free of charge.

Volunteer Recognition Awards

The Greater Lafayette Volunteer Bureau held a volunteer recognition luncheon on
April 15. The staff and volunteers being recognized attended this event. Volunteers
recognized were: Giuliana Kano, Tom Bill, George Bittles, Dave Fagan, Joan
McShane, Rick and Sarah Schwartz, Joan Campbell, Michelle Musick, Brenda
Hofmann, Don Lancaster, Katie Spicer, Taylor Bennett, Hunter Griendling,
and Kellie Mattingly.
On April 28th, the Shining Star Volunteer Awards were given out. This year’s recipi-
ents were: Sandi Merrit for Services to Armed Forces work, Bill Ware for
Transportation, Justin Kramer and Ron Corcoran for Disaster Services,
Brenda Hoffman for Health and Safety, Isaias Laborin for Youth, Alisa Morehouse for
Past Board, and Char Carver and Bryce Hufford for Current Board. Congratulations!

American Red Cross Tippecanoe County Disaster Services Volunteer Newsletter 5

 Mark Your Calendars
5/6-5/12-National Nursing Week, Thanks to all of our nurses!
5/7-Team 4 on call
5/7-Solomon’s Grill Fish Fry 5-9pm
5/14-Team 1 on call
5/19-DAT Meeting 6pm
5/21-Team 2 on call
5/22-Run for the Red at the Veteran’s Home. Register online or
on the day of starting at 7am. Check out redcrossrun.com for
more information.
5/25-Client Casework Training 6-10pm
5/27-Client Casework Training 6-10pm
5/28-Team 3 on call
5/31-Red Cross office closed
6/1-Fundamentals of Disaster Service and Disaster Assessment
Basics from 6-10pm. Possibility of a field trip with this course.
6/4-Sheriff’s Fish Fry. Tickets can be purchased at the Chapter.
6/19-Serving People with Disability in a Disaster Course
9am-4pm

ATTENTION!

Tippecanoe County disaster The Red Cross website has changed! Our new
volunteers now have their own place on address is www.lafayetteredcross.org
the web!
Also, please update your email list as our staff
emails have changed. The @tippearc.org has
Check out
been changed to @lafayetteredcross.org
www.lafayetteredcross.blogspot.com
For example: Old Way: Kellie@tippearc.org
New Way: Kellie@lafayetteredcross.org
For all of the latest chapter
disaster news!

American Red Cross Tippecanoe County Disaster Services Volunteer Newsletter 6