Red Cross Ready Rating

By Samantha Slappey

With National Preparedness Month rapidly approaching, we all need to assure that we are staying disaster-ready not only in our homes, but also in our workplaces.

For many businesses and organizations, figuring out how to prepare for an emergency can feel both confusing and time-consuming. However, with the help of the American Red Cross Ready Rating program, you can learn the best tips and practices that can easily prepare your business for any emergency.

The Ready Rating Program is a free membership program designed to help organizations and schools become better prepared for emergencies. The program includes a 123 Assessment that measures your organization’s level of preparedness, customized emergency plans for your organization, a resource center for preparedness information and a shop where you can purchase preparedness supplies.

Companies that participate will receive a Ready Rating Seal that serves as a visible statement that you as an organization are committed to improving your level of preparedness for your employees and company as a whole.

For more information or to register your company please visit www.readyrating.org. You can never be too prepared when disaster strikes!

August volunteer birthdays and anniversaries

Volunteers: Did you have a birthday or anniversary in August? The Red Cross East Georgia Chapter appreciates all of your hard work and hopes you had a great one!

Volunteer Birthdays for August
Name	Date
Ron Laughton	2-Aug
Rachel Moss Smith	11-Aug
Herb Camp	14-Aug
Emily Cheney	15-Aug
Timm Brown	17-Aug
Jonette Bell	20-Aug
Carol Lemke	23-Aug
Josephine Vaughn	27-Aug
Kay Argroves	30-Aug

Volunteer Anniversaries for August
Name	Date	Year Joined	Years with Red Cross as of June 2012
Lauren Barnhart	1-Aug	2008	4
Christine O’Neal	8-Aug	2011	1
Jonette Bell	19-Aug	2011	1
Josephine Vaughn	16-Aug	2007	5
Jane Russell	25-Aug	2009	3

Join the Red Cross in National Preparedness Month

By Nina Kamber

September kicks off National Preparedness Month and the American Red Cross is one of many organizations participating in an effort to bring awareness in staying a step ahead of emergencies and disasters.

National Preparedness Month is “a nationwide effort held each September to encourage Americans to take simple steps to prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses and schools,” and is organized by Ready, a national public service advertising (PSA) campaign.

Disasters can occur with little or no notice and having the proper tips and guidance to stay save is important. Red Cross East Georgia wants every person, family, school, community and business to have a plan of action for various situations.

During the month of September, the Red Cross East Georgia will offer various tips, resources and training on how to update a family disaster plan, keep your business or organization prepared for emergencies and tell what communities are doing to help prepare for emergencies.

The American Red Cross already has two apps that can be downloaded to help keep you informed. The new Hurricane Preparedness App has several features to help monitor weather conditions and can be downloaded from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store for Androidat no cost. The American Red Cross First Aid app is also a great tool to have as it offers great advice on staying prepared in emergencies.

Visit redcross.org to learn more and join the American Red Cross in National Preparedness Month.

Credits: Vincent Knaus

American Red Cross Hurricane App

By Samantha Slappey

We can never be too prepared for a hurricane, especially during hurricane season which starts June 1st and ends November 30th. This hurricane season, the Red Cross has decided to be proactive.

The Red Cross has come out with a new iOS and Android app called Hurricane by American Red Cross. This app is a valuable resource that could be useful before, during and after a hurricane. This app is a must for anyone who lives in hurricane-prone areas, even those who live in the Atlanta and Athens area. The app is being released just in time for National Preparedness Month in September, the month when hurricanes typically hit North and Central America the hardest.

The app contains many features such as:

• Step-by-step instructions that let you know what to do even if cell towers are down or power is out.
• Monitor for weather conditions in your area or those of your loved ones with location-based alerts.
• Locations of Red Cross shelters.
• A customizable “I’m Safe” alert for Facebook, Twitter, e-mail, and text that lets your family and friends know you’re okay.
• A hurricane toolkit that includes a strobe light, flashlight, and audible alerts.
• Instructions for assembling an emergency kit for your family.
• Interactive quizzes about hurricane safety
• Lessons that teach you the difference between a hurricane warning and watch.
• An illustrated history of hurricanes in your area.
• Information on what to do about food/water when your area has been affected by floods and power outages.

This app has been thoroughly reviewed and tested for accuracy by National Red Cross experts
in health, safety and preparedness. Download the app on your Android phone today.

The Red Cross and the Armed Forces: Get to know us before you need us

By Rachel McDaniel

Clara Barton answered the sharp cries of war long before founding the American Red Cross. She
coordinated military hospitals on the frontlines and earned the nickname “Angel of the Battlefield.” Her
efforts carried over into the services of the American Red Cross.

The Service to Armed Forces helps community-based military members and their families
handle the separation and other special needs related to military service.

The SAF provides a medium of communication between military personnel and their families. The
Red Cross communicates news like the birth of a child or a death to those away from home. The Red
Cross also advocates on behalf of military families for financial assistance from military aid societies in
addition to negotiating emergency leave with military authorities.

Across the nation and around the world, the Red Cross provides a way for military and their families to
stay connected and to cope with the struggles the military lifestyle can bring. However, the Red Cross
can do more than assist today’s military families.

The Red Cross still responds to the hurt of battles fought half a century ago. With recently acquired
documents from World War II, the Red Cross is able to reunite families torn apart by the Nazi regime.

It all starts with contacting the Red Cross.

Visit the East Georgia Chapter website for more information on getting involved or to establish a
relationship with the Red Cross before the difficulties of military life hit the hardest and you need us.

Intern Spotlight: Joanna So

By Rachel McDaniel

The Red Cross East Georgia interns dedicate a lot of their time and put it a lot of effort in various
departments to ensure that the mission of the Red Cross is complete.

Joanne So, a Human Resources Intern for the American Red Cross East Georgia Chapter, is in
charge of coordinating Volunteer Recognition and Appreciation, an important area for the Red Cross
since volunteers are the backbone of the organization.

So has spent the summer with the Red Cross East Georgia Chapter. Her most recent project is a 3D
tree that brings all of our volunteers together. The tree’s branches have the names of the 14 counties
the East Georgia Chapter supports, and the leaves on each branch are the names of a volunteer for that
county.

So understands the importance of volunteering with the Red Cross and she encourages others to
volunteer because of the service aspect in addition to the experience.

“It’s a great experience and something you can feel happy walking away from when you’re done,” So
said.

So chose the internship because she wanted solid volunteer experience and thought the Red Cross
would be a good fit for her. But in the midst of planning ice cream socials after volunteer meetings, she
found another reason to value the Red Cross.

“The people!” So said, “I work with amazing interns who have become my friends as well.”

So studies psychology at the University of Georgia, but her academic career will not end there.
So hopes to attend medical school after graduation to become a doctor. While she is not studying or
finding new ways to show our volunteers how much we appreciate them, she can be found with a book
or with her friends.

Celebrating the Work Volunteers Do: 2012 Annual Volunteer Recognition Dinner

By Nina Kamber

Last month, the Red Cross East Georgia Chapter held its annual Volunteer Recognition Dinner to honor all of the hard work done by our volunteers.

The night started off with friends reuniting and volunteers mingling, followed by dinner from Carrabba’s. After, invited speakers shared their stories on the impact the American Red Cross has had in their lives and why volunteering truly does make a difference. The awards ceremony followed, where truly exceptional volunteers were recognized for their hard work and dedication to the Red Cross East Georgia Chapter

The speakers for the dinner included:

Terri Badour, CEO of the Georgia Region, American Red Cross

Mike Stonecipher, Board member and employee of Power Partners

Steve Harris, Board Member and Director of Emergency Preparedness for UGA

Bene Hunter, Chair of the Disaster Steering Committee

The Red Cross is capable of providing relief and service to disaster victims because of the generosity of our volunteers. The Red Cross East Georgia chapter appreciates all of the time and dedication our volunteers put towards volunteering and we appreciate all that you do.

Interested in joining a team of amazing volunteering? Let us know! Just visit http://eastgeorgia.redcross.org.

Check out our Facebook page for more photos

Volunteer Birthdays and Anniversaries

The Red Cross East Georgia Chapter has great volunteers that dedicate much of their time in helping the community in the event of a disaster. The East Georgia Chapter would like recognize the following volunteer birthdays and anniversaries for June and July. We hope you had a great one!

Volunteer Birthdays for June
Name	Date
Ron Lemke	3-Jun
Samuel Yoculan	5-Jun
Henry Mauldin	8-Jun
Robert Coker	11-Jun
Carl Glickman	13-Jun
Wynelle Ruark	17-Jun
Paul Smith	23-Jun
Sarah Knuth	27-Jun
Kathryn Ferguson	28-Jun
Gerald Hallman	28-Jun

 

Volunteer Birthdays for July
Name	Date
Jacoba Bos-Burgener	1-Jul
Frank Edwards	4-Jul
Judy Bruyn	4-Jul
Lauren Barnhart	5-Jul
Susan Bell	7-Jul
Susan Gillis	7-Jul
Jane Russell	10-Jul
Eric Anders Jacob	12-Jul
Brenda Rabbitt	27-Jul

 

Anniversaries:

Name	Date	Year Joined	Years with Red Cross as of June 2012
Edward Rollor	7-Jun	2005	7
Sandra Whitney	7-Jun	2006	6
Charles Grubbs	10-Jun	2011	1
Paul Robert Brown	10-Jun	2011	1
Sharon McArthur	10-Jun	2009	3
Eric Anders Jacob	14-Jun	2011	1

 

Name	Date	Year Joined	Years with Red Cross as of June 2012
Kathryn Coker	1-Jul	2006	6
Robert Coker	1-Jul	2006	6
Eddie Moore	2-Jul	2002	10
Ronald Dickson	3-Jul	2008	4
Charles Roswell	13-Jul	2005	7
James Jenkins	16-Jul	2005	7
Carol Lemke	29-Jul	2008	4
Kimberly Moore	21-Jul	2008	4