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RED CROSS SAYS BE PREPARED AND STAY SAFE THIS SUMMER The American Red Cross of Central Texas has the tips and first aid courses available to keep Central Texans safe this summer—whether through grilling and fireworks safety, or first aid and heat safety education to prevent serious injury. After a spate of home fires over the July 4 holiday weekend, summer safety has never been more important. The American Red Cross of Central provided immediate disaster response to four families affected in 2 separate home and mobile home fires in Travis County over the weekend. Assistance included hotel stays, food, clothing, comfort kits, diapers and stuffed animals. The Red Cross is also currently in the process of providing disaster relief and assistance to a Bastrop family also affected by a weekend fire. “Luckily these families escaped safely, but a precious member of one family, a dog, was lost, along with medications and a wheelchair,” said CEO Elaine Acker. “We urge Central Texans to go onto our website to learn how to stay safe this summer, keep your pets safe and to get trained in CPR and First Aid. That way your whole family can be prepared for any situation.” The Red Cross advises all citizens to “Be Red Cross Ready” in 3 easy steps: Get a Kit, Make a Plan and Be Informed. Disaster Supply Kits can be purchased directly from the Red Cross website or be built using a brochure guide also found online. A Family Disaster Plan is an essential component of preparedness, and the tips to create one can also be found online. Finally, families should stay informed of changing conditions and advisories with an emergency radio or through a live weather map on the Red Cross website, through Red Cross brochures or web materials. To read the full range of safety tips for any situation or disaster, go online to http://www.centex.redcross.org/ourservices/prepare.php. Safety tips are downloadable and are written in clear, easy-to-read language. Many brochures are also available in Spanish. To view the full range of health and safety courses, go to http://www.centex.redcross.org/classes/index.php. Classes are affordable and open to all ages and levels of experience. |
United We Serve: 10 Ways to Volunteer “We are pleased to participate in United We Serve and thank the President for making this call to service,” 10 Ways to Volunteer |
CEO Update Bastrop Fire Response this past weekend Volunteer Recognition and Annual Meeting Set for August 23 New Employee Announced in Emergency Services America’s Charities Workplace Giving Campaigns Watch FOX News on Wednesday, July 1 Luling Watermelon Thump Holiday I wish everyone a SAFE and fun weekend! |
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One World Camp Slideshow Click on the image to view the slideshow.  DONATE TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS LIKE THESE |
CEO Update Visibility America’s Charities So.. that’s the latest. If you have anything you’d like to be sure we share among our staff and board, please send me a note. |
| World Refugee Day June 20, 2009 Every year on June 20, the world honors the courage, resilience and strength of refugees. On this seventh anniversary of the United Nations designated World Refugee Day, organizations across the globe will come together to focus attention not only on the plight of refugees, but also on the contributions they make in their host communities. On this day, the American Red Cross and the other 185 national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies around the world will reaffirm the needs of refugees and our commitment to help them at home and abroad. Through our network of chapters, the American Red Cross plays a vital role in helping refugees transition to their new communities. World Refugee Day provides an opportunity for your chapter to highlight some of the programs and services offered to refugees as well as local partnerships that will lead to increased chapter outreach. Angelina Jolie took part in the United Nations event as well. Locally, our chapter keeps families links restored worldwide with emergency communications and tracing services to those separated by war or other conflicts. |
| Eanes Elementary School presents Enjoy this video from late 2008, featuring student council president Ross McDonald and vice president Julian Oliveras presenting a donation to former CEO Derrick Chubbs. |
Greetings and Happy Monday! A World Apart, a Moment Together In the meantime, here’s the link to one of the News mentions: The Education and Training Team reports that they have just inventoried all the products currently in stock, and it sounds like there’s a big SALE in the works! Keep an eye out for that announcement and you’ll have a chance to stock up on Red Cross goodies. Also, the new course schedules are now posted online. Take a look and stay current on your training. And with Hurricane season officially here, be sure to take a look at any disaster classes that could help you learn even more about preparedness and response. Outreach Efforts Volunteer Jim Dixon took the ERV to one of the Wal-Mart locations in Williamson County and had a chance to visit with area residents and help tell the community more about how to prepare for disasters. This kind of visibility will make a huge difference! Debbie, Marty, and I have all done recent presentations to the City of Austin’s Public Works Department. By the time we’re done with the eight scheduled presentations, we will have reached more than 500 Public Works employees, reminding them about preparedness (especially since so many of them have a disaster response role as well), and also reminding them about the upcoming workplace giving campaigns in the fall. Annual Meeting Questions? Comments? News? Send me a note! Thanks! |
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| More additions to the Red Cross guitar! Friday, June 12, 2009 Members of Yanni's band were kind enough to sing our guitar! |
   Pictured: Lesile Mills, vocalist; Enders Thomas, vocalist; Ming Freeman, keyboards |
CONNECTING CENTRAL TEXAS MILITARY FAMILIES The camp began on Monday, June 8, and will culminate with the musical’s performance on Saturday, June 13, at 12pm. Media are invited to attend the Saturday performance. Campers will be given the rare opportunity to display their new talents on the One World stage, with a special twist. Through a partnership with LifeSize, Austin's premier video conferencing development company and the international network of the American Red Cross of Central Texas, the overseas parent may be able to see their child in real-time as they perform, and the child may be able to see the pride on their parent's face as naturally as if they were in the actual audience. At the end of the performance, each child and their family may be given the opportunity to interact with their deployed loved one privately. Thanks to LifeSize, families may be connected to up to four different locations around the world for an experience that is both global and highly personal at the same time. “So many of our Central Texas military members are on multiple deployments and have missed out on a lot of special moments in their children’s lives,” says Michael Chaisson, Manager of Service to Military Families for Texas for the American Red Cross. “This is a chance to bring them closer to home.” |
BAE Taste of Diversity |
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Steve J. Hailey Named New Director of Emergency Services |
Elaine Acker named new CEO for Central Texas
In his new position, Derrick Chubbs will be responsible for management of operations in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Mississippi. As a member of the American National Red Cross executive team, he will provide strategic vision, planning and direction to Regional Executives. “Central Texas has raised the bar for the American Red Cross, demonstrating outstanding creativity and innovation, and forging strong partnerships,” said Jerry DeFrancisco, American Red Cross President of Humanitarian Services. “Given the achievements that have been accomplished in Central Texas, we’re thrilled to have Derrick working on our national team.” For the past two and a half years, Chubbs has also served as the Texas State Relations Representative for the 25 Red Cross chapters throughout the state on legislative and government relations issues. Prior to joining the Red Cross, Chubbs had a successful 20-year career in the corporate technology sector, including roles as Area Manager for Dell International Services; Director of Worldwide Client Services for Pervasive Software; and senior leadership positions with IBM including Senior Manager for IBM Global Services. “Elaine and I have both seen the tremendous difference the American Red Cross makes in the lives of the military personnel, students, and disaster clients we serve,” said Chubbs. “The American Red Cross is making important changes nationwide and we are both honored to have the opportunity to serve in these new roles.” |
| COW (Career on Wheels) Day for Elementary Students May 15, 2009 Red Cross is delighted to participate for the past several years in this event, a unique approach to career awareness for students as they prepare to go to school with purpose. COW Day is part Achieve Texas, an initiative to provide career awareness to 2000 students at the elementary level. Staff member Amber Cooney partnered with volunteer Jim Dixon to education the kids about the Red Cross. Photos by Courtney Dudley. |
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| International Association of Business Communicators Bronze Quill Awards Announcement May 14, 2009 We're a winner! The IABC Austin Chapter just notified us that our newsletter campaign has been "recognized as an outstanding, award-winning entry....As a winner in the prestigious Bronze Quill Awards competition, your work has been identified as among the very best, meeting the high standards of excellence for which all work is measured against." We're so delighted to have been recognized and can't wait to attend the award gala on June 2 at the Umlauf Sculpture Garden. |
| Lyndsay Jolley, goodbye and good luck! May 14, 2009 We'll miss our longtime employee, Lyndsay Jolley, as she heads to Paraguay for a Peace Corps assignment. Plus, we'll miss Precious, our unofficial office mascot! |
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| Thank you to our friends at the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity for supporting the Red Cross! May 8, 2009 |
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Aaron Behrens and Thomas Turner of Ghostland Observatory Sign Red Cross benefit guitar |
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Westheimer Regency Apartments Fire The Fire Department estimated that about 300 people were displaced. Of those, about 100 registered at the reunion center we set up in the cafeteria of Reagan High School, a couple of blocks east of the apartment complex. Two city buses took people from the apartments to Reagan, and then to the shelter that was set up at Gus Garcia Recreation Center on East Rundberg. Nearly all the people displaced were Hispanic, and only about half of them spoke English. We had a few Spanish interpreters, but not near what we needed."City Manager Marc Ott is pictured below with shelter volunteers. To become a bilingual American Red Cross of Central Texas volunteer, contact Volunteer Services at (512) 929-1225 or volunteerservices@centex.redcross.org. |
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Changes to American Red Cross Policy Regarding Tornado Safety
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| April 21, 2009 Bastrop Golf Tournament Though the weekend started off with severe rain, thunder and lightning, the day turned into perfect golf weather. Big thanks to all the volunteers, players and sponsors who came out to benefit the American Red Cross of Central Texas! Check out all the photos here |
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| April 16, 2009 Dale Watson signs Red Cross guitar for upcoming fundraiser [From intern Sean Drobeck] " I had an awesome time last night at the Broken Spoke getting Dale Watson's autograph on the guitar....Everyone there was super nice and as soon as I told them my mission they let me right in, and pointed me to Dale's wife who waited a song and then interrupted him and got him to sign the guitar during his set. He wasn't satisfied with this though and decided to tune it on the spot and play a song for everybody on it! " |
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| April 11, 2009 Riverside Apartment Fire News 8 Story [From Volunteer Tom Davis] The fire itself was in Building 4 of the 4-building Riverside Square complex (Blg. 4 has 10 units/floor and 3 floors). The fire started in, and spread through, the west 3/4 of the 3rd floor. Good news/bad news: the building's structure was sound (except for the totaled units on the 3rd floor), but there was water damage everywhere on the 1st and 2nd floors. They had to turn off power to the whole complex and call in an electrician to separate the power for Blg. 4 from the others before they could turn power back on for blgs. 1-3 and let their residents back in. Building 4 was declared uninhabitable until it can be repaired or rebuilt. Chief Kusey [AFD] assigned an AFD team to talk to Blg. 4's residents, find out what they needed out of their apartments immediately, and go retrieve that. He said everyone would be able to go in and retrieve other belongings later today or tomorrow. The ARCCT team set up in the office of Riverside Place. There were 11 empty units in Riverside Place, and the management put the people who had pets into them; Carol [Volunteer] said she'd open a shelter for the rest of the Blg. 4 residents who didn't have a place to go. There were no injuries - to people or pets; only one pet (a dog) didn't make it out with her owner, and a fire fighter went in and got her out from under the bed where she was hiding. |
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| GIVING A "HERO" A HELPING HAND A Breath of Life Benefit Auction May 5th, 2009, 6-10pm Hills Cafe - 4700 South Congress Avenue Featuring great entertainment by Gary P. Nunn, Bill Rice Band, Austin Collins and more! "It's like the saying "be the difference you want to see in the world"… I want to leave a mark on this world… I want to make a difference!"-Amberlyn Fett Help past Hero of Central Texas award winner Amberlyn Fett as she celebrates life while waiting for a double lung transplant. Read all about Amberlyn's story and make a donation... |
| March 3, 2009 KEYE-TV Telethon to kick off March is Red Cross Month Thanks to our friends at IBM and BAE Systems for volunteering! And thanks to everyone that called in! |
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| March 2, 2009 Bastrop Fires The Central Texas Red Cross was first called by local officials @ approximately 3pm on Saturday. Local Bastrop volunteers responded with canteening support for the first responders. When the extent of the disaster became clear we opened a shelter at the Smithville Recreation Center. We provided cots, blankets, personal hygiene items and the local community pitched in with home cooked food. The first night we sheltered 27 people. The shelter remained open through Sunday while local officials began to provide information about which homes had been destroyed and which had survived. Red Cross mental health counselors were on had to provide comfort. Red Cross caseworkers came in at noon to help clients with lost clothing, shoes and other items. By Sunday evening only 6 guests remained at the shelter. On Monday those guests departed as the last of the roads were opened and the sheltering operation was closed. Monday evening Red Cross caseworkers continued to help victims with lost items such as clothing and prescription medication. The Red Cross is grateful to the local community for the generous support they showed to their neighbors in this crisis. The Fire Victims Assistance Relief Program, a private group operating out of Bastrop, is accepting donations of goods to aid victims of the recent fires. Please call Amber Wilson at (512) 297-6800 for more information. |
| February 8, 2009 Mass CPR at UT Check out these great photos from the UT Club's Mass CPR event. Over 300 people were certified! [All photos are by Courtney Dudley] |
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| February 7, 2009 Pat Green Proclamation Day The Central Texas Chapter was delighted to be part of a presentation Saturday at Threadgill's to honor musician Pat Green with a Pat Green Day Proclamation. Mr. Green is a member of the Red Cross Celebrity Cabinet and is a big supporter. Volunteer and Board Chair-Elect Marty McKellips said this: "I presented the award in front of a crowd of loyal Pat Green fans, most of whom had won the privilege of attending this VIP event in radio contests. People were there from as far away as Oklahoma. There was a free buffet of Threadgill's favorites. The fans were very enthusiastic and cheered at the mention of the Red Cross, the Celebrity Cabinet and the work the Pat Green had done for us. He then performed an intimate set taking questions from the audience between songs. One fan suggested the Pat Green Day in Texas should be an annual event." From Marty McKellips, Volunteer and Board Chair-Elect |
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February 4, 2009 We loaded up the jeep with our gear and were on our way. The fire was at 2810 Rio Grande – only two blocks from the Student Housing Fire 4 days ago! This fire started at the join where two buildings had been built side by side. That created a thin void, and it was in this void where the fire started. The building was quite old but had been remodeled several times. A few apartments were damaged badly, and several others had water damage. Some vehicles were in the wrong place at the wrong time, and were also damaged. By the time we arrived Mario had a damage assessment done and many of the students had been worked with. The Dean of Students at the university was very helpful in arranging for alternative housing, excuses for late assignments, etc. The housing complex was working very quickly as well to clear up the damage and start repairs. The students spoke highly of the fire department for saving as much as they could and for how quickly they were able to get the fire under control. The fire department also had community support person at the scene. Some students were at school, and others were at work. So we stayed until students had been notified, and had time to make it back. They were allowed into the building to get their possessions, and we assisted the late arrivals that needed it. Jaylie Mecray and her dad Jay Mecray live on Rio Grande Drive. They came by to see the fire trucks and we inducted Jaylie as our youngest volunteer and gave her a very official Red Cross Disaster Services Vest. A job well done, and with all the student issues met, we closed the scene. Sandy and I are very grateful that no one has been injured in the two fires we have worked on this week. The students are very resourceful in making their own arrangements, and grateful for the assistance they receive. |
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February 3, 2009 We then received a call from our Disaster Action Team captain – Bill Dorman, asking how many comfort kits and Client Assistance Cards we had on hand. Shortly thereafter we had loaded the jeep and were on our way. The reason he was asking was that it looked as if there might be as many as 27 students/coop residents in the coop house that was damaged by the fire. He also asked us to redirect to another coop property – Whitehall on Nueces Street. The fire itself was on Rio Grande Street about two blocks from where our daughter Mandy works. We arrived at the Whitehall Coop residence which was to serve as our client services base of operation. We arrived just as a long line of students wound their way there from the site of the fire. It was a curious procession especially as one of the students was carrying a full scale Paper Mache Narwhal!We set up shop and started talking to the folks most impacted by the fire, who lived on the third floor. Next we interviewed the students on the second floor that had water damage. The remainders of the students suffered no damage, but were displaced since the electricity and utilities were shut off until repairs can be made. Bill Dorman - our DAT (Disaster Action Team) captain - had provided us with a damage assessment that was helpful. We also met a representative from the Coop and she was able to arrange for housing, food, and transportation to the new housing for all the coop residents! That meant that we only had to worry about the smaller number of students who lost their clothing, bedding, and personal food in the fire. The casework plan in place we interviewed the students and offered them Client Assistance Cards where appropriate (based on the interview and damage assessment). The fire was caused by a glue gun that had been left on after working on a student project. They had a party to complete the project and unfortunately it lasted until dawn, and it looks like the clean up was less than effective. They slept, and then left for sailing, and sometime during the day the glue gun caught the cardboard on fire. The Dean of Students came in to offer assistance to the students. Lonnie Williams came and supervised the client case work. Worth stopped by with the ERV, and we got additional comfort kits from him. Sue Gaines was our CAC (Client Assistance Card) activator. By 8:30 we had done all the work with the students that needed assistance, and all the students had shelter, food, and immediate needs of clothing and bedding handled. We could not have done it that quickly except for the cooperation that we received from the Coop. They were fantastic. Most of the fires we respond to are single family dwellings, so this was a bit of a change of pace for us. The students were very appreciative of the help they received, and the coop really stood by them." |
| January 27, 2009 The American Red Cross of Central Texas welcomes Fire Chief Rhoda Mae Kerr The American Red Cross of Central Texas had the honor of welcoming Austin's new fire chief, Rhoda Mae Kerr. We're excited, because Chief Kerr served on the board of the American Red Cross in LIttle Rock, Arkansas, and she really understands how important the Red Cross is to any community. After all, the vast majority of the disasters we respond to are fires -- one every 48 hours here in Central Texas. Carmen and Saleem Tawil hosted the event in their home. Thanks Carmen and Saleem! And thanks to all the area firefighters and city officials who joined us. It was great to spend time with you when everyone could relax and have a good time! (Chief Kerr, Red Cross CEO Derrick Chubbs, and Carmen and Saleem Tawil) |
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| Thanks to our friends! The pictures at the right (Luminant's Brad Johnson and Rep. Dawnna Dukes; Giddens Elementary Staff; GLO Staff) are just a few of the generous corporate donations we've received lately to fund our efforts. Thanks to all our friends who keep us supported and making a difference! |
| November 12, 2008 Holiday Mail for Heroes Check out Fox's coverage! Serving members of the military and their families was the first mission of the American Red Cross more than 125 years ago. And as we remember those who serve on Veteran’s Day, it remains a core part of the Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces (SAF) mission today. Just one of the essential military services provided by the American Red Cross is the Holiday Mail for Heroes program. For the second year in a row, the Red Cross is partnering with Pitney Bowes to collect one million holiday cards for American service members, veterans and their families in the United States and around the world. Those who would like to send holiday greetings to military members serving around the world, veterans and their families are asked to mail cards to: Holiday Mail for Heroes P.O. Box 5456 Capital Heights, MD 20791-5456 Red Cross volunteers will be on hand to sort and mail the holiday cards and to ensure that every effort is made to send warm wishes and support to military members serving around the world as well as their families who will be without their loved ones during the holidays. Providing support to military members is a daily task for the American Red Cross of Central Texas (ARCCT). The ARCCT provides communication services to military members in times of crisis and important events by contacting family members living in the Central Texas area. These communications are delivered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year through the work of volunteers. The ARCCT also provides counseling and referrals to military families at an average of three families per day, all free of charge. All services are made possible by the generous support of Central Texas citizens through their dollars and volunteer time. Holiday Mail for the Heroes kicks off future Service to the Armed Forces programs from the American Red Cross of Central Texas. Stay tuned for more information. |
| OCTOBER 31, 2008 Local Agencies Still Responding to Ike by Richard Whittaker Austin Chronicle "But the biggest local burden was and still is being shouldered by the American Red Cross of Central Texas. Its shelters held a fraction of the 25,000 maximum evacuees the Red Cross agreed to take in, but it was still a costly undertaking. Nationwide, the Red Cross opened 916 shelters in 17 states, said Central Texas board Chair-elect Marty McKellips. "We provided 14 million meals and snacks, 100,000 comfort kits, 100,000 cleanup kits, and at the start of the season, we had no money in the disaster relief fund." Read the full story... |
OCTOBER 27, 2008 From the Austin Chronicle: |
