Volunteer Voice June 2018

Voice

VOLUNTEER A publication from the American Red Cross, European Division

June 2018

In this issue : Volunteer Spotlight: Team Rota, pg 1 Providing Hope, pg 3 Station Spotlight: Aviano, pg 5 Being a Leader, pg 6 Sound the Alarm, pg 7 Summer Reading List, pg 8 Training, Travel & Thanks!, pg 9

Amanada Miller, European Youth Council Advisor

Volunteer Spotlight: Team Rota Kellie Upright, CVL, Rota The Red Cross is blessed with some truly amazing individuals who grace us with their time, their energy and their ideas.

With ninety percent of the Red Cross workforce consisting of volunteers, we know that our volunteers sustain us and make our successes possible.

When individual volunteers come together as a team, we see even greater success. The harmony of teamwork allows us to achieve things that would

not be possible for us to achieve alone. In honor of that, we would like to introduce just a few of the individuals that comprise our Red Cross team in Rota, Spain.

Amanda Miller, Youth Engagement Lead - When asked to summarize her work with the Red Cross, this is what she said: “Volunteering with the Rota Red Cross is a great way to get involved in the community and

Kelly Upright, CVL

meet new people. It’s especially encouraging to see the different opportunities the Red Cross provides for youth engagement here in Rota.

Whether it’s promoting positive reading habits with students in After School Scholars and cont. on page 2

Volunteer Spotlight (cont.)

Reading Buddies or providing information on health and safety with Scrubby Bear and the Pillowcase Project, the Red Cross has a lot to offer volunteers of all ages.”

- Amanda Miller Kelli Upright, Station Volunteer Partner - The Red Cross in her words: “I started volunteering with the Red Cross to keep myself busy when I moved to Spain. It has surpassed my expectations in every way! I’ve been able to make friends, engage in the community and learn new skills.

There a huge sense of satisfaction that comes with promoting and delivering our services to the Rota community.”

- Kelly Upright Vanda Dzedziulyte, Intake Manager, Reading Buddies Lead, Hospital Volunteer - The Red Cross in her own words: “The American Red Cross has given me the opportunity to meet so many beautiful and motivated people. I could even say that joining the Red Cross has made life here in Spain so much easier for me. I love being an Intake Manager and meeting people. Sometimes, a thirty minute session can last over an hour because we start talking about everything.

Volunteering with SEAT has introduced me to great people at the hospital. I think that you can find the Red Cross’s presence everywhere on base,

and I think that’s amazing. The Red Cross always seeks out ways to be a part of the community (events, social gatherings, classes) and that’s one of the many things that makes Naval Station Rota so great.”

- Vanda Dzedziulyte Justin Sierras, PHSS Lead “Volunteering for the American Red Cross is unlike any other organization I have volunteered for in the past. I have been able to provide my time teaching CPR, First Aid and babysitting courses, along with several other projects. The most rewarding part of teaching these community courses is not the number of people I have certified or how many hours I volunteer doing so. The true reward is knowing that I have helped someone learn a skill that could potentially help save a life.”

- Justin Sierras

Vanda Dzedziulyte, Intake Manager

Justin Sierras, PHSS Lead

Regional Program Director, Lisa Enyeart, hosts Spangdahlem’s Annual Volunteer Recognition Luncheon

Providing Hope in the Wake of Natural Disasters SAF European Division Hosts First Disaster Cycle Services Instructor Institute Julie Polumbo, CVL, Stuttgart

Instructor Institute was hosted in May with over twenty staff and volunteers in attendance.

Steve Cassel

When disaster strikes, the American Red Cross answers the call and provides people with hope. From wildfires, tornadoes, and floods to Hurricane Harvey, Irma, and Maria, 2017 was a record year for natural disasters in the United States with an estimated $306 billion in damage. The American Red Cross responded by opening shelters, distributing emergency supplies, and providing food and medical care. Services to the Armed Forces (SAF) European Division supported the call to action by setting up call centers and deploying volunteers.

The disasters of 2017 demonstrated the need to increase training and to ensure that the American Red Cross is prepared to respond. With that goal in mind, the European Division Disaster Cycle Services

The instructor institute was the vision of Ken Romero, Naples Station SAF Regional Program Manager, who served as the host in Naples. Mr. Romero was inspired by the leadership and initiative of one volunteer, Laci, who worked diligently to stand up a sustainable Disaster Action Team (DAT) in Naples. Mr. Romero continued her efforts and started building relationships with the Naples Emergency Management Office (EMO) and the Fleet & Family Support Center.

Both partners were strong advocates of the American Red Cross. When asked what the Red Cross could bring to the table, Mr. Sean Quinn, then EMO director, said the Red Cross brings hope, and no one does sheltering better. He described how when people enter a Red Cross shelter you

can physically hear a sigh of relief, because they have hope and know the Red Cross will meet their needs.

The instructor institute was a resounding success. Stations across Europe are now better positioned to share their best practices on disaster response and shelter management. “During the training I saw how important it is for everyone involved to be educated on running a shelter during an emergency. The instructor institute really gives Red Cross staff and volunteers the needed tools to thoroughly teach SAF members so that they are better prepared for large and smallscale emergencies. Being prepared ahead of time reduces some of the stresses that can develop as a result of an emergency and allows those involved the opportunity to provide a great service to the community,� said Leslie Schooff, Grafenwoehr Station DAT Lead.

Participants completed over forty hours of training, including shelter management, fundamentals of government (Cont. on page 4)

Providing Hope (cont.)

operations, and relationship management skills. The final day included a shelter simulation, and participants stood up a mock shelter in the local high school. The simulation included real-life scenarios that shelter managers face, including clients that speak a foreign language, have been separated from their children, are disoriented, and are suffering from shock.

“When I share [how] our teams’ vision came to fruition

to host a disaster training institute, it goes back to our volunteers and our community partners. I can’t thank Laci enough for reminding our team that we need a vision for our volunteers to stay engaged. Secondly, {I’d like} to thank Mr. Quinn for reminding our team that the military community entrusts [us] with not only their hope, but also with our subject matter expertise. After meeting everyone who attended the institute, it’s even more motivating to know that we now have ‘an army’ of empowered instructors who can share our Red Cross capabilities with their communities as we each continue to grow our disaster

programs across the division,” said Mr. Romero.

Thanks to the instructor institute, the SAF European Division is better equipped and prepared to serve as a leader in disaster preparedness and response. Participants are motived to take the training back to their stations. Many stations are planning to work with their EMO and family support groups to host shelter fundamentals training.

Stay tuned for a disaster preparedness training and shelter simulation near you. For more information on how to provide this training at your station or how to participate in the next instructor institute, contact Ken Romero at kenneth.romero@redcross.org.

Summer is the perfect time to travel, and taking the train is a great way to get to one’s destination. Wifi signals, electrical outlets, dining car, and no. more. bathroom. stops. These are just a few of the reasons to consider traveling by train. Even better, anyone who can prove EU residency is eligible for a Eurail Pass, making the train even more affordable. Visit the Eurail website for more information, or to book your next trip. https://www.eurail.com/en/plan-your-trip/eurail-timetable

Station Highlight: Aviano Air Base Annika York, SVP, Aviano

Piazza San Marco, Venice

Ciao amici! Greetings from the Aviano Air Base Red Cross Station. We are nestled at the foot of the Dolomite Mountains in Northern Italy. In Italy there is always good food, good drinks and beautiful scenery to be found, and we try to enjoy it all while working hard to serve our community.

With a high-ops tempo and no base housing (some people live up to 45 minutes away) it is easy for people within our community to feel a little lonely and isolated. It is sometimes hard to get them involved.

However, we do our best to

serve our families and give them lots of opportunities to get involved and connected.

We have an active, growing Disaster Services Team, and an amazing Volunteer Services Team, We have volunteer clinic positions, and our Special Events calendar is filled with opportunities. Our PHSS Team offers CPR & First Aid courses 1-2 times/month, and we provide a Wilderness First Aid class a couple times each year.

We work hard and we play hard, and we never want to miss the opportunity to say “grazie!” to our volunteers.

Teddy Bear Clinic, organized by our PHSS Team Lead, Tana Von

Wilderness First Aid Course at Lake Barcis, taught by Keena Butcher

Disaster Preparedness Lead, Mariah Hensel coordinated Sound the Alarm

Travelling is like flirting with life. It’s like saying, “I would stay and love you, but I have to go; this is my station” - Lisa St. Aubin de Teran

Being a True Leader Britney Flowers, CVL, Baumholder One of the most common and unfortunate misconceptions about leadership is that one must be of high rank to be a leader.

However, I have found that in the greatest leaders I have known, rank had little to do with the qualities Britney Flowers that made them successful leaders. As John Maxwell puts it, “leaders become great, not because of their power, but because of their ability to empower others.”

made, and indeed how the American Red Cross continuously provides crucial services to people all over the world.

Some of history’s greatest leaders rose to their position because of their ability to empower, motivate, and inspire others. Some of these leaders include Martin Luther King Jr., Ghandi, Rosa Parks, Candy Lightner (founder of MADD), and even our own Clara Barton. The courage and outstanding leadership abilities of Clara Barton made the American Red Cross the successful organization it is today.

As a volunteer leader at the Baumholder American Red Cross Station, I have discovered that it is not a sense of power that creates leadership, but a sense of responsibility. I have a responsibility to the volunteers who look to me for guidance, motivation, and encouragement. I also have a responsibility to the Red Cross and its mission to serve our nation’s troops and their families. That mission is the driving force behind all of our daily goals, and should serve as a reminder for why we do what we do.

Many of the great leaders within the American Red Cross that I have had the honor of learning from made me feel as though I was their equal.

This style of leadership fosters trust, respect, and an openness that allows people on all levels to collaborate effectively. We are all responsible for different pieces of the same goal. A leader understands the importance of stepping back and looking at the big picture, rather than focusing on the separate pieces. This is how great achievements are

One of the most critical aspects of leadership, especially when leading a team of volunteers is providing regular and sincere appreciation for the hard work of the team. Volunteers make up the bulk force behind the operations of the American Red Cross. We could not do what we do without them. It is the responsibility of leaders to acknowledge the sacrifices that volunteers make, in order to truly make a difference.

Leaders who show a sincere appreciation of their volunteers’ hard work establish strong connections with their volunteers. This acknowledgement builds morale and demonstrates the respect and empathy that they expect from volunteers when assisting clients.

One of the most amazing things about being a Red Cross volunteer is that each and every one

“A journey is like a marriage. The certain way to be wrong is to think you control it.”

- John Steinbeck

Leadership (cont.) of you has the opportunity to become a leader.

By empowering, supporting, and collaborating with other volunteers, you are leading. By providing vital services to those in need, you are setting an example of selfless, humanitarian service.

acknowledging the achievements of others.

Leaders admit when a mistake is made and learning from that experience. A leader can be anyone who is willing to motivate those around them to achieve something greater than what they achieved yesterday.

Being a leader doesn’t mean being the first, the best, or the most powerful. It doesn’t mean never making a mistake. It definitely doesn’t mean taking credit for the achievements of others.

Finally, leadership isn’t about working alone. It’s understanding the value of uniting others and working together. A true leader is one who is willing to step forward, unite, inspire, and empower others, so that together, greater things can be accomplished.

Being a leader is about having the work ethic, dedication, and vision of someone who believes in the power and abilities of others. It’s

Sound the Alarm!

Eric Pickel, DAT, Wiesbaden Every year, the American Red Cross responds to nearly 64,000 disasters – the vast majority of which are home fires. Tragically, seven people die in home fires each day, most in homes that lack working smoke alarms. The enormity of this loss of life and the commonplace nature of home fires rarely garners significant media attention, even when it strikes a local community. That’s why the American Red Cross launched the Home Fire Campaign in 2014, which aims to reduce home fire deaths and injuries by 25 percent.

A critical part of the campaign is Sound the Alarm, a series of yearround home fire safety and smoke alarm installation events held in

communities across the country.

Sound the Alarm was to occur in fall of 2017, but had to be delayed due to catastrophic events. The 2018 Sound the Alarm campaign ran from April 28 to May 13, and included the goal of installing 100,000 smoke detectors.

Red Cross Volunteers in the States, Europe, and the Middle East engaged their communities to share fire preparedness information and to stress the importance of working smoke detectors in the home. This Sound the Alarm cycle ended in May, but the Home Fire Campaign continues to be one of the American Red Cross’s vital community awareness programs.

Vanilla Hannor, Stuttgart Station

Training, Travel,& Thanks!

Chris Spalding, DVP European Division WHEW!!!!! What a year the Red Cross and European Division have had. FY 2018 has brought out the best in our team. No doubt.

Hands down. I dare you to say different.

The European Division nearly tripled the goal of presenting Pillowcase Project to 1,250 students. Instead, 3,533 students got to experience the preparedness magic. To quote Shanna West, the Co-Lead for Europe's Pillowcase Project, "WOOOOOHOOO!" Resiliency has been a huge part of our goals this year. Three hundred and ninety-two folks in six countries took part in Resiliency workshops!

Absolutely remarkable!

We have stood up call centers in support of hurricane response/ relief. We have deployed volunteers to disaster areas and sent teams to the Disaster Operations Coordination Center.

We have hosted the European Training Institute and the Case Work/International Humanitarian Law/Disaster Instructor Institutes.

Training teams from the US came and provided us with the tools we need to broaden our scope and ability in ways that will set us up for a successful FY 2019 and beyond.

We have supported blood drives that gathered over 2,000 units, recruited nearly 2200 volunteers, supported tens of thousands of people in military communities and contributed over 200,000 volunteer hours! There have been

Dee Swanier, Director European Division (left) and Chris Spalding, Division Partner European Division dozens of pet visits and dental assistant students. Monies were raised to vaccinate villages and comfort items were given out by the tons to folks at deployed locations.

We have completed THOUSANDS of hours of EDGE training. Over 4,000 people have attended PHSS classes. We have created volunteer leadership development, better communication tools/ avenues, a newsletter that is read all over the Red Cross, and an environment that shows we are ONE RED CROSS! To say we have done a lot would be a huge understatement.

What will FY 2019 bring? New volunteers and personnel. New needs. New sites. New opportunities. New ideas and ways to make our mission stronger.

For 137 years, one thing has not changed: the American Red Cross

Service to the Armed Force’s commitment to military communities, our mission, and the selflessness of you, the Volunteers.

As we head into summer and the PCS season, take a few things with you on your travels: YOU ARE EXCPETIONAL. YOU MAKE THINGS HAPPEN. To those that are moving onto a new assignment, I wish you all the best. To those bounding off on new adventures and new experiences, I wish you safe travels.

To all, THANK YOU. Dee and I sit in awe and marvel at all you do.

We are grateful for the opportunity to serve with you. Thank you for all you give, all you are and all you make happen. Rest up. Recharge.

Enjoy the summer break. We will chat again in September.

Couldn't be more WOWED, Chris

Inspirational Reading for the Volunteer As you are reading the Volunteer Voice, there is a strong likelihood that you are a Red Cross volunteer - go you! Perhaps you are thinking about becoming a volunteer, for the Red Cross. If so, you might enjoy any one of the following books. Find one that appeals to you, and lose yourself in its pages. With any luck, you will find yourself inspired. Happy reading!

• In the Shadow of Man by Jane Goodall Enjoy the classic story of Jane Goodall’s research with chimpanzees in the wilds of Africa. This book is a must for animal lovers, and provides an inside look at Kenya and Tanzania.

• Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide by Nicholas D. Kristof & Sheryl WuDunn If you are looking for a light summer read, this isn’t it, but any social justice warrier can appreciate the way this book sheds light on the problems

of human trafficking and genocide.

• Turn Right at Machu Picchu: Rediscovering the Lost City One Step at a Time by Mark Adams Explore one of the world’s most popular travel destinates - Peru - through the eyes of an adventurer! Visit the ancient Incan historial sites from the comfort of your sofa.

• In a Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson If you’ve ever wanted to travel ‘Down Under,’ this hilarious travel guide is for you. Bryson takes the reader off the beaten path, to all the extremes Australia has to offer. You’ll feel like you’re on vacation.

• The Future of Ice: A Journey Into Cold by Gretel Ehrlich If you feel like escaping into the cold remotes of places like Greenland, Russia, or the Antarctic, put on your winter coat and let this book take you away from it all.

• The Voluntourist by Ken Budd For the prospective volunteer abroad, it doesn’t get any more realistic than this.

Budd’s stories will get you in the right mindset for volunteering abroad.

• Staff Pick: The New Breed: Understanding and Equipping the 21st Century Volunteer by Jonathan McKee & Thomas W. McKee As technology changes, so do the needs of volunteers.

Learn how to harness all of the passion and potential of your volunteers by understanding their needs.

No matter where your travels might take you, a little research beforehand is sure to inspire and prepare. For the complete reading list and full descriptions, visit the GoOverseas website: www/ gooverseas.com/blog/bestbooks-read-beforevolunteering-abroad

The Volunteer Voice will resume publication in September. Enjoy your summer!