Volunteer Voice A publication from American Red Cross, European Division
January 2018, Vol. 5
New Year, New You, New Volunteers Christine Spalding, Division Partner Europe
As I write this article I am flying from Boston to Washington D.C. on New Year’s Day; there seems to be some significance to this. Boston is the city of our American Revolution: bold ideas, courage, community. Out with the old and in with the new. Bostonians in the 1700s looked to tomorrow and to our future as a nation. They understood that their individual efforts were part of a bigger something and better life for all. DC is the place where we solidified our spot as a country. Our government headquarters is there, the place where We the People said “Okay, let’s do this thing!” Our American Red Cross National Headquarters is located literally across the road from the White House and next to the headquarters for the Daughters of the American Revolution. I find great tie-ins from our American history to the past and future of our Red Cross. In 1881, our founder Clara Barton realized things had to change. We needed to be better at taking care of our wounded and citizens after witnessing the events of another chapter in U.S. history, the American Civil War. It took courage to say we need to create an organization different from others, that we need to be bold in our thinking and take the best possible care of our communities. It meant listening to the ideas of others about processes, funding, and creating a presence in our nation’s capital. It was a time of taking a collective of people and ideas to build something that was enduring and meaningful. Not everyone agreed with Clara Barton, not by a long shot. Not everyone had the same plan of attack. However, everyone knew that there needed to be an organization that looked to tomorrow and ensured Brittany Parker & Chris Spalding communities were well cared for. Today’s Red Cross is no different. As we start the new year there will be a need to fill leadership roles, Community Volunteer Lead and Station Volunteer Partner roles, and supporting volunteer roles that are seriously necessary, too. Through knowing what the division, station, program, and individual goals of volunteers are, you can help each other to maintain the vision of taking the best possible care of not only our military family our stateside Article continued on next page.
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communities you may be called upon to help assist should the occasion arise. For some of you, aiming for a goal may mean being brave and stepping out of your comfort zone, whether learning a new skill, taking on a leadership role, or sharing an idea you have been tucking away. For new volunteers, it may be plucking up the courage to come into a station office and say, “Hey, I would like to help”. Regardless, you dig into your American roots. Find the strength to listen to a new idea, implement a change, welcome a difference of opinion, shepherd new volunteers through the door and into a place where they can give to a cause greater than themselves. If this year is anything like last year we will be busy as Red Crossers. Find ways to improve the overall mission, not just your stations, and share your thoughts. Find people you may not have ever thought of as traditional volunteers and welcome them into the fold. You can do anything. You come from a long line of doers, responders, comforters, caregivers, community activists, huge scale operations folks, and those dedicated to making the world a better place. This new year, be a new you by leaning on the ideals of those that have gone before. Welcome new volunteers and help them find their place while hearing their thoughts. Make 2018 a year of daring and caring.
Scrubby Bear Success
Carrie Smith, Stuttgart PHSS Instructor
Five volunteers, 40 classes, and over 700 students! In the exciting Scrubby Bear program conducted at three Stuttgart elementary schools, K – 2 grade students learned about germs, how germs spread, and how to prevent spreading germs by washing hands. Red Cross volunteer teachers and their students sang songs, acted out a story, demonstrated how to wash hands, and took a serious test about germs. Anita Post has been teaching the Scrubby Bear course in the Stuttgart area for over 15 years. She has students and teachers looking forward to the program returning annually. This year, she passed the torch to new volunteers who are continuing the tradition. The Stuttgart ARC received several compliments and words of appreciation from teachers who work hard to keep their classrooms and students “bad germ” free. If you know a student who participated in the 2017 Scrubby Bear program, or are looking for a good song to sing while scrubbing your paws, sing this song (set to the tune of Frère Jacques).
Tops and bottoms Tops and bottoms In between In between Rub them all together Rub them all together Now they’re clean Squeaky clean! Page 2
Baby Expos: How to Give Birth to One Debra Papalia, Stuttgart Regional Program Specialist
Well, it is that time of year. The weather is colder, the snow is falling, it is turning dark and gloomy outside, so you know what that means. Soon Spring will appear and so will all the Baby Bumps! So, what can we do to help? We cannot give birth to their little bundles of winter joy for them… Hmmm, I know! We can help by giving birth to a Baby Expo! A Baby Expo is a fun and informative way to provide new and expecting parents all the information and resources they may need. The first thing to consider when planning the birth of your Baby (Expo) is to consider a date and a team of people to help plan. It is important to have regularly scheduled meetings with your team to ensure everything is running smoothly. Ideally, your expo should take place in a location convenient to all participants, speakers, and vendors. Be sure to plan far in advance to obtain visitor passes for those who need base access. Speaking of visitors, we now need to work on our invitations. Invitations to prospective vendors and participants should be hand delivered, or “snail mailed” if possible. It would be nice to consider inviting an OB/GYN from the local hospital to come as a guest speaker. Other participants to consider would be: the base clinic representative, immunization department, birth certificate office, passport office, dietician, wellness center, Child Development Center (CDC), Educational & Development Intervention Services (EDIS), New Parent Support Group, the USO, AAFES/commissary, thrift store/gift shop, veterinary clinic/dog trainer, and newborn photographers. Be sure to include your local base community resources such as ACS/MWR/AFRC/NMCRS and most importantly, the American Red Cross! Our infant CPR demonstrations are always a hit. Now that we have our guest list together, and our invitations sent out, let’s spread the word to the community. It is time to make our baby announcements and let the word get out that we are about to give birth. Be sure to make the most of social media, AFN, newspapers, as well as making flyers and table tents for the PX and food courts. Food? Did I just mention the food court? Remember, pregnant women are eating for two. Make sure to have adequate refreshments and snacks to feed your entire event. Article continued on next page. Page 3
Oh, I almost forgot one of my most favorite things. PRIZES! Your team is a great resource to come up with prizes, giveaways, and contests. A baby crawling race or daddy diaper changing contests are always very entertaining. You may want to use your decorations, such as diaper cakes (that your fabulous volunteers created), to give away as prizes throughout the entire event. As you are in labor and your Baby (Expo) is rapidly approaching, make sure to meet with your team to finalize details such as confirming vendors and guests, technical support for your speakers, and a safety walk-through. No one wants surprises or an unexpected arrival. Babies are messy and your Baby (Expo) is no different. Be sure to plan for clean up; most importantly, do not forget to thank all of your wonderful volunteers, vendors, speakers, and guests with a nice personalized note. Just remember from conception to delivery, give yourself enough time and preparation so your Baby (Expo) will be the best - because of course, what mother does not cherish their own child. What we create, we love the most.
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Debra and the amazing team who made Stuttgart’s Baby Expo possible!
Rota’s Spectacular Youth Program Kelli Upright, Rota Community Volunteer Leader
The Rota Youth Club is a service-based group aimed at encouraging youth in the Rota, Spain area to participate in the community and work to fulfill the Red Cross humanitarian mission. Amanda Miller, the Rota Station’s Youth Engagement Lead, started this pilot program (for Rota) in August 2017 and spearheaded the way to make the Youth Club a sought after and exciting activity. The club is split into two groups: the Middle School Club, grades six to eight, and the High School Club, grades nine to twelve. The Club provides members the opportunity to develop leadership skills and make a meaningful impact in the community. The club aims to empower members with knowledge and life-saving skills, present volunteer opportunities to earn service hours, and create a social setting to interact with peers. The High School Club offers the additional interest of career development. The Club has monthly meetings and works closely with the local Rota Red Cross chapter on many events, along with creating their independent programs and projects. Recently they put on free gift wrapping sessions around Christmas time and helped with the cookie and card delivery around base. They made a big impression during National Youth Involvement Month in November, where the kids were out and about at least once a week. During November alone, they spent time promoting the club in front of the NEX, participating in a beach clean up, and hosting a Holiday Mail for Heroes card-making event. Additionally, they led two paint nights called “Canvases & Candies,” one assisting children under the age of eleven in painting a beach scene on canvas and one creating art for themselves. Many of the members participate in the After School Scholars Program, a program the Rota Red Cross partners with the elementary school to provide volunteers in a weekly reading program with first-grade students to strengthen their reading skills. In October, the Club could be found at Trunk or Treat handing out candy. They also created and hosted Fall Fun Night, an event for children of all ages that included a zombie run, a mummy race, and other Halloween-themed games. We are so proud of this program, its leader, and its members. It is already a massive success by mobilizing teens and tweens who are becoming involved in the community and the Red Cross at an early age, and we look forward to seeing this program grow and what is to come in the spring of 2018! Page 5
How Motivations Help Mentor Gretchen Jucha, Naples Field Office Assistant
Think about when you first joined the American Red Cross, whether it was 20 minutes ago or 20 years ago. What compelled you to pick up that phone? What got you through those doors? What inspired you to say “yes, I’ll do this”? I know my answer to that question; I was in desperate need to fill a resume gap and expound upon a skill or two (or three or four). I was also bored, going a little crazy, and maybe driving my husband a little crazy, too. I came to the Red Cross, perhaps the most selfless organization I have come to know, because of pure selfishness. And that’s okay. It’s okay because these personal motivations are what drove me to keep coming back, to log my hours, to pursue further opportunities within the organization. It’s also okay because my mentors knew my motivations, too, and they fostered them. They knew I wanted to improve my writing skills, so they tasked me to write articles. They knew I got excited about public speaking, so they asked me to go on the radio. They knew I wanted something substantial and impactful for my resume, so they helped me set and reach goals. So, why does this matter? It matters because while I was expressing my motivations to my leadership, I was really just telling them what I needed from a mentor and how I needed support. And now that I have had the opportunity to mentor volunteers myself, I find myself asking them in one way or another “What is your motivation and how can Red Cross help keep it alive?”. How can the Red Cross help you become the volunteer, the professional, the leader, or the person you want to be? We talk a lot about engagement and retention in this organization – after all, the Red Cross carries out its programs by mobilizing the power of volunteers. Maybe the first step is just asking why a volunteer wants to do something rather than asking what they want to do. It might take two minutes to have that conversation, and more than likely the answer will change from time to time, but it’s important to keep asking and keep listening. Because at the end of the day, either you encourage fellow team members to fulfill their intrinsic motivations…or you don’t. Since the moment I first picked up the phone, walked through the doors, and said: “yes, I’ll do this” - my motivations have changed. Yes, filling that resume gap is nice and not going insane from boredom is nicer. But now I’m motivated by the passion and excitement that I feel for our mission, our programs, our teams. I’m motivated by the desire to help others, to do good. I think my mentors know this and I think it has changed the way they lead and encourage me. I hope I’m doing the same for others, and I challenge you to do the same for others, too.
How will you make a marvelous mentor in 2018? Page 6
Communication and PR 101: Tips from the Stuttgart Station Nicola Brady, Stuttgart Public Relations Volunteer
As each Red Cross station maintains a unique dynamic, the Communications/ PR program may differ somewhat from location to location. In Stuttgart, our program defines community relations and the dissemination of information as our fulcrum. Cultivating relationships with partner organizations is crucial to our mission success in Stuttgart! It’s no secret that so many of our prominent events wouldn’t be as noteworthy without the support of our leadership team at USAG Stuttgart and the presence of organizations located here. Equally as important, we relish the opportunity to participate in as many community outreach events organized by others. This dynamic is especially worthwhile because it directly demonstrates that the American Red Cross Stuttgart supports their missions and genuinely values their contributions while solidifying our commitment to interface with the community every chance we get! No event is too big or too small, and we strive to put the same level of care and intention into each opportunity we encounter. The second essential function of our Communications/PR program is the dissemination of accurate information in a timely manner, using various media outlets. Our recipe for success is to use a mix of traditional media such as radio announcements and newspaper articles, along with equal parts social media cross-postings and digital design, topping it off with a dash of grass-roots campaigns! Because we have a truly rare composition of citizens in the USAG Stuttgart community, it is important to tailor our circulation of information to match our target audience. Some events call for traditional means of advertising while others require less antiquated tactics. For me, it’s about knowing where your target audience goes for their information and focusing your attention there, but covering those other bases anyway, because less isn’t more when it comes to community involvement! Both of these functions are continuously evolving to best meet our community’s needs. Being keenly aware of changes and keeping an open mind toward creativity in seeking new opportunities are of absolute importance to our team! A good candidate will also have the ability to demonstrate competence and confidence in public speaking to best represent their station to media contacts, observing the delicate balance of delivering approved information without commentary. Article continued on next page. Page 7
On a personal note, I feel that a passionate focus on interacting with others is an inherent quality that isn’t necessarily taught but is apparent in those who possess it. Some people are exhausted by interacting with others, and others are energized by it. If you’re one of the latter, congratulations you are a “people person,” and that’s a paramount characteristic of a Communications/PR program member! If you’re not an extreme extrovert, you can still move mountains for your station; timeliness, attention to detail, and strong written communication skills are equally as important in crafting strategic communication!
Since joining the team in 2015, I have exercised fluidity within my position description. I strongly encourage all to fill in as needed to ensure successful activations, for all of your station programs. A Communications/ PR program member should have an understanding of the station’s teams and their goals as a whole, and what better way to learn than by doing? In a more traditional sense, a Communications/PR program member can also expect to demonstrate effectiveness by drafting articles for release, maintaining station social media pages, and serving as a liaison to our military community, partner organizations, and media outlets. If I did my job as a persuasive communication strategist, you must be jumping out of your skin to get involved in the Communications/PR program! All you need to do is give your station a call or drop by and set up a time to chat with your Communications/PR Program Lead about the impact that you can make together.
Wait! Don’t go yet! Along with the Volunteer Voice this month, we also released the new (drumroll, please)...
European Division Leadership Roster! We all know that the nature of our military communities means constant change. We happen to be going through one of those transitions that leave us with a lot of vacant leadership positions that need filling. Embrace the new year and help recruit, place, and train some more volunteer leads! While you’re at it, print out this roster, have it handy, and refer to it often. Our division is made up of intuitive, creative, and driven individuals; don’t be afraid to reach out beyond your station. Whether you are looking for guidance on an initiative, a second opinion on a new idea, or just some words of wisdom, pick up the phone or send an email to someone that can help!
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