Volunteer Voice June and July 2014

June/July 2014

The Volunteer Voice

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Volunteer Recognition On 22 May, American Red Cross volunteers gathered at Dai Gelosi to be honored at the annual recognition ceremony and luncheon. From January 2013 to April 2014, American Red Cross Vicenza volunteers dedicated over 29,000 hours. In recognition of this great work, each volunteer received a certificate and an engraved wine glass with matching charms. LTC Keith Palm, Vicenza Health Center Deputy Commander for Nursing, was the guest speaker at this year's event and spoke about the benefits volunteering can provide both personally and to the community. Volunteer of the Quarter awards were presented to Ken Watkins, Sarah Coey, Ann Ross, Pamela Riis, and Elizabeth Schirk-Walrond. Vicki Lucio, Red Cross Club Chairman, was awarded Volunteer of the Year. It was wonderful opportunity to recognize the many accomplishments of the volunteers here in Vicenza.

May Volunteer of the Month: Christina Davis

A Note from the Station Chairman On 30 June the current term for our Advisory Council will end and many of our volunteer leaders will be departing to new adventures. The group of people that has served on this year’s council was some of the most dedicated volunteers I have ever had the pleasure to work with and the station benefited in countless ways from their leadership. Please join me in congratulating them on a job well done and I would like to personally thank them all for their hard work.

With the summer PCS season upon us we will also be losing many of our long time volunteers. For all the time and effort you have given the community and station, we thank you and hope that you will continue volunteering wherever life takes you.

Sincerely, Brenda Culp

Get Involved!

Fiaccolata Torchlight walk with Red Cross volunteers from all over the world 21 June To obtain more detail and register contact the Red Cross office or email vicenza@redcross.org

Say Farewell to Wade Walrond 18 June 11:30 am to 2:00 pm At the Red Cross Office Drop by for a chance to say farewell to Wade Refreshments will be served

June/July 2014

Red Cross Club

Wade’s Farewell Letter Summer has sprung, the kids are out of school and PCS season usually corresponds with all this other change that is occurring in our lives. This change is also affecting the American Red Cross in Vicenza. We have either already lost or will be losing several members of our leadership team, including myself.

Safety Tip of the Month: Water Safety    

Swim in designated areas supervised by lifeguards.

Ensure that everyone in the family learns to swim well.

If you go boating, wear a life jacket! Most boating fatalities occur from drowning.

Never leave a young child unattended near water and do not trust a child’s life to another child.

Don’t Forget: Submit your Volunteer Hours!

Volunteer Connection is the place to record volunteer your hours. Instead of logging them on paper, just sign into volunteer connection, go to “My Profile,” select “Shifts/Hours” and log them there. We will review them every week and approve them so that they will show in your record.

Log in at https://volunteerconnection.redcross.org

June/July Calendar 6/18 – Open House: Farewell to Wade

7/12 – CPR/First Aid/AED Course*

6/21 – Fiaccolata

7/19-7/20 Babysitter Bootcamp*

7/9 – Blended Learning CPR/First Aid/AED Class (Evening Skills Session)*

*Advance registration required at the Red Cross Office

I wanted to thank everyone who has helped make the American Red Cross in Vicenza such a great place to volunteer. Especially to the departing members of our advisory council: Christina Davis, Special Events Chairman; Tonya Brogan, Dental Clinic Chairman; Ken Watkins, Disaster Chairman; Lorraine DeOliveira, Station Advisor; and Brenda Culp, Station Chairman. These great people played a major part in making this office successful. Fortunately, we will be retaining other members of our advisory council who will continue to make great strides in making the American Red Cross a great place to volunteer.

I will be departing the same weekend as the Fiaccolata and my last day in the office is 19 June 2014. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time as I watched this office grow. Some of my fondest memories are deploying to Afghanistan at the same time as the 173rd, (It was the first time I deployed with the Red Cross at the same time as one of the brigades I directly supported at my home duty station.); the two bicycle rodeos; the Howl-O-Ween dog costume event; and walking with thousands of other Red Crossers during the Fiaccolata torchlight walk which celebrates the founding of the Red Cross movement. So if you are participating in the Fiaccolata this year, take a moment to remember those of us who are departing. If I were not flying out the same weekend, I would be walking with you.

Questions, comments, concerns?

American Red Cross Building 333 Caserma Ederle Vicenza, Italy Phone: 0444-71-7089 Vicenza@redcross.org www.facebook.com/ARCVicenza