Red Cross Crosslines Newsletter

SUMMER 2012

www.swwashington.redcross.org

Crosslines

CONGRATULATIONS Roy Ostroski & Isabel Van Vladricken 2010 Adult Good Samaritan Heroes!

Newsletter for supporters of the Southwest Chapter Newsletter for supporters of the Southwest Washington AmericanWashington Red Cross Serving.

Serving. Clark,Clark, Cowlitz, Pacific and Wahkiakum Counties Cowlitz, Klickitat, Pacific, Skamania and Wahkiakum Counties

Insert Hero Photo

SAFE AND WELL….SHOULD A DISASTER STRIKE HERE Tidewater is Proud to Support our Communit y’s Heroes

TIDEWATER MORE THAN A BARGE LINE Visit us at www.tidewater.com

WELCOME OUR NEWEST CORPORATE COUNCIL MEMBER

It is with great pleasure and appreciation we announce our newest

member to the Corporate Council, Tidewater. Tidewater has been a longtime supporter of the local Red Cross by training employees in basic first aid and CPR, purchasing AEDs for their barge fleet, being an Award Sponsor at the annual Real Heroes event, providing funds that purchased and outfitted three emergency shelter trailers, and making outright gifts of funds to enhance our disaster relief efforts.

Tidewater has made a three year commitment to Corporate Council, thereby providing strategic operating funds that allow the chapter to support the effort of our volunteers in servicing our six county area of operations.

Founded in 1932, Tidewater is headquartered in Vancouver and its operations area spans 465 miles of the Columbia and Snake River systems from the Port of Astoria, Oregon to the inland Port of Lewiston, Idaho. Both employees and management stress service, pride and integrity in their dealings, which makes them much more than a barge line. We are honored to have Tidewater as our newest corporate supporter and look forward to what we can accomplish as partners.

American Red Cross Responds to Deadly Midwest Tornadoes

The American Red Cross continues its response across the Midwest where dozens of tornadoes ripped through communities over several nights, destroying buildings and downing power lines. Red Cross workers operated shelters and provided meals, with more help on its way to the affected areas.

The National Weather Service Storm Protection Center reported at least 97 tornadoes blew across Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska and Oklahoma.

Particularly hard hit were the towns of Woodward and Norman Oklahoma, the towns of Creston and Thurman in Iowa and areas in and around Wichita, Kansas. Since the storms, hundreds of relief supplies have been moved to the affected area. Supplies include comfort kits, tarps, coolers, rakes and other cleanup supplies. Blistering hot weather now has settled throughout the Midwest and has added to the already painful results the storms first brought to the area. This has been a historical season for disasters for the United States.

The Red Cross encourages people to register on the Red Cross Safe and Well website to let loved ones know they are safe by visiting www.redcross.org or calling 1-800-REDCROSS. From a smart phone, visit www.redcross.org/safeandwell and click on the “List Yourself as Safe and Well” or “Search for Friends and Family” link. People in an affected area can let loved ones know their status on the site as well. Friends and family outside the disaster area can then search for messages from their loved ones by using a pre-disaster phone number or complete address. Safe and Well also enables disaster survivors to update their Facebook and Twitter status through the website.

SAFETY STEPS

Officials said the severe weather may continue from Texas to the upper Midwest and Great Lakes regions of the country.

Information about what to do if tornadoes threaten is available on the Red Cross web site.

The Red Cross reminds people who live in areas hit by the overnight storms that they should not return to their neighborhoods until authorities say it is safe to do so. Other safety steps include: • Stay out of damaged buildings.

• Wear long pants, long-sleeved shirts and sturdy shoes when examining homes for damage.

• Watch out for fallen power lines or broken gas lines and report them to the utility company immediately.

• Use battery-powered flashlights when examining buildings—do NOT use candles.

• If someone notices a gas smell or hears a hissing noise, they should open a window and get everyone out of the building quickly. They should also call the gas company or fire department.

• Keep animals under control.

• Clean up spilled medications, bleaches, gasoline or other flammable liquids that could become a fire hazard.

Resident surveying damages from Iowa tornado that destroyed most of the town.

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Southwest Washington Red Cross Board of Directors 2011-2012 Executive Board Chapter Chair

Randy Salisbury, DSP Architecture Immediate Past Chair

Dennis Rugg, DEarrow Equity Group Secretary

Gary O’Connell, Quantum Residential Treasurer Christopher Bradberry, Fibre Federal Credit Union Darcy Altizer Scott Anders Julie Burger Pete Capell Paul Cline Susan Courtney Denise Ferner Tracy Fortmann Barbara Geist Tom Griffith Scott Hogan Dan Kern Aaron Kraft

Natalie Lucey Carol Mackey DeLano Morgan Rebekah Nelson Rob Nielsen Ryan Nisle Royce Pollard Brandon Posey Lynn Rullman Hunter Simpson Don Wirfs Josy Wright Andrew Young

Email: chapterinfo@swwashington.redcross.org

Staff Administration

Sheryl J. Beauchaine, Chief Executive Officer Diane Lins, Chief Operating Officer

Emergency Services Kelly Anderson, Emergency Services Director

Development David Fenton, Chief Development Officer Suzanne Arnits, Development Associate

Volunteer Services Trish Osilla, Volunteer Services Director

SUMMER 2012

CrossLines is a quarterly publication of the Southwest Washington Red Cross. It provides information for our community supporters. volunteers, donors and corporate sponsors about recent local Red Cross news and program services.

Red Cross Donation Options

The American Red Cross provides assistance to people in need free of charge every single day in Pacific, Wahkiakum, Cowlitz, Clark, Skamania and Klickitat counties in Washington State! With your ongoing support we can continue to keep America strong through our various programs including; Disaster Relief Services, Critical Lifesaving Services, Youth Programs and 24-hour emergency military communication assistance. The American Red Cross is not a government agency; we must rely solely on the generosity of the American public. 91% of every donation goes directly to support services and programs.

• Donate to Your Local Red Cross Online by Credit or Debit Card: go to www.redcross.org/chapterdonation.

• Donate your car, boat, RV, truck, motorcycle and more to Southwest Washington Red Cross.

• Donate by Phone using Credit or Debit Cards: Call 360-693-5821 or toll free 888-434-1966.

• Plan a Gift - Leave a Legacy. Make a Charitable - Legacy - gift to the Southwest Washington Red Cross, you will help us continue to prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. Planned Gifts support the ongoing mission of your local Red Cross. Learn more on our Plan a Gift - Leave a Legacy page at www.swwredcross.org/plan-gift-leave-legacy.

• National and International Disaster Relief Funds. Help people affected by disasters across the country or around the world, such as hurricanes, flooding and earthquakes, by donating to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.

Stats and Services

Nationally, the American Red Cross is run by 35,000 employees and more than 1.2 million volunteers. Governed by volunteers and supported by community donations, the American Red Cross is a nationwide network of nearly 650 chapters and Blood Services regions dedicated to saving lives and helping people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies. Annually, the American Red Cross mobilizes relief to families affected by more than 70,000 disasters, trains almost 12 million people in lifesaving skills and exchanges more than a million emergency messages for U.S. military service personnel and their families.

The The American Red Cross is the largest single supplier of blood and blood products to more than 3,000 hospitals and transfusion centers across the nation, supplies more than 40 percent of the nation’s blood, and also assists victims of international disasters and conflicts at locations worldwide. The American Red Cross does all of this, while still using 91 cents of every donated dollar for humanitarian services and programs.

Locally, the Southwest Washington American Red Cross Chapter provides.

Here are some exciting stats on your SWWA American Red Cross Chapter!

• Services six counties (Pacific, Wahkiakum, Cowlitz, Clark, Skamania, and Klickitat).

• 700 volunteers and 6 paid staff • One location, in Vancouver, WA • Respond to a house fire on average every 1 ½ days.

• Assisted 112 families affected by fires and other local disasters in 2011.

•Taught community disaster education and prepared programs to 11,452 people.

• 9,099 individuals learned critical skills through American Red Cross courses such as: CPR, AED, First Aid, Water Safety, and Babysitting.

• Provided 545 military members, veterans and families with Services to the Armed Forces.

Volunteer Appreciation Event

Since 1917, the Southwest Washington American Red Cross has conducted annual meeting for its members. Over the years this meeting has morphed into the annual Volunteer Appreciation Event. Currently, the Volunteer appreciation event is held at the Heathman Lodge in Vancouver, WA and has more than 200 attendees!

The 2012 event was held on May 8th at the Vancouver, WA Heathman Lodge and had a fun Mardi Gras theme. More than 200 people attended this

exciting event many of them decked out in fun Mardi Gras outfits and costumes.

Veolia Water NorthAmerica was kind enough to sponsor the event. Veolia Water is the world’s leading water services company that provides design, construction, operation, maintenance, upgrade, and management of water and wastewater systems. The company has a 30-plus year partnership with the City of Vancouver.

Here are the results from the last volunteer appreciation event: Disaster Services Volunteer of the Year Roberta “Bobbie” Herrick Service to the Armed Forces Volunteer of the Year Award Charli Anderson, a blind yellow Labrador Administrative Volunteer of the Year Award: Dorothy Poole Media Team Volunteer of the Year Award: Jim Boline Youth Volunteer of the Year Award: Kendrick “Kenny” Kim Blood Services Volunteer of the Year Award: Robin Holmes 2012 Board Member of the Year: Royce Pollard 2012 Volunteer of the Year:

Dennis Rugg

Another highlight of the evening was honoring Julie Burger, who was celebrating her 45th year as an American Red Cross volunteer. Julie gave a speech to the audience (via pre-recorded video) and shared a few of her experiences as a volunteer She ended with saying “volunteering for the Red Cross, being able to help others, makes me feel real good.”

programs and services, as well as delivering consistently high quality care. PeaceHealth prides itself on both the high quality health care that it provides, as well as pledge to the communities that it inhabits. The PeaceHealth medical group has medical centers and/or hospitals in Alaska, Oregon, and Washington and provides a great range of care to their patients.

Volunteers are the heart and soul of

Approximately a year ago, a house fire erupted at one of Wilcox & Flegel’s employee’s homes. The Southwest Washington Ameri can Red Cross responded by offering emergency resources and emotional support for the couple to begin putting their lives back together. This prompted the company to begin a Corporate Council Sponsorship of the SW Washington American Red Cross. Wilcox & Flegel is a locally owned fuel and oil company based out of Longview Washington. The company has been a proud member of the community since 1925, when the city of Longview was first formed. Since then, the company has grown through hard work and determination to become a local leader in the fuel and oil industry, employing over 350 people. The Southwest Washington American Red Cross is proud to call Wilcox & Flegel a Corporate Council Sponsor. These two fine companies join with long-time supporter Waste Connections and Tidewater to show their financial support for continued operations. These vital partnerships allow your local Red Cross to provide services to the residents of Southwest Washington.

For more information on how to become a Corporate Council Sponsor, please call 360-693-5821 in Vancouver and 360-423-7880 in Longview, and ask for the

How to Become a Volunteer Wilcox & Flegel Inc.

the American Red Cross. More than 1.2 million volunteers provide their services to the American Red Cross nationally, t h ro u g h b l o o d s e r v i c e s , d i s a ste r services, service to the armed forces, health and safety, and more. Locally, there are more than 2,500 Chapter and Blood Services volunteers working with the Southwest Washington American Red Cross.

Examples of volunteer needs are: community outreach, office support, blood courier, blood drive ambassador, blood donation, disaster services, health and safety, media team, youth council, armed forces, administrative support, and more. For more information about volunteer opportunities, or to learn how to apply, please contact Trish Osilla at 360-693-1582.

Spotlight on Corporate Council Sponsors

PeaceHealth and Wilcox & Flegel, are our two newest Corporate Council Sponsors.

Volunteer of the year Dennis Rugg

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Peacehealth Columbia Region

Julie Burger 45 years of volunteering

PeaceHealth Columbia Region is comprised of PeaceHealth St John Medical Center and Peacehealth Southwest Washington Medical Center. Part of the PeaceHealth mission aligns well with the Red Cross “ ... by promoting personal and community health, relieving pain and suffering, and treating each person in a loving and caring way.”

PeaceHealth is committed to their local communities by providing healthcare

HOW TO HELP People can help those affe c te d by d i s a ste rs l i ke t h e s e tornadoes, as well as countless crises at home and around the world, by making a donation to support American Red Cross Disaster Relief. Consider making a donation today by visiting www.redcross.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or texting the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Contributions enable the Red Cross to prepare for and provide shelter, food, emotional support and other assistance in response to disasters.

NON PROFIT U.S. POSTAGE PAID PORTLAND OR PERMIT NO_ 243

3114 E. Fourth Plain Blvd.

Vancouver, WA 98661

Scan in the American Red Cross website on your smart phone

Find us on FACEBOOK WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/SWWREDCROSS.ORG

Save Lives – support your local American Red Cross Visit our updated Web site: www.swwashington.redcross.org American Red Cross of Southwest Washington

Office Hours

Monday - Friday

8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Toll Free: 888-434-1966 Vancouver: 3114 E. Fourth Plain Vancouver, WA 98661 Ph: 360-693-5821 Fax: 360-693-1953

Six County Service Area

Pacific, Wahkiakum, Cowlitz, Clark, Skamania and Klickitat

American Red Cross Mission

“The American Red Cross prevents and alleviates human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors.”