Month in Review

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July 2008 - download pdf
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July 2008

HEROES

Harrison County HEROES kicks off September 2, 2008! “HEROES for the American Red Cross” is a grassroots campaign in which local business people, school groups, church groups, civic clubs, and individuals pledge to raise $1,000 through any legal means they choose for the local Red Cross chapter. This year, the MS Gulf Coast chapter has set its sights on raising $35,000 during the campaign. The funds will be used to support Red Cross services such as disaster relief, assistance for fire victims, emergency military communications, First Aid and CPR training and disaster preparedness education for our community. All money raised will be used locally. Please see the attached letter for more information. Friends and supporters, please join this year’s campaign! We need YOU!

Emergency Services

We deployed Barb Muoio, Mary Ann Wells, and Harold Boudreaux to Brownsville, Texas to assist in the recovery projects from Hurricane Dolly. Barb returned this week, Harold will return on the 8th, and Mary Ann will return later this month.

The month of July started out our new fiscal year with a bang. We responded to 10 fires and assisted 18 families. One of the fires was an apartment complex fire that occurred on a Sunday evening; it was handled by Emergency Services Director, Bob Beebe and two members of the Disaster Action Team.

Services to Armed Forces Families
The Chapter assisted with 26 Armed Forces emergency cases, and briefed 80 airmen before deployment.

Fire Response Assistance
The Chapter assisted 18 families and provided a total of $6,991 in financial aid.

Utilities Assistance
The Chapter assisted 45 families and provided $4,867 in financial aid.

Volunteers and Trainings
The Chapter hosted 9 volunteer training classes. The Chapter trained 8 new DSHR (Disaster Services Human Resources) volunteers:
Earline Parker
Caitlin Boulger
Maureen Norris
Sam Soukup
Adam Guevara
Linda Mignor
Sherry Bordelon
Steven Hebert

The Chapter has also recruited 5 new DAT (Disaster Action Team) Members:
Carol Daspit            Saucier Area
Carol Stockert         Harrison County
Yolande Bradley     Hancock County
Mary Ann Wells     Harrison County

Thank You Volunteers!

Board of Directors News

Welcome New Board Members!
Gail Esters
Dr. Chris Frigo
Julie Gresham, Esq.
Barry Lee
Amy Gillespie-Smith, Esq.
Angel Truong

Health & Safety

CPR/FA - 31 classes with 155 participants
Aquatics - 76 classes with 452 participants
Caregiving/Admin - 1 classes with 1 participant
Total - 108 classes with 608 participants

The next CPR/First Aid class will be held August 23rd from 8am- 5pm. Our next Babysitter training will be held September 13th from 9:00 am until 3:00 pm. Please call if you would like to register.

We have a new Water Safety Instructor in Hancock County and a new Lifeguard Instructor at Keesler AFB. Our Authorized Provider aquatics facilities have done very well this season and we have been very busy processing their students and certifications.

Gifts of the Month

The Chapter was very fortunate to receive an outstanding donation from the Leo Seal Family Foundation. This tremendous support will enhance our Chapter’s capabilities for years to come. THANK YOU SEAL FAMILY!

The Chapter has received a grant of $10,000 from the MGM Mirage Voice Foundation for the Fire Victims Assistance program. Thank you friends at the Beau Rivage!

Trough and Sin D Do joined the Clara Barton Society. Thank you!

Community Outreach

"Every Second Counts": Responding to People with Disabilities in Times of Disaster, July 29th and 30th-
This was a two day seminar held at the Beau Rivage by the Mississippi State Department of Health and the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services. Gloria Harlan, Phill Muller, Carol Daspit, Wanda Russell, Keeshla Stagg, Melanie Randolph, Barry Holley, Dominic and Marie Alongi, Cathy Smith, Jae Billiot, Cynthia McEldowney and Keith Wilson joined Rosemary Pursell as members of the shelter team to learn Survival Sign Language, techniques for working with persons with mobility and visual impairments, and helping the elderly.
Pat Sullivan, the Chief from the Gulfport Fire Department, Butch Loper from the Jackson County EOC and Rick Fayard from the Hancock County AMR were among the speakers. The event was very well organized and the food was outstanding! We distributed 377 brochures and demonstrated the contents of our GO-BAGS.

Open House for the Blood Drive Volunteers, Sunday July 27th-
Those attending were: Liz Gaulke, the Senior Account Manager for Alabama and Central Gulf Coast Region for Blood Drive Donation, Linda Mignor our new Blood Drive Volunteer Coordinator, Sara Esterly our hostess for the Open House, Bill Esterly, Cynthia McEldowney, Gloria Harlan, Mary Jane Gaulke, Jane Billiot, Florence Ladner, Jim and Grace Craig, Lloyd and Trix Johnson, Mary Rodney, Joan Irving and John Blakeney. The above were described by Liz as the stalwarts of the team. It was good for all of us to put faces to telephone voices and to introduce Linda to the group.

Wal-mart and Sam’s Club Partnership
June was National Safety Month for all Wal-mart and Sam’s Club retail outlets. Throughout the month, Lisa Ann Rohr and Ernestine Brown-Rampola spoke to the employees and management staff of all 5 Mississippi Gulf Coast Wal-mart Stores and 1 Sam’s Club. They provided CPR-First Aid presentations for these employees and provided informative brochures about First Aid/CPR and the ARC Babysitter Training. Their 30 minute presentations emphasized the importance of lifesaving skills from CPR-First Aid and Choking Emergencies training for the workplace and community.

Collaborating with the Wal-mart and Sam’s Club stores’ Good Works program has strengthened our outreach partnership for lifesaving training programs in the workplace. We are very proud that these dedicated associates are now aware of ARC lifesaving skills. During August and September Lisa Ann and Ernie will continue to work with these employees, focusing on volunteer recruitment for disaster services and participation with volunteer training course such as the ARC Shelter Operations course.

Hurricane Recovery Program

*Unfortunately, the American Red Cross Hurricane Recovery Program funds have been depleted. The program will conclude in October. The Chapter will retain five case managers until June 2009 through a grant provided by United Way of America and South Mississippi.

We had a group of 21 volunteers (mostly teens) from Texas who assisted 9 of our families in Harrison County, coordinated by Monica Owens, Heath Warner, Keith Wilson and Genia Clay-Crane. Their trip was a great success!

HRP case mangers have called over 400 people on the waiting list to update their information, determine if they are still in need of our case management services. About 70% of the individuals contacted confirmed that they are still in need. We have been able to assist many on our list in need of furniture with referrals to various community groups.