CEO UPDATE - JULY 14TH

From Elaine Acker, CEO

Good afternoon, everyone, iIt’s great to be back in Austin, although I have to admit I thoroughly enjoyed the awesome weather in both D.C. and Seattle.

D.C. Trip
Judge Shepperd, Derrick Chubbs and I had a very productive trip to D.C. We, along with the other regional chapter CEOs and board chairs from our division, spent a half day with Gail McGovern, the Red Cross CEO, and another half day brainstorming the future of the national Red Cross. I feel really good about the time spent there and I know we’ll continue to see positive changes as the Red Cross tackles its financial challenges and transitions to a better business model.

KUT Features Babysitter’s Boot Camp
The  Education and Training department is working with the Development & Communications staff to raise visibility about classes. We’ve gotten a great response to the Babysitter’s Boot Camp, and here’s the link to the piece that ran on KUT: http://kut.org/items/show/17460. Excellent coverage!

Welcome Diane Ventresca, Director of Development & Communications
Diane Ventresca is in the house, so we now have a fully staffed Development & Communications department. Welcome, Diane!

Update from Williamson County
Marty has been knocking on lots of doors in Williamson County, and they’re opening! Here’s a quick update from Marty:

• On Monday evening I will meet with a group of 18 neighborhood association leaders to talk about how they can be involved with the Red Cross and to explain how the CASHP works during a hurricane evacuation.
• On Tuesday Steve Hailey and I will meet with the leadership of a citizen volunteer group organized through the Georgetown Police Department.  They also are interested in the role of the Red Cross in local disaster and how they can work with us.
• On Wednesday our new Development director will spend the day in Georgetown to review our Development plan and learn how Williamson County can begin to play a bigger role.
• Later this week I will work with a two large neighborhood associations to help plan a welcome home to more than 500 troops.  We are planning a giant barbeque. These same associations will soon be training their Neighborhood Watch group (more than 100 people) in CPR & first aid through our chapter.
• Finally, on Saturday, Elaine & I will team teach the Red Cross Public Affairs class.  This is the first time this class has been taught at our chapter in several years.

Parking Lot Re-striped
Thanks a million to volunteer Homer Johnson who arranged to have our parking lot re-striped. It looks GREAT! The parking lot striping was donated to the chapter by Bob at B&B Pavement Markings.  Thanks to both Homer for arranging and Bob for the generous donation!

Don’t forget
The Volunteer Recognition event and annual meeting is scheduled for 4 pm on August 23 at the Dell Diamond. If you haven’t already done so, please RSVP and let us know how many from your family will be attending!  acooney@centex.redcross.org

Until next week…

GREETINGS AND HAPPY MONDAY - CEO UPDATE

From Elaine Acker, CEO

A World Apart, a Moment Together
Saturday was one of the most amazing experiences of my professional life. After months of working with our partners at One World Theater and LifeSize Communications, Saturday was the big day. Because of our Chapter, 12 military children were able to participate in One World’s summer theater camp. Because of LifeSize, most of those children were able to share their experience with their deployed family members. Can you say “goosebumps?”

The technology was incredible – the deployed parents watched the performance live. We could see them on the screen as part of the audience, looking proudly at their kids. There are no words to describe how rewarding this was. I walked in, saw the military parents’ faces on the screen, and felt the tears bubbling up. It worked. It really worked. I have to say an extra special THANK YOU to Michael Chaison without whom it would never have come together. Check out just a few of the photos below. Stay tuned for a slide show…

In the meantime, here’s the link to one of the News mentions:
http://www.kxan.com/dpp/news/local/A_world_apart_a_moment_together

The Education and Training Team reports that they have just inventoried all the products currently in stock, and it sounds like there’s a big SALE in the works! Keep an eye out for that announcement and you’ll have a chance to stock up on Red Cross goodies.

Also, the new course schedules are now posted online. Take a look and stay current on your training. And with Hurricane season officially here, be sure to take a look at any disaster classes that could help you learn even more about preparedness and response.

Outreach Efforts
Marty is off and running in her new role as Development & Communications Manager, Williamson County, and she and Melissa G. had a great visit with Sun City residents last Thursday. They talked about preparedness for the entire Sun City community, and the presentation was broadcast on Sun City’s community television network.

Volunteer Jim Dixon took the ERV to one of the Wal-Mart locations in Williamson County and had a chance to visit with area residents and help tell the community more about how to prepare for disasters. This kind of visibility will make a huge difference!

Debbie, Marty, and I have all done recent presentations to the City of Austin’s Public Works Department. By the time we’re done with the eight scheduled presentations, we will have reached more than 500 Public Works employees, reminding them about preparedness (especially since so many of them have a disaster response role as well), and also reminding them about the upcoming workplace giving campaigns in the fall.

Annual Meeting
Don’t forget to save the date, AUGUST 1, for our annual meeting and volunteer recognition celebration! We don’t have all the details yet, but it will be late afternoon – early evening. More info to come.

Questions? Comments? News? Send me a note! Thanks!