Would You Look The Other Way?

A few weeks ago, while teaching a class for an office group, I happened to look at one of the posters on the wall.  In their conference room was a copy of the poem “I Chose to Look the Other Way” by Don Merrell.  There are several versions of the poem out there and while I don’t know which is the ‘correct’ version, they all say the same thing.  It is a reminder of the chances we take each day and the ability we have to change the circumstances simply by mentioning a problem.  I printed out a copy of the poem and posted it on the wall next to my computer.  This way, whenever I’m in the office, the poem catches my eye and acts as a reminder.

If an emergency happened in your vicinity, would you know how to respond? 

As an American Red Cross Health & Safety Instructor I am often asked, “but what can I really do?”  The answer for many people is: take a breath and call 9-1-1.  However, for those with appropriate training, responding in an emergency can truly make the difference between life and death.  If you’re interested in taking a class as an individual or having an instructor come out to teach a class for your group, please call 928-4271 to get more details.  Thanks.

- Lis Wise, Workplace Training Instructor

AMERICAN RED CROSS OF CENTRAL TEXAS TALKS SAFETY

Red Cross Home Emergency Preparations: MyFoxAUSTIN.com

A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR VOLUNTEERS!

April in central Texas is a beautiful thing.  We have some of the best weather of the year, beautiful wildflowers, events and festivals galore.  One thing you might not know about April is that it is also National Volunteer Month - the perfect time to say thank you to all those wonderful people who offer their time and talent to the community.

My Red Cross career began as a volunteer and that experience has profoundly changed my life.  I have always been a happy and blessed person but when I started to respond to home fires for the Red Cross I found a mission so in alignment with my core values that it now gets me out of bed every day.  Even now, more than nine years since my first Red Cross training class, I am touched on a daily basis by the importance of our work.

Today I am paid for my Red Cross work but I am surrounded by volunteers who share the passion and dedication I continue to feel.

Red Cross volunteers come in every color, faith, political persuasion and age.  They are urban, rural, small town and suburb dwellers.  They are the complete cross section of our community but they share one thing in common; the desire to use their life to help others.  They do 95% of all the work performed by the Red Cross and thousands of our neighbors feel the benefits of their dedication each year.  Those few of us who get paid are their support staff and we are proud to be of assistance to them.

So sometime during this beautiful month of April I hope you will take the time to stop and smell the flowers, have some fun and thank a Red Cross volunteer.

Marty McKellips, CEO of the American Red Cross of Central Texas

Swim-A-Cross Memories

Some of my fondest memories from summers growing up in Austin, are from the swim team I would join & swim with for several weeks.  Yes, we learned new strokes & raced on the weekends, but our culminating event was to participate in the annual Swim-A-Cross fundraiser for the American Red Cross.  Now that I work for the American Red Cross, I can see the value of the event from another perspective.  Not only is the event a fun way to raise money, but it gives the children (and adults) in our community a different way to support both local & global concerns.  The funds raised through Swim-A-Cross help support local disaster relief (fires, floods) and military families in our community, but they can go on to help others around the country and around the world.  

If you enjoy swimming, or know someone who does, please consider registering for the event by yourself or with a swim team.  Contact Jewel Walker, jwalker@centex.redcross.org or 512-929-1279 for more information.

- Lis Wise, Workplace Training Instructor

AMERICAN RED CROSS OF CENTRAL TEXAS HEROES EVENT

The American Red Cross of Central Texas is hosting its annual Heroes Celebration. On Thursday, April 14^th, UT Longhorn Coach Mack Brown will be honored with the Lady Bird Johnson Humanitarian Awards. 

Join us for an old Hollywood soiree that will include both a live and silent auction. Items will include signed Round Rock Express memorabilia as well as a week’s stay at a condominium in Vancouver, Canada!

We urge you to obtain your tickets quickly.  Seats are limited! 

If you have any questions or would like additional information about the event please contact, Jessica Schlueter, Development and Communications Associate, at jschlueter@centex.redcross.org or 512-929-1227.

Visit our website http://american.redcross.org/2011heroescelebration

We hope you will join us at this celebration, and with your generous support we will help the American Red Cross of Central Texas turn compassion into action.

SERVE AUSTIN -- A CALL TO ACTION

 Today at City Hall the Mayor officially announced “Serve Austin – A Call to Action.”  This is Austin’s own “Cities of Service” initiative which will help thousands of volunteers make a difference in five key areas: Classroom Education, Fitness Education, Women Military Veteran Support, Health and Community Service Technology. 

Your American Red Cross, Austin Region is proud to be the lead partner in “Operation Outreach”, a program designed to proactively help female veterans with reintegration into civilian life and provide assistance for all issues they face upon return from military service. Over the next year, we will recruit and train 100 female veterans to reach out to their counterparts who may be struggling with issues as diverse as child care, post-traumatic stress disorders, or unemployment.  The volunteers will be armed with a guide to all the amazing resources our nonprofit, for profit and government agencies have to offer.  Our goal is to reach the veterans before they are in crisis by contacting them on a regular basis and encouraging them to seek help earlier.

This program is a perfect fit for the American Red Cross because volunteers are the heart of all we do and service to the military has been embedded in us from the beginning of our history.  We are excited at the opportunity to partner with both the City of Austin and all the organizations who are already working so hard to help our American heroes.  Watch for updates over the next few months as we build this program and serve those who have served us.

Marty McKellips

CEO

 CEO Marty McKellips pictured above at podium

FITNESS FLASH MOB: A TRIBUTE TO JAPAN

Last night, Austinites gathered with H.E.A.T. Boot Camp at The Long Center for the Performing Arts and lit up the night while paying tribute to the victims of the  Japan earthquake and tsunami and raised over $4,000 for the American Red Cross which will go toward relief efforts.

Hundreds of attendees illuminated the Long Center with glow bracelets while performing a choreographed interactive movement experience which included a mix of simple exercise, dance, and yoga led by Austin's top trainers and yoga instructors.  The performance ended with attendees forming a Japanese flag with red and white glow sticks and honoring those throughout the Pacific who were affected with a moment of silence.

It was a truly moving experience to see the Austin community come together in such a creative way to help those half a world away.  We are so lucky to be a part of this amazing Austin community and have such wonderful partners like Cody Butler and the rest of the H.E.A.T. Boot Camp team!

You can see more pictures of this event on the H.E.A.T. Boot Camp Facebook page here.