0209 Newsletter

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American Red Cross of Greater Indianapolis, 441 East 10th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202 www.redcross-indy.org 317-684-1441

February 2009

Volume 1, Issue 6

Llyn Harrington, New Chief

Operating Officer By

Joyce Armour

Join us in welcoming Llyn

Harrington, our new Chief

Operating Officer.

Llyn comes to us with both

Red Cross chapter and na-

tional strengths. He was Ex-

ecutive Director for eight

years at the Ft. Wayne chapter

(now the Northeast Indiana

chapter) and Director of ARC-

One with the American Red

Cross. Llyn decided to return

to chapter management be-

cause he believes there is more

opportunity at the chapter level to have a bigger and longer

lasting impact on the organization and the people we serve.

Llyn’s goal for our already high-performing chapter can be

summed up as continued process improvement. He is opening

doors both individually and collectively, to enhance processes

and improve on an already high-performing organization.

Such changes do not suggest that we are doing things wrong; it

is a matter of identifying more efficient and cost effective

ways to our approach to delivering services and conducting

business.

His overall vision is to ensure the future success of the organi-

zation by improving systems and processes to reduce costs,

while maintaining and enhancing quality. One way of accom-plishing this is through shared services with other chapters.

On a lighter side, Llyn’s hobbies include wood working, com-

petitive archery, and snow skiing.

Again, welcome Llyn to the Greater Indianapolis family.

Greetings from the FBCI Corner…

By

Jillian Luttrell and Justin Gray

This month we would like to welcome Englewood

Christian Church to the Faith-Based Community

Initiative. ECC trained on January 10. Despite winter

weather advisories, 25 enthusiastic congregants gave up

their Saturday morning to become ECC’s Action Team. Wereally appreciate their determination and also want to ex-

tend a huge thank you for being such gracious hosts and

engaged participants. We really enjoyed meeting all of you

and getting to know your church a little bit better.

Englewood Christian Church is on the Near Eastside of

Indianapolis. It has remained in that neighborhood since its

founding in 1895. This commitment to their neighborhood

and community was one of the major factors that drew

Justin and I to ECC. ECC is a congregation that has learned

to adapt to the changing landscape of the city and has taken

the initiative to reach out to its neighbors facing issues such

as housing, employment, and childcare.

One of the unique components of ECC is the Englewood

Community Development Corporation. The ECDC is a non-

profit organization which is church-driven but a separate

legal entity from the church. Currently the ECDC owns and

operates a lawn care service, a bookkeeping service, a book-

store, a PC repair service, and a commercial cleaning ser-

vice. They are also involved in housing: the ECDC has

aided over 25 households of various backgrounds in becom-

ing residents of the local church neighborhood.

We, at the FBCI, are very excited to be partners with such

an engaged and dynamic church. It is great to see an organi-

zation rise to meet the needs of the congregants and com-munity. We really look forward to further developing our

relationship with ECC!

You can read the complete story of ECC at their website:

www.englewoodcc.com.



Emergency Services Newsletter 2

Volunteer David Scott Receives Mayor’s Community Service Award

On December 16, American Red Cross of Greater Indianapolis volunteer David Scott was honored as one of the 21 recipi-

ents of the 2008 Mayor’s Community Service Award. “Today, we honored our city’s volunteers for their servant leader-

ship and exceptional commitment to our community,” said

Mayor Greg Ballard. “These volunteers have dedicated years

of hard work and service to helping their neighbors. Our city isbetter because of them, and it was an honor to be able to offer,

on behalf of all citizens of Indianapolis, our deepest gratitude.”

Each recipient’s name will be engraved on a brick to be placed

at the Mayor’s Volunteer Plaza at the 11th Street Admiral

Spruance basin on the Canal (information and quote from

www.indy.gov).

Read about David’s service to our chapter in the essay com-

piled to nominate him for this award. The essay was written

by Brad Schleppi, Terri Held, Heather Starr, and Kathy

Wooten, and was compiled by Kate Ayers.

2008 Mayor Ballard’s Community Service Award

Nominee: David Scott

Over the past 15 years, David Scott has proved to be an outstanding, reliable, versatile, and compassionate volunteer of

the American Red Cross of Greater Indianapolis. David is using his retirement to serve the community and has found

that the Red Cross is the best fit for him. “When my wife worked for the Red Cross, I became more acquainted with the

various services and how the organization helps the community. It is the perfect way to give back.” In an organization

led by volunteers, David sets an example for all, not only by dedicating at least twenty hours per week, but also by his

attitude of service and leadership.

Since becoming a member of the Board of Directors in 2003, David has never failed to exercise his primary duty to be

fiscally responsible and he is always cognizant of the needs of the chapter and community. David is an ambassador for

the organization by providing support to other Red Cross chapters. Serving at a high-level has not removed David from

the community. Instead, he sees the value of being involved as a hands-on volunteer. In fact, David is one of our most

versatile volunteers.

David plays two roles as a Disaster Services volunteer: he is an active member of the Disaster Public Affairs Team and

an Emergency Response Vehicle driver. When disasters, such as last summer’s tornadoes and floods, hit Indianapolis

and the surrounding area, David works with other volunteers and staff to inform the media and community about Red

Cross relief activities. During a disaster response, David also helps to provide food and water to people affected by the

disaster by driving the ERV to the sites of disaster and assistance.

David does not only show his commitment to service during disasters; he is always active. As a driver in Transporta-

tion Services two days every week, David provides clients with transportation to medical appointments. These clients

are typically low-income with no other reliable means of transportation. Some depend on the Red Cross for transporta-

tion to dialysis. Others are pregnant mothers who, without drivers like David, would sometimes forego these vital medi-cal appointments. He also transports clients to physical therapy, which helps to improve their quality of life or enables

them to rejoin the workforce. David is unfailingly kind to clients and patients under all circumstances. As a First Aid

Team Leader, David helps to coordinate events and manage other volunteers. During the Indiana State Fair, he has the

role of the First Aid Site Coordinator, a position that requires exceptional organizational and leadership abilities.

David Scott is an exceptional volunteer who dedicates his time, energy, ideas, and talents. He is a role model and men-

tor for other volunteers. With a cool temperament and kind heart, he works hard to help people in his community in a

variety of ways. With the experience of his hands-on volunteering, David provides guidance and leadership to the chap-

ter. The concern and compassion he displays for the community are most noteworthy.

David Scott receiving award from Mayor Ballard.




I f you are wondering how to

get more involved with theRed Cross, Kim Douglas would

be able to give you a few sugges-tions. Kim started volunteeringfor our Red Cross chapter overthree years ago and hasn’t sloweddown since. In fact, Kim has

become more and more involvedand now uses her time and skillsto serve in several different de-partments. She is in the building

two days each week helpingHeather Starr with the daily op-erations of First Aid, includingvolunteer interviews and attend-

ing meetings as Heather’s stand-in when needed. As a First Aidvolunteer, she works the StateFair, the 500 Festival, and many

other events. Kim is also an instructor for CPR and Disaster Services,recently teaching two Fulfilling Our Mission classes. In addition, Kimis on the Disaster Action Team (DAT) in Marion County and the Mo-

bile Feeding Response Team (MFRT). During larger disasters, Kimsupports the Red Cross response by serving as a Health Services vol-unteer. We hope that you learn more about Kim from this article and

are encouraged in your own Red Cross service.

ES Newsletter: First of all, we want to thank you for taking time out of

your busy schedule to sit down with us.

Kim: Oh, please. It is no problem at all; to tell the truth, this soundedkind of fun.

ES: Well let’s get started then, tell us how you ended up getting in-

volved with the Red Cross?

Kim: I had actually wanted to get involved with the Red Cross for anumber of years before I officially became a volunteer about three anda half years ago. I had put all my paperwork in just prior to Katrina. Iwaited to be called and I ended up working at the shelter at the State

Fair Grounds. Since then, I think I have just been in love with the Red

Cross and volunteering.

ES: When you aren’t volunteering what do you do?

Kim: I spend a lot of time with my 23 year old daughter who suffersfrom cerebral palsy, a handicap affecting her physical motion. I’vemaybe thought about doing something further with my knowledge of physical disabilities by teaching the “Serving People with Disabilities”

class here at the Red Cross. I also work as an EMT and teach EMT

classes at St. Vincent’s Hospital.

ES: Wow. That is really amazing

that you spend as much time with

your daughter and still somehow

find time to participate in allthese activities around the com-

munity. What do you think you

like most about volunteering?

Kim: I like helping people inneed. I think helping people inneed is the most gratifying reward

a person can receive. You may ormay not receive a thank you, but

just knowing you did something

is worth it.

ES: Well put. So, what is your

favorite movie and book, and

why?

Kim: Tombstone and Man in the Iron Mask are my favorite movies.And why, hmm; Tombstone because it is historical and Man in the

Iron Mask because … it is just a good movie. Favorite book, I like all

Danielle Steele books for leisure, and for personal enjoyment I like abook called Personality Plus. It goes through all the different types of personalities that there are. I guess it helps me get along with a wider

variety of people.

ES: Tombstone is my favorite movie too. Anyway, tell us something

about yourself that other Red Cross volunteers might be surprised to

know.

Kim: I play BINGO, a good amount. I never won anything bigthough, probably because I don’t play a lot of cards, only like 24 or

so.

ES: 24 or so! Ha-ha, we thought you said not a lot. Ok, what is the

most memorable experience you have had volunteering at the Red

Cross?

Kim: The night the tornadoes hit in June we had to set up a shelter ataround 25th and Post Street. As we opened the shelter, Scott Newman,director of Public Safety in Indianapolis, was bringing an older ladyinto the shelter. He placed her hand in my hand and said to me, “I

know you will take good care of her.” That was really awesome. Thefact that he knew I, as a Red Cross volunteer, would take good care of

a perfect stranger really meant something to me.

ES: That is a very sweet story Kim. Alright, last question: if you could

give one piece of advice to new volunteers, what would it be?

Kim: Be involved in as much as you can, it is extremely rewarding!

Thank you, Kim, for your dedication and excellent service to the Red

Cross!

Volunteer Spotlight: Kim Douglas by

Adam Ansari and Kate Ayers




Red Cross Links and Resources

American Red Cross on Facebook!

http://www.new.facebook.com/pages/American-Red-Cross/24472055070

A recap of the 2008 floods on Crossnet.

https://crossnet.redcross.org/news/chapters/fundraise/090106_FloodsTornadoesStewardshipReport.asp

You can find plenty of interesting topics on the national website.

http://www.redcross.org

“Brush Fires in the Sky”

Taken by Teresa Cummings on January 22, 2009. This view is from the parking

lot of the Indianapolis Red Cross Building at sunrise.




ARCGI Em ergen cy

Serv ices New s let t e r

Publ ished by our Emergency Serv ices

Vo lun tee r New s let te r Team

Jenny Dav idson and Br ian Thomason

Have a Submission for the Newsletter?

Send to

[email protected]

New Marion County DAT Members By

Adam Ansari

This month we would like to welcome 8 new members to theMarion County DAT team. They have completed all the

required courses and will be serving Marion County by February1st. These individuals include Gail Gainer, Jennifer Jansen, Lisa

Herber, Margaret Mercer, Marian Byrd, Patricia Cox, SteveSchlegel, and Adam Ansari. The ES Staff wants to thank you allfor your gracious decision to become part of the Disaster Service

Team and we look forward to seeing all of you in the near future.

Madison County DAT News

Welcome Madison

County Disaster

Action Team members!

This is a bit overdue, but

since last fall, nine new

volunteers joined ourranks. Tom Ayers, Don

Billey, Mike Burton, Steve

Caves, Bev Graddy, Gayle Johnson, Jerry Johnson,

Bryan Thomas, and Gerry Williams are now serving

the Red Cross and their community as DATs. Most

have already responded to numerous house fires. We

are very glad to have them!

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0209 Newsletter