Somerset Chapter Inducts New Board Members

The American Red Cross of Greater Somerset County held its 92nd Annual Meeting on Thursday, June 25, to induct new board members and recognize community partners. With over 35 people in attendance, the meeting was held at the Chapter House in Somerville and included a barbeque dinner before the introduction of the staff and current board members.
“Volunteers are the heart of the Red Cross,” said Amy Sutton, CEO of the Greater Somerset Chapter. “Having talented leadership volunteers is enabling us to fulfill our mission and expand our reach into the community. Their contribution is priceless.”
New board members inducted at the meeting included: Anthony Franchini, an assistant Vice President at TD Bank; Thor Harris, President of the of the public relations firm Percepture; Kishor Jobanputra, a retired family physician; Indira Kuruganti, an Independent Management Consultant at the New York Times Company; and Anna Maria Marthy, an Economic and Valuation Services Associate at KPMG.
The Red Cross of Greater Somerset also recognized their community partners for their dedication to the organization, including: Ace Copy Systems, Allstate Insurance Company of New Jersey, Catholic Charities, Dolce Hotels & Resorts, Somerset Self Storage, XCentrex Computer Systems, and Peapack-Gladstone Bank.
The Annual Meeting is one of several sessions open to the public held by the Red Cross at the Chapter House in Somerville. “Red Cross Live” is held every four weeks to inform the community about the activities of the Greater Somerset Chapter and how the community can get involved. The next session is being held on Thursday, July 9 from 4:00 – 5:00. To RSVP to “Red Cross Live,” call (908) 725-2217.

Local Red Cross Chapter Teams with CERT to Run Disaster Drill

On Sunday, June 28, the Greater Somerset Chapter of the American Red Cross partnered with the Tri County Chapter to run a disaster drill hosted by the Fanwood Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). The drill was held at Forest Road Park in Fanwood, NJ and simulated an apartment building fire and a Red Cross shelter for residents.

The exercise was designed by the Red Cross and CERT to be a basic training workshop to simulate the roles and functions of CERT and a Red Cross shelter.

Malcolm Plager, Director of Emergency Services for the Somerset Chapter, supported the operation of the drill. “We run disaster drills to test our proficiency in meeting the requirements of residents impacted by a major fire by providing shelter, food, and client support,” he said.

Approximately 35 Red Cross disaster volunteers took part in the drill, performing duties based on their training. Prior to the exercise, The Somerset County Chapter formed teams for sheltering, feeding, logistics, emergency operations center liaison, and individual client services for health and casework. The drill was broken into two cycles, each lasting about two hours.

The Greater Somerset County Chapter had 27 disaster volunteers in the first two-hour cycle, ensuring all clients, who were also volunteers, got registered in the center, sheltered, fed, and health needs taken care of. The team set up cots and blankets, staffed the registration desk, welcomed clients, and communicated with the CERT command post. Overall, the simulation

received a positive response from participants.

This is the second drill the Greater Somerset Chapter has participated in this year and Plager said he felt the drill was a success in practicing what volunteers have learned and he also had the confidence that they would be able to respond in an emergency.

Check out the New Red Cross Video!

Liberty Science Center Partners with the Red Cross

The American Red Cross is partnering with the Liberty Science Center to bring an extraordinary exhibit to Jersey City, New Jersey. The exhibit, called “Nature Unleashed: Inside Natural Disasters,” will educate visitors on natural disasters and how to respond when a catastrophe strikes. The exhibit is part of a traveling exhibit of the Field Museum in Chicago and will be featured at the Liberty Science Center until January 3, 2010.

Allstate Auto Insurance is helping to sponsor “Nature Unleashed,” which will focus on four natural disasters – earthquakes, volcanoes, hurricanes and tornadoes. The exhibit will tell about the destruction that these phenomenal aspects of science can cause. Interactive displays, images, artifacts and inspiring survivor stories will emphasize the realities of recent disasters by revealing how people adapt to living at risk.

The American Red Cross will be present, providing the public with information on the human implications of disaster and how to cope with the aftermath. The Red Cross will be at the Liberty Science Center in September and October to help visitors experience the effects of a disaster. It will highlight what it feels like to be in a Red Cross shelter, feature a simulated blood drive, and also offer a 15 minutes session of Be Red Cross Ready Preparedness Education.

“We are excited to partner with the Liberty Science Center and Allstate to bring this experience to the public and show the implications of disasters,” said Amy Sutton, Executive Director of the Red Cross Greater Somerset County Chapter. “We want to motivate people to become educated and be prepared.”

Red Cross volunteers from several New Jersey chapters will share their experiences on disaster relief operations and will remind people of the risks that exist in every community and the need for residents to volunteer to prepare their community before a disaster strikes.

For more information about this exhibit and its features, visit the Liberty Science Center website (http://www.lsc.org/lsc/ourexperiences/exhibits/natureunleashed). For more information about preparedness education and the risks in the community, visit www.american-redcross.org.

Greater Somerset County Red Cross Hosts Picnic for Veterans

On July 16, the American Red Cross of Greater Somerset County will have its annual picnic for veterans. It will take place at the Veteran’s Affairs Hospital in Lyons, N.J.

About 50 veterans are expected at the picnic which will be run by volunteers. It is one of three events for veterans held by the Red Cross as part of their Service to Armed Forces Program. The Greater Somerset County Chapter held a Coffee/Tea Social on May 24 and will also participate in an additional annual picnic in August. The August picnic is run by several of the New Jersey Red Cross chapters.

Through its Service to Armed Forces program (SAF), the Greater Somerset County Chapter has volunteers who provide social support to veterans at the VA Hospital at Lyons and send care packages to our troops through Operation Jersey Cares and other organizations.

Locally, the Greater Somerset County Chapter has a long, proud history serving military members, veterans and their families. “The Red Cross is the only non-profit agency responsible for providing 24/7 emergency communications and verifications to get our troops home when they are needed most,” said Amy Sutton, Executive Director for the Greater Somerset Chapter.

In addition to handling emergency communication messages for families, the Red Cross also provides access to financial assistance through the military aid societies, medical transportation, confidential counseling services and valuable referrals.

For more information about the Red Cross services to the military or to become a SAF Volunteer for the Greater Somerset County Chapter, visit the website at http://www.american-redcross.org or call (908) 725-2217 to find out how you can help.

New Blood Donor Encourages Those Eligible to Donate

At 25, Ken Wysocki, had never donated blood. An Assistant Program Director at Catholic Charities, Wysocki said blood had made him “squeamish” in the past and was apprehensive about donating.

However, Wysocki changed his mind when he was told about the American Red Cross blood drive by Ken Salvatore, a friend as well as the Director of Health and Safety at the Greater Somerset Red Cross. “I was pleasantly surprised,” said Wysocki. “It didn’t hurt and I didn’t really even feel it.”

Wysocki said after donating once, he is no longer hesitant to donate. “I would definitely recommend it to other people and I would definitely do it again myself.”
New Jersey currently has a blood shortage with the lowest percentage of donors in the country. Wysocki’s message is important to help encourage those who are afraid to donate to overcome any disconcert they may have.

The Red Cross of Greater Somerset County asks all members of the community who are healthy, at least 16 years of age and at least 110 pounds to come give blood at any of their summer blood drives. The first will be held on June 13 from 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. at the Municipal Complex at 379 South Branch Road in Hillsborough. On June 28 from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., the Garden State Sikh Association will help host a drive on 977 Washington Valley Road in Bridgewater.

Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are preferred. To register for any of the blood drives listed below, visit www.pleasegiveblood.org/donate. For the June 13 blood drive, use sponsor code 14312. For the June 28 blood drive, use sponsor code 13936. To register by phone, call Nicole Davis at (908) 725-2217.

To learn abotu reason why people don't donate, visit the Red Cross Blood Donations website.

Red for Life

Our chapter hosted our second annual “Red for Life” breakfast fundraiser on June 4. The one-hour event took place at the Old Mill Inn in Basking Ridge, N.J. and had an estimated 135 guests.

Speakers at “Red for Life” included Eyvette Hanna, a woman with physical limitations who faced many challenges in finding employment. Because of Melba Johnson, a long time Red Cross volunteer instructor, she was able to get the certification she needed with approved alternatives to suit her needs. “Before my training,” Hanna said, “I thought of the Red Cross as a place to donate clothes and money to. After training, I saw a new light and learned more about what the Red Cross stands for and how they really help people.”

Apart from increasing donations, the goal of “Red for Life” was to engage the community and raise awareness of the services offered by the Red Cross. Amy Sutton, CEO of the Greater Somerset County Chapter, spoke at the event, hoping to reinforce the message that the Red Cross is an active organization in the community. She explained, “Every day your Red Cross is assessing and planning for risks, training community members to save lives, and responding to disasters, here, across the nation, and around the world.”

Sutton also emphasized the importance of “never turning away anyone who needs us.” She recognized that many people feel they will never need the Red Cross. “I have never met a disaster victim or a person who faced a life-threatening crisis that ever expected it to happen to them,” Sutton said.

Sponsors of the event included Allstate Auto Insurance, Ace Copy Systems and Peapack-Gladstone Bank.

Although “Red for Life” is an invitation-only event, the American Red Cross Greater Somerset County Chapter hosts a monthly one-hour event called “Red Cross Live” where the public is invited to learn about the American Red Cross and the services that the local chapter offers. Visit www.amerian-redcross.org for information.