December 11, 2008

Mid Coast Chapter urges communities to prepare for severe winter weather

The National Weather Services issued a winter weather advisory for the state of Maine today and the Mid Coast Chapter of the American Red Cross is reminding its residents to prepare for this and other storms.

 “The Mid Coast Chapter is urging families and individuals to be prepared for the coming storm” says Hillary Roberts, the chapter’s Director of Emergency Services. “There are simple things people can do to be more prepared- like avoiding unnecessary travel, continuing to listen and watch weather reports on the news, and having a disaster supply kit prepared for storms such as this one.”

Roberts also says that families and individuals should practice caution when going outdoors during winter storms. When people must go outside, they should wear several layers of lightweight clothing, gloves and a hat. People should take extra care when walking on snowy or icy driveways or sidewalks to avoid trips and falls that can lead to injury. Additionally, community members should be extremely careful when shoveling snow. This strenuous work should be done with frequent breaks to avoid overexertion.

The Mid Coast Chapter states that a family disaster supply kit is one of the most proactive things any family or individual can have to prepare for winter storms or other disasters. A disaster supply kit includes things like water, food, batteries, flashlights, extra blankets, a radio, a first aid kit, tools, and other supplies that would be helpful for a family to shelter in place during a winter storm, ice storm, or potential power outage.

Current weather reports include mixtures of snow, sleet, and freezing rain. “This storm has a combination of severe winter weather elements” says Roberts. “We want our communities to take seriously the weather advisories and remain as safe and prepared as possible”.

For more information on preparing for winter weather, creating a family disaster supply kit, or other information please contact the Mid Coast Chapter of the American Red Cross at 207-729-6779 or  visit www.midcoast.redcross.org .

Three local Families Lose Homes to Fires 

November 21, 2008 TOPSHAM, ME  - As temperatures dropped this week, Mid Coast Chapter American Red Cross volunteers and staff responded to three residential home fires caused by heating systems in the towns of Jefferson, Harpswell and Boothbay that left 10 people homeless.  A fire in Harpswell, on 238 Harpswell Road, left the family of Scott and Julie Lemieux and their three children homeless.  The fire started in their chimney and may have been caused by a faulty blower.  Scott Lemieux said, “Although we lost our beloved cat, we are all lucky to be alive and are grateful for the heroic assistance provided by the Harpswell Fire Department and compassionate care we received from the volunteers from the Red Cross”. 

Red Cross volunteers Linda Blanton and Minerva Vasquez arrived at the Lemieux home shortly after the fire broke out.  Scott Lemieux said, “Linda and Minnie provided help to our family at a time when we needed it most.  I don’t know what my family would have done without them.”  Red Cross volunteers like Blanton and Vasquez provided for the emergency needs of all three families who lost their homes this week to fires, by providing emergency food, clothing or shelter.

“During this heating season, we are especially concerned for our friends and neighbors.  As local families struggle to make ends meet in a downturn economy, they may opt to use heating sources such as woodstoves, space heaters and fireplaces to keep their homes warm.” said Connie Jones executive director.  Jones added, “Throughout the Northeast, the improper installation and use of these devises is expected to cause a dramatic increase in the number of home fires and even loss of life.”  

The Mid Coast Chapter stresses the importance of safety when using various heating devices and asks families to keep this winter by reviewing and following the Home Safety Tips provided on their web site www.midcoast.redcross.org   

All Red Cross disaster assistance is provided free of charge and made possible by the donations of area residents and businesses.  To help these families as well as other local disasters victims, donations can be made to Mid Coast Chapter’s Disaster Relief Fund by sending a check or money order to the Mid Coast Chapter, 16 Community Way, Topsham, Maine  04086 or by calling 207-729-6779.

 Former Red Cross Executive Returns to

Mid Coast Chapter

TOPSHAM, ME., October 14, 2008 - Connie Jones has returned to the Mid Coast Chapter American Red Cross to once again lead the organization as executive director.

 “Connie served as our executive director from 1997 until 2004,  She’s a hands-on, decisive leader who values creative problem solving, productivity, teamwork and commitment to the work we do” said Maggie McEwen, board chair for the Mid Coast Chapter.

During  her previous tenure as the Mid Coast Chapter’s executive director, Jones oversaw the Chapter’s response to the 1998 Maine Ice Storms,  led a successful capital fundraising campaign and oversaw the construction of a much-needed new Red Cross facility to serve the Mid Coast community.  As Mid Coast Chapter’s executive director, and than as a volunteer, Jones served on American National Red Cross leadership teams in Puerto Rico, Florida, North Carolina and Texas that managed Red Cross disaster responses in those states.

McEwen said, “We conducted a thorough search and considered many qualified candidates.  Connie’s extensive background and experience in non-profit management and her unique combination of skills in the areas of strategic planning, consensus building, fiscal management, and fundraising are just what we need as our Board, volunteers,  employees, supporters and corporate partners join together to meet the demand for Red Cross services in our community in a time that is particularly challenging for all non-profits.”

The Mid Coast Chapter American Red Cross provides disaster preparedness education and information, emergency shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to victims of disasters,  first aid, babysitting and CPR training and emergency communications services for military members and their families to over 106,000 residents in 36 towns located in Northern Cumberland, Sagadahoc, Lincoln and Southern Waldo Counties. Their offices are located at 16 Community Way, Topsham, ME  04086.  For more information call 729-6779 or visit their web site at www.midcoast.redcross.org

From Times Record July 19-20

Support your Local Community

I would like to commend the writer of the ‘Helping the Helpers’ segment of the Monday Meter on June 23, 2008.  As a board member for the Mid Coast Chapter of the American Red Cross (ARC), I was gratified to see the positive attention given to the efforts of our national organization.  I frequently hear heartwarming stories from local citizens who tell me that the Red Cross truly was there when disaster struck their family.  For that we can be truly grateful.

My concern is that the segment left out some vital information about the local aspect of the ARC.  The local aspect is important, for if we do not support the Red Cross at this level, the trained volunteers from our community cannot support people at the local or the national level.

I would like to provide some facts about the Mid Coast Chapter of the ARC that you may not know. For example:

Did you know… ARC chapters from across Maine, and across the nation, coordinated with local, county, and state responders to immediately dispatch volunteers and staff to assist at the Fort Kent flooding disaster?  Up to fifty-eight ARC workers, 70% of which are volunteers, were assigned to this relief operation.  Our own Mid Coast Chapter dispatched five representatives to assist in an all-hands, state-wide response to the flood-ravaged towns in northern Aroostook County.  Lauren Zimmerman was assigned as the Job Director, Nancy Brown-McKinney worked tirelessly with residents to provide them with essential services and supplies to start the recovery process, one volunteer who chose to remain nameless assisted as the Communications Leader, Eric Lynes assisted with deployment of volunteers from across the state, and the fifth Mid Coast representative was our own Executive Director, Carol McAllister, whose fifteen years of service as an active duty and reserve officer in the U. S. Coast Guard prepared her to work as the Public Information Officer and Agency and Government Liaison for ARC. 

Did you know…our local ARC chapter assists your friends and neighbors in our own Mid Coast community?  So far in 2008 we already assisted eighty-eight individuals (twenty-two families) after fires ravaged their homes.  Most recently, we provided local support to responders fighting the Washburn and Doughty Boatyard fire in East Boothbay. For house fires, ARC assistance includes on-site support by a trained volunteer coordinator, food, clothing, and shelter in the days immediately following the disaster, plus financial support to purchase necessities.  The average cost to assist a family of 4 after a fire is $1,200.00.  In the Washburn and Doughty disaster, volunteers were on the scene within an hour of the request, arranging for and offering water and food to fire fighters and evacuated citizens, and working closely throughout the day with Lincoln County Emergency Management Association to ensure that evacuation site support and disaster mental health services were available as needed. 

Did you know…the Mid Coast Chapter of ARC has a small staff of only three full time and two part-time employees?  Thankfully the staff is complemented by a cadre of trained volunteers who are ready to assist in both local and national disasters.  These volunteers perform important functions like teaching Community Disaster Education and Health and Safety classes, including aquatics, and CPR and First Aid in several area schools; they assist in the office with program support, lead fundraising events, represent our mission at community events like the Air Show, and serve as committee and board members.  Just this year, six volunteers assisted with national emergencies, including the Texas floods, San Diego wild fires, and the very recent and devastating Iowa floods.

Did you know…the Mid Coast Chapter is already collaborating with other community agencies for Winter Readiness?  Identifying this concern very early on, the Chapter is working with local businesses and non-profits to share information with local citizens regarding home safety and preparation.

Did you know…our local chapter plays a key role in a Pandemic Flu disaster?  To that end, the Mid Coast Chapter coordinated with ME Public Health and Harvard School of Public Health to initiate a community-wide, comprehensive tabletop (scenario-based) drill to address Pandemic Flu.  Just last week, approximately one hundred emergency responders, health care workers, and local businesses participated in this free exercise.  It opened many eyes to some of the contingency planning and response issues surrounding a major regional and possibly country-wide concern like a pandemic.

Did you know…ARC provides emergency services to our military men and women deployed to Afghanistan, Iraq, and other theatres around the globe?  Over one hundred families were helped by the Mid Coast Chapter so far this year.  As an independent verifying entity, the Mid Coast Chapter works 24 hours a day with families, doctors, and each of the Armed Services to help commands authorize temporary leave to attend to family needs, including births, sickness, and death of a family member.  Prior to deployments, our volunteers meet with members and their families to discuss how the process works and what information is required. 

Did you know…the Mid Coast Chapter has a citizen’s Board of Directors, comprised of a diverse group of your friends and neighbors throughout the Mid Coast communities?  We just celebrated our 99^th annual meeting on June 26, at which we installed four new board members:  Doug Woodbury, Nancy Schlieper, John Cunningham, and Andrea Galuza.  Much of the meeting was centered on recognizing the tremendous support shown by outgoing Board members: Fred Burgess, John Farnham, Gerry Orem, and Johnny Ring, and thanking our dedicated program volunteers: Carolyn Foster, Fred Brann, George and Dottie Kotuby, Jim Hamilton, Grace Goldberg, Lee Tribou, and Lucy Ingraham.

Nationwide, Mainers are known for taking care of each other.  The support provided by the Mid Coast Chapter’s employees and volunteers clearly demonstrates that they lead by example as they take care of us.  In the midst of these efforts, the costs and expenses to run our local Mid Coast chapter continue to rise, which increases the need to actively inform our community about the important role the Red Cross plays in towns throughout the entire Mid Coast region.  Chances are, either you or someone you know has felt the positive support the organization delivers. Chances are, you consider donating in times of disaster/turmoil.  Chances are, you may now have a better understanding of how pertinent the local Chapter is on a day in/day out basis, and how supporting local Chapter operations ensures service not only in our Mid Coast region, but nationally as well.   

But did you ALSO know…The American Red Cross is a federally mandated relief effort?  However, it is not funded with federal dollars.  Each chapter operates as an independent non-profit organization – which means that every year, we need to locally raise all the funding to support the mission of the Mid Coast Chapter of the ARC!

All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. It is true that you can help the victims of thousands of disasters across the country each year by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, which enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to victims of disaster. Alternatively, you may choose to designate a gift to your local chapter as a general show of support for American Red Cross services in your own backyard.  

Our local contact information is listed below:

Mid Coast Chapter

American Red Cross

16 Community Way

Topsham ME 04086

(207) 729-6779

www.Mid Coast.redcross.org

Thank you for your generous support to our local Midcoast Chapter!

Submitted by:

Susan H. Wasserott, Woolwich, ME

Susan is a Human Resources Specialist at Mid Coast Health Services and is serving her 3^rd year on the board of the Mid Coast Chapter of the American Red Cross.  Susan is also a candidate for the legislature in District 65, which covers parts of Bath, Brunswick, Topsham, West Bath, and all of Woolwich.

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