Title: The American Red Cross
Doctor Blogger
I am in Baltimore attending the National Convention of the American Red Cross. Having been a volunteer with this organization for a number of years, I decided it was time to get a closer look at the inner workings and national leadership that fuel the spirit of the thousands of volunteers that are the American Red Cross. Despite the negative press that has sometimes dogged the ARC, the spirit of giving, sharing, and compassion is paramount and visible at every level in the organization. And, it is especially apparent with the people the ARC is partnering with to develop ways to meet the challenges of the future. These partners include sports celebrities, other outreach organizations, youth and students from high schools as well as colleges, and multi-ethnic groups.

Title: Red Cross Convention
Fusion
By now most anybody that actually reads this blog will realize that after teaching using technology, the other activity I delight in is volunteering with the Red Cross. I’ve said before that I’ve always considered myself lucky that my local chapters have been willing to accept my students along with me, because I haven’t always been that fortunate with other volunteer organizations. And, I am absolutely delighted to see that the Red Cross has joined the 21st Century during the 2008 National Convention. They are live blogging, posting updates via Twitter.

A huge thanks goes to all of you who tried Utterz. A ginormous thanks goes to volunteer Robert “Just Bob” Lott for taking over 700 fantastic photos in these 3 days.

Below are 178 of them.

This session is full of stories about lives saved, comfort given, and thanks offered by those who have personally experienced it.  

We are all connected. 

Red Cross heroes are all around us. How many do you know?

HEALTH & SAFETY
First Aid, CPR and AED training continue to be an important way of changing lives.
Matt Leinart video: I’m honored to be a part of this. Red Cross encourages at least one person in each home to learn CPR and that’s what I’ve done.

IT TAKES TWO 
Anyone can change a life. Don’t have to be a member of the NFL. We give and we receive. To change a life is a two way street. We depend on each other to complete the connection. To change a life it takes two (show It Takes Two PSA).

INTERNATIONAL SERVICES 
Pat West: To change a life is often a joyful event, but some of life’s changes are born of tradegy. Tsunami video shown. The children who experienced the tsunami still bear the scars. Some are still afraid to go near the water. In the 3 years since the event, the American Red Cross has helped reconstruct homes, restore clean water, and reunite families. (slideshow of children’s photos)

DISASTER RESPONSE
Home fires do not grab headlines or bring in large donations but are stories that change the lives of over 70,000 families every year. (video of personal stories from home fire response).

* Got called away to handle something in the middle of this one. Hoping someone else will be able to fill in the details for those of you not able to attend.

She’s stealing the show here in the exhibit hall.  She’s a huge Bernese Mountain Dog who volunteers her time in Walter Reed Medical Center hanging out with the injured soldiers there.

During the luncheon keynote session we got to see a video of her in action, and it turns out she’s actually here and just as popular among Red Crossers as she is among the soldiers.

I just counted 7 people petting her at once while she stayed quiet and took in the love.

Darrell Green is short.

He played in the NFL for 20 years.

He has led a life of service.

The American Red Cross first showed him what service means when it “raised him” as a young man in his 20s (he gave out coffee and donuts at blood drives).

“The Red Cross showed me what service is. It gave me a foundation.”

He stressed that sometimes it’s important to keep doing the same old strokes. As a football player, he went out for 20 years and stood on the end of the defensive line and hit the 350 lb man running at him. Over and over. He said it was boring, but it had to be done so that the team would have a chance at winning.

“Do what you know is right over and over and over. Keep true to your mission, even when times are tough.”

MSD + M Founder Roy Spence

2008 Navin Narayan National Youth Speaker award winner Swetha Prabhakar

National Chair of Volunteers Kate Forbes and Acting CEO and President Mary Elcano present the National Youth Council with the President’s Award for Service.

Mary Elcano admittedly does not like public speaking, but her speech was inspiring nonetheless. She brings no ego to the stage; only an honest and straightforward respect for the American Red Cross and an earnest hope for its future.

“I promised to let you know what I know when I know it. What I know is this.”

She mentioned that she’s gained new perspective as the acting CEO instead of the General Counsel. She’s not the person who offers legal advice but the one who must make decisions based on advice. She admits the former is much easier.

“We are all interim. We are temporary custodians in this mission of caring that is steeped in American history…”

She said we must sustain and build this mission in the time given us to serve it.

“Make no mistake. The times we are given are challenging. Inaction is not an option. We must chart the right course forward because the stakes are high.”

The American Red Cross mission is as enduring as the human spirit and we are charged with carrying it out.

She challenged us to close our eyes, picture the emblem, and recognize all the emotions that run through our heads when we do that. She then challenged us to always keep the symbol and that feeling in mind in our work.

She closed with the lyrics to Carly Simon song Now and Forever:

We had a moment
Just one moment
That will last beyond a dream,
Beyond a lifetime
We are the lucky ones
Some people never get to do
All we got to do
Now and forever

This morning, we’ll be uploading all the fab photos from the Parade of Volunteers and yesterday’s opening session.

Today’s events will include:

• Keynote address by acting CEO and President Mary Elcano
• Workshop sessions on the restructure and new brand campaign
• Lunchtime keynote by former NFL star Darrell Green