It took me a few days to begin to process what I saw and how I felt during my first trip to Haiti.

The truth is, even most sincere effort to illustrate my experience will fail to capture the truly idiomatic essence of Haiti.

With no reference to distinguish before and after the January 2010 earthquake, my colleagues’ counsel as to what I could expect landed on deaf ears. Yes, I knew that even before the quake Haiti was the poorest country in the western hemisphere … but what did that mean? (Literally, it meant the majority of Haitians were living on about USD $2 per day)

Immediately after the earthquake, Americans were flooded with images of seemingly insurmountable destruction. Broken homes, broken families, broken bodies. Stories of survival and the sudden influx of aid and resources sprinkled parcels of hope here and there for Haitians, and my heart went out to them. But with an ocean between us, I had a hard time relating to exactly what they were going through.

I will never truly understand what the people of Haiti have endured. Not just from the earthquake, but in general. Haiti is a country of contrasts. Economically, geographically, culturally and linguistically; it is at once beautiful and tragic, resourceful and devastated.

It wasn’t until my third day there that I saw first-hand an image that I had before only passively viewed on TV. We were on our way back to the office from a day of American Red Cross partner site visits – including transitional shelter construction and permanent home reconstruction programs – when our driver took a side route. Until that point, we’d traveled mostly on main roads, littered with treacherous pot holes, burning garbage, sidewalk markets and the occasional mound of rubble. But none of that compared to this: A bi-level home, preserved in its original form and structure on top…but the top was now the bottom.

It was like someone came along and tried that trick where you yank the tablecloth out from under all of the settings without them falling over. Except, they did fall over. Well, not over, just down. I remember saying “Wow!” and involuntarily gasping as my first thought was “how could anyone possibly escape that?” Most likely, they didn’t.

Now, as I prepare to return to Haiti in January, it’s somewhat comforting to realize that such an image is not as common as it was almost two years ago. I’m proud to work with an organization that is playing a significant role in sustainable recovery efforts. I’m also really glad to be surrounded by people on both sides of the ocean whose hope and positive focus on the future is a daily inspiration for the present.

I can’t even begin to express how excited I am to be here today, introducing myself to you. My name is Erin Ferris, and I am a life-long Red Crosser.

I took my very first American Red Cross Health & Safety course – Babysitter’s Training – when I was 11 years old. In the years that followed I received numerous additional certifications and recertifications from the Red Cross: CPR for adults, children, and infants; AED for adults and children; Basic First Aid; Blood borne Pathogens; Lifeguarding; Water Safety; and Water Safety Instructor. Eventually I also took the Fundamentals of Instructor Training course and became a certified American Red Cross Health & Safety Instructor.

I started working for the American Red Cross soon after I graduated from the University of Iowa. I spent two years with the Grant Wood Area Chapter (Cedar Rapids, IA) as the Financial Development Associate and six years with the Washtenaw County Chapter (Ann Arbor, MI) as the Blood Services Volunteer Coordinator and then as the Director of Volunteer and Youth Resources.

I’ve been affiliated with the Red Cross for 21 years, and consider myself a Red Cross girl, through and through. Even my kids have been indoctrinated.

Late last year I relocated, because of my husband’s job, to College Station, Texas. Texas is ridiculously far from our families and friends, and that, coupled with the fact that I had to leave my job at the Red Cross when we moved, made for a difficult adjustment.

In an attempt to “find myself” here, I started writing – more specifically, blogging. A few weeks back I wrote a post on my personal blog about my Red Cross background and how it colored an experience I had here in Texas (I’ll tell you about it next week). A couple of Red Cross social media top dogs found my post, and contacted me about contributing regularly to the National American Red Cross blog. I was, and am, honored.

I love the American Red Cross. Our mission – to provide relief to victims of disaster and help people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies – knows no boundaries. The Red Cross will be there, for anyone, anywhere, at any time. The Red Cross, through the unending support of thousands of generous volunteers, first picks up, and then lifts up, people who are experiencing some of the darkest moments of their lives. The Red Cross brings communities together, all in the name of making safer and healthier the places where we as community members live and work and play.

I will be here, talking with you (I say “with you” because I hope you will make comments, ask questions, and share stories in the comments section) about the Red Cross, every week. Well, every week barring any disasters, of course. And by disaster I don’t mean a flood or a fire. I mean a Ferris family disaster, like I get the flu while my husband’s out of town and I still have to take two kids to school and activities and keep the younger one from cracking her brother’s scull open with a wooden ukelele and the older one from slamming his sister’s fingers in her toy box. Luckily I know first aid.

I’m thrilled to be here, and I can’t wait for what’s to come.

>> Press Release

>> Returning Celebrity Members

Here’s a highlight reel from our celebrity cabinet members’ activities over the past year:

And without further ado, here are our 5 new members!

Demi Lovato

Julianne Hough

“I am honored to be a part of the American Red Cross Celebrity Cabinet and help support an organization that offers neutral humanitarian care to the victims of war and aid to victims of devastating natural disasters. Being part of this amazing organization will provide me with an opportunity to join in its efforts to help others and encourage the American public to become involved with their local Red Cross and make a difference.”

You can find Julianne on Twitter @JulianneHough

Sally Pressman

“I am so delighted to be part of the Red Cross National Cabinet. People all around the world are in desperate need. The Red Cross uses volunteers to help after major, seemingly insurmountable tragedies occur. Using volunteers means the people involved want to be there, want to help, want to do everything they can to improve living conditions. To me, that is the way our world should be. People coming together to help simply because they want to. I want to help. That is why I am proud and honored to be a member of the Red Cross National Cabinet.”

Find out more about Sally Pressman

Anika Noni Rose

“Here at home where we are still not post- Katrina, it is my hope that the lessons learned during that awful period of devastation for so many will make this long-lived organization and our country stronger than ever. It takes many small stones to build a great wall and in a time where there is so much global need, I am glad to be able to lend my name and support to an organization whose symbol has meant hope for so many years and in so many nations. “

Find out more about Anika Noni Rose

… and Amanda Peet!

Let us know what you think!

>> listen now

Happy Earth Day from Red Cross National Headquarters! This is Lesly in the Communications Department, and in addition to my everyday work here, I am a founding member of the Red Cross Green Team. We’re a group with people from all departments who came together last year to look at how we could make the things we do a bit greener.

It’s been a challenge but we are getting there, and today we hosted our first ever Earth Day Fair in the lobby of our office in Washington, DC. We invited other departments with green initiatives, local businesses, and federal agencies to set up a table and tell our employees and volunteers about what they can do to get more involved, either in the office or at home.

Commuter Connections, a DC-metro area group that helps people set up carpools is here, the EPA is passing out tons of literature (I know, paper, but its useful information) and our own International Services department is talking about its work with the World Wildlife Foundation to protect spaces affected by natural disasters, like the Southeast Asian tsunami.

While this Fair is a huge step forward for us, there is so much more the Green Team wants to do to get our staff and volunteers involved in this effort. So today we are also kicking off an education campaign in our DC area building, featuring some simple but (we hope) effective signs, reminding people to turn off TVs and computers when not in use, take stairs instead of elevators for short (one or two floor) trips, and think before printing. For an organization that is looking to save money, getting greener can help reduce our footprint and keep some cash in the coffers. We’re not wasteful now, but there is always more everyone can do.

It hasn’t been easy, and it’s a small start for a huge organization, but if the feedback we’ve gotten so far is any indication we’re off to a great start. If you have suggestions for us, please share. We need all the big ideas we can get! Tell us how we can keep our employees and volunteers interested in greening the Red Cross year round.

Are you looking forward to 2009?

Before we hop into the new year, we thought we’d take a look back at your 10 favorite posts from this year (the ones you clicked on the most).

Here’s to you and your part in creating many more good stories in the coming 365 days. Thanks for being great in 08.

1. Do You Know a Kid Making a Difference?
   MTV seeks a Red Cross youth volunteer to profile
2. Don’t Donate
   Red Cross National Youth Council members make a video a la the popular Don’t Vote campaign video.
3. China Earthquake Update: New President Gail McGovern Visits Affected Region
   Gail McGovern describes her experiences at the scene of the China Earthquake just days into her presidency.
4. How Does Social Media Keep You Prepared for Emergencies?
   Our good friends John Solomon and David Stephenson are always beating the pavement about ways the average person can use the technology tools they already have to save themselves in emergency situations.
5. Humor in Disaster
   A Canadian Red Crosser is deployed to the Hurricane Ike response. This post describes how he got through the tough times.
6. Dracula Visits Red Cross
   A budding film student created this highly entertaining scenario where Dracula visits a Red Cross blood drive.
7. If the Red Cross Had a Halloween Costume
   Claire Johnson says we’re proud to be vampires on Halloween, collecting blood and saving lives one pint at a time.
8. Join our Roadblock Tomorrow
   In September we asked you all to help us raise awareness for the Campaign for Disaster Relief by showing your support online on Friday, September 19th. Thank you!
9. In the Halfway House with Minor Toilet Articles
   A short text video that shares a little know quote by Hunter S. Thompson
10. Holiday Mail for Heroes – The First Cards Are In
    You all made our Holiday Mail for Heroes a resounding success. Military members and their families all over the world are thanking you for your generous words and encouragement.

A snowball story from A Wanderer’s Tale:

I so rarely have felt it in my life. I have felt accomplishment and pleasure and relaxation…but rarely joy.

Until today…today in Portland there was a boreal snowstorm…wicked cold…and this is me saying its cold. But while on patrol I gathered up a handful of snow and I made a snowball. That’s it just a snowball..and then I threw it a Red cross fleet car. It hit the rear windshield and asploded. That’s it.

But I just started laughing like a four year old. I laughed for like ten minutes…just non stop. IT was different and I just knew it….I hadn’t felt like that for years. It didn’t last..but for a fleeting moment…I was just purely joyful.

Starting today, personalize your Google homepage with a Red Cross theme. The theme rotates disaster relief photos throughout the day at the top of your iGoogle page.

• Show your support for the Red Cross: Get the American Red Cross iGoogle theme

Other ways to show your support online:

• Change the Avatar/Icon on your Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc to a Red Cross Avatar.
• Display a Red Cross Banner on your site.
• Embed a Red Cross PSA on your site, Facebook page, etc.
• Become a supporter on Facebook, YouTube, Flickr, Twitter, Ammado, SocialVibe, or Linkedin.

Have you ever wondered if your chapter is Tweeting?

We’re gathering all chapters who have a Twitter account and listing them for you.