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Volume 1 :: Issue 1 :: Febuary 2007 |
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Volunteer Opportunities Would you like to make a difference? You Can!
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American Red Cross Bay Area 8th Annual Martin Luther King Youth Expression Contest... Read more... |
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The Youth Leadership Development Center Program... Read more... |
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Read about the Northern CA Youth Consortium... Read more... |
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International Humanitarian Law Event Planning Committee... Read more... Youth for Community Preparedness Initiative... Read more... |
Northern CA Youth Consortium promotes youth involvement and networkingby Katie Soe, Pacific Service Area Youth Liaison The American Red Cross Pacific Service Area Northern California Youth Consortium brought together 56 Red Cross youth volunteers to network and share their Red Cross experiences and ideas. Representing six chapters and 34 schools and youth groups from throughout California and even Colorado (part of the West Service Area), the youth met at the Santa Clara office in San Jose last Saturday, Jan. 13. Most of the participants currently hold leadership positions in their Red Cross youth groups. "I was very impressed with the number of young people who attended and the quality presentations of the young speakers. As a Chapter that is just getting started with a youth program, it was very inspiring," said Donna Rodoni, Community Outreach Manager for the Santa Cruz Chapter. The consortium opened with a brainstorm of both short- and long-term goals, in which the participants voiced and compared their aspirations for the future. A disaster operations class and simulation followed, in which the youth learned how shelters run and practiced responding to specified hypothetical situations. After lunch, provided by the Pacific Service Area Resource Council, the participants attended a series of workshops. Each student chose three of six workshops to attend: How to Run a Red Cross Club, Connecting Youth to the Community through Activities and Fundraising, Speaking with Style, Beyond the Club Bubble: Connecting with your Chapter, Transitioning from High School to College, and National/International Opportunities. "What I enjoyed most about the event was the learning about how other clubs run and what kinds of activities they have participated. I was also interested in all the different ways there are to become more involved in the Red Cross," said Palo Alto youth Hannah de Kleer. Three representatives from the National Youth Council, Sandy Tesch, Council Chair, Justin Lam and Pat West presented the National Youth Council Tool Kit and encouraged the participants to seek Red Cross opportunities beyond their local youth groups. The day drew to an end with closing remarks, gifts for the presenters and the Santa Clara Youth Executive board who helped with set-up and registration, and flashlights and ponchos to all who attended. "The NorCal Youth Consortium meeting was a great way to bring youth together, uniting as one Red Cross, and showing the importance of learning from and supporting our neighboring chapters. I think it will instill a sense of continuity in their Red Cross involvement, so that no matter where they may go off to college or in life, Red Cross is always there," stated Anna Gail Cuanca, Director of Youth Services for the Palo Alto Chapter. This youth consortium was the result of several months of planning by Katie Soe, Pacific Service Area Youth Liaison; Carole Evans, Chapter Solutions Manager; Justin Lam, National Youth Council Secretary; Crystal Paul, Youth Services Director of Santa Clara County; Anna Gail Cuanca, Director of Youth Services for the Palo Alto Chapter; and Pat West, National Youth Council member and president of the UCLA Red Cross Club. While the youth consortium was held, 16 adult staff and leadership volunteers held their own meeting led by Anna Gail Cuanca, Director of Youth Services for the Palo Alto Chapter. They joined the youth for the much of the day including the welcome, icebreaker, brainstorm, lunch, last workshops, and closing. This group included representatives from the Pacific Service Area, six chapters: ARCBA, Carmel, Palo Alto Area, Sacramento-Sierra, Santa Clara, and Santa Cruz County, and the National Youth Council. The San Joaquin Chapter adult and youth could not attend due to an unanticipated crisis in which they were needed at the warming shelters. |
Leadership Development CenterAre you interested in community service?
Then join us at The American Red Cross Bay Area's Leadership Development Center (LDC)! LDC is held at Mills College in Oakland annually in July. This 4-day, overnight camp is designed to build strong leaders and positive relationships among Bay Area Youth (entering grades 9-11). Students gain experience and training in Team-Building, Leadership roles, CPR and First Aid, Disaster and Emergency Preparedness, HIV/AIDS awareness, and International Humanitarian Law. Workshops include diversity issues, public speaking, trust activities, community circles, and fun and challenging group games. At LDC, you will become a trained Preparedness Presenter, learn how to start a Red Cross Club, participate in a talent show, and much more LDC is open to all Bay Area High School students who are interested in volunteering with the Red Cross. You are eligible to apply for LDC 2007, which will be from July 24-27th, if you will enter 9th-12th grade in Fall 2007, and are willing to commit one year of volunteer service to the Red Cross. We would love to have all enthusiastic high school leaders interested in community service apply. The camp is for current volunteers and school club members and for new volunteers. Each Red Cross club should send at least 2 of their members! Download our 2007 application. [PDF, 262K] Please Contact Your Local Youth Services Manager for more Information |
International Humanitarian Law Event Planning CommitteeAre you a fabulous event planner? Does your Red Cross club/YES team already fundraise for the Measles/Malaria Initiative or other international relief? Then you should definitely consider signing up to be a member of the planning committee for the annual International Humanitarian Law Event coming up this June in San Francisco! Each year, ARCBA hosts an in-depth and poignant event centered on the topic of International Humanitarian Law (IHL). IHL is a set of rules which seek to protect people living in and around armed conflict. It protects those who are not involved in the conflict (i.e. civilians, wounded, aid workers) and was created by the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross. This year's IHL event will focus on children affected by armed conflict. If you are interested in coming to planning committee meetings for this event, don't hesitate to contact your local Youth Services Manager. Your help and input with this event is greatly appreciated! |
Youth for Community Preparedness InitiativeHey guys! Thanks to all of the clubs who have already claimed items to collect for the disaster kits, I really appreciate all of your time and effort into this initiative There are still a number of items left on the list, though, so get your clubs motivated and claim an item! If you have already finished collecting one item within your club, grab another! If you have yet to sign up to collect an item, it's not too late List of remaining items
We are well into Phase I of the Initiative, so we really need to get in gear and start collecting these items. Email Andrea Heiderer at heiderera@usa.redcross.org to sign up to collect something or if you have any questions. Hablas Espanol? For Phase II of the Initiative (a disaster fair to be held on Saturday, April 21), we will be recruiting any Spanish speakers to help out at the fair as either volunteers or trainers. If you want to help out, even if you speak only a little Spanish and would like to improve, email Andrea Heiderer at heiderera@usa.redcross.org I am PreparedGirl Scout Be Prepared Trainingby Minn Oh "What number do you dial when you are in an emergency?"
Even with these horrid memories, I am now finally able to rest in peace because my rhetoric calling for racial justice and integrated society is finally answered. But just like the old days, I have yet another dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up to help people in need. I have a dream that one day, people of different ethnicities will come together to save a life. I have a dream that one day, the city of New Orleans with its dilapidated buildings and many losses, will be transformed to its old self. I have a dream today. On January 20, 2007, sixty Girls Scouts crammed into the Burlingame Red Cross office to learn about what they have to do in case of an emergency. The thirsty minds gulped down the information and put the words into action as they helped the injured (fake injured) with burns, choking, making slings/splints, etc. The fifteen high school volunteers sacrificed their time to teach the Girl Scouts with First Aid & Preparedness. For my site, my partner, Lawrence Leung and I, helped the girls with the 3 C's-Check, Call, Care. "It was interesting and a new experience for me. It was fun teaching little kids and it felt good knowing that I was making a difference in their lives." said Lawrence. The day ended with a group quiz where the girls were able to show off the skills they've learned. With each girl looking anxious to answer the questions, hands began to shoot up, even before the questions were asked. What a bright and brilliant young minds willing to learn so they can be prepared! Concord Open Houseby Paul Witte On January 6th, the Concord Red Cross office held a Open House/Blood Drive and an appreciation luncheon for the Contra Costa Fire Departments. The Red Cross Clubs from North Gate HS, Clayton Valley HS and College Park HS had a total of 19 members that volunteered to be traffic directors, tour guides and blood donors. The Open House and Blood Drive were great sucesses. We had approximatily 150 members from the community visit the office and take the tour. The Blood Bank was overwhelmed with people who wanted to donate blood. They collected 28 pints and had to turn away over 30 people as they did not have the time and capacity to take in all the people. The Open House was such a success that another one is already in the planning stage. The Concord office would like to extend a thank you and ahearty well done to each of the Red Cross Club volunteers. |
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Trilingual T-shirt design contest!Are you artistic? Do you have a flair for fashion? Then you should definitely submit an entry to the Youth Services 2007 Trilingual T-shirt Design Contest! We at ARCBA like a great t-shirt just as much as the next person, but can never seem to come up with really spectacular designs…that's where you guys come in! We really need someone creative to come up with an eye-catching, original design for this year's American Red Cross Youth Services team t-shirt. We also want it to be in three languages - English, Chinese, and Spanish. Basically, we're just not as clued into what's cool these days like you guys are - which is why we are having this contest. So please submit any entries (hand-drawn or computer designs) via mail or email to..
Deadline: March 15, 2007 Thanks everyone, and happy designing! |
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MVHS American Red Cross Club - Club of the MonthBy: Akash Shah (club President) and Brian Louie (club Vice President) With the rich-poor gap in America widening by the day, aid for the nationwide penniless, homeless, and helpless is becoming, well, less. But at the American Red Cross club at Monte Vista High School, we have decided to do our part to bring this tragic trend to an end and show that more, and not less, is the most beneficial solution. Composed of a group of over one hundred and twenty young, dedicated volunteers, Monte Vista's Red Cross club meets once a month to discuss ways to improve the welfare of our community. At our most recent meeting, Red Cross volunteers signed up for several new events. At Glide Memorial Church in San Francisco, volunteers will serve hot lunches to the homeless, and at the Valentine's Day party at the local FamilesFirst facility, members will make the holidays filled with just a little bit more love. And at MV American Red Cross, there's always more to come. But with the plethora of other seemingly similar school clubs like the California Scholarship Federation and the National Honor Society, the American Red Cross club originally had difficulties attracting members. With attractive benefits such as an organized administration and visits from guest speakers like Youth Services Volunteer Coordinator Paul Witte and East Bay Youth Services Manager Jason Wallace, however, MV Red Cross has managed to stand out from the rest of the crowd. Our intent is not to compete with these other clubs, though; instead, we at MV Red Cross only hope to provide just another unique way to demonstrate just how students can make a difference. Ultimately, it is not our aim to force students to compromise their academics and other extracurricular activities for community service. On the other hand, we try to reach a synergy since, after all, community service should not be a burden. But in order to achieve this goal, we try to make community service as fun as possible. This way, community service with MV American Red Cross is a win-win situation: not only do we help others, but we help our fellow students enjoy helping others as well. After all, it's not about doing less; it's about doing more. |
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For information about the Newsletter, contact:
Jason Wallace Kristin Tewksbury Michael Wong |
