2009-10-06 - Director's Weekly Update

This week has been interesting and busy as usual. *        Sunday evening, Hannah Parker and I went to Family Night at Providence Rural Methodist Church.  We enjoyed delicious food and wonderful fellowship.  We spoke to the group about Red Cross, the services we provide and how they could prepare for disasters.  Hannah also spoke about the need for volunteers.  Individuals made a donation to the Red Cross.  Thank you Providence Rural Methodist Church. *        Monday, the Youth Committee met.  This committee is a very involved committee.  Final details were discussed for the Red Cross Safety Lane to be downtown October 24.  Then the discussion turned to Brunch with Ms. Claus to be held December 5.  Great involvement with this committee.  We have youth representation on this vital committee. *        Also, Monday we received email telling us our Emergency Response Vehicle could 'stand down'.  It had been on alert for the flooding in Georgia. *        Ike Standifird was busy Monday putting the final touches on his 'world famous' chili.  *        Hannah Parker was in Christian County doing shelter surveys. *        Tuesday, the Emergency Response Vehicle, Ike, Brenda Parker and Barbara Wilham were at the Ruby Concrete Chili Cook Off.  It was a good day. Ruby Concrete has truly invested in our community with this new facility. *        Pat McCuiston came to the office to meet with me.  She began working on the Lease agreement for Red Cross office space in Cadiz. *        Hannah Parker was in Muhlenberg County getting vendor agreements signed *        Barbara Wilham taught Fundamentals of Instruction class to a teacher in the school system.  She will be teaching Red Cross Health & Safety in her classes. *        I finished my Professional Development Plan for last fiscal year and wrote goals for my PDP for FY10.  These were due Wednesday to Keith Alvey, Regional Chapter CEO. *        Brenda Parker looked at future Disaster Training.  She planned an ERV class to be held in Owensboro.  Shirley Patterson will take the ERV and assist with training volunteers in our neighboring Chapter.  We also planned some classes to be held after the first of the year to be funded through the WalMart Foundation Readiness Grant. *        Wednesday, Tanya Lynch, Tina Owen and I went to Elizabethtown to a meeting for the Community Chapters in the Louisville Area Red Cross Chapter. We learned more about the future plans for centralizing Bookkeeping beginning July 1, 2010  *        Hannah Parker left for Louisville to meet with other Red Cross AmeriCorps members.  Together they traveled to Lexington to attend a Kentucky AmeriCorps members Conference. *         Thursday, Tanya Lynch and Brenda Parker traveled to the Christian County Red Cross office.  Tanya took care of bookkeeping duties and Brenda worked with disaster files. *        Lonnie Bryant, the newly hired Health & Safety assistance came to the Madisonville office to begin her training.  She attended the Health & Safety Committee meeting.  This was the first one for FY10. *        Heather Staggs and Barbara Wilham attended a meeting to coordinate plans for the Red Cross Safety Lane with the plans for Kidapolooza  *        Friday, several of the Major Gifts Campaign Team members reported their results to date.  It appears that we are on target to reach our goal by Friday, October 9.  Thanks to all the hard work the teams are doing.  *        Pat McCuiston was in Friday morning.  I went over details for the coming week with her.  She has volunteered to 'fill in' for me while I am away on vacation Monday, Oct. 5 through Monday, Oct. 12.  I am very appreciative that she will be doing this. *        The Church of the Latter Day Saints in Madisonville brought finished comfort kits for us to give to families of disasters.  They were packaged in bags and clearly labeled.  We thank them for this wonderful donation. *        By the end of this week, we have officially been approved to have three new employees coming through the Pennyrile Employment Program.  The funding comes down through the Economic Stimulus act.  Zane Dempsey, with PACS has been wonderful to work with.  Brenda McGregor will work in the Christian County Office, LeAnn Shemwell will work in the Muhlenberg County Office and Susann Searatt will work in the newly leased Red Cross office in Trigg County.  They can work up to 35 hours and their salary will be reimbursed to us through this program for 6 months.  They are all very excited to be with Red Cross AND we are very excited to have this wonderful program that will allow more people to help provide our services. *        Enjoy the weekend and the wonderful fall weather.  I will be back in the office October 13 ready to get busy.