The Colonel wants you!! (Or at least your story...)

If you've been following @RedCrossBASH on Twitter or Facebook, you know that after travelling around Buffalo for the past several weeks, our friend The Colonel has arrived at Red Cross headquarters for BASH*2012. But the fact that The Colonel has finished his pre-BASH rounds does not mean your chance to win a pair of free tickets to join him here for the party of the summer is gone as well.

We throw this party every year for a reason, and now The Colonel wants to hear your Red Cross Story. So he's offering a free pair of General Admission tickets to BASH*2012 to one story-teller.

The Colonel wants to hear your story, and will have a drink
waiting for you on June 1st! Send your Red Cross Story to
joseph.bonafede@redcross.org for your chance to win!

Have our volunteers been there to help you or a loved one after a fire? If you're one of our volunteers, what makes you take that phone call in the middle of the night? Or did a deployment to regions devastated by Hurricane Katrina or last spring's storms really move you? Have one of our Ombudsman volunteers made life in the nursing home just a little better for your parents or grandparents? Did your son find out about the birth of his own child while serving overseas through our Services to Armed Forces? Why do you let us stick a needle in your arm for a blood donation, or how did that precious gift save your life or that of a family member?

These are just some examples of the many services we provide that can touch a life. Your story can help someone else learn how we may be able to assist them through the tough times, or encourage someone else to join you as a Red Cross volunteer or supporter. That is why we reserve the right to anonymously use your story in future Red Cross materials. (Yes, it's true you are submitting your story to me through email. But unless you give us express written consent to use your name or other identifying details, no one else will ever know where the story came from. Besides, if you win, we have to know how to contact you to get you your tickets!!)

Since initially launching this contest, we've received some great stories, but we're greedy and want more. So we're now giving you until Friday, May 25th to submit your story for a chance at the free tickets to BASH*2012. We'll announce the winner the following Monday. Don't be shy...click the links above and tell us how the Red Cross has helped you. The Colonel is looking forward to reading them as you inspire us to throw Buffalo's party of the summer on June 1st!

It didn't happen this time, but...

A week ago today, Western New Yorkers were bombarded with predictions of "snowmageddon". Heavy, wet snow was supposed to blanket the area, bringing down trees and power lines in a scene reminiscent of our October Surprise in 2006. The predictions were so dire, the Weather Channel even sent Jim Cantore to Orchard Park to cover the devastation.

L-R: Ken Turner, Julie Rapp, Susan Peek and Diane Sargent
discuss emergency response plans for
predicted spring snow storm.

Here at the Red Cross, we prepared for the worst. Potential shelter locations were put on standby in each of the eight counties of the Greater Buffalo Region, and staff and volunteers were lined up to operate them. Emergency services directors here at our regional headquarters took part in multiple conference calls with their counterparts in the Southwestern New York and Tri-County Chapters to coordinate any possible response and ensure that the Red Cross was ready help wherever needed. We were also in constant contact with emergency managers at the state and local level to coordinate potential action.

As we all now know, "snowmaggedon" never materialized. Some parts of WNY did receive some measurable snowfall, and there were scattered power outages, but there was never any true emergency and no actual disaster operations were necessary. The most exciting part of Jim Cantore's time in Orchard Park turned out to be a visit from Santa Claus!

That doesn't mean we should all start treating the weatherman like the boy who cried wolf, however. Anyone who was here in October of 2006 knows how important being prepared ahead of time can be, and disasters can happen any time, whether the meteorologists predict it or not. If you want to learn to what steps to take to make sure you're Red Cross Ready when disaster predictions actually do come true, set up a free preparedness education program at your school, business or organization.

Here at the Red Cross, the false predictions gave us a chance to test our emergency response capabilities throughout the region in real time. By coincidence, we had a a recap of our March disaster drill scheduled for last Wednesday, and we took that opportunity to discuss what went well during our preparations for the spring storm, and what we could've done better. So we'll keep watching the weatherman, and we'll be ready to respond when the boy actually does see the wolf!

Put on your running shoes!

It's a busy time for us here at the American Red Cross, with not one, not two, but three major events scheduled over the next several weeks.

The first two are our signature events. The 21st Annual Reverse Draw is coming on May 15th at the Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel, where if you want the $3,000 grand prize you are hoping NOT to hear your ticket called until the end of the drawing. Get it? Reverse Draw?? It's a unique event, so don't miss it!

Of course, just two and a half weeks later, it's time to put on your best military gear for Buffalo's Best Annual Fundraiser, the BASH! Throwing a party for over 4,000 of your closest friends takes a lot of work, and preparations are in full swing.

After all that great food and drink, you may feel the need to run off some of the extra calories. The American Red Cross, Serving Erie & Niagara Counties, is proud to be the beneficiary of this year's JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge, scheduled for Thursday, June 7th!

You're probably familiar with the Corporate Challenge. Over 11,000 runners on teams from nearly 400 different companies running from Delaware Park to Gates Circle, then back up Delaware Avenue to the park. This year, in addition to competing for their teams in the Corporate Challenge, every one of those runners will be supporting American Red Cross Disaster Services. In addition to Buffalo, this year's JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge races in Rochester and Syracuse will also benefit the Red Cross Chapter's in those cities.

The American Red Cross is excited and proud to be part of such a great event. We're even putting together a team of our own! So register today, and see if you can beat the Red Cross while at the same time supporting our life-saving mission.

Happy National Volunteer Week!

This won't be the first time we use this space to say "thank you" to our volunteers, nor will it be the last. But considering that this is National Volunteer Week, we wanted to take a little extra time to celebrate these amazing people who make the American Red Cross run.

Volunteers are crucial to the work of the Red Cross. Did you know that nationally, the Red Cross has an average of 15 volunteers for every one employee. These are the people who wake up in the middle of the night to provide food, clothing, shelter and comfort to the family whose house was destroyed by fire; who deploy to places like Binghamton, NY, Louisville, KY and Joplin, MO so that people affected by flooding, tornadoes, and other disasters nationwide have a place to turn; who help deliver life-altering information such as the birth of a child to our military members serving overseas (in fact, keep an eye out for our upcoming newsletter and the story of local volunteer Mike Hoplight's time in Afghanistan); who teach First Aid, CPR, swimming and other life-saving skills; who act as advocates for area seniors living in long-term care facilities; and who do so much more to make the Western New York community a better and safer place.

So to you, our Red Cross volunteers, we say thank you for being so generous with your time and talents. Share the attached badge with pride, knowing that because of you, people are able to turn to the Red Cross in their time of need.

If you've ever thought about being a part of the American Red Cross, what better time to get started than National Volunteer Week?? If you want to help us make a difference in this community, contact our volunteer coordinator, Christine Kukelka, at christine.kukelka@redcross.org or 878-2140 for more information on how you can become part of the celebration of National Volunteer Week 2013!