Welcome, Watauga County Red Cross Volunteers!

The month of November is historically an exciting and eventful time for the Watauga County chapter of the American Red Cross. This year is no exception, as the chapter will be celebrating its 89th anniversary on November 28.

In addition, this November marks the introduction of a new quarterly volunteer newsletter, which will highlight the local news of the Watauga Red Cross. The newsletter will be available both in print and on www.wataugaredcross.net during the months of November, February, May and August.

The fall of 2006 has been an exciting and rewarding season for our chapter, and we would like to extend a special thanks to all of our outstanding Red Cross volunteers and blood donors. Through your hard work and outstanding service, our chapter was able to hold several successful, key fundraisers and blood drives throughout the fall.

Volunteers Step Up for Fire Victims

Tragically, the deadly September 14 fire at the Woodlands Hills apartments in Boone, which killed three young children and displaced 20 tenants, brought a startling reminder of the dangers of fire in Watauga County.Thankfully, through your outreach and donations, we were able to provide the displaced families with more than $3,000 in aid, including residence assistance, food and clothing.

"This fire was a tragic reminder that fire is the leading cause of disasters in America, along with the fact that fire poses a major threat to the life and happiness of residents," said Sonny Sweet, Executive Director of the Watauga County Red Cross.

Sweet highlighted several local volunteers, including Lynn Norwood, Cheryl Bickley, Bricca Sweet, Brenda Binning, Sherry Pits and Geri Miller, for their assistance in relocating victims of the tragic apartment fires.

"These special volunteers truly rose to the occasion, and they should be thanked for their help," said Sweet.

Riding for a Good Cause

On a lighter note, the third annual "Ride the Ridges" fundraiser, held on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2006, raised over $1,200 for the Watauga chapter. Over 130 people participated in the motorcycle ride and poker run.

Coordinator Ron Hood and the event planning committee are to be commended for organizing an exciting and successful event. Volunteers should note that the event will take place again in September 2007, as this special event encourages the continued growth of our local Red Cross chapter.

Award-Winning Sisterly Love

On September 20, 2006, our chapter recognized Rachel Tilghman, 13, awarding her the Red Cross Certificate of Merit. Rachel earned the certificate after saving her young sister, Lily, from choking. This American Red Cross award honors an individual who saves a life using the skills and knowledge learned in a Red Cross health and safety services course.

Rachel is only the second person in our chapter's history to earn this extremely prestigious award. Congratulations, Rachel!

On Board

Our chapter would also like to extend special thanks to the five new members who began their term on the Board of Directors this fall. New members Elizabeth Cramer, Michael Galleher, Lisa Griffin, Seth Norris and Judi Scharns are all excellent additions to the board, bringing new and helpful ideas and opinions to support the continued growth of the Watauga County chapter.

The Board of Directors elected their new officers on July 20, 2006. Our chapter would like to congratulate George Brudzinski (Chair), Ron Hood (Vice Chair), Shaun Kelly (Treasurer) and Page Sauder (Secretary) on their appointments to their leadership roles with the Watauga County Chapter Board of Directors. Our chapter benefits from the expertise and counsel that all of our board members bring to their positions, and we thank them for their service to the Red Cross and the community.

Welcome, Lynn!

We are pleased to welcome Lynn Norwood, a new member to our full-time staff, but certainly no stranger to our organization. Lynn is the chapter's first full-time administrative assistant, bringing with her a track record of 15 years as a volunteer for the Red Cross. In addition to keeping things running in her new position, Lynn is the proud mother of two children, Amy and Rachael, and is also a 13-year active leader in the Watauga Girl Scouts organization.

We Love Our Volunteers!

Once again, we would like to thank you for your outstanding help in making the fall of 2006 a great season for the American Red Cross. Just a reminder, all CPR instructors must update their certification by either online or classroom training. All CPR instructors should call Lynn Norwood at the Watauga County Red Cross office in order to verify their re-certification. Lynn can be reached at (828) 264-8226. We look forward to keeping in contact with our loyal volunteers, as this organization could not operate without your assistance. Please check our website (www.wataugaredcross.net) for news updates, and have a wonderful - and safe -- holiday season.