2003 American Red Cross National Convention Opening Event

(The Greater Indianapolis hosted the 2003 National Red Cross Convention. Traditionally, national conventions

began with a “Parade of Volunteers” at a host site convention center. Ours was a real parade held at the

Indianapolis Motor Speedway. I did the research, wrote the script and was on field directing the movement of units. It

was part history, part inside jokes, all celebration! This was one of the more unusual/challenging things I ever wrote.)

Order of Events

Welcome-Randall L. Tobias, Chairman, 2003 National Convention

Harriman Award Presentation

Keynote Address- David T. McLaughlin, Chairman, American Red Cross

IMS representative to make remarks and introduce Parade of Volunteers

PARADE OF VOLUNTEERS

WELCOME & INTRODUCTIONS (20 seconds)

(18-20 Board of Governors members go to Red Cross vehicles to be taken to parade staging area)

(Indianapolis Children’s Choir (ICC) to take its place on the risers as Dick begins.)

DICK:

Good afternoon and welcome to the 2003 American Red Cross Parade of

Volunteers.

I’m Dick Hester, a member of the board of directors of the American

Red Cross of Greater Indianapolis.

NANCY:

I’m Nancy Retherford.

I respond to disasters for the Red Cross both in the U.S. and internationally.

I started my Red Cross career right here in Indianapolis.

OLD RED CROSS PALS RECONNECTING BANTER (20 seconds)

(Convey these kinds of sentiments)

DICK:

It’s a pleasure to work with you again, my dear.

NANCY:

Thanks, Dick. The pleasure is all mine.

And what better place for two old Red Cross pals to re-connect than at the

National Convention at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

DICK:

You know, Nancy, you really can’t do Indy without doing the Speedway.

So we would like to extend our sincere thanks to the IMS for helping

us put a new spin on the Parade of Volunteers.

SETTING THE STAGE (15 seconds)

(Looking back before we move forward.)

NANCY:

Tomorrow, we will set the course for the future of the American Red

Cross.

Today, we want to celebrate our rich past and our vibrant present,

and introduce you to the extraordinary people who make up our Red

Cross family.

OPENING SEGMENT APPROXIMATE RUNNING TIME: 55 Seconds

PARADE COMMENTARY

Intro (20 Seconds)

DICK:

You may have heard about another event held here earlier this week.

Known as the Greatest Spectacle in Racing, the Indianapolis 500 is

the largest single-day sporting event in the world.

The theme for this year’s 500 was Art in Motion.

Since you are too late for the 500 festivities, we thought we would give you

a taste of what you missed, or as we like to call it, Red Cross in Motion.

INDIANAPOLIS CHILDREN’S CHOIR INTRO (20 seconds)

NANCY:

We are so pleased to have the Indianapolis Children’s Choir with us today.

The Indianapolis Children’s Choir is one of the largest and most

successful children’s choral programs in the country.

The choir plays a central role in the cultural life of Indianapolis participating

in important civic events.

The choir is performing today under the direction of Music

Education Director, Ruth Dwyer. (Cue for Choir to sing)

INDIANAPOLIS CHILDREN’S CHOIR SONG (3 minutes)

(80 members of the Indianapolis Children’s Choir (ICC) to sing an opening song)

CHOIR:

Sing song

BOTH:

Comment on performance and lead applause.

INTRO & SONG APPROXIMATE RUNNING TIME: 3 minutes, 20 seconds

UNIT 1

Three walking units—Color Guard, Convention banner and Red Cross balloon

Unit 1A Sea Services Color Guard (30 seconds

Walking Unit: 5-member Sea Services Color Guard (Unit to be ready to step off as ICC finishes song and audience

applauds.)

NOTE: DO NOT use the words presenting the colors.

DICK:

One of our longest running and highest priority services is Armed

Forces Emergency Services.

We are so pleased to have with us today a Sea Services Color Guard

made up of Marine and Navy Corps recruiting personnel based in

Indianapolis. (Changed from Marine and Navy recruitment corps

from Indianapolis.

GUARD:

March past reviewing stands...

Unit 1B Red Cross Banner (15 seconds)

Walking unit: Two volunteers (Regina Engle & Kara) in WWI canteen uniforms carrying the Convention banner.

DICK:

Carrying the American Red Cross Convention banner are two

volunteers wearing WWI Canteen uniforms. (Regina E. & Kara)

Don’t they look great?

NANCY:

In fact, Dick, most of the uniforms featured in the parade are from

Greater Indianapolis’s own collection.

Unit 1C Red Cross Balloon (30 seconds)

Walking unit: Five volunteers in convention attire carrying the Red Cross balloon.

NOTE: Six volunteers walked with the balloon: Tutu Woods, David Graves, Neil Smith, PJ

Smith, Don Murphy & someone else.)

DICK:

Thar she blows! No, not Moby Dick. It’s the Red Cross Balloon.

This 15-foot balloon was created for our building dedication in 1991, and

has traveled the country making appearances at other chapters’ events.

Oh, and for you graphic standards aficionados, yes, those are five equal

squares.

NANCY:

Not only do the Indy volunteers look sharp in their black polo shirts,

they are sharp. (Tutu W., David G., Neil S., PJ S., Don M. and someone

else.)

If you have any questions over the next few days, look for someone

wearing a black polo, and they will be able to help.

UNIT 1 APPROXIMATE RUNNING TIME: (? Minutes)

UNIT 2 The Early Years

Motorized unit: Four vehicles carrying volunteers

A: Rich Fortune/Grand Marshal; Additions: Joanie Marsden/Disaster, Maxine Lane/First Aid—Unit 5 &

Terri Held/Motor Services—Unit 4

B: Red Cross Nurse/Patty Bouvier & Junior Red Cross/Emily Boozier, Tori & Delaney; Addition: Ashlee

Wooten/ Foreign Service)

C: Motor Corps/Kelly Livingston..; Additions: Peter Smith & Josh Fleischer/Mascots

D: Ernest Bicknell/Craig Widener & Judy Manges/Urban Worker.)

Note: Volunteers were moved into this unit from Units 4, 5 and 6 because we didn’t get all the cars we requested.

Unit/Vehicle 2 A Rich Fortune (Grand Marshal) (50 seconds)

DICK:

Our Parade Grand Marshal, Rich Fortune, is riding in a 1917

Pathfinder. (Added three people here: Joanie M./70s Disaster-Unit 5,

Maxine L./70s First Aid and Terri H./50s Motor Service.)

Rich is a member of the Greater Indianapolis Advisory Board and the local

disaster action team.

He also serves in the Disaster Services Human Resources system.

Rich continues an 87-year record of service to the Red Cross that

dates back to the founding of the Indianapolis chapter.

(Picture of William Fortune to appear on Video board)

NANCY:

Rich’s great-grandfather, William Fortune, an Indianapolis

newspaperman, led that effort, and through a variety of innovative

approaches, rallied enough support to establish the chapter in a

single day.

Mr. Fortune was a true visionary and set high standards for philanthropy

and volunteerism for the chapter and the community.

Mr. Fortune served as Chairman for more than 25 years and was also a

member of the governing board of the American National Red Cross,

known then as the Central Committee.

Lilly Base Hospital and Tony Hulman (25 seconds)

(Not tied to any vehicle. Between the cars narrative)

NANCY:

Corporate underwriting of the Red Cross is a time-honored tradition.

For example, it was thanks to a generous gift from Eli Lilly and Company

that the Indianapolis Red Cross was able to set up Lilly Base Hospital in

France in 1917.

(Picture of Tony Hulman to appear on video board)

DICK:

The Red Cross also recruited ambulance companies for deployment

overseas; among the drivers were Ernest Hemingway, Walt Disney

and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s own Tony Hulman.

Units/Vehicles 2B & 2C Nurse, Jr. Red Cross & Motor Corps (35 seconds)

DICK:

Here comes a Red Cross Nurse and the Junior Red Cross in a 1928

Mercedes. (Patty B., Emily B., Tori and Delaney; moved WWI Foreign

Service/Ashlee W. here)

Red Cross nurses not only cared for wounded soldiers overseas, they also

safeguarded the home front by teaching First Aid and Home Care for the

Sick.

The Junior Red Cross began in 1917 to raise funds and make useful items

for suffering children worldwide.

By 1919, nearly 12 million young people were Junior Red Crossers.

Members of the Motor Corps are riding in a 1928 Studebaker. (Moved

WWI Foreign Service/Ashlee W. to previous car-more room in that car

after adding Mascots/Josh F. and Peter S.-Unit 6 here.)

The Motor Corps worked tirelessly during WWI driving soldiers to

hospitals, and during the 1918 flu epidemic transporting supplies and

medical personnel.

Start talking before the Bicknell vehicle takes off down the track

Unit/Vehicle 2D Ernest Bicknell (1 minute, 7 seconds)

DICK:

Some of you may be wondering at this point, “What about disaster?”

Or, “Where’s Clara?”

Or at least, “Who’s the guy in the 1929 Packard?” (Ernest

Bicknell/Craig W. and Judy M./Urban worker. Car was switched to 1929

Cord. Not sure why—space issue?)

NANCY:

All good questions.

But it wasn’t until the San Francisco earthquake and fire in 1906 that

our ability to carry out large scale relief was tested and affirmed

through the efforts of another Red Cross pioneer, Ernest P. Bicknell.

DICK:

Bicknell’s leadership and vision proved invaluable as he unleashed the

power of the Red Cross to rebuild shattered lives.

Ultimately Bicknell was named the first secretary-general of the American

Red Cross.

NANCY:

Everyone should know that the Disaster Operation Center at National

bears the name of this great Indiana native.

The Ernest P. Bicknell American Red Cross Disaster Operation

Center guides the disaster relief carried out by thousands of Red

Cross volunteers across the country 24 hours a day, seven days a

week, 365 days a year.

UNIT 2 APPROXIMATE RUNNING TIME: 2 minutes 50 seconds

UNIT 3: THE WWII YEARS

Motorized Unit: Three vehicles

A: Katy Huehl/Clubmobile and Meghan Hart

B: Gray Ladies/Amy Mullen, Nurse Aides/Jill Russell and Canteen/Sarah McNulty

C: Motor Corps/Ginger Welles

Unit/Vehicle 3a Katy Huehl (Clubmobile) (35 seconds)

DICK:

After Pearl Harbor, thousands of volunteers joined the Red Cross looking

for ways to help.

One of those volunteers was our own Katy Huehl riding in a 1936

Duesenberg.

NANCY:

Katy served overseas for two years in the Red Cross Clubmobile

program.

Clubmobile girls were a touch of home for the frontline troops.

In addition to serving coffee and donuts, they distributed hometown

newspapers and danced with the soldiers.

NANCY:

The young lady riding with Katy is wearing a Clubmobile uniform

similar to the ones Katy wore. (Meghan H.)

Katy is a 60-year Red Cross volunteer and a Life Member of the Board

of Directors of the Greater Indianapolis Red Cross.

Unit/Vehicle 3B Nurses’ Aides, Gray Ladies, Canteen (30 seconds)

DICK:

While many volunteers were sent overseas, specialized domestic units

offered opportunities to serve in Red Cross activities that benefited the war

effort at home.

Three of those services are represented in our next vehicle, a 1929

Cord, which was the 1930 Indy 500 Pace Car. (Changed to 1929 Packard.

Not sure why-space issue?)

Chapters trained hundreds of Nurses’ Aides to lighten the loads of

overworked nurses in both Army and civilian hospitals. (Jill R.)

Gray Ladies provided comfort and welfare services, which included writing

letters home and doing personalized shopping for hospitalized soldiers.

(Amy M.)

Canteen workers served refreshments to arriving and departing troops and

at military hospitals. (Sarah M.)

Unit/Vehicle 3C Motor Corps (20 seconds)

NANCY:

Here comes a member of the hard-working Motor Corps in a 1949

Jaguar XK120. (Ginger W.)

The Motor Corps took the place of Army drivers who were needed on the

front lines.

The Indianapolis Motor Corps gained nation-wide recognition when they

drove military vehicles—including ten-ton trucks—to all parts of the East

and Midwest.

UNIT 3 APPROXIMATE RUNNING TIME: 1 MINUTE, 25 SECONDS

UNIT 4: THE 1950’S-1960S

Motorized unit: Four vehicles

Focus on Red Cross volunteer families.

A: Helen & Leo Abbott and Laura Hanley/Nursing & Volunteer Teams,

B: Motor Services-Deleted. Volunteers (Terri Held and Tracy Rodda moved to Units 1 and 5)

C: Canteen-Disaster/Art Bleicher

D: Smock/Kevin and James Norman, Kim Mcgraw & Stephen Wood

Note: We did not get all the cars we requested, so Unit C was deleted.

Unit/Vehicle 4A RC Nurse, Husband and Wife Team (40 seconds)

NANCY:

Have you ever wondered how many volunteers were first drafted into, I

mean first volunteered for the Red Cross because of the volunteering of

their parents, spouse or significant other?

DICK:

I know I have “volunteered” my wife on more than one occasion. (Very

matter of factly)

NANCY:

Well, our next volunteers are a classic example of the Red Cross

husband and wife volunteer team.

Riding in the 1964 Indy 500 Pace Car are Helen and Leo Abbott.

Helen is an R.N., and started with the Red Cross in 1955 teaching Home

Nursing classes.

Both Helen and the young nurse riding with the Abbotts are wearing

Helen’s uniforms. (Laura H.)

DICK:

Little by little, Helen got Leo involved, and when they both retired in 1980,

they officially began working as a volunteer team on a wide range of

projects.

Unit/Vehicle 4B Motor Services, Gray Lady (30 seconds)

NOTE: We did not get a car for this unit, so this section was deleted and passengers were

moved. Gray Lady/Tracy R. rode in Unit 5 with 50s Gray Lady/Pat R. Motor

Services/Terri H. rode in Unit/Vehicle 1A with Grand Marshal and others who were moved

from Unit 5.

NANCY:

Riding in a 50s-60s car are a Gray Lady and a Motor Services

volunteer. (Tracy R. and Terri H.)

Although their traditional dark gray uniforms were modernized to fit the

times, the “Ladies in Gray” continued to provide much needed comfort to

patients in military and veterans’ hospitals across the country.

Motor Services volunteers staffed canteens and mobile kitchens at disaster

scenes.

Unit/Vehicle 4C Red Cross Canteen (10 seconds) (Art Bleicher)

DICK:

Here comes the Canteen. (Originally read: Speaking of the Canteen, here it

comes now.)

As you can see, this 1966 Red Cross Canteen is still running and it is still

used on local disasters.

Unit/Vehicle 4D The Smock Family (47 seconds)

Props: Box of smocks for Nancy & Dick to put on &/or toss into the crowd like at a sporting event.

(Nancy begins to put on a smock as she says the following)

NANCY:

At this time we want to pay special tribute to a beloved Red Cross family,

riding in a 1959 Cadillac Convertible, the Smocks... (With reverence) (Kevin

and James N., Kim M. and Stephen W.)

DICK:

Wait a minute, the Smock Family? (Interrupting)

Okay, I’m sorry, but at the risk of being labeled a smock mocker, I have to

ask, “What was the deal with all the smocks?”

You had your Disaster smocks, your First Aid smocks, your Youth smocks,

your….

NANCY:

And to you, sir, I say, “Respect the smock.”

Besides, can you imagine what our annual reports and photo albums from

the 60s and the 70s…

DICK:

and the 80s and the 90s and the…(Interrupting again)

NANCY:

…would look like without smocks? (Finishing the question)

DICK:

Oh, I get it; smocks cover a multitude of fashion sins, right?

NANCY:

Exactly.

UNIT 5: THE 1970’S-1980S

Motorized Unit: Four vehicles representing water safety, local community programs

A: Linda Horn/Water Safety and Learn to Swim Kids/Ruth Norman, Jeremy Wood and Somebody Engle

C: Bookmobile/Bob Mitchell and Isabelle MacKinnon

D: Disaster, H&S, etc.: Joanie Marsden & Maxine Lane moved to Vehicle 1A with Grand Marshal and Terri

Held.-moved from Unit 4; Pat Randall moved into 1978 Vet with Tracy Rodda-moved from Unit 4.

E: Old ERV/Frank & Mary Kominowski

F: 1986 Conventioneer/Roni Liston

Note: Cars were way out of order and/or “borrowed” from other units in the actual parade.

Order in Parade was: Old ERV, 1978 Vet (Supposed to be Conventioneer’s car, but it

carried two Gray Ladies/Tracy R. & Pat R.—spillover from other vehicles—instead.)

Bookmobile, Water Safety and Convention/2002 Corvette (Supposed to be in Unit 6.)

Unit/Vehicle 5A Water Safety (Linda Horn & Learn To Swim Kids) (30 seconds)

NANCY:

Throw, Don’t Go!

Say it with me everybody, “Throw, Don’t Go!”

Here comes Linda Horn, water safety instructor with some of her

Learn to Swim students in the 1982 Pace Car, a Chevrolet Camaro Z-

28. (Linda, Ruth N., Jeremy W. and Somebody Engle)

Just look how proud they are of their patches, Dick.

DICK:

Linda carries on the proud tradition of Wilbert Longfellow educating people

of all ages in water safety, aquatics and lifeguard training.

Unit/Vehicle 5B Bookmobile (Bob Mitchell and Isabelle) (55 seconds)

DICK:

Hey, who here remembers the 70s?

You know when we smiled on our brother, got together and tried to love one another?

In keeping with the times, every Red Cross chapter in the country

was reaching out to their communities and providing programming

to meet special local needs.

And some of those programs are still going strong 30 years later.

One such Greater Indianapolis program is the Red Cross

Bookmobile, which began in 1972.

NANCY:

Driving the original bookmobile is Transportation volunteer, Bob

Mitchell.

His very special passenger is Isabelle MacKinnon, Bookmobile

Volunteer Coordinator.

DICK:

She doesn’t know that we know this, but today is Isabelle’s—and I’m

sure she won’t mind me telling you—87th birthday.

So everybody, please join me in wishing her a happy birthday:

Happy Birthday, Isabelle.

Unit/Vehicle 5C First Aid and Disaster (15 seconds)

Note: We didn’t get a car for this unit. Moved Joanie M./Disaster and Maxine L./First Aid

to Unit/Vehicle 1A with Grand Marshal and Terri H./Motor Service, who was moved from

Unit 4. Pat R./Gray Lady was moved to 1978 Corvette in this Unit with Tracy R./Gray Lady

who was moved from Unit 4.

NANCY:

The 70s and 80s saw a boom in Red Cross Health and Safety courses

with two of its most popular, CPR and BAT (Basic Aid Training),

making their debut.

Local Disaster Services also expanded as more Red Cross chapters

began to respond to single family fires.

Unit/Vehicle 5C Conventioneer (10 seconds)

Note: 1978 Pace Car (Chevrolet Corvette) was used for Gray Ladies. This vehicle was the

2002 Corvette Pace Car, which was supposed to be in Unit 6. Roni Liston was the

Conventioneer. Narrative was skipped over in actual parade—no time.

DICK:

And like clockwork, every seven years, Indy hosts the National convention.

(A little bedraggled sounding)

NANCY:

Uh, Dick, its every seven years, the locusts come, every 17 years, we host

the national convention. (Slowly explaining)

DICK:

Same difference.

Unit/Vehicle 5D Old ERV (Frank & Mary Kominowski) (25 seconds)

Note: May not have been Frank & Mary K. in the actual parade. It may have been the

volunteers who drove the ERV down from Henry County.

NANCY:

Wow, Dick, here comes a really old ERV. (Emphasis on “really old”)

DICK:

It may be old, but after ten years, the media’s interest in interviewing

volunteers, like Frank and Mary Kominowski, heading out in the

ERV shows no sign of waning.

While veteran crews know the drill by heart and novice reporters try to

find the story angle that “no one else” has, all agree that the story of

Red Cross volunteers putting their lives on hold to help disaster

victims across the country is worth telling again and again.

UNIT 6: 1990’S-2003

(Motorized Unit: 6-9 Vehicles THEME: Focus on teamwork, technology, Together We Prepare, the future….

A: Barb, Dave & Logan Scott

B: Red Cross Mascots/Peter Smith & Josh Fleischer moved to Unit 1B with Motor Corps; Rabbit was a no show.

C: ERV/Basil & Sally Worl

D: SERV/Roger Merkel and Essie Mae Gardener

E: AFES/Jan Swander

Note: Vehicles out of order at the beginning of this unit. ERV was first, then the Scotts.

2002 Corvette was moved to previous unit. SALT Bus was denied parade privileges.

Unit/Vehicle 6A The Scott Family (Red Cross Teams) (45 Seconds)

1999 Red Jeep Wrangler

DICK:

It takes tremendous teamwork for the Red Cross to pull off what it

does every day.

It can even involve teamwork within a single household.

NANCY:

Dave, Barb and Logan Scott are a rare husband and wife and dog

volunteer team.

If this team of volunteers ever left our Red Cross family, we would

have no fewer than 10 volunteer positions to fill.

DICK:

Here’s a quick rundown for you. (All in one breath)

Barb is co-coordinator of the on-call disaster mental health team.

Dave is on the on-call disaster public affairs team.

Both are members of DSHR.

Barb is an emergency preparedness instructor.

Both she and Dave are members of the Community First Aid Team.

(Out of breath by this point)

NANCY:

Dick, what about Logan?

DICK:

Oh, yeah, Logan is a certified therapy dog and accompanies Barb on her

local disaster mental health visits.

Unit/Vehicle 6B Mascot Vehicle (Cool Cat, Disaster Dog and Ready Rabbit) (15

seconds)

Note: 2002 Corvette was moved to Unit 5 to carry Gray Ladies, spillover from other

units/vehicles. Moved Cat & Dog/Peter S. & Josh F. to Unit/Vehicle 1B. Rabbit was a no-

show. This section was deleted.)

NANCY:

Hey everybody, wave to Disaster Dog, Cool Cat and Ready Rabbit!

DICK:

I know that Red Cross volunteers are animals, but this is ridiculous.

Unit/Vehicle C ERV (Emergency Response Vehicle) (Basil & Sally W.)

NANCY:

Here comes another of our Red Cross husband and wife teams, Basil

and Sally Worl and their home away from home, the ERV.

All three have just returned from the Missouri tornadoes.

The American Red Cross Disaster Services Human Resources system has

nearly 27,000 members to draw upon to provide care and comfort to people

affected by disasters across the nation.

Next vehicles are backdrop for the narrative

Unit/Vehicle 6D SERV (Roger M. and Essie Mae G.)

NANCY:

Technology has certainly changed the way in which we provide our services.

We can boast of web based emergency preparedness education, Automated

External Defibrillator training and state of the art communications and

vehicles.

All help us meet age-old humanitarian needs in more efficient, more

effective ways.

Vehicle/Unit 6 E AFES Worker (Jan S.)

2003 PACE CAR (CHEVROLET SSR)

DICK:

And the importance of our ageless lifesaving mission has certainly been brought home as we come to terms with a changing world.

(I am trying to say how particularly now there is heightened awareness to the importance of what we do. Enhanced, intensified, magnified, increased or deepened appreciation of what we do? Or mission rings anew--)not taken for granted?

Unit/Vehicle 6F Save A Life Tour Bus

Note: Vehicle pulled from parade due to bad behavior.

Tie it all together as we set the course

DICK:

Together we Prepare

This call to action represents a renewing of our commitment to our

customers and to our core emergency prevention, preparedness and

response services.

And moves us closer to the fulfillment of our vision of increasing individual

and collective capacity to create and maintain safer and more prepared

families, communities and nation.

Movement leads to growth, which leads to change…a Red Cross in motion.

Unit 7 Board of Governors and AUL Walking Flag (4-5 MINUTES)

Walking unit: 18-20 BOG members waving Red Cross flags & 36-member AUL Walking Flag

DICK:

It gives me great pleasure to welcome a contingent of our Board of

Governors members

50 members make up this prestigious governing board that leads the

American Red Cross.

NANCY:

And here comes the AUL (American United Life) Walking Flag, which is

made up 36 AUL employees who volunteer their time to participate in this

community activity

30 ft. wide x 70 ft. long

The AUL flag has appeared in numerous public events since 1996, including

Indianapolis Colts games, Formula One races and the World Police and Fire

Games in 2000.

Just last week the flag was part of the Indy 500 Festival parade.

(Cue for Choir to sing)

CHOIR:

Begins to sing as Flag comes into view and continue singing until they are out of view.

Parting Words/Closing remarks

BOTH:

Lead applause.

Thank the Children’s Choir again.

DICK:

We want to encourage you to explore the Speedway for the next hour or so.

You can catch a tram just beyond the Grandstands that will take you

over to the Hall of Fame Museum, where you can visit the exhibits,

shop at the gift shops or catch a bus for a tour around the track.

NANCY:

You can also take guided tours of the famed Gasoline Alley garages,

see the parade uniforms and vehicles in the Parade Display area by

the Gasoline Alley Suites and tour the Save a Life vehicles.

DICK:

Just be sure to head back this way for dinner in the Gasoline Alley

Suites at 6:15.

If you need assistance, please check your Opening Event programs or ask

one of our many volunteers for help.

NANCY:

Thanks again to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for all their

hospitality.

And thank you for coming to the Convention Opening Event.

Enjoy your evening.

2015-06 Annual Report Content Chairman of the Board and CEO Letter and Highlights

(Includes notes to designer) CHAIR & CEO LETTER Dear Friend of the Red Cross: It has been a year since hurricanes struck the Gulf Coast states, destroying communities and changing lives…forever. Like many of your fellow Americans, you were moved by the startling images and heartbreaking stories, and chose the American Red Cross as your way to reach out. Thanks to this community, the American Red Cross of Greater Indianapolis:

Met the immediate emergency needs of thousands of people who sought refuge in central Indiana;

Provided vital information and emotional support to hurricane survivors from across the country who called our disaster response center;

Deployed trained disaster workers to the affected areas; and

Raised much needed national disaster relief funds. In addition, we continued to strengthen our emergency preparedness and response capacity. Effective emergency preparedness and response require community involvement. “Our” success is a testament to our volunteers, financial contributors and community partners. We would like to share some highlights from the past year with you. We believe they reveal a community of great compassion and determination, with an innovative Red Cross chapter at its center. We hope they will gratify your heart and inspire you to imagine what we can achieve together in the future. Sincerely, Ginger Merkel John B. Lyter Chairman of the Board Chief Executive Officer

HIGHLIGHTS (Intro paragraph needs to be in a different font or size than the bullet points to stand apart.)

Effective emergency preparedness and response take “practice.” Recruiting, training and engaging volunteers. Implementing and enhancing disaster plans. Conducting and participating in disaster drills and exercises. Establishing and strengthening collaborations with community partners. Teaching lifesaving skills to people of all ages. Caring for families affected by residential fires and other local disasters. Providing first aid at community events. HURRICANE RELIEF 2006 – Katrina, Rita, Wilma

Provided emergency assistance to nearly 3,000 individuals who evacuated from hurricane-affected communities.

Helped shelter and feed 131 people in collaboration with the Indiana State Fairgrounds.

Worked hand in hand with our partner organizations to meet the medical and emotional needs of more than 2,400 evacuees.

Followed up with more than 3,500 area residents who offered their help; training 1,850 people and adding 1,050 new disaster volunteers.

Transformed Greater Indianapolis Red Cross headquarters into a resource center and welcomed representatives from our sister human services organizations and local governmental agencies to help evacuees meet emerging needs, address their long term recovery goals and assimilate into the community.

Utilized 442 dedicated volunteers during the course of the two and a half month local relief operation.

(See if you can’t separate these groups of stats-first half is our local relief operation, second half is more national-related)

Answered over 27,000 calls locally in support of our national disaster response center – more than 400 Red Cross call agents volunteered a total of 7,238 hours to help those affected access Red Cross assistance.

Shipped 188 tons of relief supplies from our national disaster field supply center to the Gulf Coast region.

Received more than $9 million for national disaster relief from 26,000 generous individual and organizational donors.

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS & RESPONSE– READY FOR WHAT TOMORROW WILL BRING

Renewed our agreement with the City of Indianapolis to share a professional emergency management staff position, ensuring a continued coordinated response to disasters and other community emergencies.

Dedicated our new Hamilton County Service Center that houses an expanded food bank and a second disaster response call center and disaster supply warehouse; and is equipped to serve as a back-up operations headquarters

Relocated our Morgan County Service Center into a shared facility with Morgan County Emergency Management, a key emergency response partner.

Enhanced our outlying community preparedness by training additional disaster volunteers and participating in emergency exercises.

Doubled the number of agreements with local schools, faith-based organizations and other groups to utilize their facilities as Red Cross shelters during disasters and other emergencies.

Increased the number of locally developed emergency response training courses available on our Web site to 22.

Trained 70,000 people in lifesaving CPR, first aid, AED, universal precautions and water safety courses.

Responded to over 330 single and multi-family disasters, providing direct financial assistance to meet the immediate, emergency needs of more than 1,340 people.

Nearly doubled the number of local disaster workers enrolled in the national Red Cross disaster services human resources system to 208.

Enhanced local communications capabilities by upgrading our voice mail systems, strengthening phone and Internet capacity and implementing online disaster casework management applications.

Distributed more than 71,000 disaster safety education materials to over 30,000 people at community events and presentations throughout our service area.

Engaged high school student volunteers in school-based emergency preparedness and disaster safety educational outreach to elementary and middle schools students.

Helped more than 15,000 young people develop their volunteer and leadership skills through our youth educational programs and service projects.

Met the first aid care needs of more than one million people attending community events.

Reached out to more than 12,000 members of the military and their families with information on Red Cross emergency communications and other support services to help them be better prepared during mobilization and deployment.

Helped 1,780 clients access preventative health care and lifesaving treatments through our free medical transportation program. Last year, 76 volunteers made 10,874 trips, driving 142,000 miles to ensure that people with no reliable means of transportation received medical care.

Relied on the talents of over 4,500 volunteers to help the greater Indianapolis community prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies.

2010 Solicitation Letter August 2010 Name Address City State ZIP Dear Boone County Donor: On Sunday, July 25, the Red Cross Boone County Disaster Action Team was called to a fire at Kise Estates Apartments in Lebanon. Since then, the Red Cross has helped 19 displaced families get back on their feet. One family—a working couple with three young daughters—exemplifies many of those whose lives have been touched by disaster. They lost their home, many of their belongings and at times, their hope. The family had recently moved to town and didn’t know the area or many people. Much of what was familiar to them—their clothes, furniture and other possessions—was now gone. They were starting over…again…looking for a new place to call home in a new community, missing work and much-needed income while they searched. The fear of being homeless was never far from their minds. But the Red Cross made a promise to them; the same promise made to all disaster victims: to provide relief. Be it a bottle of water, a blanket, a hot meal, a safe place to stay, an encouraging word, or emergency assistance to purchase clothing, food and other necessities to get their lives back on track. It takes supplies, vehicles and trained disaster workers to keep that promise. It takes effective partnerships with emergency responders, government agencies, faith based groups and other non-profits. And it takes financial resources to provide emergency assistance to the hundreds of central and east-central Indiana families who look to and lean upon the Red Cross each year after fires. Thanks to year-round support from donors like you, the Red Cross was able to meet the family’s specific needs—providing food, clothing, temporary housing, personal hygiene items, and huggable Mickey Mouse toys for the girls; and once they found a new home—bedding, linens, first month’s rent and security deposit. As well as guidance, encouragement and referrals every step of the way. Help people affected by disasters get back on their feet by making a gift to American Red Cross of Greater Indianapolis. Please use the enclosed envelope to mail your gift. To make a credit card contribution, go to www.indyredcross.org or call 317-684-1441. Thank you, American Red Cross of Greater Indianapolis Enclosure