The Red Cross

Does anyone other than myself think the bashing of the Red Cross is just a way to take money from the Red Cross and give that money to more right wing groups. It is possibly a good idea that the Red Cross in quick to take in money and slow to give it out. I would prefer them to give out the money to the right people instead of just throwing money at people and then realizing they gave the money to the wrong people. In addition, I think many groups have had problems getting money to people that need the money.

they have not responded the way they should... and given that at the leadership level they have been married at the hip with the GOP... you do the math.

Look I used to be a volunteer with a national society with just as many corruption problems as the ARC... I was a line worker, we always responded, hell we sometimes got shot at for our efforts we still responded. I can tell you right now, I have not given any... and I mean ANY money to the ARC... now Habitat for Humanity, yes, Mexican Red Cross, after the floods down there, yes (and I know just how bad they can be, they also helped immensely during Katrina, in ways actually that most Muricans will forever be ignorant off)... but ARC, no.

there is corruption, special contracts and certain people that get rich off other people's sufferings. They might buy $500 sleeping bags from a certain, special supplier vs. a $50 sleeping bag that a local person could have bought at Kmart if the Red Cross would give them the money. This is just a speculative example (sleeping bags) but I've heard there are situations similar to it.

I don't give to RC anymore and certainly don't give that non-donated-RC money to any rightwing group. I encourage everyone to donate to non-rw groups. The problem with RC is NOT that they are rightwings as I really have no idea about the truth of that, the problem is that they do not get the help where it is needed when it is needed, they have powerplays and ego trips on local levels during disasters, and have not been held accountable for the millions raised. That is my problem with the RC and I think people who do not donate to them because of these problems are not then donating to rightwing groups.

they spend so much on administration and fund raising activities $111 million. I think it lost it vision thing.....The Sept. 11 fund thing was a mess, then after calling for blood donations it exceed their capacity to use it. Somehow the message is getting jumbled from the top down. The POTUS appoints members to the Board of Governors. A lot of them seem to be fancy names to bolster someone ego. It needs lessen its tight marriage to the government. It has become less efficient in handling a major crisis. Perhaps it should function more like a business instead of a quasi-government agency, it has become.

I know a lots of people wanted to donate goods or services and most is rejected, why because they say its not efficient. Perhaps leaving it up to the individual chapters in an effected area might be better in dealing with this.

and she's a rethug. That should tell you something.

Some thought questions--

1. The most common "disaster" is a fire - or explosion - or flood - in multi-family housing, requiring temporary housing, replacement food, and replacement clothing for victims. Typically Section VIII housing, typically rented, typically no tenants' insurance.Until Katrina this was 100% of my "Disaster calls." Last night I responded to such a call, and the family were Katrina survivors.

The Salvation Army, St Vincent de Paul, the Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary could all handle this kind of emergency.

2. Once level up is a local disaster rendering a large housing complex uninhabitable. I managed a shelter for a fire in a 90 unit apartment complex. Again, Section VIII housing, rented, no tenants' insurance.

Opened up a shelter in a local school - showers, cafeteria, etc.

Opened up a "Social Service" service center across the street.

This shelter and service center lasted for almost two weeks. I really don't know if the local Salvation Army would have had the bandwidth.A local Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary - in some communities - would have had the rolodex and bandwidth to handle this.

3. Another level up is a tornado.

Red Cross, Salvation Army, local Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary with its Mutual Assistance Agreement Network.

Make no mistake - this is where we need the National Guard or the "Organized Militia" (some states have an organization that is a "National Guard without weapons - but with Engineers, Signal Corps, Medics, Civil Affairs, Water tanks, etc." Kind of like a state wide completed complemented volunteer fire department with medics, engineers, auxiliary, etc.).

4. The Big One - A level 4 or 5 hurricane, a Richter 6+ earthquake, a 9/11.

At this point we are pushing the limits of the Red Cross. It's contribution for this level of disaster is:
1) Fund raising,
2) Blood collection,
3) Volunteers and supplies for the "Incident Commander"


At this point we have exceeded the bandwidth of the Salvation Army.It's contribution for this level of disaster is:
1) Fund raising,
2) Volunteers and supplies for the "Incident Commander"


Leaves us with a question - who is this "Incident Commander" - That's a California Earthquake term. It could be the on scene honcho from FEMA (unlikely after Brownie), or from the National Guard (that IS their job) or from the "Organized Militia" above.

My bias is against the Salvation Army. I just don't want a "faith based organization" (after Bush) controlling sheltering, feeding, and clothing on this wide of a level.

Similarly, I think that the National Guard, the "Organized Militia" (in those states that have one) and the Red Cross - with all of their blemishes and faults can do the Mass Disaster Mitigation function.

Organizations like MercyCorps and Habitat - while worthy and honest and hard working -- should not be the "Incident Commander."

That's my thoughts.








My resume below

- active duty in the United States Coast - New Orleans,
- Red Cross Disaster Services - Disaster Assistance team Captain, Shelter Manager
- Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service - Extra Class Ham Radio License
- FEMA Civil Emergency Response team, Neighborhood captain

I am a semi retired, 65 year old diabetic -- and I do this volunteer work in my spare time.


<>
<>
<><><>
<>

Nobody died. It was the Red Cross Dispatcher - fire twelve miles south - family homeless.

Got in the car - and drove down there. The Battalion Chief briefed me - three generation family - very elderly grandpa; electric company came to the fire, shut off utilities, red tagged the apartment and left; kitchen totaled. Smoke damage throughout the apartment. No other units damaged.

Did the usual thing - got out my cell phone and got them three nights in a hotel (Red Cross expense on the debit cards), plus money for a weeks worth of groceries (Red Cross expense on the debit cards), mad the calls to confirm the hotel rooms and "activate" the debit cards.

Gave myself my usual post disaster service treat - a McDonald's pancakes/eggs/sausage breakfast then went home and tried to go back to sleep.

Forget to mention - Grandpa had come here from the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans. I had helped resettle him 11 weeks ago. Life ain't fair.

<>

I was one of those families a long time ago. What you do really matters, it makes all the difference in the world.

http://www.newsmeat.com/washington_political_donations/Bonnie_McElveen-Hunter.php

:puke: Thankfully, she's the soon-to-be former Chairman since she's retiring.

See my

This Red Cross - RACES - CERT volunteer/Coast Guard veteran donates his $$ to Nancy Pelosi's DCCC and to the ACLU and the American Diabetes Association.

He also wastes some of it on toys like this --
<>

Yer point?


<>
<><><>
<>