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A Documented History
Of The Wayne County Chapter
Of The
American Red Cross
1917- Present
Dedicated To
the Volunteers, Friends, Staff, and Family
of the Wayne County Chapter of the American
Red Cross:
A Note from James
Love...
The
following document is an ongoing project to capture the history
of the Wayne County Chapter of the American Red Cross.
Information was gathered, processed, written, and re-written
after many hours of pouring through hundreds of press clippings,
photos, personal journals, internet searches, annual meeting
reports, and previous history adaptations.
I also
had the opportunity to interview family members, Red Cross
volunteers and organizational friends that have helped grow this
Chapter through the years.
I
personally took great pleasure in delving into the historical
past of the American Red Cross, and take great joy in being able
to pass this information along to you.
I am
sure you will recognize the hundreds of names that have been
weaved together to make up the fabric of this amazing Red Cross
Chapter.
I hope
that you will enjoy this document and have as much fun reading
through it as I had in revising and putting it together.
Thank
you,
James F. Love
James
F. Love
Executive Director
Wayne
County Chapter, American Red Cross
May 18,
2007
HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY CHAPTER
AMERICAN RED
CROSS
Congressional
Charter
From 1914 to
1916 a group of ladies including Mrs. Kate (R.A.S.) Bloomer,
Mrs. J.E. Hayes, Mrs. Jane Stuart, and Mrs. E.B. Elliott worked
on knitting numerous knitting projects for British troops.
These knitted items were then sent to Canada through a wartime
organization known as “Bundles for Britain” project.
When the United
States entered World War I on April 6, 1917, these Wayne County
residents decided that their efforts should be directed towards
helping the United States Armed Forces serving overseas, and the
best way to do this seemed to be through the American Red
Cross.
The first
organizational meeting of the Wayne County Chapter was held in
Sodus, under the guidance of the “Bundles For Britain” group.
Aided by sound advice from various members of the Rochester Red
Cross Chapter, the “Bundles For Britain” group visited every
Wayne County community and helped organize the various County
branches. By the end of 1917, seventeen branch offices were
set up in Wayne County. Some of the first wartime projects
that the Red Cross Branches were involved with were; the rolling
of gauze bandages, knitting of extra large pajamas that could go
over bulky dressings, knitting of socks and caps, making
triangular bandages, and the folding of three inch gauze
compressions.
Upon the
successful filing of paperwork, the Chapter Charter from the
National Red Cross was received on May 24, 1917. The
first elected Chapter Chairman was Edward Stalter of
Lyons NY. His company, the Sherman – Stalter Construction
Company was responsible for the Erie Canal locks in Lyons NY.
Mr. Stalter was
joined by twelve individuals to make up the first Wayne County
American Red Cross Board of Directors. Board members included
community leaders like Mrs. Jane (C.H.) Stuart who served
as the first Board Vice Chair and Mrs. Kate (R.A.S.) Bloomer
who served as the Chairman of Supply and Service. Both
women served for years on the Board of Directors.
Assisting the
Board of Directors was Ms. Ethel Snyder. Ms. Snyder
served as the Chapter’s first administrative staff person and
functioned as the Volunteer Executive Assistant.
Home Service
Section
By
Congressional Charter, all Red Cross Chapters throughout the
years had the responsibility of carrying out the Red Cross
Disaster Program and give aid to veterans, servicemen and their
families. The name of this last program has changed throughout
the years. In 1918 the program was called the Home Service
Section. The American Red Cross assisted servicemen and their
families with monetary allotments, allowances, insurance, and
compensation.
From the Wayne
County Red Cross archives, a letter dated October 9, 1919
contained a report on this service and stated that “a large part
of the work consists of granting money to families of the
soldiers when the family was not receiving the allowance and
allotment which was due them from the government. The Home
Service Section had also taken up claims with the War Risk
Insurance Act and had, in a large number of cases been the means
of getting allowance and allotment to the families”. The report
went on telling of the claims secured and “the expending of the
sum of $1,268 in loans and grants” and assistance given in
furnishing food and fuel for the soldier’s family and paying of
hospital bills.
In addition to
financial assistance the Home Service Section made calls on the
families and learned facts of importance concerning home
conditions which at the time were needed by the government. The
Red Cross also assisted the returning soldiers in the way of
after care of disabled men and helping them to secure their
claim compensation.
The volunteer
workers in the Home Service Section received training by
National Representatives as is done today. This was confirmed
in a letter from the Wayne County Red Cross archives dated
October 11, 1918. The letter is from The American Red Cross
Atlantic Division - Bureau of Civilian Relief to Miss Jane
Brownson of Lyons. The letter was related to the Perth Amboy
disaster and the influenza epidemic of 1918. Evidently Miss
Jane Hoey from the Atlantic Division of the American Red Cross
was to come to Wayne County to conduct a Home Service Section
training meeting, but suggested due to the epidemic “it would be
best to postpone doing so for the present as it is rather unwise
to collect a crowd of people because of the danger of spreading
the disease”.
World War I and
the Roaring 20’s
In 1919, Mr.
Robert (R.A.S)”Sherm” Bloomer of Newark served as the
organizations second Chapter Chairman until 1921. Mr.
Bloomer was then elected as an “Honorary Chairman” in 1930 for
his interest and active Red Cross service given through the
years. In 2005, the Chapter initiated the Robert S. Bloomer
award for outstanding Board leadership to remember the
commitment and dedication to the Chapter that was exhibited by
Mr. Bloomer.
It was also
during 1919 that Miss Christine Derby moved to Wayne
County and became the first volunteer Red Cross Nurse during the
flu epidemic.
In 1921, after
World War I, and after all Chapter commitments were met, there
remained about $25,000 in the Wayne County Red Cross War Chest.
The Red Cross Board decided to use this money for the benefit of
the people of Wayne County (from whom it had come from) and so
two Red Cross nurses were hired. These nurses did much the same
work as is done by the Public Health nurses today.
Miss Mary
Stevenson, who had recently returned from overseas, was
named as the first American Red Cross Public Health Nurse for
the Chapter. She had participated in a public health course in
the first school of its kind in Buffalo. Upon graduation, she
moved to Sodus NY. Her yearly salary in 1921 was $1,800.
Through this program, the Red Cross also provided medical care
for some needy county families.
In 1921,
Mrs. Harriet Sleight of Newark became the third
Chapter Chairman. She was followed by Mrs. Minnie Snyder in
1923. Mrs. Snyder served as the fourth Board chair
until 1929.
In 1922 Miss
Florence Dark was hired to join Mrs. Stevenson as the second
Red Cross County nurse.
In 1925,
Ethel Snyder resigned as the Volunteer Executive Assistant and
Mrs. Katherine Lyford of Waverly NY replaced her
in this position. She held the position until 1927 when she
left the area and traveled to England for a position with the
Red Cross Societies in London.
She was
replaced in 1927 by Mrs. Jesse McClellan of Palmyra, and
she in turn was replaced in 1928 Mrs. Grace Finch. She
left the position in 1929, which was left vacant until January
of 1932.
In 1927 the
county took over the Red Cross Nurses program.
The 1930’s
The first
recorded Chapter minutes were from April 11, 1930 when
Harry A. Tellier of North Rose served as the fifth
Chapter Chairman. According to these early board minutes, the
Chapter was suffering financial difficulties due to the “great
depression” that had gripped the country. Mr. Tellier not only
served as the Board Chairman at this time, but he also was
involved in the Chapter’s Disaster assistance program.
The Junior Red
Cross was also formed 1931 with ¼ of the local Wayne County
schools supporting the program
On April 29,
1931, Mrs. Bernice Metcalf of Newark conducted her
first Board of Directors meeting as the sixth Chapter
Chairman. Mrs. Metcalf continued in this position until1947.
Ms. Metcalf served as the Board Chair for sixteen consecutive
years.
Also in 1931,
the Chapter conducted the first F.A. Class for the employees of
Consolidated Gas and Electric of Newark. Thirteen employees
were certified.
Swimming
programs in Sodus Point on Lake Ontario also began this year.
The program was taught by volunteers and county busses were used
to transport children from all over the County to and from the
program.
In the thirties
the Chapter meetings were held at the Newark Elks Club
and in the Red Cross rooms at 120 East Union Street, Newark.
During the
thirties the Chapter’s finances and Roll Call (as the Membership
and Fund Campaign was then called) felt the effects of the
countries depression and the organization’s services reflected
this depression. The projects during this era were for Civilian
Relief such as obtaining glasses for children, giving milk to
needy families, distributing cod liver oil through the schools,
distributing flour, assisting toward hot lunches for school
children, and the making of clothing for the needy.
Cod oil, flour
and sewing material were distributed by the United States
government to Red Cross Chapters. As a result of this
partnership, American Red Cross volunteer sewing groups were set
up in the local Wayne County Red Cross branches. According to
Chapter minutes from this time period, Mrs. Edward Monday Sr.
headed this county project.
At an annual
meeting held on October 7, 1931 the Board of Directors voted to
hire a paid Executive Secretary with her main duty to be
conducting the county Roll Call. A committee of Mrs. Bernice
Metcalf, Mr. Robert “Sherm” Bloomer, and Mr. Irving Beal were
authorized as the Chapter’s first employee search committee to
hire a paid Executive Secretary.
The Annual
report dated January 15, 1932 showed that Mrs. Phoebe
(Stanley) Murdock of Newark be hired for part time pay.
Mrs. Murdock’s first project was the organization of emergency
loan closets in the community. The first county loan closet was
established in Williamson followed by Newark and Palmyra. Mrs.
Murdock remained in this position until her retirement in 1951.
Through the
thirties the First Aid, Water Safety, Junior Red Cross, Home
Hygiene and Care of the Sick, Home and Farm Accident Programs,
and Disaster Programs developed through the leadership of
committed Chapter volunteers.
In 1939 the
first volunteer leadership award was given to Mr. Irving Beal of
Sodus. Mr. Beal served as the Chapter Treasurer at the time of
the award, and had volunteered for over ten years on the Board
of Directors. Mr. Beal continued to serve on the Board until
1947.
World War II and
the 40’s
From the Wayne
County Red Cross archives, a Historical report submitted by Mrs.
Phoebe Murdock in 1945 outlined the war efforts exhibited by the
Wayne County Chapter.
In 1941 the
St. Marks Church of Newark offered the downstairs of its
Parrish House at 404 South Main St. in Newark to function as the
Red Cross headquarters with the understanding that the Red Cross
would take care of additional heating and lighting expenses.
The Chapter outgrew the space at 120 East Union St. due to the
organization’s increased involvement in World War II as well as
the increasing local need of Red Cross services.
During World
War II, the Red Cross was asked by the War Department to collect
whole blood to be made into plasma for the use of our armed
forces. Leslie Blake of Williamson was the first Chairman of
the Wayne County Blood program. From 1941 until the
discontinuation in 1945, the bloodmobile made 115 visits to
Wayne County and collected over 15,000 pints of plasma during
that time span.
The October 21,
1942 minutes show the changeover from Red Cross peacetime
activities to wartime programs with changes in the Production
Service to surgical dressings and knitting for the Armed Forces.
One time Chapter Board Secretary Mrs. Emma B. Elliott headed up
this county wide knitting project.
During this
time, the number of Chapter volunteers increased dramatically
from all Chapter programs including; Home Service, General
Office Assistance, First Aid, Motor Corps, and Disaster.
It was also in
1942 that the Executive committee of the Board of Directors
began meeting on a monthly basis. The Executive Committee
remained intact through the end of the war.
That year a
financial campaign goal of $31,847.29 was reached through direct
Chapter donations. Mr. Wilson Bloomer, son of honorary chairman
Robert Bloomer served as the Finance Chairman during the
duration of the war.
In 1942, the
Chapter hired an additional employee to help Executive Phoebe
Murdock with the increased workload. Mrs. MacMorris was
hired as a Home Service Secretary, who promptly resigned two
years later and was replaced by a Mrs. Mary Barrett in
1944.
In 1945 the
Camp and Hospital Council was formed to serve Sampson Naval
Station near Geneva and the Canandaigua Veteran’s Administration
Hospital. Thus the Gray Lady program was started at the Wayne
County Chapter.
Also in 1945 a
string of Chapter headquarter moves began. Late that year, the
St. Marks Church needed to take over their Parrish House again,
and the Chapter moved its headquarters to 120 East Miller
Street in Newark. As this property was sold, the Chapter
office was forced to move again in 1946 to 105 West Miller
Street, Newark and again, due to sale of property, had to
relocate to 146 East Union Street, Newark.
In 1947,
Mrs. Charlotte Bloomer of Newark was elected as the
seventh Chapter Chairman. Mr. Baldwin Jagger of
Newark followed in 1948 serving as the eighth
Chapter Chairman until 1951
In 1948, the so
called Peace Time Blood Program was started in January to
collect, process, and distribute whole blood for the use of
patients in hospitals located in Western NY. The first
non-wartime Bloodmobile visit to Wayne County of the newly
formed Rochester Red Cross Blood Program would be held in Newark
at the Newark State School on February 3rd . The
drive secured seventeen donors and fifteen pints of blood.
The 1950’s
The 1950’s
began with the United States involved in the Korean War.
American Red Cross services grew during the Korean War.
President Harry Truman established the Federal blood program in
1951, designating the Red Cross as the blood collecting agency
for defense needs, and more than 5 million pints of blood were
collected for the armed forces. At the request of General
Douglas MacArthur, the Red Cross expanded its emergency mobile
recreation service, serving not only American troops, but all
United Nations forces. Eventually, there were 24 Red Cross
canteen and club mobile units operating in Korea, including
those at airfields and at a mobile surgical hospital. The
American Red Cross provided emergency communication from family
members about illnesses, deaths and births throughout the war, a
free "first-call-home" program for those wounded in action and
millions of envelopes and sheets of paper so wounded service
members could write letters to home.
On June 22,
1951 the Chapter Chairman Baldwin Jagger called a special
meeting of the Board of Directors for the purpose of hiring an
Executive Secretary to replace Mrs. Phoebe Murdock who was
retiring after nineteen years of service to the Chapter.
Executive
Assistant Mrs. Mary Barrett Grace of Newark was to have
the Executive Secretary position on a six-month trial basis, and
Mrs. Dorothy Day of Williamson was hired as the Executive
Assistant. Mrs. Barrett-Grace remained in the Executive
position until 1958.
The Reverend
Earle Champ of Ontario was elected as the ninth
Chapter Chairman at the annual meeting held October 17, 1951
but resigned in November. First Vice Chairman Douglas A.
Douglas became acting Chairman until January 7, 1952.
In 1952
Walter M. Mills of Sodus was elected as the tenth
Chapter Chairman and served for the years of 1952 through 1954.
At the annual
meeting in 1954 Orrin C. Cross of Lyons was
elected as the eleventh Chapter Chairman of the Wayne
County Chapter.
In April of
1954, it was announced that the Red Cross Gray Lady Program at
the Lyons Community Hospital was formed.
The Chapter
office moved again in 1955 to 113 West Miller St. in Newark,
where it remained until 1964.
Also in 1955,
the Arcadia Community Chest and the American Red Cross
collaborated on the first Community Chest-Red Cross fund drive.
The two organizations combined to raise over $45,000 for Red
Cross programs and ten other agencies including the Boy Scouts,
Girl Scouts, American Cancer Society, the U.S.O, United Cerebral
Palsy, Hospital Bed Fund, Newark Bureau, and the Salvation Army.
Though elected
for another year, Mr. Cross had to tender his resignation
effective January 1, 1956 due to national pressure on the
Rochester Regional Red Cross Blood Program for which he was
assistant director. First Vice Chairman Mrs. Alice Williamson
of Palmyra was appointed as the twelfth Chapter Chairman
to fill the unexpired term.
In June 1958,
Mrs. Mary Barrett Grace resigned as the Executive Secretary.
She was replaced by Mrs. Elsie L. Healey of Newark NY.
The Board of Directors also changed the title from Executive
Secretary to Executive Director during this hire. Mrs. Healey
served for ten years as the Executive Director for the Chapter.
She taught in the Newark School District for many years before
accepting the Red Cross Executive position. She was also a Red
Cross Grey Lady and volunteered for many years at the
Canandaigua Veterans Hospital.
Mrs.
Jeannette Cross was also hired at this time as the Chapter
Executive Assistant.
To end the
decade two Chapter Chairman were appointed. Mr. Ward
P. Rynearson of Newark was elected as the thirteenth
Chapter Chairman in 1958, and Mr. Paul R.
Scofield of Newark in 1959 as the fourteenth
Chapter Chairman.
The 1960’s
In 1960
Sanford C. Bush of Marion was elected as the fifteenth
Chapter Chairman.
In 1960 the
Chapter helped 349 service personnel with emergency leaves and
23 families with government benefits. The Chapter also
collected 1997 pints of blood, trained 53 people in First Aid,
trained 633 people how to swim, helped 109,000 service men in VA
hospitals, and spent $415.00 on local disaster relief
operations. The first Rescue Breathing course was also taught
this year in the County as part of the First Aid program.
In 1961
Reverend Herbert J. Gordon of Wolcott was elected as the
sixteenth Chapter Chairman. First Vice Chairman Fred A.
Smyth of Sodus completed Reverend Gordon’s term when he
accepted a pastoral call to Elmira, New York. Mr. Smyth
continued as the seventeenth Chairman until 1963
when Robert M. Waples of Palmyra was elected as the
eighteenth Chapter Chairman.
In 1964,
Mr. Irving L. Monroe was elected at the annual meeting as
the nineteenth Chapter Chairman. Mr. Monroe served as
the Board Chair until 1967. He also served as the Chapter
Treasurer for many years prior to his appointment.
On September 1,
1964 the Chapter headquarters moved again to a larger facility
located at 117 East Miller Street in Newark.
In 1966, the
Chapter held an open house for military families at the Park
Presbyterian Church in Newark. Red Cross Field Director Walter
Woodward from Griffith Airforce Base was present to discuss the
American Red Cross’s function during the Vietnam War and
answered questions from family members. 130 people attended the
event. As of this event, the Chapter had processed 400 military
cases since July of 1966.
On September
26, 1967, the Wayne County Chapter celebrated its 50th
year of Chartered service to the residents of Wayne County at
the annual meeting held at Trombino’s Restaurant in Lyons NY.
The event included a fashion show of Red Cross uniforms,
recognition of past Chapter chairs, and a presentation by then
Executive Director of the Rochester-Monroe County Chapter Alfred
Harris on the present and future of Red Cross blood,
international, and youth programs.
In 1968,
Shearman Smith was elected as the twentieth Chapter
Chairman.
1968
also marked the year that Executive Director Elsie Healey
resigned after ten years with the Chapter. Executive Assistant
Jeannette Cross also resigned from the Chapter. The Board of
Directors hired Mrs. Gene Neely of Newark NY. Mrs. Neely
started with the Chapter on September 3, 1968.
Also in 1968,
the last swimming class was provided at Sodus Point on Lake
Ontario.
In 1969, Mr.
David Klaver was elected as the twenty-first Chapter
Chairman.
In June of
1969, Gene Neely resigned as the Executive Director and the
the Board of Directors elected to hire Mrs. Elizabeth Hayden
of Newark as the new Executive Director. Mrs. Hayden
served as the Executive Director until her retirement in 1979.
Mrs. Hayden led the Chapter through many of the National changes
that have shaped the organization in its present form. From the
development of CPR, to the signing of the Disaster Relief Act,
to supporting emergency communications for US troops in Vietnam,
Mrs. Hayden began these programs which now are part of the
congressional support the American Red Cross provides to the
Federal Government.
The Chapter
also manned the first ever FA booths at the ‘Palmyra” Fair and
the Hill Cummorah event in 1969.
It was
interesting to note at the beginning of the Chapter’s history 50
years ago, the Home Service Section was the main Chapter
program. During the depression and WWII years the emphasis went
to civilian relief programs in preparation for inland security
breaches. By the end of the 60’s, the emphasis was back on the
soldier. The Armed Forces Emergency Services program greatly
increased due to the conflict in Vietnam.
The 1970’s
At the turn of
the decade, the Chapter’s main focus was on assisting Armed
Forces service personnel. In the 1970 annual report it was
listed that Wayne County had 187 enlisted service personnel from
December 1969 to June of 1970 and that 39 Vietnam casualties had
occurred.
Also in 1970, a
Grandmothers Club was developed to fill ditty bags that were
sent to service men in Vietnam. The club also made what are now
called “comfort kits” for local disaster victims.
In 1970, Mr.
Paul Murphy of Newark was elected as the twenty-second
Chapter Chairman. Mr. Murphy served as Chapter Chairman until
1978.
In 1972,
Hurricane Agnes pounded the Southern Tier of New York State
causing considerable flooding in the Corning and Elmira areas.
The Chapter, led by Disaster Chairman Harold Spies transported
two loads of disaster supplies to the Painted Post Red Cross
office an coordinated the stocking and transporting of
additional Red Cross assistance and supplies to the stricken
area. The Chapter also sent disaster welfare inquires for
sixty-four people in the effected area. Short wave radio
operators were used for the inquiries.
Also in 1973,
the Chapter set up the first Canal Days First Aid booth.
By 1974, a
shift from Armed Forces assistance as the main Red Cross program
to Disaster and Blood services began for the County. The
Chapter responded to assist eighty-four disaster victims and
became more engaged with the County response plan. This shift
was due to the signing of the Disaster Relief Act by President
Richard Nixon. This resolution established the process for
future presidential disaster declarations.
Also in 1974,
the Chapter collected the largest total of blood to date with
2,536 donors and 2224 productive units.
In 1976, the
Chapter purchased the first Chapter manikins to be used to train
county residents in CPR. Two adults and one child manikin were
purchased in April of that year. Later that year the first CPR
course in the county was held in Palmyra.
In 1978, Mr.
Thomas Shear was elected as the twenty-third Chapter
Chairman.
In December of
1979, Executive Director Elizabeth Hayden retired from
the Chapter. Mrs. Nadine Brill of Newark was hired as
the new Executive Director. Mrs. Brill served as the longest
active Executive Director in the history of the Chapter. She
served the community in this capacity until her retirement in
2004. She led the Chapter through numerous national and local
disasters including hurricanes Hugo and Andrew, the terrorist
attacks on September 11th, and the county ice storms
in 1992 and 2004. She engaged the communities support for the
organization like never before. From increasing the number of
County blood donors to the establishment of a Youth Leadership
Conference, Mrs. Brill touched the lives of thousands of Wayne
County residents.
The board also
approved the hiring of Mrs. Shirley Ford as the
Administrative Assistant that same year.
Also in 1979,
the American Red Cross began working with the RG&E power plant
and County representatives in coordinating disaster evacuation
plans in the event of a nuclear accident.
The 1980’s
At the 1980
annual meeting in September, the Board of Directors elected
Mr. Paul Ziegler as the twenty-fourth Chapter
Chairman.
On September
20, 1981, the Wayne County Chapter threw a 100th
birthday party in honor of 100 years of existence of the
American Red Cross at Board Chair Paul Ziegler’s home.
Thirty-five volunteers attended the event in which new five new
board members were elected.
In 1982 a
formal written partnership agreement was developed with the
Wayne County United Way. The campaign was called the United
Way/ American Red Cross Campaign.
Also in
1982, the Chapter made the move to the Commercial
Building at 165 E. Union St. in Newark. It was around this
time that Chapter Historian Mrs. June Renner started with
the Wayne County Chapter.
In 1983
Paul Ziegler was replaced by Mr. Ronald Loder as the
twenty-fifth Chapter Chairman. Mr. Loder served as the
Board Chair until 1987.
As the 80’s
progressed, the Chapter continued to grow under the leadership
of Mrs. Brill. In 1985 the Chapter hired an additional staff
person, Ms. Marsha Sutton. Her tenure was short lived,
and by 1987 the Chapter was back down to two paid staff
positions.
In 1984, the
administration of the Newark Food Closet was turned over to the
American Red Cross.
Also, at the
1984 annual meeting in September Chapter volunteers Dorothy
Schinsing, Becky Short, June Renner, Reggie Boyce, and Estelle
Kim were awarded the Director’s first Golden Heart Award for the
commitment to the American Red Cross.
At the 1985
annual meeting in September, Bob VanWinkle and Shirley Ford were
presented with the Director’s Golden Heart Awards.
At the 1986
Annual meeting in September, the
Directors Golden Hearts Award was presented to Sharon Tyo.
Also in 1986
the Chapter held it’s first ever Youth Leadership conference.
In 1987,
the Board elected Mr. Vince Craft of Palmyra as the
twenty-sixth Chapter Chairman. Mr. Craft served as the
Board Chair until 1989. He also served as the Health and Safety
Chair for the Chapter, as well as organizing and manning the
Chapter’s First Aid Station at the Wayne County Fair in
Palmyra. He was elected in 1989 as the second honorary board
member of the Chapter.
Also in 1987 at
the annual meeting in September, the
Directors Golden Hearts Award was presented to Ron Loder.
In 1988 at the
annual meeting in September, the
Directors Golden Hearts Award was presented to Ann Guest.
In 1989, Ms.
Cynthia Kukuvka was elected as the twenty-seventh
Chapter Board Chair. She served as the Board Chair until 1993.
Also in 1989 at
the annual meeting in September, the
Directors Golden Hearts Awards were presented to Cynthia Kukuvka,
Stan May, and Mary Casselman.
The 1990’s
In 1990,
the Chapter again hired a third paid staff person, this time to
head up the growing Health and Safety department. Ms. Deb
Hellert of Newark was hired as the Administrative Assistant.
Also in 1990 at
the annual meeting in September, the
Directors Golden Hearts Awards were presented to Harold Spies
and Lucy Clarke.
In July 1991,
the Red Cross moved their Chapter Headquarters, and together
with the United Way of Wayne County took occupancy of the 4th
floor of the old commercial building located at 165 East
Union Street in Newark.
Also in 1991 at
the annual meeting in September, the
Directors Golden Hearts Awards were presented to Neil Washburn,
Shirley Lindner, and Keith Brill.
The Persian
Gulf War began in 1991 and like all other wars before it, the
American Red Cross was there creating a network of support and
communication for US troops serving abroad and their families.
In 1992 at the
annual meeting was held in September, where the Chapter
celebrated it’s 75th Anniversary of providing
services to Wayne County. A fashion show highlighting Red Cross
uniforms was part of the entertainment. The
Directors Golden Hearts Awards were presented to Vincent Craft
and Hazel Barclay.
In 1993,
the Chapter elected Mr. Sergei Bartishevich as the
twenty-eighth Chapter Chairman.
In 1993 at the
annual meeting on September 24, 1993, the Chapter dedicated a
new award to remember the late Mr. Harold Spies from Clyde. Mr.
Spies was a longtime volunteer for the Wayne County Chapter. He
volunteered as a board member, and for many years was the
Disaster Chairman for the County beginning in the mid 60’s.
This award was created to honor a volunteer each year who
displays the leadership and commitment to the organization that
was portrayed by Mr. Spies for all the years of his involvement
with the organization The first annual Harold Spies Volunteer
Award was given to disaster volunteer Sharon Tyo.
The Directors Golden Hearts Award was
presented to Jackie Dishaw.
In 1994 at the
annual meeting in September, Dorothy Schinsing
received the Harold Spies Volunteer of
the Year Award. The Directors Golden Hearts Awards were
presented to Vicki Haramoto and Marie Butler.
In 1995 at the
annual meeting in September, Charles Barton
received the Harold Spies Volunteer of
the Year Award. The Directors Golden Hearts Award was presented
to Robert Lindner.
Mr. Robert
Lindner was elected in 1995 as the twenty-ninth
Chapter Board Chair and served until 1997 in that position.
In 1996,
the Chapter moved yet again to the first floor of the
commercial building located at 165 East Union Street, Newark.
The United Way of Wayne County also moved to the first floor
with the Chapter.
At the 1996
annual meeting in September, Marilyn Byron
received the Harold Spies Volunteer of
the Year Award. The Directors Golden Hearts Awards were given
to Pat Mason and Robert Culver.
At the 1997
annual meeting in September, the Chapter celebrated it’s 80th
year of providing Chartered services to the residents of Wayne
County. A fashion show was part of the entertainment for the
evening. Chapter blood volunteer Stan May
received the Harold Spies Volunteer of
the Year Award. Jane Hubbs received the Directors Golden Hearts
Award.
At the 1998
annual meeting in September, disaster volunteer Jackie Dishaw
received the Harold Spies Volunteer of
the Year Award. The Directors Golden Hearts Awards were
presented to Board members Ellie DuHamel and Deb Halderman.
In 1998,
Pat Mason was elected as the thirtieth Board
Chair. Sergei Bartishevich succeeded Mrs. Mason in
1999 as the thirty-first Board Chair and is the only
Chapter Chair to serve twice in non-consecutive years.
At the 1999
annual meeting in September, Chapter Historian June Renner
received the Harold Spies Volunteer of
the Year Award. The Directors Golden Hearts Awards were
presented to Board member Christine Utter and Donna Pelko.
Also in 1999, the Chapter hired Ms.
Kacey Bray of Newark as the Administrative Assistant for the
Chapter. Ms. Bray eventually functioned as the Director of
health and safety for many years until leaving in 2006 to pursue
other interests.
The Year 2000 and
Beyond
As the decade
changed, so did the programs that the Chapter offered. The
Chapter continued to offer traditional services such as
Disaster, Armed Forces Emergency Services, First Aid and CPR,
but they also developed a number of community programs included;
heating programs such as the Project Share and Community Heating
programs, the Reach Out and Touch Someone Christmas Program for
Town of Arcadia residents, coordination of a County wide FEMA
fund program which helps with emergency rent and
utilities, and in collaboration with the Together in Christ
group continued the coordination of the Town of Arcadia Food
Closet.
In 2000,
the Board elected Ms. Jane Hubbs as the thirty-second
Chapter Chairman. It was during Ms. Hubbs tenure that the
organization responded to the deadliest terror attack in the
history of the organization.
At the 2000
annual meeting in September, Barb Nittolo
received the Harold Spies Volunteer of
the Year Award. The Directors Golden Hearts Award was presented
to Ken Rosenthal.
Also in 2000, the Chapter hired
Mrs. Raquel Szenas-Baker of Clyde as the Chapter
Administrative Assistant. Her title was changed in 2005 to
Chapter Office Manager. Raquel also coordinated the Chapter’s
Community Services Department.
On the
morning of September 11, 2001 two jet airliners crashed into the
World Trade Center towers in New York City. A third plane
crashed into the Pentagon in Washington DC, and a fourth into a
fielded area outside of Pittsburg PA. These were the first
known terrorist attacks made by another country on US soil.
These attacks were planned and executed by a terrorist
organization known as Al-Qaeda. The American Red Cross
responded immediately to the crisis at hand by sending emergency
relief workers, collecting financial donations, and helping the
citizens of New York, Washington, and Pennsylvania put their
lives back together. The Wayne County Chapter collected over
$95,000 for the 9/11 Liberty Fund which was used to provide
financial support to the families of the 9/11 attacks.
In the aftermath of 9/11, terrorism
and preparedness became the hot topic across the country. In
response to the shifting focus in America, the American Red
Cross developed a number of preparedness driven programs that
were tailored to meet the needs of every American citizen. The
programs taught people how to prepare for any emergency
situation whether it is a terrorist attack, fire, flood, or
locally a nuclear threat. These programs included information
on how to build a disaster kit, make a plan, the importance of
giving blood, volunteering, and learning CPR & First Aid. The
Chapter also continued to work with the State and Federal
governments in holding drills involving the Ginna Nuclear plant.
At the 2001 annual meeting in
September, Board Chair Jane Hubbs received the Harold Spies
Volunteer of the Year Award for her leadership during and after
the 9/11 disaster. The Directors Golden Hearts Award was
presented to Mabel Hommer.
2001 concluded with the start of the
War in Afghanistan. It was also during
that time the American Red Cross reinvigorated the Armed Forces
Emergency Services department with a state of the art
communication center located in Washington DC.
In
2002 the Board of Directors elected Mr. Robert Goodman
of Newark as the thirty-third Chapter Chairman. Mr.
Goodman served until 2004. In addition to his work with the
Board of Directors, Mr. Goodman also served on the NYPENN
Regional Blood Services Board. He was instrumental in improving
the blood program in Wayne County. In 2005, Mr. Goodman became
the first recipient of the Robert S. Bloomer Award for
Outstanding Board Leadership, and was the 2002 recipient of the
Harold Spies Volunteer of the Year Award.
Also in 2002 at the annual meeting in
September, the Directors Golden Hearts Award was presented to
disaster volunteer Larry Gonyou.
On March 20, 2003, the United States
invaded the country of Iraq which was the start of the Iraq
War. The American Red Cross began seeing an increase in Armed
Forces communication. The Wayne County Chapter continued its
support by providing 24 hour, seven day a week telephone covered
support for local military families.
At the 2003 annual meeting in
September, health and safety instructor and honorary board
member Vince Craft received the Harold Spies Volunteer of the
Year Award. The Directors Golden Hearts Awards were presented
to Ellie DuHamel and Billie Rae Walker.
At the 2004 annual meeting in
September, health and safety instructor Griff Mangan received
the Harold Spies Volunteer of the Year Award.
In 2004, Mrs. Nadine Brill
retired as the Executive Director after over 25 years of service
with the Wayne County Chapter. In October of 2004, the Board of
Directors hired Mr. James Love to lead the organization
as the Executive Director. Mr. Love had spent the previous ten
years with the Sullivan Trail Chapter of the American Red Cross
located in Elmira New York and the Genesee County Chapter
located in Batavia NY. Mr. Love came to the Chapter in the
middle of the 2004 Floridian Hurricane crisis and led the
Chapter through the organizations response to the Southeast
Asian Tsunami during the first three months of 2005.
Volunteer Disaster Coordinator Mr.
Dwight “Woody” Seufert joined the Chapter in November of
that year and quickly overhauled the department by training
local disaster volunteers in national disaster response
programs. His classes would be beneficial in the years to
come.
Also in 2004, the Board of
Directors elected Mrs. Pamela Gardner as the
thirty-fourth Chapter Chairman.
In 2005, the American Red Cross
launched its largest mobilization of resources ever to a natural
disaster. On August 27th Hurricane Katrina, the
strongest category 4 hurricane in over 60 years entered the Gulf
Coast region and caused massive damage in the states of
Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida. Hurricane Katrina
was followed two weeks later by Hurricane Rita, a very strong
category 3 hurricane that slammed into the eastern portion of
Louisiana and Texas. A third hurricane, Wilma ripped across
Florida not more than a week after Rita. The American Red Cross
responded to all of these catastrophic storms by sending over
50,000 volunteers to the Gulf Coast Region, serving over 3
billion meals and snacks, and opened up over 1,000 shelters.
Locally, the Wayne County Chapter sent 25 volunteers to the Gulf
Coast region in response to the hurricanes. The Chapter also
provided assistance to seventeen families that had evacuated the
Gulf Coast to seek refuge in Wayne County. We also recruited
over fifty new disaster volunteers for
local and national assignments during the months of August,
September, and October of 2005. The Chapter raised over
$125,000 for the relief efforts.
At the 2005 annual meeting in
September, Board member Robert Goodman received the first annual
Robert S. (RAS) Bloomer Award for Board Leadership, blood
volunteer Sindy Pickering received the Harold Spies Volunteer of
the Year Award, and the United Way of Wayne County was awarded
the first annual Good Neighbor Award. Larry Gonyou received the
first disaster award.
In May of 2006, the Chapter
Headquarters moved for the tenth time back to the St. Marks
Episcopal Church. This time however, the Chapter occupied
what were the administrative offices, the Chapel, and a number
of the classrooms including the youth room on the 2nd
floor. All together the Chapter leased over 3,000 square feet
of space in the Church.
At the 2006 annual meeting in June,
Board Member Michael Miller received the second annual Robert S.
Bloomer Award for Board Leadership, disaster volunteer Billie
Rae Walker received the Harold Spies Volunteer of the Year
Award, and the Wal-mart of Newark received the second annual
Good Neighbor Award. Robert Barton received the second disaster
award.
In 2006, the Board of Directors
elected Mr. Thomas Yale of Walworth as the
thirty-fifth Chapter Chairman.
Also in 2006, the Chapter hired Ms.
Sandra Porpiglia of Newark as the Chapter’s Health and
Safety Director, Ms. Abbey Nedvesky of Newark as the
Chapter’s Blood Services Coordinator, and Mr. Michael DiBiase
of Rochester as the Chapter’s Special Events Director.
In February of 2007, the Chapter began
a partnership with FLACCRA to handle all Wayne County blood
drive tele-recruiting services.
At the 2007 Annual Meeting in June,
the Chapter celebrated 90 years of providing service to the
residents of Wayne County. The event was held at the Sodus Bay
Heights Golf Club in Sodus. A power point presentation was
shown through out the evening showcasing the history of the
Chapter. Greater Rochester Chief Executive Officer John
Buttrill was the key not speaker at the event and addressed the
crowd regarding the new regional structure and the impact it
will have on the Chapter.
At the meeting, past board chair
Robert Goodman presented Pam Gardner received the third annual
Robert S. Bloomer award for Board leadership, David Stark
received the disaster award, IEC Electronics of Newark was
awarded the third annual Good Neighbor award, and volunteer
Disaster Director Dwight “Woody” Seufert received the Harold
Spies Good Volunteer of the Year award. Office manager Raquel
Szenas-Baker received a first level Tiffany Award presented by
James Love.
In September of 2007 the Chapter in
partnership with the Wayne County Office of Aging and Youth held
the first Family Caregiving course for the community.
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