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1999-2000 – This has been a very challenging and rewarding year for our Chapter. Our Disaster Plan had to be rewritten and approved by Regional before the Rechartering process. This was accomplished (no easy task) and all the forms were filled out for Rechartering. Regional has informed us that we will be rechartered for the next five years, when the process starts all over again. I announced that I would be retiring at the end of 2000 and a Search Committee was put into action. The whole process is regulated through Regional and the Committee followed every rule and regulation put forth. By October, they had made their decision and announced it at the Volunteer Luncheon/Annual Meeting (changed this year because of my retirement). Disaster: Pretty normal disaster year. Most of the problems stemmed from carbon monoxide poisoning and faulty furnace emissions. Blood: The blood program has its struggles…but not locally; these problems all take place in the Regional offices. The Bloodmobile Drives at our Chapter house continually increase in numbers and satisfaction. We added three Drives throughout the summer shortage and have an extra one scheduled for the day after Christmas. Health & Safety: Each month our community courses reach maximum attendance. More industry classes are added each year. Our Health and Safety program continues to be healthy. Fund-raising: Thanks to a very responsive Board of Directors who help with the three chicken BBQ’s that we have taken on annually, we sold a total of 3,025 dinners this fiscal year, raising a net profit of $6,614. We thank the BOCES cooking students who baked and packaged brownies for these endeavors. Each time we learn something new and better that enhances our BBQs. It’s a great way to make money and a fun time for all!! (I will miss these!!) The Eastern Niagara County Chapter was named as a beneficiary in the estate of Marion Ward. I leave my chapter in good hands with Maureen Siekierski as Executive Director and Julie Harpst as Assistant Director. Both have served as my loyal staff for 13 to 15 years. Thank you Red Cross for 26 fulfilling and rewarding years,and thank you for the Crimson Maple tree in the front yard that was planted in my honor. May it grow strong and tall and live forever…the same goes for our Chapter. Thank you…
2001 – In our first year, Julie Harpst, Assistant Director and I, Maureen Siekierski, experience a truly unprecedented year. The events of September 11th changed our organization and our chapter forever. The horrific attack on our nation saw blood donors arriving at our chapter in record numbers. Members of our community volunteered to help in any way they could and financial donors ensured that our work would be done in New York City, Washington D.C., and elsewhere. Our disaster workers were activated immediately and Challis Dietz and Sue Beamer were ready to leave by that afternoon. We are so proud of all our disaster workers who supported the operation for several months. “Preparing for the Unexpected”: We have now added new disaster education pieces to our community education. Our Chapter reviewed our preparedness following September 11th and worked very hard to position ourselves to better serve our community. Thanks to a grant from the Grigg Lewis Foundation, our chapter purchased a generator, additional cots and blankets, protective clothing for our disaster team, and communication equipment. We ended the year 2001 a stronger and wiser chapter.
2001-2002
Disaster- This year began by once again testing our disaster preparedness and response. In early February we were faced with an ice storm and power outage that blanketed our area. We opened shelters at So. Lockport Fire Hall and Newfane High School. Thanks to the generosity of Jack and Marcia Tillotson, the Exchange Club of Lockport, and the Middleport Fire Department, we purchased a disaster trailer. All supplies and equipment needed to open a shelter are stored in the trailer for rapid response. We continue to look for ways to better serve our community. World events have made it necessary for us to focus on preparing our community for unexpected events and the possibility of war. We continually disseminate material assisting families with a disaster plan and a checklist of supplies needed for a disaster kit. Recently four new Armed Forces caseworkers were trained to assist military families in crisis. Blood- The chapter entered into a signed agreement with the New York-Penn Blood Region. The agreement is a collaborative effort to improve collections and provide the chapter with more input. Unfortunately, blood collections have dropped nationwide. We continue to work within our community and with New York-Penn to reverse this shortfall. Health & Safety- Governor Pataki signed a law this year mandating that every school in New York State be equipped with an AED (Automated External Defibrillator) and appropriate staff trained in its use. Our chapter has seen a significant increase in CPR/AED training due to this and other initiatives. Fundraising- Due in part to shutdowns, downsizing and retirements in our local workforce, our United Way allocation has been reduced by 19%. Fundraising has become a necessity for our chapter. We continue with our very successful chicken barbecues but are now looking for additional avenues of raising money in this difficult economic climate.
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History 
