This event - Dine for Disaster – invites patrons to simply eat-out at participating restaurants on Thursday, May 17, 2012. More than 170 participating restaurants will donate a portion of the day's sales and collect customer's financial donations to benefit local disaster relief and community disaster prevention efforts of the American Red Cross.

While the Red Cross responds to big disasters such as floods, hurricane, tornadoes each year, but the most frequent threat people face is a fire in their own home! Last year, Chapters responded to nearly 63,000 fires. That's one every eight minutes! In each case, we meet with the victims and assess their needs – often while still standing on the street while their home burns or smolders in smoke. Based on their needs, we provide a warm place to sleep, food to eat, infant supplies, we can replace medications, glasses, etc and we provide compassion, a recovery plan and hope to all disaster victims.

Nathan and Marcia Haupt of Schreiner's Restaurant in Fond du Lac and Pat Beimborn of Los Banditos Restaurants in Green Bay are spearheading Dine for Disaster with their fellow restaurateurs.

The Haupts' and Beimborns' recognize the American Red Cross is always there in an emergency, and they are honored to support them on the local level. "Through Dine for Disaster, local restaurants are in a position to support the local Red Cross Chapter, while providing our guests with an opportunity to socialize, enjoy their favorite meal, and know they're helping others in the process," Nathan Haupt said. "It's a win-win situation, with the community as a whole benefiting. We're proud to be part a community where businesses that are thought to be competitors are always willing to work together for the greater good."

Beimborn agrees and is participating because it is a chance to support the work that the Red Cross does in the community. "We at Los Banditos feel it is a great way to say ‘Thank You' to the community for their support by helping give back to an organization like the Red Cross that helps our neighbors' when disaster strikes."

For the second year, Society Insurance is the corporate sponsor for Dine for Disaster.

Below is a list of participating restaurants: (However, be sure to check the newredcross.org website for late additions)

Participating Restaurants on May 17, 2012

SOUTHEAST WI COUNTIES

This National Volunteer Week, April 15-21, the American Red Cross is celebrating our own dedicated volunteers and partners, the people who make the American Red Cross run.

Our volunteers bring food, shelter, comfort and hope to thousands of families affected by local disasters – mostly residential fires and many support national disasters including tornados, hurricanes and wildfires. You help families faced with rebuilding after every day of the year – around the clock.

Volunteers provide services to members of the military, veterans and their families, including communications linking military members to their loved ones during an emergency.

Red Cross volunteers teach first aid, CPR, swimming, babysitting, and other health and safety courses. They staff community fairs to encourage their neighbors to learn these lifesaving skills and organize celebrations to recognize people who use their Red Cross training to save lives.

If you’re looking to serve your community, become a Red Cross volunteer. Right now, we need people with skills just like yours. The most important asset is that you are caring and compassionate. To start the volunteer process please contact Leslie Luther, Volunteer Director at 414-345-8698 or Contact us.

The American Red Cross in Southeastern Wisconsin, along with United Way of Greater Milwaukee, is proud to announce the First Aid Service Team (FAST) collaboration. This partnership will help enable trained Red Cross personnel to be at hand to provide emergency first aid care to sick or injured people at community events. Often this quick action can save a fun-filled family activity from becoming a heartache or provide an emergency link to more advanced medical care when needed.

Program Manager, Ms. Jerry Putnam, commented "United Way's partnership enables us to continue this community program. It's life-saving for some." She recalls a recent New Years Eve example, "One moment, people are enjoying the evening and the next, a person entered with signs of cardiac distress. We were at her side immediately. The symptoms of a possible heart attack were identified, 911 was notified, and she was given stabilizing care until the ambulance arrived. It's essential for the community to have some type of coverage; this is an affordable way for churches, civic events, festivals, non-profits, etc. We couldn't do this without United Way's support." The United Way grant helps to underwrite items such as first aid supplies, training programs and the building of leaders. Therefore, the community is given significantly reduced rates for First Aid Service coverage at their events.

"We are pleased to partner with the Red Cross on this life-saving program," said Nicole Angresano, vice president of Community Impact, United Way of Greater Milwaukee. "It's imperative that trained first aid teams can respond to life threatening situations quickly and this funding will help prepare FAST team members to prevent or respond to emergency situations.

First Aid Service Teams were present at over 60 events last year: they ranged from community festivals, sports competitions, youth activities in conjunction with civic, church and youth organizations. In 2011, over 5,000 victims were treated at venues ranging from the Frontier Airlines Center, US Cellular Arena, Special Olympics competitions, church festivals, community parks to the public school system. Many of the events are multiple days and may require a number of stations such as the Miller Ride for the Arts where 10 first aid stations are set-up in various locations.

FAST teams include all types of volunteers including students, homemakers, teachers, business and medical professionals, engineers and retirees. High school youth volunteers are welcomed and mentored by experienced team members. 20-25 hours of training is required before working at a station. Training and volunteer opportunities are available and you can contact Jerry Putnam at 414-345-8671 or Contact us for details.

About United Way of Greater Milwaukee: United Way of Greater Milwaukee advances the common good by creating opportunities for a better life for all. Our focus is on education, income and health – the building blocks for a good quality of life.

Fires that occur in high-rise apartment buildings and condominiums are especially dangerous and cause more damage than all other structure fires, according to the National Fire Protection Association. The American Red Cross urges those living in these multi-unit buildings to think ahead and know the evacuation plans and fire safety features for their building.

"The American Red Cross responds to a house or apartment fire every 9 minutes across the country," stated Patty Flowers. "On Saturday alone, we responded to two Waukesha County fires including a 12-unit apartment complex at 343 Coolidge Avenue. Our team responded immediately to assess the needs of 19-residents, provided emotional support, a safe place to stay, plus financial assistance for food and clothing. We're also committed to educating area residents about how they can mitigate the risk from a house fire and help people affected by a house fire with food, shelter, and emotional support."

There are several key steps multi-unit building residents can take to be prepared:

• Learn the fire safety features of the building, including fire alarms, sprinklers and evacuation plans
• Make sure all exits are clearly marked and not blocked
• Know the locations of all available exit stairwells on the floor, one or more of the exists might be blocked by fire
• Identify a meeting place outside and away from the building

If you cannot evacuate and smoke is present, stuff a wet towel in openings around doors or vents where smoke might enter. If smoke or fire enters your unit, call 911 to report your location. Stay low to the floor to breathe the best air. Put a wet cloth over your mouth and nose. Open the window slightly and wave a bright cloth to identify your location.

The Red Cross recommends that all renters conduct an on-site inspection of the property before purchasing a home or signing a lease to make sure there are no visible fire hazards and that fire safety equipment is present and in working order. Renters should ask to see a copy of the building's evacuation plan and find out who is responsible for maintaining the fire safety systems.

The Red Cross response to these disasters will cost millions of dollars. If you would like to help, you can call 1-800-REDCROSS, visit www.redcross.org, or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Contributions may also be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013

For more Red Cross fire safety and preparedness information visit www.redcross.org/homefires.

The annual American Red Cross Brave Hearts charity event will be held on Thursday, April 5, 2012 at the Boerner Botanical Gardens, 9400 Boerner Drive in Hales Corners. This year's theme is "Brave Hearts in the Park." The reception begins at 5:30 p.m. and the dinner/program begins at 6:30 p.m.

Brave Hearts recognizes and celebrates the life-saving achievements of everyday heroes; those who have prevented life-threatening situations from occurring, come to the aid of another or contributed to the safety of our community. Awards are presented to six recipients in the following categories:

Military presented by American Red Cross
Master Sergeant Chris Winchell, Wisconsin Air National Guard, donated his kidney to his step-father, while taking medical leave from flying combat missions over Iraq and Afghanistan. He advocates for "living donors" and volunteers for the German Shepherd Rescue Alliance for Wisconsin.

Emergency Response presented by Forest County Potawatomi Foundation
Officer Guadalupe Ramirez-Cervantes from the Milwaukee Police Department, pulled a 2-year-old girl from a burning house while out on a routine patrol. His bravery saved her life.

Animal Companion presented by Rockwell Automation
Sergeant Caroline Knitter, Milwaukee Sensitive Crimes Division. She lead the charge to arrest in two major animal abuse cases – youth who set a dog on fire and a dog-fighting operation. Her research and training ties animal abuse to interpersonal violence and is making our area safer for animals and people alike.

Youth presented by State Farm
Four middle school aged kids discovered two children ages 2 and 6 months abandoned in Sherman Park, with a note from the mother who said they were too much for her. Along with the staff, they provided warmth, food and security.

Community Safety & Security presented by Right Management
Sherri Stigler, Waukesha County Communications. While at a Memorial Day event, a 68 year-old Military Veteran collapsed, her training and quick actions saved his life through CPR and the use an Automated External Defibrillator.

Hero of the Year presented by Northwestern Mutual Foundation
Michael Grabowski Jr.. Michael was killed by a motorist while he was helping someone who had just been involved in a hit and run accident. It has been 10 months since his death. His mother nominated him for his compassionate care and his ultimate sacrifice.

The evening would not be possible without our award and event sponsors including, Northwestern Mutual Foundation, Forest County Potawatomi Foundation, State Farm, MillerCoors, Johnson Controls, Inc., The Laureate Group, Right Management, Rockwell Automation and the Business Journal.

The event magic would not be possible without the in-kind work of David Caruso, Dynamic Events; McDill Design, Midland Video Productions, Front Room Photograph, and artist Tom Queoff who capture the essence and beauty of the communities we serve.

Brave Hearts recognizes and celebrates the life-saving achievements of everyday heroes; those who have prevented life-threatening situations from occurring, come to the aid of another or contributed to the safety of our community. The reception begins at 5:30p.m and the dinner/program at 6:30p.m. Individual seats are $75.00 and reserved tables are available for $1,000. To register call Kathy Fargo at 414-345-8664 or online at http://american.redcross.org/braveheartsregistration.

Proceeds from the event are used to help support the American Red Cross's life-saving and disaster services. The Southeast Wisconsin Chapter of the American Red Cross serves eight counties with a mission to prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. To learn more about Red Cross programs, volunteer opportunities, and how you can help, contact the Chapter at 414-342-8680 or visit RedCrossInSeWIS.org on the web, twitter.com/RedCrossSeWi and facebook.com/RedCross.SoutheastWI

Hours: Part-Time, 25 Hours per Week, Disaster Services, 5 Hours per Week, Administration

Overall Objective – Provide staff support to volunteers to ensure immediate response to recurrent single and multi-family and non-recurrent disasters in Racine, Kenosha, and Walworth counties.

Key Outcomes:

• Services are provided by volunteers and managed by volunteer leaders, supported by paid staff.
• The region has a broad support system to respond to single and multi-family disasters.
• The region has good relationships with emergency responders (fire, police, emergency management) in Racine, Kenosha, and Walworth Counties.
• Back up is provided to support all facets of an initial response when volunteers are unable to fulfill their commitments.
• The Disaster Action Teams are fully integrated into the regional planning process and response capabilities.
• Racine office bills are authenticated and paid in a timely manner.

Principal Activities:

1. In partnership with Mass Care, Logistics and External Relations program leadership ensure a response to all disasters within 2 hours.
2. Promote involvement of volunteers by developing a team(s) to welcome individuals and groups actively seeking disaster assignments, and processes to nurture and retain these volunteers.
3. Assure Disaster Action Teams are represented on the Response Planning Committee.
4. Communicate goals, objectives, tasks, procedures to all program members.

Education and Experience: The position requires education generally equivalent to four years of college and up to two years progressively responsible experience in related area; or work experience of a sufficient duration to acquire management skills, including the ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.

Other Qualifications: Must have a Wisconsin driver’s license, computer skills to include use of word processing, spreadsheet and database programs and be well versed in American Red Cross Disaster Services policies and procedures.

General Expectation: It is the expectation that all paid staff members will support disaster responses and may work in roles outside of their day-to-day activity to assure a timely and high quality service to disaster clients.

FLSA Status: Exempt

Position will be located in the American Red Cross – Racine, WI office. For a complete job description and/or to apply, send resume with salary requirement to: recruiterD7@redcross.org MUST include position title and desired location in subject line.

Application deadline: 3/3/2012

Overall Objective: Ensure readiness by providing project management support and leadership to all activities within disaster services; and provide logistical support to ensure adequate supplies are strategically placed throughout the region.

Key Outcomes:

• Services are provided by volunteers and managed by volunteer leaders, supported by paid staff.
• Back up is provided to support all facets of an initial response when volunteers are unable to fulfill their commitment.
• The Response Planning Committee and all its sub-committees striving to reach the regional goals and objectives are supported through project management oversight.
• Disaster Services has materials and supplies necessary to respond.
• The region has effective agreements with vendors, suppliers, and facilities.
• An inventory of supplies and equipment is maintained and easily accessible.
• A Logistics group is developed to support a regional response to a Level III or greater operation.

Principal Activities:

1. In partnership with program leadership, ensure a response to all disasters within 2 hours.
2. In partnership with the Regional Director, Disaster Services ensure that readiness gaps are being proactively addressed by providing staff support to leadership volunteers and project management for specially assigned readiness projects.
3. Maintain an inventory of all supplies and equipment in the Eastern Wisconsin Region.
4. Assure equipment and supplies are strategically placed to promote a state of readiness throughout the region.
5. Promote involvement of volunteers by developing a team(s) to welcome individuals and groups actively seeking disaster assignments, and processes to nurture and retain these volunteers.
6. Assure that supported volunteers, particularly in Logistics, as well as special readiness related projects are represented on the Response Planning Committee.
7. Communicate goals, objectives, tasks, procedures to all program members.

Education and Experience: The position requires education generally equivalent to four years of college and up to two years progressively responsible experience in related area; or work experience of a sufficient duration to acquire management skills, including the ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.

Other Qualifications: Must have a Wisconsin driver’s license, computer skills to include use of word processing, spreadsheet and database programs and be well versed in American Red Cross Disaster Services policies and procedures.

General Expectation: It is the expectation that all paid staff members will support disaster responses and may work in roles outside of their day-to-day activity to assure a timely and high quality service to disaster clients.

FLSA Status: Exempt

Position can be located at any American Red Cross office in either the Northeast WI Chapter or the Southeastern WI Chapter. For a complete job description and/or to apply, send resume with salary requirement to: recruiterD7@redcross.org MUST include position title and desired location in subject line.

Application deadline: 3/3/2012

Don’t let fire hurt you! Prevention and a few key habits will help you and your family stay safe:

• Keep flammable items at least three feet away from anything that gets hot.
• Never smoke in bed.
• Keep matches and lighters away from children.
• Keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen and get training from the fire department on how to use it.
• Plug heaters directly into a wall socket and unplug when not in use.
• Never overload electrical outlets.
• Avoid running cords under carpet and furniture.
• Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, including sleeping areas.
• Test and dust smoke alarms monthly, change the batteries yearly.
• Replace smoke alarms every 10 years.
• Make a fire escape plan with two exits out of every room.
• Practice your plan twice a year.
• Identify an outside meeting place to gather after escaping.
• Teach children that firefighters are their friends who can help.

In case of fire, follow your escape plan!

• Crawl low under smoke.
• Feel closed doors. If the door is hot, use your second way out.
• Go to your outside meeting place and then call 911 for help.
• Remember to GET OUT, STAY OUT

Brave Hearts

Boerner Botanical Gardens

April 5, 2012

Brave Hearts recognizes and celebrates the life-saving achievements of everyday heroes; those who have prevented life-threatening situations from occurring, come to the aid of another or contributed to the safety of our community. Awards are presented to six recipients in the following categories: Community Safety & Security, Animal Companion, Emergency Response, Military, Youth, and Hero of the Year.

We are extremely proud to present the following Brave Hearts recipients for 2012 and hope you will join us in honoring these outstanding individuals April 5, 2012.

Officer Guadalupe Ramirez-Cervantes
Emergency Response
Presented by Forest County Potawatomi Foundation

Frederick Goss, Shekena Goss, Keandra Lasher and DeMarco Royster
Youth
Presented by State Farm

Sherri Stigler
Community Safety & Security
Presented by Right Management

Sergeant Caroline Knitter
Animal Companion
Presented by American Red Cross

Christopher Winchell
Military
Presented by Rockwell Automation

Michael Grabowski, Jr.
Hero of the Year
Presented by Northwestern Mutual Foundation

Proceeds from the event are used to help support American Red Cross’s life-saving and disaster services.
  
Complete your RSVP online at  http://american.redcross.org/braveheartsregistration.

If you have any questions or problems regarding registration, please contact Linda Langen at langenl@wi-redcross.org.

Position:    SPECIAL EVENTS COORDINATOR – American Red Cross in Southeast Wisconsin
Status:    Exempt
Hours:    Full-time, occasional evenings and weekends required and flexibility to provide fund development activities during a disaster.

Position Objectives – Raise significant funds to support the mission of the American Red Cross through a variety of special events.

Key Responsibilities:
1.    Coordinate all aspects of special events management including planning, execution and evaluation.
2.    Meet annual revenue targets assigned to individual special events.
3.    Cultivate, engage and steward volunteers to lead and execute special events.
4.    Work with fundraising team to identify and secure event sponsors and vendors to secure in-kind gifts.
5.    Work with staff and volunteers to communicate details about the event to media and other constituents.
6.    Plan annual event calendar with special event subject matter experts within eastern Wisconsin.

Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree required.  2-4 years of special events experience.  Strong written, verbal, and computer skills are needed, fundraising software a plus. Familiarity with southeast Wisconsin and all its communities is a strong preference.  The successful candidate will be self-motivated, well organized, and possess superior interpersonal skills.

To apply:
For a complete job description and/or to apply, send resume with salary requirement to: recruiterD7@usa.redcross.org   MUST include position title and desired location in subject line.

Equal Employment Opportunity