A new mission statement, not a new mission

The American Red Cross has a new mission statement -- not a new mission but a new mission statement. The old mission statement, which dates from 1967 (with modifications), reads as follows:

"The American Red Cross, a humanitarian organization led by volunteers and guided by it congressional charter and the Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement, will provide relief to victims of disaster and help people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies."

To the point, but a little wordy, perhaps? The new mission statement is simpler:

"The American Red Cross prevents and alleviates human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors."

This modification was more than six months in the making and is designed to fit well with other changes in Red Cross marketing, including a new logo:

 

 You will be seeing the new "button" logo, taken from a Red Cross poster from the 1920s, more and more. The new logo aims to freshen the visual identity of the Red Cross while tying the modern Red Cross with its traditions from the past. The new, bolder visual identity will also show up on Red Cross vehicles, including its signature Emergency Response Vehicles, in coming months.

Red Cross leadership has concentrated recently on taking advantage of the Red Cross' recognition and reputation to increase public support. This new mission statement and new visual identity will play a large role in that strategy.

 

Red Cross ties N.C. coastline together

The Eastern North Carolina Region has grown.With the addition of New Hanover, Pender, Brunswick,Duplin and Columbus counties, the region incorporates the entire North Carolina coastline. This new regional concept will go into effect once a new regional executive is hired.

With hurricane response now consolidated into one region, the Red Cross will be better able to prepare for hurricanes and deploy resources all along the North Carolina coastline. A big job just got bigger.

Hurricane Irene last fall came ashore within the old regional boundaries, but other hurricanes in the past, particularly Hurricane Fran in 1996, have struck along the mouth of the Cape Fear River and moved northwestward through the Eastern North Carolina Region. With the Cape Fear Chapter, which had been under the regional supervision of the Triangle (Raleigh) Chapter, now part of the Eastern North Carolina Region, the entire coastline will be under the supervision of one regional executive.

Another Heroes Banquet

The first American Red Cross Heroes Banquet in Wilson was quite a success on March 1. About 175 people jammed the Wilson Country Club's dining room to honor Betty McCain, the former state secretary of Cultural Resources and lifelong promoter of education and the arts in the Wilson community and across the state.

Now it's on to the next Heroes Banquet for the Turnage Chapter. This one will be held March 29 at Rose Hill Conference Center and will honor Wounded Warriors, first responders, law enforcement, and the state Helo Aquatic Rescue Team (HART). Tickets are available through the Rocky Mount office (252-977-1720). The Rose Hill banquet promises to be an emotional one as the Red Cross recognizes people who risked their lives to help others. One Hero will be honored posthumously, and others will attend despite disabling wartime injuries. Some honorees are on an elite team that practices hazardous rescues in extreme conditions. Still others are bystanders who came to the rescue after life-threatening accidents.

The Rose Hill banquet will close out a month-long Heroes Campaign aimed at raising money for the American Red Cross, which is not a government agency and does not receive federal funding. Any group, business or organization can be declared a Hero for the American Red Cross by raising $1,000 or more for the Red Cross during National Red Cross Month. Call 252-977-1720 to learn ways you can be a Hero for the American Red Cross.