The Cayuga County Chapter of the American Red Cross has been pleased to serve as the host site for AmeriCorpsVISTA, a federal program which is likened to the Peace Corps, but is here in the United States. Two VISTA people have been active members of the local agency. They are Armin Simpson, who is entering her third year of service, and Dawn Heussler, who completed her tenure last November and remains an active volunteer instructing First Aid/CPR/AED classes.

Both women have been valuable members of the chapter staff and have provided indispensable benefits to the chapter and the community.

Susan Marteney, Executive Director of the chapter, recently interviewed Armin Simpson about her plans for the next year as the Red Cross VISTA volunteer.

“For this, my third, year as a VISTA, one goal that I have set is to focus on youth involvement in emergency preparedness in schools and colleges by starting up Red Cross Clubs,” Simpson said. “I decided to try and get this started right here at our office on State Street in downtown Auburn. My hope is that Red Cross Club participants will take the experience back to their schools where we can ultimately get them to run their own club.”

The Red Cross is looking for students age 5 to 19 who live anywhere in Cayuga County. The benefits to both the Red Cross Club members and the community are tremendous. Older students will eventually be trained and able to teach younger students babysitting skills that will help them become “professional” babysitters earning money for personal activities.

“Our younger members will benefit by learning how to give back to their community by being a part of an organization that helps children, just like them, in all parts of the world,” Simpson said.

Elaborating on the other benefits for Red Cross Club members, Simpson said, all club members trained in First Aid/CPR/AED will receive free, transferable college credit from Onondaga Community College.

“Many students are required to perform community service for Honor Society or college transcripts,” she explained, “This is an added incentive to join.”

Through the club, students will become familiar with the variety of disasters that have and can occur right here, nationally and internationally.

“They will be trained Red Cross Youth Disaster volunteers able to assist during a community disaster at shelters and feeding stations,” Simpson said. “Using 'Be Red Cross Ready,' a simple disaster preparedness class, kids can reach out to everyone they know - family, friends, classmates #- predating them for that unexpected disaster event.”

The Red Cross Club will encourage more students to “get involved” in community services freely - instead of being “ordered” to. Students will be drawn into and become more aware of what is happening in their town, across the country and around the world.

“Volunteering develops strong ties within your own community,” Simpson believes. “Students will have an 'alternative' place to go that encourages their involvement in and service to the community. It has been proven that students who are more involved in their environment will remain involved as adults. Who knows what these Red Cross Club members can accomplish!”

During the summer months instead of being idle, children now have the choice of coming to the Red Cross Club and participating in the various activities centered on the American Red Cross's fundamental principles - humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality.

On a day-to-day basis, this means that through humanity, members will develop an understanding of those who may be different from them. Due to impartiality and neutrality, they will provide for all who are in need and without regard to their circumstances. Club members will develop a strong sense of self by helping others through independence and learn that service to the community brings unity to the student body, school and community at large through voluntary service. Universality provides experiences that they will be gained from being a part of an organization that is worldwide and that involves groups of students all over the world dedicating their time and energy in the same way as their club.

Help is always needed at community blood drives, calling donors and hanging posters. Children being caught up can ultimately lead to more parents involved with the Red Cross.

“More importantly,” Simpson said, “students will eventually be prepared to help save a life because of the specialized training that they will receive.”

When Clara Barton established the American Red Cross in 1881, a Youth Services Department was a part of her plan to encourage development in the American youth. Today, the local club would be supported by student members in similar positions as the Chapter's Board of Directors. There would be a chair, vice-chair, secretary and treasurer along with committee chair and active members.

The Red Cross Club will meet once a week, and once the club is established, Simpson hopes to coordinate at least one trip per year.

“Perhaps we can tour the New York/Penn Blood Region Headquarters in West Henrietta or take a trip to Washington, D.C. to see the National Headquarters or attend the Annual Conference.”

Susan Marteney is executive director of the Cayuga County Chapter of the American Red Cross.