Welcome to the Central Maryland Chapter of the American Red
Cross. You’ve joined a team that includes more than 2,000
volunteers in communities throughout Central Maryland. You’re
also part of an international movement with organizations in
more than 170 countries. The Red Cross Movement is something
special, started and maintained around the world by the actions
of people like you, united by a common interest in improving
the quality of human life.
Volunteers like you are the essential link to our community,
helping the Red Cross provide relief to victims of disasters
and helping people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies.
In this volunteer-led organization, you may become involved
with many different types of activities. We want to hear from
you as we seek to match your interests and abilities with the
needs of services throughout the Red Cross. Please feel free
to contact Bobbie Jones, Pam Tice, Carolyn Thompson or Donna
Bauer in the Human Resources and Volunteers office if you have
questions, suggestions or comments.
Best of luck to you, and welcome. We hope that your association
with the American Red Cross brings you many meaningful and rewarding
experiences.
Thank you for joining our cadre of over five
million American Red Cross volunteers and volunteer blood donors.
This handbook was prepared to give you some essential
information about the policies and expectations of the
Central Maryland Chapter. The handbook has been organized by topic
to help you find information you need easily. You are also encouraged
to talk with your supervisor and the Department of Human Resources
and Volunteers if you have any questions about the content of
this handbook. Please take the time to read through it and refer
back to it as questions arise.
Central Maryland Chapter reserves the right to modify
the policies in this handbook without prior notice. The
policies described in this handbook replace all prior policies,
handbooks or policy guidance provided.
Thank you for giving your time and talents to help others. We
hope that you find volunteering with the American Red Cross a
positive and rewarding experience.
The American Red Cross, a humanitarian organization led by volunteers
and guided by its 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.
Volunteers are expected to adhere to the Fundamental Principles
of the International Red Cross Movement: humanity, impartiality,
neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality.
Brief descriptions of each are provided below:
Humanity: The International Red Cross and
Red Crescent Movement (‘the Movement”), born of
a desire to bring assistance without discrimination to the wounded
on the battlefield, endeavors, in its international and national
capacity, to prevent and alleviate human suffering wherever
it may be found. Its purpose is to protect life and health and
to ensure respect for the human being. It promotes mutual understanding,
friendship, cooperation and lasting peace amongst all peoples.
Impartiality: The Movement makes no discrimination
as to nationality, race, religious beliefs, class or political
opinions. It endeavors to relieve the suffering of individuals,
being guided solely by their needs, and to give priority to
the most urgent cases of distress.
Neutrality: In order to continue to enjoy
the confidence of all, the Movement may not take sides in hostilities
or engage at any time in controversies of a political, racial,
religious or ideological nature.
Independence: The Movement is independent.
The National Societies, while auxiliaries in the humanitarian
services of their governments and subject to the laws of their
respective countries, must always maintain their autonomy so
that they may be able at all times to act in accordance with
the principles of the Movement.
Voluntary service: The Movement is a voluntary
relief movement not prompted in any manner by desire for gain.
Unity: There can be only one Red Cross or
Red Crescent Society in any one country. It must be open to
all. It must carry on its humanitarian work throughout its territory.
Universality: The International Red Cross
and Red Crescent Movement, in which all Societies have equal
status and share equal responsibilities and duties in helping
each other, is worldwide.
Our commitment to the Fundamental Principles brings us together
with a common purpose and inspires us to excel and to behave in
ways that inspire the trust of the American people. Each of us
is responsible for upholding and living in accordance with these
values every day.
Our American Red Cross values provide the foundation for the
way we behave and the standard to which we hold ourselves. Each
of us is responsible for upholding the values and living in accordance
with them every day:
• Accountability,
• Collaboration,
• Commitment,
• Results,
• Trustworthiness and
• Humanitarianism.
As American Red Cross volunteers, each of us is responsible,
every day, for our own behavior and decisions. We affect the people
and community around us. We make a difference.
We are committed to making a positive difference by…
Improving the quality of human life.
Enhancing self-reliance and concern for others.
Helping people avoid, prepare for and cope with emergencies.
In living out this mission, each of us is responsible for living
up to the fundamental standards of our culture:
• Telling the truth
• Keeping promises
• Respecting individuals
• Being fair
Each of us is responsible for maintaining the highest standards
of ethics… every day.
It is your responsibility to be an active protector of the values
that make us who we are. If a potential illegal, unsafe or unethical
situation arises in the Red Cross workplace, speak up! If possible,
notify your supervisor, volunteer resources representative or
any manager with whom you feel comfortable. If attempts to resolve
this at a local level are unsuccessful, call the Concern Connection
Line, 1-888-309-9679.
Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross in 1881. In 1905,
the United States Congress gave Red Cross a charter that mandates
it to provide relief for domestic and international disaster victims
and communication services for members of the Armed Forces. Every
Red Cross chapter must do these two things, although many provide
a much greater variety of community services.
The International Red Cross was founded by Henry Dunant in
1863. Its headquarters is in Geneva, Switzerland.
The American Red Cross was founded by Clara Barton in 1881
and is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent
Movement.
The United States Congress has mandated that all Red Cross
chapters must provide services for the military and their families
and provide relief assistance during all disasters, domestic
and international.
The American Red Cross Headquarters is in Washington, DC
There are over 800 chapters and 35 blood services regions
in the United States; we also have Armed Forces Emergency Services
stations serving members of the military and their families
in the US and overseas.
All Red Cross disaster assistance is an outright gift. It
is funded by voluntary contributions from the American people.
The International Red Cross has been awarded the Nobel Peace
Prize four times.
The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is an international
organization with societies in more than 170 countries. It is
unique among voluntary service organizations because it was founded
on a set of seven Fundamental Principles.
The Central Maryland Chapter serves people in Anne Arundel, Baltimore,
Carroll, Harford, and Howard Counties and Baltimore City. Our
headquarters is located at 4800 Mt. Hope Drive, Baltimore. The
chapter’s web site address is www.redcross-cmd.org.
We are particularly proud of the services and achievements that
are unique to our own community.
Since 1990 we have housed the Holocaust and War Victims Tracing
Center, a national Red Cross service that helps provide answers
to people seeking the fate of loved ones lost during the World
War II era.
Our volunteers serve patients in local Veteran Administration
hospitals, helping distribute comfort kits and talking to the
hospitalized veterans
For over 40 years, our volunteers have made it possible for
people with multiple sclerosis to engage in therapeutic and
recreational sports.
Our youth volunteers in Red Cross Clubs and Corps support
Red Cross in many activities, such as; teaching Community Disaster
Education, participating in the Measles initiative and other
service learning projects.
These are just a few of the many ways through which our volunteers,
including you, touch the Central Maryland community.
The Central Maryland Chapter provides this wide range of services
to the community:
Emergency assistance to victims of fires,
storms, and other disasters, as well as community education
to prevent and prepare for emergencies. Emergency communications and assistance to
members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their families. International tracing services for people who
have lost touch with family members due to war, natural disasters,
and other calamities. Teach and certify people in lifesaving skills
such as CPR, first aid, and life guarding. Train people in swimming, nursing assistance,
crime avoidance, HIV and AIDS prevention, childcare, and other
health and safety related areas. Youth Services provides young people opportunities
to develop leadership skills and positively impact the communities
they live in through involvement in Red Cross Clubs and Corps
and community outreach programs. Provision of safe blood and blood products
to more than 80 area hospitals for cancer patients, accident
victims, and others in need.
The Greater Chesapeake and Potomac Region provides nearly
all of the blood needed in the Central Maryland area. The
Central Maryland Chapter works together with the Region by
recruiting, training, and scheduling volunteers and drivers
to assist in the blood collection program. The Greater Chesapeake
and Potomac Blood Services Region is located at 4700 Mt. Hope
Drive. The Blood Services web site address is www.my-redcross.org.
Information relating to Blood Services, such as blood drive
locations, hosting a blood drive, or questions related to
giving blood, can be obtained by calling the Greater Chesapeake
and Potomac Region at 1-800-GIVE LIFE, (1-800-448-3543).
