A publication of the American Red Cross Silicon Valley Chapter

Around the ValleyFall 2013

InsideVisit redcross.org/siliconvalley for the latest news, events, and volunteer opportunities and follow us on:

flickr.com/photos/siliconvalley-redcross

@SV_RedCross

Silicon Valley Chapter

facebook.com/Redcross.SiliconValley

P2 Red Cross Youth Lead Successful Conference

P3 Red Cross Responds to Major Redwood City Fire

P4 Professor Honored for 45 Years of Service

On August 21, the American Red Cross Silicon Valley Chapter became the first nonprofit in Santa Clara County to install electric vehicle chargers available to the public.

The Chapter partnered with Adopt-a-Charger and Schneider Electric to install Level I Electrical Vehicle (EV) charging outlets and Level II Electric EVlink™ charging stations at the San Jose Office.

Mark Cloutier, American Red Cross Regional CEO, said the Red Cross embraces the goals set by the State of California to increase the availability of the EV charging infrastructure, and supports the use of electric vehicles by Red Cross employees, volunteers, donors, and any member of the public.

“Since so many of the disasters we respond to are the result of climate-related activity and forces of nature–hurricanes, tornados, earthquakes, tsunamis, wildfires–we, by virtue of our mission, have a vested interest in protecting the planet,” said Mark.

“These chargers are just the first of many practices the Red Cross is implementing to make responsible and constructive efforts to care for our environment and promote greater energy efficiency and sustainable business practices. Doing our part to help preserve the environment is more important than ever.”

Schneider Electric and the Silicon Valley Chapter collaborated to secure funds through a California Energy Commission grant. The grant funded the purchase of eight Level I and II EV charging stations. Schneider Electric generously covered the additional expenses related to the installation of the chargers not funded by the grant. All eight charging stations will be located at the Silicon Valley Chapter San Jose Office parking lot, facing North First Street, a major Silicon Valley corridor. Operational goals and objectives of this project include increasing the quality, accessibility, and accountability of EV charging services at Red Cross facilities while creating a public/private partnership model for accessible EV charging services.

Electric Vehicle Charging Stations Installed at San Jose Office

A ribbon cutting ceremony launched the eight EV Charging Stations at the Silicon Valley Chapter San Jose office in August. In attendance were from left, Mark Cloutier and Pilar Furlong from the American Red Cross, Mark Calise from EV Business Schneider Electric, Kitty Adams from Adopt-a-Charger, Kansen Chu, Supervisor, District 4, Alex Shoor, from the Office of Supervisor Ken Yeager, Patrick Connelly, from the Office of Councilmember Johnny Khamis, and Judy Silva from the San Jose Chamber of Commerce.

Page 2

From Our Interim CEODear Friends,

When it comes to preparing for emergencies and disasters, the American Red Cross can provide helpful training and tips. As a member of the Red Cross workforce I am often asked how prepared I am, and if I have any advice for family or friends.

My top tips for being prepared for emergencies and disasters are to always keep your vehicle’s gas tank half-full, and to keep cash in your wallet. If the power goes out, gas pumps won’t function and neither will the ATM machine!

Each Red Cross worker has their own number one tip and several were featured on our Facebook page and Twitter account during September’s National Preparedness Month. If you missed it, here are a few more:

Tom Busk, the Silicon Valley Chapter Director of Community Preparedness, Response, and Partnerships, reminds everyone that preparedness should not stop at your home. Tom says, “Got kids? Know their school’s plan! Find out how the school would facilitate an evacuation and if it has a shelter-in-place area.”

Naomi Pease, Prepare Silicon Valley Specialist for the Chapter, urges everyone to learn basic first aid, because it could help you save a life.

Discussing our preparedness plans and tips with our friends and families is a great way to learn together. I hope by sharing our tips you will be inspired to revisit or start your own emergency and disaster plans. If you need help and want to learn more about how you can prepare for emergencies and disasters, reach out to your local Red Cross Chapter or go to redcross.org/siliconvalley and click on “Community Preparedness.”

I hope you all have a safe and happy Fall season,

Pilar Furlong, Interim CEO American Red Cross Silicon Valley Chapter

The 2013 Leadership Development Center (LDC) was held in July at Santa Clara University and had 136 delegates, 26 youth staff, six adult staff, and many adult and youth volunteers from Silicon Valley and the Bay Area.

The four-day event is planned and executed by high school youth staff and is designed to empower youth to serve their communities through service, learning, and education.

During the conference, attendees are trained to become community disaster educators, learn how to start a Red Cross Club, and attend workshops about diversity and public speaking. The sessions provide all participants with valuable experience in team building, leadership roles, CPR and first aid, disaster and emergency preparedness, and international humanitarian law. All delegates are required to make a one-year commitment to Red Cross service.

“The event was a huge success because of the amazing dedication and work of our youth staff. Our delegates are looking forward to next year’s LDC and some hope to become part of the youth staff,” said Logan Ferlito, Volunteer and Youth Manager at the American Red Cross Silicon Valley Chapter.

Red Cross Youth Lead Successful Conference

“After LDC I wanted to immediately volunteer and participate in community service projects. As a future leader, I see myself training and helping others to fulfill the Red Cross mission.”

- Annie Choy, Alameda High School

Page 3

Red Cross Responds to Major Redwood City FireIn the early morning hours of July 7, a six-alarm fire at the Hallmark House Apartments in Redwood City destroyed the 72-unit building, claiming the life of one resident and displacing more than 100 people.

The American Red Cross and several other local partner organizations worked together to bring order to the chaos. The residents evacuated to the Fair Oaks Community Center early Sunday morning. Later, about 30 residents moved to a Red Cross shelter at the National Guard Armory in Redwood City.

The Red Cross shelter was open for six days and an on-site Assistance Center provided residents with information and support from the Red Cross and partner agencies. Our Disaster Mental Health volunteers provided emotional support throughout the week as residents returned to the burned building to view the damage and salvage belongings.

Within three days of the fire, 12 Red Cross caseworkers opened 72 client cases. Silicon Valley Chapter volunteers Geoff and Ann Ziman were two of the caseworkers assisting in the response.

Since 1999, Geoff and Ann have responded to 15 national disasters and more than 100 local disasters. Assisting on the Redwood City fire felt different to the couple—mainly because of the strong sense of community and partnerships working to help those affected by this local disaster.

“The partnerships that the Red Cross built with the city, county, and other non-profits were remarkable,” said Geoff. “Since we

were working as a big team, it made the process easier, not just for us as volunteers, but for the clients who also supported one another as a community during this tough time.”

Though caseworkers had dozens of clients to assist, the process ran smoothly.

“The willingness the client casework team brought to the table was outstanding,” said Liz Ford, Client Casework Manager for the response. “They were able to take on tasks outside of their job assignment and willing to do whatever it took to meet the clients’ needs.”

Despite the added pressures of the Asiana Airlines incident response happening at the same time, the Redwood City fire became a great example of what partnerships in the community can accomplish. Personnel from San Mateo Public Health and Behavioral Health, Lions Club, and Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) members assisted at the shelter. The Salvation Army provided meals and clothes for residents, and Project ACCESS and a number of other agencies offered a variety of services at the Assistance Center.

The six-alarm fire continued to burn throughout the day on July 7. Photo by Volunteer Cindy Holzman

Hewlett Packard Company (HP), a member of the American Red Cross Annual Disaster Giving Program (ADGP), contributes $500,000 each year to support local and international disasters. HP has been a supporter of the local

and National Red Cross for nearly 20 years with cumulative contributions totaling about $16 million.

In 2013, HP invited the Silicon Valley and Santa Cruz County Chapters to participate in two different “ScopeAthons.” The ScopeAthons allow the Red Cross to take advantage of the collective expertise of HP employees to develop creative solutions for critical chapter challenges, including both technological contributions and motivating people in the community to get prepared.

In August, HP hosted the employees of the Gateway to the

Golden State Region at the 2nd annual staff retreat at the newly renovated corporate headquarters in Palo Alto.

“Supporting the American Red Cross and its vast network of partners provides HP with the peace of mind that the organization has the flexibility they need to respond whenever and wherever help is needed–no matter the continent, country, city, or village,” said Ashley Watson, Senior VP of Compliance and Ethics and Executive Director of the HP Company Foundation.

“I hope others will join HP and support the mission of the American Red Cross to prevent and alleviate human suffering around the world.”

For more information on workplace giving or corporate partnerships contact Margot Harrigan at (408) 577-2013 or margot.harrigan@redcross.org.

Hewlett Packard: A Trusted Red Cross Supporter

Page 4

SCU Professor Honored for 45 Years of Service

Santa Clara University Law Professor Jiri Toman was honored in May for his lifelong dedication to the Red Cross and his tireless efforts with the International Humanitarian Law program (IHL).

Professor Toman received the Jiri Toman Award for International Humanitarian Service–an award created in recognition of Professor Toman. The award was given to the professor at the IHL conference held at the UC Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco.

“It was an enormous surprise,” said Toman, adding that he feels the service he has given to the Red Cross over the past 45 years is simply a path his life was fated to take. “It’s like it was my destiny.”

Professor Toman, who was born in Czechoslovakia and worked at the Henri Dunant Institute in Geneva, was one of the chief architects of the IHL seminar

program for the American Red Cross Bay Area Chapter, which began in 1999. Through the seminar, IHL instructors provide free educational resources to help raise awareness about the rights guaranteed to all peoples of the world during armed conflict, as outlined by the Geneva Conventions. Since 2000, ten seminars have been held and the format is a model for other chapters nationwide. This year’s event marks the return to hosting them annually.

“He has developed, inspired and continues to motivate and support students at the university level, as well as some of the great legal minds and experts in IHL globally,” said Joan Kelley-Williams, Director of the Service to the Armed Forces & International Services programs for the Bay Area Chapter. Joan, who has worked closely with Professor Toman for nearly 20 years, said she believes his work is essential, not only to fulfill the mission of the Red Cross, but to serve the good of the world at large.

“The survival of our species demands it and depends on it,” she said.

Naomi Pease, the Prepare Silicon Valley Specialist for the Silicon Valley Chapter, is a former student of Professor Toman at Santa Clara University, and has known him personally and professionally for a number of years.

“He, as a person, is an embodiment of the values of the Red Cross,” she said. “He mentors students and continues to support them even after law school. He does what he can to bring people together to support the community.”

Professor Toman said the honor was humbling. He believes that many people dedicate themselves to serving the Red Cross, without a thought to potential accolades or recognition. He does, however, appreciate knowing he has made a difference.

“It was very kind of Joan Kelley-Williams to help organize the event,” he said. 78588

Santa Clara University Law Professor Jiri Toman speaks during the International Humanitarian Service conference at UC Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco this summer.

Don’tpark it.Donate

it.Call us at

855-92RC CAR

(855-927-2227)

or visit

redcross.org/cardonation

for more information.

52201F