RED CROSS -- do we need to take another look?

[Eloriel]

I can't help it, I'm cynical of ANYthing and EVERYthing this govt does. If they're hawking the Red Cross, there's something that goes, "hmmm" in the back of my mind. I can't help it: they made me this way.

Then I read this: http://forums.go.com/abc/thread?threadID=534069&forumStart=0

Read it all. The Red Cross stuff is about in the middle. But read it all so you get a flavor for whether or not you find this person credible.

Then I remember Libby Dole was the head of the Red Cross and wasn't there some criticism of her tenure?? (Someone with a better memory help me out here.)

I have to also say I've seen a couple of local Red Cross people interviewed yesterday and today (or maybe the same person), and I wasn't all that impressed. Kinda like Chertoff's happy talk yesterday -- a little too optimistic, a little too "everything's rosy."

I just wanted to pass the question and info long. I'll probably get lambasted for this as well.

So -- do we know anything about the current Red Cross director?

[Cleita]

1. Better them than Pat Roberston's charities that they were

plugging earlier.

[mzteris]

2. Marsha Johnson Evans

American Red Cross President Honored As A Lifetime Leader Dedicated to Public Service

WASHINGTON, October 24, 2002 - The White House Fellows Foundation today announced that Marsha Johnson Evans will become the fourth recipient of the John W. Gardner Legacy of Leadership Award. The Foundation is recognizing Evans' remarkable achievements throughout her career, which represents a lifetime of public service, character, commitment, renewal and vision. Evans, also known as "Marty," was a White House Fellow from 1979 to 1980, and is currently President of the American Red Cross - the nation's premier humanitarian service organization.

"Marty's extraordinary achievements, unique style of leadership, and passionate dedication to public service embody the spirit of the Legacy of Leadership Award, as well as the White House Fellows Program," said Janet Abrams, Chair of the White House Fellows Foundation. "Her impressive career - as a U.S. Navy Rear Admiral, Executive Director of the Girl Scouts, and now President of the Red Cross - has set an exceptional standard of leadership and service to the nation. We congratulate and thank Marty," Abrams said.

Established in 1999, the Legacy of Leadership Award is named for John W. Gardner. Gardner - former Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare, founder of Common Cause, and an instrumental player in the establishment of the Fellows Program - is considered an example of the spirit of leadership and service required of Fellows. The award recognizes White House Fellows Alumni for a lifetime of accomplishment and commitment to service in their public and personal lives. White House Fellow Alumni and Former Supreme Allied Commander General Wesley K. Clark received the first Legacy of Leadership Award.

Evans grew up in Springfield, Illinois, the daughter of a Navy chief petty officer. In 1968, she graduated from Occidental College in Los Angeles and was commissioned as an Ensign in the United States Navy. As a Naval officer, Evans held a variety of command positions overseeing multi-million dollar budgets and hundreds of thousands of employees. While in the Navy, she served as a White House Fellow from 1979 - 1980, where she worked at the U.S. Department of Treasury. She retired as a Rear Admiral after 29 years of service.

Assuming the role of National Executive Director of Girls Scouts of the USA in 1998 was a natural continuation of her efforts to expand the professional roles of women. She transformed the Girl Scouts from its traditional focus to an organization that testifies before the U.S. Congress to end violence against adolescent girls, awards global service badges, teaches girls how to use technology, and supports mentoring programs to prepare young women for professional endeavors. She herself was a Girl Scout, and received the rank of Curved Bar - the highest achievement in scouting at that time.

Evans now serves as President and CEO of the American Red Cross, an organization devoted to helping Americans in time of disaster and public need. With great insight into the organization's mission, she is guiding the Red Cross as it continues to provide vital services in a world faced by new challenges.

[mzteris]

3. No surprise here.

FUNDRACE 2004
Name, Occupation, Employer Contribution Address
Mrs. Marsha J Evans
President and C.E.O.
American Red Cross RNC
$500
xxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxx, Va

http://www.fundrace.org/neighbors.php?type=name&lname=Evans&fname=Marsha&search=Search+by+Name

[Horse with no Name]

4. I believe in the Red Cross

Not saying that there might not be an official here or there in the RC who may be corrupt--but I look at society in general and know that it just reflects society.
In all my interactions with them--I have been pleased.
With that being said--everyone just has to do what makes them feel comfortable with whatever agency makes them feel comfortable.
I've seen some stories on here that "so and so was sent a bill for blood they received".
I have a hard time believing that because the Red Cross doesn't ADMINISTER the blood. They just coordinate the blood drives.
If the hospital billed them afterward--that is hardly the Red Cross.
Regardless...as I said. Everyone needs to do what makes them comfortable and I am comfortable donating money and supplies to the RC.
Was very surprised they seem to be a favorite agency to bash on DU though.

[walldude]

6. I agree Horse, there are going to be

problems in any organization their size but they seem to be the most experienced with this kind of thing. I also notice no one complains about them when they are making reports of abuses at Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo...

[kerry-is-my-prez]

5. Even my Repub mother thinks their scum - get gave money to another org.

n/t

[Catchawave]

7. I won't donate to the Red Cross.....

They used most of the 9-11 money to update their offices, now they're running misleading ads stating they're "on the scene, send cash", and they are nowhere near the NOLA Ground Zero scene!

RC is just not my charity of choice, sorry.

[bling bling]

8. Mine either.

I heard they turned down donations of goods from local Houston residents who brought them to the stadium. They told them they want cash. They also turned down *tons* of bottled water that a water botteling company wanted to donate and told them to donate cash instead.

Should they check with the people they're supposedly helping to see if maybe the people want those things? Seems pretty authoritarian to me, and wasteful.

[bushisanidiot]

9. The military won't let the Red Cross in to N.O.!!! they are providing

housing and assistance any way they can.. they WANT to go into N.O. but are being held back by AWOL Bush!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Catchawave]

10. I'm sorry to hear that :(

They should let us know this or pull their ads?

Why are 11,000 people still sleeping on cots in Houston then?

[bushisanidiot]

12. Try to wrap your brain around this: there are 1 MILLION displaced

americans.. the red cross is doing as much as they are ALLOWED to do!!!

why the FUCK is AWOL Bush keeping the Red Cross out of new orleans??!!

why are 30,000 americans still trapped at the convention center and the superdome with no buses moving them out??!!!

AWOL Bush is fucking the evacuation up.. BIG TIME!!!!

[CountAllVotes]

11. Catholic Relief

and they help everyone and the money goes there for help. There was a black bishop on from New Orleans today and he was saying that they were the best organization going. So I give to them.

[Autonomy]

13. The reason the Bushies promote the Red Cross

is because it does not cost them anything. And moreover, they can keep their "limited government" fantasy alive by using private charities. I don't think it's a reflection on the Red Cross as an organization.

It kind of reduces the tax cut rationale to a "taxation for the willing-only" scenario, which is ridiculous, and doesn't work because people only become motivated after the fact.

[TreasonousBastard]

14. I don't know much about the current one...

but whoever it is probably isn't much worse than the last one or two.

http://www.snopes.com/rumors/charity.htm is a start on the one rash of complaints about the Red Cross, and it should be remembered that something that big is never going to be perfect.

However, you don't have to send money to the Red Cross, as they seem to have quite a bit of it on hand already. Many other organizations are down there working, and most are quite efficient at getting your money where it is needed.

FEMA has a list of organizations they put together. I've heard of most of them and they are legitimate places to send money or volunteer, although some of them are of a religious or political bent not to everyone's liking. There are plenty there to choose from, though, and most of the good ones are on the list.

http://www.nvoad.org/members.php

Not on the list is American Friends Service Committee, the Quaker aid organization-- www.afsc.org They also started a relief operation in the Gulf, and being a Quaker myself, that's where send most of my donations.