WP: Red Cross Top Official Steps Down

[Pirate Smile]

Red Cross Top Official Steps Down
Charity Says Departure Unrelated to Katrina

By Jacqueline L. Salmon
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, December 14, 2005; Page A01

The American Red Cross, facing criticism for its Hurricane Katrina relief effort, said yesterday that its chief executive, Marsha J. Evans, has resigned -- the latest in a string of leaders who have struggled to guide the giant, often troubled charity.

Red Cross senior executives insisted that Evans's departure, effective at the end of the month, was voluntary. But others in the organization said that Evans was forced to resign after her relationship with the 50-member board of directors deteriorated over issues of control of the $3 billion organization.

Chuck Connor, senior vice president for marketing and communication, said a "more precise" description is that the "board had concerns about her coordination and communication with the board." He defended her performance, however. "This place is in a lot better shape than it was 3 1/2 years ago" when she took over, Connor said.

Those who follow the organization say that, whatever the reason for Evans's abrupt departure, it is not good news for the charity, which has stumbled during some of the country's biggest disasters. From the way it distributes money to victims to its treatment of minorities and its handling of blood donations, the organization is facing scrutiny from Capitol Hill, civil rights groups, federal agencies and others.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/13/AR2005121300712.html

[crystalallison]

1. Gotten too big

The Red Cross, like any organization that gets too big and bureaucratic suffers from waste, lack of communication, lack of focus, and probably people who are involved more for their own personal gain than for the good of the charity.

Though I do applaud people's concern over major disasters such as the tsunami, the hurricane, and the WTC (which the Red Cross was also criticized for) - I wonder why people don't put effort into helping the people that are closer to them. People in their communities who suffer from the bad economy, or bad health, or social injustice. Local Red Cross offices often struggle from lack of blood donations, or lack of volunteers or funds for their programs that help those in their immediate areas. I wish more people would look at their community when they make decisions about how best to help their fellow man.

[Coastie for Truth]

2. Almost Everybody screwed up

At the congressional hearing yesterday, Rep. Jim McCrery, a Louisiana Republican, assailed the Red Cross and called on Congress to consider whether to continue giving the charity a lead role in responding to natural disasters, the Associated Press reported. The designation gives the organization a substantial advantage in fundraising.

"If it is not the responsibility of the national Red Cross to step in when a Category 4 hurricane decimates a major metropolitan area and overwhelms one of their local chapters, whose responsibility is it?" McCrery asked.

Well, after a category 4 hurricane I was told it was FEMA's responsibility - and Red Cross's job was to co-ordinate the NGO volunteer effort.

BTW - I am

A Red Cross Disaster Assistance Team Captain, Mass Shelter Supervisor, and Disaster Service Instructor,

A Volunteer and Captain

A Ham Emergency Operator (also FEMA)

A proud veteran of the United States Coast Guard at

And of all the responders -- we Coasties did the job - and did it right.

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The point I'm trying to make - FEMA had the "lead" - and Brownie dropped the ball - and Bushies' team has been playing the blame game ever since.

Other question - the National Guard has a major role in a Category 4 Hurricane. I am not going to ask where they were - we know. Another cost of Bush's oedipus complex and inadequacy.

[loudsue]

3. Marsha J. Evans is a RIGHTWING TOADY, who kisses bush's ass

and has done more to fuck up the red cross than even someone as stupid as Brown or Chalibi could have done. Typical rightwing republikan mismanagement and carefully placed financial aid to help political friendships.

May she burn in hell.

:kick:

[Coastie for Truth]

4. The only way to solve it - is for you and your neighbors to VOLUNTEER

It makes no difference if you volunteer for the Red Cross - or the Salvation Army or Habitat or Saint Vincent de Paul or FEMA's or or your local VOLUNTEER Fire Department/Fire Auxiliary Police or GreenPeace. JUST VOLUNTEER

You remember the old Boy Scout slogan - BE PREPARED

Survival is FROM THE BOTTOM UP

What ever you think of Marti Evans -- do you have a 7 day supply of bottled water, a 7 day cache of survival food, blankets, a real first aid kit (not just aspirin and kaopectate), do you we have switched from tourniquets to pressure bandages, do you have flashlights and batteries, an out of the region phone contact, forget your cell phone (the cell system is an appendage on electric powered land lines under the kimono) - get a FR'S or GM RS or CB radio - battery operated. Have you gone through those "tips" in the Red Cross or CERT or Fire Department or Salvation Army "Disaster" course? And don't give me the line about "I have 500 rounds."


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