Youth Leaders, Showing Leadership

Last month I wrote about our chapter being pushed to take over more counties. Well we had our meeting, and I was caught off guard as to how I was treated at first. As we were being introduced, the chair of the advisory council to the area we might be taking over said “Oh, you must be the college student who is learning about our organization.” I felt like she was just assuming I wasn’t too involved and just doing this to learn about the Red Cross. I told her that I was also the Brookings County Board Vice Chair and the Midwest Service Area Youth Liaison. Her eyes grew big!

As we were getting to the action part of the planning meeting of developing a financial development committee, none of the attending advisory council members would step up and take the chair position. I finally became frustrated and spoke up. I looked around the room and told them that we “outsiders” from other chapters could only be an assistance and that someone within their council would need to step up and take the lead because we cannot do it for them. Our CSM backed me up saying that I was right and if they didn’t want to take on the responsibility they should get off the council. They were all quite offended. But we finally got some volunteers. J I think I may have showed her than I’m more than a college student learning about the organization – growth and positive development of our organization is a passion of mine. Sometimes you just have to show those who don’t take you seriously that you mean business. You may have something to teach them.

In other activities as vice chair, our first major fundraiser that we had planned was cancelled due to lack of volunteers. This was discouraging as I felt our chapter was finally starting to develop a committed volunteer base. I feel it might have not worked just due to the fact that it was planned during our university’s homecoming parade and everyone had other plans. I am proud to say that all the volunteers that agreed to it were the college students, with the support of our chapter executive. At our executive board meeting this month I was also asked to lead a fundraising event on campus. We are planning a dance on campus partnered with the American Humanics Student Association (nonprofit leadership/management program). It is less than a month away, so we shall see how this one plays out.

I challenge you to go out and show the “adults” in our organization who may consider us just “kids” that we are here for a reason more than they are expecting! You all bring fresh ideas and skills to the Red Cross, keep it up!

Jessica Mueller, South Dakota