American Red Cross Youth » Sandy Tesch

Design Contest Update

Sandy Tesch — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 16:27:22 +0000

I know many of you are wondering what is going on with the t-shirt design contest sponsored by the National Youth Council and Biomedical Services. Unfortunately, I have no news for you yet. I assure you that we are still working on this project, dealing with quite a bit of red tape, and we will make an announcement soon. I am really very sorry for the delay…it is greater than I ever imagined!

Sandy Tesch
Chair, National Youth Council
California

Design Contest Update

Sandy Tesch — Thu, 15 May 2008 03:33:19 +0000

I sincerely apologize for the delay in announcing the winner of the t-shirt design contest. I am managing the judging process, so I speak from personal experience when I say it has not been easy. We are going through one last round of judging now and expect to notify the winner by the end of the week. Thank you for your patience!

Sandy Tesch
Chair, National Youth Council
California

Design Contest Winners Will Be Notified May 9th

Sandy Tesch — Thu, 01 May 2008 21:42:55 +0000

Thank you to everyone who submitted a design for the National Youth Council’s t-shirt design contest! We originally planned to notify the contest winner today; however, due to the overwhelming number of designs and their impressive quality, we need one more week to decide. We expect to notify the winner on Friday, May 9th instead. Stay tuned for more information.

Contest Entries Being Reviewed

Sandy Tesch — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 21:51:23 +0000

Thanks to everyone who submitted a design for our t-shirt design contest! We are currently reviewing the entries, and we expect to contact the winner on May 1. Keep checking back here for more info.

The Red Cross Welcomes Gail J. McGovern as Red Cross President and CEO

Sandy Tesch — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 17:08:57 +0000

Gail McGovern, a business executive and professor at Harvard Business School, was just named the next President & CEO of the American Red Cross. Ms. McGovern brings many skills to the table, including extensive experience in the business world, non-profit fundraising and marketing. Red Cross leaders have spent a significant amount of time ensuring that Ms. McGovern is committed to the mission of the organization. I look forward to welcoming her when she starts her new position on June 23!

Interview: Jackie Speier, Former Red Cross Youth

Sandy Tesch — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 18:00:01 +0000

Last fall, I had the exciting opportunity to interview Jackie Speier, a longtime public servant and current congressional candidate. Ms. Speier is also a Red Cross volunteer – and she started her career as a youth.

I was inspired by this interview since I share many of the same experiences with Ms. Speier. It is remarkable to see how volunteering for the Red Cross literally changes lives.

How did you get started as a Red Cross youth?

I started out stuffing monkeys at my youth club at Mercy High School in Burlingame. I later became president of the club. Then I was on the regional board for the Bay Area Chapter, and I became president of that, too. I also attended the Bay Area’s Leadership Development Center (LDC) as a delegate and then as a counselor. Attending LDC had a profound effect on me; it is the reason I decided to go into public service and seek public office. The Bay Area Chapter sent me to another camp and I was a delegate and then a counselor there, too. I also took my first airplane trip with the Red Cross; when I was 17 I went to National Convention in Denver.

What skills did you gain? How do you use these skills today?

Leadership development training created confidence in me and showed me that I had leadership skills. That is how it works – someone takes notice of your innate skills and helps you build on them.

What message do you have for a young person just starting as a Red Cross volunteer?

I would tell him or her to take full advantage of the opportunities the Red Cross has because they are experiences you will use for the rest of your life. Your personal and professional development will be greatly enhanced. Plus, the American Red Cross is the greatest non-profit in the history of the world.

Sandy Tesch, California

What happens when the disaster’s over?

Sandy Tesch — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 23:19:54 +0000

American Red Cross communications vehicle on the scene / photo: arlen

On Monday night, I spent several hours at a fire on Valencia Street in San Francisco’s Mission district. A four-alarm blaze destroyed two apartment buildings, putting 59 people out on the street. I spent the evening checking in with clients, seeing if they had a place to stay, and setting up a shelter at the local rec center. I filled out damage assessment forms and I kept track of reports of missing pets.

As a Disaster Action Team member, these tasks have become relatively routine. What intrigued me about this fire was the community’s response in the days following. On Tuesday, the San Francisco Chronicle ran an article about how the fire victims are coping, a side of local disasters many people don’t see. Yesterday, SFist featured a plea for community support from younger victims of the fire.

As a volunteer, I have enjoyed seeing these bits of news and keeping tabs on the clients I typically only interact with immediately after a disaster. I’m glad their stories are being told. And I hope they continue reaching out to the broader community, utilizing Red Cross services and catalyzing the compassion of their neighbors. Here’s to Disaster Services 2.0!

My First Disaster Responses in San Francisco!

Sandy Tesch — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 00:22:32 +0000

Last night I had my first two disaster response calls as a member of the San Francisco Disaster Action Team. Surprisingly, I had two calls in one night after two months on the team with no calls at all. At 6:30 p.m. I helped finish up the paper work for a “cold fire” that happened the night before. There was no immediate danger or damage assessment; the client’s insurance simply didn’t come through so we provided the family with a place to stay.

My second response at 9:30 p.m. was much more spectacular: a three-alarm fire. Several fire engines responded, so city officials blocked off the streets leading to the affected apartment buildings. I started my night at the Salvation Army, where one family came to stay warm. I was immediately sent out to find formula for their 6-week old infant, and I actually managed to find the right brand at a 24-hour Safeway nearby. Soon we moved from the Salvation Army up to “the beast,” the Bay Area Chapter’s mobile communications vehicle. I met with several other DAT members, passed out water and snacks, and then began to interview clients and process paperwork. My fellow volunteers called hotels and a taxi cab company while I activated a number of Client Assistance Cards to provide food and shelter for the next few days. The beast was a whirlwind of activity for the next few hours and we all worked together in fast harmony.

After assisting my third and final family, I checked over my paperwork with the team lead. I had missed a few things, but I did well for one of my first responses. I am still getting the hang of the way disaster response works in San Francisco (compared to Washington, DC, where I started my volunteer career in Disaster Services), and I can’t wait to go out again. The clients we assisted last night may have been homeless if it were not for the generosity of the American people who give to the Red Cross to provide disaster relief in such situations. I feel privileged to work for such a worthwhile organization!

Sandy Tesch, California

Happy Birthday, Junior Red Cross!

Sandy Tesch — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 23:35:16 +0000

On September 8th, I celebrated my ninth year with the American Red Cross. I spent the morning in a Disaster Action Team orientation in San Francisco, further expanding my volunteer career into the world of Disaster Services. I am still amazed at all the new ways I can serve, even after nine years of experience.

The variety of volunteer opportunities at the American Red Cross is unique. Just yesterday I spent some time on the phone with former California State Senator Jackie Speier (prounounced “spear”), a prominent community leader, discussing her experiences as a Red Cross youth volunteer. Ms. Speier started volunteer with her high school Red Cross Club in 1965 and continued her Red Cross career as club president, Leadership Development Center (LDC) delegate and counselor and a National Convention participant. She credits LDC with giving her the confidence to lead and inspiring her to choose a career in public service and public office. She went on to serve as a policy maker and public servant for over 25 years, authoring groundbreaking legislation in health care, privacy, consumer protection, child welfare, education, and prison reform.

As I was interviewing Ms. Speier for our 90th anniversary celebration, I realized how similar our Red Cross volunteer career paths are. I was also transformed by LDC when I attended as a delegate and later served as a counselor for several years and by my first trip to National Convention in 2000. Both experiences gave me a new confidence and considerable knowledge about the expansive work of the American Red Cross. I am inspired by Ms. Speier’s example and I will think of her as I continue my lifelong career in public service.

The celebration of the 90th anniversary of the Junior Red Cross is a chance for us to step back and marvel at all we have accomplished. Together, we have created and taken advantage of excellent service delivery and leadership opportunities for young people in this organization, ensuring that the humanitarian work of the Red Cross Movement will continue. Here’s to the next 90 years!

Sandy Tesch, California

Johnson & Johnson Sues Red Cross Over Symbol

Sandy Tesch — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 21:01:46 +0000

You probably heard that earlier this month, health care company Johnson & Johnson (J&J) sued the American Red Cross over use of the red cross symbol. Johnson & Johnson claimed in its suit that the Red Cross was unlawfully using the emblem to promote products related to health and preparedness rather than just disaster relief. They specifically demanded that the organization:

Stop the Red Cross and its licensing partners from using the Red Cross emblem permanently on first aid, preparedness and related products sold to the public;
Surrender to J&J for destruction the Red Cross’ inventory of accused products;
Hand over to J&J all Red Cross proceeds from the sale of these products with interest; and
Pay punitive damages to J&J along with attorney fees related to its legal action against the Red Cross.

Communications staff nationally and locally have responded to J&J’s claims with clear messages. The American Red Cross has been using the red cross symbol since its inception in 1881, whereas J&J has used the symbol since it began in 1887. Congress granted the American Red Cross exclusive use of the symbol in 1905, but still allowed third parties who used the symbol previously to continue using it. J&J is considered one of these “grandfathered” users.

Beyond that, the Red Cross made just $2 million from the sale of these products in fiscal year 2006, all of which was invested back into the life-saving work of the organization. $2 million is a drop in the bucket compared to the $53.3 billion J&J made in the same time period. Considering that recent research shows that fewer than 7 percent of Americans have taken the necessary steps to get prepared for an emergency, the Red Cross must continue to offer emergency preparedness products.

For more information, view this video of President & CEO Mark Everson on CNN, and visit www.redcross.org.

Sandy Tesch, California