The Capital Area Chapter has been a part of the Big Bend Community since 1917! We serve Franklin, Gadsden, Jefferson, Leon, Libery, Madison, Taylor and Wakulla counties.
“It seemed like a small thing, but when she put that blanket around my shoulders, while I sat there, I felt that somehow we would be okay.”
Beginning Nov.23, 2009 through Dec. 31, 2009, the Capital Area Chapter will be soliciting the help of the local community, organizations and individuals within the community, schools,churches, businesses and other groups to donate new Twin-Size Blankets.
These blankets will be used to warm and comfort the ELDERLY, and FAMILIES suffering from home fires, throughout Florida’s Big Bend Region this winter.
You can help by collecting and donating NEW TWIN SIZE blankets. Blankets can be dropped off in the front office of the Capital Area Chapter located at 187 Office Plaza Drive Tallahassee, FL 32301. You can also help by making a financial donation toward the purchase of new blankets, or by volunteering. Please contact the Capital Area Chapter at (850) 878-6080 for more information.
This week kicks off Florida State University’s International Education Week starting today, Monday 16th through the 20th. The International Education Week is an opportunity to celebrate the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide. In partnership with FSU, our Chapter will be holding the American Red Cross Humanity in the Midst of War:An International Humanitarian Law course this week on Tuesday, November 17th and Thursday, November 19th at FSU CAMPUS. In Light of International Education Week we at the Chapter wanted to highlight some of the Red Cross’s International Efforts and Initiatives:
The Measles Initiative is a partnership committed to reducing measles deaths globally. Launched in 2001, the Initiative—led by the American Red Cross, the United Nations Foundation, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, UNICEF and the World Health Organization—provides technical and financial support to governments and communities on vaccination campaigns and disease surveillance worldwide. To learn more or make a donation, visit www.measlesinitiative.org.
Key Statistics
Between 2000 and 2007, global measles mortality in all ages was reduced by 74%, from an estimated 750,000 deaths in 2000 to an estimated 197,000 deaths in 2007.
Estimated deaths from measles by WHO regions in 2007:
Southeast Asia: 136,000
Africa: 45,000
Eastern Mediterranean: 10,000
Western Pacific: 7,000
Americas and Europe: <1,000
The largest percent reductions during this time period were in the Eastern Mediterranean and African regions (where measles mortality decreased by 90% and 89% respectively); followed by the Western Pacific region (73% reduction) and the South East Asian Region (42% reduction). In the region of the Americas, measles has not been endemic since 2002.
From 2000 to 2007, approximately 3.6 million deaths were averted as a result of accelerated activities (both increases in routine coverage and implementation of measles campaigns).
Since 2001, the Measles Initiative has supported the vaccination of more than 600 million children, mostly in Africa and Asia.
Of the 22 countries conducting vaccination campaigns in 2007, 18 (82%) countries integrated the campaigns with at least one other child survival intervention such as an insecticide-treated bed net, de-worming medicine, vitamin A, or polio vaccine.
Between 2000 and 2007, global routine immunization coverage increased from 72% to 82%. Coverage varied significantly across geographical regions. In the Africa region, routine coverage rose from 56% to 74%; in the Eastern Mediterranean region, from 73% to 84%; in the South East Asia region from 61% to 73%; and in the Western Pacific region, from 86% to 92%
In 2007, more than 23 million one-year old children did not receive a dose of measles vaccine through routine immunization services. An estimated 15.2 million (65%) of these reside in 8 large countries: India (8.5 million children), Nigeria (2.0 million), China (1.0 million), Ethiopia (1.0 million), Indonesia (0.9 million), Pakistan (0.8 million), Democratic Republic of the Congo (0.6 million) and Bangladesh (0.5 million).
From 1998 through 2007, WHO’s measles and rubella laboratory network (MRLN) expanded from less than 40 laboratories to 679 national and subnational laboratories serving 164 countries.
Our work is far from over. An estimated 540 children die from measles each day.
Here at the Chapter, we want to give a huge round of applause for all of our volunteers who gave their time to man the booth at the North Florida Fair this year. It was a huge success!!
We gave out over a 1000 packets this year containing preparedness materials and hurricane survival guides. The Holiday Mail for Heroes was a HUGE success as well. We collected a ton of cards and handed out flyers for the campaign. The Chapter will continue to collect cards for this cause until December 7th. So yet, again we want to say:
This week kicks off Florida State University’s International Education Week starting today, Monday 16th through the 20th. The International Education Week is an opportunity to celebrate the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide. This joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education is part of FSU’s efforts to promote programs that prepare Americans for a global environment and attract future leaders from abroad to study, learn, and exchange experiences in the United States. For more information about FSU’s International Education Week, please visit their website.
In partnership with FSU, our Chapter will be holding the American Red Cross Humanity in the Midst of War:An International Humanitarian Law course this week on Tuesday, November 17th and Thursday, November 19th at FSU CAMPUS. The course will be co-instructed by Patrick Kelley, Senior Director of Preparedness and Response and Susan Eckards, from Jacksonville Red Cross Chapter. The Red Cross International Humanitarian Law course is intended to raise awareness among American Red Cross representatives and general audiences about the Geneva Conventions, the basic rules of international humanitarian law, and the role of the Red Cross during armed conflict.
The course has a hands-on approach utilizing group activities, class discussion and multiple audiovisual aids, that invites participants to reflect on their images and perceptions of armed conflict and explore the powerful and fundamental concept of human dignity even in the midst of the excesses of war. For more information about the Humanity in the Midst of War, please email Patrick Kelley (Patrick.Kelley@tallyredcross.org) or call the Chapter at 850-878-6080
Today is a very special day, a day we pay homage to the men and women who have dedicated their lives to keep our country safe. This means ALL servicemen and women.
From the Thirteen Colonies, to our 51 United States men and women who believed in the words of Thomas Jefferson, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness,” have, throughout our history, fought for those rights and Veteran’s Day is our chance to say, “Thank you!!!”
Say a prayer for the brave men and women overseas.
Say a special prayer for their families, who make the ultimate sacrifice for their country.
Share with your children what this day means, and what it means to be an American!
If you don’t own an American Flag, purchase one, and fly it proudly in front of your home or business?
Visit your local VFW, or Memorial to pay your respects.
Attend your local Veteran’s Day Parade.
Shake the hand of a serviceman or woman when they walk by, and say, “Thanks.”
“Ms. Kate” was a volunteer in our Chapter Associates Office. Her calm manner and contagious, beautiful smile will be missed by all of us. Our love and prayers go out to Ms. Kate’s family.
Cards and condolences may be sent to the Chapter to be forwarded to the family.
Did you know that 27 percent of all American Red Cross volunteers are under the age of 24? Take time to celebrate the accomplishments of youth volunteers and challenge them to do more this November. View the youth involvement message from Jerry DeFrancisco, president, Humanitarian Services, below.
“National Youth Involvement Month…is a call to action. It’s a time to lead by example and demonstrate the commitment which Gail McGovern and I have already made, that youth are a priority…”
For more information about the youth initiative you can visit RedCrossYouth.org or contact us at the Chapter for how you can become involved!
Hurricane season does not end until November 30, nonetheless, many of us are surprised to see a hurricane enter the Gulf this weekend and so late in theyear! Hurricane Ida is a simple reminder to continue to be prepared throughout the year. We encourage individuals to visit the Be Red Cross Ready website to find out ways you can be prepared and to create a family disaster plan. You can visit the website at www.redcross.org/BeRedCrossReady.
Although we are not currently in the direct path of the hurricane, we ask that all volunteers who have not updated their DSHR availabilty to do so by logging onto DSHR site or emailing: deployment@tallyredcross.org.
For more information about Hurricane Ida, you can visit the National Hurricane Center website at: www.nhc.noaa.gov We will keep everyone posted on any further developments!
Join us at the North Florida Fair this year and don’t forget to bring a card(s) for our Holiday Mail For Heroes collection! We’ll have a collection box and some blank cards for those that wish to send a message to our military Heroes. If you don’t have a card, you can still stop by our booth and see us in Building 4. We’ll have plenty of brochures to help your family year-around to keep them safe from natural hazards and a schedule of our community classes!
We’ll be at the Fairgrounds from Thursday Nov 5th through Sunday Nov 15th. Look forward to seeing you all there!
Today is International Volunteer Managers Appreciation Day! We wanted to give a shout out to all of our volunteer coordinators and a special applause to those that are our volunteer-volunteer coordinators!
This week kicks off Florida State University’s International Education Week starting today, Monday 16th through the 20th. The International Education Week is an opportunity to celebrate the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide. This joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education is part of FSU’s efforts to promote programs that prepare Americans for a global environment and attract future leaders from abroad to study, learn, and exchange experiences in the United States. For more information about FSU’s International Education Week, please visit their 
Kate Manuel-Tucker
Join us at the 
