American Red Cross

Elizabeth H. Dole, national president of the American Red Cross, visited Baltimore yesterday to honor Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. employees for giving 200,000 pints of blood over 40 years. BGE is the leading corporate source of blood donations in Maryland.But, Dole added, more is needed here."BGE is a wonderful role model for companies throughout the country," Dole said. "It's a great partnership with the Red Cross.""Right now, during the busy holiday season, the region is experiencing shortages, so it is doubly important to give the gift of life now," she said.

An Ironman World Championship participant might have been the American Red Cross representative calling to schedule your next blood donation. Brian Boyle, 25, of the Charles County community of Welcome volunteers in many ways with the emergency response organization, including traveling the nation speaking about why blood donation is one of the reasons he is alive. "I'm fighting for it because I believe in it so much," said Boyle, who is the focal point of the Red Cross Iron Heart Campaign, an awareness effort launched last month by the Greater Chesapeake and Potomac Blood Services Region.

Add one more item to the short list of problems linked to Y2K: the Baltimore-Washington area's emergency blood supply is lower than normal at the end of the holiday season. The American Red Cross, which needs 1,100 pints of blood a day to meet the needs of area hospitals, is down to a day's supply or less of the three most common blood types. Red Cross spokesman Patrick Smith said the agency frequently has blood shortages in late summer and after the Christmas and new year holidays, but this one is worse.

Maryland Search and Rescue, in conjunction with Boy Scouts of America Venture Crew 616, will be holding their annual spring recruiting open house for adults and youth Monday, June 6 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Mt. Zion United Methodist Church on Route 216, in Highland. MSAR is an exciting Venture Crew coed program that actively trains and deploys volunteers in Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and Pennsylvania to participate in wilderness lost-person searches. They admit that the training can be rigorous, but if you enjoy the outdoors, like to challenge yourself and want to give back to the community, this might just be the perfect thing for you. To join you must be at least 13 years old and have completed eighth grade or be 14 years old. Meetings and training sessions are Mondays from 7-9 p.m. and usually one weekend per month.

Dr. Bernadine Healy resigned the presidency of the American Red Cross yesterday, saying she was effectively forced out by her board even as the organization prepared to spend an unprecedented $535 million raised to help victims of the Sept. 11 disaster. "The board felt I was out ahead of them making policy," Healy, who succeeded Elizabeth Dole as president of the $2.7 billion organization in 1999, said at a news conference yesterday. "They didn't have any more confidence in me." Rumors of dissatisfaction with Healy among the organization's 50-member board had been growing as the board prepared to meet this weekend, though yesterday board Chairman David T. McLaughlin publicly praised her leadership and dedication.

An award-winning team at Wilde Lake High School is not involved in sports, the arts or academics. Team members are students who participate in schoolwide blood drives, earning top performance awards from the American Red Cross. Wilde Lake's student-run drive has racked up several awards. It is the only school in Howard County to sponsor three yearly drives, earning "The World Series Award." Last year, the school received "The RBI Award" for collecting 467 pints of blood. Faculty member Jerome J. Berkowitz won "The Iron Man" award for his longevity - 16 years - as coordinator.

The Baroness Katharine Harris van Hogendorp sits in the nostalgic light of morning by a handsome Knabe piano, its unique dun-colored finish worn away above the keyboard, a place where she rested her forearm while teaching generations of piano students.She's a somewhat unlikely baroness, completely without affectation, warm and sympathetic and thoughtful, still light-hearted and venturesome in her mid-80s. She's a spirited Baltimore woman who married an enlightened Dutch nobleman.She's reflecting this morning on her World War II service as a Red Cross worker at a secret air base in India.

Suddenly on September 7, 2005, MARY M. ROUDETTE (nee Krajewski). Memorial service private. In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to the American Red Cross.

•The Greater Chesapeake and Potomac Region of the American Red Cross is requesting blood donations. Eligible donors can call 800-GIVE-LIFE to schedule an appointment. Platelet donors should call 800-272-2123. •Laurel Regional Hospital and Laurel Lions Club in conjunction with the American Red Cross will sponsor a blood drive from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. April 6 in the J.R. Jones Conference Room of the hospital, 7300 Van Dusen Road, Laurel. To schedule an appointment, call 301-497-7914 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

1917: Red Cross auxiliary in Bel Air On April 13, 1917 - days after America's entry into World War I - 41 "patriotic women" met in the Bel Air Armory to organize the Bel Air Auxiliary of the Baltimore Chapter of the American Red Cross. In 1864 the Geneva Conventions were ratified and the International Red Cross was formed. In 1905 a charter was granted, providing the basis for today's American Red Cross. After World War I began in Europe, several community organizations in Harford County were formed and dedicated to civilian and military relief.

Karimah Crum lost a beloved uncle to the war in Iraq more than two years ago. She was in middle school then, but mature enough to recognize how much support the Red Cross provided her entire family and grateful enough to give back. She set up "A Penny from the Heart" and pulled her best friends Sydney Young and Kayla Ryan into her fundraising plan. The girls placed collection cans throughout Windsor Mill and Dumbarton middle schools and asked their classmates to contribute spare change to Red Cross bereavement efforts for military families.

Even children 10 or 11 years old can make a difference that can change the world for others. Kate Douglas has been empowering students in her fifth-grade religion class at St. Louis School for the fourth year by giving them each $10 to donate to whatever charity they individually select. They can donate the $10 directly or do something to make it grow into a larger donation. Most picked the latter. John Reed and Matthew Matthai bought water and chips to sell for Japan earthquake assistance.

Tom King grew up at a Harford County swim club, in the house that is now his office and in the pools where he learned swimming, water safety, lifeguarding and instructing. Today, King owns Valleybrook Country Club, which his father established in Kingsville in 1962. He is marking the 50th anniversary year and the club's longtime association with the American Red Cross with a whimsical race Saturday that will benefit the relief organization. King hopes his third annual duck derby will be the most successful, with plans to raise at least $5,000 for Red Cross projects.

NASCAR Nation remained relatively unscathed in the wake of the devastating storms that rocked Alabama and surrounding areas. There was a bit of minor damage at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Nothing much worth noting at Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega, Ala., which was fortunate to have escaped the wrath of nature twice in the span of a few weeks. Nationwide Series driver Eric McClure got the worst of it. He survived what he describes as the "most helpless and scary" moment of his life when a tornado tore through his home in Abingdon, Va. "It looks like a war zone, a minefield," McClure told reporters.

Imagine suddenly being cut off from the world. That's what happened to millions of people when a 9.0 earthquake and tsunami struck northern Japan in March. In an instant, homes were destroyed and citizens were suddenly without safe drinking water or electricity. It didn't matter that this tragedy happened 9,000 miles across the ocean from Baltimore. People needed help, and Central Marylanders stepped up to give an estimated $700,000 so far to the American Red Cross to support our Red Cross disaster relief efforts in the Pacific.

A volunteer firefighter from Carroll County fell through the roof of a house that had caught fire in the 16000 block of Frederick Road in Lisbon late last night. He was evaluated on the scene but refused further treatment, Howard County fire officials said. The fire was brought under control in about 30 minutes, and all seven members of the family and their two pets were unharmed. Initial damage is estimated at $100,000. The firefighter fell about eight to 10 feet while ventilating the roof.

Karen Brown came to the Thanksgiving dinner organized by the city of Baltimore and the American Red Cross full of gratitude. For each hug she gave out, she seemed to have two thank-yous for the help she's received since a tornado swept through her townhome last week. The storm came through Northeast Baltimore and Parkville on Nov. 17, causing extensive damage to homes, trees and utilities. "I have new friends and additional family," Brown said. "That's the police, the Red Cross, the SWAT team, the city … you name it. Everybody who had something to do with putting us back together and helping us to get our life back together, I send much praise to every one of them.