Red Cross FBCI Blog

Happy New Year!?

2010-02-22T15:41:00.005-05:00

February 14th was a holiday. No, not the one you are thinking about with its red hearts and sweet candies, it was the Lunar New Year celebrated in many countries by many people, but most famously by Buddhists. This New Year, I was invited to the Indiana Buddhist Center where we celebrated the new year with a lovely, if sedate, ceremony. We began with a fire puja held outdoors (followed by hot tea!). We then entered the warm sanctuary filled with beautiful mandalas, cushions covered the floor, and chairs lined the walls. We all fit in the small room but barely. We listened to Geshe Jinpa Sonam chant traditional prayers including wishes for a long life for His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet who will visit Indiana in May.

The celebration closed with the collection of donations for a clothing drive, hanging prayer flags in the trees outside, more hot tea, and interesting conversations with Tibetans who call Indiana home.

What does this have to do with the Red Cross?? you might rightly ask. As you remember from Fulfilling Our Mission; translating your compassion into community action, our seven fundamental principles guide our actions, and not only in times of disaster. It is our duty to learn about our community so we can better serve one another(voluntary service, impartiality, and unity). As our good friend K.P. Singh said in a recent article posted on www.nriinternet.com :

"All frontiers and divides are man-created, for faiths only offer a spirit of shared humanity, message of peace, justice, and human dignity for all God’s (Great Spirit’s) Children. For one brief moment the lesson of our unity and universality stood before me and I felt may be the Tibetan Losar [New Year] and the Year of Tiger could be a new beginning for peace and goodwill throughout the lands, cultures, faith communities, and usher in a more hopeful tomorrow."

... and isn't that what we all hope for?

Responding to the Call

2010-01-25T09:32:00.003-05:00

Sunday morning, at about 7:15, I woke from a deep sleep to the sound of my phone ringing. Deeply confused and not all the way awake, I answered it with a murmurred "yello?" It was Mary, the night worker at the Red Cross here in Indianapolis. There had been an apartment fire at 71st and Michigan Rd, and I was one of the DATs on call. By the time she finished talking I had my feet on the floor and my eyes had eased open. This was it. This was what I was trained to do.

Although I have been on the Disaster Action Team roster since August, Sunday was the first time I was called to the scene of a disaster. I pulled up on 71st street to a confusing jumble of fire trucks, police cars, and emergency vehicles. In my Red Cross vest, I was quickly spotted by a fireman and taken to the office building where the people affected by the fire were being offered coffee and donuts, a small, but welcome comfort after their ordeal. I met up with my fellow DATs on my way to the building, and the three of us helped over 30 people get housing, food, and clothes to meet their immediate needs.

We helped some get hotel rooms, some needed medicine, and some really needed to tell what had happened. I heard what it was like to wake up to the smell of smoke or the fire department knocking on your door. After it was over, they were allowed back into their fire damaged and water-logged homes with an escort from the fire department. One man came back only with his wife's blackened keys.

Being a member of the Disaster Action Team is a big responsibility. It means keeping your paperwork organized so you are ready to go, being on call during the night and while the office is closed, and working with your team to give the best response. DAT members are also willing to respond to the smallest disasters, the ones that don't make a blip in the local news, the disasters that only affect only one family, because that family needs us just as much care and comfort as the vicitims of a flood, tornado, or hurricane.

Unfortunately, DAT volunteers in the outlying counties are rare. In some cases, the entire county is served by only four devoted DAT volunteers. If you are interested in learning more about this challenging and important role with the Red Cross, please contact me (lbradley@redcross-indy.org) or visit our website at www.redcross-indy.org/Volunteer/Volunteer.aspx.

Haiti Earthquake Update

2010-01-14T12:21:00.002-05:00

As many of you know, the country of Haiti is currently in the aftermath of a major earthquake. We thank everyone who has contacted their Action Team leadership desiring to help in this time of great need. Disaster response in Haiti is currently being administered jointly by the Haitian Red Cross and the International Red Cross; Red Cross volunteers from the states are not currently needed for deployment to Haiti. However, the American Red Cross is supporting the operation on a fiscal level: if you would like to participate in responding to this major disaster through a monetary donation, please contact our offices at 317-684-1441, ext 314 for Leslie Swift. Or, you can donate through the Red Cross website here.

Red Cross to honor humanitarian acts, service

2009-12-22T16:11:00.002-05:00

The American Red Cross of Greater Indianapolis is looking for nominees for their Hall of Fame Awards presented by Conseco.

The American Red Cross of Greater Indianapolis Hall of Fame honors individuals and organizations that embody the core humanitarian values of the Red Cross; those who saw a need and responded with specific acts of courage or kindness, ongoing contributions that enhance the community, or a lifetime of service.

Eligibility Requirements – nominees must meet all of the following:

• Individual nominees must reside in or be employed within one of the 11 counties the Greater Indianapolis Red Cross serves: Boone, Clinton, Hancock, Hamilton, Hendricks, Henry, Johnson, Madison, Marion, Morgan and Shelby.
• Organizational nominees must have a branch or headquarters located within one of the 11 counties the Greater Indianapolis Red Cross serves: Boone, Clinton, Hancock, Hamilton, Hendricks, Henry, Johnson, Madison, Marion, Morgan and Shelby.
• The humanitarian act or service must have taken place in one of the above counties.
• The humanitarian act or service must have taken place between January 1 and December 31, 2009.

Submission deadline: January 22, 2010

For more information and a nomination form, visit www.indyredcross.org/halloffame

Cooking with the FBCI Ladies!

2009-12-21T17:07:00.003-05:00

Today was a great day! Kira and I went to Gurinder Walia's house for a lesson in Punjabi cooking!! Gurinder attends the Sikh Satsang of Indianapolis on Acton Road, a new FBCI partner. She taught us roti (flat bread), daal (lentils), tea, rice, yogurt, and paneer (cheese). It was all delicious and so easy (for Gurinder!). The recipe for daal was:

Daal
1 pound lentils (yellow and green)
enough water to cover the lentils to a depth of one finger knuckle
salt to taste
1 pinch chili pepper
1 table spoon tumeric
1 onion
1/3 cup fresh ginger
6 cloves garlic
tomato
garam masala
cilantro

Cook lentils, salt, pepper, and tumeric in pressure cooker or crock pot until lentils are done. Chop and fry onion, ginger, and garlic until brown. Chop and add tomato and garam masala to onion mixture. Add onion mixture to lentils and stir. Garnish with cilantro.

Daal is very common in South Asian cooking as it is very nutrious and vegetarian. There are many different types of daal made with the many varieties of lentils. Be sure to wash your lentils first!

Kira and I would like to thank Gurinder and Maninder Walia for having us to their house and teaching us so much. I didn't know how to cook anything beyond peanut butter and jelly, so I am very grateful for Gurinder's kind patience with me!

Brandywine Community Church Mock Disaster

2009-12-08T13:45:00.004-05:00

November 14, the FBCI team traveled to Brandywine Community Church to conduct their Mock Disaster. The Action Team did a wonderful job meeting all the challenges offered by the injects, sometimes in a more creative way than we expected. This picture was posted on the information board for all to see in the hopes that Albert and Sprinkles could be reunited. Brandywine Community Church is our first partner in Hancock County to complete the training, so we at the American Red Cross are very excited by their participation.

New @ the FBCI

2009-12-02T15:16:00.005-05:00

We would like to welcome aboard new FBCI coordinators Kellie Mattingly(serving at the American Red Cross in Lafayette, IN) and Andrew Scott (serving at the American Red Cross in Hamilton County). We look forward to hearing their ideas, and aiding them in expanding the program into different regions of Indiana!

Congratulations Christy Bennett!

2009-12-02T15:04:00.005-05:00

Christy Bennett, from Englewood Christian Church, was the first to mail back her Completion Certificate for the Basic Food Safety course!

We are expecting more certificates to come within the next coming weeks. If you have any questions on the Basic Food Safety course please contact us! (Reminder: The course is required for all those working in the Kitchen area).

Thanks!!

FBCI at the 2009 Governor's Conference

2009-11-04T13:42:00.006-05:00

Coordinators Kira Foerster and Laura Bradley, along with other fellow VISTAs and AmeriCorps, attended the 2009 Governor's Conference on Service and Volunteering sponsored by the Office of Faith-Based Community Initiatives. During the conference, the coordinators were given the opportunities to sit-in on many lectures and sessions regarding philanthropy, service, history of volunteering and many more. Miss America (aka Miss Indiana) Katie Stam was one of the guest speakers at the conference.

Englewood Mock Disaster: A+

2009-11-04T11:29:00.004-05:00

There was no reason to be afraid at the Halloween mock disaster at Englewood Christian Church. Having a long history of serving the community and hosting guests at their downtown facility, Englewood easily overcame the challenges of the mock disaster with confidence, grace, and hospitality. Thanks to all of the Englewood Christian Church Action Team members and player volunteers, and also to Bert and Ernie Harvey of Plainfield Christian Church for joining us as guest observers. As we continue "mock disaster season" at First Church of the Nazarene and Brandywine Community Church over the next two weekends, we are glad to be off to such a strong start. Thank you, Englewood!

Interfaith Activities

2009-10-16T16:20:00.005-04:00

One of our first partners, St. Lukes United Methodist Church on 86th Street has been sponsoring a program called Faith of our Neighbors. The FBCI Coordinators have been able to attend on two occasions. During the service, a leader from another faith is interviewed at the lecturn. A question and answer session with that faith leader is held following the service. This has been an educational and interesting program involving Buddhists, Muslims, Native Americans, Sikhs, and on Sunday, October 18th, they will celebrate Judaism.

The Sacred Places Tour for October has included a Greek Orthodox Church and our newest partner, Al-Fajir Masjid on Cold Spring Road. On Sunday the 18th, they will be learning about Native American Spirituality at the Peace Learning Center and Buddhism at the Tibetan Mongolian Buddhist Center in Bloomington. Sunday the 24th, the tour will visit to our partner, the Sikh Satsang on Acton Road and the Hindu Temple of Central Indiana on German Church Road. You can get directions and learn more about these faiths at internationalinterfaith.org.

If your church is conducting an activity that supports the interfaith and diversity goals of the Faith-Based Community Initiative, let us know. The FBCI Coordinators will post the relevant information on this blog, and we really like learn about our partners and different faith families!

Expanding Our Borders

2009-10-16T15:29:00.007-04:00

The FBCI is expanding! The American Red Cross of Greater Indianapolis supports disaster relief in Marion and all the surrounding counties including Henry to the east and Clinton in the northwest. Although a few of our partners are outside of Marion County (for example Plainfield Christian Church in Hendricks County, Traders Point Christian Church in Boone County, Brandywine Community Church in Hancock County, and Shelbyville Community Church in Shelby County), we are looking up, or rather, north, to Clinton, Hamilton, and Madison Counties. If your church has a relationship with another faith-based organization in one of these counties (or really, anywhere), we want to know about it! Currently we are doing Internet research and driving around towns looking for potential partners, but if you have a suggestion, it would save us a lot of leg work.

To qualify as an FBCI partner they have to meet the same requirements your facility met with regards to capacity, geography, involvement, and outreach, but based on your suggestion we will meet with their leadership and work out the details.

"Mock Disaster Season" at the FBCI

2009-10-16T12:55:00.006-04:00

Autumn is the season of changing leaves, colder weather- and mock disasters! In the coming weeks, the FBCI will be holding mock disasters at three of its facilities: Englewood Christian Church (October 31st), First Church of the Nazarene (November 7th), and Brandywine Community Church (November 14th). We are excited to be working with our partners at these churches to put training into action as we prepare for the possibility of a real shelter opening in the cold months ahead! If your Action Team leadership is interested in observing a mock disaster, please contact the FBCI coordinators. Thanks to our partners at these three facilities for helping to make our "Mock Disaster Season" happen!

Mayor Ballard honors FBCI Partner with Visit

2009-10-09T14:43:00.005-04:00

FBCI coordinator, Laura Bradley joined our partner Sikh Satsang of Indianapolis (Acton Rd) in welcoming Indianapolis Mayor Ballard and family on Sunday, October 4. The mayor arrived at the temple and was honored with a traditional Sikh turban and sword, and Mrs. Ballard received the gift of a book. Mayor Ballard made a brief but powerful statement on the importance of acceptance of diversity, education, and mutual respect between people before leaving to attend the Colts game.

The Sikh Satsang are the newest partner in the FBCI program, and we thank them for inviting us to this exciting event.

Ready, Set, GO! Mock Disaster Season!

2009-09-25T13:26:00.002-04:00

Skill Sessions, Trainings, Mock Disasters: Oh My!! Tis' the Season for all these before the holidays!! Are you ready for one of these events? If so contact the FBCI Coordinators, and we will set one up! Before you know it Thanksgiving and Christmas will be around the corner and things will start to get hectic!!

In Focus: Testing Your Phone Tree

2009-09-21T13:57:00.004-04:00

FBCI Action Teams offer the best sheltering experience possible for those affected by disaster due to their love and compassion- but they have know to get to the shelter first! In the busy schedule of preparing teams and facilities for a real disaster, it is easy to overlook the most important aspect of the FBCI Action Team: the phone tree. Why is this the most important aspect? If the phone tree does not work, the shelter cannot be opened! We thank all our partners for the countless hours they have devoted to preparing to serve their community in a time of disaster, but please take a moment and consider this vital first step of the activation: do the contacts listed on your facility survey know who to call if they are activated? Does everyone on the team? If you have any concerns, or want help testing your own phone tree, please let the FBCI coordinators know!

Taking the Final Step: Mock Disasters

2009-09-15T15:28:00.006-04:00

The last step to completing the FBCI curriculum is the successful completion of the Mock Disaster. This is a fun Saturday event in which the Action Team sets up and carries out sheltering activities as they would in an actual disaster. It is an opportunity for the team to work out any quirks, to think through all those incidents that may arise, and to get to know one another a little better.

We currently have two Mock Disasters on the calendar in November, and we would like to invite any members of other FBCI teams who have completed the Mock Disaster to attend. You can either play the part of a client in need of assistance, or you can be an observer and help Kira and me evaluate the activity. The Mock Disaster is typically from 8 am until 1 pm on a Saturday, but as a client you would not need to be present the entire time. This is a great way of refreshing your skills, meeting other FBCI partners, and sharing ideas. If you are interested in attending, please contact Kira or me and we will send you the details.

Welcome our New VISTA- Justin Gray(???)

2009-09-14T11:42:00.005-04:00

Hello! I'm excited to announce that the Corporation for National Service has extended me the invitation to remain with VISTA for another year! I will be remaining with the Red Cross as a part of the FBCI team. However, the general duties of service to our partners will be the primary responsibility of Kira and Laura, as I will be helping the Red Cross pursue several exciting opportunities for the program beyond its current scope. However, I will still be on-hand in the Indianapolis office to assist with training, mock disasters, and other events. I look forward to working with all of our partners for another great year!

Join us on September 12

2009-09-02T13:21:00.005-04:00

The FBCI would like to invite all our partners to participate with us in the Seventh Annual Race for all Races (registration starts at 7:30 am). Sponsored by the Asian American Alliance, the FBCI coordinators will be participating in the non-competitive 5K walk.

According to the Alliance website, the race is a "broad-based and family oriented event that will promote the diversity of the city of central Indiana and a portion of the proceeds will go to Indianapolis Public School Scholarships. Monies will be used for items such as book rentals, eye glasses, backpacks, shoes, and a college fund".

So come on out and support our Indianapolis community by taking a walk. The weather should be beautiful! For more information and to register visit, http://www.tuxbro.com/Race%20for%20All%20Races%20-%20entry%20info.htm. It is $20 for early registration and $25 the day of the race.

August: A Month of Outreach

2009-08-28T12:24:00.007-04:00

This month the coordinators have been working hard developing relationships and reaching out to a number of diverse organizations in the commmunity. Many thanks to Englewood Christian Church, Mt. Pleasant Christian Church, Grace Missionary Church, Horizon Christian Fellowship, Esperanza, and Al-Fajr Masjid for their hospitality this month!

Kira and Justin spent last weekend busy with festivals hosted by our partner sites. Englewood's Latino Volleyball Tournament and Mt. Pleasant's Chin Festival both provided great opportunities for the FBCI program to make contact with these important communities within the FBCI family! We thank both churches for inviting us to join them for these exciting events! The FBCI also thanks Esperanza en Jesucristo; located in Greenwood, this faith-based organization has aided the FBCI in finding the best strategies to reach out to communities in Johnson and southern Marion counties!

The FBCI coordinators thank our friend Omar Alakhatad (pictured), Imam of Al-Fajr Masjid for hosting Kira and Justin this week at his facility! This Islamic center has been a cornerstone of Islam in Indianapolis since 1971, serving the community through education and public service. Despite a busy Ramadan schedule, Omar was kind enough to give us a tour of the building as we take our first steps towards partnership with this exciting organization!

Plainfield Mock Disaster: Success!

2009-08-21T13:05:00.002-04:00

Sunday the 15th marked another successful FBCI Mock Disaster! Plainfield Christian Church's Action Team woke up early in the morning to simulate a shelter opening in their facility. The result was a huge success! Confident, in control, and above all, respectful to "clients" and "visitors," the Action Team demonstrated top-notch skills as shelter staff. Special thanks go to Robin White and Ernie Harvey (the Plainfield Action Team leadership) for making the Mock Disaster a reality on very short notice! We also thank Red Cross volunteer Jonathon Cook for his participation as Shelter Manager.

Plainfield's Mock Disaster was Kira and Laura's first experience with this exciting aspect of the FBCI program. They look forward to more of these events in the coming year!

Gearing up for a Mock Disaster

2009-08-12T12:47:00.004-04:00

The FBCI is preparing for our fourth Mock Disaster! On Saturday, August 22nd, Plainfield Christian Church will complete their training by successfully opening and running a shelter simulation exercise for approximately four hours. We had a great turn out for the Skills Session on Tuesday night, a lively discussion of the situations that might arise in a sheltering situation, and a lot of interesting questions.

Kira and I are very excited because this will be our first Mock Disaster as FBCI Coordinators. We will be observing carefully, not only what the participants do, but also all the details Justin has worked out.

Three partners have already taken this graduating step: Traders Point Christian Church, Second Presbyterian, and Shelbyville Community Church. If anyone from those Action Teams have any advice or stories from their Mock Disaster they would like to share, please e-mail it to lbradley@redcross-indy.org, and we will post it on the blog!

Making Connections

2009-07-20T13:28:00.005-04:00

The Red Cross is excited to announce the start of a new friendship with the Sikh Satsang of Indianapolis! Justin and Laura visited the Gurdwara Sahib yesterday for services and lunch, and were able to introduce the Faith-Based Community Initiative to this important Indianapolis Sikh family of faith. The FBCI coordinators look forward to a future of cooperation with the Sikh Satsang as we work together to forward both of our goals of service to the community in the Indianapolis area. We thank KP Singh for his kind guidance in our visit to this fine facility!

Familiar Faces in New Places

2009-07-16T11:57:00.003-04:00

Laura and I have noticed that some FBCI members have been coming to the courses (Fulling Our Mission, Mass Care, Shelter Operations, and Shelter Simulations) at the American Red Cross. THIS IS GREAT! If you have individuals who want to join your action team or are interested in the trainings or need training of some-sort, have them come down to the group trainings at the Red Cross. The four courses take four evenings, typically from 6-10pm.

Meet and Greet

2009-07-13T09:35:00.003-04:00

Laura and I have been hard at work familiarizing ourselves with the many facilities in the FBCI program. We are hoping to come and visit a different church each Sunday. We understand it is summer and that Sunday attendance can flux and wane. As Fall approaches, we will begin to plan our Sunday visits. Look forward to seeing everyone!

Wonderful Morgan County!!

2009-07-09T11:04:00.001-04:00

Yesterday, Laura and I visited the Morgan County Red Cross service center. We met with Mike Reily, who is the Red Cross Service Manager for Johnson County, Morgan County, and Shelby County. FBCI churches within these counties are Mooresville First UMC, Grace Missionary Church, Mount Pleasant Christian Church, and Shelbyville Community Church. Meeting with Mike helped Laura and I get a sense of the needs of the three counties and his ideas on sheltering in these counties. It was a wonderful experience to meet with Mike and we look forward to working with him!

New FBCI Newsletter

2009-07-06T11:42:00.004-04:00

One of our goals for July is to produce the first edition of the FBCI newsletter. It will be a seasonal newsletter that will introduce our partners to one another and work as a supplement to the blog. The newsletter will be mailed (a hard copy) to all of our partners, and hopefully there will be a place to post it in your facility. Currently, we are planning on including a description of the FBCI program, a brief introduction of each of our partners, announcements of upcomming Red Cross events, and announcements of any of our partners' activities. If there is anything you would like to contribute to the newsletter, please e-mail either Kira (kfoerster@redcross-indy.org) or me, Laura (lbradley@redcross-indy.org). Ideally, the newsletter will help us to all support one another and create a stronger FBCI community.

Going visiting!

2009-07-01T13:39:00.004-04:00

In the coming weeks Kira and I will be visiting all the FBCI partner organizations in order to get an idea of where we are with the program. Justin and Jillian and all our predecessors have developed a great program with a lot of potential. We have already met Englewood Christian Church, Mount Pleasant Christian Church, Shelbyville Community Church, and Horizon Christian Fellowship this week. It has been great to finally get to see the training manuals translated into the reality of the program, to hear the plans the Action Teams have developed, and to meet some of you wonderful people. We have toured each of the partners' facilities and asked a lot of questions. We are very interested in what you have to say about the FBCI program, after all, it is only as good as we all make it. If we haven't been to see you yet, don't worry, we are on our way. In the mean time, if you have any questions for us we can be reached at the American Red Cross of Greater Indianapolis office.

New FBCI Coordinators!

2009-06-29T16:14:00.003-04:00

Meet Laura Bradley and Kira Davad Foerster!!
New AmeriCorp*VISTA FBCI Coordinators for the American Red Cross Emergency Services

In case you haven't heard, the FBCI office is in transition. Jillian has moved on, but Justin is still here and doing a wonderful job of filling us (Kira and Laura) in on the project so far. For the past week we have been settling in to our desks, getting oriented on the ways of the American Red Cross, and trying to learn everyone's names!! Justin is taking us out this week to meet various FBCI participants and to see the reality of the project. Kira and I are very excited about working with all of you on the FBCI project. We have a lot of new ideas and will be figuring out some old ones. Looking forward to meeting all of you and making this project even stronger!

New Friends at Second Baptist!

2009-06-09T10:13:00.006-04:00

This month, one of our first FBCI partners has joined us in a renewal of friendship! Second Baptist Church, a founding member of the FBCI program, has reaffirmed its commitment to the FBCI program, and trained a new generation of Action Team members. Second Baptist has been serving the Indianapolis community for over 150 years, and we are proud to have their support for disaster response! The FBCI coordinators thank Dianne Archey and Robert Forrest for helping make the second training class a reality, and also give a special thanks to Pastor David Greene; the support and guidance Pastor Greene has lent the FBCI program and the Red Cross in general cannot be overstated. The FBCI looks forward to moving ahead with our new friends on the Second Baptist Action Team!

Help your local FBCI Coordinator!

2009-06-08T12:24:00.006-04:00

Hi FBCI partners and friends!
Well, as many of you may know, my term with VISTA is up soon (June 19 to be exact). My next adventure will be to teach English in S. Korea, but that does not start until the end of July...so I'll be unemployed for about a month this summer.
If you, or anyone you know, is looking for a "summer helper," please think of me! I have tons of experience from landscaping to barista to program coordinator, and everything in between. I am not too picky about what the job is, but I'm hoping to save up a little Taschengeld (German for "pocket money")and looking for a little help in making ends meet until I start teaching.

So, if you need any odd (or even, I'm flexible) jobs done this summer, contact me! I'll be in the office for the next two weeks, and after that you can call my cell: 317-374-1934 or email me: jlluttrellgmailcom.

Thanks!

Health Services: Another Way to Save the Day!

2009-06-05T15:46:00.004-04:00

FBCI is issuing a call out to our partner sites' medical professionals! One of the most inspiring aspects of the FBCI program has been seeing our partners' intense devotion to their communities in times of need. In many cases, they've taken it a step further, and participated as Red Cross volunteers for disasters beyond sheltering in their facility.
Right now, the Red Cross is eagerly seeking Health Services volunteers; if any members of your congregation have a current professional medical license (CNA, EMT, LPN/LVN, PA, RN, or MD) and would like another way to serve the community, we would encourage them to join us and train to deploy as Red Cross Health Services! Please have any interested congregants contact Jillian or myself to begin on this exciting path of volunteerism!

NOTICE: If you're only reading the headlines...

2009-05-28T14:16:00.009-04:00

... you're only getting half the story! The FBCI coordinators are working hard to make the blog a useful tool for you and your Action Team, but if you only look at the top of the page, you're missing out on a lot of what the blog has to offer! For example, we've added the new "Action Team Guidance" and additional handouts and info sheets to the "Documents" section of the blog (UPDATE: now located in the new, lefthand column). Also, be sure to check out the homepages of some of your fellow FBCI partners, or the new Red Cross ES blog, all linked in the righthand column beneath the pictures! We're busy working on making the blog an even better home for FBCI on the web, so please bear with us through our "construction" phase, and keep checking back in!

The FBCI family welcomes our newest member: Brandywine Community Church.

2009-05-20T14:38:00.008-04:00

The FBCI is pleased to announce our newest partner site, Brandywine Community Church! 33 members of the Brandywine CC family joined us for training on the May 16th, forming our first Hancock County Action Team. Brandywine also hosted 4 members of the Traders Point congregation at this training (thank you!). Located in the city of Greenfield, Brandywine CC has a rich heritage of serving the community, including a food pantry and programs assisting the homeless and those in need. We are proud to have Brandywine as an FBCI partner!

Extreme Makeover: Starfish Edition!

2009-05-15T09:44:00.006-04:00

Our friends at Starfish Initiative have an open house coming up to celebrate their newly renovated space. If you aren't familiar with it, Starfish Initiative is a non-profit at the heart of the city dedicated to improving graduate rates, increasing access to post-secondary education, and making a difference for students and their families.

During the open house, you can not only see their newly-redesigned space, but you can also learn more about Starfish and the community they serve, AND you can see the amazing work that our VISTA colleagues at Starfish do!

Here are the details:
WHAT: Extreme Makeover: Starfish Edition
WHEN: Saturday, May 30, 12:30-4 pm
WHERE: Starfish Initiative, 814 N. Delaware St.
LEARN MORE: http://www.starfishinitiative.org/

Another way to stay informed!

2009-05-13T17:46:00.003-04:00

The American Red Cross of Greater Indianapolis' Emergency Services (of which the FBCI is an extension) now has its own blog! According to the site:

"On this blog you will find up-to-date information on volunteer opportunities, future and current events, and other exciting Red Cross news. Our purpose will be to engage the general public and volunteers on a daily basis in order to encourage interactivity between volunteers and staff."

If you're interested in keeping up-to-date on events at the Red Cross between monthly newsletters, this blog is a great way to do it. Follow the link here or from the "friends" section of the sidebar menu. New material is posted every day, so check back frequently!

Newest Partner: Mount Pleasant Christian Church

2009-05-13T16:49:00.003-04:00

The FBCI would like to send out a huge WELCOME to Mount Pleasant Christian Church in Greenwood. MPCC trained at the end of April with 18 members on their Action Team. We have been in contact with MPCC for several months, and we are very excited to have them as a part of the FBCI. They are our first partner in Johnson Co. and will be a great addition to the family. Thanks MPCC!

The FBCI Family: Working Together

2009-05-13T16:38:00.004-04:00

This past Saturday (May 9), we had our 3rd Mock Disaster Exercise (let's call it the MDE). Afterwards, Chris M. talked to us a little bit and shared something that really warmed my heart.
May 2 had been the MDE at Traders Points and Chris M. and Dick R. from 2nd Pres. had dropped to see what exactly their church had gotten themselves into. Traders Point did a really good job, and I think Chris and Dick were able to take a lot back home with them. Well, to return the favor, Greg K. from Traders Point came and observed 2nd Pres' MDE and was able to see how their team had organized and what Traders Point could do to better prepare their team.

Chris M. told us that she and Greg had been able to talk and share about their experiences and their teams. They even realized that if 2nd Pres' team ever needed help (during an emergency), that Traders Point's team could come out and vice versa!

This is exactly the dream that I have for our FBCI program: our partners coming together and working not only with the Red Cross, but with each other. It really warmed my heart to see 2 of our partners learn from each other and talk with each other and share ideas. Now, they not only have access to the ideas and ingenuity of their Action Team, but also that of a whole other Action Team!

FBCI partners: I encourage you to realize you are not alone! There is a whole network of organizations that have gone through training and are organizing their teams and have great ideas! Perhaps, like Traders Point and 2nd Pres., you'll find that other FBCI partners are willing to be there for you in a time of need and have a wealth of resources (their Action Team or otherwise) to share.

Get Involved: 2009 Governor's Conference on Service and Volunteerism

2009-04-23T09:02:00.007-04:00

Mark Your Calendar!
Who: Everyone who is involved in serving Indiana Communities
When: Thursday, October 29 and Friday, October 30, 2009
Where: Indianapolis Marriott East, 7202 East 21st Street, Indianapolis, IN
How: Two days filled with excellent education opportunities presented through eight tracks and 64 sessions, expert speakers, celebration, networking.

Call for Conference Presenters

More than 600 attendees who are involved with service in Indiana Communities will gather to share ideas and best practices and explore challenges related to the successful development and implementation of service-learning. Our conference participants value interactive workshops. Opportunities for dialogue, small group activities, and experiential learning are received well.

Governor’s Awards Nominations
Nominations are being accepted for the 2009 Governor’s Awards for Volunteer Service. The Governor’s Awards are Indiana’s most prestigious award celebrating the accomplishments of some of the State’s most dedicated volunteers and practitioners. Don’t miss this opportunity to recognize those volunteers that really make a difference in your organization or community. Nominate a deserving volunteer!

Sponsorships and Exhibitors
We are currently seeking companies and organizations to be exhibitors at the 2009 Governor’s Conference on Service and Volunteerism. By Sponsoring or Exhibiting you will help make it possible for over 600 participants to receive the benefits of 60 educational breakout sessions, support of a statewide conference service project, networking, inspiration and more, all at a much lower cost than would have otherwise been possible.

Sponsorships - As a sponsor, your organization will receive repeated exposure to thousands of civic-minded Hoosiers. Your sponsorship dollars will also ensure that we are able to keep conference registration fees low, allowing representatives from smaller organizations with limited budgets to attend.

Exhibitors – As an exhibitor, your organization or company will receive an excellent opportunity to promote your products or services to a large diverse audience of faith-based and community organizations, schools and universities, non-profit organizations, and national service programs.

For more information, please go to the OFBCI website at http://www.in.gov/ofbci/2330.htm.
Send all forms to lbeckwith@ofbci.in.gov

FBCI Celebrates its first Mock Disaster!

2009-03-23T12:25:00.007-04:00

The FBCI coordinators congratulate Shelbyville Community Church's spectacular performance in the first ever FBCI Mock Disaster Drill! Held Saturday, March 14th, the Mock Disaster Drill was a chance for SCC's Action Team to come out and show their skills in opening and operating a Red Cross shelter. Under the leadership of Sandra Hall and Scott Brunner, the team did not disappoint! SCC was ready to accept clients in less than half an hour, and hosted them with skill and compassion. Special thanks to Sandra, Scott, and Mark Steenbarger for making this event happen!
The drill is a five hour exercise in which Action Teams "stand up" their own churches as shelters (just as they would in a real emergency), and then register and care for simulated clients played by fellow congregants or members of the community! We hope to make the Mock Disaster a part of every FBCI partner's experience with the program. With two more drills on the way, look for more news on mock disasters soon! (You can read an article about the exercise in The Shelbyville News here).

Car Care Class

2009-02-27T12:39:00.005-05:00

We received this from one of the managers here in Emergency Services. Perhaps someone on your team or in your congregation might be interested!

Support the Red Cross by building Comfort Kits!!!

2009-02-18T09:12:00.006-05:00

The American Red Cross of Greater Indianapolis (ARCGI) gives out thousands of comfort kits each year to people who have been affected by disasters of all sizes. The kits include basic hygiene items to help meet people's immediate needs. Right now, our chapter is running low!
You can help by collecting the following items and donating them to the ARCGI:

Tooth Brush
Toothpaste
Razor
Deodorant
Shaving Cream
Kleenex
Small packs of Q Tips
Wash Cloth

All items should be travel or trial sized. Sometimes your local drug or grocery store might be willing to donate these items in bulk.

After you collect these items, if you or a group in your organization would be interested, you could make comfort kits! This would be a great service project that does not take up too much time and is pretty low-key. If you are interested, just contact Justin or Jillian at the FBCI and we will get you all the information you need!

Welcome Englewood Christian Church!

2009-01-27T11:01:00.005-05:00

This month we would like to welcome Englewood Christian Church to the FBCI! Despite the threat of severe weather, 25 members came out on January 10 to train as ECC's Action Team. We really enjoyed meeting all of them and getting to know ECC and are very excited that they are partnering with the FBCI.

Englewood Christian Church is located in Indianapolis' Near-eastside, just two miles from downtown. It has remained in the same neighborhood since its founding in 1895. We were drawn to ECC because of their commitment to their neighborhood and their strong sense of community. These are truly inspiring qualities that will be a great asset in a time of diaster.

We would also like to issue ECC a huge thank-you!!! They were very gracious hosts and provided us with bagels, coffee, and juice! It made the morning go by much quicker!

Learn all about ECC on their website: http://www.englewoodcc.com/

How to get on the blog....

2008-12-12T15:22:00.004-05:00

Well, if you're viewing this, then congratulations! You've made it to the FBCI blog! So now you may be wondering, how can I write a fancy little post like yours? Well, here are the basics:
1)Go to www.blogger.com and hit "Create a google account"
2) Fill in your information
3) After you hit "next," it takes you to a "create a blog" page. Ignore that. Instead, click on the "Blogger" logo up in the corner. This will take you to your profile page.
4) You will receive an email asking you to verify your email address. Once you do this, you can always sign in to blogger with this address.
5) Once you have your address all set up, email Justin or myself so that we can add you on as a contributor.

Now, you might be asking, ok, I've done all that...how do I post something?
When you're signed-in and viewing the blog, at the very,very top is a tab that says "New Post." Click on that and you're ready to go! You can pictures and videos to your post as well.
The blog will display 10 posts at a time; to view older posts, go to the "blog archive" on the right sidebar of the blog.

And there you go! You are now blog-savvy! If you have any questions or start to feel lost in blogs, feel free to ask Justin or myself and we will do our best to get the issue resolved!