volunteering: red cross – step 3

Moving forward in my volunteering this week.

After a week out of town for September break (where I happily saw a Red Cross office just outside of Savannah), this week I dove back in to my training. Last Saturday I went to a training on the new assignment tool — akin to attending a training on using an online calendar — useless. But, I got to meet some new folks and see other people whom I’ve met before — so not entirely a waste of time.

On Wednesday, I attended a three hour class on Logistics. Logistics! Right up my alley, yet so disappointed in how not organized things are. I’d love to be a consultant and help get things in order — however, with no shelter experience behind me, I am in no place to criticize or offer advice. Give me time and experience, and I’ll join that advisory committee.

Thursday night was the monthly meeting. Nice again to see familiar faces and meet others. Not nice to sit through the calendar tool training once again (painful). Alas, third Thursdays are also my Decatur Fire CAPS meetings, so I’ll have to switch off between the two.

And Saturday, Saturday. A rainy day, perfect for getting ahead on projects at home, yet I headed out for an eight (8) hour class on paperwork. Yes PAPER work. The Red Cross seems to be very slow in entering the 21st (20th) century. Filling out forms — same info, over and over again. I have even had a client comment on this ridiculous process. These poor folks have been through a fire. They just want to get to a dry place, take a shower, settle the kids and have a chance to regroup. Paperwork? Gimme a break.

BUT, I did get to know some people better (again) and really the class focused much more on the CLIENT. How to approach the client, how to talk to the client and how to help the client. This is what I worry about (hello anxiety), but this is what I know much more about now. So in the end, I’m happy to have spent the day hidden away, learning more about how to help people in their time of need.

red cross – 16 sep 2013