Office Hours:
M - Th 9:00AM - 4:00PM
735 S. Garfield Ave
Traverse City, MI 49686
Office: 231-947-7286
Fax: 231-947-1767
About the American Red Cross of Northwest Michigan
The Northwest Michigan chapter of the American Red Cross was chartered on June 17, 1917 serving Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska and Leelanau counties.
The Chapter coordinates Disaster Services, Service to the Armed Forces, Health & Safety Services and Volunteer Services for all 4 counties and reports to the Regional Chapter in Kalamazoo as part of the National American Red Cross.
MISSION STATEMENT
The American Red Cross, a humanitarian organization led by volunteers and guided by its Congressional Charter and the Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross Movement, will provide relief to victims of disaster and help people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies.
Back to Top Red Cross History Historical Background
A Swiss businessman, Henry Dunant, founded the worldwide Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. While traveling in 1859, he witnessed a one-day battle between Austrian and French forces outside the northern Italian town of Solferino. At nightfall and to his horror, he saw 40,000 dead and wounded soldiers strewn about the battlefield who had lacked any medical attention. Dunant immediately set about organizing care for the wounded with the assistance of local villagers.
Returning to Switzerland and unable to wipe the horrible scenes he had observed from his mind, Dunant wrote A Memory of Solferino (1862) describing what he had seen and arguing for the humane treatment of the war injured. Encouraged by the success of his book, Dunant initiated a campaign to establish a society to aid the wounded in battle. In 1863, the Geneva Society for Public Welfare took up his cause and created a five-man committee (Dunant was a member) which formed an International Committee for Relief to the Wounded in Time of War. Representatives of sixteen European states and four philanthropic institutions attended an International Conference in 1864 at which they adopted the first Geneva Convention, as they called it, a treaty which sought to save lives and alleviate suffering of wounded and sick military personnel. It specified that the Red Cross (a reversal of the Swiss national flag's white cross on a red field) would serve as a protective emblem identifying medical personnel, equipment, and facilities as neutral. It also stipulated that wounded and sick combatants were to be collected and cared for by either side in a conflict. The group also gave itself a new name, the International Committee of the Red Cross.
The 1864 Geneva Convention became the foundation of the branch of modern law now known as international humanitarian law (IHL). It encompasses both humanitarian principles and international treaties that seek to save lives and alleviate suffering of both combatants and noncombatants during armed conflicts. In 1899, protection was expanded to include those affected by maritime warfare (in a treaty later known as the Second Geneva Convention). Further revisions and expansions occurred in 1906, 1907, 1929, and, again, in 1949 as protection of prisoners of war (Third Convention, 1929) and expanded protection for civilians in the time of war (Fourth Convention, 1949) were adopted. Two Protocols were added in 1977. One further expanded the protection of civilian populations and medical personnel in international armed conflicts and the other called for the protection of victims of what are termed "high-intensity, non-international armed conflicts," such as civil wars. (The United States is a party to all the Geneva Conventions but has not yet signed the 1977 Protocols.)
Clara Barton, the famous Civil War nurse and advocate for aid to the wounded and victims of natural disasters, founded the American Red Cross in 1881. She and her American Association of the Red Cross, as the organization was first called, pressured President Chester Arthur into signing the first Geneva Convention in 1882, bringing the United States into compliance with Red Cross principles. In 1900 the renamed American National Red Cross received a Congressional charter establishing the organization as the nation's official relief agency for civilians and military personnel and made it accountable to-although not funded by-Congress. In 1905, the American Red Cross received a revised charter from Congress under which it still operates. This charter expanded the organization's responsibilities and created an executive structure for a more orderly and systematic way of doing business than had occurred before. In 1919, largely at the urging of American Red Cross President, Henry P. Davison, the League of Red Cross Societies was formed (it became the Federation in 1991).
In earlier times, organizations of the Movement were the primary providers of relief to the victims of war and natural disasters. Since World War II, however, the field has become crowded. Activities now must be coordinated with a host of other organizations, such as the agencies of the United Nations (the High Commissioner for Refugees, the Food and Agriculture Organization, the World Health Organization, the UN Development Program, and UNICEF, the Children's Fund), Oxfam, and others. Despite competition, however, the world still relies heavily on the dedicated work of the organizations of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, including the American Red Cross, to bring relief to the suffering and to advance the cause of international humanitarian law.
Principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement
Humanity : The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, born of a desire to bring assistance without discrimination to the wounded on the battlefield, endeavors, in its international and national capacity, to prevent and alleviate human suffering wherever it may be found. Its purpose is to protect life and health and to ensure respect for the human being. It promotes mutual understanding, friendship, cooperation and lasting peace amongst all peoples.
Impartiality : It makes no discrimination as to nationality, race, religious beliefs, class or political opinions. It endeavors to relieve the suffering of individuals, being guided solely by their needs, and to give priority to the most urgent cases of distress.
Neutrality: In order to continue to enjoy the confidence of all, the Movement may not take sides in hostilities or engage at any time in controversies of a political, racial, religious or ideological nature.
Independence: The Movement is independent. The National Societies, while auxiliaries in the humanitarian services of their governments and subject to the laws of their respective countries, must always maintain their autonomy so that they may be able at all times to act in accordance with the principles of the Movement.
Voluntary service : It is a voluntary relief movement not prompted in any manner by desire for gain.
Unity : There can be only one Red Cross or Red Crescent Society in any one country. It must be open to all. It must carry on its humanitarian work throughout its territory.
Universality : The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, in which all Societies have equal status and share equal responsibilities and duties in helping each other, is worldwide.
Our commitment to the Fundamental Principles brings us together with a common purpose and inspires us to excel and to behave in ways that inspire the trust of the American people. Each of us is responsible for upholding and living in accordance with these values every day.
Values and Guiding Behaviors
Accountability : We hold ourselves accountable for our own performance, our unit’s performance and that of the Red Cross
- Take ownership for the end result and be accountable for one’s part
- Focus on “what more can I do?”, fix the problem, not the blame
- Focus on finding solutions and achieving responsible results, be agile and adaptive in doing so
- Make timely and effective decisions
- Keep promises, follow through on commitments
- Actively support decisions once they are made
- Have the courage and willingness to rethink ideas to solve problems and create opportunities
Collaboration : We collaborate and work as one Red Cross team
- Consider the best interest of those we serve and the Red Cross, whether acting alone or with teammates
- Take responsibility for identifying stakeholders, considering their needs and bringing appropriate resources to achieve broader success
- Seek and build collaborative relationships
- Work across organizational and geographic boundaries, rather than within silos
- Communicate proactively and share information and knowledge with others
- Support others through appreciative and constructive feedback
- Take pride in the accomplishments of the team
Commitment to Results : We demonstrate the drive, perseverance and commitment to get results
- Display a sense of urgency about getting results
- Anticipate problems and take appropriate preventive action
- Innovate to improve efficiency and effectiveness
- Take responsibility for quality, seek to understand fully the root causes of problems and be persistent in achieving high quality results
- Demonstrate courage to speak up about difficulties, mistakes and problems and offer solutions
- Balance risks and opportunities to the organization
Trustworthiness : We act with integrity, respect and openness, and are trustworthy
- Treat people with dignity
- Inspire trust through own actions
- Value the diverse talents, skills, and experience of individual team members
- Value, respect and be open to point of view of others
- See the best in people and assume positive intentions
- Set aside distractions to be present with people
- Listen with curiosity, seeking to understand others
- Talk directly to an individual when there is a concern or problem, avoid triangular communication
Humanitarianism : Our passion for our humanitarian mission is reflected in what we do and how we work
- Actively support the vision, strategy and values of the organization
- Maintain a positive, confident, optimistic attitude, especially in the face of challenges
- Demonstrate the highest level of integrity and stewardship by operating in the best interest of those we serve and those who trust us with their contributions
- Openly recognize and appreciate others’ efforts and achievements
- Exhibit patience, understanding and compassion
- Foster a positive and fun environment, celebrate achievements
Congressional Charter of the American National Red Cross
The American Red Cross received its first Congressional Charter in 1900. The Charter is considered to be the founding corporate document of the organization and provides for the existence, charge and governance of the organization at its highest level. The Charter is akin to a constitution or Articles of Incorporation and takes precedence over all other corporate regulations. The Charter is federal legislation and thus falls under the exclusive authority of the United States Congress and the President of the United States. It was recodified as part of the governance reform signed into law by President George W. Bush on May 11, 2007.
Section 1: Organization of the American Red Cross
----(a) FEDERAL CHARTER. The American National Red Cross (in this chapter, the "corporation") is a Federally chartered instrumentality of the United States and a body corporate and politic in the District of Columbia.
----(b) NAME. The name of the corporation is "The American National Red Cross". The corporation may conduct its business and affairs, and otherwise hold itself out, as the ‘American Red Cross’ in any jurisdiction.
(c) PERPETUAL EXISTENCE. Except as otherwise provided, the corporation has perpetual existence.
Section 2: The purposes of the corporation are:
(1) to provide volunteer aid in time of war to the sick and wounded of the armed forces, in accordance with the spirit and conditions of:
----(A) The conference of Geneva of October, 1863;
----(B) the treaties of the Red Cross, or the treaties of Geneva, of August 22, 1864, July 27, 1929, and august 12, 1949, to which the United States of America has given its adhesion; and
----(C) Any other treaty, convention, or protocol similar in purpose to which the United States of America has given or may give its adhesion;
(2) in carrying out the purposes described in clause (1) of this section, to perform all the duties devolved on a national society by each nation that has acceded to any of those treaties, conventions, or protocols;
(3) to act in matters of voluntary relief and in accordance with the military authorities as a medium of communication between the people of the United States and the armed forces of the United States and to act in those matters between similar national societies of governments of other countries through the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Government, the people, and the armed forces of the United States;
(4) to carry out a system of national and international relief in time of peace, and apply that system in mitigating the suffering caused by pestilence, famine, fire, floods, and other great national calamities, and to devise and carry out measures for preventing those calamities; and
(5) To conduct other activities consistent with the foregoing purposes.
Anyone doing a keyword search on Red Cross could easily become confused by all the terms it generates. The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, the International Committee of the Red Cross, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies, the American Red Cross. What do they all mean and what distinguishes them from one another?
The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement
This umbrella term refers to all the national and international organizations allowed to use the Red Cross or Red Crescent emblem and all the activities they undertake to relieve human suffering throughout the world. The International Red Cross and the Red Crescent Movement is one of the largest humanitarian networks in the world with a presence and activities in almost every country. It is unified and guided by seven Fundamental Principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality. All Red Cross and Red Crescent activities have one central purpose: to help those who suffer, without discrimination whether it be during conflict, in response to natural or man-made disasters, or to alleviate the suffering brought by conditions of chronic poverty.
The highest decision-making body of the Movement is the International Conference which meets on the average of every four years to ensure unity in the work of the Movement and to discuss and act upon humanitarian issues of common interest. Delegates to the International Conference are members of the International Committee of the Red Cross, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, national societies and representatives from the national governments that have ratified the treaties governing conduct during periods of armed conflict (see Geneva Conventions below).
The International Committee of the Red Cross, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the national societies are independent bodies. Each has its own individual status and exercises no authority over the others.
The International Committee of the Red Cross
Established in 1863, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is at the origin of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The ICRC is an impartial, neutral and independent organization whose exclusive humanitarian mission is to protect the lives and dignity of victims of war and internal violence and to provide them with assistance. It directs and coordinates the international relief activities conducted by the Movement in situations of conflict. Among its many activities, the ICRC searches for missing persons, exchanges messages to and from members of separated families, helps establish hospital and security zones in embattled areas, organizes international aid programs and provides medical assistance for refugees, displaced people, and other civilian victims of armed conflicts. It also endeavors to prevent suffering by promoting and strengthening humanitarian law and universal humanitarian principles.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Founded in 1919, the International Federation is a coalition of individual Red Cross and Red Crescent national societies that coordinate relief efforts throughout the world occurring outside the theater of war and other forms of armed conflict. Currently, the Federation comprises 186 member Red Cross and Red Crescent societies, a Secretariat in Geneva and more than 60 delegations strategically located to support activities around the world. The Federation's activities include organizing and coordinating international disaster relief actions, providing assistance to refugees outside areas of conflict, promoting national disaster preparedness programs and strengthening the capacities of its member national societies.
The General Assembly is the highest decision-making body of the Federation. It meets every two years and comprises representatives from all member National Societies. A Governing Board acts between general assemblies, meeting twice a year with the authority to make certain decisions. The Secretariat conducts day-to-day business and directs the work of country and regional delegations assisting national societies in relief and development projects.
The National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
These are the individual societies of nearly every independent country in the world. Chartered, as they must be, by their respective governments, they provide a range of services including disaster relief, health and social programs, and assistance to people affected by war within their own borders and cooperate with other national societies bilaterally, regionally, and through the Federation and the ICRC on relief and development projects. They also assist their own governments in carrying out each nation's humanitarian treaty obligations. Each country is allowed to charter only one Red Cross or Red Crescent society within its territory. Together, the National Societies have 97 million members and volunteers, and 300,000 employees, assisting some 233 million beneficiaries each year. The promotion of humanitarian values is an intrinsic part of all Red Cross and Red Crescent activities. They also promote awareness of international humanitarian law and advocate internationally through the Federation and with the International Committee of the Red Cross.
The American Red Cross
One of the 186 national societies throughout the world is our own American Red Cross, with its national headquarters in Washington, D.C. and 721 chapters throughout the country. The American Red Cross is dedicated to helping make families and communities safe at home and around the world. A volunteer-led humanitarian service organization, it annually provides almost half of the nation's blood supply, trains almost 12 million people in vital lifesaving skills, responds to more than 67,000 disasters from house fires to large natural or man-made disasters, provides direct health services to nearly 3 million people, assists vulnerable people all over the world through international disaster responses and long-term development projects and transmits over a million emergency messages to members of the U.S. Armed forces and their families.
The American Red Cross shares most characteristics with other national societies. It is dedicated to the Fundamental Principles of the Movement, participates in all activities of the Movement, supports the role of the ICRC in conflict zones, and works alongside other national societies in the Federation and in bilateral arrangements on a wide variety relief and development activities .
The Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement at Work
At any given moment, all the components of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement are involved in service somewhere in the world. The ICRC is instructing parties involved in conflict of their obligations to international humanitarian law in such matters as treatment of refugees and prisoners of war, and is conducting medical, refugee, and other relief efforts of its own in or near battle zones. Members of the Federation are working together to assist national societies recover from natural disasters and take steps to prevent recurrent problems. Individual national societies are busy training for and responding to emergencies within their own borders and working with other National Societies on activities of common interest.
As part of the Movement, the American Red Cross works closely with the Federation, ICRC and individual national societies to bring emergency relief to disaster victims, and improves basic living conditions of those in chronically deprived areas of the world. The American Red Cross has been providing international relief and assistance since 1892. Today, the American Red Cross manages approximately 70 projects in more than 30 countries worldwide
Websites for the International Committee of the Red Cross (www.icrc.ch), the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (www.ifrc.org), the American Red Cross (www.redcross.org), and other national societies.
