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1917
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April 9
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Three days after the U.S. entered WWI,
the Kalamazoo Chapter, under the leadership of the Chamber of Commerce
and Rotary Club, held its first official meeting, elected officers, and
adopted a constitution
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Cass and St. Joseph counties also chartered their
chapters
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“Home Service” was the first
service offered. It
assisted more than 4,000 families of military personnel through
hardships and anxieties from 1917-1919.
Today, that service is known as Armed Forces Emergency Service.
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After developing Home Services the chapter formed
six additional services: War Relief; Canteen; Junior Red Cross; Nursing
Service; Educational; and Motor Corps. These services offered assistance
to the sick and wounded soldiers, gave food to the armed forces, aided
in health education, trained in home nursing, and transported supplies
and workers throughout the war.
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1921
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Formed a Disaster Services Committee as
a stand-by resource
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1934
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April
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Board appointed the Chapter’s first
executive secretary, Margaret Wise
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A central office was secured in the
American Legion Home on West South Street
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1939
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Responded to two major tornadoes in
Kalamazoo
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September
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As WWII began in Europe, the Chapter
responded to calls to aid Polish refugees. The
Red Cross disaster services raised money for immediate relief and
provided families with the international tracing service, the only means
of communication between local citizens and their relatives over seas.
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1941
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Chapter headquarters moved to Kalamazoo
City Hall
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When Pearl Harbor was attacked, the Chapter was
prepared by producing garments and surgical dressings for men in
service. The tracing service was continued and food was distributed to
troops abroad train passing through Kalamazoo.
The nationally known song, "I've Got a Gal in
Kalamazoo," was printed on wax paper that wrapped the sandwiches
given to the troops.
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During this time, the
services such as Home Nursing, First Aid, and Junior Red Cross grew
considerably and all contributed significantly to the war through
medical assistance and donations.
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1942
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Chapter headquarters moved to the
Kalamazoo County Building because of increased need for space.
It would remain the home to the Chapter for the next 15 years.
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WWII marked the beginning of close
cooperation between the American Red Cross and the U.S. Office of
Defense, setting up a program of disaster preparedness as a precaution
against air attacks.
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Home Nursing program increased because
of the shortage of available doctors and nurses
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1945-53
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Kalamazoo Chapter assisted the Michigan
Department of Health in blood drives as part of state’s Blood Plasma
Program. In 1953, at the
request of the Kalamazoo Academy of Medicine, the Chapter joined the
Lansing Regional Red Cross Blood Program.
This association entitled all Kalamazoo County residents to blood
at no cost throughout the U.S. and Canada
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1950-53
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U.S. involvement in Korean War
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1951
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Home Services saw a large increase in
Emergency Financial Aid requests due to the recall of reservists of the
war (they handled 1,062 cases of health and welfare inquiries, aid in
obtaining government benefits, counseling, and financial assistance)
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Junior Red Cross helped new immigrants
to adjust the United States and stressed the need to be respectful
towards adults, to be good citizens, and encouraged young men to enlist
with the armed forces
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The Gray Ladies service switched
emphasis to civilian aid after WWII when they began helping at Borgess,
Bronson, and other area hospitals
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1953
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Disaster Services was completely
reorganized in preparation for Civil Defense Action.
Manuals were prepared and local resources were identified.
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Kalamazoo Chapter joined the Lansing
Regional Red Cross Blood Program
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Appointed a member of the Junior Red
Cross to a permanent seat on the Board of Directors
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1956
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Help for victims of house fires was
added to local Disaster Relief efforts
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1957
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Chapter was deeded the Gilmore family
home at 516 West South Street, in memory of Carrie Gilmore, for their
new headquarters as long as it serves the chapter’s needs.
It was renamed The Chapter House
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1959
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Amateur Radio Relay League (HAM) radio
operators began communications operations in the basement of Red Cross
headquarters; mobile units were added to chapter vehicles much later, in
1971
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1960
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Junior Red Cross changed its name to Educational
Relations, then changed again to Red Cross Youth Program in 1964
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1961
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Kalamazoo volunteers go to Texas with
disaster relief Hurricane Carla
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1964
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Youth volunteers became involved in
government programs such as Meals on Wheels and operation Headstart
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1964-73
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Vietnam War
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1965
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Executive Director Corinne Otto and 2
other Kalamazoo volunteers spent two weeks in New Orleans assisting
victims of Hurricane Betsy
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November
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“Voices from Home” program
started. People could
record taped messages for their family members in service.
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Volunteers made 4,000 “ditty bags”
for Vietnam servicemen. Sent
at Christmastime, these bags were filled with a variety of personal
necessities and small items to entertain the soldier and alleviate
boredom.
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1966
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Name Home Service was officially
changed to Service to Military Families and Veterans
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1967
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March
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Chapter instituted babysitting classes
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Initiated Adapted Aquatics, a
program that taught swimming instructors special skills to teach persons
with mental or physical impairments
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1969
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Local volunteers are sent to help with
Hurricane Camille
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1971
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Mobile radios were added to chapter
vehicles
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1973
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79,799 children Kalamazoo county had
taken swimming lessons since 1943
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Red Cross received new guidelines from
the U.S. Government on its parameters of responsibility after a disaster
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1974
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VolunTEEN program formed
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Emergency financial assistance for civilians in
need of help with housing, utilities and prescriptions began and grew
dramatically for 20 years
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1975
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Home Health Aides Program was improved
and available to the home bound of Kalamazoo County
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Stroke
One-to-One,
a support service for stroke victims and their families, was started (in
1992 this program was moved to Senior Services)
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CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation)
training was launched
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Local businesses and industry turned to
the Red Cross to provide CPR training and an increase in First Aid
training
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Counseling programs were made available
for Vietnam veterans suffering from posttraumatic stress syndrome and
seeking help with federal and state veteran’s benefits
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1976
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Chapter’s Home Health Aides program
trained people to give assistance to the homebound of Kalamazoo after a
White House Conference on Aging focused attention on the needs of the
elderly
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1978
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January
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The Disaster Committee took time out to
re-evaluate its procedures following the January blizzard
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1979
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December
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Disaster Committee reactivated just in
time for the Kalamazoo tornado of 1980
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1980’s
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Chapter aggressively implemented
National’s recommendation to offer more health initiatives because of
the strong healthcare base in Kalamazoo
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1980
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May 13
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The big tornado hit west side and downtown
Kalamazoo. This tragedy raised the awareness level and importance of
disaster preparedness in Kalamazoo County. The local chapter has been an
active partner in emergency preparedness and relief ever since.
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1982
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Chapter acquired Wood-UpJohn home next
to the Chapter House on South Street
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Working
Beyond Fear
program targets AIDS education after first AIDS case was diagnosed in
Kalamazoo County
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1983
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January
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Started Care-A-Van service with
state and local grants; the Red Cross provided management and 100
drivers
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1985
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Chapter voted to continue funding Service
to Veterans service even though National chapter had seized funding
of this program
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1986
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November
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Red Cross involvement in Care-A-Van became
too expensive and management of the program was turned back over to the
county
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The U.S. Department of Housing &
Urban Development awarded Community Emergency Services (CES), along with
Center City Housing, a “Certificate of National Merit” for their
cooperative work in finding permanent solutions to housing problems
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1984
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Seat Belt Task Force won the Clara
Barton Award for its ‘We Love You-Buckle Up’ campaign
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1990
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August
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Persian Gulf Crisis began
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Red Cross readied itself to assist
families of military personnel on active duty during Operation Desert
Storm (ODS)
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From the time the Persian Gulf Crisis
began until the liberation of Kuwait and beyond, the staff and
volunteers spent long hours comforting and counseling families,
providing emergency financial assistance and communication provided to
the Red Cross by the Department of Defense, coordinating volunteer
activities and dispersing information.
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1993
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November
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Cass and Kalamazoo chapters merge
following a major tornado in Cass County in 1992
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1994
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The chapter assumed a major leadership
role in Michigan as lead chapter for disaster, providing technical
assistance to other Red Cross units and coordinating recruitment of
Michigan’s 900 plus disaster volunteers on major disasters
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1994
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In collaboration with Salvation Army, Housing
Resources and Greater Kalamazoo United Way, we refined civilian
financial assistance to medical prescriptions and shifted housing and
utilities
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Jimmy Flynn Bone Marrow Transplant
Group of Southwest Michigan becomes committee of Red Cross Blood
Services program. The group sponsors its first bass fishing tournament.
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1996
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St. Joseph chapter merges with
Cass-Kalamazoo chapter
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Chapter opens satellite
offices in Cassopolis and Centreville
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The Federal Aviation
Disaster Family Assistance Act was passed.
This designated the American Red Cross as the non-profit
organization to coordinate the emotional support for aviation disaster
victims and families.
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November
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First Western Michigan University/Central Michigan
University Blood Challenge
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First Pet First Aid
training course introduced
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1997
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Automated External
Defibrillation added to CPR/First Aid training
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