I'm fumin and just need to let off some steam. I live in a mid size city in Texas, population about 170,000. My husband was out running errands today and stopped by our local Red Cross and asked for their Y2K brochure. There were 4 people in the office, and he said they all let out a discernable groan. One man got up and reached in his desk and pulled out the brochure and gave it to my husband with this admonishment, Y2k is a bunch of hype that the media has got started.

My husband quickly left the office with brochure in hand, and said he saw red all the way home. After he repeated his experience to me, I also saw red and picked up the phone, called the Red Cross office and asked for the man who had spoken to my husband. He identified himself, and I proceeded to tell him he was recklessly endangering people's lives by saying what he said. Then I asked why he was working for the Red Cross if he didn't support their charter and mission. He told me that what he'd said to my husband was his opinion, and that's what he'd heard (that y2k was media hype). I told him that his ignorance was criminal, and that he needed to research the subject himself and to reconsider what he told the next person who came in their office seeking help with Y2k preparations. His response.....a smart *ss Texas drawl "Okaaaaaaay". I have a feeling he really will think twice before he says that next time. I'm an old "mom" and have mucho experience dressing down people when called for.

I'm wondering now though, how many people that work in the "local" Red Cross offices have the same mind sync as the one here.

-- Cary Mc from Tx (Caretha@compuserve.com), February 23, 1999

Answers

Well. . .where I live in the Midwest, our Red Cross is planning a "Safe Families 2000 Campaign" to begin county-wide in March. Obviously they think the national office gave them a reason to do so.

-- FM (vidprof@aol.com), February 23, 1999.

I was told by a cafe manager at an elem.school that the Red Cross was setting up preps at the school... (40 mi east of Wash D. C.)

-- KoFE (Godbless@em.com), February 23, 1999.

I don't speak from personal experience, but I have heard from people WITH personal experience that the Red Cross is a pain in the butt.

Whereas the Salvation Army is concerned about really helping people, the Red Cross does it for the money.

-- Anonymous99 (Anonymous99@Anonymous.com), February 23, 1999.

Anonymous 99.......

Good one man. You trashed the Red Cross. What a hero you are. Keep on going. Why not trash the Boy Scouts, Girl Guides, Cancer Foundation, Mothers Against Drunk Drivers and 4H Club while you're on a roll.

And all with a fake name and email address so we can't even thank you personally for your good character and bravery! How modest of you.

I know I sleep better at night just knowing we can all count on you to do the right thing.

-- Craig (craig@ccinet.ab.ca), February 23, 1999.

Anonymous99, What people told you is true.

-- Eye on Y2K (bugscaresme@mellinium.com), February 23, 1999.

It is real easy to trash a primary volunteer organization which is only fairly loosely related from local chapter to local chapter. Until you have volunteered with us, and seen what we do, climd down off your horse!!!! You may just be the victim of a group of volunteers who do not represent the universe of the organization.

Sign me going for my 15 year pin in May!

-- Chuck, rienzo (Former_Chief_of_one_agency@Cleveland.ARC), February 24, 1999.

I do not wish to insult either the good work that the ARC has done in the past nor those of you who have donated money or volunteered time. Unfortunately, some of the criticism is justified. The above post is clearly not an isolated incident. Indeed it seems to be a trend at the ARC.

ARC leadership has been unbelieveably slow to respond to this crisis and continues to drag its feet. They've been given a golden opportunity to be proactive here rather than reactive. Instead, they've chosen to procrastinate and hedge bets in a 'play it politically safe' mode. They've chosen to not be seen in the same vincinity those would prepare.

Their recent refusal to participate in the Milwaukee Y2K Expo is a prime example. This was not a 'radical guns & violence' operation. I was there. There were no gun dealers, no militia groups, no 'overthrow the govt' speeches. They missed a vital opportunity to provide useful, balanced information to a group of people who do not want panic, who do not want things to get bad and who are taking steps to see themselves and their families through this.

But the ARC has overslept. The alarm clock went off loudly a long time ago. Their eyes are open - but they are not yet out of bed and it's past time to wake up and smell the smoke.

-- Arnie Rimmer (Arnie_Rimmer@usa.net), February 24, 1999.