I am in Baltimore attending the National Convention of the American Red Cross. 
Having been a volunteer with this organization for a number of
years, I decided it was time to get a closer look at the inner workings and
national leadership that fuel the spirit of the thousands of volunteers that are
the American Red Cross.

Despite the negative press that has sometimes dogged the ARC, the spirit
of giving, sharing, and compassion is paramount and visible at every level in
the organization.  And, it is especially apparent with the people the ARC is
partnering with to develop ways to meet the challenges of the future.
These partners include sports celebrities, other outreach organizations,
youth and students from high schools as well as colleges, and multi-ethnic
groups.

The ARC has a proud history of volunteerism having been founded by Clara
Barton in 1881 as a way to deliver care to soldiers at war.  Since that time,
congressional charters have solidified its role in American culture and it has
become a symbol of the good in the American spirit--the spirit of giving and
of charity.

If you have not looked at the ARC recently, you might be surprised to know
that it has a congressional mandate to provide relief services to those in need
when disaster strikes but it has no funding other than through the fund raising
efforts of its staff and volunteers.  Approximately 95% of people that make up
the Red Cross are volunteers--either full or part time volunteers--who give of
their time, resources, and effort to provide what is needed.

The culture of the Red Cross and its mission of compassion spans not only
American soil but also reaches across the globe through the International
Red Cross, providing vaccines to children in Africa, and tsunami relief to those
devastated by the loss of loved ones and homes in the far east.

If you want your spirits lifted, talk to a Red Cross volunteer in your community
and you'll find that the Red Cross not only provides disaster relief but also
teaches life saving skills such as CPR and water safety. 

And, very importantly, while our troops are at war, doing the bidding of our
government on unfamiliar soil, the Red Cross provides a link of communication
and resources to soldiers and their families. 

The Red Cross also has a Holocaust Survivor's tracking unit that has helped
many people find out about their loved ones and finally have closure after
decades of not knowing.

To those who have never experienced a natural disaster or a medical
emergency, the Red Cross might seem like a distant thought.  But for
anyone who has been touched by the dedication of one of these
volunteers and the warmth they bring to their mission, the work this
organization does can be life changing. 

As one speaker said, the volunteers are not paid not because they
are of no value, but because they are priceless.

And as the American Red Cross says: change a life today, starting with your own.
Look around and see what difference you can make in the lives of those around
you in times of need.  You will probably find that the life you change most
profoundly is your own.