On Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009, the American Red Cross Southeastern PA (SEPA) Chapter hosted its Annual Meeting and Celebration of Volunteers at the Drexelbrook in Drexel Hill, PA. In attendance were more than 650 guests and honorees. Volunteers were recognized for their dedication and countless hours they have given to the Red Cross.

The 2009 Annual Report takes as its theme "when the call comes in." It is our hope this report will give you insights into what goes on behind the scenes-who takes the call, what kinds of calls we get, who decides the nature and level of a Red Cross response, how we get people and supplies to a disaster scene, and more.

The American Red Cross SEPA Chapter marked National Preparedness Month in September with its most ambitious effort ever to raise public awareness about the importance of preparing for disaster. The Red Cross hosted or was involved in nearly 80 events throughout the month.

With flu season fast approaching, SEPA VOAD, the American Red Cross Southeastern PA Chapter and the Philadelphia Department of Public Health joined forces to offer an informative H1N1 flu preparedness summit for leaders of non-profits, human service and emergency response agencies in the region.

This past month, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Chapter hosted the regional conference of the ACELA Emergency Services Directors group. The ACELA group is comprised of Emergency Services Directors from Boston, MA, down to Washington, DC. This area is the most densely populated region covered by the American Red Cross.

The American Red Cross SEPA Chapter is helping out in the national response to the devastating Georgia Floods.

With the upcoming Halloween holiday, this is a good time to share some tales about Mass Care. There are a lot of scary stories floating around that need to be dispelled.

• Mass Care Tips
• City Coordinator Positions Available
• September Response

Connect with us - your Red Cross chapter has gone global! Social networking sites have become a huge part of our everyday lives. They can help you find jobs, locate long-lost friends, learn about the world, or announce a big event in your life. Now they can help you give back to your favorite charities - including the Red Cross.

FedEx Corp., sponsor of Denny Hamlin and the #11 FedEx Racing team, held a "Race to Prepare" disaster preparedness program at the American Red Cross Southeastern Pennsylvania Chapter on Wednesday, September 23.

• Fed Ex Race to Prepare
• Youth Services & Social Networking
• Community Disaster Education Offerings

My thoughts as I hit the snooze button on my alarm clock on Labor Day focused on the holiday. I would be spending my time with the American Red Cross. No cooking out today; no BBQ today; the chef was tired!