RED CROSS Sister chapters offer lessons to each other

Members from the Mahoning and Qingdao chapters have spent time visiting their counterparts and experience the culture.
By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Mahoning County Chapter of the American Red Cross and the Qingdao, China, Red Cross chapter are in different parts of the world, but the organizations have become sister chapters to facilitate an open exchange of ideas.
Communications were opened between the Mahoning Chapter and the Qingdao Chapter, in the Shandong Province on the east coast of China, a little more than a year ago when Florence Wang, chairwoman of the Mahoning chapter's board of directors, was invited to China to present seminars on fund raising and other topics.
Two members of the Qingdao chapter spent a week touring the Mahoning County area in September. This month Wang, board members Artis Gillam Sr., Thomas Will, Dr. Y.T. Chiu and executive director W. Russell Preston spent time visiting the China province.
No Red Cross funds were used for the trip. Members paid their own expenses.
During each visit, delegates had the opportunity to see how the other organization operates. Each group also spent time touring the area, learning the culture and getting a clearer understanding of the people served by the Red Cross organizations.
"The Red Cross in China was chartered in 1904, and they have the same mission and values of humanitarianism as we do, but they are in the process of changing from an organization that is completely funded by the government," said Will.
Helping out
That transition from government funding to operating on private donations is where Wang said the Mahoning County chapter will be most beneficial to the Qingdao chapter. She said Qingdao members will pick up ideas on Red Cross fund raising, how to set up a board of directors, recruitment and how to become better connected to community leaders and private business partners.
To date, 21 of the 31 Chinese Red Cross organizations have taken steps to separate from government funding.
The Mahoning County chapter hopes to gain insight into the Chinese Red Cross youth programs and full integration into local heath care delivery systems.
Wang said Chinese doctors in the Red Cross system volunteer their time in local hospitals. She said there are also quality facilities for the elderly there that are completely funded by the Red Cross.
The Qingdao chapter also has various youth programs that members here are interested in starting locally.
Both organizations understand that any meaningful exchange in ideas is not likely to happen all at once. The partnership is expected to be a lasting one.
"This is going to take time. They are trying to find out what our culture is like and we are trying to find out what their culture is like, to find a common ground," said Preston. "This is not an easy process. It's going to progress over years."
jgoodwin@vindy.com