Local Red Cross
accepting calendar sponsors
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE – Aroostook County businesses, organizations and residents can change a day of disaster into a day of hope. The Aroostook County Branch of the American Red Cross Pine Tree Chapter is now accepting sponsorships for the American Red Cross 2011 Days of Disaster calendar to support the chapter’s local disaster relief fund.
“The main reason behind the calendar is an understandable reduction in support from local businesses,” said Michael Sirota, development director for the Pine Tree Chapter. “It had been our practice to ask for significant gifts from local businesses, and this was just not the year for that to happen.
“What we did was look for a way to come back to local businesses, first of all, and ask for lesser amounts of support, and second of all to make sure that we were providing local businesses with more benefits from whatever we did,” he said. “Sponsorship provides support only for the local disaster relief fund of the Aroostook County Branch and the other areas within the Pine Tree Chapter of the American Red Cross which covers not only Aroostook County, but six other eastern and northern counties in Maine.”
A “Day of Disaster” can be sponsored for $278.31.
“We came up with that amount by taking the total cost of providing emergency shelter, food, clothing and emotional support to victims of local disasters – usually a house fire, but sometimes a flood or major storm,” Sirota said, “which for the chapter is a little over $101,000 a year, divided that by 365 days, and the total becomes $278.31.”
“For $556.62 the sponsor can choose two calendar days, and for $834.93 the sponsor can choose three calendar days,” said Joyce Knorr, Aroostook County Branch manager. “Any sponsor who wishes to select a full week can do so for a gift of $1,800. This is a discount of nearly 10 percent.
“This is a special way for local companies, agencies and families to honor our community, businesses, members, customers, neighbors and loved ones,” she said. “Sponsors get to choose the day or days you want to sponsor, whether it’s a loved one’s birthday, your anniversary, a holiday, or any day that is special to you. You can also sponsor a Day of Disaster in memory of or in honor of anyone you wish. The choice is yours.”
Potential sponsors can access a link on the chapter’s website, www.pinetree.redcross.org, to see which dates are available. Sirota said two entities can sponsor the same date.
Sponsor benefits include the tax-deductible contributor’s name on the day or days chosen in the full-color, 12-inch by 12-inch 2011 Days of Disaster calendar. The sponsor’s name also appears on the back cover of the calendar, and on the chapter’s website, with an active website link. Sponsors receive six free calendars, and a copy will be sent to every town office, police and fire department, sheriff’s office, EMS center, ambulance company, and hospital in Aroostook County, as well as to many community organizations.
“We’re planning to print 2,500 calendars,” said Sirota. “All those organizations which have an interest in serving the community in times of disaster, and every organization that collaborates with us to make peoples’ lives more comfortable when the unexpected happens, will receive free calendars. However, they are not going to be sold to the general public.”
Sponsors also receive an appreciation certificate and a window or door decal to let others know they are a supporter of the American Red Cross.
“In addition to all this,” said Knorr, “sponsors get the satisfaction of knowing that they support the local Red Cross, help their community, and help save lives.”
The idea for the county calendar is a borrowed one.
“The American Red Cross 2011 Days of Disaster calendar is being done by all of the Red Cross chapters in Maine,” said Sirota, noting that one page of the calendar will serve as the American Red Cross’ annual report while the agency’s contact information and programs they provide will also be listed in the calendar. “It was done last year by the southern Maine chapter, and has now extended to be statewide.”
Sponsors are asked to reserve their date by Labor Day (Monday, Sept. 6).
“We wish to have these calendars in peoples’ hands by early November,” said Sirota. “We hope the 2011 calendar will be the first of a continuing series; there’s no reason not to assume that there will be a 2012 calendar, 2013 and so on. We’ve already begun thinking about ways to approach a 2012 calendar.”
Every dollar of a Days of Disaster calendar sponsorship, Knorr said, will stay in northern and eastern Maine to help children, adults and families in local Aroostook County communities.
For more information or to become an American Red Cross 2011 Days of Disaster sponsor, e-mail Knorr at knorrj@pinetree.redcross.org or phone 493-4620, ext. 108, or e-mail Sirota at sirotam@pinetree.redcross.org or call at 493-4620, ext. 106.
THE ADVISORY COUNCIL of the American Red Cross-Pine Tree Chapter met recently for a business luncheon. Among the topics of discussion included the 2011 Days of Disaster calendars. Attending the meeting were, front row, from left: Michael Sirota, development director for the American Red Cross-Pine Tree Chapter; Cindy Bomar, retired, Red Cross volunteer; and Lee Ann Dalgo, town of Madawaska administrator, Red Cross Advisory Council. Middle row: Joyce Knorr, Aroostook County Branch manager for the American Red Cross-Pine Tree Chapter; and Red Cross Advisory Council members Carrie Hull, Easton branch manager of Katahdin Trust Co., and Susan Failing, director of program quality for Community Living Association. Back row: Red Cross Advisory Council members Brad Wolverton, Chester M. Kearney Certified Public Accountants; Ken Urquhart, retired educator; and Rep. Tyler Clark (R-Easton). Absent when the photo was taken were Advisory Council members Bill Flagg, community relations and development director for Cary Medical Center; Ann Marie Perrier, RN, health nurse for McCain Foods, Inc.; Kylie Daigle, RN, Cary Medical Center; Joyce Price, Presque Isle Pool director; Dana Violette, Van Buren fire chief; and A. Sidney Whiting, MD, Pines Health Services. Also ex-officio members: Kelly Landeen, WAGM-TV/FOX 8 sales manager; and Lori Weston, executive director, Greater Houlton Chamber of Commerce.
