Service Center shows appreciation for volunteer service to the Red Cross and the community

St. Louis, Wednesday, May 9, 2007 - The American Red Cross Scott Air Force Base Service Center recently honored volunteers during a recognition luncheon. Special guests at the ceremony included Col. Tamara Rank, 375th Airlift Wing Deputy Commander; Col. Bradley Spacy, 375th Mission Support Group Commander; Lt. Col. Pete Peters, 375th Medical Support Group Commander; and Vivian M. Luce, Vice Chair of the Board of Directors for the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter.

Award Recipients:

• The New Outstanding Volunteer Award is presented to individuals who have been with the Red Cross for less than one year and have strengthened and improved services.
  • Birgitt Kaylor (O'Fallon, IL) has completed 700 volunteer hours in pursuit of her 375th Dental Squadron Dental Assisting Certificate.  She provides care to 6,000 Active Duty Air Force and 30,000 other beneficiaries. She comes in early and stays late to greet, seat, and drape patients and to then assist in procedures. Birgitt's colleagues see her as a shining example of what a volunteer can do to help our military.

• The Blood Services Award is given to a volunteer who exemplifies a commitment to strengthen or improve our local blood supply through their dedicated efforts.
  • Melody Dock (Scott Air Force Base, IL) serves as the Blood Drive Chair for the American Red Cross at Scott Air Force Base. Melody plans, schedules, and staffs each blood drive held on base. Melody has built exceptional relationships between donors, staff, and volunteers. She is a true believer in the mission of the American Red Cross and her positive attitude and constant smile consistently lead to successful blood drives at Scott Air Force Base.

• The Honor Award recognizes an individual for continued volunteer commitment, performance and impact in the community.
  • Barbara Litman (Belleville, IL) has volunteered at the Scott Air Force Base Main Pharmacy every Friday since January 2002. She assists the pharmacy staff in providing general information to patients, helping with the pharmacy's patient pick-up service and provides informational materials to over 87,000 patients each year.
  • Helen Whicher (Belleville, IL) has been a Pharmacy Red Cross Volunteer since 1974 at Wright Patterson Air Force Base. In 1980, she and her husband, (Ret.) Col. Bill Whicher returned to Scott Air Force Base. At that time, she became the very first Pharmacy Red Cross Volunteer and has been volunteering every Thursday since, assisting the pharmacy technicians in treating over 87,000 patients each year.

• The Volunteer of the Year Award honors the volunteer with the single most profound impact on Red Cross programs and services over the previous year.
  • Nancy Howell (Shiloh, IL) serves as the Chair of Volunteers at Scott Air Force Base where she supervises the recruitment and training of all base volunteers. She maintains the volunteer database and assures every volunteer is matched with the position that will best complement their skills. Nancy is always the first to say "I will do it" or "I will help you" and is constantly a positive presence at the base. Her colleagues see her as a vitally important member of the Scott Air Force Base Service Center.

About Scott Air Force Base Volunteer Opportunities:
The Scott Air Force Base Service Center depends on the dedication of volunteers to serve thousands of active military, civil service employees, Reservists, Air National Guard, contractors and military family members. Volunteers at Scott Air Force Base are actively involved in Health and Safety presentations, Community Disaster Education, blood drives and Armed Forces Emergency Services.

To get more information about volunteering at the Scott Air Force Base Service Center, please call 618.256.1855, or log on to the St. Louis Area Chapter's website at www.redcrossstl.org. 

About the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter:
Founded in 1917, the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter celebrates 90 years of dedicated service, providing emergency relief and preparedness training more than 410,000 times each year. The Red Cross is not a government agency and depends on the efforts of thousands of volunteers and donors to provide a wide range of community support services, including disaster relief, first aid and CPR training, water safety, services to military personnel and support for blood services. The Chapter, a United Way agency, provides programs and services to St. Louis City, St. Louis County, St. Charles County and Jefferson County in Missouri, as well as Monroe, St. Clair (including Scott Air Force Base) and part of Madison County in Illinois. All disaster relief services are provided free of charge thanks to the generosity of the American people. To learn more about Red Cross programs, volunteer opportunities, and how you can help, contact the St. Louis Area Chapter at 314.516.2800 or www.redcrossstl.org.

# # #