(Posted February 24th, 1998) Officials with the Kansas Capital Area Chapter of the American Red Cross, American Red Cross Blood Services and the Topeka Chamber of Commerce hosted a "ribbon-tying" ceremony for the grand opening of the new American Red Cross (ARC) Blood Donation Center, Saturday, February 14, at 1221 SW 17th, at 11:00 am.

"The Red Cross Chapter has been serving Topeka with first aid, disaster services, medical transportation, health and safety classes an more for 81 years," says David Holmes, Chairman of the Board of the ARC Central Plains Region. "Red Cross Blood Services has been serving the state of Kansas for 50 years. Expanding our Blood Services program into Topeka is just one more way to show our commitment to this community."

Kansas Capital Area Chapter Executive Teri Lee Buck, says she is enthusiastic about the expansion. "I see this move as a very exciting one for the community, as does our Board of Directors," she says. "It is indeed a strengthening of ties between the Red Cross and Topeka."

Grand Opening ceremonies included remarks from Mr. Holmes, and the Chairperson of the Chapter Board of Directors, Barbara Davison. Also speaking will be Debbie Symsek, a Topeka resident.

Mrs. Symsek, along with her husband, Ed, and daughter Kaitlin, have a special appreciation for the American Red Cross and its services. They do so because Saturday marked the tenth anniversary of Kaitlin's life-saving heart-valve transplant surgery. Kaitlin received the heart valve through ARC Tissue Services and was transfused with blood from ARC during her surgery.

"I'll be able to see my daughter grow up and live a full life because of the help she received from the American Red Cross," says Mrs. Symsek. "For that, I am eternally grateful."

Mrs. Symsek says she was a dedicated blood donor with the ARC in California, where they lived at the time of Kaitlin's surgery. But, since moving to Topeka, she has not donated because there was no Red Cross collection center in town. Debbie Symsek will be the first donor at the new site.

ARC officials announced the decision last November to open the site in Topeka. They say the decision came as a response to requests from Topeka citizens who inquired about Red Cross Blood Services after the local blood bank, Kansas blood Services (KBS), was purchased by a for-profit company.

In July of last year, KBS was sold to Haemonetics, Inc., a publicly traded company which designs, manufactures and distributes equipment for the collection and processing of blood.

Holmes says the decision to open the site was an easy one. "The sole mission of the Red Cross is to serve the community. We believe the donation of blood is too personal and precious a gift to be treated as a commodity for sale," he says. "Now, the citizens in and around Topeka will have a choice where they donate."

The new Topeka center will be located in joint facilities with the Chapter at 1221 SW 17th Street. The center will accept donations during the following hours: Monday, Tuesday and Friday from 8 am to 3 pm; Wednesday and Thursday 11 am to 6 pm; and Saturday from 9 am to 1 pm. The center will be closed on Sunday.

(Posted March 16, 1998) The Kansas Capital Area Chapter of the American red Cross is accepting nominations for the Jan Ogan Distinguished Nurse award. This award is presented annually for outstanding service by a registered nurse that meets the required criteria.

This award is named in honor of Jan Ogan, a nurse who served the Red Cross for fifty years. Jan had her Maters in nursing and was an instructor in schools of nursing, in public schools and within the Red Cross. She also served by developing community health-related programs and ministered disaster services. An army nurse during World War II, Jan was also actively involved with the Kansas Nurse Association, a professional nursing organization. She passed away on July 13, 1994.

Qualified nurses can apply or be nominated by others by the May 1, 1998 deadline. The award will then be given this June at the Red Cross Annual Meeting. Please contact Diane Trevene, RN; American Red Cross Kansas Capital Area Chapter, 1221, SW 17th, Topeka, Kansas 66604. Phone (785) 234-0568 and fax (785) 234-5758.

Criteria for Nomination

On a separate piece of paper please include the following information and address the criteria:

Name of Nominee
Street Address
City, State, Zip Code
Phone Number

Criteria for Selection

A. The nominee must be a registered nurse. Indicate basic nursing education (year graduated and school), additional education (if any) and commitment to learning.

B. The nominee must be an active or retired professional American Red Cross Nurse with a minimum of three years of service.

C. The nominee demonstrates levels of Red Cross participation at the local, state, national, and/or international areas.

D. The nominee has demonstrated involvement in community health programs such as: Health and Safety, Blood Pressure Screening, Staying Healthy, Disaster Nursing, School Health Programs, Transportation.

E. The nominee has demonstrated commitment to our country through such activities such as serving in the military, government, and/or involvement with the legislative process.

(Posted March 16, 1998) 352 volunteers took time out of their busy schedules to wrap gifts at the 10th Annual American Red Cross gift Wrap Center at West Ridge Mall. The volunteers wrapped more than 3,115 presents, raising $11,138 for Red Cross programs.

Security Benefit group underwrote the Gift Wrap Center, allowing 100% of the proceeds to go directly into such Red Cross programs as health and safety training, disaster assistance, communication for the Armed Forces, transportation to appointments for the elderly, and respite for home caregivers.

"Security Benefit repeatedly demonstrates that 'good people help because help can't wait," said Teri Lee Buek, Executive Director of the Red Cross Kansas Capital Area Chapter.

(Posted March 16, 1998) For the second year, the spring fundraiser for the Kansas Capital Area Chapter of the American Red Cross will be a "non-event." Rather than attending a gala or an auction, patrons of the event will be able to schedule their own "non-event" at their own home, calling on the Red Cross to deliver everything from an elegant "Breakfast Brunch in Bed" to a "Party Hearty Fiesta" to a sinful "Chocolate decadence" dessert to their doors.

Guaranteed to provide "relief" from the stress and hectic pace of contemporary life, the various "relief kits" offered are available at various levels of donation, ranging from $250 for the "Ultimate" breakfast to $50 for "Basic Relief" (a Red Cross First Aid Kit).

(Posted March 16, 1998) The American Red Cross Bowl-A-Thon held at Gage Center the weekend of November 14, 15 and 16 grossed just over $6,000 for local Red Cross programs and services.

A total of 120 bowlers made up of 32 teams, most of which were sponsored by companies or organizations. Goodyear was named "Top Corporate Fund Raiser" for the fourth year in a row, with five company teams turning in $1,500.

A new category was begun this year for small businesses. Community National Bank was named "Small business Top Fund Raiser" for the first time. Their team collected nearly $800.

Ed Blankingship of Goodyear was the "Top Individual Fund raiser" and received his choice of the grand prizes" a Heartland Park Topeka "VIP Weekend for Two" from Heartland Park Topeka. Runner-up Bill Farr, also of Goodyear, received the alternate grand prize: a weekend for two at the Ramada Inn & Tower.