Red Cross coming here to look for a few good volunteers

American Red Cross volunteers (left) perform a damage assessment after flooding in Coffeyville in 2007. The Red Cross is seeking to recruit more volunteers for Southeast Kansas and will conduct a disaster training seminar Thursday in Fort Scott. (Submitted Photo)

The American Red Cross' campaign to recruit more volunteers in Southeast Kansas is scheduled to come through Fort Scott on Thursday.

A news release said the organization, which is looking to enhance its volunteer response capabilities in the region, will conduct a disaster training information seminar at 3:30 p.m. Thursday at the Fort Scott Community College Burke Street campus, 810 S. Burke St.

At the seminar, potential volunteers can talk with current volunteers and regional experts about the requirements for volunteering.

They will also learn how they can help their community respond to the most common disaster Red Cross is called to -- fires, the release said.

James Williams, Red Cross public relations manager in Wichita, said current volunteers and experts will also hand out information on disasters and answer any questions from attendees regarding the Red Cross and volunteering for the organization.

"We're identifying disaster volunteer recruits is what we're doing," he said. "The goal is to create a team of core volunteers from the Southeast Kansas area that can respond to local disasters."

The release said 2011 was an extremely busy year for the Red Cross. Throughout the country, a wide range of natural disasters kept its volunteers actively helping people recover. Last year, 46 states experienced a large-scale disaster. In response, Red Cross gave out 2.6 million relief items and distributed 6.7 million meals and snacks.

Red Cross wants to maintain its preparedness locally and nationally by recruiting more volunteers for Southeast Kansas, the release said.

"Ninety-six percent of what Red Cross does is accomplished by our volunteer base," American Red Cross Regional Executive Director Bev Morlan said in the release. "Thanks to their dedication, the American Red Cross is able to respond down the street, across the country and around the world to disasters."

Depending on attendance at the free seminar, the Red Cross would like to send a regional expert to build a team of disaster volunteers specific to Bourbon County.

"Red Cross would really like to see a strong showing at this seminar," Williams said. "If response is strong enough, it would set up a group of classes that would train people in the area to be able to respond all across the country."

Williams said there is a need for disaster response teams in all parts of Kansas. The Red Cross conducts similar seminars and recruiting events in communities statewide.

"Understanding that volunteers have been and will always be the face of Red Cross is critical," Morlan said. "Ideally, Red Cross and Fort Scott can walk away from Thursday's meeting with a team of people willing to make their community safer."

All potential volunteers must be 18, have a valid driver's license and email, and pass a background check.

For more information, call (888) 765-9058.