Pros
- The volunteers - These are the most incredible people. There is the same range of personality types that you find in any group- angelic to nightmarish - but they all come to help and then they keep coming back, again. They are unquestionably the best part of the job! - The staff - No one stays with a non-profit for money. Anyone who can make through the first 18 months is a special soul. These people bond like they have survived a war together. Over the past 10 years, they have been battered, over-worked, unappreciated, ignored, made into scapegoats and under valued for their subject expertise but they never stop trying. - The International Red Cross Movement - Being a part of the keepers of the Geneva Conventions is a privilege that is difficult to understand. Take a class called International Humanitarian Law - it is offered for free by every ARC across the country and has an online format. You will be humbled. - The mission speaks for itself... The American Red Cross prevents and alleviates human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors.
Cons
- The complete failure of upper management to understand the mission, to tell the story and to listen to those who do! - Financial Development has become so separated from chapter operations that they do not understand the programs. They cannot sell something that they never get to experience. Their goals are unreasonable and then they are re-evaluated and raised during Q3 every single year. - Staffing structure - Just keeping the lights turned on has everyone racing at disaster operation level everyday. How can they possibly scale up more when the an actual disaster strikes? How much time can they give to supporting, engaging and retaining volunteers? - The financial crisis is incapacitating every line of service. - The community well water is poisoned. Volunteers left with all of the responsibility and none of the support or explanation become disenfranchised very quickly. They feel betrayed by something that they have only ever tried to support and they spread the word. Community partners are hesitant to work with us because the reputation that precedes us does not inspire confidence. Government partners do not have time to waste and they only see constant turn-over leaving perpetually unmet commitments. The mission cannot be met without these collaborate partnerships and that means unmet annual goals and Performance Improvement Plans.