[From the Ontario District's newsletter, The Trillium, issue 61-03, July - September, 2007 , Waldo Redekop, editor.]

Give the gift of life!

Society Blood Donor Drive, May 10, 2008

By Waldo Redekop, Ontario District Vice President Communications

Watching the webcast from the 2007 Society international barbershop contest in Denver, I momentarily saw an announcement that the Society was planning to have a Blood Donor Day. Of course, I didn’t get the details so I contacted head office for more details.

I have also just received a sheet with additional information. Further information should be available from your chapter president. The project is the brain child of Marketing and P. R. Committee Chair Bob Ebers.

They are planning to have a one-day blood drive and donor awareness day on May 10, 2008. The reason for May 10 is this is the day before Mother’s Day, one week before Victoria Day in Canada and two weeks before Memorial Day in the United States.

These two long weekends are a period of low blood donor turnout due to travel or holiday plans, and at the same time, a time when blood is needed most because of the increased number of travel-related accidents.

This event will stand out from other blood drives. It will be exciting and entertaining. Donors at these events will be entertained throughout the day with singing! This is our gift to say thank you for their gift.

This is an opportunity to showcase to the communities who we are and what we do. If we attract and recruit a few more members in the process, then this is also good. Chapters can build alliances with other community groups including choirs, bands, schools and churches. The possibilities are unlimited.

I am sure that someone is contacting the Canadian Blood Services to see if Barbershoppers can also help in this drive. Wouldn’t it be great if Ontario District Barbershoppers banded together to help entertain in this event? Wouldn’t it be great to then read about the success and fun (just like Singing Valentines) in The Trillium?

Hope you all plan to help with this worthwhile project. Even if you are not able to give blood, they can always use volunteers to help with the blood drive.     k