American Red Cross history and organization

American Red Cross has become a preeminent charity organization in the United States and is mainly concerned with aiding people in the prevention of and preparation for emergencies and crises. The American Red Cross helps in terms of emergency response as well as public education and information about disease and other healthcare issues. It is also concerned with issues such as blood supplies and transfusions and is the largest supplier of blood and blood products in the United States. (The American Red Cross Joins the Fight Against Malaria)

The organization is volunteer based and receives its funds from public donations. In terms of its structure and management it is not a governmental organization and has its own internal management and supervisory system. Its budget is derived from donations as well as fees that are charged for some services.

The American Red Cross comprises 769 regional or city-based chapters. In terms of the management of this large organization the directors of the chapters have a certain amount of control and autonomy in planning and ascertaining which the most important areas of concern are. The Red Cross is also exempt from tax as it is considered as a non-profit charitable organization. (HowStuffWorks: "How the American Red Cross Works.")

In recent years that Red Cross also expanded its services into such fields as civil defense, CPR training, HIV / AIDS education, and "...the provision of emotional care and support to disaster victims and their survivors." (A Brief History of the American Red Cross) The American red Cross is also the main supplier of "mass care" in declared disaster areas.(A Brief History of the American Red Cross)

Unique Aspects central aspect that makes the American Red Cross unique is the fact that is funded through charitable donations and comprised largely of volunteers. A central aspect of the organization is the excellent work that it does - especially with regard to blood supplies and disaster prevention. Another aspect that should be noted is that the American Red Cross is affiliated with and allied to the larger International Red Cross. In this regard, "...the American Red Cross joins more than 175 other national societies in bringing aid to victims of disasters throughout the world. (A Brief History of the American Red Cross)

1.3. Reflections on this study

The exploration of the literature on this organization has made me aware of the wide range of activities and services that the American Red Cross provides in the United States, as well as in other areas of the world. At the same time, the research also highlighted the many difficulties involved in managing and supervising an enterprise of this size and complexity. This became clear from the plethora of reports and studies which questioned and critiqued aspects of the distribution of funds and services in some cases by the American Red Cross. The research on this topic also made me more aware of the importance of an organization of this nature and the valuable contribution that it makes to the community and the society as a whole.

B:

Annotated Bibliography

Brief History of the American Red Cross. Retrieved October 26, 2008 at http://64.233.183.104/search?q=cache:57O4_fpIWBYJ:www.delco-redcross.org/media/Brief_History_of_the_American_Red_Cross.pdf+american+red+cross+history+management&l=en&t=clnk&d=9&l=z

This Web site provides a short but informative overview of the history of the American Red Cross. The site also provides a very useful time-line of the main issues and events that have impacted this organization over the years. This includes links to areas such as'100 Significant Dates in Red Cross History'. The entire site acts as a very useful introduction to the various aspects of the organization.

Red Cross management rapped ? The Boston Globe. Retrieved October 26, 2008 at http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2006/02/28/red_cross_management_rapped/

The above article provides insight into a recurring criticism of the management, structure and supervision of the American Red Cross. There have been numerous reports and accusations in the press as well as from other sources that the American Red Cross has not always responded in a timely and adequate way to various crises, such as Katrina. As the author of this article states, "Thousands of pages of Red Cross e-mail, corporate documents, and whistleblower complaints paint a picture of an organization whose mammoth structure contributed to the charity's uneven response to Hurricane Katrina." (Red Cross management rapped) This aspect is emphasized by Charles Grassley, who stated that "... The documents raise questions about the Red Cross's ability to keep close watch on billions of dollars in donations." (Red Cross management rapped) This article provides food for thought and for further exploration of the subject in terms of management and structure.

3. History of the American Red Cross. Retrieved October 26, 2008 at http://www.redcrosslv.org/history.html.

This is a very comprehensive and easy to grasp overview of the various aspects as well as the main historical factors in the organization. The site is well displayed and written. This is a good starting point for an investigation of the background to the various management issues that affect this organization

4. HowStuffWorks: "How the American Red Cross Works." Retrieved October 26, 2008 at http://people.howstuffworks.com/american-red-cross5.htm

This is a very intensive and thorough site and covers almost every aspect of the American Red Cross. This includes not only the history of the organization, but also deals with aspects such as the structure of the Red Cross and, importantly, the various conflicts and controversies that are part of the modern history of the American Red Cross. This last point is important as it reflects directly on the issues of management and supervision. The site is therefore especially useful in terms of studying and understanding the inner workings and structural makeup of the organization.

5. Horowitz L. The American Red Double-cross. Retrieved October 26, 2008 at http://www.tetrahedron.org/articles/apocalypse/red_double_cross.html

This is a controversial and somewhat extreme viewpoint of the American Red Cross. The author explores various "conspiracy theories" surrounding the working and the underlying manipulation of materials and funds that could be related to the Red Cross. While these views may be considered to be slightly extreme, they are also important in the overall context of the understanding of the organization. These extreme views therefore should be at least taken into account in the wide range of research on this organization.

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Retrieved October 26, 2008 at http://www.ifrc.org/

This site provides a broad basis for research and relates not only to the American Red Cross. It therefore serves as a good background resource. The site also provides access to archived articles on the American Red Cross that can be obtained through the search facility on the site.

7. The American Red Cross. Retrieved October 26, 2008 at http://www.redcross.org/index.html

This home site of the American Red Cross is an essential reference point for the latest news and updates on new developments in the organization. The site offers a wide range of links to relevant areas - including associations with government. The Governance section is particularly informative and provides a concise overview of the management structure of the Red Cross. This site also provides access to a large amount of additional information and PDF documents that can be downloaded and which extend the value of the site.

8. Red Cross, American: Oxford Companion to American Military History. Retrieved October 26, 2008 at http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/fullarticle/1O126-RedCrossAmerican.html

This is a short but useful article. It is especially useful in terms of future research in that it provides numerous hyperlinks and links to other areas of related interest; for example, to an explanation of the Geneva Conventions. This is a succinct site that provides avenues for further research.

9. Red Cross Providing Help to Hurricane 2008 Victims. Retrieved October 26, 2008 at http://www.redcross.org/article/0,1072,0_312_8173,00.html

The information that was gleaned form this site was succinct but useful in relation to learning about the recent activities of the Red Cross. It also provided insight into the various functions of the organization and the way that it is structured to help victims of natural disasters.

10. The American Red Cross Increases Aid to Haiti. Retrieved October 26, http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/124770.php

This is a fairly extensive article that reports on the way that the American Red Cross assists people in extreme situation and crises in different areas of the world. This article also provides a fairly insightful overview of the structure and management of the organization in the body of the report.

11. American Red Cross: Charity Navigator. Retrieved October 28, 2008 at http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=3277

This is a very useful site that provides clear and factual insight into the functioning of the organization in terms of charity foundations and the allocation of funds. The site provides concise information and graphical charts relating to the way that the American Red Cross is managed. The site also provides information for comparative research, in that it compares charity donations to the American Red Cross with other charities and organizations. This site provides a firm basis for further research and exploration into the various administrative and functional aspects of the organization.

12. Burton, DH (1995). Clara Barton In the Service of Humanity. Westport, CT:Greenwood Press. Retrieved October 31, 2008, from Questia database: http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=27440792

This is a book that explores the history and the background to the American Red Cross. It focuses extensively on the founder of the organization, Clara Barton. This work is extensive and provides a clear and intriguing analysis of the factors and the reasons that contributed to the making and development of the Americana Red Cross.

Meara, K.P. (2001, November 5). The Red Cross in the Cross Hairs? Families of Oklahoma City Bombing Victims Say They Did Not Receive Funds Sent to Them by Mail and Handled by the Red Cross. And Questions Are Being Raised in New York City. Insight on the News, 17, 18+. Retrieved October 31, 2008, from Questia database: http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5000915710

The author of this article suggests that there are certain questions that should be raised concerning the administration and management of funds by the American Red Cross. The article echoes many other reports and studies that have in recent years begun to question the internal management and supervision of the this organization - especially with regard to the allocation of funds. The author, for example, asks that the following questions: