Veteran of blood donor drives offers to help other clubs around the world, inspired by an article about Global Network for Blood Donation in the magazine rotarian. The Vineland Rotary Club, District 7640, New Jersey, USA, is into its 11th year of blood drives.
"I learned of your action group in the July issue of the magazine rotarian. I have conducted community blood drives, sponsored by our Rotary club, for over 10 years," Ronald (Ron) E. McMahon, Vineland Rotary Club, Vineland, District 7640, New Jersey, USA, wrote to GNBD in June 2007.
The mail continued: I'm interested in participating in Global Network for Blood Donation, to offer any help that I can to other Rotary groups around the world, and would be pleased to become a charter member of GNBD.
Ron McMahon says, the he became involved in running the club's blood drives because he was a long time member of the Board of Directors of the local chapter of the American Red Cross, have always been a blood donor (
Vineland Rotary Club sponsors four blood drives per year, and collects annually about
The club is in its 11th year of blood drives. The Vineland club has held 28 blood drives during that time, and collected 900 units of blood. The club's second blood drive of 2007 takes place in the third week of July
Ronald E. McMahon can be contacted at ronaldmcm65@cs.com, phone 856-692-3117.
Editor's note: Ron became charter member of GNBD June 25, 2007.
The following is an article Ronald E. McMahon wrote for the local newspaper, promoting the Vineland Rotary Club, the Rotary blood drive, and blood donations in general:
The Vineland Rotary Club was awarded a certificate by the Penn-Jersey Chapter of the American Red Cross for achieving its goal of 40 units during the blood drive it recently sponsored. The Vineland Rotary has sponsored 28 blood drives over the past ten years, and has collected over 900 units of blood during that time. Many Rotarians have been regular donors for the past ten years.
Initially, the club sponsored 2 blood drives every year, in spring and fall. In 2003, the American Red Cross, recognizing Rotary's dedication to community service and consistent successful blood drive results, requested that the club sponsor additional drives at the most critical times of blood shortage, the winter holiday season and mid-summer. The club continues to sponsor 4 blood drives every year, with donors from Rotary and the community at large.
The need for blood is growing at about 6% per year. Nearly 5 million persons receive blood transfusions every year, with an average of 3 pints per transfusion. 60% of Americans are able to donate blood, but only 5% do so.
The next blood drive sponsored by the Vineland Rotary Club will be on
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