GNBD awards 2007

Posted by Charles Kurtzman

91 Rotary Clubs and 144 Rotarians honored by Global Network for Blood Donation

In recognition of the ongoing efforts by Rotary Clubs to increase the world's blood supply through voluntary donations, Rotary International has received the 2006 Outstanding Achievement Award from the AABB, an international, not-for-profit association for the advancement of science and the practice of transfusion medicine and related therapies.

The Global Network for Blood Donation wishes to share the recognition of Rotary International's achievement with Rotary Clubs and individual Rotarians who lead these efforts. Citations have been sent to District Governors for presentation at District Conferences to honor 91 Rotary Clubs and 144 Rotarians by Global Network for Blood Donation, supported by a generous grant from Carter BloodCare, the community blood center in North Texas who had nominated us for the AABB award. 

Rotary International Director Barry Rassin accepted the award on Oct. 24 2006 during AABB's annual meeting in Miami Beach. The award, given annually to one individual and one organization, cites Rotary "for embracing the mission of blood donation and for the organization's instrumental role in helping to provide safe blood in communities around the world."

Background

In the Spring of 2006 Rotary International was nominated by Carter BloodCare for recognition by the AABB.

We were asked to provide estimates of Rotary's contribution to voluntary  worldwide blood donation. Senior Journalism students at TCU in Fort Worth, Texas, USAconducted a survey of Rotary's Governors, Immediate Past Governors, and Governors-Elect.  Respondents were asked to provide donation statistics and to identify individual Rotarians and Rotary Clubs who were leading these efforts.

The research conducted by the Schieffer School of Journalism at TexasChristianUniversity indicates local Rotary campaigns add an estimated 817,000 units per year to the world's blood supply. Club-level blood collection activities are underway in about 60 percent of Rotary districts responding to the TCU survey.  Rotary supports almost 33,000 clubs in nearly 170 countries.

AABB was established in 1947. Its  membership consists of about 1,800 institutions and individuals -  including physicians, scientists, administrators, technologists, nurses, and donor recruiters - in about 80 countries.

Click here for Names and clubs who received the GNBD citation.