Throughout August, Rotary Clubs in four northwest Michigan counties, District 6290, will engage in the second annual Rotary Blood Challenge, a competition to see which club can convince the most members, family, and friends to roll up their sleeves and donate blood, Michigan Community Blood Centers report on their website.
In 2006, three
Participating clubs this year include Traverse Bay Sunrise Rotary, Rotary Club of Traverse City, Traverse Bay Twilight Rotary, Rotary Club of Elk Rapids Rotary, Rotary Club of Kalkaska, and Suttons Bay-Leelanau County Rotary.
The public is invited to participate by donating blood any time in August, at any Michigan Community Blood Centers mobile blood drive, or at any permanent
The winner of the Rotary Blood Challenge is determined by the total number of donors recruited by each club, figured as a percentage of its membership. The club that achieves the highest percentage of participation in the Challenge will be honored at a ceremony in September and will be permanently recognized with the inscription of their name on a plaque at Michigan Community Blood Centers main donor center in
"During August, blood banks all across the country usually see a seasonal slump in blood donations," said Peter Wandoff, Michigan Community Blood Centers recruiter, who is coordinating the Rotary Blood Challenge. "Hopefully this campaign will help keep blood donations flowing at a very high-need time. Last year's Challenge was great fun and we are looking forward to even better results this year. It's a lifesaving project for the Rotary on behalf of - and together with - the community, and it's a great fit with Rotary's commitment to Service Above Self."
A nonprofit blood bank that provides blood for hospitals in four regions of the state, Michigan Community Blood Centers in