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Local Red Cross chapter merges with Asheville-Mountain Area chapter

By Rose Hooper
Cindy Allison, left and Dorcas Masson Herald photo by Rose Hooper

Cindy Allison, left, chairman of the local Red Cross board, and Dorcas Masson, Jackson County Branch specialist, check out the supplies in the Red Cross mobile disaster unit. Jackson County's chapter officially merged with the Asheville-Mountain Area Chapter of the American Red Cross Tuesday. The merger will increase Jackson County's resources, the two agreed.

It's official. Jackson County's chapter of the American Red Cross merged with Asheville-Mountain Area Chapter during a formal ceremony Tuesday.

In addition to Jackson, that chapter serves Buncombe, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Macon, Madison, Mitchell, Swain and Yancy counties and the Qualla Boundary.

"The stationery has to be changed, but we are one Red Cross," joked Joyce Brooks, director of public relations and volunteer services. "Our symbol remains the same."

Jackson County has operated a chapter for 82 years, according to Cindy Allison, chairman of the local Red Cross board. "We are starting a new tradition for the 21st century," Allison said at Tuesday's press conference at the Justice and Administration Center.
The Red Cross is undergoing a lot of structure changes, said Ken Roberson, chapter manager. "When I came on board in 1990, we only served one county; now we are serving 10," Roberson said of the change that is reflected nationwide.

Local director Catherine Thomas Crain will be leaving her position. "We just wanted to assure folks that Catherine is not losing her job," said Allison who noted Crain is leaving "for a merger of a different kind." Crain, who is pregnant, is leaving to be a full-time mother.

Sylva will maintain a presence and an office. Office hours will be Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and the phone number remains 586-2019. Dorcas Masson, Jackson County branch specialist, will oversee the Sylva office. Masson, who has been involved with the Red Cross since the 1980s, coordinated blood distribution for six years in Winston-Salem. She is former director of the Jackson County Family Resource Center.

"Even with the merger, we still need and depend on the support of our community," Masson said. "And we'll still be locally training disaster volunteers."

County emergency services coordinator Mike Ensley said, "Our Red Cross continues to be a good resource for emergency and disaster. These key people take over and help me take my mind off those problems because I know they can handle it."

Currently Jackson County has 160 volunteers, both certified and uncertified, Crain said. "But we always need more."

"Because we don't have many disasters, it's hard to keep geared up. But when disaster happens, then it's too late to train. That's why we have ongoing disaster training. Being prepared is the key," said Allison. "Plus we send our volunteers out to assist with other disasters, like Hurricane Floyd."

Roberson pointed out that the Red Cross remains the nation's primary non-profit, non-government disaster agency.

"We'll continue to offer the same Red Cross services in Jackson County," said Masson. "But pooling with the Mountain Area Chapter, our resources will now be greater."

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