Austrailian view of Red Cross
 

A good survivalist comments on Red Cross.
From another list.

Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
..

My father was a soldier during WW2. New Guinea, Bouganville, Borneo...
that whole area. 2/2 Pioneer Battalion.

When I was growing up, he regarded charity collectors with disdain,
particularly the Red Cross. One exception. The Salvation Army.

I asked him why once. He sat and thought for while, clearly remembering.
Dad was someone that spoke very little of his wartime experiences and I'd
learned not to ask, it didn't occur to me at the time that it was because of
a wartime experience.

"When I was in New Guinea, we always knew where the Red Cross were. Back
behind the lines, around HQ somewhere. Diggers on the front line never saw
the buggers until they rotated back to the rear echelon. The Salvos, well,
they were usually up there with us. Where the front line was, where the
troops were in most need. Quite a few got wounded or killed. But they
were always there, with a bit of soap, or some hot tea, razor blades, or
just a pencil and some paper to write letters home. So I'll give to them,
but not these other useless b......s."

Austrailian view of Red Cross
 

"Stormin Mormon" wrote in message
...
A good survivalist comments on Red Cross.
From another list.

Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
.

My father was a soldier during WW2. New Guinea, Bouganville, Borneo...
that whole area. 2/2 Pioneer Battalion.

When I was growing up, he regarded charity collectors with disdain,
particularly the Red Cross. One exception. The Salvation Army.

I asked him why once. He sat and thought for while, clearly remembering.
Dad was someone that spoke very little of his wartime experiences and I'd
learned not to ask, it didn't occur to me at the time that it was because
of
a wartime experience.

"When I was in New Guinea, we always knew where the Red Cross were. Back
behind the lines, around HQ somewhere. Diggers on the front line never
saw
the buggers until they rotated back to the rear echelon. The Salvos,
well,
they were usually up there with us. Where the front line was, where the
troops were in most need. Quite a few got wounded or killed. But they
were always there, with a bit of soap, or some hot tea, razor blades, or
just a pencil and some paper to write letters home. So I'll give to
them,
but not these other useless b......s."

When I started working in 1960, my boss was a former Sergeant Major in the
army, and he had similar comments about the Red Cross and the Sally Anns.

Austrailian view of Red Cross
 

On Fri, 2 Nov 2012 12:03:20 -0400, "EXT"
wrote:


"Stormin Mormon" wrote in message
...
A good survivalist comments on Red Cross.
From another list.

Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
.

My father was a soldier during WW2. New Guinea, Bouganville, Borneo...
that whole area. 2/2 Pioneer Battalion.

When I was growing up, he regarded charity collectors with disdain,
particularly the Red Cross. One exception. The Salvation Army.

I asked him why once. He sat and thought for while, clearly remembering.
Dad was someone that spoke very little of his wartime experiences and I'd
learned not to ask, it didn't occur to me at the time that it was because
of
a wartime experience.

"When I was in New Guinea, we always knew where the Red Cross were. Back
behind the lines, around HQ somewhere. Diggers on the front line never
saw
the buggers until they rotated back to the rear echelon. The Salvos,
well,
they were usually up there with us. Where the front line was, where the
troops were in most need. Quite a few got wounded or killed. But they
were always there, with a bit of soap, or some hot tea, razor blades, or
just a pencil and some paper to write letters home. So I'll give to
them,
but not these other useless b......s."

When I started working in 1960, my boss was a former Sergeant Major in the
army, and he had similar comments about the Red Cross and the Sally Anns.

My great-uncle Joseph Reisacker served as a Ameerican doughboy in WWI.
He fought in several battles and was severely wounded just before the
Armistice.

I never saw Uncle Joe pass a Salvation Army bellringer without making
a donation. He said that the "Sallies" were always right up at the
front, providing coffee, food and spiritual comfort to the combat
troops, well within range of the German artillery. Meanwhile the Red
Cross was posturing and posing for pictures back in the rear areas
where it was safe. His high regard for the Sallies was equaled only by
his utter comtempt for the Red Cross.

Many Sallies also served as volunteer stretcher bearers and I once
read an article about their courageous exploits. The author recounted
how one night a lone Sally crawled out in No Mans' Land where he found
a critically wounded American sergeant in a half-flooded shell hole.
He gave the casualty first aid and then carried him back through
artillery and machinegun fire to safety.

The author ended his article with these words - "And to that unknown
hero from the Salvation Army, thank you - thank you for saving the
life of the man who would live to become my grandfather."
----
Diogenes

The wars are long, the peace is frail
The madmen come again . . . .

Austrailian view of Red Cross
 

On Fri, 2 Nov 2012 12:03:20 -0400, "EXT"
wrote:
"Stormin Mormon" wrote

"When I was in New Guinea, we always knew where the Red Cross were. Back
behind the lines, around HQ somewhere. Diggers on the front line never
saw the buggers until they rotated back to the rear echelon. The Salvos,
well, they were usually up there with us. Where the front line was, where the
troops were in most need. Quite a few got wounded or killed. But they
were always there, with a bit of soap, or some hot tea, razor blades, or
just a pencil and some paper to write letters home. So I'll give to
them, but not these other useless b......s."

When I started working in 1960, my boss was a former Sergeant Major in the
army, and he had similar comments about the Red Cross and the Sally Anns.

My high school history and civics teachers, both veterans of front
line fighting in WW2, said the same thing.

Read the following - cookies and hot chocolate instead of blankets -
and then remember the CEO of Red Cross takes home about 3/4 of a
million per year. Cookies are a lot cheaper than blankets. That's lets
enough for the CEO paycheck.
WS

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2012/11/...ft-far-behind/
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — Staten Island residents are furious. They feel
that in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy they’ve been ignored and
left to fend for themselves.
....
It’s that type of apparent neglect that has left residents saying they
haven’t received the attention or help they so desperately need.
“Red Cross is here with hot chocolate and cookies. We need blankets,
we need pillows, we need clothing. We can get hot chocolate and
cookies, we need help!” resident Jodi Hannula said.

Austrailian view of Red Cross
 

"Stormin Mormon" wrote in message
...
A good survivalist comments on Red Cross.
From another list.

Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
.

My father was a soldier during WW2. New Guinea, Bouganville, Borneo...
that whole area. 2/2 Pioneer Battalion.

When I was growing up, he regarded charity collectors with disdain,
particularly the Red Cross. One exception. The Salvation Army.

I asked him why once. He sat and thought for while, clearly remembering.
Dad was someone that spoke very little of his wartime experiences and I'd
learned not to ask, it didn't occur to me at the time that it was because
of
a wartime experience.

"When I was in New Guinea, we always knew where the Red Cross were. Back
behind the lines, around HQ somewhere. Diggers on the front line never
saw
the buggers until they rotated back to the rear echelon. The Salvos,
well,
they were usually up there with us. Where the front line was, where the
troops were in most need. Quite a few got wounded or killed. But they
were always there, with a bit of soap, or some hot tea, razor blades, or
just a pencil and some paper to write letters home. So I'll give to
them,
but not these other useless b......s."

Many years back we were part of a hurricane rescue group hauling people from
flooded areas to dry land.

After near 36 hours with no sleep and less food we pulled up on a levee with
a RC canteen. We were offered a cup of coffee with one hand and then asked
for $1 to pay for the coffee with the other. We had no money with us. So
we passed.

Walking back to the boats we met a lady from the SA. Who also offered us
coffee. We begged off with the excuse we had no money.

Not a problem said she. So we followed her to the tent. We were given
coffee and a hot meal and DRUM ROLL tea with REAL ICE.

Again without request for $$$.

I have many such first person stories, RC on the down side ... SA on the up.

Austrailian view of Red Cross
 

On 11/2/2012 2:03 PM, Winston_Smith wrote:
On Fri, 2 Nov 2012 12:03:20 -0400, "EXT"
wrote:
"Stormin Mormon" wrote

"When I was in New Guinea, we always knew where the Red Cross were. Back
behind the lines, around HQ somewhere. Diggers on the front line never
saw the buggers until they rotated back to the rear echelon. The Salvos,
well, they were usually up there with us. Where the front line was, where the
troops were in most need. Quite a few got wounded or killed. But they
were always there, with a bit of soap, or some hot tea, razor blades, or
just a pencil and some paper to write letters home. So I'll give to
them, but not these other useless b......s."

When I started working in 1960, my boss was a former Sergeant Major in the
army, and he had similar comments about the Red Cross and the Sally Anns.

My high school history and civics teachers, both veterans of front
line fighting in WW2, said the same thing.

My mother said the same thing in the early 1960s.

Austrailian view of Red Cross
 

39 cents of every donated dollar goes to charity. The rest is
salaries.

http://politicker.com/2012/11/staten...the-red-cross/
Staten Island Borough President: Don't Give Money to the Red Cross

And, although many pols spoke, no one was more impassioned than
Borough President James Molinaro, who called the Red Cross an
“absolute disgrace” and even urged the public to cease giving them
contributions.

“Because the devastation in Staten Island, the lack of a response,”
Mr. Molinaro said to explain his comment to NBC after the press
conference. “You know, I went to a shelter Monday night after the
storm. People were coming in with no socks, with no shoes. They were
in desperate need. Their housing was destroyed. They were crying.
Where was the Red Cross? Isn’t that their function?

They collect millions of dollars. Whenever there’s a drive in Staten
Island, we give openly and honestly. Where are they? Where are they? I
was at the South Shore yesterday, people were buried in their homes.
There the dogs are trying to find bodies. The people there, the
neighbors who had no electricity, were making soup. Making soup. It’s
very emotional because the lack of a response. The lack of a response.
They’re supposed to be here….They should be on the front lines
fighting, and helping the people.”

Austrailian view of Red Cross
 

Another vote for SA.

Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
..

"NotMe" wrote in message ...


Many years back we were part of a hurricane rescue group hauling people from
flooded areas to dry land.

After near 36 hours with no sleep and less food we pulled up on a levee with
a RC canteen. We were offered a cup of coffee with one hand and then asked
for $1 to pay for the coffee with the other. We had no money with us. So
we passed.

Walking back to the boats we met a lady from the SA. Who also offered us
coffee. We begged off with the excuse we had no money.

Not a problem said she. So we followed her to the tent. We were given
coffee and a hot meal and DRUM ROLL tea with REAL ICE.

Again without request for $$$.

I have many such first person stories, RC on the down side ... SA on the up.

Austrailian view of Red Cross
 

In article ,
"Stormin Mormon" wrote:


"NotMe" wrote in message ...


Many years back we were part of a hurricane rescue group hauling people from
flooded areas to dry land.

After near 36 hours with no sleep and less food we pulled up on a levee with
a RC canteen. We were offered a cup of coffee with one hand and then asked
for $1 to pay for the coffee with the other. We had no money with us. So
we passed.

Walking back to the boats we met a lady from the SA. Who also offered us
coffee. We begged off with the excuse we had no money.

Not a problem said she. So we followed her to the tent. We were given
coffee and a hot meal and DRUM ROLL tea with REAL ICE.

Again without request for $$$.

I have many such first person stories, RC on the down side ... SA on the up.

A couple floods I worked as a responder, we actually got more food from
Pizza Hut than ARC's canteen.
--
America is at that awkward stage. It's too late
to work within the system, but too early to shoot
the *******s."-- Claire Wolfe

Austrailian view of Red Cross
 

The red cross is about making money for the red cross. Their salaries
are staggering.

Back in December of 2001, (yeah, that year) I took an instructor course
for Red Cross First Aid / CPR. They claimed they wanted to have more
instructors to train more people - why, well, probably not the reasons
you might hope for at that time, though they were certainly trading upon
people's good intentions (not their own, as it soon appeared.)

What did the Red Cross care about? Getting paid. Teaching people first
aid they could give a rats posterior for - show them the money was the
name of the game. They charged me to take a course to become an unpaid
instructor to charge people to take courses to get a stupid card from
them. Quite the racket.

The American Heart Association seems to get it - as best I recall, 2001
costs of about $3 for an AHA CPR class, where ARC was $35 for CPR and
$45 for first aid and CPR. Of course, AHA doesn't have a first aid
"certification", while ARC does. No doubt they have jacked the rates. I
don't give those bloodsuckers money, or blood, anymore. They are one of
the least-cost-effective ways of bungling "charity" donations into
fat-cat coffers. And for some reason I let my instructor certificate
with them expire...

Unfortunately, they continue to do fine off of well-meaning, poorly
informed donors.

--
Cats, coffee, chocolate...vices to live by
Please don't feed the trolls. Killfile and ignore them so they will go away.

Austrailian view of Red Cross
 

Ecnerwal wrote:
The red cross is about making money for the red cross. Their salaries
are staggering.

Back in December of 2001, (yeah, that year) I took an instructor course
for Red Cross First Aid / CPR. They claimed they wanted to have more
instructors to train more people - why, well, probably not the reasons
you might hope for at that time, though they were certainly trading upon
people's good intentions (not their own, as it soon appeared.)

What did the Red Cross care about? Getting paid. Teaching people first
aid they could give a rats posterior for - show them the money was the
name of the game. They charged me to take a course to become an unpaid
instructor to charge people to take courses to get a stupid card from
them. Quite the racket.

The American Heart Association seems to get it - as best I recall, 2001
costs of about $3 for an AHA CPR class, where ARC was $35 for CPR and
$45 for first aid and CPR. Of course, AHA doesn't have a first aid
"certification", while ARC does. No doubt they have jacked the rates. I
don't give those bloodsuckers money, or blood, anymore. They are one of
the least-cost-effective ways of bungling "charity" donations into
fat-cat coffers. And for some reason I let my instructor certificate
with them expire...

Unfortunately, they continue to do fine off of well-meaning, poorly
informed donors.


Same thing here. The RC wants 75 bucks for CPR now. Add on some more for FA

I am working with the AHA to get some more people involved locally. The
current card is 5.00 + whatever the instructor charges for printed
materials. I print cheat sheets instead of a book. Much easier and
faster. Trying to get them to make a folding card with a cheat list on
the back.

--
Steve W.

Austrailian view of Red Cross
 

On 03/11/12 08:03, Winston_Smith wrote:
....
It’s that type of apparent neglect that has left residents saying they
haven’t received the attention or help they so desperately need.

So who is responsible for that?
Organisations only do what they can. It is the churches that have the
second hand garment trade sewn up out here. the Red Cross has only ever
been a tea, bikkies and first aid organisation.

Austrailian view of Red Cross
 

On 03/11/12 09:36, Ecnerwal wrote:

What did the Red Cross care about? Getting paid. Teaching people first
aid they could give a rats posterior for - show them the money was the
name of the game. They charged me to take a course to become an unpaid
instructor to charge people to take courses to get a stupid card from
them. Quite the racket.

As every worker in this state (Australia) has to do a "first aid"
certification every few years, which if government mandated, it is a
"racket" they might as well join to make some funds for their
organisation, whilst making it easier for workers to get yet another
piece of paper so they can get emloyment. The private mobs here charge
up to $105 each.

Austrailian view of Red Cross
 

On 02/11/12 22:54, Stormin Mormon wrote:
A good survivalist comments on Red Cross.
From another list.

I call fake and challenge you to provide the complete message from the
other list. Headers and all.

Remember this is the AUSTRALIAN Red Cross and not the USA version.

"When I was in New Guinea, we always knew where the Red Cross were. Back
behind the lines, around HQ somewhere. Diggers on the front line never saw
the buggers until they rotated back to the rear echelon. The Salvos, well,
they were usually up there with us.

Bull****. No one is allowed to wander around the front lines, or any
military action or establishment unless they were part of the military
or condoned and supported by the military. So that person had to be
either a individual solider or a chaplain.

Where the front line was, where the
troops were in most need. Quite a few got wounded or killed. But they
were always there, with a bit of soap, or some hot tea, razor blades, or
just a pencil and some paper to write letters home.

That was standard stuff sent overseas by many Australians in kits for
the soliders. My mother told me stories of preparing tins of biscuits
and stuff to send to soldiers on the front line.

There is also the issue of how in hell that stuff got there when
military supplies struggled, During WWII, if you sent anything of size
overseas, you had to have a very good reason. you didn't just rock down
to the Post Office and send off your sealed parcel.

We've asked around and no one in our families every remembers the five
people who served in that area ever saying a bad word about the
Australian Red Cross in that zone. There was nothing but complimentary
comments.

Austrailian view of Red Cross
 

On 03/11/12 08:04, NotMe wrote:

Many years back we were part of a hurricane rescue group hauling people from
flooded areas to dry land.

After near 36 hours with no sleep and less food we pulled up on a levee with
a RC canteen. We were offered a cup of coffee with one hand and then asked
for $1 to pay for the coffee with the other. We had no money with us. So
we passed.

Don't you know, that is the American way. Another older comment from
WWII was that in priosn camps, the English perpetuated their class
system, the Australian helped each other and the Americans just worked
out ways to get rich from each other.

Austrailian view of Red Cross
 

On Fri, 02 Nov 2012 15:05:16 -0400, Diogenes
wrote in Re
Austrailian view of Red Cross :

I never saw Uncle Joe pass a Salvation Army bellringer without making
a donation. He said that the "Sallies" were always right up at the
front, providing coffee, food and spiritual comfort to the combat
troops, well within range of the German artillery. Meanwhile the Red
Cross was posturing and posing for pictures back in the rear areas
where it was safe. His high regard for the Sallies was equaled only by
his utter comtempt for the Red Cross.

Remember about 20 years ago when there was an uproar when Elizabeth
Dole was appointed head of the Red Cross with a salary of $1M+ per
year and no experience what so ever? I stopped donating to the RC
then and switched my donations to the Salvation Army. In the 20 years
since, I'm always glad I did.

Austrailian view of Red Cross
 

On Nov 2, 8:35*pm, terryc wrote:
...snip...
Don't you know, that is the American way. Another older comment from
WWII was that in priosn camps, the English perpetuated their class
system, the Australian helped each other and the Americans just worked
out ways to get rich from each other.

LOL still going on, too.

The film, "King Rat" starring George Segal came to mind

Austrailian view of Red Cross
 

EXT wrote:

When I was growing up, he regarded charity collectors with disdain,
particularly the Red Cross. One exception. The Salvation Army.


Today, you can help the Army, AND yourself!

Have you ever been in a Salvation Army Thrift Store? Sure you have. But have
you ever seen a refrigerator? A washer? An automobile? Riding lawnmowers?

Trust me, those get donated too.

The question for you, then, is what does the Salvation Army actually DO with
the stuff you don't see in their thrift stores?

In my town, they auction it off. Every day. Each evening, they tell me, five
or more trucks unload a mountain of stuff into the warehouse where it's
sorted. The big stuff goes to the auction area. Here's a sample of the stuff
I've scored:

* GE front-loading washer & dryer on pedestals. Original retail, $2500. I
paid $350.
* Kenmore stainless (inside & out) high-capacity dishwasher, retail $1245. I
paid $45.
* 650 garage floor tiles - the plastic kind that snap together. I paid $40
for the lot and sold about half for $140 at a yard sale. There were enough
left over to tile my patio.

Much of the stuff they sell is in bins roughly the same size as the large
canvas letter bins you see at the post office. The most amazing, to me, is a
bin about 4x4', seven feet high, filled with SHOES. This bin usually goes
for about $150. I figure the new buyer sorts the shoes into junk and
keepers. The keepers move to a table at a flea market where they go for $20+
a pair. Even if there are only 50 pair of little used, high end shoes, the
buyer is making out like a bandit!

I've seen bins full of golf clubs, lamps, framed art work, toys, stuffed
animals, bedding and linens, computers and computer-related things
(monitors, fax machines, printers, etc.), kitchen appliances, books, more
books, video tapes, luggage, whatever. Stand alone are outdoor grills,
lawnmowers, crutches, mirrors, organs, pianos,...

In one of the bins (at the bottom, out of sight) I bought for $25 was a
14x25" stained glass window hanging. I cut out a hole in the door to my
library and mounted the stained glass there. Quite dazzling and a fun
project. Also in the bin was an antique pedestal-mounted gum-ball machine.
The previous owner had replaced the gum-balls with small sea shells. Again,
a clever piece.

I saw eleven king-sized mattress (name brands) go for $900. A lot of about
25 smallish bicycles at $100.

And we haven't even gotten to the furniture! I did buy a Henrendon sofa,
brocade covering, with a full set of pillows and arm covers. $15 (plus ten
dollars "tip" to a helper to assist in loading it in my truck. The wife was
out of town at the time, and said it didn't exactly match our motif. Gave it
to my son. His cats just LOVE it. We no longer care if the kitties shred the
thing - a replacement sofa can be had for less than the price of a
cat-scratching-post!

Once a week, my SA has a "high-value" auction. This includes large-screen
TVs, working computers, slot machines, musical instruments, and the like. (I
picked up a Yamaha electronic keyboard for $15 - retail $145.) Once a month,
they auction vehicles - last month they had a '93 Lexus.

One of the workers tells me they average about five thousand in sales every
day. The highest he can remember is something in excess of ten thousand
dollars.

If you think on it, there have to be similar situations for Goodwill and
other charitable groups, plus unclaimed freight from UPS or FedEx.

There's bargains to be had, my friends.

Austrailian view of Red Cross
 

Gunner wrote:

They closed the SA auction/warehouse in Bakersfield last year for some
reason. I spent a significant amount of cash in there over the years.


Still, they've got to be doing SOMETHING with the stuff they accumulate.
Maybe they ship it all to a nearby auction site?

It might be worth a 'phone call...

Austrailian view of Red Cross
 

On Fri, 2 Nov 2012 07:54:02 -0400, "Stormin Mormon"
wrote:

A good survivalist comments on Red Cross.
From another list.

We never give to the ARC but for very different reasons than stated in
your post. Far more of the donations to the SA get to where they're
supposed to go and they don't play games with the money. If it's
given for a purpose, it's used for that purpose.

Austrailian view of Red Cross
 

On Sat, 03 Nov 2012 06:10:38 -0500, CRNG wrote:

On Fri, 02 Nov 2012 15:05:16 -0400, Diogenes
wrote in Re
Austrailian view of Red Cross :

I never saw Uncle Joe pass a Salvation Army bellringer without making
a donation. He said that the "Sallies" were always right up at the
front, providing coffee, food and spiritual comfort to the combat
troops, well within range of the German artillery. Meanwhile the Red
Cross was posturing and posing for pictures back in the rear areas
where it was safe. His high regard for the Sallies was equaled only by
his utter comtempt for the Red Cross.

Remember about 20 years ago when there was an uproar when Elizabeth
Dole was appointed head of the Red Cross with a salary of $1M+ per
year and no experience what so ever? I stopped donating to the RC
then and switched my donations to the Salvation Army. In the 20 years
since, I'm always glad I did.

Yep, that opened my eyes but that just scratches the surface.

Austrailian view of Red Cross
 

"HeyBub" wrote:
EXT wrote:

When I was growing up, he regarded charity collectors with disdain,
particularly the Red Cross. One exception. The Salvation Army.


Today, you can help the Army, AND yourself!

Have you ever been in a Salvation Army Thrift Store? Sure you have. But have
you ever seen a refrigerator? A washer? An automobile? Riding lawnmowers?

Trust me, those get donated too.

The question for you, then, is what does the Salvation Army actually DO with
the stuff you don't see in their thrift stores?

In my town, they auction it off. Every day. Each evening, they tell me, five
or more trucks unload a mountain of stuff into the warehouse where it's
sorted. The big stuff goes to the auction area. Here's a sample of the stuff
I've scored:


Put your clothes in planet aid boxes, then they sell them and keep the
money, ha. Ha

Greg