Lately there have been some issues regarding the fact that because Red Cross Club has slowly been revived into a fully active club in participating in doing community service events, we have been copying Key Club. This stems from the voiced belief that we are not focusing primarily on American Red Cross events only, what we are "meant" to be doing. The Red Cross was founded in 1881, and from the very beginning it has been an organization fully dedicated to bettering the world as a whole. As provided by higher authorities of the American Red Cross, as long as people work together towards a common good, there remains a great hope in the world.
There are a great many community service clubs on campus, and no club has prevented members from becoming even more dedicated to the cause of bettering the community by joining other clubs, because there has never been a reason to. Every single one of these clubs as a collective should be adding some of the previously stated hope to the world, because it just proves that the young adults of our generation believe in being involved in a movement much bigger than just a high school, a district, or even the country. Community service starts within a community, but slowly spreads to the far reaches of the world, encompassing non-preventable disasters like the earthquakes in Japan and other places with a newly provided hope. Competition to become the "best community service club" is healthy in the aspect that in this way, volunteers attack each community service project with enthusiasm and vigor. However at the same time it is unnecessary, because we can all work towards a common goal without feeling adversarial.
I found Red Cross Club through Key Club to begin with, because Key Club allowed for sign-ups to help with one of the American Red Cross blood drives. I became a dedicated member of both clubs, and in no way has one of the clubs prevented me from continuing to be a dedicated member to the other club. Personally, I absolutely love Key Club and what it stands for, at the same time the reason that I love Key Club is because it has always worked towards the goal that I’ve felt a calling to join in to. Red Cross also helped me with this calling to work for a greater good, so in my mind I see Key Club and Red Cross as potential partnering clubs, along with all the other clubs on campus. In my mind, there is absolutely no competition and no reason for ill will. In my mind, these doubts that have been raised as to the goal of community service clubs are completely superfluous.
The American Red Cross is a humanitarian club, mainly focused on dedicating time to disaster relief and education on emergencies. This is a primary focus, and also one of the main sources of the issue that has arisen between our two clubs. Despite the fact that the ARC works hard 24/7 towards their goal, as high school volunteers, there is a limit to what we can and can not do while focusing on this goal. In this way, along with the other 30+ community service clubs, we do in fact also branch out and volunteer at regular events that may occur around our neighboring communities. Not unlike Key Club, we get out and use our dedication to such causes for working hard and putting thoughts into action. Available official Red Cross events are spaced out, but the needs of the community are many and constant.
Regarding potential scheduling conflicts, they are bound to happen with anything in life; it is not a new occurrence for anyone, and it shouldn't be surprising for anyone either. There are at least 30 community service clubs on campus, and before now there has never been any real problem that could not be solved. As stated before, it is perfectly acceptable and easily done to dedicate time to more than one club. Rather than worry ourselves over such scheduling conflicts, we can take this time to reflect on the possibilities of partnerships between all of these clubs; as for this particular issue, more than anything Red Cross and Key Club can easily work together.
-Katharine Yang
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