WESTFIELD – Two local chapters of the American Red Cross are being consolidated with the Pioneer Valley Chapter as part of a nationwide reorganization.
The Westfield Chapter and the Berkshire Chapters are being folded into the Springfield-based Pioneer Valley Chapter and some positions in the local chapters are being eliminated as the National Red Cross organization restructures the agency.
The Westfield Red Cross Chapter, established in 1923, had been located at 48 Broad St., since the building was donated in 1948. The Chapter House was closed in June of 2012 and the Westfield program relocated to St. John’s Lutheran Church at 60 Broad Street where the chapter’s administrative operations and educational programs are now housed.
Executive Director Kim Goulette of the Pioneer Valley Chapter said this morning that the national organization “is streamlining, transforming our operations to meet the growing demand for our services while making the best use of donor dollars.”
“The services, classes, disaster relief and blood drives will remain the same,” Goulette said. The two executive directors’ positions will be managed through here.”
“We will miss Rich (Rubin, Westfield Chapter executive director) tremendously,” Goulette said. “Rich has been an incredible asset to the Red Cross for over 30 years.”
Goulette said that Rubin is still working for the Red Cross as the consolidation plan evolves.
The Pioneer Valley Chapter leadership is currently working with the Westfield Red Cross Board of directors as part of the reorganization.
“We’re meeting with the Westfield Board of Directors Tuesday to help us better serve and support that board,” Goulette said, “reaching out to help (the board more forward) without an executive director.”
“The role of volunteer leadership will expand,” Goulette said, “so we need to support communities as we always have.”
Judy Strzempko, a member of the Westfield Red Cross Board of Directors said this morning that the national organization “is doing the same consolidation among regions and chapters to be more efficient.”
“The reorganization is being done throughout the United States and is based upon populations and service demand,” Strzempko said.
The Westfield Chapter of the American Red Cross will remain at St. John’s Lutheran Church at 60 Broad Street and will continue all of its current programs under the direction of the Board of Directors. The chapter will be administered under the umbrella of the Pioneer Valley Red Cross Chapter.
