About 75 people attended a recognition dinner in Seaside last month honoring 14 volunteers for their work with the Monterey Bay Area Chapter, including two Hollister residents and a volunteer of the year. During the Oct. 20 event at the Bayonet Blackhorse Golf Club in Seaside, volunteers were recognized for their work in the areas of disaster action team services, disaster health services, material support services, staffing services, fund development, international services and 10 other categories.
David Gutierrez of Hollister was recognized for his service to San Benito County and his invaluable Spanish skills as well as deep knowledge of the county. Lulu Herrera from Hollister was honored for her contribution to youth services. Herrera has served as president of the Red Cross Club at San Benito high School for two years and also began an after-school CPR program to help students stay prepared for emergencies.
Rick Havens, of Prunedale, received the Volunteer of the Year award. He is one of the chapter’s lead disaster volunteers, last year’s disaster action team lead and this year’s disaster chair. Havens at one time drove more than an hour and a half from his home in Lockwood to attend chapter meetings. He is also known as being “completely immersed in Red Cross culture.” He is a past disaster vice chair.
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Others honored at the event:
Liz Ford was honored for her work with Disaster Action Team Services. Ford, who lives in Monterey, is a duty officer for the disaster action team and is the lead for the Armed Forces program.
Virginia Shannon, from Salinas, was recognized for her work with Disaster Health Services and her role as backup lead for the nursing group.
Doug Johnson was honored for his work with Material Support Services, helping to maintain the chapter’s Emergency Response Vehicles.
Marsha Zelus, a Carmel resident, was honored for her work with staffing services, including helping the chapter keep its disaster volunteer files organized.
Jack and Lois Lindley, who live in Bradley, were honored for their support of the King City shelter as well as their recruitment of volunteers for South Monterey County, to help the chapter better serve that community.
Paul Dughi, a Spreckles resident, was honored for his work with fund development. Dughi, a member of the Monterey Bay Area Chapter’s board of directors, has given more than a decade of service to the American Red Cross. As President of Cowles California Media Company, he was instrumental in KION’s production of a telethon for the Japan earthquake relief effort.
Neita Bemiss, a Salinas resident was honored for her work with Health and Safety Services.
Therese Strutner, who lives in Pebble Beach, was honored for her work with International Services. Strutner is an advocate for the measles initiative as well as the advisor for the Red Cross Club at Carmel High School. Strutner also created an educational video exploring humanitarian law, for use by American Red Cross National headquarters. She was also the first teacher in the area to use the curriculum in the classroom.
 Haydee Vitacolonna, from Pebble Beach, was recognized for her work with administrative services.
 Bill Stockton, of Salinas, and Steve Hillyard, of Carmel, were recognized for their work with the communications department, including installing new computers.
 Kimberly Perricelli was honored for her work as a Red Cross board member. Perricelli lives in the Carmel Valley and is part of the chapter’s fundraising committee, serving as chair for the Heroes Dinner and auction. She recently was appointed chair of the Fund-Raising Committee and Annual Fund Campaign.
With office locations in Carmel, Salinas and Hollister, the American Red Cross Monterey Bay Chapter is a nonprofit, humanitarian organization that depends on the generous contributions of time and money from Monterey and San Benito counties’ residents and companies to provide services and programs that help our community prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. For more information on disaster preparedness, health and safety classes, volunteer opportunities, and financial contributions, visit our website at www.arcmontereybay.org or call us at 1-831-624-6921.
