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community focus Local networking connects community with Relay For Life, builds Society relationships The American Cancer Society is always looking for people to make new relationships with in the community. Tamara Rummel, area executive director of the Huron Valley Area Service Center which serves Livingston, Monroe, and Washtenaw counties in Michigan, and her staff were looking for ways to do this in her area. She identified a community group called Leadership Ann Arbor, a Chamber of Commerce association devoted to developing leadership in the community. The group broke into teams that were looking for community projects ideas. One team chose to work with Tamara and her staff on a project to raise awareness about the Society, particularly Relay For Life. Relay For Life is a 24 hour Society event that raises community awareness, and community dollars, to help fight cancer.  They decided to put on a breakfast and enlist the help of their fellow Leadership Ann Arbor members to invite friends and family. Two team members, Jeff Wilkins of DTE Energy Services and Lisa Dodge of Cleary University, made compelling speeches about their personal cancer experiences to inspire other members to join them.
"One of the gripping questions is when you ask how many folks have been touched by cancer," says Jeff as he recalls how everyone in the room raised their hand. It was a powerful moment that showed the need for the American Cancer Society, an organization so relevant because everyone is able to connect to the cancer issue. In addition to raising awareness, the goal of the breakfast was to inspire people to get involved. Society staff put together a program to educate attendees about our research program, advocacy efforts, patient services information, a history of Relay For Life, a video scrapbook from last year's Relay For Life of Ann Arbor, survivor and caregiver speakers, and a mini-luminara ceremony similar to those held at actual Relay events. At that time, attendees were asked to light a small candle and reflect on why they would have a passion for Relay. The breakfast successfully built meaningful, long lasting relationships that will help to serve the Society's mission for years to come. A new Relay For Life of Ann Arbor chairperson and two new vice chair volunteers signed on to the committee for the next two years. Relay teams are forming on an ongoing basis, and the Society office found a new $1,000 sponsor for a Wall of Hope banner, which will be part of a major Society advocacy effort in September on the mall of Washington DC. The Great Lakes Division wants to continue to reach out to more communities to share our lifesaving messages and cancer-eliminating mission, and we also invite everyone to come to us for help. "If you ever need the American Cancer Society," says Tamara, "please reach out to us." Other articles in VOICES this month community focus: volunteers help drive patients |
survivorship and patient services: survivor recommends Society resources |
research: celebrating 60 years of progress |
education: deaths from cancer decline in U.S. |
advocacy: statewide efforts have impact |
advocacy: investigating Medicare Part D |
local area spotlight: Society staff reach migrant workers |
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