President's Corner
Do you Scrubby Bear?
 With the Flu season and the outbreak of the H1N1, getting the word out on Scrubby Bear is very important. If you have shared the Scrubby Bear, "Don't Get Sick, Wash up Quick" program, please let me know. I would like the details. When and where did you give the program? How many people did you share Scrubby Bear with? How was it received?
Please email to my Red Cross email address, BobG@somdredcross.org. I would like to compile the results and share them with the Red Cross. Let's show the ARC what RNR is doing on the front lines.
Thank you so much!
Bob "Bunky" Gretton, RNR President
Clowns of America International Clown of the Year 2009
Twinkles Finds a Way
RNR response after the Georgia floods
 After several attempts and a lot of frustration trying to find out how she could help following the Georgia floods, Julia Smith, Twinkles, was able to make an appearance. She sent this photo of herself and her friend Melody Merry Maker at the Marietta Georgia Cobb Civic Center.
She reported that the event went "great" and the kids were so happy and excited.
"I felt so humbled. I got much more than I gave which is a new appreciation for what I have today. Thank you for allowing me to represent The Red Nose Response Group. I look forward to serving again soon."
Here is a reminder to all of you out there with cameras. We want photos but do not take a photo of anyone if you are going to send it to us or publish it in any manner without a signed photo release.
And we thank Twinkles and Melody Merry Maker.
The Explosion in Puerto Rico
Angel "Jobolin" Morales Responds
 Here is his first hand report: The explosion was right off the roadway that divides Fort Buchanan and the refinery. At home we only felt the after shock of the explosions. It was a 2.8 on the earthquake scale. I felt that my house was shaking and a big rumble, like we have a bunch of horses running around our roof.
At work we had numerous amounts of damages I can not disclose but it looks bad around some of the housing areas and the commissary and the Department of Public works was part of those sad damages. People are out of shelter, lots of damaged homes in the town of Catano area, the area where we had the Latin party and where we had the show when we had our convention. (Ed. note: COAI Puerto Rico 1996). It's only a few miles away from the blast.
Red Cross is there providing help. I saw it in the news. Also we had some clowns at the shelter. But the most incredible part is we had no death casualties, just a few cuts and blisters. I been working ever since the event on Friday the 23 rd until today, more 77 hrs in those 6 days, I am ok and my fellow workers are too, thanks to GOD for what he has provided to us.
I will be providing support this week to the military dependants (families) at work because they can not really do anything since the installation is closed; most of their daily stuff (groceries and shopping) is off post,
I will represent Red Nose Response and COAI.
Angel
Where Do Our Responders Come From?
47 states plus
 We now have responders in 47 of the 50 states. In addition there have been responders who signed on in Canada, the Pacific Rim, New Zealand, Thailand, South Africa and, most recently, Norway. We have, as of this writing, 588 responders.
The 3 states without representation on the responder list are South Dakota, Vermont and Wyoming. Do you know any people in those states who would be interested in being part of RNR? Send them a copy of this e-zine, contact them directly, send them to the Red Nose Response Facebook and ask them to send a message to us at info@rednoseresponse.org.
Responders
We Need Help
Do you know a grant writer?
 RNR needs help from one or more grant writers. Do you know one? Are you one? Can anyone step forward to help?
If you have suggestions please get back to your Board as soon as possible. The address? Of course, it's info@rednoseresponse.org.
Grant writers
Did You Know We Have A Facebook Page?
Join Us
Although there are 588 responders in our organization, there are ONLY 333 on the Red Nose Response Facebook. We need more action there.
Join Facebook and ask your friends to join the RNR Facebook. It's a great way to stay very current, is more frequent than our newsletters and is something that can replace the rarely used forum on our web site for an ongoing discussion..
Wear Your RNR gear
Get what you want by shopping at Cafe Press
 Do you have your RNR shirts, hats, hoodies and more? What RNR item is on your holiday wish list? With conventions, workshops and alley meetings coming up this is the perfect time to show your support for Red Nose Response.
You can get it here with no hassle shopping. The RNR store is waiting to hear from you and your order will be quickly filled by Cafe Press.
Shop Our Store
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"Get to Know Us, Before You Need Us"
How to get your foot in the door with Red Cross
 "Get to Know Us, Before You Need Us" is a saying the Red Cross uses. I think we as RNR should think about that too. If you don't want to become a Red Cross volunteer, at least let your local Red Cross Chapter know about you. Inform them that you are able to entertain at a shelter, bring soft assistance, and lend a listening ear.
To find your local Chapter click on the link at the end of this article or cut and paste: http://www.redcross.org/?action=ChangeZip
Find a local chapter
Who Runs this Show?
We begin to bring you information about the RNR advisors
You probably are already familiar with the officers of the Board of Directors. If not, they are:
- Bob Gretton, President and founding member
- Barbara Bird, Vice President and founding member
- Dianna Hale, Secretary
- Dr. Robert Cohen, Treasurer
- Jeremy Cohen, Past President and Founder
The advisors are responders who have been willing to lend their background and experience to the Red Nose Response and its mission. These fine folks are:
- Keith Stokes, founding member
- Paul Kleinberger, founding member
- Teresa Gretton, founding member
- Mike Zabko
- Marion Lovig
- Rita Winter
We will feature one or two of these advisors in this issue and future ones. We could not be as strong and effective as we are without this team.
We Have Bears
You can have some too
 The Bear warehouse is getting overstocked. There is a bunch of cute and cuddly Hug A Bears in the basement of our President, Bob Gretton. He feels they need homes and hugs.
These bears have been made by the ATT and Southern Bell Telephone Pioneers and can be given out to hospitals (I imagine the ERs would especially appreciate something to give to the kids who are coming in with the H1N1 flu), to local community rescue squads, to displaced children and adults after the fire, to shelter occupants (only if you have enough for everyone) and many other places.
Since RNR is not an organization with lots of dollars we only ask that you pay for the costs of shipping and handling. Want some bears to use in your community? Send an email request to Bob and Teresa Gretton, bunkyandblinky@comcast.net. Include the following:
- Your name
- Your full mailing address
- Your email address
- Your phone number
- How many bears you feel you can distribute? Please note that the bears will be packaged 10 bears to a box.
- How you want us to get information about the cost of shipping and handling to you--by email, phone or snail mail?
Once we have that information we will tell you the cost, you can send that to the Grettons and the bears will be on their way. Sound good?
There are several ways to contact the Grettons and be sure it indicate "Bears" in your message:
- bunkyandblinky@comcast.net
- phone at (301) 843-8212 (leave a clear message because these clowns work day and night)
- mail to 3411 Lisa Circle, Waldorf MD 20601
Introducing Rita Winter
 Also know as Dizzy the Clown from Kansas
Rita Winter, Dizzy the Clown, has lived real life in the aftermath of a disaster. We have featured several of her stories in past issues of the RNR e-zine. Her hometown, and her parent's home, felt the brunt of the tornado in Greensburg KS. Dizzy rushed into action and tried to keep RNR updated as she went and whenever she found an Internet connection.
A year or more later Dizzy let us know that a large number of hale and hearty and hungry volunteers were coming into Greensburg to help with some rebuilding efforts.
RNR got the word out that cookies would help. Oh, my, did the cookies flow into Greensburg. Many of those cookies were decorated with clown faces and red noses.
Dizzy has more to share with all of you. There is some story about how she had to teach people how to use the Porta-potty. Her experiences and exploits will enliven the e-zine in coming months.
We welcome Dizzy to the RNR Advisory Board.
Dispelling Myths
Have you heard this one?
 "I got my card but it does no good if I don't have training"
The training many are asking about is the Red Cross Disaster training classes. The availability of these classes vary widely depending upon where you live, how large the local RC chapter is, and what the local policies are. These classes are key to being able to respond to a local disaster as part of the DAT. But it is important to remember that when you do that you are ARC volunteers, not RNR volunteers. Yes, you need to register yourself as a volunteer with the local Red Cross chapter, sign up for classes and follow through on the training, background checks when required, and participation for whatever your time allows. As we said before, get to know them before they need you.
Now for the myth part. No, the RNR card does not get you into the shelter situations without the above training and it won't get you a cup of coffee at the local beanery. It shows that you have the heart and desire to bring smiles to a bad situation. You do not need to be RC trained to help in many other ways. We have featured stories of responders who have found the unique approach in a community. In addition, what you can do and how will be dependent on the type of disaster.
On past occasions we have suggested that as RNR responders you remember the sacrifices that first responders have all made when they are deployed and plan a thank you party for them when they return. Many of them missed birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, and possibly even funerals while helping out in dangerous and distant location. They are our heroes and it's great to tell them so. You might even hear some awesome stories.
Another way to help is to have your alley, or any other organization, do some Red Cross fund raising. Have you gone to donate blood? Our advisor Marion "MLE" Lovig has done that wearing her red nose. Others have shown up when blood drives are being held and entertained the kids while the adults donated.
The other common question is the misunderstanding that RNR would be able to go cross country through hill and vale to train every responder on comic relief. That is just not a reality. Instead we have the materials available to you for the asking so you can train yourselves and your fellow clowns. Learn about Disaster Preparedness and teach it in a humorous way. Bob and Teresa Gretton have presented this class, with an outline of the preparedness class, at a number of conventions and workshops. You too can do that. Have you participated in the Scrubby Bear program? Do you have any ideas to share with us? We all learn from each other and learning never ends.
Contact us at info@rednoseresponse.org.
There are so many options out there and this is what your card signifies: I want to offer my help and my comic skills Sending Smiles to the Rescue.
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