BLOOD DONOR DRIVE - SICILY
Montreal Sept.23, 2004 - A strategic program is being deployed in the Italian community to educate, facilitate and promote blood drives with grass-roots coordination. Individual associations are solicited to support the program at a regional level. The first meeting included the Associazione Siculiana di Montreal. The Board members pledged their support and will invite other Sicilian associations to take part in an upcoming Blood Drive.
View information message prepared in Italian
for general
distribution.
Sept.30, 2004 - Several associations were made aware of the initiative and agreed to take part actively. At the same time, other representatives from other regions of Italy were solicited to participate in a COPRAS Blood Donor Drive program tailored to their groups. The response was positive.
Oct.01, 2004 - Opened dialogue with the Executive Director of Santa Cabrini Hospital.
Oct.06, 2004 - In view of establishing a relationship to promote a parallel initiative in Ontario, the Confederation of Sicilian Associations was contacted. The president agreed to pursue the subject.
Oct.07, 2004 - A meeting day to plan the Blood Drive was approved by eighteen (18) associations. Their presidents will be attending, Sunday, Oct.17 at 3:00 p.m. at the Siculiana Association offices. Héma-Québec will also be represented.
Oct.17, 2004 - Meeting of the Sicilian associations. Some 40 people were present at a Buffet Roma room, next door to the Siculiana Association offices. The meeting was a success and met its proposed objectives. The information dissemination team was composed of Reynald Beaupré (Héma-Québec). Veronica Fantetti (COPRAS), Anthony Gucciardo (John Abbott College - Nursing) and Franco Gucciardo (COPRAS). This information session will be followed by a planning meeting with representatives of associations to establish a plan of action for a mid-February (2005) collection.
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2 to view
distributed document.
COPRAS thanks the Siculiana Association for having led this initiative and the Trinacria Association for coordinating and sponsoring the encounter.
Nov.21, 2004 - Meeting of the Sicilian Associations.
See their Agenda:
; also,
see introduction statement by Franco Gucciardo:
. Mario
Chieffo detailed the objectives of the "Vendemmia Italiana" in collaboration
with the Associations and solicited their collaboration. Mario asked for a
commitment to use the Hall at Buffet Roma and received it by the administration;
also a group of presidents agreed to participate in the organization of the
Blood Drive to be held during the first week of January 2005.
Dec. 2004 - Preparations are underway.
Jan.05, 2005 - Blood Drive Activity. On a crisp and sunny winter day, the event began with the set up of the hall at Buffet Roma. With skill and clock-work precision the Hema Québec staff put up partitions, connected electronic equipment, organized the multi purpose material and medical supplies. At the same time volunteers from the Associazione Donne Benevole Siciliane, Associazione Alessandria della Rocca and from Associazione Siculiana di Montreal shared support responsibilities from the welcome table to the refreshment area. COPRAS is grateful for the tangible collaboration provided by the two associations. Thank you!
COPRAS especially thanks the many people that came to give blood at a time when hospitals desperately needed it. Although the quota (150) was not meet, COPRAS believes that the new approach of one-on-one interaction with every single Donor will only improve with time and will be appreciated by the Donors and potential Donors themselves.
Due to the advanced date of the drive, COPRAS was not able to execute the complementary health program aimed at prevention. The next Blood Drive will provide this community service to all people that present themselves to give their blood: whether they are accepted or not at screening time.
The first Donor of the drive Youth in action
Who says giving blood is difficult? Josie Romanello (rt.) supports Marco later
Father and son giving blood Mario Chieffo's example: do as you say!
Now, COPRAS is actively working on the next Blood Drive !
