Here are my top tips about how to minimize sun damage during the summer season:

1. Apply an SPF 30 or greater sunscreen. Look for one that contains zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. Apply the sunscreen 15 minutes before heading out into the sun, then reapply every one or two hours or as directed. Don’t be fooled by sunscreens that promise longer protection – you should always reapply. And make sure to buy new sunscreen every year. Spray sunscreens are easier to put on, but they don’t offer better coverage. Most people don’t put enough sunscreen on for adequate protection, so don’t be skimpy when applying; use more than you think you need. Finally, don’t forget the lips. Wear chapstick or lip gloss that includes sunscreen.

2. Always moisturize. You can switch to a lighter water-based lotion during the summer, but most people experience dry itchy skin during the winter and forget to moisturize in the summer.

3. Shave with a good razor and shaving cream. This technique will reduce stubble and red spots. A good trick is to use hair conditioner as a shaving cream. For women: Shaving your legs helps exfoliate them at the same time. For men: Be aware that exposing your freshly shaven face to the powerful sun could cause painful heat bumps.

4. Exfoliate. Remove those dry dead skin cells so that lotions and sunscreens will be more readily absorbed into your skin.

5. Wear a hat. For women: a wide-brimmed hat is not only stylish in summer months but a skin-saver too. For men who are sporting the bald look this year: Make sure to apply sunscreen every day to your head, neck and ears.

6. Drink plenty of water. Dehydration can hit you fast, and it doesn’t feel good. Watch out for headaches and malaise when you are out in the summer heat – this could be a sign of dehydration. Drink lots of water throughout the day. Your skin will thank you too!

Treatments Available for Reversing Sun Damage

If despite your best efforts, you notice sun damage to your skin, it is good to know that you can potentially reverse that damage, thanks to the benefits of modern technology. For instance, at our medically oriented skin spa, we offer a treatment called an Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) PhotoFacial, which rejuvenates skin and reduces the signs of sun damage.

This exciting technology uses a broad spectrum of light to target broken capillaries, redness, rosacea, sun or age spots, and fine wrinkles. Treatments are especially effective for evening out skin tone on the face, neck, chest and hands. You can have spot-free, creamy, healthier-looking skin with no downtime, no pain and no invasive procedures.

Hydrating Facials and Anti-Aging Facials

Anti-Aging vitamin C firming facials counter the skin damaging effects of free radicals that are abundant in urban, polluted environments. Generally, with this type of facial, an enzyme peel rich in beta-carotene, green tea and vitamin E is followed by an intense infusion of a highly anti-oxidant serum and mask. Itis designed to tighten and detoxify the skin, this treatment will restore a firm, youthful and radiant complexion.

Hydrating facials are also effective. These ultra-hydrating, aromatic facial treatments are for anyone with dry, dehydrated skin. They are excellent for post-travel situations, in harsh climates or after too much sun. This treatment will exfoliate, smooth and plump the skin, and dramatically increase moisture levels.

Microdermabrasion

Microdermabrasion is a non-surgical exfoliating treatment that will improve the texture and appearance of your skin. During a Microdermabrasion treatment, a fine spray of medical-grade corundum powder crystals is showered onto your skin and then gently suctioned away, along with the old, dead skin cells, leaving a fresh and glowing appearance. At the end of your treatment, you will be absolutely amazed at how soft and smooth your skin looks and feels!

Microdermabrasion is inexpensive, comfortable and essentially risk-free and your skin is left deeply cleansed, smooth and pre-teen pink. It is also an excellent acne treatment because the crystals help extract oil from the skin.

Never forget that while sunshine is free . . . beautiful skin is priceless! Take care of yours.

Karen Albright, is the president and owner of BodyLase Skin Spa, a medically oriented skin spa with multiple locations offering the latest innovations in laser hair removal, skin rejuvenation and anti-aging treatments. For more information visit www.getbodylase.com

The software would allow scientists to quantify the effects of the chemicals on animals measured by microelectrode array findings. Turner presented his findings at the 2011 Society of Toxicology Meeting in Washington, D.C. “James Turner is most deserving of our Innovation Scholarship,” said John Crites, president and CEO of TTEC. “James is a brilliant young man, and his research and ideas have broadened the horizons of science and technology as we know it today.”

Turner plans to major in mechanical engineering with a minor in Spanish. He completed a research internship in 2010 at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Neurotoxicology Lab at Research Triangle Park. U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan recently announced that Turner was selected as a U.S. Presidential Scholar, one of the highest honors for high school students in the nation. In his spare time, Turner volunteer tutors students in English as a Second Language (ESL) and other coursework in all subjects. Turner started a math tutoring center at Middle Creek High School. He also founded and managed the nonprofit program Heartbeats for Kids for five years to raise funds for the North Carolina Children’s Hospital. Turner is actively involved with the Shelton Leadership Center at N.C. State University as a coach, mentor, trainer and planning committee member for the Shelton Challenge leadership training program. For the past year, Turner has served as a member of the Raleigh Colleges and Community Collaborative, a group of government, education, and business leaders who are working to secure funding and develop programs to improve post-secondary graduation rates of low-income youth.

ABOUT THE TRIANGLE TECHNOLOGY EXECUTIVES COUNCIL:

The Triangle Technology Executives Council (TTEC) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the economic development of technology companies in the Research Triangle region of North Carolina through the collaboration among leaders in the management community. The council resources are primarily volunteers comprised of executive technology leadership in this region. TTEC sponsors who share the commitment for economic development in the area provide additional resources. The organization also partners with local universities and the Council for Entrepreneurial Development (CED) to extend shared expertise to aspiring students and technology ventures. For more information please visit http://www.ncttec.net.

While at the Market, customers can visit the information booth and sign up for a free raffle where they can win a full year of delicious organic dairy products produced without the use of synthetic pesticides, hormones, and antibiotics, from the farmer-owners at Organic Valley Cooperative! All meat lovers are invited to pick up a free copy of “The Great News about Grass,” an informative publication offering tips for making the most of pasture-raised foods and showcasing great recipes.

Schedule of Events

• 10 am Market Opens
• 10:30 am Music by Old Habits
• 11 am Chef Demonstration featuring pitmasters from The Pit and expert Bob Garner
• 11:30 am EGGstravaganza
• 2 pm Market Closes

The Pit’s sandwiches will be available for sale throughout the day. Old Habits will play throughout the Market, beginning at 10:30. Lumpy’s Ice Cream Eating Contest—time TBA.

The Raleigh Downtown Farmers Market is hosting GRAZEFESTsm to bring together food lovers of all ages to sample local foods from the region’s most dedicated small-scale farmers and to help raise awareness of the health, environmental, animal-welfare, and culinary benefits of allowing farm animals to roam on pasture and eat what nature intended.

The Raleigh Downtown Farmers Market, a program of the Downtown Raleigh Alliance, strives to be a guiding force in shaping the environmental, social and financial health of downtown by bringing the highest quality local growers and food artisans together to the Raleigh community. The Market contributes to the sustainability and success of downtown by serving as a community gathering place, a vehicle for a regional economy, and a center for fresh, local, and healthy food.

Shop at the Market for farm fresh fruits and vegetables, beef, poultry, seafood, cheeses, jams and jellies, eggs, baked goods, plant starts, flowers, and more! Find a bounty of fresh, sustainably-grown produce and artisan food each Wednesday through October 26 from 10 am-2 pm. Connect with your community farmers and choose local—it’s the healthiest and most nutritious way to eat. For more information, visit RaleighEatLocal.com.

About Grazfest: The Raleigh Downtown Farmers Market is one of many organizations across the nation to hold a Grazefest event this year. GRAZEFESTsm began in 2004 as a national grassroots campaign to promote the diverse flavors and unique farming and ranching techniques of small-scale family farmers who are dedicating their lives to finding humane and environmentally responsible alternatives to large-scale “factory farms.” Grass-based farming has gained favor with animal welfare advocates, wildlife preservationists, environmentalists, health and nutrition experts, and social justice advocates who view these unique farming and ranching techniques as critical to the health and well-being of farm animals and the farmers who work the land. It has also captured the attention of food enthusiasts and professional chefs, who embrace the unique flavors and outstanding quality of the beef, pork, lamb, bison, goat, poultry, milk, and cheeses that come from animals raised on well-managed pastures.

Special Thanks to:The Market is a program produced by the Downtown Raleigh Alliance and is made possible by the generous support of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. The Raleigh Downtown Farmers Market would also like to thank Curtis Media Group as their media sponsor, golden carrot sponsor The Chef’s Academy, and silver tomato sponsors Wake Specialty Physicians City Center Medical Group, a private practice of WakeMed, and Organic Valley.

About the Downtown Raleigh Alliance: The Alliance is the official nonprofit organization designated to manage and promote downtown as a regional center of commerce, tourism, and livability. Through its dedicated Board of Directors and professional staff, the Alliance team provides a comprehensive array of programs designed to build on the strengths of the downtown business district. The programs are categorized into five main areas: Clean & Safe Ambassadors, Marketing & Events, Economic Development, City Plaza Management, and Advocacy. The Alliance was created in 1996 by a coalition of community advocates, corporate leaders, and government officials. Our website is www.YouRHere.com.

Joining the orchestra on June 22 will be vocalists Elizabeth Williams-Grayson and Scott MacLeod. Also featured will be Symphony Associate Concertmaster Dovid Friedlander. Elizabeth Williams-Grayson has graced the stage nationally and internationally in opera, pops/classical concerts, Broadway and TV. She made her international debut as Grace Kelly in Michael Daugherty’s American opera “Jackie O” at the Teatro Communale di Bologna and Teatro Rossini di Lugo, Italy. She also recently made her debut with Opera Carolina in the “Love Notes” concert gala as soprano soloist and as Musetta in their successful production of “La Boheme.” Among other highlighted performances, she was guest soloist in the “American Voices Concert” performing excerpts and arias from “Ballad of Baby Doe,” “Candide,” “Susannah,” and “Street Scene” with Long Leaf Opera Festival. She also performed with Triangle Opera Studios as Donna Anna in “Don Giovanni.”

Baritone Scott MacLeod excels as a diverse and engaging interpreter of new works and seasoned classics. He has appeared in a variety of venues nationally and abroad, including: Opera Omaha,Central City Opera, Opera North, Utah Festival Opera, Mobile Opera, Duluth Festival Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera, Greensboro Opera, Opera on the James, the Tucson Symphony, the North Carolina Symphony, the National Symphony of Costa Rica and Carnegie Hall. His performances have spanned classical and musical theatre genres. Notable roles include the title characters in “Don Giovanni” and “Gianni Schicchi,” Giuseppe in “The Gondoliers,” Count Almaviva in “The Marriage of Figaro,” Gaylord Ravenal in “Show Boat,” Fred/Petruchio in “Kiss Me, Kate,” and Miles Gloriosus in “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.” Violinist Dovid Friedlander has been a member of the North Carolina Symphony as Associate Concertmaster since 2005. He previously held a position in the Columbus Symphony and was the Assistant Concertmaster of the San Antonio Symphony. He has also played with the Boston Symphony at the Tanglewood Music Festival, and regularly with the Pittsburgh Symphony in concerts and on tour, with such conductors as Seiji Ozawa, Mariss Jansons and Claudio Abbado. In addition to playing with the North Carolina Symphony, he is an active chamber musician in the Raleigh area. He also maintains a full teaching studio.

This summer marks the 28th anniversary of performances in Cary and the orchestra’s thirteenth season in the stunning lakeside pavilion built by the Town of Cary. While performances begin at 7:30 p.m., concertgoers may bring picnics, blankets and lawn chairs as early as 5 p.m. to enjoy the striking natural surroundings before the music begins. Children ages 12 and under are free on the lawn, so attending a North Carolina Symphony concert at Booth Amphitheatre is a wonderful summer bargain for families. The Rex Healthcare Summerfest Series offers music lovers a perfect family outing, and once again, concertgoers who display the biggest and boldest culinary skills can win prizes. The Whole Foods Market of Cary Picnic of the Week contest returns for the fourth year. Throughout the summer, groups of concertgoers selected as the best picnickers of that weekend’s concert will receive a $100 gift basket from Whole Foods Market of Cary. Two honorable mentions in the form of $25 gift cards will also be awarded.

Select Rex Healthcare Summerfest Series concerts also feature other pre-concert activities, including instrument zoos for kids.

Tickets and Subscriptions:

General admission lawn seating to “At the Movies: A Night of Oscar-Winning Music and More” is $28 in advance, $30 at the door. Covered table seating is also available for $30 in advance, $32 at the door. Children 12 and under are admitted free for lawn seating at all Rex Healthcare Summerfest Series concerts. For more on becoming a series subscriber, visit the Rex Healthcare Summerfest Series page at www.ncsymphony.org/subscriptions.

This year’s series lineup also includes “Holst’s the Planets: An HD Odyssey,” featuring the North Carolina Master Chorale, June 29; the Symphony’s free “Independence Day” concert, July 4; and “Classic Celebrations: 1812 Overture,” featuring the Concert Singers of Cary, July 6.

For tickets, visit the North Carolina Symphony website at www.ncsymphony.org or call North Carolina Symphony Audience Services at 919.733.2750 or toll free 877.627.6724.

KokaBooth Amphitheatre is located at 8003 Regency Parkway, just past the intersection of US-1 and US-64/Tryon Road, in Cary. Food and beverages, including wine and beer, are allowed on the grounds.

The series is presented by Rex Healthcare and co-sponsored by ABB, First Citizens Bank and the Town of Cary. Rex Healthcare Summerfest Series partners are Balentine and CaptiveAire. Media partners are the News & Observer, Fox 50, and Cary Magazine.

About the North Carolina Symphony

Founded in 1932, the North Carolina Symphony performs over 175 concerts annually to adults and school children in more than 50 North Carolina counties. An entity of the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources, the orchestra employs 65 professional musicians, under the artistic leadership of Music Director and Conductor Grant Llewellyn and Resident Conductor William Henry Curry. Based in downtown Raleigh’s spectacular Meymandi Concert Hall at the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts and an outdoor summer venue at Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary, N.C., the Symphony performs about 60 concerts annually in the Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill and Cary metropolitan area. It holds regular concert series in Fayetteville, New Bern, Southern Pines and Wilmington—as well as individual concerts in many other North Carolina communities throughout the year—and conducts one of the most extensive education programs of any U.S. orchestra.

The Cary Chamber of Commerce offers something for everyone! If you are a business owner, look for resources to grow your business. For the consumer, it is a great way to see the various services and products offered by businesses. So come out and join the members of the Chamber along with the Chamber staff for a day of fun and knowledge. To learn more about the Cary Chamber of Commerce go to http://www.carychamber.com/About-The-Chamber

SERA, Inc. is a flagship nonprofit organization whose mission is to facilitate community capacity building in its most authentic sense. The organization’s goals are accomplished via focus on specific areas that would enhance one’s quality of life: economic development, holistic personal and professional sustainability, and individual citizen and collaborative empowerment. We also focus on exchanging information and building enduring relationships with business and community partners.

Our primary work is to provide people with real life skills on negotiating life’s most complicated challenges and learning how to build confidence and acuity through the knowledge gained. We provide advocacy, education, outreach, collaborative opportunities, training, and resources to individuals and businesses primarily within the Southeast Raleigh community, while also serving the greater Raleigh area. Our focus areas include advocating for and supporting, through specific programming, homeownership and quality/affordable housing opportunities, advocating for enhanced transportation systems, normalizing states of health and wellbeing within communities through a variety of initiatives, business & equity, youth and leadership development, entrepreneurialism, mentorship opportunities, job and economic development.

“As I see it”, says Rita Anita Linger, President/CEO, “our main work is to heal the communities we serve and to restore a sense of pride, hope, belief in self and in the process transform the image of how those we serve see themselves and their abilities. It is this transformation that is needed to be successful and accomplish significant life goals. For as it has been said, without a dream, the people perish. Collaboration with other for profit and non profit businesses is key to our work.”

Ms. Linger stated that SERA, Inc. “designed and started the Youth Entreprenaurial Technology Institute, better known as YETI in 2010, with the goal of responding to young people who felt that they were excited by technology and the idea of owning their own business while helping themselves and others, and who believed they were creative. They noted that they had limited access to advanced technology equipment, instruction or mentoring. I felt we needed to do something to address these particular youth concerns, as there is significant hidden talent in many of our Southeast Raleigh and greater Raleigh area youth. We recognized early on that if some of their needs around technology access and personal development were not addressed, their potential would atrophy and die.”

Together with a skilled and renowned Technology Entrepreneur, SERA Inc.’s President/CEO and the support of the Director of the Raleigh Business & Technology Center, the initial YETI program has been refined, is facilitated in a state of the art environment and has graduated over 50 young people in the short time span since the Institute has been in existence. The Institute’s student-body consists of youth with a propensity toward technology between the ages of 13-19, who are required to put in a total of 40 hours of rigorous learning and competency demonstration including homework assignments over a period of 3 Saturdays. The recruitment and selection process for the Institute is no cake walk” states Ms. Linger, “in addition to answering pointed questions about what each young person envisions him or herself doing in the future, SERA, Inc. staff need to hear potential candidates of the program authentically articulate why they want to attend the Institute and how, at the conclusion of the class they will use their skills they acquire.

Each young person who is eligible for the program and is selected to attend is provided a full Institute scholarship by SERA, Inc. Youth are taught Web Development/Design, HTLM and other markup Languages, Entrepreneurial Business Development Skills, Customer Service Skills, Conflict Resolution & Communication Skills and Leadership Identification and Implementation. The youth who attend the Institute are required to demonstrate competency in all areas of training before they are able to graduate. “There is a significant amount of interaction between the students and instructors as well as experiential work that takes place”, says Ms. Linger. Successful graduates receive a desktop and two years of technical support and guidance through SERA, Inc. staff and affiliates as they move forward to further development their expertise and their business plans.

This high level Institute works to create leaders and those young people interested in starting their own business, generating revenue and serving within their own environments by giving of their newly gained skills to those in need within their own communities. Several of the graduates of our December 2012 class have already launched their business websites and are helping family and community members who need assistance navigating the web, and designing web pages. By the time the students leave the Institute, they have a customized template by which to design their own website, and possess the skills both hard and soft to begin to make their dreams a reality.

The graduates of 2012 Institute will be honored at a formal graduation and will pledge to become an active part of SERA, Inc.’s Youth Ambassador Program (a program of community service, leadership development, and social justice advocacy under which the YETI program sits) via a pinning ceremony on January 16, 2012 during the graduation at the Johnson Center at Martin Street Baptist Church, 1001 East Martin Street from 5:30pm – 7:00pm. There will be a Petite Graduation Dinner, as well as a Graduation and Pinning Ceremony to follow. Raleigh City Councilman Eugene Weeks will be the keynote speaker and Bob Robinson, Director of the Raleigh Business & Technology Center will be the Moderator of the event. Come join us to honor our new Entrepreneurs!

But for a homeless child or family, the day could begin in a shelter, under a bridge or in a car. Many of these people remember days when they had a roof over their head, but due to an eviction or job loss, they are now finding themselves in a situation where they have to live day by day in difficult circumstances.

Homelessness in the Triangle

People often fail to realize how many people in their local community are impacted by homelessness and poverty. Consider these statistics:

• On an average night in Wake County, approximately 1,152 people are homeless. Of those individuals, 181 of them are children.
• More than 73,600 Wake County residents are living in poverty – that’s approximately 8.5 percent of our population.
• The average income for a family of four in the Triangle is $70,000. In the Southeast Raleigh area, the typical household earns just $18,000 on an annual basis.

“My Story, My Song”

Country music star Jimmy Wayne, a North Carolina native, is one person who knows exactly what it is like to be homeless. Jimmy personally experienced life as a poor, homeless youth before finding success as an adult with several country hits, including the three-week No. 1, “Do You Believe Me Now.” With firsthand knowledge of what it is like to grow up without a roof over his head, Jimmy believes that it is the community’s obligation to support children who are homeless and help them make the transition into society.

That’s why Passage Home, a nonprofit agency fighting poverty and homelessness in Wake County, is hosting “My Story, My Song,” on Thursday, June 2 at the Marriott Downtown Raleigh – State Ballroom. From 7 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., individuals can attend the event to hear Wayne’s story and participate in a silent auction. Costs to attend the event are $60 per person and $100 per couple. For more information, visit http://www.passagehome.org/jimmy.aspx.

All proceeds from the event will benefit Passage Home’s programs, which include workforce development, afterschool programs and camps, transitional housing, and permanent affordable housing.

Get Involved

Even if you cannot attend the upcoming Jimmy Wayne event, there are plenty of ways that you can get involved to help these families get back on their feet. Our goal is to offer a hand up, not a hand out, so that families and individuals can become self-sufficient and one day be able to help others in need. There are so many ways we can do this right now.

Volunteer at an upcoming event or afterschool program. Help a family move. Run errands with a single parent who needs transportation. Train children and adults how to use a computer.

You can also help us advocate for local employers to hire people who have been through our programs so that the graduates do not return to old, negative habits. We are all part of the same community. It is imperative that we do whatever we can to help these individuals and families.

Passage Home fights poverty and homelessness by strengthening families and neighborhoods. They are a nationally recognized nonprofit community development corporation that has been serving Wake County, NC since 1991. They have developed a network of corporations, congregations, and community organizations that are supporting this work. For more information, visit http://www.passagehome.org.

The novel Jigsaw is a “must read” and can be purchased at Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, Borders, and Books-A-Million. You can also purchase Jigsaw, the Kindle edition for $2.99 at Amazon.com for a limited time. PURCHASE BOOK PURCHASE KINDLE

CI: How long did it take you to write Jigsaw, which was published in 2009?

TMB: It took me nine months from beginning to end.

CI: What inspired you to write Jigsaw?

TMB: It was a story that I just got in my head.

CI: What inspired you to create Captain Cape Thomas?

TMB: I wanted to write about what I know and Cape is like Ted Brodgen. The name Cape comes from reminders of coastal North Carolina, such as places like Cape Lookout and Cape Hatteras.

CI: What is it about Cape Thomas that so many of your readers can relate to him on?

TMB: He is a guy who struggles so you want to pull for him. He struggles with knowing what the right thing is and he does the right thing many times.

CI: What is it about North Carolina that motivated you to include it as the location for the story?

TMB: Mike and I were both born and raised North Carolina so when we talked about locations I suggested North Carolina. North Carolina is where many parts of the book are based in and North Carolina had far better incentives. When Mike came up to look around, he came to the conclusion that Jigsaw belongs in here.

CI: What advice do you have for other inspiring authors?

TMB: The best advice I can give is to believe in yourself. People may say things that may not be positive but just keep pushing. Believe in yourself and just do not quit.

There are plans for Ted Brodgen to release his second novel sometime this year entitled, The Last Kincaid. If you would like to meet Ted Miller Brodgen, he will be at a few book signings during the month of February, two of which are at these location:

February 19, 2011 at 1:00am
Location: Beaufort Book Store, 2127 Boundary, Beaufort, SC,

February 12, 2011 at 1:00am
Location: Two Sisters Bookery, 318 Nutt St., Wilmington, NC

There are so many wonderful non-profit organizations in the Triangle whose mission is to serve all of us, but there is one where you can give a gift that keeps on giving and at the same time receive a tax deduction for your generosity. You can give a monetary donation to such organizations as the American Red Cross, or donate blood or even volunteer your time and talents.

The American Red Cross has various chapters but for those of us here in the Triangle the Triangle Red Cross serves the citizens of the Triangle and beyond. The Triangle Red Cross was established in March of 1917. Since its inception, some of its missions was to support military medical services, keep service members in communication with family and to provide disaster relief. The disaster relief was started due to devastating natural disasters occurring around the US in the late 1800s/early 1900s. (Jonestown PA floods, SanFran Earthquake, Galveston, TX Hurricane). We all associate the Red Cross with the blood drives and providing resources to those individuals who have been affected by disasters such as floods, storms, fires, etc.

Today the Triangle Red Cross (TRC) provides services such as emergency communication for military families, disaster relief and international relief and communications. In a single year alone the TRC will assist over 1000 military and disaster affected families. But did you know the Red Cross provides other services such as CPR, first aid and automated external defibrillator (AED) training for individuals, companies and additional programs which include injury prevention courses, and bloodborne pathogens training and community disaster preparedness education to companies. The Red Cross also offers training on babysitting and lifeguarding. The Red Cross has partnered with the Boys Scouts of America, which approved the American Red Cross Wilderness First Aid Basics.

Here is the full the interview that The City Insight done with Barry Porter, the Executive Director of the Triangle Red Cross:

What is your role as the Executive Director?
Manage the executive team for Raleigh region – includes 25 NC counties, 5 Red Cross chapters. Inspire commitment and dedication among employees and volunteers to the Red Cross mission.

What inspired you to become involved in the TRC?
In Indiana, as a college student, I registered with the Red Cross as a volunteer and ended up working the disaster that devastated the University of Evansville basketball team. I was given the task at that time of driving our counselors to the airport, to support the families and friends there. Watching the Red Cross come to the aid of those families helped me understand the critical, unique service that only the Red Cross is able to provide.

What is it about your position that you find most rewarding?
The mission of the Red Cross makes my job rewarding. We truly impact lives on a daily basis. The volunteers and employees of the Red Cross are filled with passion, and having the opportunity to experience that again, every day, is infinitely rewarding.

Has there been a situation that has changed your life directly related to your job?
As a blood donor and employee, I had a personal experience with a catastrophic need for blood. A close personal friend was expecting his first children, twins, and suddenly, unexpectedly found himself in danger of losing his wife. In order to save her life, she needed 6 units of blood. Without it she would have died. I have held on to the memory of how our blood program saves lives, dozens of times every day.

What do you want to see the TRC accomplish in the next two years?
More than just our chapter, the team of chapters in our region, I would like to see the community with a clear understanding of the relevancy of the Red Cross, even as our chapter nears its 100th year. We are still a vital, dynamic, impactful organization, 100 years later, touching 1 in every 10 Triangle residents every year. Two years from now we hope to have even more support and participation than ever from our community.

Can one ever be prepared for a disaster?
You cannot prevent disaster from happening, and you can never ensure that you will not be affected by a natural disaster if it does happen, but yes, you can be prepared to minimize the effects.

TRC consist of volunteers, what do volunteers do?
Everything, from manage a disaster response, to fundraising, to teaching CPR.

How can one volunteer?
As often as their schedules allow. Some volunteers are able to give 40 hours a week. Others can only give 4 hours a month, but we can use every minute of it. We average nearly 50 volunteers for every paid staff.

How does the TRC assist businesses?
ReadyRating.org is a great example. Ready Rating is a free, easy to use framework for preparing your business to minimize the economic effects of a disaster. (as many as 40% of businesses will never re-open after a major disaster)

What is the Ready Rating Program?
The Ready Rating Program provides an easy framework for your business, organization or school to become better prepared with five manageable and important steps. To learn more please visit http://ReadyRating.org

How important is it for the TRC to have supporters?
Every year the Triangle Red Cross touches 1 in every 10 Triangle Residents. For a family affected by disaster, the cost can easily exceed $900. So for every resident we don’t touch, we need as much as $100, to support those that we do touch

Many people may say that a small donation can not make difference what kind of difference could fifty dollars make?
The Red Cross can actually do a lot with $50: Groceries for 1 week for a single disaster victim, 15 comfort kits (toiletries for families who have lost everything in disaster),
8 blankets for disaster victims, overnight shelter stays, or fuel for our Emergency vehicle to deliver food to a disaster affected neighborhood.

TRC also offers various types of training. What are they?
CPR / First Aid, Babysitting, Lifeguarding, Workplace Safety

The TRC does more than just provide services to people here in the Triangle. What other services do you offer to others outside of the Triangle?
National / International movement – support Nationwide blood distribution: We are part of the collection system that provides more than half the nation’s blood supply through a nationwide distribution system.

International – family communication: When families are separated by war, famine or any other conflict, the American Red Cross is there to reconnect them. With a large refugee community, the Triangle Red Cross provides a vital lifeline between local refugees and their families back in their native countries.

Military – emergency communication: One of our most important services, and part of our original congressional charter, was to keep military families in touch with service members who are deployed. When we reach out to a military member on behalf of their family, they might be in California, Iraq, Afghanistan, or Korea. Wherever they are, the American Red Cross has the unique ability to reach them, and request an emergency leave on behalf of their family.

To see how you may get involved with the American Red Cross Triangle Chapter, please visit www.triangleredcross.org

For the 5th year in a row, fashionSPARK has showcased the amazing talents of North Carolina designers. This year’s show took place September, 17th in Raleigh at City Center Plaza. Twenty local designers and five local jewelry designers took part in the annual fashion show that has become the biggest in the Triangle area. This year’s show also featured 8 “green” designers that used eco friendly, recycled or organic materials.

Jewelry designer Elisa Smith of Soulcialite Studios remixes vintage jewelry creating wearable art. She designs beautiful one of a kind pieces that are bursting with color and individuality. Nico Morrison of Redo Reuse uses organic fabrics. He not only designs beautiful clothing but also teaches sustainability by recycling old shirts into hot new fashions. Designers Victor Lytvinenko and Sarah Yarborough of Raleigh Denim are always a crowd favorite with their ultra stylish denim line that’s sold in Barney’s stores nationwide. They keep things local by using materials only from North Carolina. Everything is also sewn by hand and in house. Newcomer Jess Pati fused haute couture with prêt-a porter and made the crowd feel as if they had stepped into the streets of Paris.

Each designer dazzled the crowd of more than 2000 people by unveiling amazing fashions that will set the trend for not only fall/ winter 2010, but for many seasons to come.