LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring the Nassau County Chapter of the Ameri-
can Red Cross for their continued service to country and community

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and pay
tribute to those organizations which significantly contribute to the
improvement and enhancement of the quality of life in the communities
they represent; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor the
Nassau County Chapter of the American Red Cross for their continued
service to country and community; and
WHEREAS, The American Red Cross is a humanitarian organization, led by
volunteers, that provides relief to victims of disasters and helps
people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies; it does this
through services that are consistent with its congressional charter and
the fundamental principles of the International Red Cross and Red Cres-
cent Movement; and
WHEREAS, A firm advocate of the ideals of Henri Dunant, who laid the
groundwork for the Red Cross movement in Europe, Clara Barton founded
the American Red Cross in 1881; she lived to see her beloved organiza-
tion become the official American agency for disaster and war relief;
and
WHEREAS, In 1917, the Red Cross consisted of 267 chapters and a total
paid staff of 167 men and women specialists; however, around these bones
of the organization existed the nucleus of the future greatness of the
Red Cross - the professionally trained volunteers and the willing hands
of untrained volunteers, who, when needed, would respond by the
millions; the Red Cross has truly become a part of American life,
national and community alike, and the Nassau County Chapter is no excep-
tion; and
WHEREAS, The founding of the Nassau County Chapter of the American Red
Cross can be traced back to Henry Pomeroy Davison, a successful banker,
who was summoned by President Woodrow Wilson and asked to serve as
Chairman of the American Red Cross War Council in 1917; under his direc-
tion, the American Red Cross grew from hundreds of chapters to nearly
4,000, including the Nassau County Chapter; and
WHEREAS, With the end of the war drawing near, Henry Pomeroy Davison
left much of the direction of Red Cross affairs to others in order to
concentrate on the formation of a worldwide organization of Red Cross
societies; he felt a strong conviction that the good will and sympathy
engendered by the Red Cross spirit should not be lost; and
WHEREAS, Therefore, Henry Pomeroy Davison proposed to start a feder-
ation of the world's Red Cross Societies; in 1919, on the basis of his
initiative, the Red Cross Societies of America, France, Great Britain,
Italy and Japan formed the Committee of Red Cross Societies which became
the nucleus of the League of Red Cross Societies; and
WHEREAS, Henry P. Davison was not the only one in his family committed
to the mission of the American Red Cross; his wife, Kate, rendered
invaluable service to the American Red Cross in Nassau County; and
WHEREAS, As World War I blazed in Europe, many women in Nassau County
rallied to the needs of those suffering in Europe; small groups organ-
ized independently in the name of the Red Cross to work for war relief;
in 1917, when the United States entered the war, it became expedient for
them to join forces; and
WHEREAS, Thus, on May 29, 1917, the Nassau County Chapter of the Amer-
ican Red Cross was chartered under the chairmanship of Kate Davison; and

WHEREAS, In its first two years, the new Nassau County Chapter
directed its activities almost exclusively to the war; Camp Mills, later
known as Mitchel Field, became the center of its Military Relief
Programs; many of these early activities were the beginnings of current
Chapter programs; and
WHEREAS, If the Chapter had any thought that the war's end would bring
its activities to a close, the immediate post-war period proved other-
wise; volunteers filed claims for disabled servicemen, widows and depen-
dents, becoming a continuing medium of communication between servicemen
and their families; and
WHEREAS, In addition, Public Health became an early concern at the
Nassau Chapter of the American Red Cross and Kate Davison established a
free clinic at headquarters for patients and organized thousands of
classes in health courses; and
WHEREAS, The Nassau Chapter of the American Red Cross had been busy
during the years before World War II, but its expansion during the war
years was staggering; with a serviceman in almost every family, volun-
teers poured in to do their share, and Kate Davison and her staff
pressed them into service; and
WHEREAS, Safety Services trained war-plant workers and civil defense
personnel in First Aid, while Junior Red Cross volunteers filled boxes
and stockings for hospitals and produced gift boxes for children in
war-torn areas overseas; and
WHEREAS, These are only the highlights of the Nassau Chapter's war
efforts; its members can be proud of its record during these difficult
years, and must recognize that it was Kate Davison's quiet, dedicated
leadership that made this all possible; in 1944, Mrs. Davison relin-
quished her Chairmanship of the chapter, but continued on as Honorary
Chapter Chairman until her death in 1962; and
WHEREAS, The next period in the history of the Nassau County Chapter
of the American Red Cross begins with Dorothy Peabody Davison, who was
for many years a Red Cross volunteer executive at national and local
levels; and
WHEREAS, Dorothy Peabody Davison's interest in the Red Cross was
kindled by her father and mother-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Henry P. Davison;
during World War II, she was a member of the Board of Governors in Wash-
ington and Director of the National Motor Corps.; and
WHEREAS, Additionally, Dorothy Peabody Davison was a long-term Board
member, who served on the Chapter's Special Gifts committee and Treasury
Resale Shop committee in Locust Valley; her active affiliation with the
Nassau Chapter ended in 1976 when she was named Honorary Chairman; and
WHEREAS, In 1998, the Nassau County Chapter of the American Red Cross
celebrated the relocation of the Chapter Headquarters, with a dedication
ceremony of the Davison Building at 195 Willis Avenue in Mineola, New
York, in recognition of the Davison family, who served the American Red
Cross for over 80 years; and
WHEREAS, Today, the Nassau County Chapter of the American Red Cross is
one of 720 chapters nationwide, and in the tradition of the Davison
family, it continues to help individuals and communities in times of
need as well as educates people in techniques and tactics to ensure
health and safety; and
WHEREAS, The Chapter operates with 14 full-time employees and approxi-
mately 700 volunteers; the volunteers work in a number of different
categories, some of which include accounting, data entry and reception;
each individual receives specific training and is offered a series of
workshops along the way; and
WHEREAS, Over the past two years, the Nassau County Chapter of the
American Red Cross has responded to more than 240 local incidents, most-

ly single-family house fires, providing shelter, clothing and emotional
support as needed; and
WHEREAS, Even though based on Long Island, the Nassau County Chapter
of the American Red Cross sends volunteers to major disasters throughout
the country via the organization's Disaster Services Human Resources
(DSHR); the Chapter sent over 150 volunteers to aid in the relief
efforts of Hurricane Katrina; and
WHEREAS, While the most high profile Red Cross activity, disaster
response is only one part of a multi-faceted structure that serves the
community in a myriad of ways; key among these services is education
courses in a variety of subjects including childcare, defensive driving,
disaster preparedness, first aid and summer safety; and
WHEREAS, In recognition of its efforts, the Nassau County Chapter of
the American Red Cross has earned the designation of the 2009 MVP in
Healthcare by the Long Island Association (LIA); and
WHEREAS, Each year, this most prestigious award is bestowed upon an
LIA member company that has shown growth, expansion and profitability in
their business and whose employees have given back to the greater Long
Island community; and
WHEREAS, The Nassau County Chapter of the American Red Cross truly
encompasses all that the LIA strives to recognize, especially the spirit
of giving back to others, and is most deserving of this special commen-
dation; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is pleased to have this opportunity to
commend the Nassau County Chapter of the American Red Cross, its expert
staff and dedicated volunteers, fully confident that it will continue to
play a leadership role in the community for many years to come; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor the Nassau County Chapter of the American Red Cross for their
continued service to country and community; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Nassau County Chapter of the American Red Cross.