In every Non-Profit Organization, there are policies and management strategies that are needed to be followed accordingly. Given that almost all areas in which charitable institutions operate have gone through major policy changes over the last years, it becomes clear that different form composition and form diversity are function of changes in the environment (Anheier, 2005). The American National Red Cross which is also known as American Red Cross is a relief organization that provides assistance in emergency cases, catastrophe relief and education inside the United States. The Red Cross will work according to all appropriate rules. Conformity with the law does not consist of our entire liability, but rather it is a minimum, essential condition for the performance of our responsibilities (redcross.org, n.d.).
One of the issues that may arise within the organization, which also involves human management, is the conflict of interest. This issue is also included in the organization’s policy guidelines. Basically, conflict of interest is an act in a way that makes an issue or seems to make an issue with the interest of the American Red Cross and any institution in which the person has a personal, financial or business interest. In case that there’s a conflict, the organization has a structured process in dealing with this issue. The involved person shall disclose his conflict of interest to the Red Cross unit’s chairman of the board (American Red Cross, n.d.). In this process, the involved person may be required to absent or refuse himself while the deliberation and investigation is in process (ARC Handbook, 2006).
This policy is also included in the application form prior joining the American Red Cross. Red Cross found the needs to be able to hire volunteers faster when they anticipate that a major disaster might occur which is bigger than the capacity of the chapter’s affected. This was the start of the Disaster Services Human Resources (tallyredcross.com, n.d.). This branch of Red Cross aims to fill in the right number of volunteers in the anticipation of major disaster, which also screens the Disaster Volunteers to make sure that they are fit to be one (tallyredcross.com, n.d.) This human management process or volunteer mobilization is important to be screened as they will be part of a life saving activity once a disaster arises.
Another interesting topic or issue in the American Red Cross organization is the unsafe blood donation. In the middle of January 2012, an article was wrote saying that American Red Cross, the largest provider of donated blood in the U.S., was fined $9.6 million after federal officer found hundreds of blood safety offenses at 16 of the institution's 36 blood collection facilities nationwide (forbes.com, 2012). This interesting issue may lead the people to think their methods of collecting blood samples from donors. People may also think about the capability of the personnel themselves who are involve in the process of blood letting project, and even the lapses include in their process. It sows on the blood donation application process that even if you were able to pass and donate in the past, you will not allowed to donate if you do not meet the new criteria for donating blood which involves the height and weight requirements besides the physical check up (American Red Cross, 2009).
Some of the facts about blood donation are; 4.5 million Americans is in need of blood transfusion per year, kids being handled for melanoma or cancer, children and infants having heart surgery treatment need platelets and blood from all blood types, especially blood type O (americasblood.org, 2013).
Research Questions: Is it worth donating blood if you find yourself or your loved ones also in need of blood donor in the future without getting any help? Are there any other methods that we can develop to ensure the qualities of donated bloods donated are being handled accordingly and safely? What if the person involved in the “conflict of interest” is the same person who investigates the same issue against the others?
References
56 Facts About Blood :: America's Blood Centers. (2013). Retrieved 2013, from http://www.americasblood.org/go.cfm?do=page.view&pid=12
Anheier, H. K. (2005). Nonprofit organizations: Theory, management, policy. London: Routledge.
Blood donation Requirements. (2009, July). Retrieved from http://communityservice.wustl.edu/Documents/Height%20and%20Weight%20Requirements.pdf
Compliance and Ethics Handbook. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.redcrosstoledo.org/pdf_files/complianceethicshndbk.pdf
Disaster Services HR FAQ. (2010, August 7). Retrieved from http://www.tallyredcross.org/?page_id=126
The Ethics Rules and Policies of American Red Cross. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.redcross.org/images/MEDIA_CustomProductCatalog/m4240154_ethics_rules_and_policies.pdf
Ethics Rules and Policies of the American Red Cross. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.redcross.org/images/MEDIA_CustomProductCatalog/m4240154_ethics_rules_and_policies.pdf
Koleva, G. (2012, January 17). American Red Cross Fined $9.6 Million for Unsafe Blood Collection - Forbes. Retrieved from http://www.forbes.com/sites/gerganakoleva/2012/01/17/american-red-cross-fined-9-6-million-for-unsafe-blood-collection/
redcrossncfc. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.redcrossncfc.org/Volunteer_Application_NCFC.pdf
Volunteer Handbook. (2006, September). Retrieved from http://www.redcrossdelmarva.org/volunteer_handbook.pdf
