RED CROSS DIRECTOR RECEIVES STATE AWARD

Mary Burton has helped thousands of victims of floods, fires and other disasters during her 10-year tenure directing the local American Red Cross.

Yet the 47-year-old Marissa, Ill., native who averages 60-hour workweeks humbly attributes the chapter's success to its many volunteers across Southeast Missouri.

"Volunteers are the backbone of this organization," Burton said. "That's how we get so much done."

Burton, executive director of the American Red Cross Southeast Missouri Regional Chapter in Cape Girardeau, received the Spirit of Excellence for Management Award from the American Red Cross Missouri State Service Council during the organization's recent annual state conference.

As one of the longest-tenured directors in Missouri, Burton has overseen the local chapter since December 1990, helping Southeast Missourians through such devastation as the Mississippi River floods of 1993, 1995 and 1996.

"We are very grateful to Mary for her commitment to Red Cross and her dedicated service to help those in emergencies," said David Rice, Red Cross Missouri State Service Council chair. "The Red Cross in Missouri depends on outstanding people to help us carry out our mission."

There are 33 Red Cross chapters in Missouri. The Southeast Missouri Regional Chapter represents the largest area, providing service to residents as far north as St. Francois County, as far west as Reynolds County and south to the Arkansas line.

The local chapter operates on a budget of $360,000 and has more than 1,500 volunteers.

Burton, who is a mother of two, directs services including disaster relief, military emergencies, blood drives and health and safety training. She said her biggest challenge is recruiting volunteers.

But, she said, Cape Girard-eau is home to many who already happily volunteer their time, making the workings of the local Red Cross more efficient.

"That's what we see on an ongoing basis here," she said. "There are a lot of people in this community who want to help."

Although she has enjoyed meeting such notable people as national American Red Cross Director Elizabeth Dole, Burton said there are more compelling reasons she returns to her Red Cross office day after day.

"The most poignant moments are the many, many, many times you've sat with a client and heard their outpouring about the crisis in their lives and knowing there is something you can do to help this person," she said. "You do it because it's the right thing to do. You get so much more out of it than you put in."

WANT TO HELP?

The local Red Cross is continually looking for volunteers, regardless of whether they can devote a half hour a week or several weeks a year. Poeple interested in volunteering time to the Southeast Missouri Regional Chapter of the American Red Cross can call 335-9471.