Rocking For the Red Cross – How Dallas Area Chapter Board Member Bob Boulogne Harmonizes Life, Music and Charity

by Natalie Horn, volunteer contributor

Father, philanthropist, hospitality pro and rock star – these are the four terms that best describe Red Cross Dallas Area Chapter board member and drummer of the Lost Coyote Band, Bob Boulogne.

The Lost Coyote Band was formed nine months ago when nationally acclaimed chef Dean Fearing and Boulogne, old friends from Boulogne’s time as chief operating officer of Rosewood Hotels and Resorts, picked up their instruments and started playing.  

“I had left my 30-year-old drum set at his house and one day while I was over there he picked up his guitar, I got on the drums, and we said, ‘Hey this is a lot of fun; let’s start a band,’” Boulogne said. 

The Lost Coyote band raised more than $10,000
for charity last month.

Other members of The Lost Coyote band include bass guitarist Dave Brummell and guitarist Dave Cook. 

Last month the band raised more than $10,000 for charity. Boulogne hopes to continue their fundraising success this weekend by hosting a concert and live auction with 100 percent of proceeds benefiting one of his favorite causes, the American Red Cross.

Boulogne became involved with the Red Cross three years ago through the suggestion of a friend. He says, as a member of the Dallas Area Chapter Board of Directors, he enjoys having the opportunity to brainstorm exciting ways to keep people plugged in to the great work the organization does. 

“We’ve been having discussions about how we could take a more youthful approach to the Red Cross - not necessarily in terms of age, but as in thinking,” Boulogne said. “We just want to have some fun with it.”  

If you are a fan of loud rock and roll, lead guitar riffs and late 60s through early 70s style rock, you will definitely enjoy the two sets the band has planned for the show, Boulogne promises.

“It’s a good excuse to get friends and like-minded music lovers together to not take life seriously, have some fun, and most importantly raise money for charity,” Boulogne added.

The band will rock out for the Red Cross Friday, March 29 at the Green Elephant Bar in Dallas from 8-11 p.m. Admission is $20 and will benefit the Red Cross Dallas Area Chapter.

So, how does one balance a busy career in hospitality, two children and a band while also volunteering on the board for the Dallas Area Chapter? 

“I just try to keep a positive attitude, keep the balls moving and keep great lines of communication with my kids,” Boulogne explained. “I never take anything too seriously; life is short.”

For more information about the concert or to learn how you can contribute to the Red Cross, visit redcross.org.

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A March is Red Cross Month Update from T.D. Smyers

by Amy Yen, Digital Communications Manager, American Red Cross

T.D. Smyers, CEO,
North Texas Region

Red Cross Month is buzzing along and here in the DFW area, we’re looking forward to a little more celebrating before April comes our way. Regional CEO T.D. Smyers, for one, is excited:

“Red Cross Month is an affirmation of what we mean to America and to the people we help,” said T.D. “The recognition during the month of March each year gives us a great opportunity to showcase to the public all that we do. The fact that the mayor of Dallas, Mayor Mike Rawlings, and the mayor of Fort Worth, Mayor Betsy Price, have agreed to be honorary chairs of Red Cross Month activities annually has meant a great deal.”

Some of the activities coming up between now and the end of the month include:

• Jack Rogers Trunk Show & Shopping Event
  Wednesday, March 20, 4-6pm at Highland Park Village
  20% of sales will benefit the American Red Cross
• Red Cross Day at Norma’s Cafe
  Thursday, March 21 at Norma’s Cafe
  A portion of the day’s sales will benefit the American Red Cross
• Downtown Fort Worth Turns Red
  Monday, March 25 after dark
• Chisholm Trail Chapter Open House
  Monday, March 25, 10am-2pm
  Tuesday, March 26, 3pm-7pm
• Dean Fearing’s Lost Coyote Band Benefit Concert
  Friday, March 29, 8-11pm at the Green Elephant Bar
  $20 admission price will benefit the American Red Cross

Many of these events have a special Red Cross tie—Dallas Area Chapter board members Lori Jones and Kimberly Schlegal Whitman are co-hosting the Jack Rogers Trunk Show, while board member Bob Boulogne plays drums for the Lost Coyote Band. 

“We are so grateful that these leaders in our community believe in our cause and have been so closely involved in planning these events,” said T.D., who was on hand to receive the official Red Cross Month proclamations from the Dallas City Council and Dallas Commissioners Court and will do the same in Fort Worth on March 19. Additionally, on March 25, buildings in downtown Fort Worth will light red to commemorate Red Cross Month. 

T.D. says he’s especially excited that Red Cross Month is bringing attention to the new Red Cross Tornado app.

“It’s so powerful because it’s a real tool, something people can hold in their hand and that has the potential to save their lives. That’s pretty amazing.”

Red Cross Month is a great time to get involved—whether it be donating, giving blood, taking classes and especially volunteering.

“It’s going to be tough for you to find something more rewarding than getting involved with the Red Cross. We’re more than 90 percent volunteers,” T.D. explains. “It’s not that volunteers are important to us fulfilling our mission—they’re crucial. They’re the soul of our organization."

“I tell people, the Red Cross is you. We’re your neighbors. Sometimes people think of the Red Cross as just being a big organization that responds to national disasters, but we’re also the neighbors who show up at the curbside when a house burns down.  That’s because of our volunteers.”

To start your Red Cross story today, visit RedCross.org/DFW, and don’t forget to check out our Facebook page for more updates on Red Cross Month celebrations.

So what’s T.D. looking forward to the most?

“I’m excited to see the Fort Worth skyline turn red. It’s the culmination of a lot of work to make something like that happen, so that’s special,” he said, adding, “On the Dallas side though, definitely the Lost Coyotes concert. I like to rock. And I would never turn down a slice of Norma's Mile High Pie. I'll let my wife take care of the Jack Rogers sandals.”

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The Power of One: Blood Services

By American Red Cross volunteer Joanna Jordan



Roger Warner, 64, has donated over 23 gallons of blood to the Red Cross. He started donating in the late 1970s when a friend with a cancer diagnosis needed blood.


“I thought it would be nice to do,” he says.

And it was. In fact, cancer patients who are going through chemotherapy treatment sometimes need blood as often as once a day. And without people like Roger, they wouldn’t be able to get their required transfusions.

Cancer patients aren’t the only people who find themselves in need of a blood transfusion. Someone in the United States — including car accident victims, newborns, sickle cell patients and so many others —needs blood every two seconds.

Roger says he’s happy to help provide blood for anyone who needs it.

“If one pint can maybe save three lives, that’s great. I think it’s good to do. If you’re physically able to do it, why not?” says Roger.

The Red Cross provides 40 percent of the nation’s blood supply, and not without the donations of generous people like you. January is National Blood Month, so there’s no better time to do your part. Donate today!

Find out how to donate blood at http://www.redcrossblood.org/.

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The Power of One: Services to the Armed Forces

Written by Red Cross volunteer Amy Yen



For the past 69 years, the President of the United States has procalimed March as Red Cross Month. It is a time for us to come together as a country and reflect on how important the presence of the American Red Cross is to our lives, whether it is teaching us life saving CPR, repsonding to a house fire in our neighborhood or keeping us safe and comforted in a time of disaster. The scope of what the Red Cross does is massive, but sometimes the even more powerful perspective is taking a moment to look at how our organization changes lives one person at a time. Red Cross Dallas' Red Alert blog introduces The Power of One series in honor of Red Cross Month and the individuals that make the Red Cross so great.

Proud military mother Laura Tiede poses with a photo of her son.
Photo of courtesy of WFAA, Dallas

The American Red Cross helps thousands of victims of disasters, provides emergency military communications and saves lives because millions of Americans donate their time, money and blood to the movement each year. This Red Cross Month, we wanted to share the story of one of our supporters who knows that one phone call from the Red Cross will one day bring immeasurable comfort and aid to her family.

Last August, Laura Tiede, a legal assistant who works for Legal Aid in Fort Worth, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Days before she had surgery to have her gall bladder removed, her son Fred was deployed for his second tour of duty in Afghanistan.

Her colleagues at Legal Aid, where she has worked for 17 years, wanted to take up a collection to help her, but Laura had a different plan in mind. “I told them if they were going to take up a collection, to give it to the Red Cross,” said Laura. “Because if something were to happen to me, they would be the ones to contact my son’s Commanding Officer to get him home. Besides that, I’ve been watching what they do during disasters. The Red Cross selflessly goes wherever there’s a problem. I felt pretty strongly about it.”

Laura’s co-workers at Legal Aid decided to hold a blood drive in her honor on Veteran’s Day last November, where more than 30 people gave blood. That was enough to help 81 patients while honoring Laura’s son and other soldiers serving their country.

Although her doctors originally told her she would only have months to live, Laura has kept fighting. Her company plans to make the Veteran’s Day blood drive an annual affair. And her son has been recalled back to the U.S. because of her condition and is now due to be stationed at Foot Hood in Texas.

Laura’s commitment to the Red Cross continues to be a true inspiration to everyone around her. “I think it’s a great organization. I think everybody should support it,” she said. “I would tell people, if you had a disaster, who would show up? If your apartment burned down, who would show up? It’s the Red Cross. They come with clothes and food and they take care of you. The Red Cross is there for everyone. If something happens, out come the trucks, like ants. I hope everyone will donate and give blood.”

Thank you, Laura, for reminding us during Red Cross Month that one person’s commitment to our mission can save countless lives.

Since the Civil War, the American Red Cross has been taking care of members of the United States military and their families. Read more about how the Red Cross helps the Armed Forces and military families and how to host your own blood drive for Red Cross Month.

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So What's in Your Disaster Kit?

We want to see what you keep in your disaster supply kit! We keep Dallas Cowboys plasticware in ours. No reason to forget about America's team, even in a disaster!

Pop on over to our Facebook page and post a photo of the oddest, funniest or most useful thing you keep in your kit. The photo with the most "likes" by midnight on March 11 will receive a special gift from us in honor of "March is Red Cross Month".

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This month in Red Cross history - Red Cross Month

In 1942, during World War II, President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared the month of March 1943 as "Red Cross Month." The Red Cross set a goal of $125 million, the largest amount ever requested in one campaign by any American organization. The response was overwhelming. It took less than six weeks to reach the target. By June 1943, donations totaled nearly $146 million. Roosevelt called it "the greatest single crusade of mercy in all history."

The success compelled the Red Cross to repeat the March drive during the remaining years of the war and to make it the occasion of its annual membership and fund raising efforts ever since. As part of the tradition, the President customarily issues a proclamation each year declaring March as Red Cross Month.

And the rest is history...

This is a great time to get involved, if you haven't already. The American Red Cross needs your help and survives on the kind-heartedness of others. You can get involved by:

• Donating blood
• Signing up for CPR, first aid or another Red Cross course
• Giving a financial gift that can really save the day when the next disaster strikes
• Getting involved as a volunteer

See, it isn't that hard to give back. We are proud of our history and appreciative of the volunteers, employees and supporters who have given time, blood or contributions to enable the Red Cross to perform its life-saving mission.

For more information, call 1-800-RED CROSS or go to redcrossdallas.org.

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