By Joan Garvin
Town Crier Correspondent
The board of directors for the Palo Alto Area Chapter of the American Red Cross named Dr. Patricia (Trish) Bubenik executive director of the chapter effective Monday.
Bubenik succeeds Lucianne Phillips who resigned in March, triggering an extended search for a qualified replacement, according to Public Relations Manager Deepa Arora.
“Dr. Bubenik brings a wealth of experience to the job,” said Norm Robinson, chairman of the board. “Her leadership skills and longstanding roots in our communities make her a perfect fit for the position.”
Bubenik, who joined the Mountain View School District as assistant superintendent 16 years ago, was dismissed by the board of the newly merged Mountain View-Whisman School District Oct. 22. There were no official reasons given for the dismissal.
In her new position, Bubenik will head a staff of 20 and serve a 30-member board of directors. The chapter, which includes Los Altos and Los Altos Hills, has an estimated 800 volunteers who assist in its many activities.
“The Palo Alto Area Chapter is a vital part of the local community,” Bubenik said. “The opportunity to be part of an international humanitarian organization that educates our communities and helps those who need it the most was one I couldn’t pass up.”
The chapter offers CPR/first aid, disaster prevention and emergency preparedness classes, among its many programs.
safety training for children, rental assistance for the homeless, HIV/Aids awareness in local high schools, and Safe Ride, a program that offers confidential rides home on weekends to teen-agers.
“In the Silicon Valley, a disaster can mean different things to different people: a fire in an apartment, a catastrophic earthquake or an eviction notice,” said Robinson. “The Red Cross needs to be there for our community and with Trish’s leadership we can be sure to fulfill our mission: to prevent, prepare and respond to emergencies.”
For more information on the Palo Alto Area Chapter, which serves Palo Alto, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Mountain View, Stanford and Moffett Field, call 688-0424.
