LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
Good Samaritan Joan Glass Goes Wireless |
by Fay Jacobs |
The winners walked to the platform, had the wide, colorful ribbon with the bronze medal on it placed around their necks, listened to the powerful, inspirational anthems played over the booming sound system, saw themselves reflected in enormous video screens and heard the cheers of the crowd. "I felt like I was getting the Olympic ice skating medal," says Camp Rehoboth volunteer Joan Glass. "It's amazing what a small effort can blossom into." Well it may have seemed like a small effort to Joan, but The Wireless Foundation, a charitable non-profit of the Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association didn't think so. The Foundation tapped Joan as Delaware's recipient of the 2002 VITA Wireless Samaritan Award. Each year, the wireless industry recognizes heroic efforts of individuals who use wireless technology to save lives, stop crimes and summon help in emergency situations. In Joan's case, a program she began with CAMP Rehoboth won her the award-and a lot of satisfaction for doing something to help people. Back in 2001, Joan logged on to "donateaphone.com" which described a program where people could donate their old cell phones to be used to assist abused women. She called CAMP's Executive Director Steve Elkins and asked if she could publicize the program through Letters. According to the program notes for the awards, the rest was history. Here's what the Wireless Foundation had to say about Joan: "When Joan Glass, a longtime volunteer of CAMP Rehoboth, first read about the Donate-a-Phone program, she immediately knew she wanted her organization to help. Joan, along with Camp Rehoboth's help, then set out to collect as many phones as she could, even working with local media to run public service ads to help bring in phones. She was instrumental in implementing the wireless phone drive for southern Delaware, which collected more than 80 phones since spring 2001. These phones are refurbished and programmed with emergency numbers and are then distributed to organizations to combat domestic violence. Joan's initiative, along with the support of CAMP Rehoboth, has helped keep over 80 victims of domestic violence safe." "We did the collection, sent the phones off and that was it," says Joan. Then, two weeks ago, Steve called and told Joan to expect a phone call within a half hour letting her know that she'd won the Wireless Samaritan award and inviting her to the award ceremony. "You're kidding. You're pulling my leg. I don't believe you," she told Steve. "It's true," he said, and you'd better be nice to the lady who calls!" She was, and on June 4 and 5, Joan traveled to Washington, DC, joining Wireless Samaritan winners from every other state in the nation, for the awarding of the medals. At the dinner and ceremony at Washington, D.C.'s historic National Building Museum, Joan got to hear the stories of all the other award recipients across the nation-all 50 states were represented. Many of the Good Samaritans used their wireless phones to call for help for crime victims, summon fire departments, and assist with things like boating accidents. The Good Samaritan from Alaska used his wireless phone to call for help for a companion attacked by a grizzly bear. In addition, recipients of the award got to meet one-on-one with their Senators and Congressmen at the U.S. Capitol. For her part, Joan used the time to chat with Senators Joseph Biden and Tom Carper about ENDA, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, now collecting sponsors on Capitol Hill. "We had a good conversation and both Senators support the bill," says Joan, who also asked the legislators about Route One congestion, development issues and more. Senator Biden was especially interested in Joan's award for the State of Delaware, since he is very supportive of the cell phone program in conjunction with his Women Against Violence Act. Senator Biden had been involved in the program himself, helping to collect phones through a local pharmacy chain. Between the pomp and circumstance of the award ceremony, the wonderful feeling of being recognized for community service, and the chance to share some personal opinions with her Senators in Washington, it was a rewarding week for Delaware's Good Samaritan Joan Glass. "But if even one woman was helped and kept safe by one of the phones we collected, that's what really makes me feel good," says Joan. So good in fact, that Joan wants to remind everyone that the program is still going and readers can still donate old cell phones by dropping them off at the CAMP Rehoboth office. In the meantime, Letters says "Congratulations" to Joan for her community-minded effort and thanks her for letting CAMP Rehoboth play a role in the program. Okay, everybody, we're waiting for those old phones! |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 12, No. 07, June 14, 2002. |