The new Astrid C. Wenzke Training Room at the BVI Red Cross Headquarters was unveiled today in a ceremony to honour the long serving volunteer.
BVI Red Cross Chairman Geoffrey Brooks thanked Ms. Wenzke for her commitment to humanitarianism in the Virgin Islands, and for her work as a volunteer for BVI Red Cross for over 31 years. “Her range of activities has covered every facet of our organisation,” and added that her specialty has been public relations and fundraising. Mr. Brooks credited Ms. Wenzke for organising the first ever BVI Red Cross fundraiser in 1998, at the Governor’s House.
The Chairman also spoke about Ms. Wenzke’s career of charity, which included volunteering for the BVI Cancer Society, BVI Diabetes Association, BVI Ambassadors, Friends of the National Archives, the Lions Club, and the Rotary Club.
BVI Red Cross Director Stacy Lloyd commented, “She’s our historian, she’s our biggest cheerleader.” In her response, the surprised honouree Ms. Wenzke said she is very honoured and proud. She went on to give the gathering a brief history lesson of the Red Cross, and acknowledged Mrs. Margaret Borde for being an integral part of the organisation’s establishment.
In addition to today’s honour, Ms. Wenzke was honoured by the Lions Club with a Melvin Jones Fellow for outstanding humanitarian services; the Rotary Club awarded her a Paul Harris Fellowship for services to humanity, and she was sworn in as the German Honorary Consul to the Virgin Islands.
Some of Ms. Wenzke’s close friends and Government officials attended the surprise event including His Excellency the Governor Augustus Jaspert, BVI Red Cross Patron Mrs. Millie Jaspert, Minister for Health and Social Development Honourable Carvin Malone, District Governor of Rotary Mrs. Delma Maduro, amongst others.
The mission of the British Virgin Islands Red Cross is to mobilise the power of humanity so that individuals and communities have the capacity to prepare for, deal with and recover from crisis. The BVI Red Cross was established in 1956. The Red Cross Movement is a volunteer based international humanitarian organization