Madison, Summit Red Cross Chapters to Consolidate

The Red Cross chapter house in Madison will merge with the chapter house in Summit in an effort to consolidate administrative functions, according to a news release.

The Colonial Crossroads Chapter of the American Red Cross, which serves the Chathams, has unveiled a new strategic plan to bring programs and services directly into its coverage area. As part of that plan, it is planning to sell the Madison building.

"We cover a wide geographic location and realize that by partnering with community organizations in our ten towns we can become more visible and more useful to all of our residents," said chapter Chairman of the Board Mike Wattick.

The chapter house on Springfield Avenue in Summit will now house the chapter's central offices.

Community organizations who partner with the Chapter will be offered health and safety training classes for their staff or board and be included in all media and public relations communications issued by the chapter. The sale will greatly reduce the organization's overhead and expenses, according to the news release, and these savings will be redirected to instructor training and the purchase of new training equipment.

"While the Madison house provides us with visibility in the community, our chapter has really outgrown that property," Madison resident and board member Bruce Groves said in a news release. "Even though the chapter will not be physically located at 1 Madison Ave., the Red Cross will very much remain in Madison and continue to serve the residents as it has done since 1917."