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Martoche Appointment

NEWS RELEASE
 
Date:      November 17, 2005
Contact:   Judith A. Rucki, APR
Phone: (716) 878-2368    Fax: (716) 878-2389
              
              

AMERICAN RED CROSS NAMES MARY DEE MARTOCHE

NATIONAL CHAIR OF CHAPTER QUALITY ASSURANCE

 
BUFFALO, N.Y. – The American Red Cross, Greater Buffalo Chapter today announced the appointment of Mary Dee Martoche as national chair of chapter quality assurance.
       
Martoche, chief clerk in Erie County Surrogate Court, currently serves as chair of the Greater Buffalo Chapter’s Clement Trustees. She previously served on the board of directors for seven years and was board chair from 1999 to 2001.
       
“We are delighted that Mary Dee accepted the national chair position,” said Nancy Blaschak, executive director of the Greater Buffalo Chapter. “It’s a great honor for both Mary Dee and our local chapter.”
       
As national chair of chapter quality assurance, Martoche will help guide the American Red Cross quality improvement systems for the 824 chapters nationwide. She will be working with top management at the American Red Cross national headquarters, as well as paid and volunteer representatives from chapters throughout the country.
       
Additionally, Martoche will conduct educational sessions for chapter board chairs on the Red Cross’ Chapter Performance Standards system. She also will assist the board chairs with using the system to improve the quality performance of their local chapters in the areas of service delivery, governance, financial management, human resources, business practices and corporate accountability.
   
“I am honored and gratified to be given this exciting opportunity to serve the American Red Cross in such an important way. Over the past several years, as the Red Cross has helped all Americans prepare for, prevent and respond to disasters, both man-made and natural, the many volunteers who make its work possible continue to lead the way for all of us. I look forward to being part of this critical effort,” Martoche said.
Martoche, who has been practicing law in the Buffalo area for nearly 30 years, served as a member of the 2002 and 2003 National Committee on Resolutions. She currently is serving a three-year term as the American Red Cross Community Needs Chair. In that role, she supports the development, evaluation and planning of preparedness programs and services that assist families, communities and workplaces in preparing for emergencies and disasters.
      
Additionally, Martoche is serving a two-year term on the National Committee on Nominations. The committee is responsible for filling all nationally elected volunteer positions, including the organization’s Board of Governors.
     
Her involvement with the Red Cross has resulted in both local and national awards.
 
Martoche was the 2001 recipient of the Greater Buffalo Chapter’s Clara Barton Award, which is the chapter’s highest honor, given to recognize the outstanding volunteer of the year. It is presented to one or more individuals whose volunteer accomplishments have made a positive and profound impact on Red Cross services.
 
Blaschak said, “Mary Dee has been associated with the Red Cross since she was a teenager growing up in Fargo, N.D. She received all of her swimming training, including senior lifesaving, water safety instructor and first aid, under the auspices of the Red Cross. 
“She worked for six summers as a lifeguard and, in 1963, pulled a child from the bottom of a swimming pool, gave him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, and saved his life. For this, she received the American National Red Cross Certificate of Merit.”
 
Martoche is a founding member of the Women’s Group and the Women Taking Action Politically (TAP) Fund in Buffalo. She was a member of the Bar Association of Erie County and served on the board for the Franciscan Missionary Sisters Lay Board. She also served as a member and chair of the Erie County Child Protection Advisory Board.
 
The Greater Buffalo Chapter of the American Red Cross prepares for, and responds to, community disasters and emergencies and helps people lead safe and healthy lives. The American Red Cross is one of the oldest and largest volunteer driven organizations in the United States and locally depends on the contributions of 1,000 volunteers to provide its emergency service and health education programs.
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