Volunteer Bobbie Krukowski of Onondaga County is Disaster Duty Officer Program Lead. Duty Officers ensures timely activation and monitoring of local and regional Disaster Action Team (DAT) responses.

Bobbie participated in the recent Leadership Academy, a gathering of dozens of volunteers from across the Eastern New York Region.

“John F Kennedy once said, ‘Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.’  This past weekend Pres. Kennedy’s words came to fruition for me.

“I had the privilege of attending our Disaster Cycle Services Leadership Academy at the region’s Albany office. What I walked away with is forever ingrained. Learning was the priority for the weekend. Not only did I come away with a deeper learning of the Red Cross, but a deeper learning of myself and my leadership style. That style has always been one of not necessarily me doing the greatest things but getting other people to do the greatest things. My weekend helped me to understand how I can do better in some areas to accomplish that.

“The weekend also provided an amazing atmosphere of friendship, and camaraderie with fellow leaders; something that in today’s virtual world can be rare. As we learned, laughed, and shared stories, we developed friendship bonds that will last forever.

“For me, thank you is not enough to say for this opportunity. I am forever changed.”

Bobbie Krukowski