Héma-Québec / Blood Donor Volunteer Association established

MONTREAL, QUEBEC, January 12, 1999 - The Blood Donor Volunteer Association is launching its first recruiting campaign. All blood clinic volunteers, whether blood donors, organizers or on-site volunteers, are welcome to join the Association. Recruiting activities will be held throughout Quebec between January 20 and March 16. Volunteers in each region will also be electing regional councils during this period.

"The Association was created because most information about the importance of giving blood comes from relatives, friends and colleagues. The aim is to coordinate efforts related to blood donation information and incentive," explained Robert Bedard, chairman of the Association's interim board of directors.

The Association will begin a public awareness campaign on blood donation this spring. The campaign will include seminars and conferences. The Association will also have a kiosk at public events around Quebec and will regularly publish a newsletter and establish contacts with blood and blood product recipient associations. A representative of the Association will sit on HÉMA-QUÉBEC's board of directors.

The Association received its letters patent from the Quebec government on September 15, 1998, and shortly thereafter elected an interim board of directors. The Association's mission is to promote blood donation in partnership with HÉMA-QUÉBEC. To do this, the Association will:

• share the principles and values of voluntary, anonymous and free blood donation;
• support recruitment of safe donors in partnership with HÉMA-QUÉBEC;
• build consensus with all blood donation volunteer resources;
• act as a liaison between the regions and HÉMA-QUÉBEC.

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