LETTERS TO THE
E DITOR Local donors needed for blood drive on March 12
To the editor: Hello friends, neighbors and community members.
Normally at this time of year, the American Red Cross holds a blood drive at Abbotsford High School. However, because of conditions as they stand, the location for the drive will again be Abbotsford City Hall. The Abbotsford Lions will be doing this drive for the Red Cross on Friday, March 12, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (please note the time change because we are doing the student drive.) As before, there will be additional safety measures in place for the safety of all.
_ Temperature checks will be taken for all staff, volunteers, and donors before entering the blood drive. Anyone with a temperature greater than 99.5 F will not be able to donate or work at the drive.
_ Staff and volunteers will wear gloves throughout the entire drive, changing them often.
_ All staff, volunteers and donors will be required to wear face masks or coverings at the blood drive in alignment with CDC public guidelines. If a donor does not have a mask, the Red Cross will provide one. If a donor does not want to wear a mask, they will be asked to postpone their donation for a later date.
_ COVID-19 vaccine and blood donor eligibility. There’s new FDA blood donation eligibility guidance for those who receive a COVID-19 vaccination. If a donor receives a COVID-19 vaccine, knowing the name of the manufacturer is critical in determining blood donation eligibility. In most cases, there’s no deferral time. COVID-19 antibody testing is being done as well.
_ Enhanced disinfecting. Blood donors will be asked to use hand sanitizer before and during the donation process. Donor beds will be sanitized between every donor, and common surfaces will also be routinely sanitized.
_ Social distancing. The room will be set up to allow six feet distance between donor areas. Only blood donors will be permitted at blood drives. No guests, children or teens unless the teen is donating blood. After check-in, donors will be asked to wait in a designated area.
_ Refreshment (food/drinks) items at blood drives must be single-serve, individually wrapped packages.
_ Some blood donor eligibility criteria has changed. These changes can be viewed on the blood donor eligibility page of RedCrossBlood.org.
Please consider joining us as we all do our part for those in need!
Appointments are recommended. We can take walk-ins only if the appointment slot is not filled or we have a noshow. For an appointment, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org.
Hope to see you there!
Karen LaPine Abbotsford Lions blood drive coordinator
Don’t let the legislature roll back transparency
To the editor: The Wisconsin legislature is currently considering a bill that would give local governments the option to stop publishing a summary of their actions in your newspaper. Senate Bill 55 would allow local municipalities to post meeting minutes on their websites instead.
This is bad public policy under the guise of cost savings that would create considerable disruption for government transparency. Supporters of Senate Bill 55 suggest local government websites are sufficient to notify the public of their actions and that publishing meeting minutes in the newspaper limits access only to newspaper subscribers.
The fact is, however, that all legal notices published in the State of Wisconsin are available and accessible for free to the public through Wisconsin- PublicNotices.org. This comprehensive, searchable website hosted by the Wisconsin newspaper industry brings together ink-on-paper notices into one online location. This service is provided at no cost to local municipalities.
The goal of WisconsinPublicNotices. org is to enhance government distribution of public information and assist citizens who want to know more about the actions of their local, county and state representatives. This permanent, third-party documentation – unalterable and independent of government – ensures the protection of “your right to know” for every citizen.
The relationship between newspapers, state and local municipalities and WisconsinPublicNotices.org has successfully provided easy access to government information for all citizens, whether they seek it in print or online. Removing existing publication requirements would create holes in this invaluable statewide database while also neglecting the needs of those who lack adequate computer and internet access.
Please tell your legislators to oppose this unnecessary barrier to government transparency.
Beth Bennett executive director Wisconsin Newspaper Association
