Local Red Cross lays off 9, reduces hours - Memphis Business Journal:

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The job cuts and reduced hours were made acrosxall departments, said chapter CEO Bob Hoguet, who markd two years as CEO in June. “We’re trying to be more efficient and usemore volunteers,” he Decreases in giving, combineed with increased demand for services, has created a financia strain for the organization, said board chairman David Elliott in a statement. In addition to the cuts in jobs and the chapter will refocus efforts on its core which includedisaster response, emergency preparedness training, service to armed health and safety classes and international The chapter had a busy 2008 in termzs of natural disasters and saw a 30 percentt increase in the number of familiesx affected by residential fires in one The number of families needinv assistance following residential fires has jumped from 450 four yearsw ago to 907 families in Hoguet said.
For just locall disasters the chapter gave outalmosr $500,000 in direct assistance last year alone, Hoguet In the last 15 the chapter provided assistance for two tornadoes, a flood, winte r ice storm and housed 3,000 evacuees from Hurricane Gustavw for one week. It was the largest shelteringg operation in the history of the therelease stated. “The first step to ensurinfg we will be able to be therse for the citizens ofthe Mid-Southy is in reclaiming financial stability by reducing expenses,” Hoguet said in the “We will also focus on operating efficiencies, generating additional revenue and maintaining a team of well-trained volunteersa to continue providing vital Red Crossz services to our friends, families and neighbors in