President Obama is calling on all of us – young and old, from every background, all across this America and overseas – to participate in our nation’s recovery and renewal by serving in our communities. From June 22 to September 11, United We Serve (see below) will begin to engage Americans in addressing community needs in education, health, energy and the environment, and community renewal.
  
Democrats Abroad Australia joins DA country committees all over the world in launching service projects to support our local communities. 

Starting Saturday 4 July you are invited to participate in the DA Australia National Health Care Day of Service project by donating blood at a Red Cross Blood Donation Centre in any of the 8 Australian states and territories.

Attached is information from the Australian Red Cross about the importance of blood donation.

Attached also is a "Blood Donor Attendance Form" that you should download, print and take with you when you go to a donation centre.  It has been pre-printed with the code that has been assigned to Democrats Abroad for tracking donations.  At the end of one month, Tuesday 4 August (birthday of President Barack Obama), we will announce the result of our drive. 

We are aiming for 100 blood donations during the one month period, and it all starts with YOU! 

If you cannot make a blood donation you are encouraged to make a cash donation to the Australian Red Cross of any amount.

UNITED WE SERVE 

"United We Serve" is a nationwide service initiative established by the White House that will help meet growing social needs resulting from the economic downturn. With the knowledge that ordinary people can achieve extraordinary things when given the proper tools, President Obama is asking us to come together to help lay a new foundation for growth. This initiative aims to both expand the impact of existing organizations by engaging new volunteers in their work and encourage volunteers to develop their own "do-it-yourself" projects. United We Serve is an initial 81 days of service but will grow into a sustained, collaborative and focused effort to promote service as a way of life for all Americans.  

Our project has been registered as a United We Serve service opportunity.  If you, your family or friends want to register support for our project please click here:  http://www.serve.gov/index.asp