Megarie van Sickel has just completed her 10^th year leading the Charlotte County Chapter.  Having joined the American Red Cross after many years of board involvement with  a variety of nonprofit organizations throughout Florida, Megarie has guided a volunteer-led disaster team through a number of challenges including Hurricane Charley, the largest hurricane to strike Florida’s West Coast in 40 years.  Under Megarie’s leadership, the 92 year old Chapter has grown to over 160 active volunteers responding to disasters, providing services to the armed forces and teaching life saving skills in this geographically diverse county.  She has overseen the relocation of the Chapter headquarters to its current  3200 square foot facility and has expanded the Chapter’s response capability to  include Emergency Response Vehicles in all quadrants of the county.  Megarie has been recently elected to the position of Vice Chair Elect of the Association of Florida Chapters, serves on the Florida Blood Centers Advisory council, the Charlotte County 211 Board and the local FEMA Grant Allocation Committee.  Her leadership by example has helped the chapter to fulfill the mission of the American Red Cross to “help people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies”.