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By Art Shotwell
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February 02, 2010 |
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The Anacortes-San Juan Island Red Cross chapter has merged with the Whidbey Island chapter and the new name is The Islands Chapter. Brian Geer, who has been in charge of the Anacortes chapter will be head of the combined unit.
The merger will save both entities overhead costs and reduce duplication of efforts, but won't reduce the level of service, according to Geer. "The merger basically just makes us one chapter from the San Juan Islands to South Whidbey," he said.
The Boards of both units approved the merger and review applications from current employees before choosing Geer to be executive director. Island County's director, T. J. Harmon, was offered another position in the combined agency, but declined.
Geer said the position Harmon was offered will remain unfilled, one other position has been eliminated and the employee laid off, and one more position was reduced to half-time. He said he didn't expect any other reductions.
Mount Baker Red Cross, which serves Bellingham and much of Skagit County is the result of an earlier merger between the Whatcom County and Skagit Valley chapters.
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