THEY say that in any natural disaster when thousands flee to save their own lives, the person running towards the crisis is usually a volunteer. The 2004 Tsunami in East Asia was a prime example of this selfless dedication as thousands of volunteers streamed across the borders of some of the worst hit areas to search for the living and help the survivors move on with their lives. Here in Bermuda the response was equally impressive over a million dollars was raised for relief efforts in the weeks that followed. At the forefront of the appeal was Bermuda Red Cross director, Ann Spencer-Arscott.

The Mid-Ocean's Tricia Walters and Chris Burville met the 47-year old mother of two to find out what drives her as a leading member of the largest independent humanitarian network in the world - the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

Q: How did you get involved in the Bermuda Red Cross?

A: I was working in Human Resource for Belco when I had my first child in 1991. Between my husband's schedule and mine, it was becoming quite hectic. I'm not a stay-at-home mom type person, I like to stay busy, so we talked and I said I wanted to quit work, but still do something. Lydia Mason from Business Services set up a lunch interview with Frank and I didn't even know the Red Cross existed at that point. I started on the 13th of June with a trip to London for an orientation and started as an administrator. Four hours a day, part-time with no responsibilities, which is what I wanted. It was relaxed and flexible and I had taken up golf so I was enjoying that. But it's gone downhill ever since. (laughs) Over the years an hour or so was added and I took on more and more as we grew.

Q: The organisation grew so much you needed a bigger building, when did that happen?

A: We purchased this building in 1995, had some work done and moved in in 1996. We did a major fundraiser for that. Now all our courses are held here and we are able to rent out rooms to other charities and organisations. We also have rental units above and to the side which help cover all the costs for the land and taxes.

Q: How many courses do you give a month?

A: We started out with those courses by going to businesses, taking everything with us and setting up there. When the Deloitte building went up we started there because our treasurer worked there. We also had an instructor from ACE and used their cafeteria in the old building. But it took so much work to move everything because we had suitcases with our mannequins in back then. That's when we realised we needed our own space.

Q: What were some of the major tragedies that you've been involved in since joining 15 years ago?

A: Princess Diana's involvement in the landmines campaign; for me that was the start of the bigger overseas disaster efforts that we participated in. We did a lot with Hugo, which was before my time, but in my time it started with the landmines and then the Kosovo war and earthquakes, mudslides, hurricanes. We have always been very supportive of our sister societies in the Caribbean and whenever we got a huge response from the community to respond (to a particular disaster) is when we picked up the appeal efforts. It actually takes a lot more to put an appeal together, to launch it, monitor and administrate it than people are aware of.

Q: When the Tsunami hit in 2004, how long did it take before donations were pouring in?

A: Two days! We had to have bank accounts already secured and we have to know the balance so if it was an account used for a previous disaster, we have to make sure we have a cut off date. We have to write press releases for the media, and also do an appeal for the newspaper. It's pretty well set up, but the administrative afterwards when the money starts coming in, we have to monitor the accounts and of course people pour in here with money and someone has to be on hand to count it all, especially when it's a bottle full of coins. The Tsunami was... (sigh) something no one was prepared for. From the disaster point of view to actually dealing with the appeals and helping. For three months nothing else got done. Everyone pitched in and volunteers came out of the woodwork to help. When you are dealing with money, you have to be careful, but we made a lot of good friends.

Q: Did you expect that kind of outpouring from the public?

A: No! Never. I think we knew it would be big, we didn't think it would last as long or that the community would band together to create their own little fundraisers. It wasn't about us just putting an appeal ad in the paper, people wanted to do something different and they would call for ideas. (laughs) I was drained coming up with something new and exciting. All the schools, churches, companies and people from the different regions which had been struck all got involved. We still get a lot of donations from children now in lieu of birthdays and it was big in that year.

Q: What about natural disasters since?

A: I think because we handled it so well, people realised that we are very professional and we guarantee the money is going where we say it is going. Sometimes on timeliness it is not as easy because it's not cheap to either wire transfer or put drafts together, so you want to collect a certain amount of money then send it off. We send it to the British Red Cross who then forward it on. But we tell everyone weekly how much we've raised and what's happening. We had some criticism for some fundraising we did for children in Sudan, that we didn't get the money to them fast enough, but there is a process we have to go through here and it just happened that way.

Q: You've never gone to any of the disaster-hit areas. Don't you feel you're missing out on something by not going?

A: You don't have the on the ground experience and actually seeing the houses gone and people preying through the remains looking for a body or something to hold onto. After the Tsunami appeal, all of us in the office went through different emotional situations. We felt we were in it so much - hearing it on the news, seeing it on television and the Red Cross was sending us updates all the time. We also heard stories from people who lost friends there, so emotionally, it did a number on us. We have a television in our office for these situations, but once the disaster strikes and we've got the initial information, off it goes because it takes too much out of us. Even though we're not there, we feel we are because have family members coming in and saying they've lost a daughter, or she's still missing and you are sucked into it.

Q: What about people who approach the Red Cross saying they want to go to these areas and help?

A: It's heart-wrenching because you have people who are willing to take time off and don't want to get paid. But we were told by the British Red Cross that they have to go through an intensive two-week training programme and until you have that, you would not selected to go to any disaster-struck areas. The Americans might operate a little differently. With Katrina and Andrew people wanted to go and help, but they had so much assistance from their own communities and the American Red Cross, so by going you are simply putting an extra burden onto the community.

With the 9/11 terror attacks in New York City a lot of people went over there unannounced and the Red Cross, Salvation Army and churches didn't know what to do with them, what their training was... It's not just about being an able body. You are dealing with a crisis of such a magnitude, just from a psychological point of view, you have to be able to deal with people who have watched their co-workers die and special training is required for that.

Q: What motivates you?

A: I like to boss people around (laughs). My family will tell you that, and I don't know about the girls in the office, but I like to be in charge and help people. I started at 12 being a Candy Striper so volunteering has been in my blood for that many years. Just knowing that I can make a difference in somebody's life, and I'm an organised person too.

Q: What is your most memorable moment?

A: The birth of my two sons - Andrew is 15 and Ryan is 11. I also have a step-son, Steven who is married to Lisa and I have a granddaughter, Madison, who is almost 10 months-old. She's my pride and joy. We're a very close family and we love being together. Robin and I have been married 16 years.

Q: It must be hard asking people for money. How do you do that?

A: You know, I have trouble asking for a raise, but I can ask for a million dollars and not have a problem. (laughs) I couldn't ask for a $20 raise, but I can ask for that. I know it's not for me and it's for a good cause and that's what I always tell people. Just think of it - it's not for you. If they say no, it's not personally hurting you. It's still hard and doesn't get any easier because you get some toughies out there who don't want to give it up.