East Tennessee Volunteer Spotlight, Marilyn Rasmussen - June 2019

Marilyn Rasmussen was recognized for excellence as a Service to Armed Forces (SAF) team leader during the American Red Cross Southeast and Caribbean Division meeting. Rasmussen and the Tennessee Region SAF team took on the North Florida Region’s casework load while the state recovered from Hurricane Michael. The storm severely impacted Tyndall Air Force Base, located near Panama City, Florida resulting in an acute need for SAF response. Because Tennessee Region volunteers accepted the challenge, SAF service delivery continued without interruption and thousands of families received much needed assistance.

Rasmussen, an Atlanta native, worked for GE as an administrator, eventually assigned to the vice president of major appliances where she created and delivered intern orientation classes. In addition to her career with GE, Rasmussen served in the office of Mayor Amato of Lexington, Kentucky, operated her own business, and worked as a medical transcriber. She relocated from Georgia to Kentucky, and Indiana for husband, Ken’s, career, before settling in Knoxville, Tennessee.

No stranger to volunteering, Rasmussen has bestowed her gift of time to several agencies including the Atlanta Police Department, church leadership, and served Cub Scout Den Leader for 8 years, before joining the Red Cross during Hurricane Katrina. In addition to SAF, she has held positions as a DAT Captain, CAS administrator, Disaster and Volunteer Connection Instructor, Ham Radio operator, Fire Safety House team, and First Aid Station Team at University of Tennessee sporting events. Rasmussen began volunteering with SAF in 2014 and advanced to Lead Caseworker and Trainer and EDGE Administrator for the Tennessee Region.

Rasmussen says that she encourages others to volunteer and investigate, like she has, different lines of service and the multiple opportunities to help others offered by the Red Cross. “I tell new volunteers the number one requirement (to be a volunteer) is heart and compassion,” Rasmussen said. “You can make a difference. Believe me when I say that volunteering with the Red Cross is a humbling, yet emotionally rewarding experience.”