Compliment Tour 2025

Every year, the board members of Belgian Red Cross-Flanders pay a visit to the various departments to thank the employees and give them a special mention. On March 13, Rudy Poedts Director of Collection, Production & Distribution (CPD) visited the Provincial Headquarters Limburg and donor center Beringen.

"At the Limburg Provincial Headquarters, I was warmly welcomed by Province Manager Wendy Vandeput and Province President Willy Van De Wauw. They both gave a great picture and very interesting insights about the structure and workings of their passionate province," Rudy said. "It is not always easy to make ends meet, but always they find a way to succeed in this handsomely, together with the efforts of the 1,352 volunteers. The people at the provincial headquarters are a crucial link between headquarters and the local chapters."

Unique in the province of Limburg, local chapters can use a centralized oxygen storage facility that is carefully managed by the provincial headquarters.

"Also, I was able to briefly meet some other staff members who all have a specific role in the operation of the county seat. Willy, Wendy and the team make a strong contribution to the many realizations in the province, obviously together with all the local chapters."

Next, Wendy and Willy took Rudy for a visit to the donor center in Beringen, where Tanja Thierie, team leader of DC Beringen and Jochem Boons, president of the Red Cross-MidWestLimburg chapter were waiting for them in a beautifully decorated donor center.

"After a fascinating tour and interesting explanation of how a donor center operates, Tanja also gave us an insight into the impressive and rapid growth the center has experienced," Rudy says. "This success, by the way, earned them last year's Plasma Awareness Week challenge cup, and this year they are also making every effort to keep this cup together with loyal donors."

"A well-deserved and heartfelt thank you to the team at DC Beringen and the volunteers MidWestLimburg department, who have a great interaction that only further strengthens the individual workings and can be an example to others. Thank you Wendy and Willy for the fascinating morning and trip we took together."