Hey, very cool! Aries, I can completely sympathize, since I don’t like needles either - but I donate every time the Red Cross comes around (and I’m lucky - they come to “my” donation place exactly every 8 weeks).
The Process:
You go in and someone smiles at you and asks you if you’ve donated before. You tell them no, since you haven’t. They’ll explain it all to you. They’ll get your name, address, Soc. Sec. Number, DOB, weight (you can estimate - they’re just making sure you’re over 110 lbs.), and a few other questions.
Then you’re handed a questionnaire that’ll determine whether or not you’re eligible to donate.
Start to finish can take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour & a half (or more, depending on how busy they are.) This is from the time you walk in the door to the time you’re completely finished and leaving, though. Take a book or a CD or something. If you take a CD player with headphones, it might help you relax a bit while donating, too. 
DogDad does that all the time.
The actual donation time (“how long the needle is in your arm”) is anywhere from 5 minutes to 15. I believe they said last time I was there that after 15 (or maybe it was 20) minutes, you’re done, whether or not your bag is full. They take a pint of blood. I believe most people take around 8 minutes to donate.
You also have a preliminary session with a nurse who will take your BP, pulse, temperature, and run through your questionnaire with you. They DO take a small amount of blood from either the earlobe (old way) or the tip of a finger (new way) to test your iron content. If you’re a bit anemic, take your iron supplements for AT LEAST a week before donating. I’d also recommend taking your supplements for at least a few days if you’re going to donate within a week of…erm…“That Time Of The Month”, since that drastically lowers your blood content. Also, if you have problems with anemia, TELL THEM before they check you, so they can run your blood through a centrifuge and check the iron content that way. It’s just easier on everyone involved.
If you’re allergic to iodine, make sure you tell the nurse that’s going over your questionnaire with you. That way, if they don’t have any iodine substitute, they can know that you can’t donate today and you don’t waste their and your time with the rest of the process.
Be sure to tell the nurse that’s going to do the needling part, too. They’ll use a different antibacterial on you.
I’m also allergic to the band-aids / tape that you wear afterward - if you also are, tell them THAT, too. They’ve got “tensor bandages” (like coach’s tape, only in REALLY happy neon colors) you get instead.
Most people get a beige badge of courage for this (the band-aid). I got a Hot Pink one last time. 
If you’re nervous, tell them that. They’re really super nice about it, and they’ll keep a closer eye on you, to try to help you relax, as well as making sure you don’t pass out on them or something.
Afterward, you get to go to the “canteen”, where more very nice people will serve you cookies, maybe chips, pretzels, or (if you’re REALLY lucky), homemade sandwiches, along with pop or juice. Make SURE you have some this to help with your blood sugar levels (this is always the explanation I get - if I’m wrong I’m sure someone will come in to correct me.)
Drink plenty of non-alcoholic (and preferably non-caffeinated) beverages for the next 24 - 48 hours (or more), and no heavy lifting for the next day (and if you get a REALLY nice one, you can get them to say that you can’t do laundry, or vacuuming, or sweeping, or ANYTHING for the next day. Or week, even. 
)
Donating on Tuesday the 13th. Been signed up since November.
And Aries, iffen you need some moral support, just email me. I think it’s great that you want to try to donate anyway, despite the whole needle thing.
We think it’s because she didn’t drink much beforehand. Remember to drink lots of fluids before your donation if possible.