Hurricane Katrina

[Kims Robot]

I got thinking about this whole devestation, and reading this post and Andy's statement really hit home:

Originally Posted by Andy Baker

Re: Gas prices and you
At this time, thousands of people could be dead in New Orleans. I could give a hoot about gas prices. We need to figure out how we can help the people of the Crescent City instead of worrying how much gas costs affect us.

Think. Pray. This is a dire time.

Andy B.

And for the life of me, I couldnt figure out how we could help right off the bat... but on my 45 minute commute this morning, I think I came up with something We could sell little ribbons (Im thinking white ribbons in the shape like the breast cancer ribbons) with pins and little logos on them, and donate all the money to the red cross. We could also make buttons... I have attached a jpg of the image, and I will see if I can upload the publisher file. You can of course make your own... but I am going to try to push this idea to all of the rochester teams... so that collectively we can make a difference!

I'll upload the ribbon logos when I have them. The idea would be to put a thin laminate over them.

[Tazlikesrobots]

Being a past hurricane survivor, the best thing we can help with is cash donations to the red cross, etc. FIRST has over 1000 active teams and if each team donated $100.00 the total combined effort would be more than 100,000. Better yet if each team was able to donate $1,000 then the total combined effort would be over a million.

I can look into setting up an account to accept donations and have the proceeds go to the red cross. Does anyone think else this is a good idea?

I hope the teams affected by the hurricane can have a FIRST season. Even if they all combined into one team, or joined other teams.

[Jack Jones]

I'd hate to see our donations go to pay high six figure salaries for the EOs of the Red Cross, or to get siphoned off toward "future disasters" the way the RC did with the 9/11 donations.

Does anyone know the relative administrative costs of participating charities? Really, does anybody know?

All I know is that back in the 60s my fellow servicemen despised the Red Cross and recommended the Salvation Army because one would charge the needy for services, while the other did not. That has stuck with me since then. I want to know who gets what.

[KarenH]

A friend of mine, professional zydeco fiddler Lisa Haley, notified me today about The Louisiana Hurricane Relief Concert in Redondo Beach, CA on Sat., Sept 10 at Aviation Park from 12 noon - 7PM.

This event will benefit victims of Hurricane Katrina in combination with the Redondo Beach Patriots Day event in memory of the victims of 9/11. Lisa is lining up several bands that play Louisiana style music, including her own band.

Suggested Admission: tax-deductible donation of $15 to the Salvation Army, Redondo Beach Chapter, to be earmarked for distribution to Salvation Army relief efforts in Louisiana.

If you live in our area, you could come and hear some fun music, maybe even dance a bit, and make a small monetary donation to help the hurricane victims.

If you live elsewhere, maybe you could help local musicians organize a similar event. I was wondering how she organized this so fast, but I see she's working with the city to "piggyback" onto an existing event. (She's played concerts for city events numerous times before; experience helps!)

Lisa's website is http://www.bluefiddle.com, but I don't think she's updated it yet to include this event.

[mpob]

Originally Posted by Kims Robot

I was thinking the same thing and havent decided if we will donate to the red cross or not... i'd probably need to get more details. They do do great things, but I have heard some horor stories (like from my secretary just today she told me of RC issues in her family). But this link has some really good suggestions if you are considering donating elsewhere: http://www.charitynavigator.org/inde...8/cpid/310.htm

After 9/11 my family donated to the RC, but we were not happy with the way that turned out. Last winter, with the tsunami, we decided to donate money to Samaritan's Purse. They followed up with newsletters about what they were doing to help. Here is an article about what they are doing right now about Katrina:

http://www.samaritanspurse.org/MP_Ar...p?ArticleID=42

I followed Kim's link and see that they have a 4-star rating! cool!
Thanks Kim !

We don't have to feel helpless about this tragedy, the best thing we can do for the victims of Katrina is to pray, today and everyday.

--Mike O'Brien

[Joe Matt]

For those who use the iTunes Music Store, Apple has added a one-click button to donate money to the RC, between $5-$200.

I feel so helpless, and guilty, in my concoon at Dayton, while some people are living with dead bodies around them and 20 feet deep water.

[Jack Jones]

The best way to help right now is still a cash donation - then whatever charity you donate to can purchase the materials and supplies that are critically needed and get them to the people that need them.

By all means, we need to do it right now. We also need to think about what else we can do down the road. When all the initial relief work is done and the last bit of water has been pumped back to where it belongs, we’re going to see that there’s not much left for many to come home too. Huge numbers of people have been displaced for a very long time, many of them permanently.

The State of Michigan is asking local districts to assess community resources in order to assist in relocation of the students and their families. I would hope that all the states would soon do the same, if they haven’t done so already. We in the FIRST community can help return a sense of normalcy by opening our arms to the displaced students and their families. It may be a drop in the bucket considering the magnitude of this disaster, but that’s what it’s going to take for America to fully recover – each of us doing what ever we can.

[Kims Robot]

So I was getting myself all worked up driving home, thinking that I had heard nothing of other countries helping the US... when the tsunami hit, we were probably the very first to send aid, when problems arise around the world we are always there, but where was the world when Katrina hit??

Of course I was able to prove myself wrong (along the "search before you post", "search before you get too worked up") And there, right on CNN today was an amazing article on how many other countries have sent or offered to send help. It was amazing to see the world helping us when we needed it the most: http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/09/06/int...ows/index.html

Its nice to know its really not so lonely here in the USA Thanks world!

[sburro]

As a member of team 663 out of the university of lowell and whitinsville I would like to extend a hand to any firster who traveled up to mass and would like to get back on a first team. just send me an e-mail and I will see what I can do.

[JackN]

Great job 75, you must have washed a lot of cars! That puts the total up to $1843.79 we have almost broke the $2000 mark between three teams!!! Let's hear from some other teams!

[KathieK]

Originally Posted by sburro

As a member of team 663 out of the university of lowell and whitinsville I would like to extend a hand to any firster who traveled up to mass and would like to get back on a first team. just send me an e-mail and I will see what I can do.

The same goes for me, anyone who ended up in Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, let me know your whereabouts and I will try and place you with a FIRST team...

[maltz1881]

Team 364 you are amazing. I only wish that we could all be as strong as what you are. Our prayers are with each and every one of you. I am sure that FIRST will rise to the challenge to help the teams that were affected out. If it were up to me you would receive your kit and 1st competition for free. Goodness knows that you are going through enough problems then trying to raise $6,000.00 for that when some have no homes. Good luck and God Bless each of you

[LSevcik]

I think one of the best ways we can help Team Fusion is by assisting them with replacing machines in their machine shop. The money factor of the competition can be worked out. There are enough grants around to take care of that. This includes such grants as NASA grants, Houston Robotics grants etc. What #364 does need is tools! I would like to hear feedback from any of you regarding this. If you have a used drill press, lathe, hand tools, hand drills etc let Dave Fava know. He needs all of these items.

I look forward to hearing from you and your help in getting Team Fusion to the Lone Star Regional.

[Jverdon]

I am one of the 5 members of Team Fusion that lost everything, I lived a block off the beach and my home was under water, but I am very lucky no one that I know was lost durring the storm.

I think that a big way for me to deal with everything will be FIRST I can already tell that it will be a way to escape, for me, and I can't wait for the season to begin.

I just want to thank all of you for all of your kind words and your generosity. That is what we need to keep going thru out the day.

Thank you all for everything.

We will be seeing you in Houston and hopefully Atlanta.

[vadyr]

Hey everyone. First of all, my heart goes out to those who are suffering from this disaster, and my team shares the same concerns. That is basically why I'm writing this. Our team, 103, would really like to help out the teams down there and everyone else who was affected by the hurricane. We were wondering if there was anything specifically that could be done. (For example: I lived in NY, on Long Island, up until i moved to PA a few years ago, and when 9/11 happened, my mom and I and a few other people set up this huge drive for supplies at the school and we had that stock up for a few days and sorted and organized it all, and then we rented a truck and brought it to a warehouse that was being rented out to distribute the stuff to whervere it needed to go. We also helped out at the warehouse for a few days. I was wondering if something like that would be helpful; although our area is very rural and we might not get a big turnout.) So if anyone has an ideas, let me know so we can get started with that. Thanks.