September
2, 2005
Message
from District Governor Bob Watson
Once
again, the Rotarians of District 5340 have heeded the call.
In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, my phone has not stopped
ringing and my e-mail box never empties with offers from
Rotarians to provide whatever assistance they can. In light
of that, and with a great deal of input from the club
presidents of our district, I am proposing the following
approaches.
President
Carl-Wilhelm had initially suggested that we send money to
the American Red Cross because of the magnitude of the
problem and the inability of local Rotarians to even get
into the affected areas. The American Red Cross is certainly
one avenue that you can provide support to.
Yesterday,
I was finally able to get through to one of the district
governors of the two devastated districts in that regions.
District Governor Dan Chauvin of District 6200 has
established a foundation to start providing immediate relief
in his district and the other more damaged District 6840. He
is asking that checks be made payable to ROTARY
INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT 6200 FOUNDATION, INC., and that they
be sent to Rotary District 6200 - Janice Bradshaw, PO Box
44365, Lafayette, Louisiana, 70504.
One
of the things that makes Rotarians so great is that we feel
the need to do something "right now." I understand
that urge and applaud all of you for it. It is important
though to recognize the severity of this calamity and that
your decisions to help will be directed to where they can do
the most good immediately. It is with that in mind, that I
am recommending the District 6200 Foundation as an
additional avenue.
I
have suggested that your presidents support either the
American Red Cross or the District 6200 Foundation
initially. Please understand that club-to-club donations
will possibly not be as effective in the beginning. I hope
that each of you, as you make these decisions, will seek
input from your own club as to what they are doing. Your
presidents have been addressing these issues for the past
two days or longer.
District
Governor Dan has asked that all of you remember his
neighbors in your prayers and understand that this is not a
problem that will be solved in the next week or so. He has
also asked me to tell you that the reports you are seeing of
the violence is being vastly overstated and that he wishes
that you could see the bigger picture of the dedication of
the rescuers and the incredible acts of kindness and
selflessness that are being exhibited in a thousand
different ways each and every day.
Let's
make every dollar count. If you feel the need to look for
other opportunities to help, please refer to the Rotary
International website at www.rotary.org.
Yours
In Rotary Service,
Bob
