Sept. 2nd, 2005 -Use DSG funds
for disaster relief efforts
In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina,
many Rotarians are interested in developing projects to alleviate
the suffering and hardship of individuals in the affected communities.
District Simplified Grants (DSG) are one means by which
Rotarians can be actively involved in disaster relief efforts.
DSGs are administered by district leadership and can be used
to support local or international humanitarian projects that
are conducted by Rotarians.
Many of the needed items, such as basic necessities
and medical care, can be provided through a District Simplified
Grant. Non-financial participation and direct oversight of grant
funds is essential for all DSG-funded projects. DSG funds can
be used for disaster relief efforts as long as Rotarians clearly
identify the proposed grant-funded expenditures and Rotarian
participation. DSG funds cannot be used as straight donations
to a disaster-relief organization for unspecified purposes.
RI encourages the development of humanitarian projects
in response to the disaster that meet DSG criteria. There are
many in need of assistance following Hurricane Katrina, and
RI believes Rotarians will rise to the challenge to identify
the needs and work to alleviate them.
To determine the availability of DSG funds in your
district, contact a district Rotary Foundation committee chairperson
or a district grants subcommittee chairperson. E-mail the humanitarian
staff to discuss the eligibility of disaster relief projects.
Read more on District
Simplified Grants.
Sept. 2nd, 2005 -In the wake
of Hurricane Katrina, one of the worst natural disasters in
U.S. history, Rotary clubs and districts from throughout the
affected Gulf Coast region and beyond sprang into action to
collect necessary food and supplies, raise money, and provide
shelter to refugees. Based on preliminary reports coming in
to Rotary International, Rotarians are responding en-masse to
RI President Stenhammar's call to help communities affected
by the disaster.
Districts in Louisiana and Missisippi have led the
charge. Throughout out the area Rotarians are doing what they
can to ensure the most affected regions are stable.
District 6820 (Missisippi) Governor Stuart Vance reported
via e-mail that Rotary districts 6820 and 6840 (Louisiana) established
a relief fund and have the mechanics in place to collect money.
Funds will be available to all affected. Donations may be sent
to Rotary Katrina Fund, Bill Simmons, District Treasurer, 627
Sherwood Road, Starkville, MS 39759.
District 6200 (Louisiana) Governor Don Chauvin reports
that the district committee is holding a meeting on Friday,
2 September, to develop a course of action. Chauvin noted that
the District 6200 Foundation will be accepting monetary contributions
for hurricane aid. Checks may be mailed to Janice Bradshaw,
P.O. Box 44365, Lafayette, LA, 70504, USA.
Rotary clubs on Marco Island in District 6960 (Florida)
are collecting donations as well. Rotary club secretaries and
presidents can consult their Official Directory for club contact
information.
In Tennessee, Rotarians from the Rotary Clubs of Oak
Ridge-Breakfast and Oak Ridge have parked a truck at a local
Wal-Mart and are seeking donations of hygiene and health necessities.
Water, paper products, personal hygiene products, diapers, baby
formula, and canned foods are being accepted in a weekend-long
effort. Working with the American Red Cross, the group will
bring the truck to a designated relief center in the affected
area.
Farther from the immediate fray, the Rotary Club of
Decatur, Illinois, is collecting summer clothes in an effort
to meet basic needs of victims. Donation centers are being set
up at a local mall and radio station.
For more information on relief efforts and how you
can help, please visit RI's World Community Service Disaster
Relief page.
Sept. 2nd, 2005 - Gulf Coast
districts set up Katrina relief accounts, ask for financial
help
Even while reeling from the catastrophe and tragedy
of Katrina, Rotarian survivors are doing their best to cope
and set up relief accounts.
District 6840 Governor Neil Alford, who days ago evacuated his
home in Slidell, Louisiana, is now sheltered in Tupelo, Mississippi
— some 250 miles away. His district, which includes the
city of New Orleans, has been decimated by the disaster.
"We do not have [electrical] power in any of my
district, so communications have almost been reduced to zero,"
said Alford.
However, Alford is working his way around the chaos.
He now has a new mobile phone number and is teaming with other
Rotarians in districts 6200 and 6820 to get funds and aid to
those in desperate need.
"We're getting calls from Rotarians throughout
the U.S. and even Central America asking how they can help,"
said Alford. "What we need most are funds right now."
District 6200 Governor Donald P. Chauvin, located in
Abbeville, Louisiana, echoed these concerns.
"Our most pressing need is feeding these people
and giving them water. But at this point, it's much easier for
Rotarians to send us funds so that we can buy water locally
and distribute it where the greatest need exists, rather than
for them to ship us product," said Chauvin.
Funds can be sent to Rotary International District
6200 Foundation Inc., P.O. Box 44365 Lafayette LA 70504. For
more information e-mail Joe
Hidalgo of the Rotary Club of Opelousas-Sunrise.
Another fund, established by districts 6840 and 6820
(central Mississippi) is accepting wire transfers. Donations
may be sent to Rotary Katrina Fund, Bill Simmons, District Treasurer,
627 Sherwood Rd., Starkville, MS 39759; wire transfers: Route
#065300486, Account #55360036. For more information and guidelines,
contact Past District 6820 Governor
Bill Foster.
Chauvin said that in numerous instances, Rotary clubs
have joined forces with other service clubs to raise money and
collect food and water.
"People who are coming out of New Orleans and
other devastated communities won't have homes for a very long
time," he said.
Donor advised fund accepting contributions for
Hurricane Katrina relief
Sept. 2nd, 2005 - Rotary zones 29 and 30 have
established the Katrina Relief Fund, a donor advised fund (DAF)
with The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International, to help
streamline the flow of contributions from Rotarians looking
to assist victims of the hurricane disaster in the southern
United States.
A DAF is an innovative way for individuals and Rotary-affiliated
groups, such as clubs, districts, and zones, to create a separate
investment account with the Foundation that is earmarked exclusively
for charitable giving.
Comprising 24 Rotary districts in 12 southern and Midwestern
U.S. states, zones 29 and 30 include all the areas devastated
by Hurricane Katrina.
A committee identified by the leadership in the two
zones will work with local Rotary clubs and districts, as well
as emergency relief agencies to meet the most pressing needs
of people in the affected areas.
Checks should be earmarked for "Katrina Relief
Fund" (in the MEMO line) and made payable to "TRF
DAF". All checks should be addressed and mailed to: Mr.
Clint McGowan, TRF DAF, The Ayco Company, 855 Route 146, Suite
120, Clifton Park, NY 12065
Contributions to this account can only be accepted
in U.S. dollars and are tax deductible for U.S. citizens. No
Rotary Foundation recognition will be awarded for contributions
to the Katrina Relief Fund.
Directors of the fund are RI Director Robert A Stuart
Jr.; Immediate Past RI Vice President John Germ; Duane Sterling,
a past general manager of the Foundation; Donald Collette, a
past Regional Rotary Foundation Coordinator, and Kenneth Schuppert,
a Major Gift Advisor for the Foundation.
Together, the directors bring outstanding experience
and qualifications related to their responsibilities as custodians
of the relief fund, including law, engineering, electrical power
systems, management of disaster programs, and fund supervision.
Sept. 1, 2005 Texas District 5890
was spearheading relief efforts before Hurricane Katrina hit
the Gulf Coast.
In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, one
of the worst natural disasters in U.S. history, Rotary clubs
and districts from throughout the affected Gulf Coast region
and beyond sprang into action to collect necessary food and
supplies, raise money, and provide shelter to refugees.
Based on preliminary reports coming in to Rotary International,
Rotarians are responding en-masse to RI President Stenhammar's
call to help communities affected by the disaster.
" I am saddened to hear of the recent hurricane
devastation along the Gulf Coast and send my sincere condolences
to the communities affected by this disaster. During this time
of need, many Rotarians have contacted Rotary International
World Headquarters inquiring how they can help. In order to
allow Rotarians the opportunity to assist your communities,
please contact us with information regarding any local relief
efforts being undertaken by clubs in your area so that we may
share this information with the Rotary community via the World
Community Service Disaster Relief section of the RI Web site.
A description of your project, including Rotarian
contact information for local relief efforts, may be sent to
the World Community Service program coordinator in the International
Service and RI Awards section. Rotarians wishing to contribute
funds and/or donated goods to hurricane victims will be able
to visit the Web site to view a posting of all club and district
relief efforts. As always, when organizing your club or district's
response to a local or international disaster, we recommend
that Rotarians work closely with an experienced disaster relief
organization such as the International Federation of the Red
Cross. You have the support of Rotarians and RI staff around
the world as you face this disaster". Sincerely, Carl-Wilhelm
Stenhammar, RI Pres
Louisiana districts 6190 and 6200 have led the charge.
District 6190 Governor Bob Maloy reported that Rotarians are
engaged in relief efforts throughout New Orleans, a city that
has been devastated by flooding, leaving thousands without shelter,
food, or water.
District 6200 Governor Don Chauvin reports that the
district committee is holding a meeting on Friday, 2 September,
to develop a course of action. Chauvin noted that the District
6200 Foundation will be accepting monetary contributions for
hurricane aid. Checks may be mailed to Janice Bradshaw, P.O.
Box 44365, Lafayette, LA, 70504, USA.
Rotary clubs on Marco Island in District 6960 (Florida)
are collecting donations as well. Rotary club secretaries and
presidents can consult their Official Directory for club contact
information.
In Tennessee, Rotarians from the Rotary Clubs of Oak
Ridge-Breakfast and Oak Ridge have parked a truck at a local
Wal-Mart and are seeking donations of hygiene and health necessities.
Water, paper products, personal hygiene products, diapers, baby
formula, and canned foods are being accepted in a weekend-long
effort. Working with the American Red Cross, the group will
bring the truck to a designated relief center in the affected
area.
Farther from the immediate fray, the Rotary Club of
Decatur, Illinois, is collecting summer clothes in an effort
to meet basic needs of victims. Donation centers are being set
up at a local mall and radio station.
Prior to the hurricane, District Governor Charles A.
Thorp contacted neighboring districts to determine needs and
sent out a challenge to each of the Rotarians in his district
to give US$20 each for the cause. "We
are now collecting money hand over fist," says Thorp. "People
have gone way beyond the challenge."
Thorp says the money will be dispersed to District
6200 to steward the funds where they are needed most. To contribute,
send checks to Rotary 5890 Charities, 121 E. 16th St., Houston,
TX 77008. Rotarians interested in collaborating with the district
may contact DG Charles
Thorp.
Thorp also reported that clubs throughout the district
have formed committees to collect food, money, and clothing
in anticipation of the 25,000-30,000 refugees en route to the
Astrodome. On 11 September, clubs in the district will run a
weeklong blood drive.
Rotarians from around the region and the world are
teaming up with 5890. Rotarians in Florida will send two, 60-container
loads of food and clothing to the district, while British and
Irish clubs will send two shipments of 100 Shelterboxes —
portable shelters that house 1,000 each — to help displaced
communities in Lafayette and Baton Rouge, Louisiana. View
Shelterbox website.
The Rotary Club of Greenfield, Indiana, raised more
than US$1,800 at their weekly Rotary club meeting. The money
has been earmarked for relief efforts of District 5890 to help
refugees headed toward the Astrodome, now being used as a shelter.
"Things are moving very fast," says
Thorp. "The generosity of people has been amazing."
Portions of thse articles written by Joseph Derr
and David Schober, R.I. News, Article and pictures courtesy
of eClub NY1
