The outpouring from D6900 Rotarians in support of disaster relief has been incredible- and your gifts have gone right to work!
ShelterBox kits have arrived in Haiti and Rotarians there are delivering the kits to victims. Additional kits are being assembled non-stop and will soon be on the way. Despite what you have heard about aid not getting to the victims, we are assured that the ShelterBox kits are moving to those in need. Rotarians are there and seeing to the distribution. You can be very proud of our ShelterBox response.
Alpharetta Rotarian Wayne Robinson (right) at work
in Haiti with Response Team partner.
I have been in touch with RI
Director Eric Adamson and with Past RI Director Barry Rassin, of
Nassau, Bahamas, who is doing much to coordinate Rotary's relief
efforts in Haiti. Both are encouraging us now to support the Donor
Advised Fund at The Rotary Foundation.
"Rotarians are working hard and fast to get help to those in Haiti,"
says Rassin, "We're at the same time working on long-term efforts."
Barry e-mailed me today, "Our big need will come down the road to
rebuild the city and so we are strongly urging support through the
Donor Advised Fund at TRF which will be a major source of our
rebuilding efforts."
The Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund , a donor advised
fund within The Rotary Foundation, has been established to streamline
the flow of contributions from Rotarians looking to assist victims of
the earthquake in Haiti. The fund will be directed by Rotarian account
holders. The account holders will work with local Rotary clubs and
districts, as well as emergency relief agencies, to meet the most
pressing needs of people in affected areas. Account holders will make
grant recommendations after consulting with District 7020 Governor
Errol Alberga or his designee. Funds will be used in the relief effort
and for projects providing longer-term support and development (e.g.
funding for Rotary Foundation Matching Grant projects). Click here to learn more.
An Update on District 6900 Disaster Relief
The generosity of District 6900 Rotarians has never been greater, nor more desperately needed. Many thanks to each of you who have so generously given this year to disasters in the District and now to the efforts to help our fellow citizens of the world in Haiti. It never ceases to amaze me how benevolent the Rotarians of this District are. In times of a struggling economy you still continue to give and give and give.
Disaster relief has unfortunately been a topic on everyone's minds this year. It started with the rain - then flooding all over the Atlanta area and especially in South Cobb, Austell, Lilburn, Villa Rica, Douglasville, Bremen, and Carrollton - and I am sure there are other areas I missed. The loss of life was tragic and the numbers of people displaced from their homes amazing. The Rotarians of the District responded promptly and generously.
Here are the numbers for the flood relief effort within the District:
Donations --We received $19,202.78 We paid out 21,500.00. That leaves us a balance of $202.78. We have helped 41 families and supplied $1,000 of bottled water.
The way we worked the flooding disaster was the same as we used in the flood of 1994 that caused so much damage in the southern part of the District along the Flint River and the tornado of 2007 that destroyed part of Americus. The methodology was created and put in place by District Governor Barry Smith in 1994.
We must remember that Rotary International and our Rotary District are not first responders. We give money to first responders and to those who need it. With that the District has a grant request form that is administered by the club presidents in areas affected by a disaster. They have it filled out by those in need stating their needs and then verify that need by signing the form and sending it to the District Disaster Relief Chair - in this case me. After review, I forward the grant request form to the District Treasurer and request a check be made out to the individual in need. So the 41 families helped in the flooding received checks to be used for their needs - these checks were delivered by club presidents.
One club in the District - Griffin Daybreak has used their District Simplified Grant to help families through the Rotary Club of Douglas County. That is an ongoing effort and is being coordinated by the Club's Assistant Governor David Gallaway of Newnan.
The recent disaster in Haiti proves again that Rotary is not organized to be a first responder. After consultation with Governor Roy and discussion of our options, the District decided to send shelter boxes to Haiti immediately and in Honor of the District Governor in charge of Haiti. Donations are coming in to the District and more shelter boxes are on the way to Haiti - paid for by District Rotarians.
Continue to do what you do so well - give! Remember, The Future of Rotary is in Your Hands!
Steve Stanfield District Governor 2006-2007 Disaster Relief Chair District 6900 USA
The generosity of District 6900 Rotarians has never been greater, nor more desperately needed. Many thanks to each of you who have so generously given this year to disasters in the District and now to the efforts to help our fellow citizens of the world in Haiti. It never ceases to amaze me how benevolent the Rotarians of this District are. In times of a struggling economy you still continue to give and give and give.
Disaster relief has unfortunately been a topic on everyone's minds this year. It started with the rain - then flooding all over the Atlanta area and especially in South Cobb, Austell, Lilburn, Villa Rica, Douglasville, Bremen, and Carrollton - and I am sure there are other areas I missed. The loss of life was tragic and the numbers of people displaced from their homes amazing. The Rotarians of the District responded promptly and generously.
We must remember that Rotary International and our Rotary District are not first responders. We give money to first responders and to those who need it. With that the District has a grant request form that is administered by the club presidents in areas affected by a disaster. They have it filled out by those in need stating their needs and then verify that need by signing the form and sending it to the District Disaster Relief Chair - in this case me. After review, I forward the grant request form to the District Treasurer and request a check be made out to the individual in need. So the 41 families helped in the flooding received checks to be used for their needs - these checks were delivered by club presidents.
The recent disaster in Haiti proves again that Rotary is not organized to be a first responder. After consultation with Governor Roy and discussion of our options, the District decided to send shelter boxes to Haiti immediately and in Honor of the District Governor in charge of Haiti. Donations are coming in to the District and more shelter boxes are on the way to Haiti - paid for by District Rotarians.
Continue to do what you do so well - give! Remember, The Future of Rotary is in Your Hands!