Just thought I would share this. Got this from the Louisiana Bird Listserve
and thought maybe some birding clubs in Virginia would like to help our fellow
birders who have lost everything. Contact James Van Remsen directly.
Katie Simmons
Annandale, VA
kt_simmons@xxxxxxxxx
Van Remsen <najames@xxxxxxx> wrote:
Date: Fri, 2 Sep 2005 13:58:31 -0500
From: Van Remsen <najames@xxxxxxx>
Subject: [LABIRD-L] birder-to-birder Katrina relief
To: LABIRD-L@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
LABIRD: It seems highly likely that some of our comrades in SE LA and
coastal MS have lost everything. Let's hope that the roster is
miraculously short. Nonetheless, let's start thinking about a relief
effort. I suspect that FEMA/Red Cross etc. will eventually take care
of the basic needs in terms of long-term housing and clothing,
although we can do our part in terms of temp housing and donations.
I suspect that an appropriate niche for us might be things like field
gear and bird books. This stuff is obviously low on their immediate
priority list but may mean a lot fairly soon to those who have lost
it all.
Unlike the federal agencies who were supposed to have a plan for this
predictable disaster, I don't have a blueprint we can follow in terms
of what we can do with LABIRD resources ... I'm basically thinking
"out loud," so feedback welcomed.
I have already heard from Mike Busam of the Ohio Ornithological
Society in terms of wondering how they can help. Perhaps those of
you with birder contacts in other states can get those states to at
least start thinking about a similar effort. I know that our great
neighbors in Texas and Arkansas have especially big hearts.
It is unlikely that New Orleans area folks will have a clear idea of
their losses soon, but Slidell-Lacombe and coastal MS folks may
already know where they stand.
--
Van Remsen
najames@xxxxxxx
LSU Museum of Natural Science
Foster Hall 119, LSU
Baton Rouge, LA 70803
Katie Simmons
Annandale, VA
kt_simmons@xxxxxxxxx
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