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After the devastation of hurricane Katrina was known, the AAW's Board of Directors put a fund raising and distribution program in place to benefit AAW members who have suffered significant losses due to this and future natural disasters. The disaster relief committee consisting of Ron Alexander, John Hill, and Malcolm Tibbetts called for donations to help AAW members who were victims of Katrina. Many AAW chapters "passed the hat" and Binh Pho asked 38 of his friends to donate turnings, to be auctioned through eBay. Very generous artists from our woodturning community responded by donating 39 world-class pieces. The auction raised $54,439.20. Additionally, individual AAW members and local chapters donated over $10,000 in cash, which has been added to the auction proceeds to aid disaster victims who are AAW members. In the mean time, local AAW chapter Presidents from the Gulf Coast area were asked to identify members who may have been affected by hurricane Katrina. After a lot of legwork by all those involved, eight individuals from the Gulf Coast area were identified...all suffering total or significant losses of their homes, jobs or businesses. Acting on this information, the AAW's disaster relief committee has signed checks over to these victims valued at between $3,400 and $8,000 each...$55,000 total to date...all made possible by your generosity and membership in the AAW. Here's some heartfelt feedback from those who have been helped by your generosity: ***************************************** Letter # 1..."Dear Angelo, and all the Board of Directors and Staff of the AAW, have just received your fantastic and extraordinarily generous gift from the AAW Emergency Relief Fund and I am at a loss for words to adequately express my gratitude. I have written a letter and will post it, but we have had very disrupted postal service since the storm, so I am attaching a copy to this email in the hopes you will receive it much sooner. I would like to meet you and those who have worked so hard on our behalf. I plan on attending the Symposium in Louisville, and hopefully I can thank you and others in person there. Til then, thank you from the bottom of my heart for the very generous and timely gift. Now my shop rebuilding effort can begin! Sincerely yours, James (Jimmy) G." Letter # 2..."This is in response to the request to notify the AAW that I received my check from the AAW Relief Fund. It is hard to express in words the appreciation I have for AAW and my fellow AAW members. The money will go a long way to help me and my family start our lives over again. Thank you again. Dennis M., Houston, Texas" Letter # 3..."Just minutes ago I received a call from Juan G. I wish it were possible to share with you and the others at AAW who made it possible the sound of joy and the choked up thankfulness I heard in his voice. He had received a check from the relief fund and was hard pressed to express his appreciation to AAW and the possibilities they had put back into his life. Please share his and my thanks with everyone"...message from: Tom Bennett, President of Azalea Woodturners, AAW chapter based in Mobile, Alabama. Letter # 4..."My name is Ben... This emailing is from my daughter's home in St. Francisville, LA. I received a grant from the AAW Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund. My wife, Janet, called me from Kenner, LA last night and notified me of the check along with the content of the letter. She couldn't make out the name at the bottom of the letter, so please forward this to that individual. My original intent was to call today on the telephone, but I wasn't sure I could keep it together. So, I am taking the coward's way out. I will be 67 years old this month and no individual or organization has ever done anything for me and my wife like this before. I am speechless. To say THANK YOU just doesn't seem to be enough. This money will be used to offset several deductibles, electrical, and plumbing building code upgrades that are required. It's a shame that there is so many people capitalizing on other people's grief through their products and/or services. In the short time that I have been turning, I am proud to be a member of the AAW and our local chapter, The Bayou Woodturners. My wife and I really appreciate this financial help. It will go a long way in helping us recover from this disaster. Once again, thanking you very much, I remain. Sincerely, Ben..." ***************************************** With the success of this initial program under our belt, further fund raising is needed to deal with future disaster relief efforts. You are strongly encouraged to contribute to this tax-deductible fund. 100% of your donation will go to AAW members who have suffered a significant loss due to natural disasters like the Katrina hurricane. Mail your check or money order to: AAW Disaster Relief Fund |