Attention: TDR Forum Junkies 
Steve St.Laurent
Staff Alumni
Many of you have asked how the TDR can help ease the suffering in the Gulf region as a result of Hurricane Katrina. We have discussed
this and agree that the best thing we can do is:
1. Provide a financial contribution to the American Red Cross on behalf of the Turbo Diesel Register, its staff and its members. If you are interested in making a donation as well, information can be found at: http://www.redcross.org/article/0,1072,0_312_4498,00.html .
2. Establish a temporary Forum to allow TDR Members to post contact information for relief organizations they have first-hand experience with and recommend. This forum will remain active for as long as it is productive. I would expect it to close within six to twelve months.
3. Encourage TDR Members to help by making it easy to get information on <u>organizations established to deliver relief to disaster victims</u>. Someone on staff pointed me toward the following article, which I thought was very insightful:
* * *
Excerpted from Mellody Hobson: How to Help Hurricane Katrina Victims (Want
to Help but Don't Know Where to Turn? http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/MellodyHobson/story?id=1083958&page=1 ):
According to preliminary estimates by Munich Re, the world's largest reinsurer, Hurricane Katrina caused $15 billion to $20 billion in insured damages.
What can I do to help? Most relief organizations are soliciting monetary donations as money can be dispatched quickly to devastated areas. For example, many relief organizations will be issuing cash vouchers to victims. That said, with literally thousands of relief organizations worldwide, trying to find one that meets your specific criteria can be daunting. The Internet is a great place to begin your search, but be warned - a Web address is not a guarantee of legitimacy. In an effort to provide a safe and straightforward way to find legitimate organizations on the Web, the federal government - specifically the U. S. Agency for International Development and the U. S. Department of Health - sponsors a site with links to agencies dedicated to the relief efforts. This Web site, www.usafreedomcorps.gov, is an excellent starting point. You also may want to visit the following sites which provide a variety of details about thousands of charities, such as the individual goals of a charity, its tax status as well as financial data.
- American Institute of Philanthropy: www.charitywatchdog.org .
- BBB Wise Giving Council: www.give.org .
- Charity Navigator: www.charitynavigator.org .
- GuideStar: www.guidestar.org .
- The Internal Revenue Service: www.irs.gov .
* * *
I would like to personally thank Timothy Hannan (a. k. a. Pumperdude), for
acting as a catalyst to get us involved quickly. Our hearts and our prayers
are with you, Tim. And they are with the people of the Gulf region.
Robin
TDR Admin
this and agree that the best thing we can do is:
1. Provide a financial contribution to the American Red Cross on behalf of the Turbo Diesel Register, its staff and its members. If you are interested in making a donation as well, information can be found at: http://www.redcross.org/article/0,1072,0_312_4498,00.html .
2. Establish a temporary Forum to allow TDR Members to post contact information for relief organizations they have first-hand experience with and recommend. This forum will remain active for as long as it is productive. I would expect it to close within six to twelve months.
3. Encourage TDR Members to help by making it easy to get information on <u>organizations established to deliver relief to disaster victims</u>. Someone on staff pointed me toward the following article, which I thought was very insightful:
* * *
Excerpted from Mellody Hobson: How to Help Hurricane Katrina Victims (Want
to Help but Don't Know Where to Turn? http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/MellodyHobson/story?id=1083958&page=1 ):
According to preliminary estimates by Munich Re, the world's largest reinsurer, Hurricane Katrina caused $15 billion to $20 billion in insured damages.
What can I do to help? Most relief organizations are soliciting monetary donations as money can be dispatched quickly to devastated areas. For example, many relief organizations will be issuing cash vouchers to victims. That said, with literally thousands of relief organizations worldwide, trying to find one that meets your specific criteria can be daunting. The Internet is a great place to begin your search, but be warned - a Web address is not a guarantee of legitimacy. In an effort to provide a safe and straightforward way to find legitimate organizations on the Web, the federal government - specifically the U. S. Agency for International Development and the U. S. Department of Health - sponsors a site with links to agencies dedicated to the relief efforts. This Web site, www.usafreedomcorps.gov, is an excellent starting point. You also may want to visit the following sites which provide a variety of details about thousands of charities, such as the individual goals of a charity, its tax status as well as financial data.
- American Institute of Philanthropy: www.charitywatchdog.org .
- BBB Wise Giving Council: www.give.org .
- Charity Navigator: www.charitynavigator.org .
- GuideStar: www.guidestar.org .
- The Internal Revenue Service: www.irs.gov .
* * *
I would like to personally thank Timothy Hannan (a. k. a. Pumperdude), for
acting as a catalyst to get us involved quickly. Our hearts and our prayers
are with you, Tim. And they are with the people of the Gulf region.
Robin
TDR Admin
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