Kartina Update Sunday, September 4

PLEASE PASS THIS ON TO ALL LIONS IN YOUR CLUB.

The governors from all districts in Louisiana and ID Lion Bobby Eichorn met yesterday at the Camp in Leesville. The plans for an organization to coordinate statewide relief efforts and the grant money from International were initiated. The statewide MD 8 effort will be coordinated out of the League Office at the camp.

An 8-O Disaster Relief Account has been set up. Money will be used to supplement the LCIF Grant and to buy necessities for those in the shelter. Please contact J. W. Harrison at 337-837-0088. Right now we are finding that many in the shelters need help refilling maintenance drugs. We have set up accounts with pharmacies and have a procedure worked out to provide these. UNLIKE OTHER ASSISTANCE AGENCIES, THE 8-O AND MD 8 DISASTER RELIEF HAS NO ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.

THE EYE FOUNDATION IS STILL ALIVE! Although access to the foundation offices is not available, the administrative tasks will be moved to another location, most likely the camp. The satellite clinics are still intact and operational. More information will be coming.

The Eye Foundation Corvette survived and will be available for raffle in January, athought the date and place of raffle may have to change.

The Big Bass Rodeo is still on at this time, however,. the venue may change. The boat raffle will continue. Right now the boat is in North Louisiana and will stay there as all festivals and events in South Louisiana have been cancelled.

The Texas Hold'em Tournament has been postponed until Spring 2006.

Please email me information on what your club and members are doing with disaster relief.

Yesterday I went to the camp and visited those sheltered there. Some were old friends, like Lions Cesar and Vicki Fonseca, Fred Balongia, and Bryan Foret. I also met many new friends like Father Ricard from New Orleans. He has over 40 of his parishoners from the inner city. You have heard many of the horror stories from the shelters, there are none here. Considering all that they have been through, sprits were high and everyone working together. YOU SHOULD BE PROUD OF YOUR CAMP. Lion Ray Cecil and his staff and volunteers from Anacoco and Leesville Lions have done a wonderful job.