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I found the most recent e-mail from Nevergall at ELCA. | QUOTE | Hello everyone!
This is a follow-up to my e-mail from a month ago. I spent three days on the Gulf Coast last week, and I have good news to report. There is amazing hope and healing that can be seen and felt along the Gulf Coast. And at the same time, there is so much work left to be done. Would you like to help?
As I mentioned in the last e-mail, we need more skilled volunteers now that we have moved beyond the relief and clean-up stage of the response into the repair and rebuilding of homes. We recommend that all groups plan on having one skilled volunteer for every 6-8 less-experienced volunteers. A skilled volunteer is someone with a construction or trade background that can lead groups of less-skilled volunteers on a job site. I realize this is a difficulty for some groups, but it is vital to our work being efficient and effective. One school has talked to qualified members of its campus physical plant about coming along on the trip... great idea!
Also, we recommend that all volunteers have some hands-on time prior to their trip. One way of gaining this experience would be to partner your group with a local home improvement store to do some training sessions on skills like hanging drywall, shingling a roof, painting, basic electric and plumbing, etc. Many Home Depot or Lowe's stores offer these sorts of training courses for free, and they would love your partnership because it brings them good publicity.
One question that has been raised by some campus ministries is in regards to the "Celebrate!" ESCM event in New Orleans during winter break. Any groups interested in doing a pre- or post-Celebrate work trip, instead of a spring break trip, are encouraged to sign-up at www.ldr.org/volunteer. If there are any specific questions about this process, please do not hesitate to e-mail or call me.
About 20 schools have already replied (Thank You!) about participating in this year's effort. I realize the school year is still fairly young, but we would like to do as much planning now as possible. Please try to reply ASAP with the following information if you are interested in participating:
1) Yes, we are interested in “What a Relief!” - I will not remove anyone from this mailing list unless told specifically to do so.
2) Our spring break begins on _____ and ends on _____. - It is assumed that your group will arrive at your site on Sunday and leave on Friday/Saturday.
3) Our preferred state would be _____. - Help is needed in Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. A preference is not guaranteed.
4) Our main contact person is _____ and their e-mail address is _____. - If you do NOT plan on organizing a group, please provide the name and e-mail of someone at your institution who might be interested.
I am available if you have any questions or concerns so please feel free to call or e-mail. This is going to be another amazing year of service by your groups... I just know it.
Thanks!
Mike
Michael Nevergall
Associate for Program Interpretation
Lutheran Disaster Response
ELCA Domestic Disaster Response
(800) 638-3522 -- ext. 2863
michael.nevergall@elca.org |
Here is a rough of the response. It is not sent. Waiting on confirmation from our team.
| QUOTE | 1) Yes, we (West Virginia University) are interested in “What a Relief!”
2) Our spring break begins on March 24 and ends on April 1.
3) Our preferred state would be Mississippi--Biloxi preferred.
4) Our main contact person is Zach Kochy at Disaster@LutheranMountaineer.org; our second contact is Matthew Riegel at Chaplain@LutheranMountaineer.org. |
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Spring Break '07
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