You know there are a number of things I would like for my boat but, once and a while something catostrophic occures in the world that makes me realize just how blessed we are to have what we have.
Haiti has had its problems in the past, now nature has hit them hard.
In past natural disasters, people have come forth with can goods and blankets that never get to the folks in need due to logistics of relocating the goods. Cash travels quickly and gets the aid where it is needed the fastest.
The American Red Cross has established a text donation system that may get relief to the area the quickest. By dialing 90999 and texting "HAITI", this will donate $10. to the relief fund directly and be added to your phone bill. A neat system and ten bucks will most likely not effect our life style to much.
Cepheus dream
C36 MK I # 825
MK I Tech Editor No Mas
Steve, you are so right; thanks for the reminder to us all. We have so much to be thankful for just by the virtue of being born and rasied in this country. I have worked and visted several of the Central American countries and what you are seeing on television is so typical of their infrastructure and building cosed are nothing like we find here in the United States.
Glenn Druhot
Carpe Diem
New Bern, NC
35* 6' 10" N / 77* 2' 30" W
2001 C36, Hull #1965
Std Rig; Wing Keel; M35B
Thanks Steve. It just so happened that I am traveling this week to the frigid North East and Hilton had a deal where they would donate to the American Red Cross International Relief Fund $25 for every 10,000 Hilton Honors points you donated.
Typical office attire in Boston is coat and tie. We had a deal today that for a $5 donation you could wear jeans. The company will match the donations and send it off for the Haiti effort as well.
On the sad side, Corporate Security has warned us that there are a lot of scams going on right now in the name of the Haitian Earthquake. So please be careful and don't get taken advantage of.
Bill
s/v Lucky
1984 MK I Hull #266
San Antonio, Texas
I can't help commenting: Let's not forget that the reason Haiti is so poor, even by Latin American standards, is that France, at the point of 20 warships with 200 cannons, forced Haiti to repay them today's equivalent of nearly $23 billion as the cost of freedom. They couldn't finish paying it off until 1946!
SF Bay
1998 C36
Also don't forget that Haiti was raped by the father son team of Papa Doc and Baby Doc Duvalier who both lived in France after leaving Haiti. Unfortunately the people suffering the most now had nothing to do with them, or France.
Tom & Janis Grover
C36 #0949
SR/WK, M25XP
Midland, ON
Steve,
You point is well taken. We just threw a party this past weekend for our girl ( a Vessel re-Naming Ceremony) and it was not cheap to host 15 on board with food and copious libations. That being said, the admiral and I felt it was just plain wrong for us to throw a party for the yacht when so many were suffering just off our coast.
As part of the "party" for her we added an extra 25% to our party budget earmarked for the Red Cross relief fund for her. When we attached the 1891 Silver Dollar to her mast we were sure to let her know of her contribution to those that were suffering.
It was a bitter sweet celebration, but I'm pretty sure she was pleased with it all.
Peace,
Maze
1985 Catalina 36 Tall #404
s/v Peace of Mind
Austin, Tx.
At the Seattle Boat Show this weekend, I heard that UPS will ship old sails to Haiti for use as tents. I am replacing a 150 headsail that would be great for tenting material. Does anyone know if this is true? Or if there are any other organizations that would be interested in such donations?
Ted
"Sea-STAR" #687
Home port: Seattle, WA (Shilshole Marina)