For a week we have been seeing the images of devastation in the aftermath of the Haiti Earthquake. It has been called the worst humanitarian crisis the UN has ever faced, even eclipsing the Tsunami of 2004 in its impact. Worse because of the crushing poverty and inadequate public infrastructure that was present before the earthquake, and the fact that any semblance of local authority, and critical infrastructure have been obliterated.
HSAA made a substantial contribution ($50,000) to disaster relief following the tsunami, and following it, members approved a budget line item for humanitarian relief. In the 2009-10 budget year, $20,000 was allocated to this line item, and that amount was sent to the Red Cross, designated for international relief, in late 2009.
Your board will be meeting January 28 and 29, at which point it will discuss what, if any, further contribution to make.
In the meantime, I urge every one of us to dig as deeply as we can to help to mitigate this tragedy. In addition to the immediate need to provide the very basic necessities of life, rebuilding will take years, if not decades. The federal government matching funding can multiply your net contribution up to fourfold! (If you contribute more than $200 to charity in the year)
In the meantime, our thougths are with the people of Haiti, and their families, and most particularly HSAA members who have family or other connections to Haiti.