[Squaredancing] Re: Square Dancers for Kartina Relief

[Jim Maczko]

September 4, 2005

An open letter to all dancers worldwide:

By now we have all seen the devastation left in the wake of hurricane 
Katrina. Thousands of people along the Gulf Coast have been left homeless. 
These people need shelter, food, and clothing.

It is time for square dancers world wide to unite. Together, we can make a 
difference. Over the years, square dancers have shown themselves to be some 
of the most caring people in the world. There is not time to establish a new 
non-profit corporation for square dancers to donate to, so Grand Square 
Inc., a US 501(c)(3) non-profit foundation, has volunteered to funnel the 
monies collected. Make your checks out to Grand Square Inc., and CLEARLY 
mark on the check that the money is to be earmarked for the Square Dancers 
for Katrina Fund. All donations are 100% tax deductible and ALL of the 
monies collected will be hand-delivered to the appropriate charitable 
organization(s). If you like, you can donate using VISA, MASTERCARD, or 
PayPal via our secure website - http://www.squaredancers4katrina.org/. Make 
your tax deductible check to:

GSI
Dancers for Hurricane Katrina Fund
1100 East Morehead Street, Suite 100
Charlotte, NC 28204

The Curlee family (founders of GSI) has donated warehouse space in Charlotte 
to house all the supplies that we collect. Area Charlotte dancers will 
provide the manpower to organize everything (handling the warehouse, loading 
trucks, etc.). If you would like to send packages, you may use the above 
address as well. Some (not all) of the needed supplies include the 
following:

  a.. School Supplies
  b.. Building Supplies
  c.. Clothing
  d.. Medical Supplies - SEALED (Bandages, Aspirin, etc)
  e.. Non Perishable Food
  f.. Housing Supplies (Toilet Tissue, Paper towels, Cloth Towels, etc.)
  g.. Children Supplies (disposal diapers, toys, etc.)
TIME IS CRITICAL. Our goal is to send a check and truckloads of supplies to 
the affected areas on October 3, 2005. We will be in contact with FEMA to 
find out exactly where to deliver everything, and to determine what 
organization(s) to give the monies collected. Our goal is to send at least 
one semi-truck full of supplies and to hand over a check for ONE MILLION 
DOLLARS.

We will be updating the website - http://www.squaredancers4katrina.org/ - on 
a daily basis to keep everyone abreast of our progress. Please check the 
site often. We need to get the word out quickly to as many square dancers 
worldwide as we possible can. If you have a website, please post a prominent 
link to ours on your page. If possible, send this letter out to any friends 
you have on the internet.

Many of you have already donated to local charities for this same purpose. 
However, if we, as a square dance community, can come together for the good 
of all, look at the impact that this may have. Imagine if we can actually 
write a check for a million dollars... Surely it will be picked up by CNN or 
one (maybe all) of the major TV networks. Finally, square dancing can be 
shown in a positive light to a worldwide audience. It is truly a "win-win" 
situation. We will be doing a wonderful civic deed for people desperately 
needing assistance, and just MAYBE we'll get some coverage for it as well.

Some fund raising ideas:

  a.. Special fund raising dance - Admission could be money or some type of 
supplies
  b.. Donate the proceeds of a regular club dance
  c.. Collect money at all of your club dances from now until October 1
  d.. Solicit money (supplies) from your area business
  e.. Contact your local or state dance/caller association for a donation
  f.. Sponsor a club Yard Sale
  g.. Or you can come up with some of your own..
Our goal is to raise one million dollars in 30 days. Let's show the world 
that square dancers, in addition to being the nicest people in the world, 
are also the most giving.

If you have any further questions, please email us at 
info at squaredancers4katrina.org. We will keep you updated via the website. We 
thank you in advance,

Tony Oxendine
Grand Square Inc.



The following dance leaders support the efforts of the Square Dancers for 
Katrina Fund:

Kim Curlee (President, GSI)
Everette Curlee (Founder, GSI)
Tim Crawford (Chairman, CALLERLAB)
Ray Brigance (President, ACA)
Wayne and Janice Bowman (Chairmen, 56th NSDC)
Charlie and Kitty Holley (President, USDA)
Dick and Linda Peterson (President, NEC)
Dave and Sherry Hubbard (Chairmen, 57th NSDC)
Ray and Sandy Hutchinson (Chairmen, 58th NSDC)
Jim Maczko (Chairman, ARTS)
John McKinstry (President IAGSDC)
Lee and Barbie Ashwell (Chairmen, 55th NSDC)


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