As I write this letter, the devastation from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita to the Gulf Coast of the United States is still front-page headlines in newspapers and lead stories on TV network news. Hurricane Katrina was one of the worst natural disasters in US history and has caused unimaginable devastation and heartbreak throughout the Gulf Coast region. A vast coastline of towns and communities has been decimated, many lives have been lost, and hundreds of thousands of our fellow Americans are suffering great hardship. It is not possible to imagine the emotional toll it has taken on all the people impacted – many of whom have lost everything! Our hearts go out especially to the women who are a part of TIAW in the Capital Area Network, based near New Orleans, Louisiana. We were happy to learn that they are coping well and trying to help their displaced colleagues and friends.
President George W. Bush said in his Proclamation of September 8th, announcing a national day of prayer on September 16th: “Americans are reaching out to those who suffer by opening their hearts, homes, and communities. Their actions demonstrate the greatest compassion one person may show to another: to love your neighbor as yourself…. By contributing time, money, or needed goods to a relief organization and by praying for the survivors and those in recovery efforts, we can make a tremendous difference in the lives of those in need.”
In the wake of the recent hurricanes, our motto of “connections that make all the difference in the world” resonates even more! TIAW is committed to helping in the way that we do best. By using communication on our website, by emailing to our members, by providing links to each other, and by members donating to relief organizations or through their companies, we too offer our support to the hurricane recovery efforts.
Join me in wishing everyone in our ravaged Gulf Coast region well.
