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Laurel, LA calling for supplies
by Debbie
debmocracy (nospam) yahoo.com (unverified) Current rating: 0
08 Sep 2005
From local CodePinker:

Daryl Wade, an Austin firefighter and pilot who has been in Covington since Sunday, called his sister Susan Wade to say that a town in Laurel, Mississipi has received no supplies at all. Ben, who has been n Covington since Monday, is returning to Austin Sat and going back Monday. They are asking us to fill Ben's truck again with food, water, and basic hygiene like waterless ant-bacterial gel, toothpaste and toothbrushes.

The contact person for all of this is Susan Wade, Daryl's sister. Please contact her at 512-627-2932. her email is swade (at) texas.net. She is willing to pick stuff up or you can leave it at her house in South Austin. Call for directions.

I know some of you are tapped out but if you know of some supplies that are going unused, please contact here asap.

******

Courage of Their Convictions?
Dear Editor,

It appears that while Americans voted with ballots last year and approved of Bush and his war on Iraq, they are now voting with their feet and staying away from recruitment offices. Of the 52% of Americans that voted for Bush (and for the war), an enormous number must be between 18 and 39 years of age and therefore eligible for military service. They must have believed that the war was vital to our security and that our nation was at risk, to commit us to such a costly endeavor. How then can it be that the military is falling well short of its recruitment goals? Why aren't these same Americans heeding the call to duty in service of their nation and president? Why aren't Americans who voted for Bush and are too old to serve urging their children to go defend our nation from this dangerous threat? Could it be they have changed their minds? Could it be that they now agree with those evil, traitorous liberals that the war was not necessary? Maybe they just don't have the courage of their convictions.

Daryl Wade

University Interscholastic League
1701 Manor Road, Austin, Texas, 78722
Boys: Daryl Wade
281-985-6100, Fax: 281-985-6111
E-mail: dwade@aldine.k12.tx.us

Aldine ISD offers summer recreation program
Aldine Independent School District
Daryl Wade at Carver High at 281-985-6100.

Daryl W. Wade, CAA
Athletic Director, Aldine ISD

281/985-6100 Office
281/985-6111 Fax
dwade@aldine.k12.tx.us

******

Where's the FBI?

Pat Robertson's recent "encouragement" to the U.S. government to assassinate Hugo Chavez is a violation of the law. If a Muslim cleric advocated the assassination of a Western leader in a public forum — as Robertson did — he would be arrested and charged and maybe held without bail or legal representation. If Robertson is not so charged, it is clear that this administration is not in a war against terror, but a war against non-Christians or anyone who dares oppose its policies.

DARYL WADE

Austin

Susan Wade

A young journalist engaged in writing a profile of me recently asked my friend Fred how "someone who looks so normal can write such strange stuff." Fred and I both got a kick out of the question. In 1969, Fred was in Viet Nam being shot at by strangers from many nations, while I was starting high school in Austin, Texas. (What you might call dramatically different 60's experiences.) But it didn't take either of us long to figure out that the world is a very strange place.

If you're one of those who recognizes how odd, mysterious, and downright weird the world is, you might enjoy reading some of my "strange stuff." There are a couple of whole stories here, and excerpts from longer works. Check 'em out. Then let me know what you think--of this strange stuff or any other worldly weirdness you've encountered. Bienvenu!

******

I was born on the day Albert Einstein died, a confluence of events I haven't managed to calculate the significance of just yet. My fiction has appeared in national magazines and anthologies (see bibliography) and my first suspense novel, Walking Rain, was published by Bantam in August 1996. It's about a potter named Amelia Rawlins who reclaims her grandfather's isolated New Mexico ranch after an absence of many years. She's forced to face her disturbing past in the process.

[Walking Rain - The book is in its third printing, having garnered favorable reviews from Publishers Weekly, Booked for Murder, and the Denver Post, and been highlighted as a "Hot Book" in Texas Monthly. It's a current nominee for the Edgar Award for Best Original Paperback. I'm now working on a thriller set in Austin (my home-town). This book is about a woman firefighter who gets caught up in a serial arson case while struggling with challenges to her authority on the job.

Doing the research has been loads of fun, since it consists of hanging out at fire stations and talking to firefighters--who are often great storytellers.

Red Cross Benefit at Saint Arnold Brewery
Tuesday, September 13
6 PM to 9 PM

Admission: $12 in advance, $15 at the door
For advance reservations, call or email Ann (ann@saintarnold.com or 713-686-9494). She will accept cash, credit cards, checks and flattery (while appreciated, the flattery will not go towards the admission). Advance reservations must be made by noon on Tuesday.

Finally, a comment from Susan Wade:

My name is Susan Wade, and my brother is an Austin firefighter. He was in touch with the local Veterans for Peace group, and heard of a VfP group that drove from California to Louisiana last week and set up an aid station.

They're in Covington, LA and were the first relief on the ground there. We organized supplies (they had only the first load they brought with them), and Daryl loaded his truck (camper shell and a huge luggage rack) and drove to Covington last Saturday night. He and a friend have been volunteering there ever since. VfP has collected supplies and sent more pickups to Covington from Central Texas.

I was able to talk with Daryl by cell phone (his service is spotty, of course) on Monday night. They're working with the Red Cross now. That day, re-supply had improved dramatically, and they're starting to feel like they're making headway.

Tonight, when I got home, there was a message from Daryl saying they've had word of a small town in Mississippi (Laurel) that's received no assistance yet at all. We're organizing supplies and drivers again. If any of your readers want to make a donation that they can be certain will go right now to people in desperate need because of Katrina, I know for a fact the VfP is doing that. They have a PayPal and credit card site set up. Here's the link.

If anyone else wants to go do unglamorous relief work, it sounds as if rural Mississippi is the place to go. I'll serve as a contact for direct info from Covington for any who are interested. Email is swade@texas.net
As always, send me any Katrina information you'd like for me to publicize.

Charles Kuffner Thursday, September 08, 2005 | GO TO WEBLOG | FILED UNDER: Off The Kuff - Hurricane Katrina

REPORT FROM MAIA AT 8:46 a.m. today
Submitted by Margaustin on Mon, 2005-09-05 09:53. Katrina relief

admin please post wherever

From: maia thomas [mailto:maia@sbcglobal.net]
Sent: Monday, September 05, 2005 8:46 AM
To: Mendez; Susan Wade; george winter; pbsangha@yahoogroups.com; Lori
Nickels
Subject: Re: Support VFP Camp Casey in Covington, LA

Daryl and I arrived in Covington on Sunday evening. We
are stationed at the Pineview Middle school and are
working with both the Red Cross and Veterans for
Peace, who are parked in the parking lot, offering
support.

There is still a need for volunteers here. People are
still being bussed out of NO and are in shock and many
need medical care, which is not available. The
hospital is only taking patients on life support.
There is special needs shelter but they will only take
people who need electiric medical supplies. they are
many sick people here.

We have been working nonstop providing care to
evacuees with dementia, brain injury, premature labor,
autism, cystic fibrosis, incontinence, congestive
heart failure. This is all taking place on the floor
of a school cafeteria w/ almost no medical supplies.
sanitation is marginal, to put it politely.

Red Cross is very disorganized and the volunteers are
working hard on the ground but command has not
adequately supplied the communities. Survivors and
family are not being cataloged by the RC because in
times of "disaster" per RC policy.

At this point we are planning to be back in austin on
thursday. Today Vets for Peace is taking their school
bus (Daryl will be on it) into downtown NO to bring in
suppplies and bring out about 30 people.

If you feel the urge to come to Covington, they do
need you and are working well with the Red Cross
volunteers here.

However, only come if you are prepared to do the
dirty, unglamorous work. I mean really UNGLAMOROUS.

Things we need;
new
flat sheets pillows
air mattresses, cots, wash cloths, towels, blankets

pump hand sanitizer (hospital grade, if possible)
vinyl exam gloves
zinc oxide ointment
chucks- flat disposable absorbant pads
pump hand soap
laundry detergent
water
gatorade
pedialyte
children's books and toys

Please DO NOT send;
dirty, old or winter used clothing, high heeled shoes,
paperback books.

THINK about what you send. Does a person in 96 degree
heat and survival mode need it?

We have a constant need for ice so if you can think of
a way to get a truck load of it here, do so.

Again, military and Red Cross, are here but not
adequate. This needs to be a citizen effort.

I have limited net and phone access, so don't be
concerned if I don't replyl.

Maia

» Margaustin's blog
http://crawfordpeace.nfshost.com/blog/1083