Hurricane Katrina / Susan's relief idea

[Petra]

Susan McGee:
> Should one of us just post and suggest ito on the list?

Please read the following first before the List Elves have to send you a
(H)Owler for being off-topic... <g>

Susan, earlier:
> I wonder if any consideration has been given to ask members of this 
> group to each donate $1 - $10 to a fund for relief for the people 
> affected by the Hurricane.

The List Elves have not made any decisions about this issue (which is also
to say that I am not speaking on behalf of the team with this post) but I
wanted to throw in my two knuts before you guys posted to Main.

> A paypal account could be easily set up -- and the funds could be sent 
> to the American Red Cross ---

True but why would our collecting monies and then sending the funds to the
relief effort be better than donating directly to the Red Cross?

> Given that this is one of the largest yahoo groups on the web, the 
> impact of JKR's fans could be awesome.....

But given that making such an impact, albeit on behalf of a worthy cause,
is not this group's raison d'etre nor why our list members join us, I do
not see why this is a call to action that belongs at the main list.  (But
as always, my mind remains open.)

The social activist in me is already well covered in terms of these
activities with groups that I not only trust to collect my donations and
get them to those in dire need, but also are set up to do this properly and
efficiently.  I know *we* are not out to scam people but I would encourage
anyone to part with their money only with people officially partnered with
the Red Cross and other verified relief effort leaders.

Under Susan McGee's proposal, HPfGU would be playing the unnecessary role
of middle man when the Red Cross does not need us to handle donations
intended for their use in disaster relief: they are already set up to take
donations themselves and have partnered up with others, Yahoo being one of
them in fact (see http://store.yahoo.com/redcross-donate3 ).

I see our membership as being more than capable of altruistic actions
without being exhorted by their fellow Potterheads.  Hmm...a lump sum
donated in the name of HPforGrownups would garner some publicity for us but
since we are not publicity hounds, that would not be a reason to get in
between donors and the Red Cross.

So I'm all for people including a URL with their sig if they should wish to
include one to the Red Cross's donation site - reminders are good - but
only with an on-topic post to the main list.  Heck, even seeing "I donated
today...have you?" after fellow list members' sigs works for me.  But as a
list member, I desire HPfGU the entity to involve itself only with things
HP or HPfGU related.

Here are some lines attachable to anyone's sig:

"To volunteer for or donate to Hurricane Katrina relief:
http://www.redcross.org
http://store.yahoo.com/redcross-donate3 "

Ginger:
> I agree with Susan.  As one who has spent the last several days 
> worrying about a cousin who stayed there (as a nurse-she's now been 
> evacuated), I would be more than willing to donate. 

I agree with your sentiment here and would only add that donations would
get to your cousin's fellow victims more quickly if directly gathered by
the Red Cross and its partners.

> My only 
> suggestion would be to add a note that more could be given if people 
> were willing, leaving $1-$10 as a suggestion.

Both the Red Cross and Yahoo has this covered nicely (*and* they take all
major credit cards!).

> I might also add that I know of one HPfGU member from that area, and 
> I'm sure there are more than that.  It would mean a lot to them if 
> their HP friends were eager to help.

Now here is something that could go on OTC: just how our HPfGU members
affected by the hurricane are doing and whether we can send help, directly
from member to member, instead of donating to the overall relief fund. 
They would benefit much more quickly, I would imagine.
 
So, in terms of the various issues:

* GATHERING FUNDS via HPfGU: my opinion is "no" whether the funds are
filtered through the List Elves or anyone else.  The Red Cross provides
plenty of opportunities already; we would not be shoring up their efforts
by getting in the middle.

* OT-POST TO MAIN: my opinion is "no."  Posting various URLs of official
relief funds to OTC would be acceptable though.

Petra (Penapart Elf when on duty)
a
n  :)


		
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