HAITI MSG From Tom "TC" Mitchell PLEASE READ!!!

[Griz]

Forwarding a note from TC...

Pat,
Thanks for getting in touch. People's concern over this catastrophe is
enormous and I'm really quite overwhelmed, both with the enormity of
what has happened and the enormity of the response to it that has come
my way, from people from all over the world, from all walks of life.
It has been wonderful to hear from everybody but if it keeps up at this
rate I may find myself unable to keep up. Would you mind passing this
on to everybody at Buffettnews?:

First of all, it is almost 30 years now since I first encountered the
nation of Haiti. I have kept that part of my life somewhat private,
mostly because trying to describe Haiti to someone who's never been
there is an exercise in frustration. How would you describe a Picasso
to a blind person? But at a time like this, with people wanting to
know, I know that I have to do the best I can, and speak up, and keep
talking as long as anyone will listen. It is the least I can do for a
country that has done so much for me... and I can do it well. Here
goes.

What do we want first, the big stuff or the small stuff?
OK, the big stuff first:
This thing is clearly a huge human disaster and it is going to take
weeks, if not months, just for everyone to be accounted for, as many
people as possible to be extracted from the rubble, and the dust to
settle. The need for immediate help is enormous. This is a nation of
roughly 6 million and we are going to have to assume that, even for
people in the areas not directly affected by the quakes, there are
going to be major breakdowns in the economic and social running of the
whole country; the tens of thousands of direct victims are a drop in
the bucket. If owned a bulldozer or a container ship things would be
different, but as it is I have to trust that the various organizations
that exist nationally and internationally will be the best equipped to
handle the immediate crisis and keep people's bodies and souls together
in the short term as best it can be done. PLEASE DONATE TO THEM.
But what we private indivduals CAN do is to not forget Haiti's pain,
once the crisis dies down and people have to get to the business of
rebuilding their lives, their property, and their nation. This is
going to take a long time and it may be quite painful, but at least it
offers the country of Haiti a once-in-a-lifetime chance to correct a
lot of mistakes and negligence that happened over the years, decades,
even centuries, if done right. The alternative, though, is a misguided
search for quick fixes and BandAid solutions, which would lead the
situation getting worse and staying that way for a long, long, time to
come. Imagine breaking your arm and not having a doctor set the bone!
We wouldn't wish that on anyone, but particularly not on a nation of
people, just a few hundred miles from us, so many of whom have somehow
managed to continue to be, in spite of material poverty and political
voicelessness, so patient, gentle, decent, proud of who they are, and,
above all, undiscouraged.
Those of us who care will need to be vigilant and not let the subject
fade from view when the crisis has eased. It could require us to do as
much as going to Haiti to help out as our abilities permit us, or to
write our elected officials or put on benefit concerts in Haiti's
behalf. Some of you with direct or second-hand connections with Haiti,
perhaps through me and the artists I work with, will find that it can
make a huge difference simply to say to our fellow Americans, "Hey! I
know someone from Haiti and I think he's a wonderful human being!" or
"Hey! I know someone who's lived in Haiti and is crazy about it!" or
in some way let the world know that these are REAL PEOPLE WHOM WE
HAVE MET AND COME TO LOVE, not just abstractions, or tragic talking
heads on CNN - human beings who continue to ask, humbly, a chance to
live in dignity and hope.

The little stuff, which, nevertheless, is plenty big to me and my
family and friends:
My family and I have been fortunate so far - we have had some close
calls, but everyone that we've been able to reach so far is pretty much
OK. At least we are not involved in any funerals as yet. But we have
not yet heard from many, many dear friends and relatives. We have no
idea how to reach them. The Haitian equivalent to the Coconut
Telegraph is called "teledjol" (tele-mouth!) and it is extremely
effective. We will eventually get news. Pray with us if you would
like, especially for Cynthia Z's mother, who is said to be trapped
under rubble, and Cynthia K's parents, who simply have not been heard
from. Evelyne and the kids at her orphanage. So many about whom we
simply don't know yet. Let's hope and pray for the best but with the
knowledge that in some cases we had better be ready for the worst.

Anyone wanting to know specifically about any of my musical associates,
please contact me personally.
I was afraid that it would be canceled, but I hear that Belo's
Guadeloupe concert will be held as scheduled this Saturday night;
those of us who know him would expect nothing less from him. As far as
anyone knows right now, I will be going down there to play, after all.
It will be the first of what I imagine will be a lot of Haiti relief
concerts to come. Wish us well.
If anyone anywhere out there is interested in trying to put a relief
show together, or wants to know about some other way to get involved,
don't hesitate to contact me... if I can help, I will.

Bless you all for caring.
Tom "TC" Mitchell
West Palm Beach, Florida
tc@tcmitchellmusic.com

[palmettopirate]

A plea within the message:

"but as it is I have to trust that the various organizations
that exist nationally and internationally will be the best equipped to
handle the immediate crisis and keep people's bodies and souls together
in the short term as best it can be done. PLEASE DONATE TO THEM."


I hope it's okay to post this here. Please be careful of fraudulent websites that pop up asking for money. We all know this happened after Katrina.

Now I'm going to recommend a very worthwhile organization. Water Missions International from Charleston SC is involved in the relief effort. They are a NON-profit Christian engineering group which has water purification systems they deliver on site after tragedies. Your gifts can be counted on to be put to good use. I am not affiliated with them in any way but do suppport them. Link is www.watermissions.org.

[pair8head]

Nice post PP and I would only add one thing......

http://www.charitynavigator.org/

a web site that will let you see where your money is going to go with certain charities.
You can find out all kinds of things about charities here including how much money the
CEO of the charity makes. How much of you dollar actually goes to the people who need it.

I recommend that if you don't know the Charity check them out here.

[ph4ever]

After Katrina 40% of the funds contributed never reached New Orleans - the people gave to scam artists. If anyone feels the need to give there are several recognized organizations that you can rest assured you funds will get to Haiti. IMHO there should be a special section in hell for those scam artists that prey on people facing tragedy.

[palmettopirate]

"a web site that will let you see where your money is going to go with certain charities.
You can find out all kinds of things about charities here including how much money the
CEO of the charity makes. How much of you dollar actually goes to the people who need it."

Long ago in another life I was almost required to contribute to the CFC (Combined Federal Campaign). They finally came out with stats as to how much of your money went to admin costs for various orgs. It blew my mind. Some orgs were as high as 45%. Now I know it cost money to run an organization, and the bigger they get, the more money it takes. That's just the nature of business. But there are plenty out there that take less.

[Griz]

I am proud to say I work for Marriott. How's $500 Million sound??
Despite the political differences I have with them, My company is standing with the stricken..
A message from my boss, Bill Marriott:
January 14, 2010
We have all been witness to a great tragedy. Tuesday’s devastating earthquake in Haiti has caused heartbreaking loss for many of our Haitian associates around the world, their families, and communities. At the Harbor Beach Marriott Resort & Spa in South Florida, 233 associates – more than a third of the hotel's staff – are Haitian. This one hotel example demonstrates the significant number of Haitian associates who are part of our Marriott family worldwide.
I recognize the days and weeks ahead will be extremely difficult for this nation and its people, in Port-au-Prince and around the world. Many of our own associates will be affected by this tragic event. To help in the relief efforts, The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation is pledging $500,000 to the Red Cross Haiti Relief and Development Fund.
Information on donating to relief efforts was sent in a Headline News announcement last night, along with other resources for those who are concerned about loved ones in Haiti.

Our thoughts and prayers are with all of those who are suffering, and those working to support the relief efforts.

Sincerely,
Bill Marriottt

[pair8head]

I am proud to say I work for Marriott. How's $500 Million sound??

I'm sure you meant $500 Thousand . And I think that is Fantastic.

[TropicalTroubador]

On the subject of Haiti, Tom most definitely knows what he's talking about. Listen.

I agree with him that it may be months before we even know the full extent of what has happened there, and the misery will go on for years. It will probably take longer for Haiti to recover from this than for the Gulf Coast to recover from Katrina.

I also agree with palmettopirate - know the folks you're donating to, and don't respond at all to any of the thousands of spammy emails you're going to start getting from total strangers regarding Haiti relief.