[1SR-L] U.S. COAST GUARD AUXILIARYLAUNCHES OPERATION LIFE RING; Humanitarian program aimed at assisting victims from Hurricane Katrina -056/05

[Announcement List for First Southern District]

TO:		ALAUXDIST1SR
FM:		CDR Young, DIRAUX
SUBJ:		 U.S. COAST GUARD AUXILIARY LAUNCHES OPERATION LIFE RING;
Humanitarian program aimed at assisting victims from Hurricane Katrina
-056/05

1.	The following is an update on Auxiliary efforts in D1SR regarding
Hurricane Katrina Response.  To date, none of our Auxiliarists have been
tasked in response efforts, but stand ready to answer the call.

2.	If you would like to volunteer in any capacity described below, your
point of contact remains Steve Ackerman at stephen.d.ackerman at verizon.com

3.	FEMA may utilize Auxiliarists who have volunteered for Hurricane
Katrina Response to support response efforts associated with Hurricane
Ophelia if and when it strikes the East Coast.

4.	Over 300 Auxiliarists have signed on to support FEMA and others are
encouraged to join.  FEMA is preparing to call volunteers for training but
has not activated this to program to date. The Coast Guard Auxiliary is the
primary source that FEMA has turned to for volunteers due to your training
and discipline, and willingness to provide humanitarian assistance to our
country.

5.	From Operation Life Ring:

U.S. COAST GUARD AUXILIARY LAUNCHES OPERATION LIFE RING
Humanitarian program aimed at assisting victims from Hurricane Katrina
 
SACRAMENTO - In the wake of the suffering caused by Hurricane Katrina, the
U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary is launching Operation Life Ring, a humanitarian
effort to mobilize its 31,000 members to assist the citizens of the Gulf
Coast region, and any others whose lives have been forever changed by this
catastrophe. 
 
Operation Life Ring has five components to help bring relief to the
suffering in the Gulf States region:

.         Relief Fund for USCGAUX members and their families:  he Coast
Guard Auxiliary Association ("CGAuxA") established a relief fund primarily
for Auxiliary and Coast Guard victims of Hurricane Katrina.  Upon meeting
their needs, any remaining donation funds will go to assist others in the
stricken region.  Go to http://www.cgauxa.org/ or contact the Association at
314-962-8828 or auxa at sbcglobal.net

.         Services for USCG D8 and/or FEMA:  All Auxiliarists who are ready,
willing, and able to do so, are asked assist in disaster relief operations
by volunteering to serve with the U.S. Coast Guard's District 8, and/or the
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).  In 2004, over 200 Auxiliarists
from across the country assisted FEMA as Community Relations Officers.  It
is likely that Hurricane Katrina will require even a larger response from
the Auxiliary.  

.         Coast Guard Mutual Assistance Fund:  In response, Coast Guard
Mutual Assistance (CGMA) has established an account to receive contributions
designated for that specific purpose.  Contributions marked "Katrina" will
be earmarked and tracked to ensure they are used first and foremost to meet
the needs of Coast Guard members and families associated with Hurricane
Katrina

.         In-Kind Donations of Essential staples (food, water, clothing):
Local Auxiliary units are encouraged to work with local agencies in their
AOR, such as the Red Cross (www.redcross.org or 1-800-HELP-NOW), The
Salvation Army (www.salvationarmyusa.org or 1-800-SAL-ARMY ), Convoy of Hope
(http://www.convoyofhope.org or  1-417-823-8998), and any other local
reputable charities, to gather essential staples - food, water, and
supplies, that can be shipped to the hurricane victims. 

.         Blood:  All Auxiliarists who are medically able to do so are
encouraged to donate blood and/or blood platelets.  Local USCGAUX units are
encouraged to host a blood drive, or partner with a local USCG unit to host
a blood drive.
 
For more details on Operation Life Ring, visit
http://www.cgaux.org/cgauxweb/OPERATIONLIFERINGannouncement090705.pdf .  


To make a contribution to Operation Life Ring, visit
http://auxcen.shopauxiliary.com/d8/default.php?cPath=200 


6.	The purpose of this list is to keep Auxiliarists in the First
Southern abreast of current developments, policies, manuals, etc. 

7.	Internet Release and Distribution is Authorized. 

8.	CDR E. D. Young Sends