The changing work in the Gulf

th_armando_window,
originally uploaded by handsongulfcoast.

The work going on in the Gulf has been changing. For instance here Armando puts in new windows. This changing work is one big reason why more skilled workers are needed.

So if you have skills (any skills) it's time to volunteer!

Living on Earth: Rebuilding Levees, Rebuilding Neighborhoods

NPR's Living on Earth: Rebuilding Levees, Rebuilding Neighborhoods:

"It's been a year since Hurricane Katrina drowned New Orleans. Now returning residents wonder if the levees that failed in that storm will protect them. Living on Earth's Jeff Young reports on the levee repairs."

And later:

"For Mississippi and Alabama, Katrina was a historic natural disaster—a massive Category 5 hurricane that obliterated the coast. But for New Orleans it was a man-made catastrophe. By the time the storm reached here the winds and surge had weakened to within the design criteria of the levees meant to protect the city. Yet those levees failed on August 29th in the largest civil engineering disaster in American history."

BonaResponds local service pics

Partial Group Photo,
originally uploaded by FinanceProfessor.

This is one of 35 pictures we uploaded from our Local service day at Archbishop Walsh High School in Olean NY.

There were actually more volunteers than are shown (over 50), but getting them all together proved impossible.

We are doing another larger service project on September 16th. Come join us! We will be recreating a day in the Gulf with many local projects from painting a covered bridge, to working at a local hospital, to finishing up our work at Walsh, cutting new trails on state forest land, and much more. Something for everyone. So come join us!

Louisiana Weekly - Your Community. Your Newspaper.

This is great if the homeowner can afford it, but many cannot. Then what?

Louisiana Weekly - Your Community. Your Newspaper.:

"A year after Hurricane Katrina ripped through here the damage is everywhere evident, and to drive along U.S. Highway 90 is to witness almost unrelieved devastation. While most of the major casinos along the beachfront are once again functioning, only the battered frames or the foundations remain of the majority of nearby homes.

But, remarkably, there are a few determined, enterprising homeowners who have not waited on insurance payments or federal allocations to rebuild their homes. 'I used all of my own money to rebuild my house,' said Minnie Miller, whose small house was virtually inundated by 17 feet of flood water. 'I spent more than $50,000 to do it, and I didn't get a dime from insurance companies or the federal government."

BonaResponds update

I just wanted to give everyone a quick recap of the First BonaResponds
local service project.

Although it was the first Friday back to school and the beginning of a
long Labor Day weekend for most local residents, we had just over 50
volunteers who painted, cleaned, and landscaped around Archbishop
Walsh High School.

1. Several classrooms were completely painted as was the main entrance
area to the school.
2. The majority of the hall ways were repainted including the trim
around each door.
3. Ceilings in the cha pel, and walls in several class rooms, the
scaristy, and the hall way were plastered and were left to dry prior
to painting.
4. The stairway to the second floor was cleaned and repainted.
5. The main entrance was repainted, benches cleaned and painted, and mulch was set down near the front sign.

All in all it made a great difference at the school which willundoubtedly improve the learning environment for the high school students and make the City look better.

However, there is much work to be done at the school so we will be returning: we will make this one of our work sites for the September 16th Service Day. Additional work sites on September 16th include Allegany State Park, a trail building project on State Forest Lands west of Allegany,
The Olean Historical Society, the Olean Hospital, the SPCA, St. Elizabeth's Motherhouse, the St. Bonaventure campus, and the Village of Allegany.

All are encouraged to volunteer on the 16th and bring family, friends etc. We will meet at the old Fitness Center (near Valu hardware) at 8:15 AM. After a brief meeting, we will split up and go to the various work sites. Lunch will be provided.

As an added incentive to encourage student participation, we hope to make sponsorship for future Gulf Coast trips a function of work on these local service projects. (for instance, while the Gulf trips will be open to everyone, full sponsorships will be available only for those who have volunteered and trained locally).

Thanks for all of the help at Walsh and I look forward to working with you all on the 16th.

jim

BTW IF you can not make it but want to help, we will accept donations--make checks payable to St. Bonaventure University (memo should be BonaResponds). Mail to Jim Mahar BOX BY St. Bonaventure University, St. Bonaventure NY 14778

further question? Email Jim Mahar.

A Bank Survives Katrina. Now, the Hard Part. - New York Times

A Bank Survives Katrina. Now, the Hard Part. - New York Times:

"Alden J. McDonald Jr., the chief executive of this institution, which was the country’s third-largest black-owned bank until Hurricane Katrina and floodwaters roared through New Orleans one year ago.

Mr. McDonald and his staff count themselves among the fortunate, despite the general state of disrepair inside and outside their building. While their neighborhood wants for many basic amenities, including mail delivery and phone service, their company is one of the few enterprises back in business in the vast northeastern quadrant of New Orleans. And in a city where an estimated two in three businesses remain shuttered, Liberty is not only open but also turning a profit."

BonaResponds News Coverage

From the Olean Times Herald:

"BonaResponds, a group from St. Bonaventure University formed to help victims of Hurricane Katrina, is planning several local service projects in preparation for return visits to Louisiana and Mississippi.

....BonaResponds will lead an effort to clean up Archbishop Walsh High School Friday...Work will begin at 1:30 p.m. at Archbishop Walsh and continue until 7 p.m. Community members are welcome to help with the effort. Volunteers can call (716)372-8122 to offer donations or learn more about the cleanup....

Dr. Mahar said BonaResponds will be painting, landscaping, putting in new ceiling tiles, and doing other odd jobs around the Walsh campus.

BonaResponds also plans a Sept. 16 service day in Allegany and Olean. Volunteers will help at sites in the village, the St. Elizabeth Motherhouse, along the Allegheny River Valley Trail and at the Bartlett House in Olean. Work will begin at 8:30 a.m. and will continue until early afternoon. Again, community volunteers are welcome to join BonaResponds.

“It will be much like a day in the Gulf,” Dr. Mahar said."

and of course we are going back! In early January and over spring break in March. Want to come? It will be GREAT!


Nice article! Two small problems--I am an assistant professor not associate (unless I got a promotion and no one told me ;) ) and I want to take more people in January than the article suggests but otherwise :)