To anyone out there who may occasionally check in on my blog:
I've obviously been away from writing here for awhile. That will probably continue, as I'm in the middle of some transition. My time in New Orleans is winding down at the end of April. I will still be involved with my program here -- in fact, it should be bigger and better than ever. But I will no longer be living here. I should be situated in Boston by mid-May. By that time I will have decided if I'm going to keep this particular blog. It's been a great tool for me to share some stories, to raise awareness about things going on in the New Orleans area. I just have to see if the next phase of my life includes a blog with a similar purpose or mission. Thanks to anyone who has taken time to check it out from time to time.
--Scott
4/14/2008
3/18/2008
A Great Quote
Crediting ESPN Radio Host Colin Cowherd, who said the following today while discussing with several callers how he prefers to spend his time and money on doing things with friends as opposed to spending money on material things:
"I'm more about experiences than I am about things".
I loved that. Having just returned from the wedding of a good friend in San Francisco, a trip that cost me a small fortune at a time when money is tight, I can totally relate. The trip wasn't without its hiccups, but overall it was a great time as I got to see some friends I haven't seen in years, hang out with guys I rarely get to hang out with, and drink beers and catch up with my brother and some buddies in bars and restaurants in one of the best cities in America.
By the way, talk about being thrown for a loop. I was walking out of my hotel Sunday morning to go across the street to a store, and as I stepped off the sidewalk I heard someone shout, "Scott Stolze!" I turned around to see this guy staring at me. I walked back, and as I did, I recognized him, but couldn't remember at all who he was. I said, "yeah, who are you again? I know you look familiar but I'm not remembering at all." Turns out he was a guy who lived on my floor in my dorm my freshman year in college. That was 1990!!! Not only did he recognize me, but he remembered my full name. I'm not sure if I was more blown away by running into a guy I went to college with in central Florida all the way across the country in the middle of downtown San Francisco, or by the fact that he could remember my name like that. He was a good guy. He introduced me to his wife. They live in South Carolina and were in town for his work (Earnest and Julio Gallo wines, not a bad gig!).
NOTE: My digital camera broke when I was on my trip in January-February, so I'm currently camera-less, hence the lack of new photos (Pic of the Day is now more like Pic of the Year!). I'm trying to keep my eye out for good and relevant pics online that I can post, stuff related to New Orleans, Katrina relief, and St. Bernard Parish. It's just a bit of a harder task these days given time constraints, and unfortunately having a new camera at this time is more of a luxury than a necessity.
"I'm more about experiences than I am about things".
I loved that. Having just returned from the wedding of a good friend in San Francisco, a trip that cost me a small fortune at a time when money is tight, I can totally relate. The trip wasn't without its hiccups, but overall it was a great time as I got to see some friends I haven't seen in years, hang out with guys I rarely get to hang out with, and drink beers and catch up with my brother and some buddies in bars and restaurants in one of the best cities in America.
By the way, talk about being thrown for a loop. I was walking out of my hotel Sunday morning to go across the street to a store, and as I stepped off the sidewalk I heard someone shout, "Scott Stolze!" I turned around to see this guy staring at me. I walked back, and as I did, I recognized him, but couldn't remember at all who he was. I said, "yeah, who are you again? I know you look familiar but I'm not remembering at all." Turns out he was a guy who lived on my floor in my dorm my freshman year in college. That was 1990!!! Not only did he recognize me, but he remembered my full name. I'm not sure if I was more blown away by running into a guy I went to college with in central Florida all the way across the country in the middle of downtown San Francisco, or by the fact that he could remember my name like that. He was a good guy. He introduced me to his wife. They live in South Carolina and were in town for his work (Earnest and Julio Gallo wines, not a bad gig!).
NOTE: My digital camera broke when I was on my trip in January-February, so I'm currently camera-less, hence the lack of new photos (Pic of the Day is now more like Pic of the Year!). I'm trying to keep my eye out for good and relevant pics online that I can post, stuff related to New Orleans, Katrina relief, and St. Bernard Parish. It's just a bit of a harder task these days given time constraints, and unfortunately having a new camera at this time is more of a luxury than a necessity.
Follow Up
A follow-up to my posting last week about the "raise" that ICF International received from the state of Louisiana (see below, Stunning Numbers, posted 3/13/08)......
Here's excerpts from a story in today's Times-Picayune:
Jindal Wants to Broaden Inquiry Into Raise for ICF
Here's excerpts from a story in today's Times-Picayune:
Jindal Wants to Broaden Inquiry Into Raise for ICF
By Bill Barrow
BATON ROUGE -- The Jindal administration has asked the state inspector general to join the legislative auditor in examining former Gov. Kathleen Blanco's decision to grant a raise to the firm that runs the state's much-criticized Road Home grant program.
Paul Rainwater, executive director of the Louisiana Recovery Authority, said Monday that he asked for the expanded review at the urging of Gov. Bobby Jindal, who has criticized the $156 million raise that his predecessor approved for ICF International five weeks before she left office. The company has been widely questioned over bureaucratic delays and failures that greatly slowed the process.
Legislative leaders, meanwhile, ratcheted up their rhetoric over the issue, with House Speaker Jim Tucker and Senate President Joel Chaisson II saying the Legislature will consider hiring its own counsel for a comprehensive inquiry into ICF International's two-year relationship with the state.
Since The Times-Picayune reported the increase, Blanco and her top budget adviser have defended the raise, arguing that ICF must process more applications and pay out more grants than the initial contract assumed, even as lawmakers and others decry the possibility of paying more to a company whose performance has been so roundly criticized.
Answering criticism from legislators who said they were not informed about the raise, former Commissioner of Administration Jerry Luke LeBlanc suggested that a wide range of officials were involved.
Blanco released an e-mail statement from France, where she had public speaking appearances: "It was my understanding and belief that any contract change would be publicly noticed. I encourage Steve Theriot, the legislative auditor, whose office was consulted during negotiations, to continue to audit ICF and to hold them accountable for every dollar of their contract."
How much has work grown?
The December agreement bases the raise on the likelihood that ICF will pay out far more Road Home grants than originally expected. The document says the number increased from 100,000 to about 160,000. Yet the program launched expecting to pay more than 114,000 grants, and estimates for total grants have now dropped to as low as 128,000.
3/13/2008
Stunning Numbers
Chew on this number: $912 Million Dollars!
That's how much the Louisiana Recovery Authority is paying contractor ICF International to manage the Road Home Program. The new $912 million dollar figure just became publicized this week when news leaked that state officials, under former Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco, approved an "INCREASE" in the amount of the contract with ICF of $156 million (from $756m to $912m). ICF's main task: processing the 100,000+ Road Home applications. Apparently the estimates for how many apps might be processed when all is said and done has increased from about 100,000 to somewhere between 128,000 and 143,000, hence the increase in payment.
Almost a BILLION DOLLARS going to a company to essentially process applications, appraise home values, check the backgrounds of residents and award said resident "x" amount of dollars. I'm not saying that that's necessarily an easy task. But take it from someone who used to work on the consulting and services side of a software company, and knows how estimates are derived and figures manipulated: that number is laughable. Take it from that same someone who has been living amongst the victims of Hurricane Katrina, many of whom have waited months upon months to even hear back from Road Home reps let alone to receive their payment: it's an absolute crime.
On a more positive note....
I know, different strokes for different folks. I like to read non-fiction, in particular biographies, historical books, books about successful people. Non-fiction isn't everyone's favorite. A lot of people like to get away from reality. But for me, it works. So when I was reading through a chapter in my favorite Jack Canfield (Chicken Soup For The Soul fame) book, "The Success Principles", some of the suggestions really resonated. The chapter is titled "Learn More to Ea
rn More", and in it, Canfield stresses the importance of spending time productively. He points out that his mentor, W. Clement Stone, once told him that by cutting out just 1 hour of TV a day you create an extra 365 hours per year of time to accomplish whatever you need. He made a lot of suggestions for what to do with that kind of extra time, but the one that's stuck the most, according to Canfield, is to read.
He suggests reading biographies and autobiographies of great people. Said one of Canfield's friends, Dr. John Demartini, "You can't put your hand in a pot of glue without some of that glue sticking. So, too, you can't put your mind and heart into some of the works of these masters without some of it sticking".
Another great point made in this chapter is the value of listening. Canfield stresses, 'To learn and grow in life, you need to be teachable, too. You need to let go of already knowing it all and needing to be right and look good, and open yourself to being a listener. Listen to those who have earned the right to speak, who have already done what you want to do'.
Canfield goes on to share a story about a Dr. Billy Sharp, who he used to work for and who he says was one of the smartest men he ever knew. He said whenever he attended meetings or seminars with Dr. Sharp, he was always strangely quiet. Canfield asked him one day why he was so quiet in those meetings, and Sharp said, "I already know what I know. If I'm talking to impress someone else, I don't learn anything new. I want to learn what they know".
All pretty good advise, if you ask me.
Things that make me shake my head......
--I love when stores price something so that, with tax, it totals out to just over an even dollar amount. I bought a Gatorade the other day, and the clerk says, "that'll be $2.02". Why don't you just price it so that with tax it costs $2.00 even!!! Of course, I had no change in my pocket so I get .98 cents back. Ridiculous.
--People kill me when they stand right outside or in front of an entrance way to a bar, restaurant, store, or whatever, to smoke. They can't smoke inside anymore, only out, but when they go out to smoke, they stand RIGHT OUTSIDE the door, so that when you're going in or out, you're walking right through a thick cloud of their smoke. It's idiotic, not to mention inconsiderate. Then again, why should I be surprised, if they're stupid enough to suck smoke into their lungs, then I guess they're...... anyway.
--Not quite as annoying, but it's up there, is when I'm in the checkout line at a grocery store, and I've just put my stuff up onto the conveyor, and the person behind me is so impatient that they're edging up two inches behind me, totally encroaching on my space, and starting to put their stuff up the second there's an inch of black space showing. What is the deal with that?! Can people just wait one minute for me and all my stuff to move up just a bit? Do they really need to start unloading their carriage at the earliest possible chance they get? It's like the world is going to end if they don't get all their items on the counter as quickly as possible! More than one person has gotten "the look" from me when they're all up in my space unloading like that.
That's how much the Louisiana Recovery Authority is paying contractor ICF International to manage the Road Home Program. The new $912 million dollar figure just became publicized this week when news leaked that state officials, under former Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco, approved an "INCREASE" in the amount of the contract with ICF of $156 million (from $756m to $912m). ICF's main task: processing the 100,000+ Road Home applications. Apparently the estimates for how many apps might be processed when all is said and done has increased from about 100,000 to somewhere between 128,000 and 143,000, hence the increase in payment.
Almost a BILLION DOLLARS going to a company to essentially process applications, appraise home values, check the backgrounds of residents and award said resident "x" amount of dollars. I'm not saying that that's necessarily an easy task. But take it from someone who used to work on the consulting and services side of a software company, and knows how estimates are derived and figures manipulated: that number is laughable. Take it from that same someone who has been living amongst the victims of Hurricane Katrina, many of whom have waited months upon months to even hear back from Road Home reps let alone to receive their payment: it's an absolute crime.
On a more positive note....
I know, different strokes for different folks. I like to read non-fiction, in particular biographies, historical books, books about successful people. Non-fiction isn't everyone's favorite. A lot of people like to get away from reality. But for me, it works. So when I was reading through a chapter in my favorite Jack Canfield (Chicken Soup For The Soul fame) book, "The Success Principles", some of the suggestions really resonated. The chapter is titled "Learn More to Ea
rn More", and in it, Canfield stresses the importance of spending time productively. He points out that his mentor, W. Clement Stone, once told him that by cutting out just 1 hour of TV a day you create an extra 365 hours per year of time to accomplish whatever you need. He made a lot of suggestions for what to do with that kind of extra time, but the one that's stuck the most, according to Canfield, is to read.He suggests reading biographies and autobiographies of great people. Said one of Canfield's friends, Dr. John Demartini, "You can't put your hand in a pot of glue without some of that glue sticking. So, too, you can't put your mind and heart into some of the works of these masters without some of it sticking".
Another great point made in this chapter is the value of listening. Canfield stresses, 'To learn and grow in life, you need to be teachable, too. You need to let go of already knowing it all and needing to be right and look good, and open yourself to being a listener. Listen to those who have earned the right to speak, who have already done what you want to do'.
Canfield goes on to share a story about a Dr. Billy Sharp, who he used to work for and who he says was one of the smartest men he ever knew. He said whenever he attended meetings or seminars with Dr. Sharp, he was always strangely quiet. Canfield asked him one day why he was so quiet in those meetings, and Sharp said, "I already know what I know. If I'm talking to impress someone else, I don't learn anything new. I want to learn what they know".
All pretty good advise, if you ask me.
Things that make me shake my head......
--I love when stores price something so that, with tax, it totals out to just over an even dollar amount. I bought a Gatorade the other day, and the clerk says, "that'll be $2.02". Why don't you just price it so that with tax it costs $2.00 even!!! Of course, I had no change in my pocket so I get .98 cents back. Ridiculous.
--People kill me when they stand right outside or in front of an entrance way to a bar, restaurant, store, or whatever, to smoke. They can't smoke inside anymore, only out, but when they go out to smoke, they stand RIGHT OUTSIDE the door, so that when you're going in or out, you're walking right through a thick cloud of their smoke. It's idiotic, not to mention inconsiderate. Then again, why should I be surprised, if they're stupid enough to suck smoke into their lungs, then I guess they're...... anyway.
--Not quite as annoying, but it's up there, is when I'm in the checkout line at a grocery store, and I've just put my stuff up onto the conveyor, and the person behind me is so impatient that they're edging up two inches behind me, totally encroaching on my space, and starting to put their stuff up the second there's an inch of black space showing. What is the deal with that?! Can people just wait one minute for me and all my stuff to move up just a bit? Do they really need to start unloading their carriage at the earliest possible chance they get? It's like the world is going to end if they don't get all their items on the counter as quickly as possible! More than one person has gotten "the look" from me when they're all up in my space unloading like that.
3/06/2008
Randoms
Just a few random notes and thoughts before I run out for the day....--I still have a storage unit full of donated furniture in Maryland that I collected with my brother when I was there in January. Since I'm re-starting the nonprofit program, I currently do not have the web site to refer people to, business cards to disperse. Word of mouth still works, of course, and so why not the blog, too? I'm looking to help a half dozen families in St. Bernard Parish who are very close to moving back into their rebuilt homes, and who need things. I really want to get this stuff down here soon! Any help, suggestions, fundraising, etc., that anyone can give towards this would be greatly appreciated.
--From the "This is how things work down here sometimes" department: On Tuesday, I was going to a house that another nonprofit is working to rebuild to talk to some volunteers. I went to the wrong house (happens a lot in a community where street signs are more a luxury than a necessity) by mistake, and while knocking on the door, the homeowner, 55 year old David Pell, came around the side of the house asking "can I help you?" His tone was more of the who the heck are you? variety, very understandable when you consider that stuff is stolen from homes here all the time. All the time! Anyway, I told him what happened, that I had the wrong house, and we just started chatting. Well, a good 50 minutes later, I'm walking out telling him I'll call him by the end of the week as I should be able to get some volunteers over to help him. He and his wife are living in a FEMA Trailer in the front yard and have been doing most of the work to rebuild (save the electrical) pretty much on their own. They've actually made great progress, and clearly have been working hard. Some of his stories were amazing. Anyway, he has a bad back, and could use help putting in the insulation and hanging sheetrock. Considering it's March and there are hundreds of volunteers on college spring break just in St. Bernard alone, we should be able to muster him up some help. Just the gratitude he showed when shaking my hand goodbye, seeing what that kind of help would mean to him, was worth the trip.
--I'm living in a different house for March and April, in Uptown (sort of the trendy part of New Orleans, where the natives, locals and college students all hang out, not tourists). Last night I went out to Magazine Street to find a coffee shop to do some job research and found one. It was like walking into a computer lab, though. All I saw as I stepped through the door was a line of tables with people and their laptops, mostly Macs, opened up, iPod like earphones in their ears. I was lucky to get a spot, someone closed up shop just as I walked in. It stayed that way the entire two hours I was there. I like a change of scenery from my attic room and the cat in the house. Why is everyone else there? Why have coffee shops replaced libraries as places to work, read, research? This isn't new, I know (two years in San Francisco earlier this decade taught me that. You couldn't go near a coffee shop without feeling like you were at an iMac Convention!). I still wonder what the infatuation is, though.
--Rush Limbaugh does nothing good for this country. Nothing. Think about it... a man sits behind a microphone for 3, 4 hours a day, berating and belittling people, igniting controversy, inciting people to "hate" this person or rally against that person. Rush, what do you DO? What action do you take to better the world, to better this country? I always think of the quote from my historical hero, Theodore Roosevelt, who once said, "It's not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by blood and sweat and dust."
Something tells me that if TR were alive today, he would be disgusted at the mere sight of Rush and other radio blabbermouths like him. Get off your ass and do something besides talk!!!
Finally, I can't resist a few sports related blurbs....
--Zero sympathy for Kelvin Sampson. He is 100% responsible for his own actions, he deserved to be fired, and whatever happens to this year's Indiana team if they do in fact come up short, whatever those players are going through, it all lies on the shoulders of Sampson. That's what you get when you blatantly break rules, no matter how petty they may seem.
--Good radio voices to listen to: Doug Gottlieb of ESPN Radio, Boomer Esiason of WFAN NY, Mike & Murray (Sirius 123). Tim Brando (Sirius 122) Why? Because they tell it like is. Horrible to listen to: Mike & Mike on ESPN. Along with pretty much anyone else on ESPN Radio. Why? Because they're nothing but soft corporate shills who pander and kiss ass.
Mike Tirico's show (he took over the time slot formerly held by Dan Patrick) is horrible, by the way. Tirico has such a busy schedule, he's missing half the week. Michelle Tafoya, a regular co-host and fill-in, is unbearable, both in tone of voice and her takes, and their guest list is nothing like Patrick's used to be (Hate DP all you want, his guest list was unmatched).
3/04/2008
No Time for Thank You's
Donald Powell, the man President Bush appointed as his Gulf Coast Recovery Czar in 2005, announced he is retiring from the position in the coming weeks. Today (March 4, 2008), The Times-Picayune, whose editorials I have found to be pretty pointed and focused when it comes to Katrina-related issues, was way off the mark.
The Times-Pic saluted Mr. Powell and gave him its "sincere thanks" for being a champion for the people of Louisiana (link to the editorial below). I'm back in Louisiana after sevens weeks of travel and am talking to residents and looking at unfinished houses again. This has been my primary home for over a year now, so I think I speak with enough exposure and experience when I say that for any sort of 'thank you' to be levied to someone who holds any responsibility for 'overall' recovery and direction is northing short of an outright joke!
Reading and hearing about any kudos from and to local, state or federal officials is as pathetic now as it was in the days and weeks after Katrina hit -- and if you watched the national news back then you saw plenty of them going around. This place is nowhere near "recovered" enough for someone touted as the "Recovery Czar" to be receiving more than "Nice knowing you, now who is next in line to try and get something tangible done?"
This is not to say that Powell is a bad person, or that he was a complete flop. By some definitions of what he was tasked to do, he had success, particularly in winning more money for the state of Louisiana. But what has been done with it? Where are the plans, the leadership, the direction or the inspiration from people at Powell's level? Thanking Powell for a job well done is like congratulating the owner of a professional sports team for buying them nice uniforms. Sure, it looks good, but what have they won?
I have tried more than I can express to stay out of opinion and bickering centered on government failings. Constant bashing and negativity does no good. But, hearing about this (and today's editorial wasn't the first I heard of props given to Powell) infuriates me. When you see what I see here everyday, when you hear what I hear, it's downright absurd. Just yesterday I stood with a woman in the middle of her gutted house as she lamented the fact that she can't find a decent, affordable electrician to do her electrical wiring so that the basics like insulation and sheetrocking can start. She finally just got her Road Home money in December, but has no idea how and when all the work she needs done can get started. Meanwhile, she's in a FEMA trailer for over two years now.
Today, I was in the house of another woman, 74 year old Beatrice Duplessis, who has been staying in Pennsylvania because she has family and friends there, but is dying to get back to her home here in St. Bernard Parish. She can't, however, because there is still weeks, if not months worth of work to be done on her house. A wall has to be moved, the ceiling made more structurally sound, things that volunteers like myself or others that I find to help people at these types of homes really can't or shouldn't do. These folks need professional help and they just need it to be done.
How about this for a concept? Instead of sending a woman $80,000 two years after the fact and telling her to figure out a way to get her home rebuilt (in a market where skilled labor like electricians and plumbers are all swamped with work, over priced or outright crooks), why didn't the government (at any level) set up a plan where the billions of dollars that was appropriated went to a Recovery Fund? The money from that fund could then be used to pay hundreds of skilled laborers and home builders and carpenters to come to the Gulf Coast for 6, 8, 12 months and help rebuild neighborhoods. Zones could have been created where some of the best Construction Project Managers in the country could have overseen the rebuilding of homes block by block, street by street. Where was Powell when it came to this sort of creative leadership and program? Cutting checks to people who have suffered great loss, depression, sickness, stress and obstacles beyond description in one blog, and asking them to find a way to get all the work done has to be one of the most ridiculous plans/projects I've ever seen. The more time I spend here, the more I am convinced of that. Have there been some great successes, some people who have figured out a way and rebuilt their homes and their lives? Of course. Quite a few. But overall, big picture, is the recovery moving along fast enough? Successful enough? Not even close.
The only thank you's that should be going around are to volunteers and people who have taken their own initiative to find solutions here, who have gone above and beyond, regular people who weren't in titles or official roles that might indicate they were to help with the recovery. And this isn't about me, forget me or anything I've done. This is about what I've seen every single day I've been here since February of 2007, amazing work done by hundreds of volunteers who are the only reason this place has a chance. I went by the St. Bernard Community Center earlier, where a volunteer (who earns a stipend) named Jason came on board last Fall. The Community Center was flailing when he first arrived, serving merely as a place for some residents to "hang out". Today, I walked in there and saw Road Home officials sitting at desks talking to residents on the left, accounting students from Michigan St. University sitting at desks on the other side of the room helping residents with Tax Questions, a food distribution taking place in the back and a medical clinic trailer sitting out front. That's all happening because a young kid fresh out of college who came her to help out is helping to make that happen.
Thanking the Federal Recovery Czar? Or anyone else in some sort of government role? Please, spare me. The only place for that in any newspaper is in the comics section!
http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/editorials/index.ssf?/base/news-4/1204611682284920.xml&coll=1)
The Times-Pic saluted Mr. Powell and gave him its "sincere thanks" for being a champion for the people of Louisiana (link to the editorial below). I'm back in Louisiana after sevens weeks of travel and am talking to residents and looking at unfinished houses again. This has been my primary home for over a year now, so I think I speak with enough exposure and experience when I say that for any sort of 'thank you' to be levied to someone who holds any responsibility for 'overall' recovery and direction is northing short of an outright joke!
Reading and hearing about any kudos from and to local, state or federal officials is as pathetic now as it was in the days and weeks after Katrina hit -- and if you watched the national news back then you saw plenty of them going around. This place is nowhere near "recovered" enough for someone touted as the "Recovery Czar" to be receiving more than "Nice knowing you, now who is next in line to try and get something tangible done?"
This is not to say that Powell is a bad person, or that he was a complete flop. By some definitions of what he was tasked to do, he had success, particularly in winning more money for the state of Louisiana. But what has been done with it? Where are the plans, the leadership, the direction or the inspiration from people at Powell's level? Thanking Powell for a job well done is like congratulating the owner of a professional sports team for buying them nice uniforms. Sure, it looks good, but what have they won?
I have tried more than I can express to stay out of opinion and bickering centered on government failings. Constant bashing and negativity does no good. But, hearing about this (and today's editorial wasn't the first I heard of props given to Powell) infuriates me. When you see what I see here everyday, when you hear what I hear, it's downright absurd. Just yesterday I stood with a woman in the middle of her gutted house as she lamented the fact that she can't find a decent, affordable electrician to do her electrical wiring so that the basics like insulation and sheetrocking can start. She finally just got her Road Home money in December, but has no idea how and when all the work she needs done can get started. Meanwhile, she's in a FEMA trailer for over two years now.
Today, I was in the house of another woman, 74 year old Beatrice Duplessis, who has been staying in Pennsylvania because she has family and friends there, but is dying to get back to her home here in St. Bernard Parish. She can't, however, because there is still weeks, if not months worth of work to be done on her house. A wall has to be moved, the ceiling made more structurally sound, things that volunteers like myself or others that I find to help people at these types of homes really can't or shouldn't do. These folks need professional help and they just need it to be done.
How about this for a concept? Instead of sending a woman $80,000 two years after the fact and telling her to figure out a way to get her home rebuilt (in a market where skilled labor like electricians and plumbers are all swamped with work, over priced or outright crooks), why didn't the government (at any level) set up a plan where the billions of dollars that was appropriated went to a Recovery Fund? The money from that fund could then be used to pay hundreds of skilled laborers and home builders and carpenters to come to the Gulf Coast for 6, 8, 12 months and help rebuild neighborhoods. Zones could have been created where some of the best Construction Project Managers in the country could have overseen the rebuilding of homes block by block, street by street. Where was Powell when it came to this sort of creative leadership and program? Cutting checks to people who have suffered great loss, depression, sickness, stress and obstacles beyond description in one blog, and asking them to find a way to get all the work done has to be one of the most ridiculous plans/projects I've ever seen. The more time I spend here, the more I am convinced of that. Have there been some great successes, some people who have figured out a way and rebuilt their homes and their lives? Of course. Quite a few. But overall, big picture, is the recovery moving along fast enough? Successful enough? Not even close.
The only thank you's that should be going around are to volunteers and people who have taken their own initiative to find solutions here, who have gone above and beyond, regular people who weren't in titles or official roles that might indicate they were to help with the recovery. And this isn't about me, forget me or anything I've done. This is about what I've seen every single day I've been here since February of 2007, amazing work done by hundreds of volunteers who are the only reason this place has a chance. I went by the St. Bernard Community Center earlier, where a volunteer (who earns a stipend) named Jason came on board last Fall. The Community Center was flailing when he first arrived, serving merely as a place for some residents to "hang out". Today, I walked in there and saw Road Home officials sitting at desks talking to residents on the left, accounting students from Michigan St. University sitting at desks on the other side of the room helping residents with Tax Questions, a food distribution taking place in the back and a medical clinic trailer sitting out front. That's all happening because a young kid fresh out of college who came her to help out is helping to make that happen.
Thanking the Federal Recovery Czar? Or anyone else in some sort of government role? Please, spare me. The only place for that in any newspaper is in the comics section!
http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/editorials/index.ssf?/base/news-4/1204611682284920.xml&coll=1)
2/26/2008
Halfway Back To New Orleans
I'm just about there, almost back to New Orleans. I'm in a hotel in Daphne, AL tonight (anyone heard of Daphne?). My time away lasted longer than I thought it would. I left on January 9, I think. I'm anxious to get back.
I have a plan, which is good. I just have to stick to it. I'll probably write more on that soon, just not now.
I don't have a plan for this blog. I still want to write, but I'm not about writing in 2008 like I did in 2007.
Honestly, part of me really wants to go back to just putting my thoughts about sports and the sports world on paper. I used to do No Load with my brothers. Maybe I'll just do that now on this.
I don't know yet, but I'm seriously thinking about it. I'll know this week. I have to find a new place to live, get settled in, and by then, I'll know what I'm doing with this blog.
2008 equates to lots of change for me again. Good change. There is no more SBRC. But there's going to be a better SBRC. Soon. I'll be back to work soon, earning money again. But doing it in a job that I believe in, and that will be something new. And I'll be living somewhere new, again (
So why not change the blog up. I could just stop doing it. Maybe that's what will happen. But probably not. I always have something to say or think about something, like this absolutely rambling thought that I wrote in my journal as soon as I checked into my hotel tonight......
I have a plan, which is good. I just have to stick to it. I'll probably write more on that soon, just not now.
I don't have a plan for this blog. I still want to write, but I'm not about writing in 2008 like I did in 2007.
Honestly, part of me really wants to go back to just putting my thoughts about sports and the sports world on paper. I used to do No Load with my brothers. Maybe I'll just do that now on this.
I don't know yet, but I'm seriously thinking about it. I'll know this week. I have to find a new place to live, get settled in, and by then, I'll know what I'm doing with this blog.
2008 equates to lots of change for me again. Good change. There is no more SBRC. But there's going to be a better SBRC. Soon. I'll be back to work soon, earning money again. But doing it in a job that I believe in, and that will be something new. And I'll be living somewhere new, again (
So why not change the blog up. I could just stop doing it. Maybe that's what will happen. But probably not. I always have something to say or think about something, like this absolutely rambling thought that I wrote in my journal as soon as I checked into my hotel tonight......
it really is a shame what's happened with hotels. like so many other things inMaybe some things never change.
this country, they "appear" to be so nice, to have gotten so better. and yes,
on the surface, they're nice. but perception is one thing, and reality is
another, and they're all RIPOFFS.
no longer can a non-business traveler just hit the road, go somewhere, and stop and find a reasonable, normal, comfortable and "AFFORDABLE" hotel.
all these chains, and new chains, have done nothing but undergone
makeovers that cater to the business traveler. and, it's fine if you're a
business traveler, and you're not paying for your hotel. or your meal. or your
breakfast. but when you're pulling of a highway in east bumble, Alabama, and
all you can find are $139, $149 and $159 dollar Hilton Garden Suites and Hampton
Innes, and Comfort Suites that are made over from normal $89 hotels to $139
RIPOFFS, well it's a joke.
like everything else in this country, just a fraud. a perception of niceness
masking another way to steal money from people.
i mean, unless you want to stay in an absolute rats nest, you can no longer
drive anywhere and find a respectable, pretty nice $89 or even $99 hotel.
they're all snazzy now, trying to bend over backwards for the business travelers
with their fancy business centers, and fancy soaps (which they throw out after
one use and waste money and then pass the cost onto the customer anyway) and
appear all nice, like mini Las Vegas hotels. but it's done with zero regard
for cost-conscious, common traveler. it's a joke!
and to be staying at a place that is $149, and it's not even a free continental
breakfast?? makes me sick!!!
2/05/2008
Halfway Done In AZ
One week in, one week to go in Arizona. Not forever. I'll be back here. Often, I hope. But after a few days of taking in the FBR Open and Super Bowl festivities, this is fast becoming a very productive second week.I wasn't going to blog today, or even this week, but I just got home from running around all day and just had a real urge to write a few things. One thing I knew wouldn't be the most pleasant of tasks for this trip was trying to take care of my taxes. I spent half the afternoon visiting four different CPA offices, trying to find a good accountant who can help me this year. I've always used HR Block. It's quick, easy, pretty painless and relatively inexpensive (so long as you're getting a refund, which I usually have). But with having spent 11 out of 12 months in 2007 doing volunteer and charity work, I need someone who is creative and knows what they're doing so that I can get the most deductions possible. Well, after talking to a few of them, it doesn't sound like it's going to be all that complicated. It's something I would never likely do (not my personality), but oh how I wish I had been keeping a spreadsheet of all the money I spent. I know what I've spent in my head (ballpark, of course), and I have a handful of receipts. But having more data already on paper would help. Nonetheless, I should be able to piece together a good estimate in about an hour. Not that I don't have anything else to do this week.
My only beef with the people I sat down with today, all of whom were pretty nice, is that I wish just one of them had said affirmatively that, "yes, this can be deducted", or "no that cannot". I got a little too much, "I think that ...... can be deducted". Oh well. One of them will get the greenlight from me by Thursday. So long as they get done. I had five weeks of income in '07, and so long as I get what I paid in federal taxes during that time back, I guess I'll be happy.
Another stop I had was at my Primary Care Physician's office. This one was more pleasant. I went in to see if I can get in this week, to at least get a check up since it's been over a year, and lord knows what the mold, muck and critters that I've slept with in St. Bernard Parish and New Orleans might have put into my body in that time (nothing, I'm sure, but it's ok to be dramatic once in awhile). Anyway, I don't have health insurance and was hopeful that if I told the office manager my situation (that I've been volunteering for the past year in New Orleans), that they'd hold the cost down on me since I'd be paying out of pocket. I had a few run ins with her before, unfortunately. She's my PCP's wife actually. He's a great guy, and talks golf non-stop (imagine being a Family Doctor in Scottsdale, AZ...talk about a recipe for golf courses and easy Wednesdays), but she's pretty tough. I disputed a charge with her one time -- you know, one of those 20 minutes and you're out and nothing was done yet you're still charged $120 buck -- and we didn't end up best of friends after that.
So I go into the office today, it was pretty busy, and this rather large guy, about 20 years my senior, with a breathing apparatus in his nose, was leaning on the counter filling out paperwork. I asked Mrs. PCP if I could get in to see him this week, and if so, what would it cost out of pocket. Not surprisingly, he has no openings, but I can see one of the Nurse Practitioners, and, it would cost me $80 bucks. I was hoping for the $55 range. Whatever, health is important, so I said ok, and she got me in the books, gave me my little appointment reminder, and off I went. By this time, the guy with the oxygen tank had sat down, and right as I was about to exit, he yelled out, "hey buddy, come here". I went over, and after shaking my hand, he leaned up and almost in a whisper he apologized for overhearing my conversation, gave me the name and address of a walk-in clinic in downtown Scottsdale and said that they would probably take me for free. Pretty impressed, I thanked him, and without further prodding from me at all, he said, "an upstanding guy like you, you should get a free check up. And seriously, thanks for what you're doing down there".
No one can ever tell me there aren't a lot of good people out there.
One last stop. The local middle school so that I could vote in the Arizona Primary. I'm still registered here, I have a preferred candidate, so why not. Unfortunately, after waiting in line for 20 minutes, I came to find out that as a registered Independent, I could not vote. I had to have a party affiliation. Interesting, I said to the guy working the check-in table. Because I'm an Independent and don't want a particular party affiliation (I judge issues and political candidates on their own merit, and not at all on party affiliation. There are some Dems I like, some I dislike. There are some Republicans I like, some I loathe), I cannot have any say in who may win a nomination to run for President. That doesn't seem right. I was then told that I could, but I would have had to change my affiliation to Rep or Democrat by January 4 in order to have been able to vote for someone today. As much as I love politics, all I have to say to that is, What a bunch of crap! I liked my visit to the Dr's office better.
Things are good, though. I just sold my washer/dryer set, which had been sitting in storage for a year, to a very nice woman who came over in a truck with her son, with cash, ready to take them away. After having my phone ring all day with people inquiring about them thanks to my ad on Craigslist, I was thrilled to have them go, and to a very nice family at that.
Time to eat dinner.
1/29/2008
Thoughts From The Air
It’s been so long since I’ve done this. At least it feels that way. I’m at about 38,000 feet, on a Southwest flight heading from Florida to Phoenix, AZ, and I have my laptop propped open and in my laptop. This used to be such a regular occurrence for me, going back to my days working for a software company. I’d fly all over the place, almost weekly, and rarely go a flight without propping open my Dell and doing an hour or two of work on my laptop. Of course, I’m not working right now, I’m writing, which is something I’ve never considered work, even when I was a kid in school. Today, I have an HP, my own HP, not company-owned, and I’m writing and thinking about me, about New Orleans, and about SBRC, not about my boss or a client. And I’m certainly not thinking about how many hours my team might be over budget on our latest project. Today, all days as of late, I’m thinking about my next steps, the future of SBRC, and I couldn’t be more excited. I have my anxiety points – money being one. But believe me, after a year now of not drawing a paycheck, I’m almost numb to it. At this point, what are a few more withdrawals from the savings account? I’m way beyond the point of letting things like that worry me or dictate what I do. These days, I’m following my gut, and my heart.
I left New Orleans a couple of weeks ago. Not for good. I’ll be back there in February. I carved out time to pro-actively get out and work on and plan the next steps for my program of helping families in need get furniture and household goods as they moved back into homes more than two years after Hurricane Katrina became famous. I’ve already been to Florida, Boston, Connecticut, New Jersey, Maryland and back to Florida. Along the way, I made a number of new contacts and met a handful of very gracious and generous and encouraging people -- Katrina Shaw in Boston, Ira Smith and Mark Sigman in Acton, Mass., Anne Leyh and Tony Pitale and their wonderful family in New Jersey, Scott Walchak in Maryland and several others. My brother Chris and his wife Kristan were a huge help in Maryland in helping me gather a load of donated furniture that we’ll be getting down to New Orleans soon, as well as to meet some very talented and gracious people.
It’s amazing, too, because when I left New Orleans to take these four weeks or so to garner more support and raise more awareness and clear my head a bit, I knew I had to take some sort of action, and go out and find help, find contributions (of all sorts). And already, just a couple of weeks in, my plans have crystallized. Not materialized, that will come as I execute and act on it. But I feel like I have the plan now, and I have all those people mentioned above to thank for helping me to get to this point.
Now I’m in mid-flight to Arizona, where I’ll spend the next 9 or 10 days taking another big step in my life. I remember in the spring of 2004, when I took my parents to dinner in Jacksonville, FL, and told them I was going to move from Boston to Scottsdale, AZ. They just gave me this look, asked me if I was sure and if that was what I wanted. At the time, I sure was, and it turned out to be the right move, for several reasons. I had a great few years there, made some great friends, and will always go back to vacation and visit. But it’s definitely time for me to pack up that apartment I’ve been keeping, close things down there, and say goodbye to Arizona being the place I call home.
I don’t have many of the 5 and 10-year from now goals (I’m very much a day to day, week to week person), but one that I do have is that I want to own a condo one day in Scottsdale, so I can go visit a couple times a year. But that’s for my 40s. Today is for New Orleans, St. Bernard, re-building SBRC into an even better organization, and getting back into the working world, all at the same time.
For most of this flight, when I look out the window, I see nothing but cloud cover. I can’t see any of the landscape or ground, as if I can’t see where I’m going. Fortunately, that view is not a metaphor for my life, as on this day, I feel as if I know exactly where I’m going.
A few not-so-serious random thoughts….
Airports are great places to just watch people and observe so many interesting and unusual things. Sometimes it’s stuff I just don’t get. For instance, what possesses anyone, save an elderly or disabled person, to get on one of those moving walkways, and not keep walking? Are you that lazy that you’re content to coast along at 1.5 mph as people who are slumbering along on foot breeze by you? It blows my mind that people do that. Just walk, you’ll get there faster, and not look like such ___ . (you can fill in the blank).
Speaking of laziness, going back to Massachusetts brought back some memories. Nothing like seeing convenience stores with drive-thru Dunkin’ Donuts. My brother and I went into one of these stores to get some water and a snack, breezed in and out, yet there were 4, 5 and 6 cars sitting in line to get a Dunkin’ coffee, at about 1 p.m. no less. Some things in this country scare me.
Lastly, if you’re ever driving on Hwy 295 in the Baltimore area (it heads west out of BWI Airport), make sure you do NOT get off the exit marked, “NSA – Restricted Access Only”. Yours truly made that mistake as I was trying to turn around and go back the other way after missing my exit. Let’s just say that the 5 armed security personnel who immediately surrounded my car weren’t helped by the fact that I had an Arizona Driver’s License and was driving a rental car. Trust me, steer clear of that place, especially if you’re running late for a meeting.
1/16/2008
A Slice of Inspiration
One of the biggest influences on my life the past eight months has been a book written by John Wood. Wood left a very successful career at Microsoft to start his own non-profit, Room to Read. Inspired by what he saw during a trip he took to the Himalayas, namely the lack of books at a local school, Wood put together a fund raiser, reaching out to family, friends and business contacts all over the world. It went so well, the response was so overwhelming, Wood didn’t want to stop there. Soon after, Room to Read was born. Less than a decade later, Wood’s organization, with staff all over the world, has built dozens upon dozens of schools in poor, third world nations (mainly in Asia) and supplied over 1 million books. I stumbled across Wood’s book, “Leaving Microsoft to Change the World”, published in 2006, by accident at a Barnes & Noble in New Orleans last summer. On my way out I happened to pass by one of those tables with the New Paperbacks, did a quick scan, saw Wood’s book, and said to myself, “this looks like a book I could glean some great info from”. I’ve done that, and much more. It’s inspired me, filled me with great ideas, picked me up when I’ve been frustrated by fundraising efforts, made me smile and given me hope.
There’s an insert at the end of one of the later chapters, written by Wood, that I just found so motivating that I wanted to post it on the blog and share. I typed this, verbatim, from Wood’s book. If I’ve broken any copyright laws, I’d appreciate it if you didn’t turn me in. Trust me, this is worth the read.
_________________
YOU SAY YOU WANT A REVOLUTION? ADVICE ON CHANGING THE WORLD
Stop Talking, Start Acting
If you are thinking about making some adjustments in your life to allow you to help change the world, my heartfelt recommendation is not to spend too much time thinking about it. Just dive in.
I know that all kinds of practical considerations make this advice difficult to embrace. There might be student loans to be repaid, the need for advice from friends and family, and the desire to write a serious business plan. I am not saying that you should not do any of these things – just that you should not spend too much time on them or you will lose momentum.
The biggest risk is that a lot of people will try to talk you out of pursuing your dream. The world has too many people who are happy discuss why something might not work, and too few who will cheer you on and say, “I’m there for you.” The more time you spend navel-gazing, the longer you give those negative gravitational forces to keep you in their tether.
As an example, I would cite our work in Sri Lanka. After the devastating tsunami, I had to prove to myself that I had the guts to follow my own advice. News reports indicated that hundreds of schools had been destroyed in Indonesia and Sri Lanka. Room to Read did not work in either of those countries, so it was difficult to decide how we could help. But I knew deep in my heart that “We don’t work there, it’s not our problem” was not an answer worthy of a bold, young charity that had never been willing to accept limits.
So I proposed to our team, and to our board, that we immediately launch operations in Sri Lanka, raise a million dollars to get started, and begin to identify communities whose schools had been destroyed. There was, needless to say, a Greek chorus telling me why we couldn’t do this – “We don’t have staff there.” “Room to Read is not licensed to work in Sri Lanka.” “We’re already busy enough with our existing five countries.”
On January 3, I convened an emergency call of the board of directors, and we included Erin, our chief operating officer, to gain her invaluable perspective. All of us were united in our desire to help tsunami victims, yet also scared of diving into something so new. I made my case.
“We’ve been working in South Asia (Nepal and India) for over five years now. We’ve partnered with over fifteen hundred communities throughout Asia to get new schools and libraries built. We know how to do this. Yes, Sri Lanka will be new for us, but it’s not as though we have not launched new countries before. And I think it’s important to remember that Room to Read is an organization that has been built on an ethos of bold thinking and direct action. Do we want to say to these devastated communities, “Sorry, but this is not part of our business plan, so we can’t help you?”
There was dead air on the phone. I was sweating. This was potentially a moment that would cause me to lose faith in our team’s ability to think big about creating change. The silence was broken by a member of our Board, whose opinion I greatly respected. “We know very little about Sri Lanka. If we want to make this decision, we should do a three-month study of the situation, then decide.” More dead air. Now I was really sweating.
Another Board member responded immediately. “With all due respect, if back in 1998 John had decided to do a three-month study of the situation in Nepal, he would have probably never even launched Room to Read. The study would have revealed so many daunting obstacles that he would have become a pessimist, and none of the great accomplishments of the last six years would have been reality. I think that we should go in.”
A third member of the Board opined, “You’re both right in your own way. We should move quickly because the children of Sri Lanka should not have to wait. But we have to realize that with a fast launch without a detailed study, we will hit obstacles. We should think about them in advance and plan our responses. We also need to trust our team to adjust and to figure things out, just as they always have.
Internally, I cheered, then suggested a vote. The board was unanimous in approving the immediate launch of Room to Read Sri Lanka. In our rookie year there, we began construction on 40 schools and also opened 25 libraries.
Sometimes, it’s really important to move with all deliberate speed. If there is something out there that you want to do to make the world a better place, don’t focus on the obstacles. Don’t ask for permission. Just dive in. Don’t let the naysayers get you down.
I know reading about non-profit work isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. But if interested, it’s a good read, a very inspiring book. For more info on it, check out:
1/15/2008
Just Some Thoughts
I'm in Florida, on the first leg of what is about a month's worth of focus on networking and fundraising for the SBRC. In a few days, I'll experience a temperature drop of about 40 degrees as I fly from Jacksonville to Manchester, N.H. I'll be in Boston for a couple of days, meeting with a handful of people who will either be good contacts or possible donors. Snow is predicted for Friday, though. I'm supposed to visit a college in the afternoon, so I'm hoping school isn't canceled (according to an email I just read moments ago from one of the school administrators I've been in contact with, that's a very good possibility right now).
One of the families I've been very engaged with, the Basco-Woods family, finally moved out of their FEMA Trailer and into the house last week. The trailer still sits in the front yard. Jamie Basco, mom to three beautiful children, called me this past weekend to let me know the news. They still don't have electricity in the house, nor are the floors done. But in they went anyway. Jamie said all three kids have been pretty sick, and she's sure the stuffiness of that shoebox of a trailer had a lot to do with it. This family of five (six, including Jamie's brother-in-law) have been in one Trailer for two years now. One trailer. It's simply not humane. Jamie emphasized that everyone is feeling much better, though, since they got in the house, thanks to more space and better air quality. I can't wait to see it when I get back to New Orleans in early February.
On a more somber note, I also got a call from another family I've been working with. Sidney Navis, in his 80s, had a stroke last week, and is in the hospital. His son Joe called me with the news. I got to talk to Sidney on the phone, he sounded very tired and weak. But he's stable, and is supposed to be moved to a rehab facility in about a week. They think he's going to be ok, although he's really struggling with the left side of his body (I could hear it in his speech, too). The sad thing was, Joe and Sidney had just moved into their house -- like the Basco's, they had been in a FEMA trailer in front of their house for upwards of two years. Sidney had one night in a bed that I delivered to his house last week before having his stroke. I hope by the time I'm back there, his condition is much better.
Today's USA Today (January 15) had a pretty good article on long-term volunteers in the New Orleans area. The piece actually focused on some volunteers in St. Bernard Parish that I know. It's an accurate reflection of the feelings and passion of long termers, and worth a look if you're interested.
One of the families I've been very engaged with, the Basco-Woods family, finally moved out of their FEMA Trailer and into the house last week. The trailer still sits in the front yard. Jamie Basco, mom to three beautiful children, called me this past weekend to let me know the news. They still don't have electricity in the house, nor are the floors done. But in they went anyway. Jamie said all three kids have been pretty sick, and she's sure the stuffiness of that shoebox of a trailer had a lot to do with it. This family of five (six, including Jamie's brother-in-law) have been in one Trailer for two years now. One trailer. It's simply not humane. Jamie emphasized that everyone is feeling much better, though, since they got in the house, thanks to more space and better air quality. I can't wait to see it when I get back to New Orleans in early February.
On a more somber note, I also got a call from another family I've been working with. Sidney Navis, in his 80s, had a stroke last week, and is in the hospital. His son Joe called me with the news. I got to talk to Sidney on the phone, he sounded very tired and weak. But he's stable, and is supposed to be moved to a rehab facility in about a week. They think he's going to be ok, although he's really struggling with the left side of his body (I could hear it in his speech, too). The sad thing was, Joe and Sidney had just moved into their house -- like the Basco's, they had been in a FEMA trailer in front of their house for upwards of two years. Sidney had one night in a bed that I delivered to his house last week before having his stroke. I hope by the time I'm back there, his condition is much better.
Today's USA Today (January 15) had a pretty good article on long-term volunteers in the New Orleans area. The piece actually focused on some volunteers in St. Bernard Parish that I know. It's an accurate reflection of the feelings and passion of long termers, and worth a look if you're interested.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-01-14-katrina-volunteers-main_N.htm
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-01-14-katrina-volunteers-side_N.htm
1/10/2008
SBRC Truck Run #3
On December 26, we loaded up another UHaul full of donated furniture. My brother Todd and his wife Aquilina did an awesome job rallying an array of neighbors, friends, co-workers and family to help out and give some things they may have no longer needed or wanted to change over, while Erin got an apartment's worth of furniture from a family member in New York. Combined, all those things were enough to fill another 17-foot UHaul to the brim.
I arrived back in New Orleans the night of December 28th, and on Saturday the 29th, about seven families we specifically invited met me at the warehouse where I store our donated items. These were all families who have either just moved back into a home or are about to, and need things ASAP. As we unloaded, they looked, sorted through and chose what they needed most. The good thing is, I know these families well enough by now that getting them to manage who gets what and to not take anything they don't need was easy. I must have heard the comment, "that's ok, that should go to someone who needs it more than we do", a half dozen times. The residents are really good about only taking what they need. We also used the UHaul to deliver things to three homes for people who didn't have big enough cars or trucks to take it themselves.
It was another successful distribution for St. Bernard Recovery Corp. and for the residents we're helping. I know we made some people very happy that day. Thanks to all who donated and contributed, Erin, Todd, Aquilina, family and friends. We made a difference. I'll be in Maryland in a week doing a similar effort with my younger brother Chris, some of his wife's family and their neighbors.
Below are shutterfly links to the see all the pictures. The first link has pics of us loading at Todd's house. The second link contains all the pictures taken by Volunteer Chris Hinchey (see blog posting from 1/8/08 below) during her stay. Picture numbers 65 - 154 are from the Distribution we did on Saturday, Dec. 29.
I arrived back in New Orleans the night of December 28th, and on Saturday the 29th, about seven families we specifically invited met me at the warehouse where I store our donated items. These were all families who have either just moved back into a home or are about to, and need things ASAP. As we unloaded, they looked, sorted through and chose what they needed most. The good thing is, I know these families well enough by now that getting them to manage who gets what and to not take anything they don't need was easy. I must have heard the comment, "that's ok, that should go to someone who needs it more than we do", a half dozen times. The residents are really good about only taking what they need. We also used the UHaul to deliver things to three homes for people who didn't have big enough cars or trucks to take it themselves.
It was another successful distribution for St. Bernard Recovery Corp. and for the residents we're helping. I know we made some people very happy that day. Thanks to all who donated and contributed, Erin, Todd, Aquilina, family and friends. We made a difference. I'll be in Maryland in a week doing a similar effort with my younger brother Chris, some of his wife's family and their neighbors.
Below are shutterfly links to the see all the pictures. The first link has pics of us loading at Todd's house. The second link contains all the pictures taken by Volunteer Chris Hinchey (see blog posting from 1/8/08 below) during her stay. Picture numbers 65 - 154 are from the Distribution we did on Saturday, Dec. 29.
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AatmbNk3bsmLCOA&emid=sharview&linkid=link2
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8AcsmjNk3ZOHJQ&emid=sharshar&linkid=link2
1/08/2008
Letter from a Volunteer
I am posting a letter sent out via email to a number of recipients by Chris Hinchey. Chris is a nursing student from San Diego, CA, who decided to spend her holiday break from school and work in the New Orleans area volunteering (Chris is second from left in front in the pic to the right). Another volunteer who visited St. Bernard earlier in 2007 put Chris in touch with me, and I helped set her up with a couple of her projects. She met a lot of people along the way here, and decided to capture her trip in an email that she sent out to a number of people. With her permission, posted below is a copy of that email. I think it's an extremely well-written expression of someone's experience here, and needed to be shared with many more.BY CHRIS HINCHEY
Hello to my family, new friends and old friends.
I am back - yes tired, with a cold, and stressed over writing this paper due Monday! I was in New Orleans from Dec 24 - Jan 4. The trip was well worth it. New Orleans French Quarter is as great as ever. The music touches me every time. The city has it's own culture and it makes you understand why it's residents are working so hard to rebuild the place they love.
I, like many of you, didn't know exactly what was happening ever since Katrina... so I will give you the understanding that I now have. The population is around half of what it was. Some homes are rebuilt, especially for those that had flood insurance, rather than just home owner's insurance. Any new construction is required to be a number of feet off the ground. The government is attemping to do something, though slowly.
The problems start with who gets help first. You see, the people who were affected, but not quite as bad as others, were able to return first since their houses were habitable and they had a place to stay. So, they were able to apply first and get assistance earlier than some others. Basically, they are at the top of the list - first come, first serve, sort of. So, finally after two years and four months, more families are getting their checks to rebuild. The woman I talked to, who just received her check (did I mention... two years and four months later), is still in her FEMA trailer. She agreed to rebuild with the money and stay in the house for at least three years. Since she has lived there for over 50, that is not a concern for her. But, what do you do first?
Volunteers have gutted the house and so, once it is sprayed for mold, she can begin. Would you know how and who to hire first - plumbing, construction, electric, etc. Not to mention the horrible people that have been ripping residents off- over charging, starting jobs and not finishing, steeling from them, etc. Plus, the robbers who break into houses being constucted to steal copper pipes, electrical wire, etc. How do you find someone reputable? This is a major problem for many people.
Then, like one resident I met, there could be more waiting. As far as this family has been told, the gas company is 5 months behind in inspection, then turn on. So, after getting through all of that construction and finally making it to the other side, they will be in their FEMA trailer (trust me, you wouldn't want to live in these for too long - they are SMALL) for a possible 5 extra months!!! So, for anyone who thinks that the government has given the money (which still hasn't happened for everyone yet) and is wondering what the heck is going on... well, there you go. Not as easy as you might think. Volunteers have built more houses than the government, let's not forget that there is no argumnet that the levy broke related to neglect!! This wasn't just due to Katrina!
We all live in blind faith that our taxes support roads, levies. bridges, etc and we assume they are cared for. Let's keep hoping that is true for the rest of us.
So, there is MUCH still to be done. Few of the local hospitals and clinics have reopened. I doubt that it will be all complete within ten years even. But, it is getting there and the residents and volunteers are outweighing the thieves and the lack of fast action by the government. They are rebuidling, building anew, returned to work and school (and hey, even Brad and Angelina's kids are enrolled in public school there) and are staying strong and being supportive of one another.
So, that is the short story.
I met some great residents and connected with some wonderful fellow volunteers. I nailed, ripped up tile, caulked, painted, moved furniture, drilled, dry walled and had some great talks and heard some amazing stories. I also heard some great music and had a few fun nights out as well. Hope you all had a great holiday and new year. Hope you learn from and enjoy my story. Have a great 2008.
1/03/2008
Still Alive
It's been awhile. The holidays were good, save a few bumps, and I'm back in New Orleans since this past weekend after heading to Connecticut to be with family for Christmas. With lots of help from my family (in particular my older brother and sister-in-law), Erin, one of Erin's co-workers and a lot of generous donors, I was able to arrive back in New Orleans with a UHaul full of furniture. On December 29, we distributed most of it to seven households. I have a lot of pictures sitting on another volunteer's camera. As soon as I get them from her, I will share them as well as more about that day.
AWARENESS: Talk about a classic case of something 'appearing' to be good on the surface, but when peeling away the layers (i.e., BS), you see very little substance.
The Road Home Program, which funds money back to people who were homeowners pre-Katrina and either lost the home or had it incur a significant amount of damage (every home in St. Bernard Parish falls into one of those two categories), has been a debacle since Day 1. Apparently they reached some end of year deadline to finish processing 90,000 applications. But the company contracted to run it is doing nothing but blowing smoke. Yes, more people have received their money (I know a few residents who finally got it in the past month or so), but isn't it about time? Are we to applaud someone or something that has been so inefficient just because they 'finally' reach some benchmarks that should have been hit months ago? Are we to forget the horrible service, the long lines, the lost applications, the no call-backs to residents. I have heard plenty of first hand accounts of this, and it's sad. Yet here was ICF patting itself on the back because it hit some arbitrary end of year deadline. Funny, but ICF would have lost money per its contract had it not hit the mark, and I'm sure they were jumping through hoops to process just enough so that that didn't happen. And trust me, there are plenty of people still waiting and dealing with non-returned calls and buckets of red tape.
Pardon the cynicism, but this is reality. And it's a big reason why I'm still here. People haven't gotten the help they should from agencies and programs that were supposed to deliver it. And don't let some fluffy figures and benchmarks lead you to think otherwise.
Anyway, the following links provide a good recap. The first is to the story the Times-Picayune ran on January 1st (just need to read the first few paragraphs of that one). Try to read the 2nd link in full, an editorial by the TP. It's on the money.
Happy New Year.
AWARENESS: Talk about a classic case of something 'appearing' to be good on the surface, but when peeling away the layers (i.e., BS), you see very little substance.
The Road Home Program, which funds money back to people who were homeowners pre-Katrina and either lost the home or had it incur a significant amount of damage (every home in St. Bernard Parish falls into one of those two categories), has been a debacle since Day 1. Apparently they reached some end of year deadline to finish processing 90,000 applications. But the company contracted to run it is doing nothing but blowing smoke. Yes, more people have received their money (I know a few residents who finally got it in the past month or so), but isn't it about time? Are we to applaud someone or something that has been so inefficient just because they 'finally' reach some benchmarks that should have been hit months ago? Are we to forget the horrible service, the long lines, the lost applications, the no call-backs to residents. I have heard plenty of first hand accounts of this, and it's sad. Yet here was ICF patting itself on the back because it hit some arbitrary end of year deadline. Funny, but ICF would have lost money per its contract had it not hit the mark, and I'm sure they were jumping through hoops to process just enough so that that didn't happen. And trust me, there are plenty of people still waiting and dealing with non-returned calls and buckets of red tape.
Pardon the cynicism, but this is reality. And it's a big reason why I'm still here. People haven't gotten the help they should from agencies and programs that were supposed to deliver it. And don't let some fluffy figures and benchmarks lead you to think otherwise.
Anyway, the following links provide a good recap. The first is to the story the Times-Picayune ran on January 1st (just need to read the first few paragraphs of that one). Try to read the 2nd link in full, an editorial by the TP. It's on the money.
Happy New Year.
STORY:
http://www.nola.com/timespic/stories/index.ssf?/base/news-9/1199200268154110.xml&coll=1
EDITORIAL:
http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/editorials/index.ssf?/base/news-4/1199168431314580.xml&coll=1
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