Thanks to local Red Cross volunteers



Many readers are aware of the Hurricane Gustav evacuee shelter at the Kentucky Fair and Expo Center, home to 1496 residents for the past week or so. What readers may not know is that over 70 volunteers from the Clark County Red Cross participated in all facets of the operation.

Office volunteers started contacting our seasoned response volunteers on Thursday when word of the shelter was released to us. Volunteers manned the Chapter on Saturday, Sunday and Monday while staff was on duty at the shelter.

Red Cross volunteers met evacuees as they got off the planes, sorted luggage, processed registrations, helped issue cots and blankets, helped hand out 1650 comfort kits, provided mental health counseling, set up activities for the children, worked in client services, provided health care services and provided reassuring words to those in need.

Our volunteers helped provide over 38,000 meals. Most worked 12-hour shifts, putting personal matters on the bottom of their “to do” lists in order to help. All of them represented southern Indiana with honor and pride. And by the way, did we mention this relief effort commenced over the Labor Day Holiday weekend?

Each time a disaster occurs, the generous people of Clark County and southern Indiana rally to the aid of their neighbors, even if their neighbors are 400 miles away. Prior to the shelter event in Louisville, two volunteers from our Chapter were deployed to the Gulf region to prepare shelters there. These two Red Cross volunteers are still there, waiting to see what Ike will do.

To the more than 70 volunteers of the Clark County Red Cross who responded to this relief effort, and to our many other volunteers who respond when we call, on behalf of the members of the Staff and Board of Directors, we commend you and offer our most heartfelt thanks.

— Phyllis Wilkins, Executive Director and Kate Merchant, Programs Director, Clark County Chapter of the American Red Cross





Rally to Rescue organizers thank community for help



The organizers of the third-annual Purina Rally to Rescue wish to thank The Tribune and Evening News staff and the community for their help in making the rally a rousing success.

Over 400 people attended this year’s rally and were able to learn about animal rescue, fostering and adoption.

Many thanks need to go out to all our wonderful volunteers, vendors and rescues, who came from Indiana and Kentucky, with adoptable pets ranging from dogs and cats to guinea pigs.

A special thanks needs to go out to Purina Pro Plan, Dairy Queen, Fischer’s Packing Company, Eve Sign Company and Rick Page Entertainment, all the raffle prize donors and the 4-H Fair Board for allowing us to hold the rally at their facility.

It is the hope of our group that everyone had an enjoyable day. At the same time educating the public about the plight of homeless pets is a necessary objective of all the rally’s participating groups. All of us hope we accomplished this objective in some small way.

Again, thanks to everyone for making our event a huge success.

— Peggy and Suzanna Roberson, Ratbone Rescue and New Rattitude Rat Terrier Rescue, and Nicole Hahn, Southern Star Min Pin Rescue





Reader questions Curran’s thoughts



I question Kelley Curran’s odd interpretation(s) of the proper role of government and taxation. Our elected representatives are supposed to use our pooled taxes to provide for the common weal—that is, pay for the things we cannot pay for ourselves: defense, highways, fire and police protection, disease control, and homeland security.

Many would agree that health care is one such essential service.

Our current system is broken. Over 18,000 die each year for lack of access to treatment (six times the death toll of 9/11). We give 20 to 30 cents of every health care dollar to insurers who are not providers of care.

A single payer system would be the least “authoritarian” of the reforms sketched out by Ms. Curran. “We the people” would join together to form one large pool--sharing risk and cost. We would pay for health care as we now pay for the services mentioned above.

Analysts at the Lewin Group have reported that the United States could save billions under a single payer plan. Furthermore, only single payer would allow us to control escalating costs going forward.

Other free-market democracies get it. I have many relatives in Canada--several with serious illnesses. They receive timely, innovative, high quality care.

We must enact HR-676, the single payer legislation now before Congress (www.thomas.gov). Urge your own representative to join the 90 co-sponsors already on board.

Ms. Curran rightly rejects the “Divided We Fail” campaign. The AARP makes billions through alliances with for-profit health insurers.

— Harriette Seiler, Louisville



Mayor, thanks for veto



I would like to thank New Albany Mayor England for his veto of the smoking ordinance. It’s nice for a change to see a government official stand up to the “If I don’t like it then you can’t do it” crowd. What puzzles me is this: instead of trying to ram your beliefs down the throats of those who don’t agree with you through the force of law, why don’t some of you enterprising individuals open your own nonsmoking restaurants, bars, etc.? Obviously there’s an untapped market for such a thing. Everyone would be happy and, while prospering in your new endeavor, you can tend to your business while keeping your nose out of others. Just for the record, I’m a nonsmoker.

— Phil Nolot, New Albany