[meteorite-list] Re: Statement on Donation (was "New Orleans")

[Notkin]

Dear Listees:

100% of the money raised from our charity raffle will go to the 
American Red Cross.

I made this statement at the outset, and out of respect for the many 
people who have already given money to the charity project, I feel it 
would be inappropriate to now change the recipient(s) of our community 
donation.

Some List members do not feel comfortable donating money to overtly 
religious groups, and I am one of them. The M-List represents many 
different political and religious viewpoints, but I hope we can all 
agree that the American Red Cross is a nondenominational, apolitical 
body, trying to give help where it's needed. I appreciate that a large 
organization like the Red Cross has administrative expenses, but I'm 
sure they are doing the best they can.

As for Bob's suggestion of trying to find someone on the ground who can 
distribute the funds directly, I think it's a nice idea, but in my 
view, impractical. I certainly don't have time to try and find someone, 
and how can we be sure that such a person could be trusted to do the 
right thing with our money?

In times of emergency, my view is it's best to let organizations like 
the Red Cross -- who have well over a hundred years' experience of 
helping people in danger -- use their expertise to save as many as they 
can.


Sincerely,

Geoff N.