NTPN Supports Hurricane Relief Efforts

pictured left to right: David Bond, NTPN Director, and American Red Cross officials, 
Judi Oestreich, Barry Vok, and Andy Andreason

As promised to its members prior to the 2005 NTPN conference, NTPN recently donated $5500 of the conference registration fees to the American Red Cross hurricane disaster relief fund.

We regret that many of our Gulf Coast Tech Prep partners were unable to attend the conference due to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita that caused destruction from Texas to Florida.

According to Red Cross officials, for the first time in its history, the organization had to borrow money to carry on their life-saving work in the wake of the 2005 record-breaking hurricane season. The organization relies on monetary gifts to continue to operate. 

For information on how you can help the Red Cross in its mission to meet the needs of disaster victims, go to www.redcross.org.

NTPN Official Statement About Hurricane Katrina

Our hearts go out to those affected by the loss of life and property caused by Hurricane Katrina in the Gulf Coast States.  The National Tech Prep Network staff would like to help in a couple of ways.  First, we have established a means of communicating the needs and stories of our colleagues who were affected, and second, NTPN will make a financial contribution to the work of the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.

We are setting up a message board so that friends and colleagues can share their needs and concerns with each other. This message board may be accessed by going to:

http://blackboard.cord.org/. Then follow these steps:

• Click on “login” then enter user name “ntpn” (lower case, no quotes) and the password “katrina” (lower case, no quotes).
• Then click on “NTPN Katrina message board”
• Then click on “Discussion board”
•  Then choose a message thread to read. You can then either reply or start a new message thread. If you have questions contact the moderator at jferguson@cord.org.

What kind of messages should be posted?

• Perhaps you want to just share what has happened in your area.
• Some of you may just want to let others know that you are OK.  
• Can you suggest ideas of how those not directly affected can help those who are?
• Can you host a professional development event for those who lost their facilities?
• Can you provide any materials or supplies that others could use?
• Do you need a document or list that cannot be retrieved from your server, but that someone else may be able to post to this message board?
• What are some unique needs you have, or have heard that someone else has?

Use this for any kind of message or thought related to the recent and ongoing disaster.

In addition, NTPN realizes that the NTPN conference is the farthest thing from the minds of those in affected areas, but we also understand that sometimes continuing life as normal, when possible, is a healthy and valuable thing to do. In an effort to have a real effect on the lives of those in need, NTPN will make a contribution to the American Red Cross out of total conference registration fees. Registration information may be found at www.ntpn.info. We will also be thinking of other ways we can recognize and affect the needs that our students, and those that work with them, have during this trying time.

If you wish to make a direct contribution to the American Red Cross, go to their website at www.redcross.org, or make other contributions to the relief effort of your choice.

Sincerely,

David Bond
NTPN Director