AARC Members in Areas Affected
by Hurricanes Katrina, Wilma and RitaMarch 1, 2006
For those of you who have experienced losses during our recent bouts with natural disasters, please know we here at the AARC are thinking of you and have you and your families in our thoughts and prayers. Aside from that, we want you to know we're here to help in your hour of need.To date, the AARC Disaster Relief Fund has distributed over $50,000 to needy therapists in these affected areas. The members of the AARC, YOUR professional organization, continue to make contributions to these funds to make additional funding possible. If you or a therapist you know are struggling as a result of these storms and their aftermath, please contact us so we might help.
Several programs are in place to assist our members in their search for normalcy:
- The aforementioned Disaster Relief Funds are given in the forms of grants to qualifying members;
- For those affected members who are applying for assistance, the AARC is waiving their dues for the period of one year;
- In order to develop a more comprehensive response in the event of a similar disaster in the future, the AARC has formed an Ad Hoc Committee on AARC Emergency Preparedness to formulate systems and structures which will facilitate prompt response to our members and hopefully eliminate some of the unnecessary stresses and delays during these trying times.
In the near future, you will be receiving communication as to the alignment of additional processes as they come into place. At the same time they will gain access to the latest in developments of our continued relief efforts. We also want to improve the accessibility of our members by obtaining effective ways of communicating with them through events just like those recently encountered.
If you are aware of members who may be affected by these storms who may still be unable to receive communication through more traditional ways, please help us get in touch with them or get them in touch with us.Your point of contact at the AARC office is Sherry Milligan (milligan@aarc.org) at 972-406-4656. Above all, keep your chin up, your head held high, your AARC is behind you!
Warmest Regards,
Mike Runge, BS, RRT
AARC President
- If you are a member and would like your dues waived.
- If you are an AARC member wanting to apply for AARC Disaster Relief Funds.
- If you want to donate to the AARC’s Disaster Relief Fund.
- If you need help or want to review needs of the Gulf Coast community.
- If you have an offer of assistance, such as student relocations, job opportunities for displaced workers.
- If you are looking for general information and resources for patients or coping with the health issues in affected areas.
