Sault Tribe, steelworkers do their bit for Katrina survivors

Kewadin Casino in the Michigan Soo will be serving up Indian tacos at a fundraiser late next week to benefit victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Aaron Payment (shown), chairperson of the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians, announced yesterday that the event will take place on Friday, September 9, at the casino's Dream Maker's Theatre.

Music will be provided by local bands and there will be a 50-50 raffle.

Proceeds from the fundraiser will be matched by Kedwadin Casinos and the Sault Tribe government.

President Bush announced Saturday that more than 7,000 active-duty troops are being deployed to the Gulf Coast to help with relief efforts. To view a SooToday.com Big Picture of the damage caused by Katrina in New Orleans, please click here. You'll want to use your browser's scroll buttons to see the entire image, taken earlier this week by the U.S. National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

The following memorandum, meanwhile, was distributed yesterday to United Steelworkers of America offices across Canada by International President Leo Gerard, Canadian National Director Ken Neumann and International Secretary-Treasurer James English.

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To: All USW local union presidents and recording secretaries in Canada

Greetings:

All of us have been shocked and deeply saddened at the widespread devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina.

And it continues to get worse.

Thousands of our members live and work in the Gulf areas most affected by the hurricane.

Our Directors in those areas have been busy calling our Locals to get an assessment of the damage, but communications are very difficult because many telephone lines are down.

What we do know is that many of our members were evacuated, their homes are flooded and they may not be permitted back to their neighborhoods for 30 days or more.

Incidentally, this includes some of our staff.

Most of the companies they work for — oil refineries, steel mills, paper mills and a large variety of manufacturing facilities — were able to shut down before Katrina hit, but now water and wind damage and lack of electric power are preventing them from restarting.

Our members' needs are short-term (temporary shelter, food, medical supplies) and intermediate term (repair to roofs and house foundations, replacement of destroyed beds, furniture and appliances).

Their needs are enormous.

But resources in the area are scarce and we can help them.

Today, the Executive Board of the United Steelworkers authorized an initial contribution of $50,000.

And the Steelworkers Humanity Fund in Canada has matched it.

That makes $100,000 in seed money.

We know that most of you and your locals will want to help.

And we expect that many of your members will as well.

While you are certainly free to contribute to the American Red Cross or other organizations of that type, we strongly urge you to make your contribution to the Steelworkers Charitable and Educational Organization, our nonprofit charitable supporting organization.

That is where the United Steelworkers contribution will go.

In turn, the monies contributed to the Steelworkers Charitable and Educational Organization will be allocated to have maximum effect in providing assistance to our members most harmed by Katrina.

And money is not the only way to help with their needs.

Locals which are geographically close may want to offer shelter; other locals, sometimes working within their communities, may wish to make available much needed equipment and building supplies.

If your employers are interested in helping out directly, there will be a phone number established that you or they can call.

In order to coordinate the USW's relief effort and maximize its effectiveness, the Executive Board has appointed a Katrina relief committee consisting of Directors Connie Entrekin, Don Langham and Gary Beevers, along with the Presidents of the Locals in the areas that are most affected and representatives of the Secretary- Treasurer’s office.

In the meantime, we ask you to concentrate on raising as much in contributions as you can.

When you make out your check, please be sure to designate it for hurricane relief.

Make checks payable to the Steelworkers Charitable and Educational Organization and mail to:

Secretary-Treasurer United Steelworkers Five Gateway Center Pittsburgh, PA 15222

This is a terrible tragedy, but tragedies bring out the best in human nature and most especially in the hearts of trade unionists.

Think of the plight of your brothers and sisters and give generously.

In solidarity,

James D. English, Leo W. Gerard, Ken Neumann

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