My heartfelt thoughts go out to those folks who have incurred losses from the Mid-Western floods and high water.
Here's pulling for and praying that youall get through this trying period!
Mid-Western Floods & High Water
Moderator: admin
Mid-Western Floods & High Water
Octogenarian's have an earned right to be a curmudgeon.
Chuck in Lancaster, CA
Chuck in Lancaster, CA
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weelildaddy
Chuck, I was just in the garage drilling out some pen blanks thinking the same thing. It makes one feel humble and helpless to be so far away and unable to lend assistance to thoes in need. We all need to count our blessings and for thoes of us that also have troubles, we need to put things in perspective. Thoes people out there are hurting.....some have lost everything.
Arno
Arno
"My heartfelt thoughts go out to those folks..."
"Those people out there are hurting..."
"...between fire, wind, and water, it is hard not to feel..."
Any member of the human race worth worth their weight in protoplasm can empathize with other members who are suffering. This is at the core of the indefinable something that makes life worth living. No man is an island; united we stand, divided we fall; we're all in this together; love your neighbor as your self. From a galactic point of view, it's both admirable and unbelievable that on an obscure forum devoted to an avocation, the participants would think to write about the troubles of others and invite their friends to hope for the relief of people whose names they do not know.
Unfortunately, it's not enough.
It's not enough because the members of this particular forum, devoted as they are to this particular avocation, have been endowed with the super powers necessary to relieve at least some of this suffering. You may not be in the habit of thinking of yourselves as superheroes, but you very well could be. You may have missed out on the power that allows you to leap tall buildings in a single bound, but you have the power to create those buildings. And quite frankly, I think that particular power is more potent. It certainly is more useful.
Back in the 90s, I filmed a pilot for a how-to program called "Homework." It was never picked up by any of the cable channels; my little publishing company sadly lacked the sponsor-finding super power. But it had some worthwhile features, and the most worthwhile by a long stretch was a short segment on tool-savvy people who volunteered their time to help those in distress who had lost their homes to fire, wind, and rain.
There are somewhere between twenty and thirty of these organizations in the United States and none of them (with the possible exception of Habitats for Humanity) have the necessary funds for self promotion. In the pilot episode of "Homework," we spot-lighted a band of Mennonite carpenters, electricians, and plumbers who chased natural disasters around the country, repairing the damage as time, money, and manpower allowed. When some nasty weather was brewing, they would put out a call to their volunteers and ask those who could spare a few days to converge on a specific location. In the meantime, they would contact the churches in the area and ask where their help would do the most good. Those that I interviewed all said that they never felt that they could do enough, but they slept better and admired themselves more knowing they had been the answer to at least a few prayers.
So here's what I think this little band of would-be-could-be superheroes ought to do. The segment of "Homework" that I described would be just as much at home in a "Sawdust Session." I would be tickled pea-green to spotlight one of these organizations every two weeks, and let our viewers know where they might volunteer their skills. I don't suggest that we organize our own band of superheroes; I am severely hampered by a lack of time and funding that I would need to coordinate such an effort and I just don't think it's necessary. There are enough of these organizations around, some local, some national, some well-managed, others less so -- enough that our viewers (all 250,000 of them as of this week) could find a good fit based on religion, region, favorite foods, or zodiac sign. By helping to funnel volunteers into these endeavors we would be helping to answer prayers, not just praying.
If you agree this is something that we should do, I need your help to ferret out these organizations. Many if not most of them are regional. I wouldn't know where to look in Florida, Arizona, or New Zealand. Nor do Drew and I have the extra time needed to comb the Internet. Find these people, help them coordinate with me so we can get them some Internet exposure, maybe join them them for a few disaster-relief efforts and take your camera with you. I'm betting we'll all look a little better in the mirror for having used our super powers to save the planet -- even if we can only save it one little piece at a time.
With all good wishes,
"Those people out there are hurting..."
"...between fire, wind, and water, it is hard not to feel..."
Any member of the human race worth worth their weight in protoplasm can empathize with other members who are suffering. This is at the core of the indefinable something that makes life worth living. No man is an island; united we stand, divided we fall; we're all in this together; love your neighbor as your self. From a galactic point of view, it's both admirable and unbelievable that on an obscure forum devoted to an avocation, the participants would think to write about the troubles of others and invite their friends to hope for the relief of people whose names they do not know.
Unfortunately, it's not enough.
It's not enough because the members of this particular forum, devoted as they are to this particular avocation, have been endowed with the super powers necessary to relieve at least some of this suffering. You may not be in the habit of thinking of yourselves as superheroes, but you very well could be. You may have missed out on the power that allows you to leap tall buildings in a single bound, but you have the power to create those buildings. And quite frankly, I think that particular power is more potent. It certainly is more useful.
Back in the 90s, I filmed a pilot for a how-to program called "Homework." It was never picked up by any of the cable channels; my little publishing company sadly lacked the sponsor-finding super power. But it had some worthwhile features, and the most worthwhile by a long stretch was a short segment on tool-savvy people who volunteered their time to help those in distress who had lost their homes to fire, wind, and rain.
There are somewhere between twenty and thirty of these organizations in the United States and none of them (with the possible exception of Habitats for Humanity) have the necessary funds for self promotion. In the pilot episode of "Homework," we spot-lighted a band of Mennonite carpenters, electricians, and plumbers who chased natural disasters around the country, repairing the damage as time, money, and manpower allowed. When some nasty weather was brewing, they would put out a call to their volunteers and ask those who could spare a few days to converge on a specific location. In the meantime, they would contact the churches in the area and ask where their help would do the most good. Those that I interviewed all said that they never felt that they could do enough, but they slept better and admired themselves more knowing they had been the answer to at least a few prayers.
So here's what I think this little band of would-be-could-be superheroes ought to do. The segment of "Homework" that I described would be just as much at home in a "Sawdust Session." I would be tickled pea-green to spotlight one of these organizations every two weeks, and let our viewers know where they might volunteer their skills. I don't suggest that we organize our own band of superheroes; I am severely hampered by a lack of time and funding that I would need to coordinate such an effort and I just don't think it's necessary. There are enough of these organizations around, some local, some national, some well-managed, others less so -- enough that our viewers (all 250,000 of them as of this week) could find a good fit based on religion, region, favorite foods, or zodiac sign. By helping to funnel volunteers into these endeavors we would be helping to answer prayers, not just praying.
If you agree this is something that we should do, I need your help to ferret out these organizations. Many if not most of them are regional. I wouldn't know where to look in Florida, Arizona, or New Zealand. Nor do Drew and I have the extra time needed to comb the Internet. Find these people, help them coordinate with me so we can get them some Internet exposure, maybe join them them for a few disaster-relief efforts and take your camera with you. I'm betting we'll all look a little better in the mirror for having used our super powers to save the planet -- even if we can only save it one little piece at a time.
With all good wishes,
Nick Engler
http://www.workshopcompanion.com
http://www.workshopcompanion.com
Nick,
My wife and I have supported and when a bit younger even worked on projects to help people subjected to a wide variety of natural disasters. Our favored vehicle is The Mennonite Disaster Service. Please see this link; http://www.mds.mennonite.net/
During the 1970's the Big Thompson Canyon in Colorado flooded. our MDS chapter was the first to show up and go to work digging mud, one house at a time. I will never forget stopping to register our team's leaving the disaster area after the first long day of digging mud from a home and hearing the County Sherriff tearfully thank us saying, "Every charitable and religous organization he was aware of had visited the flood area to access the damage, only the Mennonites had shown up to work!" They have a supurb reputation for helping after every natural disaster. I would love to see donations made to an organization that turns every dollar into aid for those who need it such as MDS is known for.
The citizens of Nelson County Virginia celebtate their memories of the workers from MDS every year when they re-live the almost total destruction of Huricane Camile in 1969. Jim
My wife and I have supported and when a bit younger even worked on projects to help people subjected to a wide variety of natural disasters. Our favored vehicle is The Mennonite Disaster Service. Please see this link; http://www.mds.mennonite.net/
During the 1970's the Big Thompson Canyon in Colorado flooded. our MDS chapter was the first to show up and go to work digging mud, one house at a time. I will never forget stopping to register our team's leaving the disaster area after the first long day of digging mud from a home and hearing the County Sherriff tearfully thank us saying, "Every charitable and religous organization he was aware of had visited the flood area to access the damage, only the Mennonites had shown up to work!" They have a supurb reputation for helping after every natural disaster. I would love to see donations made to an organization that turns every dollar into aid for those who need it such as MDS is known for.
The citizens of Nelson County Virginia celebtate their memories of the workers from MDS every year when they re-live the almost total destruction of Huricane Camile in 1969. Jim
F. Jim Parks
Lakewood, Colorado:)
When the love of power is replaced by the power of love the world will have a chance for survival.
Lakewood, Colorado:)
When the love of power is replaced by the power of love the world will have a chance for survival.
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woodburner
- Gold Member
- Posts: 498
- Joined: Fri Jul 21, 2006 2:35 am
- Location: Visalia, CA
- Contact:
To Nick & Everyone,
Nick's idea is a great one. Maybe someone can post some of the contact information here on the forum along with putting them on the "Sawdust Sessions".
I live in CA (the fire state) and have helped out the Red Cross with these type of relief efforts. I don't do it to make myself feel good, I do it to help those who need helping feel better. As the saying goes, "I don't give them a hand-out, I give them a hand-up." This rings true for all of the disasterous happenings going on right now, and those that need help from all of us more fortunate. They need our time more than anything right now.
And did you know that a fire struck close to home for our own Rick Davis. His place of residence when not traveling for Shopsmith is Chico, CA. He used to own a home in the foothills where the fire burned acres upon acres through the brush. He now lives in the city, but I do not know if his former home which he built was effected. I sure hope not. I have seen photos of the house and it is beautiful.
The flooding is a terrible thing right now. Actually looks worse than New Orleans after Katrina. Problem with the flooding, it keeps moving down river. Those not hit by the high water yet will be in a few days, including St. Louis. They are predicting the water to be 10-20 feet above flood stage in that city by the weekend.
Those of us who can help, let's do all we can. If you can volunteer your time and skills, please do.
Nick's idea is a great one. Maybe someone can post some of the contact information here on the forum along with putting them on the "Sawdust Sessions".
I live in CA (the fire state) and have helped out the Red Cross with these type of relief efforts. I don't do it to make myself feel good, I do it to help those who need helping feel better. As the saying goes, "I don't give them a hand-out, I give them a hand-up." This rings true for all of the disasterous happenings going on right now, and those that need help from all of us more fortunate. They need our time more than anything right now.
And did you know that a fire struck close to home for our own Rick Davis. His place of residence when not traveling for Shopsmith is Chico, CA. He used to own a home in the foothills where the fire burned acres upon acres through the brush. He now lives in the city, but I do not know if his former home which he built was effected. I sure hope not. I have seen photos of the house and it is beautiful.
The flooding is a terrible thing right now. Actually looks worse than New Orleans after Katrina. Problem with the flooding, it keeps moving down river. Those not hit by the high water yet will be in a few days, including St. Louis. They are predicting the water to be 10-20 feet above flood stage in that city by the weekend.
Those of us who can help, let's do all we can. If you can volunteer your time and skills, please do.
Sawdust & Shavings,
Woodburner:o
Woodburner:o
Thank You Chuck
charlese wrote:Thanks a million for that post, Jim! It's now in the list of "My Favorites" on the computer, so it can be found at any time. I hadn't ever heard of this organization previously. It's easy to donate!!
Thanks again!
Thank you Chuck MDS is near to my heart. Space would never allow me to share the whole story of my involvement with MDS. I could write a book on just the Big Thompson experience. I relive that experience every time I hear of a natural disaster anywhere. The personal tradegy of these events is impossible to understand unless you have been there. It's time for me to send a check. Jim
F. Jim Parks
Lakewood, Colorado:)
When the love of power is replaced by the power of love the world will have a chance for survival.
Lakewood, Colorado:)
When the love of power is replaced by the power of love the world will have a chance for survival.
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dusty
- Platinum Member
- Posts: 21481
- Joined: Wed Nov 22, 2006 6:52 am
- Location: Tucson (Wildcat Country), Arizona
Mid-Western Floods & High Water
I retired from Rockwell-Collins whose corporate headquarters, main engineering and manufacturing facilities are in Cedar Rapids. I have not been able to contact most of the folks that I know there but I am able to reach the corporate offices.
Rockwell is forming flood relieve teams right now for the Cedar Rapids, Coralville and Amana area.
If anyone needs contacts, please feel free to PM me.
Rockwell is forming flood relieve teams right now for the Cedar Rapids, Coralville and Amana area.
If anyone needs contacts, please feel free to PM me.
"Making Sawdust Safely"
Dusty
Sent from my Dell XPS using Firefox.
Dusty
Sent from my Dell XPS using Firefox.
On behalf of the direly beleaguered Hawkeye State, I thank you. I have been here for floods since 1965. Technically this is not the worst for Davenport; short by around 6 inches. What is stunning this time is the damage being done by interior rivers. Of course, they empy into the "Father" but they haven't pushed us but within that 6" of the record. You are all good folks. Iowans have a great record of pitching in outside our borders- lotsa people are returning the gesture and commitment.jet
1983 Mark V- beltsander, jigsaw, Stripsander,jointer, bandsaw-double carriage and tables with molders and drums, Over Arm Pin Routers(Freestanding x 2)Second Mark V.