To:       ASQ Member Leaders

From:   Jerry Mairani

Re:      ASQ Hurricane Relief Efforts

Dear Colleagues and Friends:

Much has happened in the week since Hurricane Katrina struck. For those of us in ASQ, it has been a test of how well we live out our vision of being a community. The outpouring of concern and offers of assistance have been truly gratifying.

When we first set up the ASQ Cares Web site to help our members deal with the disaster, our initial concern was with helping and encouraging people to work with the established disaster relief agencies to take care of immediate needs. We also promised to set up mechanisms that would enable our own ASQ members to help each other through the initial shocks and the long process of rebuilding lives, homes, communities, and careers. Our basic premise was to help one member at a time, member to member, because each need is unique.

I am (we are) pleased to let you know that these mechanisms for members helping members are now in place through the ASQ Member Assistance Clearinghouse on the ASQ members-only Website. Its features include:

A discussion board where members can post information about themselves or their colleagues who may have been affected.  You can also learn about needs of individual members or the organizational needs of your ASQ member unit and share ideas on how best to address these needs.

A housing assistance function.  ASQ members who have been displaced by the hurricane can use this service to locate housing. Members who have housing that they can make available to other members can post this information. (If you can offer housing, or if you know someone who can, please do so right away. You’ll be asked to fill out a form listing basic information such as location and type of housing available and information on how to contact the person making the housing unit(s) available.)

A job assistance function.  If you or your organization can provide either temporary or permanent work for one or more of your ASQ colleagues, this is the place to let that offer be known. Individuals who have lost their employment as a result of the hurricane can review the listings of position openings and apply directly to the contact person at the organization with a job opening. (Persons listing job openings will be asked to fill out a form stating the nature of the position, organization, location, and information on how a fellow member seeking employment can contact the person making the job available.)

 What can you do now?

	Get this information out to members through all possible means.
	Make use of the Clearinghouse.
	Encourage other members in your sections or divisions to use the Clearinghouse site. Share information about each other; let others know of most pressing needs; offer assistance; keep open the lines of communication and strengthen networking ties amongst ourselves.
	Use the discussion board on the site to let us know how well it is working. And to suggest better ways and other things that can be done. We expect that these response mechanisms will evolve as the situations and our knowledge evolve.
	Use and encourage other members to make use of the other resources and opportunities referenced on the site related to Hurricane Katrina relief.
	On a continuing basis, encourage members to utilize ASQ’s efficient and effective Career Center.

Here are some additional suggestions for ways you member leaders can help on your local level:

	Welcome members displaced by the hurricane into your local section.
	Plan a fundraising event for your Section or Division and donate the proceeds to one of the many disaster relief organizations.
	Collect job opportunities from your members and post them to the job assistance page on the Member Assistance Clearinghouse.
	Collect housing offers from your members and post them to the housing assistance page on the Member Assistance Clearinghouse.

Our headquarters staff are attempting to make personal contact with member leaders from Sections in the affected areas. We estimate there are approximately 1700 members in the areas hardest hit by the hurricane. Initial contact in some cases is difficult, but we will keep calling to talk to them about what their needs are, to let them know what ASQ is doing to assist them, and to gather feedback from them that will help us help them and others. Staff members are also putting together ideas for tools and activities that Sections can use for fundraisers and self-help actions in their local areas. 

In addition, ASQ’s Washington advocacy team from Sellery Associates is taking the message of the Society's interest to offer expertise and perspective, as needed, to federal and state agencies involved in the relief efforts, and to Congress as it begins to examine hurricane response planning and actions. Bill Sellery and Amy Kimball of Sellery Associates can be contacted at 202-296-3522.

It’s important that our Society do everything we can to maintain some continuity in a world that for some of us has been torn apart. Above all, the ASQ leadership wants our member units to know that we are fully committed to protecting our Sections in the hurricane-affected areas and maintaining their stability. We also will do everything we can to strengthen and protect the certification and membership experiences for our members who have been adversely affected by Hurricane Katrina. We have every hope that you will join us in spreading this message to your ASQ member constituents through actions as well as words.  

Jerry Mairani