Image via WikipediaA former Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholar from Mississippi, USA, and local Rotarians revisited the devastation of Hurricane Katrina and Rotary’s response to the disaster during a panel presentation at the second plenary session of the RI Convention in New Orleans, Louisiana, on 23 May. (click below to read more)
Randall Feldman, of the Rotary Club of New Orleans, moderated a discussion with former Rotary Scholar Kathleen Koch, an award-winning broadcast journalist and author of a book about Katrina, and Kathie G. Short, of the Rotary Club of Pass Christian, Mississippi.
“The devastation was massive, something I’d never seen before. Our town and our home were completely destroyed,” Short told the audience. “But I’ll never forget how Rotarians were the first to be there to help out.”
Short shared the story of how her late husband, Rotarian D.H. Short, traveled to clubs across North America, asking for funds to help rebuild Pass Christian. He collected nearly $2 million.
“He had this favorite quote he said all the time: ‘I belonged to Rotary before the storm but became a Rotarian after the storm,’” said Short. “Rotary kept Pass Christian afloat, and I want to thank you all.”
Koch, who wrote Rising from Katrina: How My Mississippi Hometown Lost It All and Found What Mattered, talked about how gut-wrenching it was to see her hometown destroyed while she covered the hurricane for CNN.
“My hometown, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, was completely flat,” said Koch. “In the midst of all the devastation, I saw such generosity and grace. Neighbors helping neighbors with whatever they had. It was astounding.”
Koch told the audience that Mississippi ranks last in the country for per capita annual income, but first for per capita philanthropy. “The people with the least, give the most. That speaks volumes about our state’s generosity.”
Feldman asked the panelists what Rotary can learn from their experiences.
“We need to get professionals who are better equipped than we are to organize relief efforts,” Short said. “Rotarians deliver food, water, and clothes when they can, but I think there needs to be a system that coordinates it all.”
After the panel, New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu took the stage to thank Rotarians for their efforts to rebuild the city.
“Rotary has been a great gift to us,” said Landrieu. “You helped raise $19 million toward Gulf Coast recovery and $1.9 million for the Katrina Relief Fund. You have done such unbelievable work. Your motto, Service Above Self, burns in the heart of the people of New Orleans.”
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