A Message From:

The LaMaMATYC meeting scheduled for September 24, 2005 will NOT take place. When we recover somewhat from Katrina, we will look into having it in the spring. Registration checks that have not been cashed will be returned, if possible. Others will have their money returned as soon as possible.

The print and television news show such devastation, but even so, I do not think I can begin to imagine how it must be for all of you affected by this disaster. Please know that my thoughts and prayers are with all of you.   Karen

George Steele, long time NACADA member and leader, sent the following email this morning which we feel will be of great interest to many of you as you work with students across the country who are attempting to find educational options following Hurricane Katrina.  George said that the complete list of available courses and institutions will be available on September 15 so you can have the most updated information as you work with students.
Also, persons displaced from their work by Katrina are encouraged to view the advising position openings available on the NACADA web site (http://www.nacada.ksu.edu/Position_Announcements/index.htm) and to contact the individuals listed to be considered for positions at those institutions and/or post on the Forum at https://www.nacada.ksu.edu/cgi-bin/forums/default.asp.
Good Morning,
As you may have heard, Sloan-C is working the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) and the Sloan Foundation on a project called the (http://www.sloansemester.org/) Sloan Semester to bring free online courses to students displaced from colleges shut down due to damage from Hurricane Katrina.  We have been putting together a (http://www.sloansemester.org/) website that provides and collects information that will help in this effort and we are now asking for your help in getting this information out to students that could potentially benefit from this initiative. The Boston Globe estimated that as many as 175,000 students will be displaced this semester due to this disaster.  Many will have to seek classes at other institutions, even now that the semester has already started at most of these colleges.   Sloan-C has organized more than 100 institutions that offer quality online courses in an accelerated format, starting in October (we are still accepting additional volunteer institutions at the website). This is a grassroots effort, meaning everything hinges on your help to get this information to the students.  The press has already given us some coverage, but that can only do so much, it is really up to our personal efforts to get the word out.  Please contact as many personal and professional contacts as possible with the hope that the more people you contact, the more likely more students will find out that this is available.  Even if you don't know a student from the affected schools, someone you know might, so please forward to all you feel comfortable forwarding to. Best, George
George Steele, Ph.D., Director of Educational Access, Ohio Learning Network, 2455 North Star Road, Suite 200, Columbus, OH  43221-3468
gsteele@oln.org, Phone: (614) 995-3240 x604, FAX: 995-3450, http://www.oln.org

Many of those who were displaced in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast have come to Memphis.  If you know of any of our colleagues or family or friends who are in Memphis, ask them to contact the AMATYC office if they need anything.  There are many local groups who are trying to meet specific needs of individuals and “adopting” families for long-term help. Maybe we can assist them in finding the help they need.  The number at the AMATYC office is 901-333-4643.Cheryl Cleaves, Ph.D., Chair, Developmental Studies, AMATYC Executive Director of Office Operations
Southwest Tennessee Community College, 5983 Macon Cove, Memphis, TN 38134

My thoughts and prayers are with all of you at this very difficult time. AMATYC is family and family cares for one another. When I see pictures of the devastation, I can only imagine how difficult this is for all of you and your families. Please know that I will continue to keep you and your loved ones in my prayers.

My heartfelt prayers and best wishes to all who have suffered through this devastating disaster. We watch the news up here in Canada with horror and the realization that nobody is immune from disaster and that, in the end, we are all bound together in our humanness and our concern for each other. I fervently hope that there will be a fast and complete recovery – knowing that many have suffered irreplaceable losses – but nevertheless wishing for healing and rebuilding for all my AMATYC friends and their families who are affected by this awful tragedy.

I sent an email to Pat Roux at her home address. I heard from her yesterday. They are in Houston and okay. They will be moving to Ville Platte.  I told her about our website for hurricane messages.

Watching the news, I know that those of our members who were directly affected, probably do not have access to the internet. However, I know many of you have family and friends who were impacted. Here in Kentucky our prayers are with you, and we are sending help from our area: baby formula, money, truck drivers, utility personnel to help get the power back on, National Guard members,... I know it will be a drop in the bucket, but we'll help in anyway we can. All our best to you and yours, Kathy

Bill Schoof,
Addison Wesley / Benjamin Cummings
District Sales Manager
8/31/05

Wayne, Rich, and their respective families evacuated on Saturday.  Wayne is in Corsicana, TX where Laura's uncle lives and Rich is in Lake Charles with family.  You are very kind to be thinking about them!  Let's hope the damage is kept to a minimum.
(Wayne is our sales representative for many of the textbooks we use  and Rich is the custom representative who helped us customize some  textbooks for this semester. Gloria-LSUE)

We have been worried sick about all of you.  I hope we will be hearing when it is possible from you. Can we be of some help in some way,  in addition to our prayers and love.
I worry about Pat Roux who is taking care of her immobile father who is elderly.  She would not have evacuated until perhaps the flooding became so terrible.
In Oxford, MS, we had power outages and some very minor damage by comparison.  We are keeping everyone in our prayers and are hopeful. 

Just want to let LaMsMATYC know that everyone at LSUE is alright.  We  canceled classes Monday and had a little wind.  Our concerns are for Southeast Louisiana and Mississippi.

I want you all to know we are praying for you and hoping for the best. It seems that every year someone in the Southeast gets hurricane damage. It really can't be described - what you go through in preparation, during the storm, and then in the rebuilding. This, obviously, has been catastrophic. Our hearts are saddened by the personal tragedies that have been shown and described on TV. Just know your AMATYC family is thinking about you. Rob Kimball AMATYC SE VP

Judy Ackerman, AMATYC President
8/31/05

Our thoughts and prayers are with our AMATYC colleagues who have been so severely impacted by Katrina.  We wish you the strength to deal with all that is necessary to clean up, rebuild and heal after this natural disaster.

Cheryl Cleaves, AMATYC Executive Director of Office Operations
8/31/05

Please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you.  There is no way that we can imagine what you are going through.  We hope that you and your family are safe and that you are given the strength to endure this tragedy.

I have been watching the news closely and my heart goes out to all of you.  I tried to email those of you that I met recently at the AMATYC Math Across the Community College Curriculum Summer Institute yesterday, but the emails did not go through so I am glad to have this opportunity to share my thoughts with all of you in Louisiana and Mississippi.  Please know that you are all in my thoughts and prayers.  While we in the Northwest may be far away in miles, we are close to you in spirit and are holding you close in our hearts.  Green River Community College,   Auburn, WA  98092