MSU Alumni HSV/Decatur

All,
As you all know, the North Alabama area was ravaged by an unprecedented tornado storm that swept through several states on the 27th of April. This storm not only affected Alabama but also Mississippi, Tennessee and Georgia, who were amongst the hardest hit states. Over 300 people were killed, hundreds maybe thousands of homes were destroyed, whole towns were devastated, and hundreds of thousands of people were without electricity for the better part of a week. Many organizations have rallied to help those who were affected by the storm, including our own University. In fact, I received a note from Dr. Jimmy Abraham, MSU Alumni Association, who said that one of the first calls Dr. Robert Whitt, President of the University of Alabama, received after the tornado ripped through Tuscaloosa was from our own Mississippi State University offering help. Made me feel proud to be a Bulldog when I heard that. And it goes to show that rivalries go out the window during difficult times like these.

Even though it’s been two weeks since these tornadoes swept through the area, there is still much clean-up work to be done - which brings me to the heart of this e-mail… I would like to do our small part for the area by asking for volunteers from the local members of the Huntsville/Decatur Chapter of the Mississippi State Alumni Association to help out some of those who were affected by the storm. Towards this end, it has been suggested that we go to Arab this Saturday to help out. And, I suggest that, if we get enough interest, we do the same for other local areas that were affected on subsequent weekends. So, to get things kicked-off, here is what I propose:

1. Please send me an e-mail with an RSVP if you would like to help. Once we get a head count, we will contact the Arab Rec Center, who is coordinating the cleanup efforts there, to find a site that we could all go to in order to help out - the idea is to keep us all together as a team. Request RSVP’s be sent No Later Than Thursday evening, May 12th.
2. Would recommend that we meet at the Wal-Mart parking lot on South Parkway (On the Parkway between Hobbs and Redstone Roads) at 8 am and then caravan down to Arab. If need be, we could carpool down in order to reduce the number of cars driving down.
3. Once at the Arab Rec Center, each volunteer would be asked to register by filling out a short form.
4. Since we are volunteering, the work day is as long as you want it to be. Even if you only have one or two hours to spare, please consider coming out.
5. Because we may be doing cleanup work, suggest that you wear pants and shoes (not sandals or flip flops) and bring gloves if you have any. It has been said that volunteers may be fed a lunch, but just in case, it’s recommended that you pack some water and a lunch as well.
6. Wear your MSU Maroon colors!

If you are interested in participating in this effort, please send me (briansabourin@comcast.net) an e-mail by this Thursday evening. I look forward to helping out as a team in this effort.

Thanks!

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