Ladies and Gentlemen,

For most of you in the Southern California area, you were probably effected one way or another by the recent fires... whether it was working additional hours, volunteering, knowing someone displaced, or just watching the endless news about all the fires.

For two of our members, it was more personal.

Past IAATI WRC President Marianne Finney unfortunately knew almost right away that she lost her home in Ramona, having just five minutes to evacuate. She said that she had time to pack up her son, their dogs, and not much more, and get out before the fire came. I've spoken to Marianne and as usual, she is the fighter. Her long time employer, and insurer, State Farm, was helping her with her plans to rebuild. She said her avocado orchard was pretty much intact. She was making plans to rebuild on the "pad" where her house once stood. She found a lot of her jewelry that had melted into the debris of her home. She said her pearls weren't as fortunate.

For current 2007 IAATI WRC 2nd VP Rick Greenwood, it was almost two weeks of not knowing whether his home survived or not after he and his wife were forced to evacuate their home in Running Springs. On Friday, he was allowed back up to Running Springs and found that his home and immediate neighborhood was still intact. I just received an email from Rick saying that it appears the only thing he lost was the contents of his refrigerator and freezer after the power went out. The fire got within a block of Rick's home before the firefighters steered it away.

With the many fires that struck so much of Southern California, we are lucky that only a few were so personally stricken. I've spoken with friends of mine in the San Diego, Fallbrook, Arrowhead, Big Bear, Running Springs, Silverado, Santiago areas and all were thankful that the fire spared them.

Right now Marianne said she doesn't need our help. For those of you who know Marianne, you know if she needs help she'll ask us for it... right now just keep her and the other Southern California fire victims in your thoughts...there are a lot of them out there.

There are numerous charities out there accepting donations to help cover the expenses of the firefighting / humanitarian efforts. If it moves you, please think about giving something to those that made it easier for all the victims of the wildfires.

If you know of any other IAATI WRC members who were also personally touched by the wildfires, please contact me with the information.

For all of you who worked the disaster, either on duty or off, paid or voluntarily, our gratitude goes out to you.

Sincerely,
Gary Labb
2007 Western Regional Chapter President

Click Here to view the President's October 7, 2008 Message

Click Here to view the Past President's October 7, 2008 Message

Click Here to view the Past President's September 8, 2008 Message

Click Here to view the President's July 1, 2008 Message

Click Here to view the President's May 28, 2008 Message