My heartfelt prayers and sympathies to all our fellow countrymen in the gulf region affected by Hurricane Katrina. This is being called the worst natural disaster in our country's history. It will take years before most of the areas affected will be returned to normal. And will New Orleans ever be the same? We need to all help to the best of our abilities. For me, I plan on contributing financially to the Red Cross and the Salvation Army disaster relief funds for these victims. And for those of you who pray, remember these folks in your prayers.

Regards, Gary

A quick reminder for all: How to maximize your donation...

This is often overlooked, but, for instance, my employer has established a 2 to 1 charitable contribution matching program so, in effect, my contribution will be tripled. There are also many other organizations, such as local stores, that will offer some kind of match during their donation drives. If you decide to contribute, you may want to check this possibility out.

Regards,

Tom