NOLA Volunteer Opps - Please join us!

[katowoman]

Friends have asked about volunteer opportunities during their "down time" while in town for the Fest, so I've been working on finding ways we can get involved. Taken I'm new on the boards here and my invitation comes early, but I really believe that this is another great way of investing in the city that we love and celebrate.


Looks like a gutting "team" is forming, and the more folks on board the better. I have a contact person in NOLA who organizes the work 6 days a week, so be reassured that you'd be in experienced and careful company.

I've blogged a bit about my work since last April, so if you'd like to get a feel for things please check out http://katowoman.blogspot.com/.


You can find other ways of getting involved at http://www.volunteermatch.org/


Hoping to connect with you on this.

[ohio]

Very nice katowoman! Love the blog. There will be some other volunteer opportunities from this board as well, most notably FestAid. It was created last year by a couple of threadheads and set up opportunities for folks to volunteer while in town for jazzfest. The FestAid site is not quite up for this year, but is coming soon. Once it is, you may want to speak to them about listing your site. I'm going to launch a new threadhead site today, and it will throw a little light on FestAid and other volunteer activities leading up to fest. Watch for a new thread....

[ozzie]

Good on you Katwoman!

We'll be doing annual maintenance at our 'new family's' home in Slidell and I feel pretty strongly about helping out with musicians trying to get into the Village (or elsewhere)... and of course a stint at Ms Lena's. But we'll keep checking in 'cos you never know... I may just be sober another day!

[Amy Winette]

Cool, sounds like a great addition to the FestAid list of opportunities. I'm still hoping to do Animal Rescue again but their needs may be different this year, might have to find another animal related opportunity? I'll wait to see what the FestAid folks come up with too :)

[katowoman]

Good deal. I've learned a few new things from you guys in such a short time.

Amy, Ohio, and Ozzie thanks for peeking in here, and I do look forward to visiting the FestAid site. Ohio, I already visited the threadheads site and that's a great way to reach out to many. Congrats on that.

In the mean time if you do find anyone who may be interested in gutting please send them by way.

Thanks again.


Ozzie, how about a "Sober Activities" thread? LOL.

[ozzie]

Good deal. I've learned a few new things from you guys in such a short time.

Amy, Ohio, and Ozzie thanks for peeking in here, and I do look forward to visiting the FestAid site. Ohio, I already visited the threadheads site and that's a great way to reach out to many. Congrats on that.

In the mean time if you do find anyone who may be interested in gutting please send them by way.

Thanks again.


Ozzie, how about a "Sober Activities" thread? LOL.


BWAHAHA... don't really think I should be the mascot for THAT one!

[Amy Winette]

Hmm, me neither ;) My sober time in NOLA is very limited, haha!

[ohio]

Good deal. I've learned a few new things from you guys in such a short time.

Amy, Ohio, and Ozzie thanks for peeking in here, and I do look forward to visiting the FestAid site. Ohio, I already visited the threadheads site and that's a great way to reach out to many. Congrats on that.

In the mean time if you do find anyone who may be interested in gutting please send them by way.

Thanks again.


Ozzie, how about a "Sober Activities" thread? LOL.
One question Kato- I have done some things with Arabi Wrecking Krewe, and they tell me all gutting work has been halted for the time being. They say FEMA has stopped picking up trash and City Hall is not issuing permits. Something to do with everyone waiting for new FEMA guidlines which still aren't out....

[ohio]

sober time in Nola...what's that? :eek:

[Corona]

not a clue brother...not a clue.

Kat- that is awesome. It's gonna be cool to see what volunteer opportunity arise this year. Nice to see everyone networking and linking their sites too. Threadhead Nation rocks!!!!

[mightyradgumbo]

I didn't think you were allowed to be sober in Nola, 'specially during fest :D Yeah, we had great turnouts amongst the THs with the New Orleans Food Bank. We sure do play hard, but we work hard when the call is summoned.

[katowoman]

One question Kato- I have done some things with Arabi Wrecking Krewe, and they tell me all gutting work has been halted for the time being. They say FEMA has stopped picking up trash and City Hall is not issuing permits. Something to do with everyone waiting for new FEMA guidlines which still aren't out....

Hey there Ohio. I'm not aware of this at all, but then my last day in was November 18. Things might have changed since then...which would be obviously unfortunate.

I'll check on things and let you know.

Thanks.

[katowoman]

Corona, I'm lovin' Kat. :D

Mightyradgumbo, I couldn't agree more with you about playing and working hard. Threadheads have the stuff.


Cool that you guys stopped in here. ..

[Corona]

okay good, it's just much easier to type :) I think you're really gonna like it here girl...you are definitely a threadhead! hooray!

[ohio]

Hey there Ohio. I'm not aware of this at all, but then my last day in was November 18. Things might have changed since then...which would be obviously unfortunate.

I'll check on things and let you know.

Thanks.
I was emailing back and forth with Sheik from Arabi Krewe, trying to donate some tools for the holidays. He seemed very depressed about the whole thing, wouldn't let me send anything. Also, the emails have stopped on their mailing list...I'm a bit worried. The calendar on their site is empty.

[denideadhead]

Ohio
I saw your earlier post about Arabi Wrecking Krewe and couldn't get in touch with Shiek either. So I emailed Craig. Another part of the problem seems to be that they were advised to get liability insurance and no one will write insurance in NOLA at least not any affordable to the Krewe. However from his message I got the feeling that Krewe is regrouping and looking at ways to still get the work done. If I hear anything good I will definitely let you know and I hope you will do the same...
YES INDEED WE PARTY HARD ....BUT WORK JUST AS HARD!!!
My time with the AWK was the highlight of last years fest !!!
Peace
D

[katowoman]

Ohio
I saw your earlier post about Arabi Wrecking Krewe and couldn't get in touch with Shiek either. So I emailed Craig. Another part of the problem seems to be that they were advised to get liability insurance and no one will write insurance in NOLA at least not any affordable to the Krewe. However from his message I got the feeling that Krewe is regrouping and looking at ways to still get the work done. If I hear anything good I will definitely let you know and I hope you will do the same...
YES INDEED WE PARTY HARD ....BUT WORK JUST AS HARD!!!
My time with the AWK was the highlight of last years fest !!!
Peace
D

Ohio and Denideadhead, I looked into things a bit more and I haven't found any information about this halt to gutting. If it is a situation with insurance for the AWK, maybe they could work as a team through the organization that we work through. They try to get gutting groups out there 6 days a week, and as of 11/18 insurance wasn't a problem. They have the tools and know how, so keep it in mind as a possibility if things do not work out.

Thanks for all of this info.

[katowoman]

Just got word that there has not been a halt to our charity center's gutting work. Looking forward to your AWK's update.

[ChiTownHuck]

Hey Kat,

I don't know if you have checked out FestAid, but the site is up and running now. We still have Arabi as an opportunity, but I have not contacted them directly yet. My contact from last year is not currently involved.

Email me with what you are doing, and I can get you some publicity. My email is on the FestAid website.

Sounds like great work you are doing!

[steffie]

Hi Stephanie,

I just got your message about volunteering to help us and we really do need assistance from all parts of the world.

It's not necessary to be here to help out.......in fact in many cases we get a lot of help from as far away as Europe.

Right now we don't have a lot of volunteers out in the field because of insurance problems, because for some reason the companies have "red lined" most of the disaster areas from texas to florida and will not write to new companies or organizations.

That plus Fema ending the pick up of Debris and huge prices for dumpsters ($3500) to do it privately put a dent in things also.

So we're shifting gears, going more to paying contractors already licensed and insured than doing it ourselves.

If you will write me directly at this email we can figure out what you would like to do........from correspondence to almost any clerical thing you like to do.

We are trying to sponsor a habitat house and will then have a large need for volunteers because we will be using habitat's coverage.

Sheik

[katowoman]

Hey Kat,

I don't know if you have checked out FestAid, but the site is up and running now. We still have Arabi as an opportunity, but I have not contacted them directly yet. My contact from last year is not currently involved.

Email me with what you are doing, and I can get you some publicity. My email is on the FestAid website.

Sounds like great work you are doing!

Hey ChiTownHuck!

Thanks for finding this and making the contact.

I have been to FestAid and LOVE what's being generated there. I was taking a bit step back since I didn't want to take away hands from the Arabi Wrecking Krewe. I know we're all in this together, so it's best to create strong teams to have the effect.

I just read Steffie's post too about Arabi's plans so I'm not sure if we should wait on that before opening up an opp through the group I work with . I'll shift gears though and get more info for you by early next week.


Thanks again for taking notice.

Peace and smiles.
Kat