An Open Letter from KNEA

Dear NEA Colleagues,

Thanks so much for your messages of concern and support in the aftermath of the Greensburg tornado. We now know it was a 2-mile wide F-5 tornado that destroyed 95% of the community. Nine people perished in the storm... one of victims, the mother of two of our members. As we extend our thoughts and prayers to all those affected directly and indirectly by the destruction, we have identified several ways to demonstrate more concrete support. We do not have a 501 C.3 at KNEA so we are working with the school district and community leaders to recommend the following three activities:

1) A fund for the SCHOOL DISTRICT to assist staff and students has been created. Checks should be made payable to "South Central Community Foundation" with a memo to Greensburg Future Fund." Donors can earmark the contributions for "education" or "health care". Mailing
address: South Central Community Foundation, P.O. Box 8624, Pratt, KS, 67124. Donations are eligible for charitable income tax deduction.

2) The Greensburg (Community) Relief Fund has been set up at the Haviland State Bank, PO Box 348, Haviland, KS 67059.

3) Sending notes to Greensburg teachers or students: KNEA is collecting notes and letters to students and staff. Please specify grade or subject area, if preferred. Here is how we'll get them messages from you or your students:

* Send Email to kneanews@knea.org mail to: mailto:makneanews@knea.org in subject line of the email: Notes for Greensburg teachers/students OR Via postal service: Greensburg Students - c/o KNEA - PO Box 1616 - Dodge City, KS 67801

More information is available on the Greensburg web site:

http://www.usd422.org/ <http://www.usd422.org/> or at http://www.swprsc.org/ <http://www.swprsc.org/> .

Finally, hundreds of families around Kansas AND the several other states in the Midwest are faced with recovering from major flooding that has occurred since the weekend tornados! Our thoughts extend beyond the Kansas line to so many who are struggling with yet another natural disaster. In closing, I'd offer the counsel given each day to close the broadcast of a former news anchor in Ohio: Take care of each other."

Blake West, KNEA President