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BOD details NIRSA relief plan for hurricane victims

Dear NIRSA Friends,

The Association is intent on helping recovery efforts involving the recent hurricanes and the worst natural disasters of our lifetimes. With support and encouragement from the NIRSA Foundation and NIRSA Services Corporation Board of Directors, the NIRSA Board of Directors has authorized implementation of several initial programs. Effective immediately, for Members impacted in the states of: Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas, the current initiatives are:

1. Waiver of Membership Dues

Upon request, all NIRSA Members (Institutional, Professional, Student and Associate) in those states listed above and directly impacted by hurricane damage, including Members who have provided refuge and material support for those in need, will have membership dues waived for one full year upon their renewal anniversary date.

2. Waiver of Registration Fees

Upon request, registration fees will be waived for all NIRSA Members and Historically Black Colleges and Universities in Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas directly impacted by hurricane damage — including those members who have provided refuge and material support for those in need — for all NIRSA symposia, schools, and institutes held between October 1, 2005 and September 30, 2006, including registration to the 2006 NIRSA Annual Conference in Louisville, Kentucky.

3. Complimentary 2005 Recreational Sports Directory

Upon request, we are offering a complimentary copy of the 2005 NIRSA Recreational Sports Directory to better keep in touch with your NIRSA family. We recognize that you value your colleagues near and far for their experience, advice, camaraderie, comfort, and possible employment opportunities.

To request access to any of these opportunities or to verify that all NIRSA Members at your institution are made aware of them, please contact NIRSA Membership Director Mary Martin at marym@nirsa.org or phone at (541) 766-8211 x37.

The NIRSA Board of Directors is considering further initiatives, including reaching out to Dillard University, an institution central to our organizational heritage.

Please let us know if the NIRSA Board or the NIRSA National Center staff team can be of additional assistance. You may also want to stay in touch with your respective NIRSA State Director (listed below), and those affected by Katrina and Rita through the blog located on the NIRSA Web site.

Sincerely,

Greg Jordan, President jordan@oakland.edu

Maureen McGonagle, President-elect mmcgonag@depaul.edu
Tamra Garstka, Past President tamra.garstka@asu.edu
Dennis Corrington, Past Presidents' Representative dennis@rec.tamu.edu
Sev-Ira' Brown, Region I Vice President slbrown@syr.edu
William Ehling, Region II Vice President wehling@mail.ucf.edu
Therese Kennedy, Region III Vice President kennedyt@uww.edu
James Pitre, Region IV Vice President jpitre@mcneese.edu
Vicki Highstreet, Region V Vice President vhighstreet1@unl.edu
Thomas Kirch, Region VI Vice President tom.kirch@oregonstate.edu
Linda Clauss, National Student Representative linda_clauss@yahoo.com
Dr. Kent Blumenthal, NIRSA Executive Director kentb@nirsa.org

State Directors
Jim Eubanks, University of North Alabama, Alabama State Director jbeubanks@una.edu
TBA, Florida State Director
Laura Walling, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State Director lwalling@saffairs.msstate.edu
Crystal Morvant, University of New Orleans, Louisiana State Director crystalmorvant@hotmail.com
Randall Ford, The University of Texas at Austin, Texas State Director rford@mail.utexas.edu