Haiti Desaster Relief Committe of DR Rotarians

Charles Adams sent me this information regarding the tragedy in Haiti and how rotarians thru District 4060 could help.

Dear Friends:

None of you need us to tell you about the horrors and tragedies in Haiti. You have seen it 24/7 on the news. But it has not been clear about how to help. This email can tell you one way.

By accident of geography, the Dominican Republic has become one of the lifelines to Haiti. Haitian ports have been closed. Haitian airports have been in total chaos and largely available only to military aircraft. Moving emergency materials and supplies to Haiti from non-governmental sources has been done primarily through the Dominican Republic – either by purchasing those supplies in the DR or by receiving them from foreign sources and trans-shipping to Haiti.

The Haiti Disaster Relief Committee of DR Rotarians in District 4060 is able to help you get supplies into Haiti. In addition to senior Rotary officers, the committee has specialists assigned to the essential elements of obtaining and moving relief supplies to Haiti – including:

n Air and land transport of cargo and people from the DR to Haiti

n Logistics of supplies from airports and seaports

n Secure storage and handling of supplies prior to shipping

n Purchasing of medicines, food, and emergency supplies for shipment

n Collection of medicines, food, and emergency supplies within the DR

n Government liaison

In Haiti, we have arrangements with Rotarians for receiving, secure warehousing, and distribution of supplies. In fact, President Prevel just named Dr. Claude Surena, a prominent Rotarian to coordinate the receipt and distribution of all medical relief. Claude is also the president of the Haitian Medical Association and a dear friend to many of us.
If your Rotary club or district, or your church or community organization, or you as an individual wish to help provide desperately needed supplies to the people of Haiti, the Rotarians of 4060 can help you make that happen.

We are prepared to ship supplies by truck across the border – with special permission of the government on the Dominican side and a UN escort from the border to Port-au-Prince on the Haitian side. Also, as soon as we can obtain landing sites in Haiti, we are prepared to airlift supplies to Haiti -- with the generous assistance of three aircraft from Rotarian pilots in the British Virgin Islands, who are willing to make multiple flights daily.

If you are sending goods by sea or air, there must be a fully detailed bill of lading. The shipment should be consigned to:

Club Rotario Santo Domingo B. Vista, Inc.
Club Deportivo Naco
Ensanche Naco
Santo Domingo, Republica Dominicana

Contact: Ruben Goico, 809-634-5678

However, please tell us in advance of your shipment so we can give you complete instructions that are current.

If you are sending money, there are three ways:

1. Bank wire:
a. Make bank wire payable to: Gobernacion 4060 Desastre Haiti CR Higuey Inc.
b. The correspondent bank is: Wachovia Bank
New York, NY
ABA number: 026005092
SWIFT number: PNBPUS3NNYC

To be credited to the client account to: Gobernacion 4060 Desastre Haiti CR Higuey
To client account number: 1006359-003-7

c. Dominican bank information: BANCO BHD
Ave. 27 de Febrero esq. Ave. W.Churchill
Santo Domiongo, Republica Dominicana
Phone: 809-243-3232

2. Checks and money orders. Safe Water Institute is our agent for collecting and transmitting funds from checks, cash, and money orders. Make payments to:

a. Safe Water Institute
Attn: Harry J. Knopke, CEO
P. O. Box 68007
Grand Rapids, MI 49516
Phone: 616-774-8017
Cell: 616-540-4094

3. Credit cards:

a. Go online to: https://secure.e2rm.com/registrant/donate.aspx?EventID=29123&LangPref=en-CA

b. Provide information requested

c. Under “Donation Allocation,” select “District 4060 obernacion 4060 Desastre Haiti CR Higuey Inc.”

d. Then continue with payment information.

Dominican Rotarians are here to help you help Haiti -- whatever organization you may represent. Tell us what you would like us to do.

Pray for blessings and peace in Haiti.

Charles


Charles F. Adams
International Coordinator
Haiti Disaster Relief Committee
District 4060 - Dominican Republic
Dom.Rep. Office: 809-226-8565
Dom.Rep. Cell: 829-509-5505 (Charles) or 809-753-5505 (Alexandra)
U.S. Skype Line to Dom.Rep.: 518-685-4285

Member of Rotary Club of Santiago Monumental