Katrina

So much has changes in so little time. Katrina has made her presence known, and will be a disaster that many will remeber for the rest of their lives. When I first moved to the gulf coast area I heard stories about Hurricanes Camille and Frederick. The stories were tragic, adn the idea of facing anything close to those two was unimagineable.

The unimaginable has happened. Katrina made landfall as a catagory 4 storm, wreaking havoc on the Gulf Coast. Destruction is everywhere. Basic needs continue to go unmet many days after. Our local news has shown us more than any of us ever thought we would see. As I have watched the story unfold, it has an impact that only those of us who live here could understand. There were several times that we were in the projected path of Katrina. It could have been us.

We were spared. The Eastern Shore area of Mobile Bay lost power for a while but missed out on the real destrustion. Mobile, just to our West is still without power. Gas lines are miles long for our neighboring communities, but only minutes long for us.

On Tuesday, I got a call from Deiter, a minister in our area. "We gotta do something"' he said. He was right. I started by trying to get the Red Cross or FEMA to see how we could work with them. No answer.

The frustration of watching people suffer with no help in sight motivated our members and ultimately out community to do something. Over the past 4 days we have collected and distributed truckloads of supplies. We sent people into areas to establish contacts for distribution. We got the word out that if people brought us items, they would go to those in need NOW.

And it happened. We have sent items by private vehicles and rented vans. We have sent Tractor Trailers out to those areas that can receive them. We are getting boxes together right now to put on an armada of boats that will go to people along the beach that cannot be reached any other way.

We have tractor trailers coming from North Carolina, Delaware, Penn. among other places. We have received donations from as far away as California. All of this is because God's people saw a need, and were determined to do what they could to meet that need.

It is humbling to be a part of this effort.

From Conferences to Catastrophies

I spent the last few days trying to assimilate all the insights from the conference, and at the same time - take care of all the pressing issues. Our staff has had a few follow up conversations, but from the momnet we came back we have been looking at a Hurricane. After the start to this hurricane season, we began to see the need for a very good and consistant plan of action. In the past, we would all meet and do what needed to be done. Most decisions to cancel etc, were done on a personal preference level. As I came back from Drive, I put the final draft together that put time, hurricane catagory, and actions in a concrete form

I really didn't expect Katrina to be what it has turned out to be. I thought it might be a interesting first run though the plan with no real consequences. I was wrong.

Over the past several days we have watched Katrina move west, and ultimatley make landfall to the East of us (not good). As I write this I still have power and am looking out the window of my study. The wind gusts are very strong. Rain is not falling, but rather being driven sideways. Our plan has been put to the real test, and seems to have held. All throughout the storms' progress, I have modified, tweeked and affirmed parts of it. It will be ready for the next time.

Implementing change is a process. When you make a change in an organization, it impacts people in ways you would never expect. You have to stay on top of those dynamics and be willing to adjust where it is necesssary. It would be easy to tell everyone to "just deal with it", but that can kill the momentum you need to help pull it all together. Be honest with those around you and let them have input and evaluation time. Ultimately, it is your responsibility to make sure that the change you bring is the right thing for your organization. It does not have to win a popularity contest, but the more people that have been involved with the change process, the more likely the change will stick