For the second time in four years I, as many of you that also own a TV, have felt that emotion that can only be described as complete helplessness.
We've walked the streets of New Orleans more times that I can count. I've had memorable times at one of the greatest rock and roll bars in the Big Easy called the "Howling Wolf," appropriately named if only describing the typical patron. The AMOA Expo and many other show have placed New Orleans on the rotation of annual trade show stops because of the city's popularity with convention goers and impressive conference facilities. One of our late past president's of AMOA, the courtly Bob Nims, called New Orleans home.
Today we watch and hear about horror stories, during and after Katrina, so awful you can't let your mind stay there too long, especially the ones involving the children, guilty of only being in the wrong place at the wrong time. David Goudeau of Southland Distributors writes, at the RePlay blog site: "Conditions are worse than what the news media is reporting." Valerie Cognevich, of industry magazine Play Meter based in New Orleans, echoes David's message: "Whatever you saw on TV, it was worse living through it."
Our industry has stepped forward in admirable fashion. In the first days, true leadership was shown by our industry:
The AMOA by immediately creating the Hurricane Katrina Relief Effort. That included an initial grant of $10,000, while also matching industry contributions through their website.
Coinstar, via the Coins that Count Program, allowed coin hoarders a chance to redeem their donated coin, free of charge, in grocery stores nationwide, giving the monies to the Red Cross Katrina effort.
Sugarloaf passed the hat internally, and quickly raised $60,000 for the employees of our Louisiana office.
I.T. pledged the match the AMOA Katrina fund raising effort up to $50,000.
Touchtunes launched a per play donation to the Red Cross.
H. Betti Industries made a sizeable donation, matching employee contributions.
AAMA donated $25,000 to Salvation Army and Red Cross, and announced an interest-free loan fund for industry members' recovery efforts.
Many more companies in the industry have taken the initiative to support those impacted by Katrina than have been mentioned here. The industry is to be commended. I'm especially proud to be a supplier to Wal-Mart, who has received worldwide kudos for their incredible response and charity to Katrina victims. Wal-Mart succeeded fabulously in getting aid where it needed to go, when governmental agencies could not.
Catastrophes have an impact on us like nothing else. Whether it's 9/11, Katrina, or my friend that lost his oldest daughter to a horse accident this summer, horrific events bring into focus the important things to life like nothing else. Physically Katrina had little impact on me, other than hurting me at the gas tank. Emotionally, it brings us all back to the basic and fundamental question: what it's all about. For whatever it is all about to you personally - maybe family, friends, security, religion - it is these events that cause us to reflect. I've a theory, not really based on anything other than life experiences, that catastrophes occur just for this reason, to remind us what is really important in this life.
These events bring out the very best and worst in people, as we've all seen. Troy Estopinal, of Chalmette Amusements, Arabi, La., and Greg Young of Town and Country Amusements in Baton Rouge, La., are both dealing with losses, but they are finding a way to help others by acting as a distribution center for victim's basic necessities.
I can't imagine losing everything I have, and starting over. But that's exactly what some of these industry members will have to do. A lot more will be asked of our industry as these companies get back on their feet. As in the past, our industry support will be needed, and as in the past, our compassionate industry will deliver.