Florida Chapter members are asked to participate

Haiti Relief Efforts for Earthquake Victims 

A major earthquake struck southern Haiti on Tuesday, January 12th, knocking down buildings and power lines and inflicting what its ambassador to the United States called a catastrophe for the Western Hemisphere's poorest nation. We recognize that many of our Clubs have employees on work Visa's from Haiti and have been affected by this disaster. Our thoughts and prayers are with these families.

Thank you to the clubs in our network who have reacted so quickly and are making efforts to help those devastated by this disaster. Below are some ways that you and your club members can help. Let us know what clubs in your community are doing and we will spotlight your efforts on our website and on CMAA’s discussion board.

We are trying to gather information on the number of clubs in our chapter who have Haitian employees.  Should you have Haitian employees on your staff, please let us know how many are employed at your club seasonally. Details can be forwarded to Erin Herzog at md@flcmaa.org.   


Haiti Relief Fund Contributions to Build New School
On Monday, April 26th, Seminole Region club managers along with The Club Foundation Chairman, Jay DiPietro, CCM and CMAA CEO Jim Singerling, CCM, presented a check for $50,800 to the Friends of Petit Goave School Project. This contribution collected from CMAA members following the tragic Haiti earthquake earlier this year will help construct a safe and sturdy schoolhouse accommodating six class rooms, two offices and sanitation facilities for approximately 100-125 Haitian students. The school which is located in Petit Goave, Haiti will be named after the Club Managers Association of America. Click for recent news coverage and check presentation photos

Haiti Relief Update
The Petit Goave School Project has broken ground! We received an update from Food For The Poor directors that the foundation for the Haiti schoolhouse that Florida Chapter and CMAA members helped to fund is in the building stages. The schoolhouse – to be named after the Club Managers Association of America – will accommodate 100-125 students in Petit Goave, Haiti. Click for photos

Hats Off!

• To the Seminole Region “We Care” coalition group spearheaded by Craig Martin and his team at St. Andrews Country Club. Craig joined forces with area clubs to organize grief counseling for club employees and community members, coordinated supply pickups and solicited donations from vendors and club members. They are leading the charge with CMAA National to bring awareness to the needs of affected Haitian employees in Florida clubs.
• To the Woodfield Country Club in Boca Raton - As of January 18th, they have collected $36,365 in monetary donations from our Members and employees for the Woodfield Haitian Employee Relief Fund and the American Red Cross. Click here for pictures
• St. Andrews Country Club established a bank account that is non-tax deductable for the purpose of providing financial support to St. Andrews Haitian employees and POA Haitian employees to handle family matters and other designated expenses as needed
• Cheney Brothers – for transporting supplies from club drop off locations to the Food for the Poor and Fort Pierce Missionary Group. Further details on how you can help below.
• Lexington Country Club is offering grief counseling and financial assistance as needed for their eight Haitian employees.
• Harbour Ridge Yacht & Country Club is working with Haitian employees to help transport a camper with donated supplies
• Mr. Gary Robie, President of Ready Care Industries donated more than $2,200 in hygiene supplies for the Haiti We Care Relief Effort

What Can You And Your Club Can Do To Help?

• Contact community leaders and churches in your area and gather donations for local relief efforts. The immediate need is water, medical supplies, food/canned, nutritional bars, and sanitary type items as well as the following: baby formula (dry/powder), baby wipes, baby bottles, diapers, baby clothes, toiletries (shampoo, soap, toothpaste),hand sanitizer, vitamins, first aid kits, over the counter medicines, socks, blankets, mosquito repellent, flashlights, batteries, candles, flip flops, t-shirts, pants, lightweight jackets, non-perishable food that's not in cans (seal-paks of tuna, for example).
• Donation Drop Off Centers in the Seminole Region: Aberdeen Country Club, Addison Reserve Country Club, Boca West Country Club, Broken Sound Country Club, Coral Ridge Country Club, Gleneagles Country Club, The Polo Club of Boca Raton and St. Andrews Country Club

  • Any Club that is located SOUTH of Okeechobee Blvd will transport donations to the "Food for the Poor" charity. Please contact Larry Savvides at larrys@woodfield.org or 561-995-5202 to coordinate.
  • Any Club that is located NORTH of Okeechobee will go to Ibis Golf and Country Club and donations will be transported to the "Fort Pierce Missionary Group" in conjunction with the Palm Beach County Realtors Association. Please contact Michael Gibson at mgibson@oldmarshgolf.com or 561-626-7400 to coordinate.
• Haiti Relief Aid - If you, your staff or your members would like to contribute, The Club Foundation will be collecting donations to turn over to the Haitian Relief Efforts. These funds will be designated to recognized relief organizations. Please send checks to:
    
  The Club Foundation
  P.O. Box 1919
  Merrifield, VA 22116-1919
• Food and Clothing Donations
• Donations to the Red Cross - Text "HAITI" to "90999" on your cell phone and a donation of $10 will be given automatically to the Red Cross to help with relief efforts. The donation will be charged to your cell phone bill.
• Aidmatrix - This portal is designed to make it as easy as possible to donate financial support, products and services and/or to volunteer your skills and time for humanitarian relief efforts. Companies and organizations with access to large volumes of items who are able to make donations for disaster relief should contact AidMatrix at 1-866-881-8882.
• Aid Organizations Line Up to Bring Relief to Injured

• UNICEF 
• Mercy Corps
• The Salvation Army
• Food for the Hungry
• Doctors Without Borders 

What Can Your Club Do To Help Employees?

• Disaster Relief Funds For Employees – Click here for information on non-taxable Grants for Club employers. Thanks to Mitch Stump for forwarding this information. 
• Set up a Long Distance Access Code for Employees to Call Home – Two clubs have reported that a long distance access code was distributed to people with relatives in Haiti to make calls as needed during the work day. Contact your local phone company for more information.
• Grief Counseling – This is a difficult time for members of your club community who are personally affected by this disaster. Contact local churches or hospitals in your area for options for onsite grief counseling for your employees.
• Personal Donations – One club has reported giving their Haitian employees extra money in their paycheck this week to assist their families in need.