EXCHANGE STUDENT & HOST FAMILY LOSE ALL IN FIRE

From: Chris Brannan
Subject: Regarding Veeya Kotaratititam (Kelseyville)

Dear Everybody,

Some of you have had a chance to meet with Veeya, ( "New" is her nickname), from Thailand. She is staying in Kelseyville and her counselor is Gary Olsen ( gobvp@yahoo.com ) . I learned yesterday that on Sunday November 6th, her host family’s home burned to the ground. It is my understanding that her host family and New, while not injured, lost everything. Most of the family was shopping in Santa Rosa at the time and only New’s host brother was home. He was awakened by the smoke and narrowly escaped through his bedroom window.

I talked to New last night. She is still stunned by this tragedy but in good spirits. I asked her to please provide me with her clothes sizes so that I could pass that along to the rest of the students. She is fairly petite, but if any students happen to share her sizes, it would really be great for them to send an article of clothing to help her out. As many of you know, Cecilia, ( from Italy, staying in Mendocino), through the kind offer of her host family, is hosting a party at her house over this next weekend. I suggested to Gary that it probably be great if a ride could be worked out for New to go to this informal gathering. I think that the students rallying around her this weekend would really be helpful. It would also be a time when the students could bring her any clothing that they could spare.

I would also ask the following :

1) Announcements be made in each club participating in Youth Exchange. Any donations of money could be sent to Cam Appleton (CAMAPP1@aol.com ; 3819 Fieldbrook Dr.; Arcata CA 95519) our YE treasurer, in care of New. Cam then could issue a check to New through Gary to help her replace some of her missing items. (I understand that a Kelseyville club member who is into computers is already donating a laptop to replace the one she lost.) I will send Cam $100.00 today to seed the fund.

2) Please contact your individual students and make sure that they know what is happening with New so that they could cheer her up with an email of a telephone call if nothing else.

I appreciate all you do for the youth of the world. Do check with your students to see if they are attending Cecilia’s party this weekend. It is informal and NOT mandatory. It is a curvy road out to Mendocino, let’s make sure everybody who is going gets out there and back safely.

Love, Chris

Note from DG Charlie: Please contact your Interact Clubs, as well. Joan & I have sent $100 personally, and I have asked the District Treasurer to send $200. As soon as we know what else we can do (clothes/school supplies/host help), we will post it District-wide.