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But the most important thing those photographs
helped me to do was... raise money for Hurricane Andrew
Relief.

What I did was, I held a hurricane relief seminar
in Key West, Florida at the Holiday Inn. I didn't charge one
single penny for the attendees to come. All I asked is that
each of them make a donation to…

I also said no one could make a donation until
the end of the seminar. The reason I did that was I wanted to
put on the best seminar humanly possible... so that... people
would be encouraged to donate in a very generous manner.

I also had the most dramatic of my hurricane destruction
photographs enlarged to poster size and displayed them all around
the seminar room.

After looking at those blown-up pictures of the
obliterated areas, and listening to me and my other speakers
teach them all about marketing for days on end, my attendees
donated so much money to the Red…

She Actually Burst Into Tears!

I was told I had raised more money for the victims
of Hurricane Andrew than any other individual. That was not
true. It was me and hundreds of my loyal readers who raised
that money. I certainly in no way did it alone. I was only the
spark that ignited a firestorm of generosity.

However, I'm not sure I would do it exactly the
same way again. I've heard some things about the Red Cross which
makes me think twice about that organization. I've heard from
veterans of World War II who said the Red Cross would come close
to the front lines where our boys were fighting with hot coffee…

And then after the terrorist planes hit on September
11, millions, tens of millions, perhaps hundreds of millions
of dollars were donated to the Red Cross for the express purpose
of helping the 9/11 victims. Unfortunately, a large portion
of that money was NOT given to the victims of 9/11.

The Red Cross then explained when money is donated
to them, they put it all into a big pot and distribute it to
people who need it, as the Red Cross sees fit. That's sure not
how the generous people who donated money to the Red Cross specifically
for the victims of 9/11 intended it to be used…

Also, there has been somewhat of a scandal a few
years back about the executives of the Red Cross siphoning off
a good deal of the money donated to that organization. The funds
were not used for humanitarian purposes... but rather... put
into these executives' own pockets.

Don't get me wrong. I don't mean to paint the
Red Cross with a black brush. It's just I am now skeptical about
how they use the money they get from all generous citizens who
want to help their far-away neighbors experiencing unexpected
suffering. Like with Hurricane Andrew. And now Hurricane Katrina.

Actually, I'd like to hear from some of my readers.
If any of you have stories about the Red Cross... either negative
or positive... I'd love to read those stories. Write me at
[email protected]
.

Now, let's move forward to the hurricanes which
hit Florida last year. In case you don't live in Florida, I'll…

At that time, I tried to help by giving a very
informative telemarketing conference which people could listen
to for free. All I asked in return was they donate to the victims
of the destructive hurricanes. Back then, we didn't ask the
donations be made to the Red Cross. That's because my assistant,
Theresa, did her own investigation…

So All The Money Would Actually

Be Delivered Directly To The Victims

Of Those Hurricanes!

She found the best organization to distribute
the money was the Rotary Club in Punta Gorda (near Ft. Myers,
Florida where Hurricane Charley hit). I don't know how much
money we raised by our efforts (since the donations went straight
to the Rotary Club…

Now, let's talk about FEMA. FEMA is the United
States' governmental organization which dispenses money to victims
of natural disasters.

Last year, during those four major hurricanes,
the places that got the most money... and... got it almost immediately...
were the cities of Miami (Dade County) and Ft. Lauderdale (Broward
County). That's kind of curious. These are the…

What about the people who got crushed by Charley,
Dennis, Ivan and Jeanne? The folks in Punta Gorda? Orlando?
Pensacola? The cities which were almost leveled? Many of these
individuals have not yet collected any relief money whatsoever
from FEMA. Many of them are still homeless, broke, and have
received no aid whatsoever.

Let's shuck right down to the cob: If there were
a contest for the two most corrupt cities in the United States,
New Orleans and Miami would be duking it out for top position.
The governments of both Miami and New Orleans are both so incredibly
corrupt, if it weren't so tragic, it would be laughable. But,
as…

So, how do we help the people of New Orleans,
Biloxi, and Gulfport? Do we send a check to the Red Cross and
allow them to spend it any way they choose?

Even if any governmental agency did want to send
a check to the afflicted people, it was pointed out on the news
this morning, there are no banks…

Even if those people could get a check... and
even if they could cash those checks... there's not even any
place to spend the money. No Wal-Mart's, no K-Mart's, no Home
Depot's, no Lowe's, no Publix's, no Winn Dixie's, no Chevron's,
no Amoco's, and by the most recent estimate…

There Will Not Be Enough Electricity

To Illuminate A Single Light Bulb

In That City For At Least

12 To 16 Weeks!

What should we do? How can we help these people?
The truth is, I don't know.

At least I don't know yet.

If any of you have any ideas about this, I'd like
to hear them. I personally feel the pain of the people who are
suffering the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. I, too, would
like to help to the best of my ability. But right now, I just
don't know how.

I'm thinking I might hold a gigantic free seminar.
I'd ask each of the attendees to make a generous donation to
help the victims of this terrible disaster. But the truth is,
I don't know who or what organization the donations should be
made to.