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The United States Optimist
Dinghy Association ("USODA") announces the creation of The Katrina
Sailors' Exchange ("KSE"), http://www.usoda.org/index.cfm?id=124438&fuseaction=browse&pageid=113 a web based exchange board intended to help meet the needs
of Gulf junior sailors and clubs who are in search of equipment, boat
charters, a summer program to attend or summer sailing instructor
employment. This initiative, developed
by USODA, hopes to minimize the down time Gulf sailors are experiencing due
to the losses suffered at the hand of Hurricane Katrina. Please note KSE is
not solely limited to Gulf Optimist sailors, but includes Club 420 and junior
Laser sailors, too. KSE easily can be expanded if interest is warranted. It is USODA's
wish that KSE acts as a centralized market where donors can post offers of
relief, and Gulf junior sailors and clubs can post statements of needs.
Matches of these offers and needs can quickly result in relief, thus
minimizing the cost and time to get Gulf junior sailors back up and running
on the water. So far matches have been made
between Gulf sailors who were in need of boats, and Opti charterers who graciously offered relief at a recent
USODA Championship. Other offers of help currently on KSE include damage
repair help, additional charter relief, and summer sailing slots at two
prominent Mid Atlantic Yacht Clubs. "This is just one example of the
closeness of the USODA family that is searching for ways to help fellow
members, older siblings, other junior sailors and
host clubs that have suffered losses in the Gulf region." -- |