FLOODING IN ATLANTA AREA; US RESPONSE TO FLOODING; VOLUNTEERS WANTED FOR TEAM TO NEW ORLEANS; UMCOR WEST GETS A "LIFT"; BIRCHWOOD CAMP ADDING NEW SPAC

Photo: Flooding in Atlanta causes bridge and road collapse, courtesy examiner.com.

* FLOODING IN ATLANTA AREA

In response to this week's flooding in the Atlanta area, the North Georgia Conference is setting up a call center at the conference headquarters at Simpsonwood in Norcross, GA to match cleanup and repair needs with volunteer teams. The call center will operate Monday to Friday, 7am-7pm. Volunteers are needed to help staff this call center.
To volunteer to staff the call center, please contact Dr. Julia Crim, North Georgia UMVIM Coordinator, at 678-462-4335.

Please note: UMVIM teams are not being accepted at this time. This is currently ONLY an appeal for volunteers to staff the call center. When the Conference is ready to accept volunteer teams for cleanup and repair, the UMVIM, SEJ office will make this announcement via UMVIM priority email and will have more information at that time.

*US: GEORGIA FLOOD RESPONSE

On Monday, Sept 21, 17 counties in the state of Georgia were hit hard by massive flooding from severe storms moving northeast from the Gulf of Mexico. About five people are dead after Georgia creeks and rivers burst from days of torrential rain.
UMCOR is in contact with the North Georgia Annual Conference to assist with recovery efforts, as disaster response personnel assess the situation. Cleaning buckets from UMCOR’s Relief Supply Depots are ready to be dispatched to areas in need.
Support the North Georgia Annual Conference during this initial phase of recovery with your gifts to US Disaster Response, UMCOR Advance #901670

* VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: NEW ORLEANS, LA

I am Elinor Edmunds Miller (former Yellowstone Conference Missions Coordinator and now at Faith UMC, Troutdale, OR) and I am the team leader for a UMVIM trip to New Orleans from November 14-21, 2009. If you would like to be a team member or know of someone who might be interested in going, please email me, Elinor Miller, at elinorfromkabul@hotmail.com or call me at 406.465.8799. I have lead UMVIM teams to New Orleans in 2008 and 2009. We would welcome inquiries from those interested in knowing more about the trip. There's room for new team members!

If you have any questions please don't hesitate to call me at 406.465.8799. I'd be delighted to answer your questions and am excited to be returning to New Orleans.

Grace and peace,

Elinor
Elinor W. Edmunds Miller
UMVIM Hurricane Katrina Team Leader: November 14-21, 2009
former Missions Coordinator for the Yellowstone Conference of the United Methodist Church
Member, Covenant United Methodist Church, Helena, Montana
Attending Faith United Methodist Church, Troutdale OR
Elinor's contact information:
2980 NE Division Street, Unit T2
Gresham OR 97030
406.465.8799

*US: UMCOR WEST GETS A “LIFT”

When UMCOR West Office and Depot opened its doors on May 30 in Salt Lake City, Utah, the people of the western jurisdiction responded with generous support.
Recently, Park City UMC in Park City, Utah gave UMCOR West the “lift” it needed to operate more efficiently. The church raised over $12,000 for the purchase of a forklift to use in the processing and storing of relief supply kits at the 22,000 square foot depot.

"We are so excited to be able to provide UMCOR with the means to help reach so many people around the world,” said the Rev. Bob Kaylor of Park City UMC. “It is so exciting to have a general church presence like UMCOR here in Utah.”

Christ UMC in Salt Lake City also raised money during their annual 5K run to purchase a much-needed pallet scale for weighing shipping materials to people in need around the world.
Support UMCOR West Depot with your gifts to Material Resources, UMCOR Advance #901440.

* BIRCHWOOD CAMP IN ALASKA ADDING NEW SPACE

Have you heard? Birchwood camp is creating a great new space!
The new building is an Alaska Log structure with a full basement.
The upstairs meeting area will be an open space of about 1500 square feet.
The back deck area will be partially covered and looks out onto Psalm Lake.
We are hoping to have this building finished by fall of 2010. The exterior is almost complete,
thanks to the hard work of many volunteers.

Matching Grant –
Judy and Al Kline have generously offered a 50 percent matching grant, matching up to $20,000 for our new building!
If we can meet this goal by the end of this month, we will be able to finish funding phase one of the new meeting space.
Call us, or reply to this e-mail if you would like to donate. Every dollar you give will be multiplied.

Annual Dinner & Silent Auction
Celebrate old and new connections with Birchwood Camp, and be a part of this exciting new expansion!
When: Sunday, October 18, 2009. Open house and silent auction will begin at 6:00pm, followed by the meal and program.
Where: Birchwood Camp’s Main Lodge.

Tickets: $25/ person, $200/ table of 8... Seating is limited! Call 688-2734 for tickets.
The silent auction will include framed photos by Walt Hays, Miniture Totems by David Fison, and original Alaska Native Crafts.
All proceed will be used to complete the New Meeting Space Project.

Grace and Peace,

Adam Muhr