Posted by creativemindsunion (Msg) on 2010-01-16 04:56:33:

UPS Pilots Union (Independent Pilots Association) Volunteers to Fly Haitian Relief Without Pay

PR Newswire

LOUISVILLE, Ky., Jan. 14 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Given the unprecedented tragedy in the wake of the Haitian earthquake, the Independent Pilots Association â€" UPS pilots union â€" is supporting the relief effort by establishing an electronic volunteer database for its members. "This is not the first time our members have stepped-up and volunteered their services to move aid to a disaster area," said Capt. Robert Thrush, President of the IPA. "Back in 2005, more than 500 IPA crewmembers volunteered to staff flights into Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana to help alleviate the suffering from hurricane Katrina."

The Independent Pilots Association is the collective bargaining unit that represents the 2,800 professional pilots who fly UPS's large jet fleet.

Casey Calamusa Communications Director, World Vision Thursday, January 14, 2010; 10:00 AM

Casey Calamusa, communications director at World Vision, was online Thursday, Jan. 14, at 10 a.m. ET to discuss relief efforts in Haiti. World Vision has a staff of 70 workers and volunteers in Port-au-Prince (a total of 370 in the country) and is sending out 18 metric tons of supplies today. Calamusa is in touch with staffers on the ground and will report the latest news.

Aid organizations are working to get emergency responses up and going as quickly as possible, but the logistics are extremely difficult. Phone lines are still down in Haiti, and many roads are blocked by debris. That said, some distributions have begun, but there is certainly more needed. Today, World Vision is flying 18 tons of relief items from Denver to Port-au-Prince to help supplement relief efforts.

World Vision had a lot of relief supplies pre-positioned in Haiti because of the likelihood of hurricanes. Those supplies are being used for this response, and we are also flying in additional supplies such as tarpaulins for temporary shelter, blankets, hygiene kits, cooking sets, etc. The heavy equipment to remove rubble is usually available on the ground.