What's Woody Doing Now?

Lack of Access to Safe Water and Hygiene

2011-07-27T01:07:00.001-04:00

The lack of access to safe drinking water and poor hygiene is a major cause iud the current cholera outbreak along the Congo River.

allAfrica.com: Congo-Kinshasa: Relighting the Candle - MSF's Emergency Cholera Response in DRC

Durbin Calls for Human Rights Awareness in the Congo

2011-07-27T00:51:00.001-04:00

"As human beings, we all have a responsibility to ensure that the products that make our lives easier and more convenient are not making life unbearable for others. As Americans, I believe we have a special responsibility to do what we can to end the horror in Congo. For decades in the past, we turned a blind eye to conflict and corruption in DRC because we considered it an ally in the Cold War. Today, America is home to the largest end-user companies of conflict minerals."

Durbin Calls for Human Rights Awareness in the Congo at the Holocaust Memorial Museum

In a speech at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called attention to the human rights abuses in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and what the US can do to reduce the violence and hold perpetrators accountable. The speech was part of the “Voices from the Congo” conference, co-hosted by the US Holocaust Memorial Museum’s Committee on Conscience, The National Endowment for Democracy, and the Eastern Congo Initiative, which aids grass-roots groups in Congo.

Embracing Otherness

2011-07-26T23:26:00.001-04:00

Thandie mentions her trip to eastern Congo. She said our selfishness of electronics leads to the rape of Congo women.

"Light the torch of awareness. Honor the eventual death of self, appreciate the privilege of life, and marvel at what comes next. Simple awareness is where it begins."

http://www.ted.com/talks/thandie_newton_embracing_otherness_embracing_myself.html

It's the Rainy and Storm Season

2011-03-29T12:48:00.001-04:00

It rained once today. It was a big down pour.

Now it's threatening to rain again. The sky looks scary. The wind really picked up. However, just the sky is dark. Maybe it will miss us.

Too much work

2011-02-17T18:52:00.001-05:00

I got to write a speech for tomorrow.

A POWERFUL NOISE Live in your theatre TODAY

2009-03-05T10:41:00.000-05:00

A POWERFUL NOISE Live <#apowerfulnoise> is an exciting way to celebrate International Women's Day while taking a meaningful step toward empowering women and girls to fight global poverty.

In honor of International Women’s Day on Thursday, March 5th, Fathom Events presents the acclaimed documentary, A Powerful Noise. This exclusive event will be followed by a live panel discussion with top experts and celebrity activists. You can be a part of the discussion by submitting your question for the panel below. Let your voice be heard.
Visit FathomEvents.com for participating theatre and ticket information.

A Mission Six Band Concert Available for AUCTION!

2009-03-03T12:25:00.000-05:00

Would your VBS, youth group, or church like to have the MISSION SIX Band for a concert at the location of your choice?

Mission Six is a Christian pop/rock band consisting of five youth boys from Evansville. They released their first album, Superhero, last July. Also, they are featured on Disney Radio. Visit their website for more information, http://www.missionsixband.com/.

My Rotary Club (Indianapolis Northeast) will auction off the FREE concert at its annual auction event on Saturday night (March 7), 7pm, at the Hillcrest Country Club (6098 Fall Creek Road). Proceeds from the auction will be used to benefits: Second Helpings, Gift of Life, Congo Helping Hands, SIDS, and others organizations. If you have questions about the concert or the auction, please contact me (Woody Collins, wmcollins@congohelpinghands.org)

Sorry for the late notice but a concert promoter just offered this concert yesterday.

1st, 2nd, 3rd Places and teams

2009-03-01T16:58:00.001-05:00

It was a great day for chili. The Rotary Club of Indianapolis East's First Annual Chili Cookoff was a tasty success.

I agreed (and voted for) with winning chili teams.

1st Place - American Home Patio Builders
2nd Place - MSD Warren Township
3rd Place - Wilson Insurance Company

from my HTC phone!

Woody M. Collins
President, Congo Helping Hands
"Strengthening the Heart of Africa"
(317) 698-7643 US

website: http://www.CongoHelpingHands.org
blog: http://www.EndingExtremePoverty.org
facebook: http://profile.to/woodycollins

Tweet Globally, Meet Locally

2009-02-12T12:40:00.001-05:00

Social media is always second to meeting you face-to-face. Meeting with my Indy social media groupees for lunch!

from my HTC phone!

Woody M. Collins
President, Congo Helping Hands
"Strengthening the Heart of Africa"
(317) 698-7643 US

website: http://www.CongoHelpingHands.org
blog: http://www.EndingExtremePoverty.org
facebook: http://profile.to/woodycollins

The Package Arrived in Kananga, DR Congo

2009-02-10T22:46:00.000-05:00

"Dental pkg arrived today, so looking forward to fixing my cap. Thanks." That was the e-mail message from my friend, James.

The package finally arrived on FEBRUARY 10, 2009. Remember it was shipped via US Express Mail Service on December 1, 2008. Of course, I thought it would arrive by Christmas. The post office clerk and I made sure it was clearly addressed to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The country was even highlighted in yellow.

Somehow the package was sent to the Republic of Congo, the smaller country whose capital is Brazzaville. It is located across the Congo River from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) whose capital is Kinshasa.

I need to give some geography lessons to somebody in these postal systems.

No Progress Made Between Mugabe and Tsvangirai

2009-01-26T18:24:00.000-05:00

There was no progress after the first day of talks in South Africa.

Petition: Please sign and forward to your friends! http://savezimbabwenow.com/

The situation in Zimbabwe has now reached the tipping point. Essential services including health, sanitation and education have collapsed completely. There is mass starvation in the country as most people are surviving on one meal or less a day. Deaths due to the cholera and the HIV/ AIDS epidemic are rising rapidly, exacerbated by shortages of clean water, food and medicines. Additionally, the suppression of democratic freedoms through abductions, torture and other sinister forms of intimidation continues unabated, indicating total breakdown of the rule of law.

At this critical juncture, SADC and African governments must act resolutely to protect the people of Zimbabwe who are being subjected to a passive genocide. The suffering of the people of Zimbabwe cannot be ignored any longer. Sign our petition and add your voice to this call for action which will be sent to President Kgalema Motlanthe in his capacity as Chairperson, Southern African Development Community (SADC).

Petition: Please sign and forward to your friends! http://www.linkedin.com/redirect?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsavezimbabwenow%2Ecom%2F&urlhash=Yh5y&_t=disc_detail_link

One for the Saints!

2009-01-20T14:37:00.000-05:00

Today's Inauguration for the Saints!

One of those Saints was my grandfather. My grandfather was born in 1900. He grew up in the northwest Florida town of Marianna. And he later moved to central Florida.

I think the death of Martin Luther King was too much for him. He sat and watched Dr. King's funeral in disbelief. His dream was dead!

Later that afternoon, my grandfather had a stroke that left him bedridden for life.

So as I looked at the older people in the crowds today, I think they were over enjoyed to realize that the dream was deferred and had not died with MLK.

Circuit City, From "Good to Great" to Cardiac Arrest

2009-01-17T18:19:00.000-05:00

How can you go from one of eleven great US companies identified by Jim Collins in his book, Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap... and Others Don't, to bankruptcy?

After reading and studying the book, I am just a little more than curious as to what happening to Circuit City. I just watched Charlie Rose's show from August 25, 2007 with author Jim Collins.

Clearly, Circuit City had the secret or did they?

Still looking for what to do for the National Service Day?

2009-01-17T16:12:00.000-05:00

Join a Faith-based Social Action Group like Bread for the World.

"Charity alone is not enough.
We must urge our government to make fair decisions
So struggling families can provide for their children.

We must write personal letters and emails to Congress
And engage our churches, campuses and other organizations.
We must change laws and structures that allow poverty to persist."

Write your members of Congress and ask them to reform the foreign assistance program.

Today, I attended my monthly group meeting of Bread for the World.

Who Feel Like Getting Away?

2009-01-09T00:04:00.001-05:00

NOT, The Gators!

from my HTC phone!

Woody M. Collins
President, Congo Helping Hands
"Strengthening the Heart of Africa"

website: http://www.CongoHelpingHands.org
blog: http://www.EndingExtremePoverty.org
facebook: http://profile.to/woodycollins

Can Mobile Phones Be Used to Detect Ebola?

2009-01-08T15:17:00.000-05:00

Normally, MANY people have to die before health officials are alerted to a unusual health problem. Why? In developing countries, death is so common place, no one is alarmed when a child or anyone dies unexpectedly. It is not apparent to the poor that something is wrong until many more die suddenly.

Fever is common sympton of malaria, Ebola, and many other diseases. But Ebola is quite deadly because it is untreatable or uncurable. It kills 40-90 percent of the infected.

Therefore, a device such as this lens-free imaging device by UCLA could provide village health officials with a quicker diagnostic of the "unusual" deaths.

Better health through your cell phone. "Lens-free imaging advance by UCLA researchers could lead to improved wireless diagnostics for HIV, malaria and other global medical problems
By Mike Rodewald 9/10/2008

In many Third World and developing countries, the distance between people in need of health care and the facilities capable of providing it constitutes a major obstacle to improving health. One solution involves creating medical diagnostic applications small enough to fit into objects already in common use, such as cell phones — in effect, bringing the hospital to the patient.

UCLA researchers have advanced a novel lens-free, high-throughput imaging technique for potential use in such medical diagnostics, which promise to improve global disease monitoring, especially in resource-limited settings such as in Africa. The research, which will be published in the quarterly journal Cellular and Molecular Bioengineering (CMBE) and is currently available online, outlines improvements to a technique known as LUCAS, or Lensless Ultra-wide-field Cell monitoring Array platform based on Shadow imaging."

Help to tackle the humanitarian crisis in Congo

2009-01-07T16:19:00.000-05:00

Britian gives funds for emergency and short term needs.

Britain pledges 64 million pounds for Congo Top News Reuters: "Britain said Wednesday it would donate 64 million pounds this year to help tackle a humanitarian crisis in the conflict-torn Democratic Republic of Congo.

Of this, 39 million pounds would be spent on providing food, safe drinking water and medical care and on supplying tools and seeds, a government statement said.

Britain will donate another 25 million pounds through a United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) program to provide clean water and sanitation for 3.7 million Congolese."

Eating The Economic Crisis

2009-01-06T14:24:00.001-05:00

It's too easy to notice the signs of the economic crisis. Also, it's painful and scary.

It's painful to see all businesses closing their door. Jobs are gone! People lives are changed.

Also, our neighbors are changing. Closed storefronts, shops, and some restaurants.

Everyone needs to eat. Go out and visit your favorite eatery! They will appreciate your business.

I had the best pancakes this morning!

from my HTC phone!

Woody M. Collins
President, Congo Helping Hands
"Strengthening the Heart of Africa"

website: http://www.CongoHelpingHands.org
blog: http://www.EndingExtremePoverty.org
facebook: http://profile.to/woodycollins

My 3 Goals for 2009

2009-01-05T14:47:00.000-05:00

Goals, to me, are like resolutions. Here are my three Goals for 2009.

1. Learn Social Media. After this year election, I was convinced that social media can be good for nonprofits and causes. Social media fits my background in computer, information technology, and communications. And it fits my future causes and travel desires.

2. Work Smarter. There are only 24 hours in a day. I vowed to get eight or more hours of sleep everyday. Therefore, my day is less than 15 hours a day for getting things done. There are tools and procedures to be more efficient and effectives.

3. Stop Doing. I need to stop doing certain things in my life. I am doing too many right things. I need to clear the clutter and to pare down. Its time to put the shotgun away.

Your 3 Goals for 2009 chrisbrogan.com:
"Since 2006, I’ve been using a different method for planning my year than resolutions. I always felt that resolutions were a little too push and not enough pull, and I wanted something a bit more compelling to pull me towards the future. Basically, I come up with 3 or so keywords that tie to goals and work from that.

The Early Bird Gets the DTV Converter

2009-01-03T16:34:00.001-05:00

OK, I am set for DTV in February! I was beginning to panic.

I had ordered and received my DTV coupons some months ago. But I put them in the "drawer". Finally, I heard an announcement about the government was running out of coupons. And that the coupons had an expiration date.

I checked my expiration date and it was January 14th. Not a problem, right? The three Walmart stores convenient to me was out of the converter. And they did not know when they were coming in again. OK, I was shocked. I had coupons but no converters were available.

This morning shortly after 8 am, I started calling all the Walmart stores in the Indianapolis area. At the fifth store, they had some converters in stock. I went across town immediately.

As I walked to the electronics section, I saw a lady with two converters on her way to the cashier. As I approached the shelf, I dashed in front of an older lady. Luckily she only wanted one converter because that's what I left on the shelf for her.

Thanks to God, I did not have to feel guilty all day!

Ebola Death Claims Another; Total now 12

2008-12-31T01:10:00.000-05:00

Doctors without Borders (MSF) says 12 persons have died from the Ebola Outbreak near Mweka (Kasai Occidental Province) in central Congo.

Bloomberg.com: Africa:

"Ebola hemorrhagic fever, one of the most feared infectious diseases, may have killed 12 people and infected at least 26 others, in an area of the Democratic Republic of Congo where a deadly outbreak occurred 15 months ago, a medical aid organization said.

Ebola infections may be occurring in ``new pockets'' in the Mweka district of Western Kasai Province, said Medecins Sans Frontieres, or Doctors Without Borders. The current outbreak claimed its first life on Nov. 27, the Geneva-based group said in an e-mailed statement today."

It's Enroute, 27 days and counting?!

2008-12-30T13:07:00.000-05:00

Did all your presents get delivered by Christmas? James did not get his Christmas present.

Actually, it was an emergency package containing dental glue. James' tooth cap came off. So he asked me to send him some dental glue.

It has not arrived, yet. The package left New York on December 3, 2008. (I'm using the year in case!) Here's the USPS Tracking information.

Enroute Departure, December 03, 2008, 4:57 pm, ISC NEW YORK NY(USPS)
International Dispatch, December 03, 2008, 4:57 pm, ISC CHICAGO IL (USPS)
Processed, December 01, 2008, 8:32 pm, INDIANAPOLIS, IN 46251
Acceptance, December 01, 2008, 1:54 pm, INDIANAPOLIS, IN 46236

Update on the "Express Mail" to Congo

2008-12-30T10:23:00.001-05:00

I got a text message this morning from my friend. It's still not there! He asked for the tracking number. LOL!

It's funny. SLAP, straighten up!

from my HTC phone!

Woody M. Collins
President, Congo Helping Hands
"Strengthening the Heart of Africa"

website: http://www.CongoHelpingHands.org
blog: http://www.EndingExtremePoverty.org
facebook: http://profile.to/woodycollins

Celebrating Year End

2008-12-28T13:19:00.000-05:00

My workweek revolves around Sunday. Today was last Sunday of the December. So, I am ready to start work in the New Year now. Not really but I can focus on the tax year now!

I ended the year with sermon at Ebenezer Presbyterian Church. It was good way to end the year!

Good News, No Additional Deaths Reports

2008-12-27T21:51:00.000-05:00

Thanks to rapid detection and response by local health officials, there have been no additional deaths to date. However, it may be just a delay in reporting due to the isolation and clearance process.

There is no independent reporting network in Congo. After I asked the outbreak, some people in the Congo had heard rumors while others were tight-lipped.

International news - Radio Netherlands Worldwide - English: "Aid organisation Doctors Without Borders has set up an isolation unit in the Democratic Republic of Congo for people infected with the Ebola virus. Sufferers have been placed in quarantine to prevent any further spread of the disease."