Help out in the Dominican Republic?

Shizelbs
Shizelbs Posts: 7,433
edited January 2010 in The Clubhouse
Just throwing this out there looking for different opinions and perspective...

I'll post the email as well, but there has been a request for pharmacists (like me) to help with the medical relief effort in the Dominican Republic for Haitians fleeing the country.

The downsides are loss of wages for two weeks, being away from home, my wife, and very young son.

Here is the email;

Pharmacists are needed for 2-week stints at aid centers being set up in the Dominican Republic that will serve refugees and victims of this week's earthquake in Haiti. For those unable to commit that amount of time away from home, financial contributions to organizations such as the Red Cross are an excellent means of immediately helping those affected by this disaster.

The Dominican Republic, the second largest Caribbean nation after Cuba, shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti. American relief efforts within Haiti are being coordinated by the U.S. Departments of State and Health and Human Services. Many of those displaced by Tuesday's 7.0 earthquake are fleeing to the Dominican Republic, and teams of health professionals are arriving to provide acute care to earthquake victims and maintenance medications to refugees fleeing the disaster in Haiti and its capital, Port-Au-Prince.

The United Nations is coordinating the Dominican Republic effort. JetBlue and Spirit Airline are transporting teams of health professionals from New York City airports. Physicians are already on the ground in the Dominican Republic, and they need pharmacists to assist them. The Dominican Republic is providing safety, housing, and team coordination. The recovery effort is expected to last 6 to 9 months.
Post edited by Shizelbs on
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Comments

  • Demiurge
    Demiurge Posts: 10,874
    edited January 2010
    If your wife is supportive...go, probably be a good experience.
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  • ohskigod
    ohskigod Posts: 6,502
    edited January 2010
    there's downsides for sure, but there is a feel good factor, great experience....and I imagine it looks sexy as hell on a resume.

    I know it's a tough call but there are definite benefits to going, just watch your @ss
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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited January 2010
    that's an awesome opportunity. i would do it if you could swing it. chance of a life time.
    you can say you had a direct part in helping Haiti get back on their feet.

    think of the story you can tell your son once he's old enough to understand just what a cool dad he has. ;)
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  • Shizelbs
    Shizelbs Posts: 7,433
    edited January 2010
    I am leaning towards going. I need to make sure I can get the time off work before I invest too much more energy researching it.
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,137
    edited January 2010
    Very noble thought. My wife who is an RN has been kicking the idea of going down there to help out. For some reason, I'm afraid for her safety.
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,952
    edited January 2010
    I would say go, you won't have too many safety issues on the DR side of the island. Now if it was Haiti, I'd worry.
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  • Polk user
    Polk user Posts: 311
    edited January 2010
    Ask your accountant what the ramifications are if you go. Might work out. Also find out about security.
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  • Demiurge
    Demiurge Posts: 10,874
    edited January 2010
    Guys, with the amount of aid workers and military in Hati, there aren't a whole lot safer places you could be. Granted, this is the DR not Hati, but still....

    The only think to be concerned with is illness, but I'm sure they'll have you immunized before you go.
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  • Shizelbs
    Shizelbs Posts: 7,433
    edited January 2010
    Please, I'll immunize myself. :)
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  • Demiurge
    Demiurge Posts: 10,874
    edited January 2010
    Sexy.
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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited January 2010
    I would think most employers wouldn't have much problem with someone taking time off for a good cause. but good to check anyways.

    if you go.. send back some pics while there.. (if you have time that is of course) :)
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  • shack
    shack Posts: 11,154
    edited January 2010
    danger boy wrote: »
    I would think most employers wouldn't have much problem with someone taking time off for a good cause. but good to check anyways.

    if you go.. send back some pics while there.. (if you have time that is of course) :)

    I would think many employeers would be willing to let you go for a couple of weeks PAID. It's worth a question to your boss. Could be good PR for them and a tax writeoff.
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  • Shizelbs
    Shizelbs Posts: 7,433
    edited January 2010
    Well good news, its all moot. The call to action received over 700 volunteers in the first 48 hours over the weekend. They are asking for no more volunteers at this time.
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,137
    edited January 2010
    Shizelbs wrote: »
    Well good news, its all moot. The call to action received over 700 volunteers in the first 48 hours over the weekend. They are asking for no more volunteers at this time.

    Wow that's awesome. Last night Larry King and a bunch of celebs raised $7 million dollars in two hours $10 at a time.

    Ya know it makes you wonder how we Americans do such major things to help out others and still are hated by some countries.
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  • Demiurge
    Demiurge Posts: 10,874
    edited January 2010
    hearingimpared wrote: »
    Wow that's awesome. Last night Larry King and a bunch of celebs raised $7 million dollars in two hours $10 at a time.

    Ya know it makes you wonder how we Americans do such major things to help out others and still are hated by some countries.

    I hate to derail this, but some celebs such as Wyclef Jean are pocketing much of this money (he denies it). Some people are donating just to make them feel better about themselves, and that's the wrong reason.

    People have a responsibility to make sure the money they donate to a charity is actually getting to the people it's intended to help.

    Be VERY leery of sending ANY money to 'celebrities'. Stick with well known charities, especially those who have people on the ground there and is not getting filtered through a corrupt Haitian 'government'.
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,137
    edited January 2010
    Demiurge wrote: »
    I hate to derail this, but some celebs such as Wyclef Jean are pocketing much of this money (he denies it). Some people are donating just to make them feel better about themselves, and that's the wrong reason.

    People have a responsibility to make sure the money they donate to a charity is actually getting to the people it's intended to help.

    Be VERY leery of sending ANY money to 'celebrities'. Stick with well known charities, especially those who have people on the ground there and is not getting filtered through a corrupt Haitian 'government'.

    What do you think of the Bush/Clinton fundraiser?
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  • Demiurge
    Demiurge Posts: 10,874
    edited January 2010
    hearingimpared wrote: »
    What do you think of the Bush/Clinton fundraiser?

    I have every reason to assume that's a good one, but I haven't looked into it to say for sure. Personally, I've opted for a non government organization. Red Cross is a good way to go. :)
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  • Shizelbs
    Shizelbs Posts: 7,433
    edited January 2010
    Charity Navigator
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