August 01, 2008

Dear Families and Friends,

I have very good news that we will be hosting our annual Information Forum again this year on Wednesday, September 10th at the Marriott Financial Center Hotel in New York City.  We are in the process of planning the agenda, but at this writing the event will include an update from the National September 11 Memorial Museum, a 9/11 Living Memorial workshop and 9/11 exhibits.  The daylong event will also include panel discussions and breakout sessions.  Most importantly, we are happy to be able to provide an opportunity for the 9/11 community to gather together as we approach the 7th anniversary. 

We have not yet identified funding for a commemorative luncheon on September 11th, but are hopeful that sponsorship can be secured in the coming weeks.   

As we are planning the agenda for the upcoming event, we welcome your suggestions on the programming.  What type of breakout sessions, panel discussions, information and displays would you like to have available?  Please send your ideas to Stephanie Cowin at scowin@voicesofsept11.org.  

We hope you are enjoying your summer and look forward to hearing from you.

Warm Regards,

Mary and the Voices Staff

VOICES Programs and events

Teleconference Schedule:

Monday, August 4th: Significant Others Group 11:00AM to 12:00 Noon

Monday, August 4th:  Witness/Survivor Group 4:00PM to 5:15PM

Tuesday, August 5th:  Parents Group 3:45PM to 5:00PM

9/11 Living Memorial Workshops

Our 9/11 Living Memorial Workshops are continuing this summer. The next scheduled workshops will be held in Suffield, CT on Tuesday, August 26th and New York City at our September 10th Information Forum. As we are planning our fall schedule, we welcome your suggestions on planning a workshop in your community.

9/11 families, rescue workers and survivors are encouraged to attend the 9/11 Living Memorial workshops. Reservations can be made by contacting Michelle Doherty at mdoherty@voicesofsept11.org or by phone at (203) 966-3911. In addition, individual appointments can be scheduled at our New Canaan, CT office. For more information on how to participate in the 9/11 Living Memorial project, contact our office or visit www.911livingmemorial.org.

Suffield, CT

New York City

events and INFORMATION FOR THE 9/11 COMMUNITY

NASCAR VIP Package Online Auction

Support the creation of the 9/11 Living Memorial
And enjoy a day at the races!

NASCAR Sprint Cup Race
Sunday, September 14, 2008
New Hampshire International Speedway
(Loudon, NH, near Concord)

Value: $2,700
Minimum Bid: $2,000

Bids for this online auction item should be submitted no later than Noon on August 25, 2008 to Janet Lebovitz at jlebovitz@voicesofsept11.org.

Special thanks to M&M MARS for their generous donation. Proceeds benefit VOICES development of the 9/11 Living Memorial, a digital archive that commemorates the lives and stories of September 11, 2001. Voices of September 11th is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and your auction purchase is tax deductable to the full extent of the law.

Click here to view the full color version of this information

Visit www.911livingmemorial.org or call (203)966-3911 for more information about the 9/11 Living Memorial

In the News

U.S. to Grant $30 Million for Civilians’ 9/11 Ailments
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has announced that they will distribute $30 million to hospitals and clinics in New York to offer services to New York residents, students and others exposed to smoke and dust by 9/11. Read more.

Bloomberg Testifies on Need for Federal Programs for 9/11 Related Illnesses

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has called on U.S. Lawmakers to pass a bill that would create federal programs for medical treatment and compensation for first responders and residents affected by toxins in the air close to ground zero. He was speaking before the Health Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.  The mayor called addressing the resulting and ongoing health effects of 9/11 “a national duty”. Read more.

Land Dispute Causes Move of Pennsylvania 9/11 Memorial

The temporary memorial overlooking the meadow where United Flight 93 crashed on 9/11 has moved to its more permanent location at a larger site across the street.  The temporary memorial was on land leased by the National Park Service, which is due to expire in September this year. Negotiations between the land owners and the National Parks Service have been strained for many years.  But now the group Families of Flight 93 have bought some 900 acres of land close by, and so had a space to which the temporary memorial could move.  The New York Times reports that the Park Service and the group still want to buy 273 acres that include the temporary site and the ground on which Flight 93 crashed, to build a proposed, 2,200 acre permanent memorial. Read more.

Judge Overturns Accords in 4 Suits by 9/11 Victims

Manhattan federal judge Hellerstein overturned four settlements on behalf of 9-11 victims. Hellerstein cited that the firm representing the victims, Azrael, Gann and Franz, was unreasonable in its demand for 25 percent of the $28.5 million given on behalf of the victims’ four families. Read more.

More 9/11 Programs to End because of Lack of Funding

The New York Disaster Interfaith Services 9/11 Recovery Program will close on October 31 because of lack of funding.  The program, which coordinates response efforts on behalf of churches in the city, provides community-based case management services of survivors and others impacted by 9/11, and will leave many of these people without vital services such as electricity, heat or gas.  And another program, the Human Services Council of New York City’s Disaster Preparedness and Response Program, which prepares the nonprofit humans services sector to help people recover from catastrophic disaster, has closed due to the loss of government funding.  Read more here:

NYDIS Press Release
New York Times Article
Human Resources Council