Sept. 29, 2005

Dear Associated Press Managing Editors Colleagues:

Contributions to APME's Katrina Aid Fund have arrived with notes from many of you which show again how determined and innovative newspaper people and their families can be:

— The staff at The Frederick (Md.) News-Post held a barbecue to raise money for the fund.

— The mother of a Louisiana journalist sent a contribution in honor of her son's birthday. Her family wasn't affected directly by the storm but she just wanted to help journalists.

— An editor in Massachusetts is donating the honorarium from a speech to help his Southern colleagues.

Many checks have arrived with "I hope this helps" notes attached. The APME Foundation will dedicate the proceeds from specially designated auction items during its charity auction at next month's national conference in San Jose. So we'll keep going until Oct. 15.

If you'd like to contribute to the APME Katrina Aid Fund, you can:

— Stop at your local U.S. Bank branch.

— Or send a check made out to APME Katrina Aid Fund to:

APME Katrina Aid Fund
c/o Deanna Sands
Omaha World-Herald
1334 Dodge Street
Omaha, NE 68102

Deanna Sands
President, Associated Press Managing Editors Association
Managing Editor, Omaha World-Herald
1-402-444-1004
E-mail: dsands@owh.com