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| By MICHAEL R. McKAY | |
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I'm pleased to report that the American Maritime Officers Membership Assistance Program is working as intended. Many AMO families in coastal communities in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Texas and Florida have taken advantage of MAP to help rebuild their homes--and their lives--in the wakes of Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma last summer and fall.
"I wanted to thank you for the assistance we received," said a note to the MAP trustees from Kimberly C., whose AMO family lives in Mississippi. "I really appreciate all the union has done. The check you sent us is already put to good use. Thank you and God bless you!" Jose A., who lives with his AMO family in Louisiana, was equally appreciative. "Thank you for your kindness and generosity for the check that you sent to us," he wrote. "This will go a long way in helping my wife replace some of the items lost in the storm." Established unanimously by the national executive board of AMO in September 2005, the American Maritime Officers Membership Assistance Program is a permanent, independent disaster and hardship relief fund with one purpose and one purpose only--to help those who suffer loss or damage during storms and other destructive natural phenomena. Benefits from the fund are paid to eligible families at levels determined only by relative need. While MAP was prompted by the widespread devastation wrought by the massive hurricanes, the program is open to victims of earthquakes, avalanches, mudslides, rock slides, wildfires, tornadoes, dust storms, tsunami--any natural disaster. Seeded by an initial contribution from the AMO treasury, the AMO Membership Assistance Program is now supported entirely by voluntary individual contributions from AMO members and their families. And the fund is growing significantly--a measure of the innate generosity and compassion of AMO members in all deep-sea, Great Lakes and inland waters trades. The Internal Revenue Service in January 2006 granted tax-exempt status to the AMO Membership Assistance Program. Thus, the fund itself is not required to pay federal income tax, and individual contributions made voluntarily to the fund are tax-deductible. In addition, benefits paid to eligible families are not subject to federal income tax. I urge AMO members everywhere to join the members of the AMO national executive board and me in continued support of the American Maritime Officers Membership Assistance Program, which represents our union helping its own in times of real need. There is no reason not to support the fund, and every reason to want to keep it strong. Individual contributions to the fund can be made by check or money order to: American Maritime Officers Membership Assistance Program Bank Atlantic 314 E. Dania Beach Blvd. Dania Beach FL 33004 AMO members also have the option of contributing regularly to the AMO Membership Assistance Program by authorizing deductions from benefits received from the AMO Vacation Plan. The deduction authorization form is available at AMO headquarters, at all AMO port offices, and on the official AMO Web site at www.amo-union.org. Benefit claims and inquiries can be directed in writing to American Maritime Officers Membership Assistance Program at 2 West Dixie Highway, Dania Beach, Fla., 33004, or by toll-free telephone at 866-269-8777. |
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