Dear Member and Colleague,

Over the past week, we have all been witness to images of unspeakable suffering and heroic deeds, and have been invited to assist in Hurricane Katrina/Gulf Coast relief efforts in many different ways. As compassionate people, we are all responding to these immediate requests for help, as appropriate. As members of the Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources (SEER), we are challenged to identify creative ways the Section might apply its considerable expertise, energy, and drive to targeted efforts over the days and months ahead to help with recovery efforts.

Last week, the SEER Executive Committee established a Task Force to coordinate Section efforts in responding to Hurricane Katrina. Steve McKinney, of the Birmingham, Alabama, office of Balch & Bingham, will lead the effort. Many council members volunteered to assist, and all Section members are invited to join in the effort. If you wish to volunteer, please get in touch directly with Steve at smckinney@balch.com, (205-226-3496).

The ABA has created a link on its website (www.abanet.org/katrina) that identifies options for members to volunteer their services. The site contains information for lawyers who would like to volunteer their legal expertise to assist victims, information for lawyer-victims who require help in rebuilding their practice, legal information for victims, and a list of organizations that accept contributions. SEER will shortly be posting volunteer opportunities and related information on its website, so stay tuned.

The Section has also expressed its strong desire to participate in the efforts of the ABA Task Force on Hurricane Katrina, recently formed by ABA President Mike Greco. The Section has made clear its willingness to contribute to the Task Force its expertise on the many environment, energy, and resource issues that Hurricane Katrina has inspired.

Finally, in addition to the many humanitarian relief efforts of which you may already be aware, noted below is a relief fund that focus on members of the Louisiana legal profession:

Hurricane Katrina Legal Community Relief Fund
c/o Baton Rouge Bar Foundation
544 Main Street
Baton Rouge, LA 70802

Thank you for your support.

Lynn L. Bergeson
Section Chair