Friendship

with New Orleans harpists

Patrice Fisher lived in New Orleans and is president of the American Harp Society in Louisiane. Like many other harpists, he suffered many damage from the hurricane, such as the loss of his harps and accessories. He contacted us by mail to ask for everybody's helpto help the harpists (need of money, strings, harps...).

This is the transcription of his mail:

Like many of the people responding to the victims of hurricane Katrina, I spent some time in stunned shock and horror at the prospect of losing everything.

I have decided to focus my efforts on trying to help New Orleans harpists, affected by the hurricane, to take my mind off my own troubles. You can make donations of money and harp supplies to the New Orleans Chapter of the American Harp Society by sending them to:

Patrice Fisher, c/o Candis Smith,
10119 Inwood, Houston, TX 77042

Please make checks payable to: n. o. chapter, american harp society

Most of our chapter members, including everyone on our chapter board, lives in the area of new orleans between the river and the lake, which sustained the heaviest flooding. one of the most frustrating things is not to be able to find out for sure what happened to our homes and harps.

Thank you in advance for your help.

Patrice Fisher, president, New Orleans Chapter of the American Harp
Society
p.s. Iam also a member of the InternationalSociety of folk harpers and craftsmen, but we do not have a chapter in New Orleans.
Iapologize in advance if Isend you a short reply to any messages that you send,but Iam only allowed to use the internet for one half hour per day.

Update on New Orleans harpists:

Helen Maxwell is in Nachitoches, has rented a house there and both of her kids are in school there now.

Diane Michaels in New Jersey has been in touch with Judy Seghers (her cell phone was working today). We don´t know about her harps.

LPO harpist, Rachel Van Voorhees, is safe in Wyoming. She has one harp safe with her. Her four concert grand harps have been lost in the flood, plus two irish harps, strings, music, recordings, etc.

Laurie mc connell is fine & in Highlands, NC. her harp is okay.

The Lawless family: paul, maeve, caroline and erin are in baton rouge.
maeve´s harp is safe.

Molly Wiggins is fine, damage to house and shed, but we got power last night and we are fine. Insurance is going to take care of us. We can't call out by phone either through cell phone or land line.

Barbara Martin is in Alabama, it seems her home and harps are dry. She is eager to return, however we are told it make take months.

Michaela Morrissey is in little rock,arkansas.

Susan Rhodes is safe with her family in florida. Her house in Covington did not flood. Her harp is okay.

Cathy Anderson is safe in Dallas. we don´t know about her harps.

Patrice Fisher is on tour in Brazil. ´´we have extended our stay here for another 2 weeks, because we can´t go home yet. we will go to California on september 27 and drive my daughter, erica back to school in hattiesburg, mississippi, as soon as her school is open and hattiesburg has electricity and city services.we will stay in hattiesburg, until we can go home to new orleans.`` my house looks flooded on the sattelite photos, but i don´t know for sure.if it is flooded, we have lost everything