Katrina: I am so proud of my staff for their big hearts

September 14, 2005

When I was at the Ottawa, I got a call from John Ratliff,
my Chief Operations Officer, requesting that he be able to close the plant
and take our staff to LA and Miss. to help out those in need. I agreed.
A week later, John Ratliff, Don Klein (assembly manager), John Dean (inventory/purchasing
manager), Jase (assembler), and Corey (assembler) all headed down with
two trucks, a 40’ trailer full of stuff that was donated by kayakers,
locals, and Jackson Kayak. They found out that a town in Mississippi was
hit hard and nobody was there yet. They spent the week delivering supplies,
and then doing manual labor, cleaning up people’s houses, finding
their stuff, etc. I wasn’t there, so my account is second hand.
They said that more than anything, helping hands are needed, more than
supplies at this point.

These guys didn’t have to take their week and
weekend, plus all of the prep time, collecting donations, and ultimately
hard labor helping out those who they never met, but they did. This just
another reason I am proud of my awesome staff of kayakers, they are great
people. If you see John R., Don, John D, Jase, or Corey, give them a pat
on the back for a job well done.

“The best index to a person’s character
is (a) how he treats people who can’t do him any good, and (b) how
he treats people who can’t fight back.” Abigail Van Buren