Second Progress Report, February 5, 2005

Dear Storytellers:

I've been so busy organizing Story Tsunami, and keeping up with the flood of responses, event announcements, and so forth, that I haven't had time to write a progress report.

Today, after another count, we reached the goal of 50 storytelling benefit concerts. Seven events have taken place, most are fully planned and already being promoting in local media. Some are still getting organized, and will take place in March and April.

Rather than just being a national project, Story Tsunami has become international, with events in Canada, Singapore, Japan, Argentina, and Israel being planned.

I must give huge thanks to my committee: Jo Radner, Regina Ress, Jackie Baldwin, Marilyn Kinsella, Regi Carpenter, and Diane Maluso. Jackie built a beautiful collection of stories from the countries effected by the tsunami on her web site, story-lovers.com. Regi and Diane helped enormously with the web site. Jo, Regina, and Marilyn researched charitable organizations and helped spread the word about the project. Jo served as a liason with National Storytelling Network.

And, many thanks to Karen Dietz and NSN for giving the project a much needed boost in many ways!

There are many wonderful events listed on the web site. I wish I could be in about twenty places at once!

Time for me to go into the last round of organizing for Ithaca's own local event!

Keep an eye on the first page of the web site for a regularly updated tally of the funds raised.

In gratitude, Lee-Ellen