Hi everyone-
As I am writing this, I've got one eye on the television and am still amazed at the complete devastation and disruption caused by Hurricane Katrina. The events that are unfolding are actually unthinkable, especially for it to be occurring in the United States. It is impossible to describe the emotions that we are all feeling.

As you all know, TBSE 2005 was scheduled for New Orleans, and we are moving very quickly to relocate the event. It is our absolute goal to provide the best seminar we possibly can in spite of the challenges we are facing.

I have really been touched by the hundreds of emails I have received in the past few days expressing sympathy, encouragement, and most of all, so many extremely generous offers to help us out. Thank you so much everyone!! Dave and I both really appreciate everybody's kind words and patience.

It is a stressful time for everyone, and that has brought some unusual communications as well. I wanted to share with you an email that I received this morning as well as my response as this may answer questions of a different type that people may have.

Hey Madow Group -

Instead of changing the seminar to another location how about canceling the whole thing and donating all the money we have all paid and the BIG profit you make to the Red Cross etc... to help with the Katrina disaster?
Karen Buckingham, RDH
Bloomington IN


Hi Karen-

Thanks for your suggestion.

We are totally heartbroken about the horrible situation in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. We have many friends there and have made many more through planning TBSE 2005. We also have Richards Report subscribers who we can't even get in touch with. It is a truly shocking and devastating occurrence.

At The Madow Group, we are dedicated to helping the needy and displaced. We have already made a large contribution to The American Red Cross, and will continue to place much effort into helping out. However, your suggestion is really not feasible.

First of all, if we cancel TBSE, the "BIG profit" which you suggested we donate will not be there. We will actually incur a huge deficit if the event is cancelled, which will, among many things, hamper our ability to help the victims.

Secondly, we do not have carte blanche from the people who have paid tuition to TBSE to just cancel the event and donate their money! We don't control that money - it was sent to us in good faith so that they will be able to attend a fantastic dental continuing education event. We are working tremendously hard to make sure that this happens. It is not only our obligation, but our mission to present TBSE - just like we did shortly after 9/11 and just as we will continue to do - the show must go on. While we are encouraging others to contribute in any way they can, we certainly cannot start donating other people's money that they have sent us in good faith.

At The Madow Group, we are all working as hard as possible to relocate TBSE and make it the best dental event of the year while continuing efforts to help the Katrina victims as well as encouraging other to do so.

Thanks for your suggestions. We hope to see you at TBSE and also hope that all of our efforts to produce this event will also benefit those unfortunate people in the Gulf area.

Rich

Please feel free to send any further questions to me or Dave - you can find us at rich@madow.com and dave@madow.com.

We hope that all of you do whatever feels right so that you can help the victims of Katrina. Keep checking our website for an announcement VERY SOON about TBSE 2005. We hope to see you there!

Rich