Southeast ASTA Chapter Raises Money For Baton Rouge Victims

Photo: U.S. Department of Agriculture

The ASTA Southeast Chapter is raising money for the victims of the Baton Rouge, LA, soliciting all ASTA members to contribute to a local relief fund for flood victims.

The water has subsided across much of the city and its suburbs; estimates are that more than 60,000 homes have been destroyed or damaged.

“We recognize the horrific effects from this horrible flood and want you to know we support our members and all agents during this difficult time,” the ASTA Southeast board wrote in a recent solicitation. The chapter itself has made a donation to the Baton Rouge Area Foundation (BRAF)/Louisiana Flood Relief Fund.

The idea was launched by Marty Gibson of Expedia CruiseShip Center, Mandeville, LA, said ASTA Southeast Chapter president Susan Aft, ACC.

Aft, owner of Discount Travel and Cruise in Atlanta, said that not only was it important to the board that they contribute financially, “we wanted to promote good will, to let our members and other agents know we care and are thinking of them. I am sure many feel forgotten.”

Two Baton Rouge travel agencies are listed in ASTA’s online directory, Pearson’s Travel World and Perfect Pairings.

“Two travel counselors, both of whom have worked for me for more than 20 years, and my bookkeeper, lost their homes to the floods,” said Jerry Pearson, at Pearson’s Travel World, which was established in Baton Rouge in 1981. “It’s a bad, bad, bad situation.” He estimates that at any agency in the city, “it’s likely half their employees were impacted.”

Pearson’s Travel World was “high and dry,” he said, but Baton Rouge suburbs are devastated. His business has been severely impacted because no one is currently purchasing travel. Pearson has been calling suppliers this week looking for assistance in delaying payments until the city can get back on its feet and locals start thinking about vacations and business travel again.

Whenever the region has been hit with major disasters (like Katrina and Sandy), the ASTA Southeast Chapter has made donations, Aft said. “They were small donations, but everything counts.”

“We do care about you and are thinking of you!” the Board wrote in its solicitation. “We look forward to seeing you at a Southeast ASTA Event in the future.” Donations can be made at www.braf.org.