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News and Updates from Mark
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From: Roberta Reagan rreagan98@yahoo.net Sent: 9/29/2005 If you know of anyone that you met down there who needs a place and if somehow they can get up here (Bloomington, IN) - we'll take 'em. What's really great is what the churches are doing in my community .... for example whoever we take in will be 'adopted' by our church (Vineyard Community Church) and will be supplied with everything they need to get a new start. I even have a closet full of clothes waiting! It's going to be real tight at holiday time when my kids (and grandkids) come home from college and if my mom and brother visit from Oregon! Oh well, the more, the merrier .... anyway, the other churches have teamed up and started this group called 'people to people' and they have 'adopted' a town in Mississippi (starts with a P can't remember the name) and schools help schools, churches help churches, etc .... already they have sent 17 loaded semi's down there and set up 2 warehouses! Monday, September 19th, 2005: "Katrina Cartooning Relief effort" turns into "Rita" evacuation from Houston..."freeway fun for friends and family". I've got to say, evacuating Houston along with a couple of million other folks, ahead of the threatening Hurricane "Rita" was...surreal. My 8 hour drive time to San Antonio (normally around 3-4 hours) was supersonic compared to the million who departed later on Wednesday after "Rita" hit "Class 5". I heard stories of families spending upwards of 30 hours for this same drive. During my journey, I saw families packed into mini-vans, trucks, cars stuffed to the brim with pets, luggage, music instruments (I saw a piano!), and as much of their precious possessions that could fit. Utterly, astoundingly surreal. EVERYONE I saw appeared to be in good spirits, good temperament, good manners, as I have come to understand is the "Texan" way. I was part of the early wave of evacuees, my online art academy co-creator, Ward Makielski said it best. "Ride the front end of the evacuation wave...live to DRAW another day!" I later heard the stories of thousands of motorists running out of fuel along the sides of the roads. I also heard the stories of good Texan Samaritans from San Antonio, driving flatbeds loaded with gas cans to help those families. I admit I was keenly aware of the fact that during my long drive, (creep, crawl, inch...) to San Antonio, I did not see a single law enforcement vehicle, or tow truck. My friends who arrived in San Antonio the following day after (15 hours) shared the same experience. During this entire evacuation, Houston radio station am 740 was my companion, updating me on gas stations with fuel, alternative routes when I-10 really clogged. The on-air voices of KTRH am 740 did a superb job keeping millions of us freeway crawlers updated on the all aspects of this historic storm. I was constantly calling my friends Joey and Ginger Doyle. They were attempting to evacuate toward Dallas on 1-45 North (a 28 hour ordeal for Ginger, Joey and their two babies. I'm so glad they made it to Dallas..safe, sound, if not completely fatigued) to discuss these updates. That is to say, when I could get a line through. I guess when a few million people all want to use their cell phones at the same time, on the same freeway, in the same city, you are bound to get a few "all circuits are busy now" recordings. Once the storm hit Class 5, I was certain the state was going to open up all the Houston inbound lanes to all outgoing traffic. The am 740 folks were doing their best to urge city, state and transportation personal to get the traffic flow transition in effect to alleviate the mass gridlock. As it turned out, it took more than 24 hours. I was boarding my flight at the San Antonio Airport late Thursday afternoon before I saw the news images of police opening up the empty freeway lanes to out flowing traffic. I am sure cities around the world are closely evaluating their emergency evacuation procedures, and trying to determine a better, faster more efficient way to transition all freeway lanes into "evacuation" lanes. What a logistical nightmare for Houston, blocking and detouring hundreds of freeway on ramps, while at the same time re-directing tens of thousands of stressed drivers in desperate need of fuel. I was so grateful to James and Linda Clarke (fellow evacuees from Houston), for inviting me to stay with them, and their kids, and their grand kids, and their pets, ... at their place in Wimberly near San Antonio. I would have been so out of luck trying to find a hotel room anywhere within a 300 mile radius. I did pass several neon freeway information boards directing folks to area shelters. I was impressed how fast these were set up. Go San Antonio shelter setter uppers! Friday night I was back in Wisconsin, watching the storm's progression, warm and safe besides my wife and kids, glad to hear that so many of my friends had successfully navigated out of Houston, glad to hear that Rita was losing steam and would most likely miss Galveston and Houston. Then to see more coverage of the flooding in south east Texas and Louisiana. My family's collective heart goes out to these folks. We all need to dig deeper in our wallets, fight "donation fatigue" and give, give, give. Anytime you are in an airport, library, or Kinko's and you notice someone who is from these hurricane devastated areas, (they will be the people desperately trying to access Red Cross or FEMA at $16 an hour public computer stations because their laptops got destroyed in the flood) go up to them, talk with them, ask them to share their stories, and YES give them a check. Give them $50, $100, $300, $500...make sure it hurts your checking account. You will touch these folks forever. They need the help now, today! I have been seeking these individuals out wherever I am. The story is the same, over and over. These nurses, teachers, accountants, clerks, store managers, pet shop owners, students all still have faith that the Red Cross and FEMA will eventually get them some type of financial assistance, but in the meantime they have had to max out their credit cards on hotel rooms, fuel, and clothing. To the point that many have had to finally move into church shelters, a full 3 weeks after Katrina. I urge you to seek out these fine people of Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Give them a check for $150 to cover a few nights in a hotel room. Give them a check to buy an airfare to meet up with family. Give them a check to take their kids out to dinner. Give them a check to help them buy a new laptop computer. Give. These survivors will NOT ask for your help, they will most likely politely refuse your offer, write them the check anyway, put it in their hands, tears will flow. Understand it could take many more weeks, perhaps even months before these people successfully get substantial financial Federal aid. This will be my final web posting until late October when I will hopefully return to the Houston area schools that have enrolled many thousands of the children from Louisiana. Thanks for your wonderful emails of encouragement. Dream it! Draw it! Do it! Mark Kistler          My name is Camille Jesse, former art teacher in Aldine. . . I too fled Houston on Wed. night about 10 PM. . .I was "kidnapped" by the friends who I had planned to sit the storm out with. They called and said, "we've got hotel reservations in Hope , Ark. You've got less than 5 hours to get things done." I was torn. . .leave or not leave. . .I was terrified. . .I am a strong and independent person except for storms. . .I totally lose it. You see, I am originally from Mississippi. . .never went through a hurricane. . .only know the fear and saw the aftermath. . .my first art teaching job was in Ocean Springs and I lived in Biloxi from 1972 to 1981. . .then moved to Houston to teach. I still have cousins and friends on the Coast. As a matter of fact, I had just given shelter to 18 of them and one dog after Katrina hit. They were lucky. . .all 5 homes had little to no damage. I was still depressed over Katrina when our local news was beginning to warn about Rita. . .emotionally I was not ready for another one. . .Katrina was very personal to me having lived in that area and having family still there. . .now this one was headed my way. . .My Biloxi cousins were now calling me telling me to come down to them. I kept thinking that because I didn't live in the coastal zones, that I would be OK. . .although I personally know how far inland the damage can go. I was in denial, BIG time. As the news got more threatening I began to worry. I then planned to sit it out with friends so that at least I wouldn't be alone and afraid. On Wed. I prepared my little antique shop and then went home to prepare there, only the grocery stores were bare. . .MORE worry as I saw others getting serious. Then about 5 PM my friends called and basically wore me down that I was leaving with them. I thought why Arkansas?? Anyway, making a truly long story shorter, we left at 10 PM Wed. night on HWY 59 headed to Hope, Ark which should have been a 6 hour trip. . .23 hours later we arrived at out hotel in Hope. During that 23 hour nightmare, I had several "melt downs" . . .and at one point a mild panic attack. We didn't stop for food, had the miracle gas tank which I swore the needle had to be broken. . .the not being able to find a "potty" was painful. . .extemely painful. . .. .witnessed the asphalt melting under the tires as it clumped in chunks and would roll off the slow rolling tire of the car ahead of us. . .the temps hit 101 according the gauge in the car. . .couldn't believe the sights along the road. . .unreal visions of people sleeping on their car hoods, families camped out along the road in parking lots of open as well as closed businesses, people using the side of the road for toilets, people baking in the back of pick up trucks with no cover on their heads . . .no sight of cops for the first at least 14 hours of this nightmare. . .and then only spotty til we hit Lufkin where we saw ample amounts of help. If you've ever traveled hwy 59, from Houston headed north, you know that stops for gas, food and potty are limited anyway since it is not an interstate. . .well, magnify this problem with a million or so people. It was a nightmare. Would I do it again. . .ask me the next warning of a hurricane 5 . . .tonight, 6 days later and finally home to my own bed, the answer would be no. . . So thanks for your story and letting me know about the safety of the Clarkes' and Doyles'. Also, thanks for your concern for the vicitims of Katrina and Rita. . .I often worry that so much focus has been put on the flooding of New Orleans, that people have forgotten there is total devastation along the Miss. Gulf Coast. and now in areas of Texas and eastern Louisiana. Let's all keep these people in our prayers as well as our donations. . .Camille 9-20-05 Last week I had the extraordinary pleasure of working with these fine people of Houston Texas in organizing, facilitating, and equipping my donated "Dare to Draw in 3-D" assemblies. These folks pulled off 8 on-site assemblies at 4 elementary schools. Each day these schools are enrolling (with open arms and Texas welcoming hugs) more and more children from Louisiana. I am so completely in awe of this cities sustained "Open arms, hearts and hands" policy. If we all could learn from these fine folks, we would be better for it. 
 Mark Kistler visits Aldine Academy 
 Mark Kistler visits Anderson Academy 
 Mark Kistler 9-16-05 A note from Susan Smith, Art Teacher, Carroll Academy, Aldine I.S.D How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world. -Anne Frank Hello Mark, I cannot express to you how much my kids enjoyed your presentation. Dismissal time yesterday brought a flood of drawings that they had done after your visit. Then again, this morning, I was met with an equally large stack of drawings slid under my door. I get a real thrill when my students feel that excitement for art that you and I know all about. You even gave this old goat a shot in the arm! One of the newest students we enrolled this week from Louisiana was in the fourth grade audience. She was very quiet when I first met her, but I noticed she came alive during your session. I think your time with her will be something she remembers for years to come. Thanks for all you have done for us, and I know I speak for those you have touched in the George R. Brown Center when I say your efforts are making a HUGE difference! Susan Smith Art Teacher Carroll Academy Aldine I.S.D.    Mark Kistler, Susan Smith, Joey Doyle Sept 14, 2005: Message from Dorothy Kitaka www,famearts.org Dear Mark, Wow, you are really making a difference with these kids and people. We all say that we are doing things and sending money, but you are in the trenches and can see the good that you are doing with the arts. Do you need any more supplies? We could start asking some art supply people around here. United Arts Supply might be one. I will send this to the FAME board and maybe there may be others who can help too. Take care and be careful and get some sleep sometime, keep smiling and drawing. Dorothy Thanks Dorothy! I'm not sure exactly what kind of volume I'll be looking for as are as art supplies for needed by these children from Louisiana in my "Cartooning Relief Effort". I'm still building an assembly school teaching tour to Houston Area elementary schools that have enrolled thousands of the children from Louisiana. I hope to be scheduled into these schools Sept 19-22, Sept 26-28. These are donated "Dare to Draw!" assemblies. If you, or any one in your email circle know any administrators or teachers who are at one of these schools, please encourage them to email me. While I've been working with my friends in the area school district art education departments, and the Houston Mayor's office, it's taken 6 days so far, hopefully I'll be scheduled in these schools next week. Considering my normal school bookings take up to 6 months to cordinate, things are moving along quickly. Tonight will be my third evening teaching the kids at the Georgia R. Brown Convention Center, (5 blocks from the Atrodome) still sheltering a few thousand families. Last night (Sept 13th) Joey Doyle (Aldine I.S.D Art Education) assisted me in setting up and working with the children. The number of families staying here at the George R. Brown Convention Center and over at the Astodome is shrinking daily. The families are being relocated to more appropriate shelters, churches, apartments, and homes. 
The photo at right shows Mark Kistler and Joey Doyle. The background cartoon lesson is "Mark Kistler in the Morning".I am trying to set up more donated "Dare to Draw" elementary school assemblies for schools in Louisianna and Mississipi that have enrolled large numbers of these children. October 17-20, and 24-28, Nov 7-10, Nov 28-Dec 2 are the weeks I'm working into my "Cartooning Relief Effort". If you know of teachers or administrators in any of these schools please encourage them to email me. My continuing goal is to Draw, teach, and laugh with these kids. Cheers, Mark Art inspires creativity and hope where there is despair. Art ignites optimism and laughter where there is depression and crisis  Here's a few more pictures taken by the volunteers: It is Maria's 13th Birthday, so we got busy drawing her a big cake! I am not posting any pictures of the children...I did not get permission from their parents. However, I promised the kids from Tuesday nights workshops that I would post their names on my web site. Mighty Maria! Reading Rayshine! Laughing Listritis! Excellent Elton! Lovable Lilut! Radical Riesha!  Tuesday Night's "Operation Compassion" Volunteers: From left to Right: Faith Villa, Eddie Magathis, Carrie, Sister Margaret Mary, Mark Kistler, June, Jesse from the Houston based airborne unit. Again, this group stayed with me for 3 hours and focused drawing the my lessons one-on-one with the kids. Really remarkable group of good hearted folks. Sept 13, 2005: a note from Mark to Jody Rein Hi Jody, I'm so thrilled about Scholastic donating 1,200 of my "Dare to Draw" books. I'm now teaching each evening in the Houston George R. Brown Convention Center, about 5 blocks from the Astrodome. After a full day of explaining my idea to 16 levels of administrators (all who are working really hard to get these folks into apartments and homes with jobs, while feeding and sheltering over 6,000 families....the number as of yesterday), I finally made it up to the 3rd floor balcony banquet hall, a colossal room they have "morphed" into the "Kid Zone" complete with cool kid friendly posters, an entire wall of computers, small mountains of tot toys, dozens of round conference tables turned into kids activity centers with arts/crafts/games and nifty T-shirts for the volunteer staff. I was explaining my idea to use the enormous screen hanging in the room to teach the kids how to draw, when the world famous music star Cliff Young, www.caedmonscall.com recognized me, "Commander Mark!". He watched my show all the time when he was a kid ( "The Secret City" on Houston PBS). Cliff Young's foundation is involved/facilitating the 2nd Baptist church "Operation Compassion". Wow, once Cliff understood what I was trying to do, he set it all up in about 10 minutes. He has a walkie talkie and he sure know how to use it! He introduced me to the Houston Police security guards, the military personnel, and the fine crew of "Operation Compassion" at the parking lot check-in table. Before my 4pm start time, I picked up my housing host family friend Tammy, to help me with the paper and book distribution, and off we went to Office Depot. I needed an overhead projector and some additional supplies. Office Depot kindly extended me a 10% discount, I was trying for the full 100% donation of the cart contents, but hey, everything helps! Just as I was checking out, Tammy pulled out her credit card and said, "I want to contribute this to your effort". COOL! I immediately raced back into the store to really pile the cart high (just joking). Her $400 overhead projector and supplies donation (not to mention inviting me to camp out at her house for 1 - 3 weeks) is appreciated! I taught about 40 mini-lessons over the course of 4 hours. The volunteers of "Operation Compassion" where fantastic sitting on the floor with kids as they came up to draw with me. We had small groups of kids wondering over to draw with me. Some for only 10 minutes, a few stayed to draw with me for over 2 hours! All the kids received autographed books, art folders, paper, pencil and an autographed art lesson transparencies. I will continue teaching each evening at the "Kids Zone", 3rd floor of the Georgia R. Brown Convention Center each evening after school form 4pm - 8pm and extended hours on Saturday and Sunday (if they are still operating the "Kids Zone", I understand they are trying to transition all the families to more suitable shelters, apartments, and homes by the weekend.) Here is a picture one of the volunteers took.  Here's a couple pon-line stories to check out: There's still room at Houston convention center from the Houston Chronicle. Disaster Relief from the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention Sept 13, 2005: a note from Jody Rein to Mark Hi Mark, Thanks for the mention. GREAT NEWS! Scholastic just told us they're sending you 1200 books!!!! Should arrive tomorrow!!! Many thanks to Publisher Jean Feiwel and Liz Usuriello of Scholastic!! Also. Mark Gompertz, publisher of S&S Trade, told me this morning they plan to include your book with a corporate-wide donation of thousands of adult and children's books they'll be making soon. They're working on logistics as I type this. Such good things you do.... Jody Jody Rein Books, Inc. Sept 9, 2005: a note from Mark An Update on Mark Kistler's "Cartooning Relief Effort" for the fine families and children of Louisiana and Mississippi. Last Tuesday at our home in Wisconsin, my wife Linda and I watched Oprah broadcasting live from the Houston Astrodome. Through our tears (and hers) we felt compelled to do more to help in this relief effort than our financial contributions. Linda immediately urged me to fly down to Houston. No hesitation on her part – even though I had just returned from a 7-week national book signing summer teaching tour. Even with our 11 year old son, and 2 special needs foster/adoption children ages 3 and 6, (an enormous and exhausting responsibility), she basically shoved my clothes in a suitcase and drove me to the airport. "Draw with those kids and make them laugh!", her parting words. She is an amazing woman. For 25 years of my teaching career I have always
promoted art education as a very real powerful tool to save young
lives. Art inspires creativity and hope where there is despair.
Art ignites optimism and laughter where there is depression and
crisis. Linda challenged me to put my boots on, get to Houston
and get to work putting my words into action. Sept 8, 2005: a note from Joey Doyle, the Program Director for Visual Art in the Aldine Independent School District ATTENTION HOUSTON PUBLIC TELEVISION PROGRAM DIRECTOR Good morning, Sept 7, 2005: a note from Yazen Joudeh Mr. Kistler, Hi, my family had to evacuate from New Orleans to Chicago because of Hurricane Katrina. I don't have my password for my School of Imagination and would like to allow my siblings the opportunity to have fun drawing with Mark Kistler. Can you please check the login and password for the account paid for by Yazen Joudeh. My lsu account is disabled because of the flooding so i cannot access my original email. Thanks. > ---------------------------------------------------------- Hello Yazen, What an intense email, all of us at MKSOI send you not only our heartfelt affection and sympathies, but free memberships to all families affected by this tragedy. We believe art can save young lives through inspiration, humor, and creativity! We will send you your original password in a
few days. In the mean time here is a pass code for your to share
with any and all children who have had to relocate due to Katrina. Thanks for writing, |