The Board of Directors of the Minnesota Nurses Association has approved a donation to the Red Cross of $10,500 to be directed for tsunami relief. The action was taken at the Jan. 20 meeting of the board in response to the tragedy occurring in Southeast Asia that has taken more than 200,000 lives.

A significant number of individual members had called the state office to inquire about how they could contribute to the relief effort. "We consider this action as an efficient and honorable way to represent the concerns of the organization?s membership," said MNA President Monica Vollmuth.

A total $5,500 of the funding was pledged as part of an on-air auction conducted by WCCO Radio, in cooperation with the Minnesota Twins baseball organization. MNA won in a very competitive bidding process that took place on the Dave Lee morning show. The organization earned the privilege of throwing out the first pitch at the Twins game on Sunday, May 1. Plans are in the works to offer group price tickets to nurses and their families for the game ? a pre-celebration for Nurses Week, May 6 ? 12, and an ongoing celebration of the organization?s 100th anniversary.

For more information
To see what other labor organizations are doing to help tsunami victims, visit the Labourstart website

The national AFL-CIO has set up a special fund to aid victims. To make an online donation, visit www.solidaritycenter.org