Hi there,
You’re receiving this proposal because at some point you’ve been involved with the Mentawai Islands. 
You may even love the place?
The Mentawai Islands are in a lot of trouble.  On October 25th, a 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck off the south western coast of Mentawai:

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Quakes/usa00043nx.php
The earthquake generated a 4m (13ft) tsunami that has devastated communities all along the western shores of southern Pagai islands.  More than 400 people are dead and hundreds more still missing, almost one week after the disaster.  Entire villages have been wiped out, and although some aid has been getting through, the weather this past week has been delaying much of the needed supplies delivered by boat.  We’ve had a major low pressure which has turned into cyclone Anggrek very close to the epicenter of the earthquake, wreaking havoc on the deliveries, and drenching everything and everybody involved.

Luckily, our resort WavePark Mentawai was unaffected by both the earthquake and the tsunami.  I feel very fortunate that we escaped the worst of it. 
We feel it is our duty to help our neighbors in need, and therefore we are organizing a singular relief effort based around utilizing our network and strengths derived from years working in the area.  We would like to ask your help in raising money to fund a charter boat and supplies that will be delivering aid once this weather clears, initial start date is the 23rd November, 2010.  Our plan is:

• Link together with Surf Aid International and the West Sumatra Boat Association to learn the likely needs of victims and locations of disaster.  Project manager Tom Plummer of Surf Aid has been my roommate and close personal friend in Padang for 5 years.  He has agreed to consult with us on making sure the funds go as far as possible.  Aim Zein, head of the West Sumatra Boat Association is my ex-business partner and close friend in Padang.  Christina Fowler is heading up communication and logistics for ongoing relief efforts by the Boat Association.
• Once we have the lists of needs, my office in Padang can shop and ready supplies for the charter boat that we will use to get across the channel.  We are hoping to use KM Debora, which will finish its last charter on November 4th, but they haven’t committed yet.
• We’re combining the resources of WavePark, Togat Nusa and Kandui Resorts to provide skilled labor in design and construction of accommodations that can be sourced from local materials and constructed in a matter of hours.  We have the teams and the tools on standby ready to build houses for people in need, as they find their feet to recover from this disaster.  The coming months will be especially hard on people without proper shelter, as the rainy season starts in November, making life even more difficult and stressful for people.
• We’ll also be focusing on sanitation facilities and water collection, which will be crucial in keeping people healthy through the coming months.  The majority of sea level wells in the villages will be ruined and unusable, and from the photos coming in, it looks as if nothing was spared.

  Our goal is to collection $40,000 USD by the 20th November.  This gives me just over 2 weeks to get this message out.  Our two collection paths will be via internet and via the West Sumatran Boat Association Bank Account in Padang, West Sumatra. To donate online, please follow the links below. Contact us for bank details for direct deposit.

$50 NZD PLEDGE

$100 NZD PLEDGE

$500 NZD PLEDGE

$ PLEDGE AMOUNT "UP TO YOU" NZD