Well, this is a "woe is me" end of the year statement. Woe is the agency calendar of events that is!

The Hurricane
Hurricane Wilma hit south Florida, especially Broward County on October 24, 2005 with a vengeance. Incredible damage, hundreds of homes and businesses still have blue plastic covers on roofs to try to keep out the rains. Because of the attention of hurricane Katrina, many people do not even know that hurricane Wilma happened. Winds over 100 miles per hour hit many places, floods, miles of traffic lights out in Broward (Pompano Beach and Ft Lauderdale) for more than 3 weeks. And the destructive list goes on and on! Also, UAC office went without electricity for weeks, the office windows boarded up for months. Terrible!

There went our 29th annual Thanksgiving luncheon, our holiday gettogether, and bi-monthly psg meetings. Then the Raintree Golf Resort where we held the luncheon was sold to build condos, and Nova forgot who we were after the PSG meeting being there for 7 years. Go figure. Thanks to Bob Bogorff, we will meet at the Nova library the last Friday in January 2007. If any of your south Floridian families have any ideas where we can have our holiday festivities, please email us. We miss seeing our families and the munchkins. Marelen Corpas has an idea to meet at her (large home and yard) with everyone bringing a covered dish. Your thoughts?

Romania
We are praying that once Romania is a member of the EU, the over 1,000 pipeline cases will complete UAC has six pipeline cases in that number that is stalled. It's a sin to take away the children's chances for a permanent loving, secure home of their own. Shame on the politics that steal such precious time from those who wait in limbo.

Guatemala
UAC's program is active and Lori Benrubi, our director of Guatemalan programs is working hard to maintain a balance, sidestepping the politics.

Colombia
UAC's Colombian program is an ongoing active program. We have been accredited by the Colombian government each year for the past 23 years. Please remember that the Colombian rules control the age of the child allowed to be referred based on the age of the prospective adoptive parent(s). Timeframes vary for those adoptive parents of Colombian birth (naturalized citizens) or American citizens.

Last but certainly not least, a special heartfelt thank you to those of you who are so kindhearted to donate. These are tough times for all non-profit--(501 (c) (3) agencies to survive --imagine UAC after nearly 30 years in service to children, asking for your contributions. Remember, adoption fees and expense wise, are taken care of by you, the adoptive parent(s). However, our medical aid/relief programs for those children who cannot be adopted need us more than ever.

OUR HOLIDAY WISHES TO YOU AND YOURS. MAY YOU HAVE GOOD HEALTH, HAPPINESS... MAY THE VERY BEST OF EVERYTHING BE YOURS!