January 4, 2001 CHEROKEE LEDGER-NEWS Page 23 Woodstock office helps save world’s coral reefs By Mike Stucka [email protected] rtificial coral reefs have about as much to do with Woodstock as they A do with Switzerland — quite a bit, as itA turns out. For several years, an international non- profit organization associated with efforts to restore the world’s oceans has been working quietly from a Woodstock office. The organ- ization, the Reef Ball Foundation, is working to help build new coral reefs worldwide and educate people about the dangers facing the reefs, hosts to the ocean’s life. That task has brought Executive Director Kathy Kirbo from Aruba and Belize to The Woodstock-based Reef Ball Switzerland, where she had the unlikely job Foundation helps take reef balls (pictured of demonstrating, in an alpine lake, how the above) and turn them into artificial reefs (pic- strange-looking concrete blobs can help start tured left). artificial reefs. Though home to large num- bers of divers, Switzerland is not known for its oceanic reef systems. Contributed photos “Cold-water diving is not my favorite thing,” laughed Kirby. reefs are at medium or high risk from pollu- Kirbo’s father to the Dominican Republic, reefs. A 1999 report shows the Foundation The reef ball concept uses formed concrete tion, overexploitation, development and which had its natural reefs largely destroyed worked on one project with more than 1,000 weighing up to 6,000 pounds to start reefs. other problems. by a rare hurricane. The work from the people from schools and community groups, The igloo-shaped reef balls are hollow and It’s in her talks with schoolchildren, such Woodstock and Sarasota, Fla., offices is 70- spending some $47,000 to deploy 1,000 reef have dozens of holes through them and use as those at one Marietta school, which Kirby percent overseas, with any number of lan- balls. The Foundation’s Web page describes special concrete mixtures to promote said makes her feel like she’s making a differ- guages and accents. Sometimes, those com- the ongoing efforts in Malaysia to protect sea growth. The now-patented idea is an turtles and other aquatic life. ence. She estimated she got 100 letters or munication problems make for interesting improvement over when Kirby’s college Kirbo said the foundation and reef balls notes from just that one visit, in which she trips. friend Todd Barber first experimented with have come a long way since she took an extra spoke about the importance of coral reefs In Belize, Kirby and some coworkers were chicken wire and balloons to make the balls. diving class in college and met Barber, the and why they should be protected told they were going to the beach. They Malaysia is now considering putting in president, there. The long, difficult class gave 100,000 reef balls. “It’ll make you think about a real reef, arrived, in swimsuits, at the Beach — the even the seasoned divers knowledge that may Kirby said her motivation is simple. which takes 100 years to be a good size, and nickname for a university where they then have saved their lives a few times already. “I’ve been diving since I was 12, and just you can destroy it almost just by touching had to give presentations, Kirby recalled. “It worked out,” she said with a laugh. seeing the degradation at the same reefs in it,” she said. Aside from the humor, Kirby said the Reef For information on the Foundation, see my lifetime is how I got interested,” she said. The work of the Reef Ball Foundation Ball Foundation makes a difference by pre- www.reefball.org. For information on the Estimates by the World Resources Institute spans the world, from an artificial coral reef serving something of biological importance plight of coral reefs, visit www.coralreef. indicate that 58 percent of the world’s coral off the coast of Florida named in memory of to the entire ecosystem, the beautiful coral noaa.gov. New year brings chance to donate and deduct By Misty Williams Follow these guidelines suggested by various www.bethanyhomeplace.org immediately distributed. “We just [email protected] This is a non-profit, long term don’t have the time to repair charitable organizations and accountants: home for women and children items,” explained Peadody. On a t may be too late to donate who “desire to break the cycle of side note, two items desperately clothing and household items •First and foremost, make sure the organization is above board their past and to heal the wounds needed by MUST are socks and I to charity for a tax write-off and it has a tax-exempt status. To find out about a charity, visit the of fear and low self worth.” They underwear. While for good reason, forI 2000, but it is never too early have helped over 900 women and most people do not donate the Secretary of State’s Web site at www.sos.state.ga.us. One can also to start for this year. find out how much money collected goes to the charity. children since it was organized 12 items used, he said if people are With the beginning of 2001, years ago. The organization is out shopping, they could always many people made the ever •Assign a price amount to all items donated. Books and Web always looking for clothing for pick up a package of the items and famous New Year’s resolution to sites can help one find amounts for items donated. Another rule of women and children, said Director donate it. lose weight. If you happen to be Sandy Reed. What they need most thumb to follow is take 25 percent of the original amount paid for Goodwill drop-off site one of the very few who actually at the time is a van. Six women the item. If you are unsure, check with your accountant. Blalock Road, Canton do, or one of the many who don’t, and nine children call Bethany (770) 516-4195 why not load up all those clothes Place home and they have no •Document the donation with a receipt, and a photo or a video. Goodwill helps people with dis- in the closet that no longer fit and transportation, she said. donate them to charity. Keep both in your tax file in case the IRS needs proof. It is also abilities and other disadvantaging Cherokee County boasts numer- helpful to know the date, or at least a time frame of when the origi- MUST, Ministries United for conditions with employment and ous charities who need all types of nal items were purchased, and the condition they were in when Service and Training Inc. training services. Cherokee items, including household appli- donated. 141 W. Marietta St., Canton County has a manned drop off site ances, computers and even your (770) 479-5397 for Goodwill near Canton. For a old cell phones or vehicles. •The value of the contribution cannot be more than 50 percent MUST helps people in Cherokee list of items that Goodwill takes or By donating, and doing it right, of your adjusted gross income. If it exceeds this, the remaining and lower Pickens county by pro- does not take, and other drop off a family can save hundreds of dol- amount can be deducted over the next five years. viding clothing and household sites, visit its Web site at lars each year when Uncle Sam items, along with food. They also www.ging.org comes knocking for tax dollars. •If the amount donated is under $500, report the deduction on help clothe students and assist Also, many churches help needy “You’re better off to give it to a Schedule A of Form 1040. If it is over $500, Form 8283 must be with rent and utilities to those in people and accept clothing and charity than to the government in filed with a tax return. need. The ministry has received household items. One of the the end,” says Terry Lawson of everything from toilets to beds to largest around is First Baptist Lawson Accounting and Tax. of donations.” one has a question to contact their coffee makers, said Andy Peadody, Church of Woodstock’s Clothing Most of his clients, like many On average, if a family falls into accountant. assistant director. Specific needs Ministry. For more information people, only donate a few hundred the 28 percent tax bracket, as Some organizations in Cherokee always includes good-quality mat- on this, call (770) 591-2646. dollars each year, he said. many do, a $100 deduction can County who are always in need of tresses and beds, along with Also, Radio Shack locations are “There are exceptions. Some peo- save as much as $28 in federal help include the following: linens. Clothing for all sizes and collecting used cell phones to ple give thousands to their taxes and $6 in state taxes, he said. both male and female are always donate to women who are involved church,” he said, adding that that Lawson does warn that there are Bethany Place/Merismos accepted, but he warns that all in Call to Protect. The phones will is also tax deductible. “Most peo- many different variables in calcu- East Cherokee Drive, Canton items donated need to be in good be programmed with 911 and an ple though, do not take advantage lating returns and advises if some- (770) 479-9462 enough condition so they can be emergency contact number only..