Raging bush fires in Australia last Saturday completely destroyed two conference centers, The Cumberland Marylands and the Marylands Country House, located in the Yarra Valley northeast of Melbourne. No one in the centers was injured, but the staffs of both of these conference centers, which are members of the International Association of Conference Centers, lost everything—their homes, their jobs, their community—as the fire razed 90 percent of the town of Marysville.

To help those employees, IACC has set up a disaster relief fund. The association donated $5,000 to seed the fund and is seeking contributions from around the world. A letter to members from Tom Bolman, executive vice president, IACC Global, and Neil Pompan, president, IACC Global, stated that “every penny collected will go to the employees of the two properties to help them through this crisis.”

More than 30 IACC members have already contributed at least $100 each to the cause. Members and interested parties can contribute between now and February 28, 2009, when all proceeds from the fund will be sent to the employees. To contribute, download this PDF form.