CelebrityAccess MediasWire – The Americana Music Association has several initiatives scheduled during this week’s Americana Music Conference in Nashville on September 8-10 to help raise funds for Hurricane Katrina victims:

• Throughout the conference, delegates and music fans willl be able to buy a limited-edition Hatch Show Print poster of the Honors & Awards for $10, AMA t-shirts for $15 and copies of the 21-track This Is Americana, Volume 2 CD for $5 and AMA bumper stickers for $1. All net proceeds will go to the Red Cross and related relief agencies; 
• The Americana Music Association is donating a stack of Honors & Awards tickets to several Nashville radio stations that they can auction off to raise funds to benefit the cause;
• There are plans to have a donation box at the entrance to the Mercy Lounge and Cannery Ballroom for the public and delegates who may wish to make cash contributions;
• The AMA will ask artists performing at the Honors & Awards and showcases to autograph a number of Hatch Show Print posters that can be auctioned off to help raise relief funds; and
• Saturday lunch performing artist Grayson Capps is from New Orleans–he took a personal hit from the Hurricane and aftermath himself. Thinking only about others, he is asking delegates to bring clothing, toiletries, towels, bedding and other necessities to his show at Robert’s Western World at 12.15pm September 10, where they will be forwarded to those in need.

"The delegates of the Americana Music Conference have been calling during the past week asking for ways this event can provide assistance," said Jeff Green, executive director of the Americana Music Association. "Community service has always been a central theme for this organization, and we hope to both raise money and provide a spirit of collaboration throughout the weekend."  by Jane Cohen and Bob Grossweiner