Habitat for Humanity February 2009 Volunteer Newsletter

Volunteer News V O L U M E

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Thanks for all your great volunteer contributions in the last month. We successfully completed Phase 4 and got four more families into Habitat homes. Without you this wouldn't have been possible. If you want to volunteer in any of the positions below, contact Tanya at 604-681-5618 ext. 23 or email her at volunteer@vancouverhabitat.bc.ca “Do all you can with what you have, in the time you have, in the place you are” —Nkosi Johnson, 12-year-old AIDS victim in his 2000 UN address

Retired or semi-retired tradesmen/instructors, home handymen and renoenthusiasts to be Crew Leaders on our Burnaby build site Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 8am to 4pm

Site Hosts who can welcome site volunteers.

Site hosts work from 8am to 1:30pm Thursday, Friday and Saturday

INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Volunteer Recognition

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Event Coming Women’s Build 2009

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Volunteer Raises 2 $3000 for Habitat Vancouver Site needs certain workers

Cashiers/Customer Service Representatives at our Vancouver and Burnaby ReStores Monday through Saturday 9am to 5pm.

Level 2 and 3 OFA First Aid Attendants . You may also have the opportunity to build.

First Aid attendants are often needed Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 8am-4pm.

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IMMEDIATELY Sad Good-bye to Habitat Founder

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BC Home + Garden Show

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New Facebook

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New Katimavik Students

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Phase 4 DONE!

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Carpenters, electricians, cabinet builders, fixer-uppers for Vancouver and Burnaby ReStores Monday though Saturday, 9am to 5pm.

Floor Helpers in Vancouver and Burnaby ReStores Monday through Saturday from 9am to 5pm.

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You’re Invited!!!

WE’RE DESPERATE FOR HELP ON THE SITE THIS COMINGWEEK !!!

On April 30th, as a wind-up to National Volunteer Week, Volunteer Vancouver will host an unforgettable volunteer recognition event at The Centre in Vancouver!

Together we will celebrate and pay tribute to ALL volunteers in BC—the people who are essential to growing our communities.

Throughout the evening, we will be treated to musical entertainment from the Sarah McLachlan Music Outreach Choir— an Arts Umbrella Project, and a floor-to-ceiling video screen will feature inspirational videos of unique volunteer contributions.

We have just received a special request from Terry, our Site Supervisor, for some extra people on the site this week.

On February 16, 17 & 18, we need two general labourers who are willing to work from 8am-4pm.

Three weeks from now (beginning of March), we need a ticketed electrician to help us with doing the underground electrical work on Phase 5.

Habitat for Humanity would like to take you, our special volunteer, to this event as a token of our thanks for all that you do.

If you or anyone you know is interested in these positions, please If you want to come, please RSVP with Tanya before March contact Terry directly at sitesupervisor@vancouverhabitat.bc.ca as st 21 2009. Please note that we can give a maximum of one ticket soon as possible! Thank you!! per registered volunteer. We hope you can come!

Women: Wanna learn how to build?

March 8th is International Women’s Day which was started in 1911. To mark this day, thousands of events are held around the world to inspire women and celebrate achievements.

In honour of this day, Habitat for Humanity Greater Vancouver is having a day of building dedicated to women who wish to learn new constructions skills or polish ones they already have.

The day will start with an on-site, morning orientation. There is no need to be a registered volunteer. New female volunteers are more than welcome! The women will then rotate among morning workshops which will teach them skills in construction safety, measuring and layout, basic tool use, caulking techniques and building a small project such as a saw horse or a tool box.

After lunch, the women will be building wall panels for Phase 5.

What a great way to learn some new skills and contribute to Habitat’s build!

If you would like to participate and are a registered volunteer or not, please contact Tanya, Volunteer Coordinator, at 604-681-5618 ext. 23 or email at volunteer@vancouverhabitat.bc.ca before March 9th.

Sophie Martin, Habitat for Humanity Volunteer

Puzzle man is up to $3000 fundraised for Habitat and building too!

Special thanks to volunteer, Wayne Helfrich, who has managed to personally fundraise over $3000 dollars so far for Habitat for Humanity Greater Vancouver!

On his way to a goal of $10,000, Wayne has been getting people to donate to us in exchange for one of his handmade puzzles.

Puzzle-making is a labour of love for Wayne and we think his fundraising efforts are an indication of his big heart.

Not only is he making lots of money for us, but he is also helping out on the build site too. Fundraiser extraordinaire and Burnaby build site Talk about volunteer extraordinaire!! Find out more about Wayne at http:// volunteer, Wayne Helfrich. www.woodenpuzzlesarefun.ca/

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Habitat for Humanity Deeply Saddened by the Death of Millard Fuller Habitat for Humanity is deeply saddened by the death of Millard Fuller, the visionary whose ideas and tireless work created Habitat for Humanity.

concrete-block homes were replacing unhealthy mud-andthatch homes … and Millard Fuller had a bold idea: If partnership housing could improve lives in Georgia and Zaire, why not the rest of the world?

Mr. Fuller led Habitat from its founding in 1976 until his separation from the organization and his founding of the Fuller In 1976, the Fullers returned to the United States and launched Habitat for Humanity International. By the Center for Housing in 2005. He died early today, Feb. 3, organization’s 25th anniversary, tens of thousands of people following a brief illness. He was 74.

“Millard Fuller was a force of nature who turned a simple idea were volunteering with Habitat and more than 500,000 people were living in Habitat homes. into an international organization that has helped more than 300,000 families move from deplorable housing into simple, decent homes they helped build and can afford to buy and live in,” said Jonathan Reckford, chief executive officer of Habitat for Humanity International. “The entire Habitat family mourns the loss of our founder, a true giant in the affordable housing movement. Our prayers are with the entire Fuller family.”

The idea for Habitat for Humanity was born at Koinonia Farm, a Christian farming community founded in 1942 in rural southwest Georgia to be a “demonstration plot for the Kingdom of God.” Millard and Linda Fuller made their way to that demonstration plot in 1965.

Millard Fuller was a prolific writer, authoring 10 books.

He had received more than 50 honorary degrees and in 1996 received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor. In presenting the medal, President Bill Clinton said, “Millard Fuller has done as much to make the dream of homeownership a reality in our country and throughout the world as any living person.” Jack Kemp, former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and former HFHI board member agreed, adding, “When I’m asked about housing success stories from our inner cities, the first group that comes to mind is Habitat for Humanity.”

Among numerous other awards, Fuller was named to the National Housing Hall of Fame and had received the World By the time Millard Fuller turned 29, he had earned his first Changer Award, the World Methodist Peace Award, the million dollars as an entrepreneur and attorney. But as his finances flourished, his health and marriage crumbled. To save Norman Vincent Peale Award, the John W. Gardner Leadership Award and the Martin Luther King Jr. their marriage, the Fullers decided to begin anew. They sold all that they owned, gave the money to the poor and in their Humanitarian Award. searching, landed at Koinonia where they began soaking up “Millard Fuller’s drive and relentless commitment to the teachings of farmer, theologian and community founder affordable housing captured people’s imagination and changed Clarence Jordan. lives around the world,” said J. Ronald Terwilliger, chair of In time, Jordan and Fuller launched a program of “partnership Habitat for Humanity’s International Board of Directors. “His inspiration lives on in Habitat’s work and through its housing,” building simple houses in partnership with rural employees, volunteers, partner families and supporters. We neighbors who were too poor to qualify for conventional home loans. The first house was dedicated in 1969 and others extend our sincere condolences to the Fuller family and are keeping them in our thoughts and prayers.” soon followed. In 1973, the Fullers took the concept of partnership housing to Africa. Within a few years, simple

“Millard Fuller’s drive and relentless commitment to affordable housing captured people’s imagination and changed lives around the world.”

—J. Ronald Terwilliger, chair of Habitat for Humanity’s International Board of Directors

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Come on Down to the BC Home+Garden Show

At the 2009 BC Home and Garden Show, the Greater Vancouver Home Builders' Association (GVHBA) will address the increasing interest in secondary-suite housing by partnering with Vancouver-based Smallworks Studios/Laneway Housing Inc. to showcase a laneway house.

The 650 sq. ft. laneway house will Habitat for Humanity will be feature leading-edge technology, participating in the 2009 BC Home construction methods and building + Garden Show at BC Place from products. The home, which will Wednesday February 18th to Sunday include a loft, living/dining area, February 22nd . Come on down and kitchen, bathroom and deck/patio, is look for us in booth #1243. We will designed to inspire those living in be showing everyone how our smaller homes.

ReStores can really bring the costs Arcon Rock & Waterscapes and Houston Landscapes will of their renovations down, in addition to helping the environment. create a typical lane-accessible Ahhh yes, the joys of do-it-yourself backyard, complete with eco-friendly landscaping. home improvement. Who can't The GVHBA Renovation relate? Advice, solutions and Council will feature its popular inspiration for all your decorating, renovating, and landscaping projects Renovation Gallery on the from more than 425 home & garden concourse level of BC Place. The 1,300 sq. ft. exhibit will showcase specialists await you at the BC before-and-after photos Home + Garden Show! of members' renovation projects as This year’s show sounds like it is well as other renovation-related going to be very exciting! products and services. Renovators,

New Facebook Group Habitat for Humanity has finally got on the bandwagon!

We would like to introduce our new Facebook group that can be found under “Habitat for Humanity Greater Vancouver”. This is a great way to stay connected to us and meet your fellow Habitat volunteers.

Join the group and you will hear all the latest news and stay updated on current volunteer positions and events. Anyone can join! See you there!

Women Volunteers Survey Please help a Habitat Canada employee with her project on female volunteers: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx? sm=6Q5zMsl2h20qZDcGoqklUA_3d_3d

interior designers and decorators, and suppliers will be on-site to answer your renovation-related questions.

Spokesperson Ty Pennington will share his top product picks for 2009. Show-goers will be guided through vignettes featuring Ty's favourite design pieces and will learn some handy tips and tricks for designing your own space.

greens. BC’s top landscapers will be on hand to answer questions about landscaping styles, planting tips and more. Show-goers will leave with a newly developed green thumb that is sure to impress their neighbours.

At the Vancouver Sun Gardener’s School, visitors will learn the ABCs of gardening with help from local experts. “Classes” will be held on everything from pest control to seed planting and composting.

From Home Organization to There is no test for the show-goers Renovation, local experts and but we’re sure they will all get an HGTV celebs will offer insight and A+ in horticulture after spending advice on the start-to-finish some quality time with west coast progress for a plethora of little experts, local authors and gardening projects. Watch, be wowed, innovators. Here’s to being in the and walk away with big ideas for your little projects. Back by popular top of the class! demand, Lori Mitchell from Tom Save on the latest products for all Boy Tools and new to the show, your home and garden needs.

Bridget Savereux from HGTV's The Experience over 5,500 square feet Stagers. of gardens, shop and get advice on Local landscaping experts will show all your home, garden and renovation needs! Checkout their attendees how to turn that pile of website if you are wondering about dirt into blooming roses and hours and ticket prices at blossoming begonias. The Dream www.bchomeandgardenshow.com.

Gardens will inspire and revive Don’t forget to stop by our booth wilted flower patches and turn and say hi. backyard browns into springtime

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Schedule of Events

FEBRUARY 2009

February 14—Valentine’s Day Build. If you’re single, come on out and maybe, just maybe, you’ll find love in the midst of sawdust!

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February 18-22—BC Home + Garden Show at BC Place

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February 19, 20, 21—Build Days

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February 26, 27, 28—Build Days

March 12, 13, 14—Build Days

March 19, 20, 21—Build Days

Don’t forget to RSVP for our Volunteer Recognition Event! Details on page 2.

MARCH 2009

March 5, 6, 7—Build Days

March 14—Women’s Build. If you’re a woman and want to gain some new construction skills, register for this fun day of learning and laughter

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Check out our special call for certain skilled volunteers for our site on Page 2!

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March 26, 27, 28—Build Days

New Katimavik Students in ReStores After saying a very sad good bye to Krista Creguer, David Hostetter, Alanah Rombeiro and Topher Gazzard, Habitat for Humanity Greater Vancouver welcome three new Katimavik students to volunteer in our ReStores: Becca, Charles and Karl.

fosters participants’ personal development through community involvement , training and group life.

We wish luck and laughter throughout the rest of their The volunteer work projects, such as the one here at Habitat, Katimavik experience! are supported by partners in the host communities, all of which are non-profit Katimavik is Canada’s leading organizations. Katimavik’s partners work in several national youth volunteeractivity sectors, such as service program. For nine months, young people ages education, helping the 17-21 live in groups of 11, in underprivileged, social three different communities assistance, the outdoors, the environment, special events throughout the country.

They work 35 hours a week and the arts. on volunteer community The Vancouver and Burnaby projects in addition to ReStores are lucky to have participating in structured these three new young learning activities. Katimavik people helping them out.

Top: Becca Olson from Prince George, BC Left: Karl Tremblay (left) from SteAnne-des-Plaines, Quebec and Charles East from Quebec City

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THIS MONTH ON OUR BUILD SITE If you would like to check out Wayne’s puzzles or maybe even get one for yourself, visit www.woodenpuzzlesarefun.ca. Keep up the great work Wayne!!!

Thank You Volunteers for the Successful Completion of Phase 4 Awesome volunteers build wall panels for Phase 5

Margaret Van Essen, proud new Habitat homeowner peruses hardware

Special thanks to Delta Airport for their sponsorship of a build

in the Vancouver ReStore

day on Friday January 23, 2009

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