Habitat for Humanity July 2009 Volunteer Newsletter (1)

Volunteer News V O L U M E

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

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Volunteer Positions Available

—Margaret Mead Retired or semi-retired tradesmen/ instructors, home handymen and reno-enthusiasts to be Crew Leaders on our Burnaby build site Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Looking for a Techie

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Garage Sale Hit!

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Travel with a Purpose

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Habitat at Summer Spaces

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Calendar of Events

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Photo Gallery

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This Month on Site

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Summer Volunteering Tips

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Attention Regulars!

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What People are Saying

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Roger Boychuck: 10 Years of

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Volunteer Service

Site Hosts who can welcome site volunteers, ensure that they sign-in and sign the safety waiver properly, pick up and set out supplies for coffee breaks and lunch. Site Hosts work from 8am to 1:30pm Thursday, Friday and Saturday at our Burnaby Build Site.

Floor Helpers to help with shipping and receiving, organizing, pricing and stocking shelves and Customer Service Representatives in our Vancouver and Burnaby ReStores Monday through Saturday

Data Entry specialists to help with backlog of volunteer hours that need to be put into our new database. Two shifts are available: 9-1pm or 1-4:30pm Tuesday to Friday in our Vancouver office.

Jacks-of-all-Trades on our Burnaby build site Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 8am to 4pm. Retired or semi-retired tradesmen, home handymen and reno-enthusiasts who feel comfortable on a construction site regardless of the task-at-hand.

Level 2 and 3 OFA First Aid Attendants to fill in when the regular attendant is not on-site. An extra First Aid Attendant is needed every Saturday on our Burnaby build site.

Gardeners to tend to the Habitat Office parking lot and grounds Monday to Friday anytime.

Weekday Labourers to help with current excavation work the week of July 13th. Please call Terry McKenzie directly at 604-789-8863.

Summer Spaces Booth Representatives on Commercial Drive to give out information on Habitat on Sundays from 12-6pm.

If you can volunteer for any of these positions, please contact Tanya, Volunteer Coordinator at 604-681-5618 ext. 23 or email volunteer@vancouverhabitat.bc.ca

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Any Techies Out There?

We need a tech-savvy person who can keep our systems running while our IT person is away on parental leave from September 2009 to March 2010. While you don’t necessarily need to be an MCSE, you will need to have a well-rounded knowledge of Microsoft server and desktop operating systems, networking principles, database maintenance practices, possess strong troubleshooting skills and be a power user on a wide variety of software. Since you’ll be the “go-to person” on all matters technical, it would really help if you are a full blown “Geek”.

As the entire “IT Department”, one day you might be running performance checks on the Small Business Server 2003 and tuning up XP Pro desktops in the morning, while replacing a power supply or hard drive on a PC that afternoon. The next day you could be editing video or brochures, the next could find you configuring the networked Xerox or resetting a forgotten voicemail password on our networked phone system. In between, you’ll get requests for software and system advice from staff and volunteers. It is a challenging, varied and exciting position.

Specifically, you will maintain, fine tune and troubleshoot our production systems, which include… *Small Business Server 2003 and associated local and remote networking *Exchange Server 2003 and associated anti-SPAM software *Symantec Endpoint Management Server *Sage Fundraising 50 *Sage Simply Accounting *Desktop and network support in three separate Lower Mainland locations *Windows XP Pro and Office support and tuning *Website content updates using Drupal CMS You will also act as the technical contact for all technology contracts, which include high speed internet service, website hosting and yearly maintenance contracts on software.

If you have the skills, or know someone who does, we’d love to hear from you! Please email with ‘IT’ in the subject line to volunteer@vancouverhabitat.bc.ca

Sale Raises Big Bucks!

The Interior Designers Institute of BC’s ‘Not Your Average Garage Sale’ on Saturday June 20th raised over $4,000 for Habitat for Humanity Greater Vancouver.

This contribution and the increased advertising for our store brought its one-daytotal sales to $11,000.

Director of Marketing and Development, Kim Pettersen, was incredibly

satisfied with how the day went.

Puzzle man, Wayne Helfrich, also took advantage of the sale as an opportunity to sell “We are She hopes this will be the his puzzles. He raised beginning of a very special thrilled about relationship between Habitat $150.00 more towards his goal of raising $10,000 for our partnership and IDI. Habitat.

with IDIBC and

look forward to another successful sale in the spring of 2010!”

—Kim Pettersen, Director of Marketing and Development

Left: Yana (centre), Vancouver ReStore Assistant Manager, oversees the sale events. Right: Wayne shows some kids how to use his Mouse Trap Piggy Bank

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Burnaby ReStore Volunteer Travels With a Purpose

By Shari Godding I was fortunate to volunteer with the Burnaby Restore two years back in 2005 under the awesome guidance of Tom Riessner. For as long as I can remember, I have had it in my goals to volunteer on a Global Village trip. I did my research and was pumped to find out that my GV team would be meeting at the other end of the world… brilliant Argentina!

type of trip. You will be much more than a tourist. You will let go of your day to day comforts of home and open your mind to a completely different culture. If the language is not your first, you are guaranteed to use your hands and speak a language you create in the moment.

The most amazing thing that I was exposed to on my trip was the happiness of the people I met, despite their poverty. Now that I am home, I will be forever grateful for the roof over my head and the country that has allowed me so Our Global Village team was many opportunities. I have made a made up of all Canadians, goal for myself to continue to young and old, with a variety Shari Godding, centre, participates on a Global Village build in spread my love of voluntourism of reasons for joining. Our Argentina with anyone that’s interested in group included a lawyer, an listening. Currently, Habitat for accountant, a nurse, a retiree and even a Humanity has numerous trips all over the automatically become part of the community. wonderful pair of newlyweds. The one world including Mozambique, Tajikistan, Papua We participated in English classes at the local common goal that instantly brought us school, added a fresh coat of paint to the local New Guinea and Armenia. If you are together was to impact a family’s future by interested in spreading some of your love, do library and made instant friends with the building them a home. We were responsible it now and find out what it feels like to travel neighbourhood children. for the first phase of the build-- the foundation. with a true purpose. For more info on Global There are a few things I can promise from this As a Global Village team member, you Village Builds go to www.habitat.ca.

Volunteers Needed for Habitat Booth at Summer Spaces Did you make it to Vancouver’s Car-Free Day back in June? Well, the city has approved the closure of several streets for every Sunday throughout the rest of the summer!

The City’s Summer Spaces celebrations started with street closures on sections of Commercial Drive and Main Street on Sunday, July 5 and will run through August. Gastown and Collingwood are also part of the celebrations!

Habitat for Humanity Greater Vancouver will be participating in the one that takes place on Commercial Drive.

We need 2-3 volunteers to stand at our booth each Sunday from 12-6pm and hand out flyers and information on our organization. This is a really great chance to promote Habitat for Humanity and keep our name out there. The more people we make aware of our great cause the better!

Details: Commercial Drive – Open Streets Dates: July 5, 12, 19, 26 and August 9, 16, 23 Time: 12 – 6 pm Where: On Commercial between First Avenue and Venables Street The community is invited to fill the street with spontaneous local culture. Come on out and enjoy your new public space!

For more information on the Summer Spaces sites - vancouver.ca/summerspaces. If you can volunteer, please call 604-681-5618 ext. 23 as soon as possible.

Habitat for Humanity Greater Vancouver will be hosting a booth at this year’s car-free Sundays on Commercial Drive.

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Schedule of Events

JULY 2009

July 1—Canada Day

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July 4, 5, 6—Build Days July 11, 12, 13—Build Days July 15—Volunteer Orientation July 18, 19, 20—Build Days July 25, 26, 27—Build Days

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Happy BC Day!!!

AUGUST 2009

August 1—Build Day

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August 6, 7, 8—Build Days

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August 13, 14, 15—Build Days August 19—Volunteer Orientation August 20, 21, 22—Build Days August 27, 28, 29—Build Days

Don’t forget the Volunteer BBQ on Sunday August 9th at Fraser River Park in Vancouver!

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PHOTO GALLERY

Terry McKenzie

Volunteers rest up at lunch time Dave Russell

Wayne Carrick

Bruce Weibe Matt Jelly

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THIS MONTH ON OUR BUILD SITE

Westminster Savings Credit Union

Home Depot

CitiFinancial

Commonwealth Insurance

Special Thanks to Westminster Savings Credit Union, Home Depot, Tri-City Soroptimists, CitiFinancial, Tradeworks, the Souljourners and Commonwealth Insurance!!!

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Site Supervisor’s tips for Summer Volunteering 1. Dress in white or light coloured clothing to reflect the sun and keep cool 2. Stay hydrated by drinking a lot of the water, juice, soda, tea or coffee that we provide on our site 3. Use the sunscreen that we provide on site or bring your own 4. Use a cloth attached to the back of your hard hat to protect your neck 5. If you get overheated, find some shade and cool down. Don’t feel pressured to work too hard if you don’t feel well Terry Probert, Site Supervisor, eats a healthy lunch to keep his engine motoring all day long

What People are Saying About Habitat Jimmy Carter, during his address at Habitat's 25th anniversary event "I've never known a Habitat volunteer who bought one's own tools and traveled at one's own expense and worked hard without payment, that wasn't convinced that at the end of that challenge that their sacrifice had been relatively insignificant to the blessing that they had received.

The Rt. Hon. Edward Schreyer, former Governor General of Canada.

"It isn't always easy to turn good intentions into

Attention Regulars: First of all we would like to thank all of our regular volunteers at the Burnaby Build site (and the ReStores of course!).

Without you, we couldn’t exist.

During the summer months, we often have large groups coming out to the site.

We have to ensure that these large groups are covered with the appropriate First Aid and that enough lunch is ordered for everyone (if a corporate group comes out).

concrete reality. Habitat makes that possible. It is Builder magazine - May 2007 issue. a wonderfully positive concept."

The ''Builder 100'' survey ranked Habitat for Humanity the 14th largest house builder in the United States based on closings in 1999.

Millard Fuller, President and Founder, Habitat For Humanity International, Steve Bell, musician, ESWP'01 in September 26, 2001 Winnipeg.

"I believe Habitat must move forward at the fullest speed possible to continue to help families "There are so many levels of human caring that get tickled in Habitat... the very essence of God is in need build simple, decent houses. For too community, and when you gather together that is many people need what Habitat for Humanity, doing what we were meant to do." stepping forward in faith and love, can do."

Thanks Roger for 10 Years of Dedication!

Habitat for Humanity Greater Vancouver would like to thank Roger Boychuck for 10 years of devotion to our organization.

He is the longest serving ReStore volunteer in the history of our affiliate and his contribution has been exceptional.

Director of ReStore Operations, Tom Riessner cannot say enough about the help Roger has given him. “Roger is an integral part of our operations and I don’t Please call to let us know that you are know what I’d do without him,” he says. planning to go out to the site. This way, we will be able to ensure that we are “He predates even me! He has given us complying with safety regulations and that thousands upon thousands of hours. On everyone is fed. top of that, he is a great person who has Roger Boychuck receives an appreciation plaque from a sunny disposition, love kids and animals Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. fellow volunteer Marlene Reilly. and is always willing to help.”