2006 BOARD MEMBERS President Jon Allen Vice President Jana Flury Treasurer Byard Roper Secretary HOME FRONT 4 T H Q U A R T E R HAMMER TALK BY OUR PRESIDENT F A L L 2 0 0 6 Melissa Roberts Members: Darrel Chaney Dave Gale Jaime Huffman Dennis Magley Guy Rechtoris Bob Warren J. D. Wellons Rev. Ernest Burns STAFF: Executive Director Carol Brandt Construction Mgr. Tom Gagnon Office Assistant Barbara Crosson Warehouse Coordinator Steve Brown Donation Pick-up Driver Carl Shoemake Warehouse Assist. Rick Brown VISTA Seth Reintz What a wonderful year! Habitat of Northeast Georgia has, to this point, experienced a tremendous year. Because of many volunteer efforts, we conducted two successful fundraising events a Building Habitat Dreams and a Golf Marathon event. Each event focused on the efforts needed to expand our role as a Christian organization working to build successful families by providing affordable housing. We have been blessed with wonderful and energetic board members, as well as a loyal and dedicated staff. As a result, we are striving to build our fourth house this year. This could not have been possible without the efforts of all the volunteers and donors who have generously given of their time and resources. A special thanks to Ace Hardware for their increased donations and support. With their help the warehouse staff has increased sales by 40%. Great job all!!! A MESSSAGE FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Executive Director s Message Carol Brandt There is so much to celebrate as we come to the end of another year of meeting the housing needs of worthy families here in Northeast Georgia. We have proven to ourselves in so many ways that we are up for the challenge. This year marks an anniversary worthy of mention. While we were chartered in 1985, the affiliate built its first home in 1986-twenty years ago this year. By the end of 2006 when house # 55 is complete, this affiliate will have built homes for 55 deserving families. Think about that. Here in the office we have been doing some research on past partner families that we have lost touch with since they paid off their mortgage, trying to accumulate data for grant-writing. By doing that research we have discovered that Habitat of Northeast Georgia has housed over 200 people in those twenty years. That s something for all of us-staff, board members, donors and volunteers-to be proud of. Twenty years, fifty-five families. Together we are truly making a difference. In Christian partnership, Carol P.S. When you get a chance, check out our new website: www.habitatnega.org. It s still in the construction phase, but we are all very excited to have this new means of communicating with you-our partner families, friends, donors, and volunteers.
P A G E 2 HABICHAT An Interview with Steve Brown By Barbara Crosson Recently, on a beautiful Fall morning, I had an opportunity to speak with Steve Brown. Steve always has a smile ready and greeted me warmly. He has been a Habitat Partner Family since 1994. Steve stated, Initially I learned about Habitat for Humanity from Mr. George Dion, a North Georgia Technical School instructor. Because Steve was living in Toccoa at the time, he applied for a house with the Toccoa Habitat for Humanity. However, when family circumstances changed, he decided not to build in Toccoa and applied for a house with Habitat for Humanity in Clarkesville. Steve stated, Habitat for Humanity is a great organization. If your willing to put in the sweat equity then Habitat is willing to help you, you just have to be willing to help yourself. TO ALL READERS! PLEASE SEND YOUR EMAIL ADDRESSES TO: hfhnega2@windstream.net THANK YOU! Currently, Steve has volunteered to manage the Resale Warehouse after the retirement of Ed Polsin this past summer. Steve is doing a Great Job and he told me he had worked for Mr. Ed for four years and had learned a lot from him. Steve s helpers in the warehouse are his son, Rick, and Terry Bales. HFHNEGA SAYS A FOND FAIRWELL TO BARBARA ARRINGTON AND WELCOMES TWO NEW VOLUNTEERS A fond fairwell was bid to Barbara Arrington this past August. Barbara had worked with us since August of 2005 and is presently working in Alexandria, VA as an After School Director for Community Preservation and Development Corporation. You can email Barbara at: arringtonbarbara@hotmail.com. Welcome to Seth Rients our Vista Volunteer who will be working with us until August of 2007. Seth comes to us as a recent graduate of the University of South Florida in Tampa. We also want to welcome Peggy Vinson who has come to us through the auspices of Legacy Link, Inc.. Peggy retired from Sam s Club and is a wonderful asset to the Thrift Store. Her creative displays of the items donated for resale have contributed to an increase in sales. Thank you, Peggy. NUTS AND BOLTS WHAT WILL YOUR DONATION BUY? $20 Bucket of nails $25 Ten 2x4s $50 Shingle bundles $65 Interior door $65 Toilet $100 Bathtub $150 Water heater $300 Stove $350 Paint $700 Doors $950 Carpet/tile $1000 Siding $1,200 Trusses $1,300 Slab $1,500 Electric $1,500 Well $1,950 Cabinets $2,800 Air/heat
4 T H Q U A R T E R THE HANDYMAN S GUIDE TO INFORMATION, NEWS AND HAPPENINGS AT HABITAT OF NORTHEAST GEORGIA P A G E 3 Not only is Habitat for Humanity of Northeast Georgia celebrating our 20 th anniversary, but we are breaking new ground as well. This Fall we are having a group called the RV-Care-A-vanners work with us building homes for the first time. The Care-A-vanners are retired and spend half the year in their homes in the North and half the year in their homes in Florida. During their travels to Florida they stop along the way to work with various Habitat chapters. They will be working with us November 27 th through December 8 th. We are very fortunate to have them. We want to thank Mountain View Lakes Resort for graciously donating ten full hook-up sites for the duration of the Care-A-vanners visit. In addition, the resort has given permission for the group to have full use of their facilities that include an indoor pool, hot tub and meeting hall. Construction on the two homes on Wayside Drive in Cornelia is coming along nicely. By the time you receive this, House #54 should be almost completed and, we hope, ready for occupancy by Thanksgiving. The goal for House #55 is to have it completed and ready for occupancy by Christmas. We are excited to have these two houses being built so close to each other because our willing volunteers have ample opportunities for work. As in previous years, Habitat will host students from the Collegiate Challenge Program. However, instead of hosting three groups of students for three consecutive weeks, this year we will host four groups of students. The schedule will begin March 4 th with two groups of students the first two weeks, a week to regroup, and then the next two groups of students for the last two weeks that will end April 8 th. We will be needing TONS of help to feed these eager and hungry college students. Please let Seth Rients, Vista Volunteer Coordinator, or Carol Brandt, Executive Director know if you or your church would like to help us with this ministry. In the near future, we will be giving the interior of the warehouse a face-lift with a new coat of white paint!! Also, we are planning to plant flowers around the perimeter of the Office and Thrift Store. If you are interested in helping with any of these activities, please call Seth Reintz at 706-754-5313. We would like to take this opportunity to tell everyone about our new Thrift Store hours. We are now open from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. from Tuesday thru Friday, and continue to be open on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The Resale Warehouse continues to be open Tuesday thru Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. We are very excited about the increase in sales at both the Thrift Store and the Warehouse. A very large Thank You for the efforts of all of our Volunteers. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! Volunteers are the life and blood of Habitat and what makes us so unique. If you think you would like to join this wonderful and giving group of individuals, we would love to have your participation. Volunteers are needed in the following areas; Thrift Store; Warehouse (especially on Thurs to unload the truck); Construction (Wed/Thurs/Sat). Volunteers are needed for the following committees: Church relations; Fundraising; Family Support; Family Selection; Building; Site selection; Special events. Please mark your calendars to reserve Thursday, December 14th at 6:30 p.m. for the Volunteer Appreciation Dinner. This year the dinner will be held at First Baptist Church in Cornelia in the Fellowship Hall. You will be receiving an invitation soon in the mail!
HOURS OF OPERATION OFFICE: 8:00 a.m. 1:00 p.m. Mon Fri WAREHOUSE: 9:00 a.m. 1:00 p.m. Tues Sat THRIFT STORE: 9:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m. Tues Fri & 9:00 a.m. 1:00 pm Sat Phone: 706-754-5313 Fax: 706-754-1293 Email: hfhnega@windstream.net FIRST ANNUAL GOLF MARATHON RAISES $40,000 Northeast Georgia Habitat for Humanity recently held it s first ever Golf Marathon at The Orchard Golf & Country Club, raising $40,000 for homebuilding in northeast Georgia. Twelve golfers raised pledges for every hole of golf they played, with the goal being to complete 100 holes. Ten men and two women all completed 100 holes or more, with Jack Molnar of Clarkesville finishing the most holes at 130. Roger Blair of Mt. Airy won a new set of golf clubs from Golfsmith for raising $7,100, the most money raised by a single individual. Carol Brandt, our executive director stated, We are so excited about the success of this event. Last year, because of the increase in our waiting list of approved families, our board of directors adopted a strategic plan that included increasing our building from three to four houses per year. We stepped out in faith, believing that the funding would come through to build one more house this year. The funds raised from this event will allow us to do just that. Please mark your calendars for next years golf event, Tuesday, September 11, 2007. Web Page: habitatnega.org/ (Under Construction) Golfers left to right: Rick Watson, Stephen Crowder, Ken Wash, Roger Blair, Ken Schubring, Steve Kikta, Jeff Shockley, Andrew Magley, Jack Molnar, Becky Stuart, Kris Jones (Not Pictured: Alan Baker) Habitat for Humanity of Northeast Georgia 1085 Rocky Branch Rd. P. O. Box 982 Clarkesville, GA 30523 Jack Molnar at the 112th hole out of the 130 holes he played that day!!!
Umberto Zavala at work on house #54 PO Box 982 Non Profit Organization 1085 Rocky Branch Rd. U. S. Postage Paid Clarkesville, GA 30523 Clarkesville, GA Permit No. 20