PROGRAM – August 15, 2019
Andrew Grimson, Executive Director, Upper Valley Habitat for Humanity
Andrew Grimson at work on a Habitat Home
Today Andrew Grimson educated us about the local chapter of Habitat for Humanity.
From the Habitat for Humanity Web Page:
- The idea that became Habitat for Humanity first grew from the fertile soil of Koinonia Farm, a community farm outside of Americus, Georgia, founded by farmer and biblical scholar Clarence Jordan.
- On the farm, Jordan and Habitat’s eventual founders Millard and Linda Fuller developed the concept of “partnership housing.” The concept centered on those in need of adequate shelter working side by side with volunteers to build decent, affordable houses. The houses would be built at no profit. New homeowners’ house payments would be combined with no-interest loans provided by supporters and money earned by fundraising to create “The Fund for Humanity,” which would then be used to build more homes
- Habitat now works in all 50 states in the U.S. and in more than 70 countries and has helped more than 22 million people achieve strength, stability and independence through safe, decent and affordable shelter
Grimson reflected on the involvement of Jimmy and Roslyn Carter. They became involved in 1984 and President Carter continues to help build homes.
The Upper Valley chapter was founded in 1986. The chapter covers towns on both sided of the Connecticut River in NH and VT. To-date 36 homes have been built. The organization also helps with home renovations. There have been over 100 Aging in Place critical home repairs completed.
In addition to building and renovating home, they provide financial counseling for their clients to help assure they will be able to maintain their properties. The chapter is advocating for affordable housing in our region to permit individual to live closer to their sites of employment.
Habitat has criteria that must be met to be eligible for a home build or renovations.
When a home is being built, the homeowner must contribute at least 500 hours of sweat equity, meet mortgage payments, commit to keeping the house in good condition, and be a full partner in the project.
The most recent build was completed in July in the town of Sharon. The home that was built was 1200 sq feet with 500 sq ft to be completed by the homeowner. The home meets Efficiency Vermont standard. It is estimated that it will take less than $200/month to heat the home.
In the most recent Upper Valley Habitat Newsletter Grimson recognized the hard work of volunteers who worked on this home:
- 188 volunteers contributed just over 3,400 hours on this house over the past year.
- They had outstanding support from lunch providers and construction volunteers including Shari Sacks, the Vogelites, Hypertherm, Stephen Raymond (118 hours volunteered), the West Lebanon Congregational Church, St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Our Savior Lutheran Church, WRJ United Methodist Church, and the Tunbridge Church.
- Board member Rick Biddle, volunteered 250 hours on the construction site. & Andrew volunteered nearly 700 hours on official build days, which doesn't include volunteering on unofficial work days!
The next build is being planned for 2020. It will be a duplex. Fund raising is underway to build 2 more home in 2021.
Grimson outlined ways they are working with Upper Valley employers to has them consider providing employer assisted housing. The area is in need of 6,000 more housing units.
Ways individuals and organizations can help:
- Make contributions
- Provide gifts in kind
- Volunteer on home or renovation sites
- Feed the work crews
- Donate land or homes
- Join a Habitat committee
Learn more at the following web pages:
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Andrew Grimsom serves as the Executive Director for Upper Valley Habitat for Humanity chapter. He is responsible for all aspects of leading all aspects of the chapter including family selection and support, building and renovations, home fundraising and administration. The chapter has 5 employees. Andrew has a MBA from Tuck School of Business, and BASc, Mechanical Engineering from the University of Waterloo, Canada. Until 2017 he was the Associate Director, Content Development at HBX an online course arm of Harvard Business School, and prior to that he was employed by the Tuck School of Business where he launched the Office of Digital Education .
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Book given to the Kilton Library's Children's collection in honor of Andrew Grimson is Another by Christian Robinson:
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Happy Dollars
Marilyn Bedell gave a not so happy dollar. She asked us to keep Hannah Darling in our thoughts. She just delivered a baby boy, Mason, who is spending time in the Intensive Care Nursery at DHMC.
Hank Clark stated he had a lovely time with family in Maine, and then headed to the Cape to celebrate a friends birthday.
Paul Tierney saluted the dinner crew he worked with at Listen in WRJ on Tuesday. He gave us an update on Jean Walpren's daughter, Karri who had 30 hours of false labor. Jean shared with Marilyn that she may be induced on Friday.
Bruce Pacht took a long motorcycle ride on the back roads of NH. From his Facebook post: "Today’s Shadow excursion = ~150 miles targeting 603 Bakery in Canaan for a take-out lunch, and Ballard Ice Cream in Concord. Then back through Henniker, Washington, and Claremont. 6 hours of bliss. No highways, though parts of Route 9 allow 55mph. 603’s turkey sandwich on their own rye, a jelly stick and homemade chips were wonderful and fairly priced. Eaten at a picnic table near a ball field in Salisbury. Ballard IC was OK, but isn’t all ice cream at least OK?"
Cindy Jerome reflected on her trip with her sons for a long weekend in Maine. She described the ice cream she got at Fielder's Choice... a small was almost a pint of ice cream. She then went on to describe a recent visit to Jake's in Lebanon. She found the staff to be very happy and having a good time working together. She became a secret shopper as she asked the staff what it was like working at Jakes, and they went on to to only say glowing things about their boss and our fellow Rotarian, Bruce Bergeron.
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Raffle
We start with a new deck today. Dean Cashman pulled the first card from the deck, a 2 of hearts.
Jim Damren won the car wash.
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Announcements
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Updates:
- 7 days to Brew Fest 2019!!!
- Doodle Poll has been sent to all members. Please sign up for the various shifts. Those identified to pour beer on our State application for this event are the only ones who can sign-up to serve beer. There are a wide variety of other tasks for other volunteers. ALL HAND On DECK!! Click Here to sign up!
- Please share the Brew Fest Link on your Social Media. Click here for the Facebook Post
- There are 17 brewers coming to the event and we will feature at least 50 beers.
- We have our license from the state for this event
- We have over $10,000 in sponsorships
- SELL, SELL, SELL TICKETS by directing folk to our Club’s Facebook page and the link to Eventbrite web page for the Beer Fest tickets. $30 for an individual; $50 for two; and $10 for a designated driver. If you want paper tickets you can get them from Marion Steiner (Bar Harbor Bank in West Lebanon at the corner of Main Street and Bridge Street.
- Rotarian do not need to purchase a ticket unless they plan to sample beers.
- Colburn Park signs to go up today.
We have a booth at the Farmers Market from now until Brew Fest. It will be an opportunity for us to showcase Rotary in Lebanon and to promote the Brew Fest. Farmers Markets are on Thursdays from 4:00 p.m. to approx. 7 p.m. Hank Clark and Angela Nelson are manning the booth today!
Listen Community Dinners
Another successful Meatloaf dinner was prepared on Tuesday, August 13th, by Marion Steiner, Paul Tierney, Shaun Mulholland, Jim and Lisa Damren, John Yacavone and Paul Tierney!
The Next dinner will be October 8th staring meal prep at 3:30 PM. Members signed-up for this dinner include: Marion Steiner, JoAnn Lemieux, Ron Bedell,
Don MacMeekin, Shaun Mulholland, Hank Clarke and Paul Tierney
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Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI) at the Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center on October 12, 2019, 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM
PART I, II, III and Graduate Courses
RLI seeks to provide quality education on Rotary topics. This educational experience will benefit club members who are new to Rotary, and experienced members who want to enhance their knowledge about Rotary. The goal is to heighten your ability to contribute to ideals of Rotary service.
Although the cost of the course is $90, the fee will be covered by our Rotary District.
Register at:
https://rlinea.org/ Do not pay, indicate you will bring check. Our District's site chair will bring a check to cover all registrations for District 7850
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| From Rotary International |
Rotary Service and Engagement |
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How will you connect the world?
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Our Rotary service connects us to people who share our values and want to take action for a better world. It connects us to people we might never otherwise meet, people who are more like us than we imagined. And it connects us to people who need our help, allowing us to change lives in communities around the world.
Rotary is implementing a new strategic plan, but the real work of shaping Rotary’s future lies with you as we adapt and grow for the future. RI President Mark Daniel Maloney challenges you to strengthen the many ways that Rotary Connects the World by building the connections that allow talented, thoughtful, and generous people to unite and take meaningful action through service.
The 2019-20 Rotary Citation will recognize the accomplishments of clubs that support the priorities of our strategic plan and make a positive difference in their communities. Encourage your clubs to work toward the citation’s goals. |
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Engaging with Rotary to enhance
your membership experience |
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We’re celebrating our members and their clubs — and all the good they do around the world — during Membership and New Club Development Month in August. We know that participating in local service projects is the No. 1 reason people join Rotary and why current members stay. Our most recent Membership Experience Feedback Survey tells us that prospective members are very interested in international service projects as well. This month is a great time to highlight our service opportunities to new and longtime members.
Friendship and fellowship is another important component for current members. Through the friends we make and the lives we change, Rotary offers us opportunities to engage with a global community and make a positive difference.
You can enhance your membership experience by getting involved in the programs listed below.
| Making new friends |
- Discover other cultures and make friends across the globe by taking part in a Rotary Friendship Exchange.
- Explore your passions and hobbies with fellow Rotarians by joining Rotary Fellowships.
- Foster intercultural understanding through an intercountry committee. An ICC promotes peace and friendship and strengthens relationships between two countries.
- Attend a project fair to support an international service effort while learning about another culture.
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| Reaching beyond your own club |
- Collaborate with experts from a Rotarian Action Group to help ensure your service projects have a lasting impact.
- Sponsor a Rotary Community Corps to get members of your community who are not Rotarians involved in making a difference.
- Work with your district community and international service chairs to boost your service efforts.
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| Using Rotary resources to make a greater impact |
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| Collaborating with partners on sustainable service projects |
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Consider working with one of our partners on your next club or district project to help ensure sustainability, gain access to expertise, and strengthen local networks.
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