Notes from Friday’s meeting:

Mark Lindemood provided our opening prayer, and Gene Stutsman led our singing of “The Star Spangled Banner,” “Sing Out a Song of Rotary,” “America the Beautiful,” “Jingle Bells,” and “Smile.”

Brett Weddell was on hand to introduce guests and visiting Rotarians, but there were none.

Steve Fidler solicited donations for our fund drive for the Goshen Salvation Army.  Contributions will be gathered this month for the annual competition with the Goshen Kiwanis Club.  Please be sure to get your contributions made.

This Friday morning, the Goshen Rotary Board will meet at Goshen General Hospital at 7:30 a.m.  Please plan on attending and gain an attendance credit.

Geof Landis provided our recognition for Rotarians with birthdays in December.  Those celebrating birthdays included Everett Thomas, Tom Craig, Dick Snyder, Mark King, John Fetter, Olga Stickel, Andy Myers, and Cullen Stanger.  Happy birthday to the celebrants. 

Bill Born introduced our program provided by Ralph Jackson.  Bill Born is on the board for Habitat for Humanity and has gotten to know Ralph Jackson in that capacity.  Ralph is the new executive director for Habitat for Humanity and comes to our area from Valdosta, Georgia.  He has been associated with the Habitat organization in both Valdosta, Georgia and Tampa, Florida.  He is a veteran and has a master’s degree in public administration. 

Ralph first became acquainted with Habitat for Humanity in 1993 when his church sponsored a Habitat house.  That project saw a house completed in five days.  He later became associated with Habitat for Humanity.  He has been a part of building 95 homes with Habitat for Humanity and has been involved with five Jimmy Carter work projects where up to 27 homes have been constructed in a week.  In addition to its regular programs, Habitat for Humanity also sponsors College Build construction projects and Home Builders construction projects in addition to Jimmy Carter Blitz Build projects.  Habitat for Humanity focuses upon affordable housing and workforce housing.  It collaborates with area churches, not for profits like LaCasa, businesses, and the community.   

Those benefiting from Habitat projects must contribute sweat equity on their own home as well as on another Habitat project.  Recipients must also attend budgeting classes and home ownership classes.  Recipients must also accept a right of first refusal upon the residence in order to assure that the benefits of the program remain with low and moderate income individuals and that the benefits are not “cashed out” by the recipients.  The program is based upon having all supplies and materials provided in advance with preparatory work completed so that the homes can be finished in a very short period of time.  Next summer, a Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Honor Blitz Build will occur in Elkhart County July 14^th through the 21^st and in St. Joseph County August 26^th to August 31^st.  There will certainly be opportunities to participate on these blitz build projects designed to honor Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter for all of their efforts with Habitat.  Thank you to Bill Born and Ralph Jackson for the update on the Habitat for Humanity program in our area.

Quote for the week: “This is the best example of community coming together that I’ve ever seen in my life.” – Ashley Rush, Habitat Carter Work Project Volunteer