Featured news

Hello Fellow Care-A-Vanners,

I am writing to you from the Winnebago Grand National Rally in Forest City, Iowa. Winnebago Industries kindly donated a booth and seminar time to the RV Care-A-Vanner program. In the last four days, we talked with many potential recruits and visited with some old Care-A-Vanner friends who were at the rally. The local affiliate, Habitat for Humanity of North Central Iowa, has been lending its assistance at the booth, and shared our seminar time. As a result of our new-found friendship, it is planning on listing some builds with us.

I want to thank Kristin Wright from Disaster Risk Reduction and Response who flew here to help us with the booth and seminar. With 107 people asking about the program on the first day alone, we needed her help. We had great fun visiting with all the Winnies at the rally and treated Kristin to some home cooking while she was here.

We hope to come back to this rally next year. We appreciate the support that Winnebago has shown us, and yes, we did look at some new coaches. Wow, there are some beautiful coaches of all shapes and sizes. We opted only to replace the CAV desk chair, which I have worn out with many hours of sitting and banging away on my laptop. You folks do keep me busy!

Speaking of Winnebago, we have some well-known Care-A-Vanners who drive a Winnebago Journey: George and Diane Gravlee. They have just completed their quest to build in all 50 states with their last stop being in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Congratulations George and Diane. That is quite an accomplishment! We all look forward to building with you for many years to come.

Safe travels,

Mary Vandeveld
RV Care-A-Vanner Program Manager
[email protected]
Facebook

In recognition of our very own George and Diane Gravlee

Dear Diane and George,

Congratulations on achieving your goal of building with Habitat for Humanity in all 50 states! What a magnificent accomplishment!

I want to offer my personal thanks to you for your contributions to our mission. It is always such an encouragement to hear stories about Care-A-Vanners, but few have embraced Habitat in the way you two have. In more than 20 years of volunteering, it must be so gratifying to look back at all the places you've seen, the families you've worked beside and the fun you've had. I'm sure you have some stories to tell!

In 2 Corinthians 8:19, Paul writes about a brother who will �travel with us in this gracious work which we are carrying on, for the glory of the Lord and to show our good will.� Diane and George, thank you for traveling with us in this gracious work we are carrying on. You are truly an inspiration.

Only through volunteers like you, can Habitat accomplish great things. Thank you again for your service. Enjoy North Dakota, and keep up the great work!

Blessings,

Jonathan T.M. Reckford
Chief Executive Officer, Habitat for Humanity International

Announcements

A Decade of Dedication Disaster Response Training
This is a build and rally to commemorate our continued commitment to the Gulf Coast, 10 years after Katrina. It will be held in Mandeville, Louisiana, from Nov.15-21. We will be training new members for the Disaster Rebuild Team at this event. If you are interested in getting disaster response training and you are an experienced builder, please contact me at [email protected] for an application.

Alice, Texas 2016 builds
Sign-up for Alice builds will be on Monday, Aug. 24 at 11:30 a.m. EDT. Sign-up is online only. Be sure to have your login information handy. If you have trouble with your login, send Lu an email at [email protected]. That email will be time stamped so we will know where you are on the sign-up list. Be sure that email is sent after the build opens. Both Lu and I will be available online that day for the sign-up. Remember, if you don't get on the Alice build this year, there are nearly 300 builds per year to choose from. The builds that will be listed are as follows:

GV16-0053 Alice, Texas Jan. 10-31, 2016 (three-week build)
GV16-0054 Alice, Texas Feb. 28 � March 20, 2016 (three-week build)

Mason, Texas 2016 builds
Sign-up for the Mason Texas winter builds will be on Tuesday, Sept. 22 at 11:30 a.m. EDT. Sign-up is online only. Be sure to have your login information handy. If you have trouble with your login, send Lu an email at [email protected]. That email will be time stamped so we will know where you are on the signup list. Be sure that email is sent after the build opens. Both Lu and I will be available online that day for the sign-up. Remember, if you don't get on the Mason build this year, there are nearly 300 builds per year to choose from. The builds that will be listed are as follows:

GV16-0070 Mason, Texas Feb. 7-21, 2016
GV16-0071 Mason, Texas Feb. 21-March 13, 2016 (three-week build)
GV16-0072 Mason, Texas March 13-27, 2016
GV16-0073 Mason, Texas March 27 � April 17, 2016 (three-week build)

RV CAV promo video
We have updated the video and ask if you have an old copy, that you delete it. You can download a new copy from my drop box.

RV Care-A-Vanner Travel with a Purpose PowerPoint presentation
If you are doing a presentation and would like a PowerPoint about Habitat for Humanity and the RV Care-A-Vanner program, you can download the latest version of RV Care-A-Vanners: Travel with a Purpose from my drop box. I have updated some of the stats, so this is a new version since that last newsletter. Be sure to let me know how your presentation went!

Vero Beach, Forida 2015 winter builds
Joe Prickett from Vero Beach called me to share the impact that the Care-A-Vanner teams had this past winter. In fiscal year 2014, Vero Beach served 86 families. In FY2015, 117 families were served. Joe said to pass on to the Care-A-Vanners that they couldn't have done without your hard work.

Photos needed
We need photos of job sites with Care-A-Vanners working with RVs in the picture. Please review your pictures and if you have one you think would work, send it my way. Remember to pull out your camera or cell phone and take some pictures on job sites. I use these photos in brochures and publications, but remember in order to use a photo everyone and everything in the picture must be safety compliant!

Amenities and costs on build listings
We often post builds up to a year in advance We do that to allow you to plan ahead. As a result, we don't always know camping locations and costs, so I ask the affiliate to post the most it would cost per night. I then update the posting as more information becomes available, so check back frequently on your listing to see if there are updates. Affiliates do their best to identify the work each build team will be doing, but plans can change for any number of reasons, including permit issues, funding, being ahead or behind schedule, etc. I always tell the affiliates that Care-A-Vanners will do anything that they need to be done. The lesson is to go to builds with open minds and an understanding that you may not be doing what is described on the build listing.

Featured builds:

Sisters, Oregon has posted its first build in a number of years with us starting August 30. Let's have our West Coasters give Sisters a warm welcome back to our program!

GV15-0278 Wayland, Massachusetts on Oct. 4, 2015: This is a new affiliate for us and they are so excited about having Care-A-Vanners that they put in RV sites at the build site for us and camping is free!

River Falls, Wisconsin has just posted three builds starting in September. They are building in their Eco Village. Learn sustainable building practices. Go to our build list to sign up today.

Hours and stories needed:

We need everyone to report their hours to the Care-A-Vanner desk. If you are on a build without a team leader, be sure that someone is assigned to keep track of the hours. If you are a drop-in, those hours count, as do ReStore volunteer hours. Affiliates do not report your hours to the desk. I need hours worked and number of houses worked on. This data is very important for grant applications and grant reporting. We also love to hear those "Why We Build" stories! It is the partner families that keep us motivated, so send your stories and your hours to [email protected]

Tithing connections

The impact of disasters on the world's population continues to be staggering. National disasters claim lives and leave millions homeless each year. During the past decade, 2.9 billion people have been affected by disasters, including 1.2 million who were killed. Those floods, storms, droughts and extreme temperatures also resulted in $1.7 trillion in damage.

Habitat's disaster response provides shelter assistance, education, training and partnerships to those affected by disasters. To date, Habitat has helped more than 200,000 disaster-affected families in 44 countries, providing both immediate assistance and the promise of a safe, stable home to return to when the crisis has passed.

A little over a year ago, the Tithe team worked with Habitat's Disaster Risk Reduction and Response department to create a Disaster Response Fund. The idea is quite simple: namely, to give affiliates the opportunity to provide immediate support in the wake of a disaster. With the Disaster Response Fund, Habitat can kick-start response work without waiting for commitments from large corporate or multi-lateral government donors. These funds were critical during, for example, Habitat's initial response to the earthquake in Nepal.

During fiscal year 2015, affiliates tithed more than $216,000 to the Disaster Response Fund.

Next month, we look forward to sharing with you information about the Orphans and Vulnerable Groups Fund.

Katie Grover
Tithe specialist, Habitat for Humanity International
[email protected]

Windows to Washington - August

A recess without swing sets (just swing votes)

A recent study by the Congressional Management Foundation, a nonpartisan nonprofit focused on the U.S. Congress, found that �in-person visits from constituents are the most influential way to communicate with a senator or representative who is undecided on an issue.� Thanks to an Act passed in 1970, there's one month a year when those in-person visits shouldn't require a trip to Washington, D.C: August.

That month, known as �August recess,� is a time when federal lawmakers return to their home states and districts to hear from their constituents. Please make the most of August!

Take a moment today to schedule a visit with your lawmakers to let them know that you want to see a world where everyone has a decent place to live. You'll find contact information for their local office on your lawmakers' websites, or by visiting www.house.gov and www.senate.gov. You can talk with them about the importance of decent, affordable housing in your community on your own, or go with a group, possibly with representatives from your local Habitat affiliate. In addition to any local or state topics that matter to you, we encourage you to let them know that you're paying attention to the proposed cuts to key federal programs like HOME and national service that would hinder Habitat's ability to provide affordable housing opportunities to our partner families.

Don't worry � you don't need to be an expert on the federal appropriations process in order to use your voice to support affordable housing in August! Here's what you do need to know:

The debate over the federal budget is still underway and likely will last beyond Sept. 30, the end of the fiscal year.

Severe funding cuts have been proposed to important programs that help Habitat for Humanity provide decent housing to our partner families. These include HOME and national service.
As this column addressed last month, the U.S. Senate proposed a 93 percent cut to the HOME Investment Partnerships Program, or HOME for short.

HOME helps Habitat for Humanity affiliates serve the poorest communities across the country, including by acquiring land and performing rehabilitation work.

A recent survey revealed that Habitat affiliates consider HOME among the most useful of all federal programs that the Department of Housing and Urban Development provides.

HOME is unique; the smart design of the program means that many of the affordable housing developments it supports would not be possible without HOME assistance.

Overall, HOME has created more than 1.1 million affordable homes in the United States, including through building new homes and repairing existing homes.

As this column addressed in May, both the U.S. House and Senate have proposed significant cuts to National Service programs.

The proposed cuts would impact the Corporation for Community and National Service, the federal agency that oversees all national service programs, including most importantly to Habitat, the AmeriCorps State and National and VISTA programs.

As one of the original organizations to engage with the AmeriCorps program, Habitat recognizes how this effective program benefits our organization, the AmeriCorps members themselves, American taxpayers and local governments as well.

Over the past 20 years, Habitat AmeriCorps members have served 22,500 families, engaged 3.1 million community volunteers and provided 14 million hours of service. In 2015, Habitat has 500 AmeriCorps members serving in 35 states, encompassing more than 140 communities.

National Service programs are a value to all of us as taxpayers; with Habitat covering approximately half the cost of each service member, we get results on the ground at a much lower cost than direct government service.

Here's some quick �don'ts� to keep in mind as well:

Don't worry about being an expert on housing policy. You've worked with Habitat so you know firsthand about decent housing.
Don't underestimate the impact that your visit will have, even if you only visit for five minutes. Your voice matters.
If the member of Congress asks, don't worry about suggesting other places in the budget that should be cut. Your job is to express support for decent housing. It's your lawmakers' job to figure out how to best meet his/her constituents' priorities.

There's a saying in Washington: �If you're not at the table, your programs will be on the table.� Please take a moment this August to be sure that we're at the table!

You can also use your voice online through any of the petitions in our advocacy action center.
To spread the word about HOME and National Service, you can use these easy-to-remember links: http://bit.ly/HFHHOME and http://bit.ly/HFHService

Team leader corner

Hello team leaders,

A very special thank you goes out to our July team leaders. They are: Tom and Diane Hinkle; Mary Kay and Ray Johnson; Ty and Larry Jones; Michael and Gloriann Kramer; Tom and Peggy Wilcox; Erwin Nesvacil; and Ron Sheridan.

Remember, if you've been thinking about becoming a team leader but are not sure what's involved, contact me at [email protected] and I will send you the guidelines. Lack of construction experience is not a reason to pass on being a team leader. Organization and people skills are what are important. So, don't forget to check the �team leader interest� box on your registration if you are willing to lead the build. Better yet, on your next build ask the team leaders about what is involved and ask to be mentored.

If you are unable to read the roster I send you, or things appear to be on the wrong lines, chances are you have a Mac or iPad and Word documents do not format correctly. Just let me know and I will send them in PDF. Also, please remember to include the GV number or at least the date of your build when contacting the CAV desk about a build. It makes it so much easier to find the build you are referencing.

In an effort to better understand why some people are reluctant to be team leaders, Mary Vandeveld and I are constructing a survey that will be included in an upcoming newsletter. From this survey, we hope to clear up misconceptions people might have about what is involved, identify possible incentives for people to be team leaders and find ways to make the process easier. If you have any suggestions along these lines, or insights or experiences to share, please send them to me. What reasons have you heard or thought about for not volunteering to lead a team?

Finally, team leaders are needed for the following builds. If you are available and willing, please contact me.

August 30 � September 6	Sisters, Oregon
August 30 � September 6	Hobbs, New Mexico
September 6-20	Carneys Point, New Jersey
September 13-27	Adrian, Michigan
September 13-27	Bayfield, Colorado

Thank you and happy hammering!

Brenda Sawyer
Team leader coordinator
[email protected]

Spread the word
Send your RV friends a Care-A-Vanner brochure about this wonderful mission by pasting this PDF into an email or just printing it out to give to fellow RVers in campgrounds

Safety corner

Construction equipment dangers

All equipment used on a construction job should be respected. Handled properly, and with trained supervision, risks are minimal. But all of that equipment can pose a danger if proper attention is not paid to safety.

When working around equipment such as skip loaders, backhoes or other heavy equipment, you need to be on high alert. Don't assume the operator sees you. Always approach from the side and make certain the operator sees you. Don't depend on a horn or backup alarm to warn you that moving equipment is near. You may not be able to hear over other construction noise.

When you notice that equipment is moving backwards, keep out of the way and stand clear until the operator has completed his or her maneuver. Never walk behind or cut across any unit while it is moving backwards. You could trip and fall under the equipment. Never ride on the running boards, steps or other parts of equipment, even for a short distance.

When backing up, a competent person should ensure the area behind the piece of equipment is cleared. No operator should back a piece of equipment into an area without the area being cleared and the competent person giving signals to the operator.

Never ride on or near materials that are being transported by equipment. Loads can shift and fall or cause the equipment to turn over or become uncontrollable, which could result in serious injury. Never ride on any equipment as a passenger if that equipment is designated for only one person, the operator. If it is designated for more than one person and is equipped with seat belts, always buckle the seat belts. Always keep all parts of your body inside to include your arms and legs.

When you are working near equipment operating in the vicinity of power lines, don't come into contact with the frame of the unit or the load cables. There is always the chance that the unit or the boom could come into contact with the power lines. Warn the operator or the signal person if you should see this possibility.

Never clean or service equipment while it is in operation. It should be stopped and the ignition off before performing any services.

The safest thing to do around construction equipment is to keep a safe distance while the equipment is in operation. If you must be in close proximity of the equipment, make sure the operator knows you are working nearby and stay alert. In doing so you will not only prevent injuries but potentially save lives.
This safety article was brought to you by: Warriors4Safety.com

Lisa Crawford
Master Safety Training program coordinator
[email protected]

Collegiate Challenge and Care-A-Vanners

As you are planning your late winter and early spring for 2016, consider signing up for a Collegiate Challenge build, where you will have the opportunity to teach and work with young people. These builds will soon be listed on the build schedule. Look for the CC after the city and please note each one is just one week long. You can, however, sign up for as many weeks as you like. We are working on a CC build out in New Mexico, but it hasn't been finalized enough yet to list on the schedule as I write; it may be there by the time this issue of our newsletter is out in mid-August. We also expect the usual CC builds in Georgia and Florida to be listed in the near future as well.

Diane Gravlee
Collegiate Challenge coordinator
[email protected]

Welcome new Care-A-Vanners

Jeff and Ruth Anderson, Ron and Lisa Cook, Bob and Margaret Hayman, Cheryl Lane, Kathyrn Maeili, Tom and Rita Mantone, Sharon Mulvey, Allita Parlette, Richard and Nancy Roberts, Kevin Schinke, Gary and Edna Todd, and Chris VanDervort.

Our apologies if we have included a seasoned Care-A-Vanner, or if this is a duplication. Habitat for Humanity is grateful for the work that you do!

Disaster Rebuild

Remember our mission in disaster response is to come in at the time of the rebuild efforts and to stay until the last house is replaced or repaired. A lot has to happen before rebuilds begin, including permitting, fundraising, FEMA grant application and awards, building capacity at the affiliate, family selection, etc. It is easy to remember the disaster that just happened, but where we need the help often is in the areas where a disaster happened two or three years ago.
HFHI Disaster Risk Reduction and Recovery, our partners, are also working with affiliates to do fortified building to reduce injuries and damage to homes when a disaster does strike. This includes building safe rooms in tornado areas, hip roofs in hurricane zones and using anchoring systems appropriate for the risk. If you are interested in learning more about fortification standards, please review IBHS Fortified for Safer Living Standards (PDF). Your knowledge can help our affiliates learn more about these new building practices.

Tuscaloosa, Alabama: Tuscaloosa is still building homes for people who lost their housing unit in the 2011 tornado. Yes, there are tornado victims who still have not gotten into homes. Our mission continues there as we stay until the last home is replaced. Tuscaloosa loves the Care-A-Vanners and has builds listed throughout the year. It is a very nice place to work.
Floods in Texas, Arkansas and Oklahoma: I know a lot of you have been watching the news of the epic flooding coming out of the south-central U.S. Once the flood waters subside, assessments will be done as to what the needs are and how our affiliates and their partner families have been affected. I have talked with one affiliate that is an all-volunteer affiliate. They will need help, but for now, our partners at Disaster Risk Reduction and Response are helping them with their initial assessments. I will keep you informed.

Questions, cancellations or concerns?
1-800-HABITAT, ext. 7534
1-229-410-7534 (direct)
[email protected]
RV Care-A-Vanner staff contact info

Current list of active builds
Builds list

How to register for a build online
Step-by-step instructions

Roster updates
Please email updated roster information to [email protected] or [email protected], or call 1-229-410-7534.

Report Care-A-Vanner hours
Help us keep track of total volunteer hours contributed, and partner families served. Please email these stats from your drop-in or ongoing builds to [email protected].