February 2015 RV Care-A-Vanners Update
 

Featured news

Hello fellow Care-A-Vanners,

This month I would like to talk about how each of you can better support our program. The RV Care-A-Vanner program was at a low point six years ago when Tony and Mary Campbell volunteered to rebuild the Care-A-Vanner desk and bring the program back to life. I was skeptical that they could save the program, but they did and they laid a wonderful foundation for us to build on. What successes have we achieved? We have gone from 100 builds a year to more than 260 builds. More than 20 new members are joining our ranks each month. We are adding new affiliates in new locations monthly. Our program has added our Disaster Rebuild Team and Master Safety Trainers giving you, our Care-A-Vanners, new ways to contribute. Our Care-A-Vanner desk staff is running like a well-oiled machine from our rigs all over the country. I can't thank the desk team enough for their contribution to this program.

So what do I need from you? I need everyone to support our program. I need Care-A-Vanners to work within our system by signing up for sanctioned builds and not forming private build groups outside our system. We all love to build with our friends, but there are many more friends to meet. As a group, we have made a commitment to serve the affiliates who have scheduled builds and we need everyone helping to fulfill that commitment. If you have a special event build you would like to do, such as a manufacturer's group, or in memory of someone special or even a special anniversary, let me know and I will assist you with getting a build scheduled. For those of you who do drop-in builds, please report your hours. Please do not drop in when there is a scheduled build going on without checking with the Care-A-Vanner desk first. This is especially unfair to those who may be on a wait list for the build. If you find an affiliate who might benefit from Care-A-Vanner builds, let me know and I will contact them. Help us by recruiting new Care-A-Vanners to the program, and finally, take your turn at team leading. Our build teams function so much better when they have a team leader.

The Care-A-Vanner desk is working hard to provide as many opportunities as possible for you. Please support us in that work. If you have any suggestions of how we can improve the program, please let us know.

Thank you for your hard work and support

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


Breaking News

RV Care-A-Vanner promo video: It is finally here! The promo video we did about the RV Care-A-Vanner Program in Springfield at our 25th Anniversary Build and Rally is on YouTube. I want you all to share it with the world, especially RV owners!

Safety: As you know, the RV Care-A-Vanner program has taken the lead on safety at HFHI. We have trained a number of Master Safety Trainers and will train another class this fall. In Springfield at our 25th Anniversary Build and Rally, we had everyone take a general awareness safety course, taught by our very own Master Safety Trainers. We have also taught the same course as part of our disaster response training. In order to take the safety message to all of our Care-A-Vanners, I have asked our Master Safety Trainers to reach out to build teams in their travels and give the course to Care-A-Vanners and any affiliate personnel who will listen. This not only gets the safety message out to all, but gives our trainers more experience teaching. Please put safety first and attend these classes when given the opportunity.

New addition to the desk staff: Lisa Crawford has officially joined the Care-A-Vanner desk staff. Over the past year and a half, Lisa has been very involved in developing training resources for the Master Safety Training Program and has been on the planning committee for that program. Lisa is going to continue her work and I am adding more to her plate as our new Master Safety Training Program coordinator. Welcome Lisa and thank you for your commitment to safety!

New addition to the U.S. Office of Construction Technology: I would like to welcome Sarah Wishon to HFHI. She is charged with moving our safety initiative forward and is doing a great job. As I write this, I am on my way to meet Sarah in the Atlanta office to give her a warm Care-A-Vanner welcome.


Tithing connections

We are excited to be back for this February issue and to dive into the next topic of focus:
How does the Tithe program operate today?

Through the Tithe program, Habitat affiliates participate in the global ministry, providing funding and support to Habitat programs around the world. Tithe is part of the DNA of Habitat affiliates. It is one of six core tenets that affiliates agree to, it's a part of compliance with HFHI and it's in the U.S. Affiliated Organization Covenant.

U.S. affiliates are to give at least 10 percent of their annual undesignated funds to support programs in developing countries where Habitat works. One hundred percent of these tithe donations are then sent internationally and used to serve families through Habitat's national organizations and area offices. Our tithe team helps to facilitate and encourage this annual giving, as well as share knowledge and best practices around tithing.

In March, we look forward to sharing with you how tithes are calculated by U.S. affiliates.

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

Footnote: The other five core tenets affiliates agree to are:

  1. Christian identity: Affiliate is an organization based on Christian principles committed to witness to the love and teachings of Jesus Christ. Affiliate will partner with people regardless of faith.
  2. Homeownership: Affiliate is committed to homeownership through the use of available resources including volunteers and a no-profit mortgage.
  3. Homeowner selection: Affiliate intends to sell homes to low-income families in need who have ability to repay a mortgage and are willing to partner with Habitat for Humanity. Need will be evaluated in the context of the affiliate's service area median income.
  4. Sweat equity: Affiliate will require sweat equity of partner families with whom affiliate will build safe, decent and affordable housing.
  5. Integrity: Affiliate will operate as a nonprofit with the highest integrity in a non-discriminatory manner in accordance with applicable laws.

Featured builds:

Crooksville, Ohio: A new affiliate with a very enthusiastic executive director has listed two builds with us in May 2015. Kenneth, the executive director, reports he lives in the prettiest parts of Ohio and there are lots of neat things to do and see there. Go to our build list to sign up!

Marquette, Michigan: Marquette has been a long time partner of the Care-A-Vanner program. Marquette is in the beautiful Upper Peninsula of Michigan and mid-August to mid-September is a great time to visit.

Go to our build list regularly. It is constantly changing, so check back frequently!


Hours and stories needed:

We need our volunteers 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 the hours. If you are on a drop-in, those hours count too. 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 and I 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].


Windows to Washington - January

A new Congress in the new year means new opportunities - but only if we use our voices.

Every new year brings a fresh start. Following the 2014 mid-term election, 2015 brims with noticeable changes and new beginnings. This new year welcomes many new members of Congress to Washington, D.C., and also means new leadership on nearly every committee and subcommittee that addresses Habitat for Humanity's priority issues. These new representatives and senators present an opportunity to the Habitat network to create more housing champions on both sides of the aisle.

To build support, we must ensure that our lawmakers understand three things: 1) the benefits of expanded access to quality housing to families and communities in which they live; 2) the work that Habitat for Humanity does in their districts and states across the country; and 3) how public policies they influence impact our work.

First, ensuring that everyone has access to quality housing means everyone wins. Expanding homeownership opportunities builds a stronger economy for everyone. Robust housing markets mean higher property values and local tax revenues, more job opportunities and healthier communities.

Second, resources that support our sweat equity model are one of the best investments that the federal government can make. Programs like SHOP (Self-Help Homeownership Opportunity Program) demonstrate the power of public-private partnerships as every dollar of a federal grant to Habitat leverages no less than $6 of private support for its work.

Third, as a large network of affiliates with extensive operations, the policies that impact Habitat's work far exceed what you might imagine. The vast majority of Americans – and the folks who represent us – have heard of Habitat for Humanity and “love our work.” But fellow advocates, we must remember that someone who says “I support your work” could be someone who thinks that Habitat gives away houses, has never heard of a ReStore or assumes that our construction work alone is enough to solve the current housing affordability crisis. As the saying goes, “people often don't know what they don't know.” Lawmakers are people too, and may not realize what parts of housing policy picture they aren't yet seeing.

The good news: Habitat for Humanity can help. Our years of building homes and community have done more than build hundreds of thousands of houses; we've also earned our reputation as an informed, credible and nonpartisan source of information about community development policy. We have not only the research but the personal stories to illustrate how quality housing promotes health and education and how investment in housing yields economic growth. Our on-the-ground work means that Habitat affiliates across the country see firsthand the housing needs in their communities and know what policies increase access to decent housing – and which don't.

If our country is to address the mounting lack of affordable housing, Habitat affiliates and supporters must take seriously their role as a leading voice. We must ensure that our lawmakers understand the importance of quality housing, promote smart housing policy and support programs that the Habitat network relies upon to serve our partner families. To fulfill our vision – a world in which everyone has a decent place to live – we have to address the policies that limit our ability to serve more families and communities and that could make housing more affordable. While our expert advocates in Washington are invaluable to this mission, their efforts are hamstrung without your help; the most influential voices to a member of Congress are those of the people they represent.

In short, Habitat is uniquely positioned to address policies that impact housing at every level of government. The year is a rare opportunity to make Habitat's legislative priorities the priorities of the legislators on Capitol Hill, at your state capital, and in your local communities. In order for that to happen, we need Habitat supporters across the country to use their voices to support smart housing policy. Join us in 2015 address housing policy across the country and launch a global advocacy campaign addressing access to land for housing around the world.

Windows to Washington - February

We invite you to join the International Association for the Advancement of Creative Maladjustment

Last month, on the day designated a holiday in his honor, a newly-discovered recording of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. aired and captured the attention of several Habitat advocates. In this speech from December 7, 1964, days before he received the Nobel Peace Prize, Dr. King addressed a crowd in London on segregation, the fight for civil rights and his support for the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa. More than 60 years later, that speech is as relevant as ever for supporters of the decent housing movement. Through this speech, our team realized that we all have “maladjusted hearts” – and invite you to join us in proudly declaring that you do, too. What do we mean?

With its focus on law, housing and international matters, there is much in this speech for the entire Habitat network. Dr. King recounts remarks from Barry Goldwater, a former U.S. presidential candidate who suggested that problems like housing can't be solved through changes in legislation, but rather through changes of the heart. Dr. King agreed that people must look down deep within their hearts and see that people “must be treated right, not merely because the law says it, but because it is right.” But Dr. King then went on to explain that he strongly disagreed with the suggestion that “legislation has no place.” “It may be true that morality cannot be legislated,” he noted, “but behavior can be regulated.” As in the broader context of civil rights in which they were spoken, those words apply to our current housing efforts.

If you are reading this now, odds are high that you believe in your heart that everyone in the world should have a decent place to live. The entire Habitat family shares that belief. But what good is that consensus if banking rules make it impossible for lower-income families to access credit for an affordable mortgage? What do our feelings matter if countries around the world don't make housing a priority? Can our hearts alone change regulations to ensure that families never need to choose between food and paying the electric bill?

Toward the end of his speech, Dr. King turned to the field of psychology, which had newly developed the notion of being “well-adjusted.” While acknowledging that there are virtues to being “well-adjusted,” Dr. King explained, “There are some things in my own nation, and there are some things in the world, to which I am proud to be maladjusted and to which I call upon all men of goodwill to be maladjusted until the good society is realized.” He went on to list the things to which he never intended to become adjusted, including segregation, discrimination, religious bigotry and economic inequality. Dr. King then blithely proposed a new organization – the International Association for the Advancement of Creative Maladjustment – and invited people around the world to be as “maladjusted” as the Prophet Amos, Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson and even Jesus of Nazareth in their vision for justice and equality.

So it is with this speech fresh in our minds that we invite you to join us in being “maladjusted” to the fact that 1.6 billion people on this planet lack quality housing. To the fact that the United Nations and governments around the world have yet to decide whether housing should be a top priority. To the fact that potential responsible and prepared homeowners can't access the credit that would open the door to a more stable life.

We know that ensuring that everyone has access to quality housing means everyone wins. We want laws to expand homeownership opportunities, but not just because doing so builds a stronger economy for everyone. We push for smart legislation, like SHOP (Self-Help Homeownership Opportunity Program) resources to support our sweat equity model, because it is deep within our “maladjusted hearts” that we believe that a world in which everyone has a decent place to live is not only right, it is possible. Join us in making that vision a reality.

Read more: http://www.democracynow.org/2015/1/19/exclusive_newly_discovered_1964_mlk_speech


Accomplishments

Remember: Send us photos of your builds and newspaper articles. You have been lax lately and I want pictures! If you would like to submit anything to the newsletter – a good story, a new way to do things, a construction tip or an update on a build – please do. I love to get homeowner stories. This is your newsletter, and we welcome your input. Besides, you have got to be getting tired of hearing from only me! Send your contributions to [email protected]. I want to hear from all of you!


Team leader corner

Hello team leaders,

A special thank you goes out to our January team leaders. They are Jay and Linda Buchtal; Lowell and Linda Lamont; Dyana Todd; Larry and Memorie Halstead; Barry Mansfield and Mica DeAngelis; Jack and Mary Mueller; Tom and Diane Howlett; Tom and Judy Fox; Phil and Jan Upton; Leonard Steward; Jeff and Judy Roswell; Rickey and Joyce Smith; Terry and Karen Kidd; and Ron Sheridan.

Some of you may have noticed that the rosters now have a column to indicate if all parties have signed an electronic waiver. At this time, it is not the team leaders' responsibility to monitor that. However, if the week before the build, a waiver is missing, Lu sends a reminder to the participant. She copies me on that email and I ask the team leader of the build to help remind the person to sign the waiver. No one can be allowed on any work site (including ReStores) unless they have signed a waiver. Please be patient. Sometimes the roster gets lost in cyberspace. If someone signs up for multiple builds at the same affiliate, an electronic waiver is needed for each one. Be aware that the affiliate may also require a waiver and this is in addition to the electronic waiver.

As we get our Competent Person Safety Training underway, you will notice the designation of “CPST” on the roster. These people have become trainers. On those builds with a CPST, we are asking the trainer to work with the team leader(s) and affiliate to allow time for a general safety awareness course during the build. This is not required, but we would like to get as many people trained as possible, and builds with a CPST provide a convenient opportunity to do so.

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. This past month, a record number of people have checked that box, so my message seems to be getting through!

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.

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

February 15- March 1 Sebring, Fla.
February 15- March 1 Fort Meyers, Fla.
February 22- March 8 Hobbs, N.M.
March 8-22 Sebring, Fla.**
March 8-22 Thibodaux, La.
March 22-29 Salt Lake City, Utah

**build will show as FULL on the website as we hold a spot for a team leader

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 clicking on this link and pasting it into an email or just print out and give to fellow RVers in campgrounds.


Disaster Response

Remember our mission in Disaster Response is to come in at the time of the rebuild efforts. A lot has to happen before rebuild begins, 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 help is for the disaster that happened two or three years ago. HFHI Disaster Risk Reduction and Response, our partners, are also working with affiliates to do fortified building to reduce injuries and damage to homes and 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. Your knowledge can help our affiliates learn more about these new building practices.

  • Superstorm Sandy: Recovery efforts from Sandy continue to be slow. Funding is the struggle for the affected affiliates. I have listed a build in Toms River for next spring. Toms River was ground zero for Sandy and they really need volunteer help, so consider signing up. If you would like to be on my email list for Sandy recovery, please send a note to [email protected]. I will notify Care-A-Vanners on my list first about build opportunities for Sandy recovery.
  • Colorado 2013 floods: We had six affiliates in the flood affected areas in Colorado. There was a huge need for low-income housing in the area with a rental vacancy rate of 1 percent before the floods. There were also some mobile home parks that were destroyed in the floods. The six affiliates are working closely with the Colorado State Support Organization and they already have a plan to work together and rebuild 100 new construction homes and do 100 Critical Home Repairs. I recently did a site visit to Colorado and met with representatives of two affiliates and the SSO. We are in the process of lining up some projects to start next spring, so watch the newsletter and our website for updates. We have listed one build in Loveland, Colorado, which is full already, but we expect to list more builds in Loveland soon. If you would like to be on the list and hear about build opportunities first, send me a note to [email protected].
  • Tuscaloosa, Alabama: Tuscaloosa is still building homes for people who lost their housing unit in the 2011 tornado. Tuscaloosa loves the Care-A-Vanners and has builds listed throughout the year. It is a very nice place to work.

 Safety corner

This month I'd like to discuss the setting of roof trusses. Almost every Habitat home I've worked on has used trusses for the roof assembly. As a risk area for serious injury, roof truss installation is right up there because truss construction occurs high above the ground and trusses are not stable until they have been properly braced and restrained.

Usually I promote the use of personal fall arrest systems when working on the roof, but when roof trusses are being installed, anchoring high on an unstable roof truss is not the best idea. The reason being that falls usually don't occur in the perfect scenario directly below the anchor. Trusses are designed for weight that goes directly down, and a side pull on an unsecure truss might pull the entire truss assembly down along with the worker.

It's best to use either scaffolds, ladders or a lift if your affiliate happens to have one, until the trusses are secured. An important note here is to secure the trusses as soon as possible. Don't wait until you have raised all 40 feet of trusses before you start bracing them off to prevent collapse. The key here is to plan ahead to make sure your truss installation goes smoothly and safely.

I would add that if the affiliate you are working with has an engineered spreader that attaches to multiple trusses, this is an acceptable anchor for a personal fall arrest system, or harness. However, a qualified person needs to determine that the trusses are stable enough for this system to be employed without any risk to the volunteer.

Once a truss section of four or more has been secured, braced and sheeted, then these trusses can be used as an attachment point for a personal fall arrest system. This may change the way you normally install trusses so be flexible in improving your safety by following these ideas.
Volunteer and work safely,

Volunteer and work safely,

Frank Peccia
Care-A-Vanner safety coordinator
[email protected]


trips Collegiate Challenge and Care-A-Vanners

With winter almost over and spring around the corner, at least in the southern states, it is just about time for those Spring Break Collegiate Challenge builds to take place. We've had a great response to those builds with the CC after the city on the build list. A list of those wonderful Care-A-Vanners, who were willing to assist an affiliate with the students they are hosting, will be coming in the next issue. If you know of an affiliate that hosts students and needs help supervising and teaching them, be sure to let them know that Care-A-Vanners can be available to do just that. It would be great to have more affiliates using our very talented Care-A-Vanners!


Diane Gravlee
Collegiate Challenge coordinator
[email protected]


Welcome new Care-A-Vanners

Gary and Linda Babb, Don and Terri Beatt, Legh and Cheryl Burke, Paul Dvoracek, Tom and Alison Erickson, Richard Good and Sharon Thomas-Good, Dennis Greenlief, Jennifer Harris, Randall and Lu Heuton, Carl and JoAnne Isom, Michael Keator, Mike and Sandi Levak, Joan MacDonnell, Bob and Sharon Marcotte, Beverly and Gervin Robertson, Phil and Susan Ross, John Schirano, Joe and Debbie Sweeney, Michael Tyrrell, Tom and Theda Visage, Jeffrey and Laura Walker.

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


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].



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