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Hello Fellow Care-A-Vanners,

One of the things we spend a lot of time doing at the Care-A-Vanner Desk is managing expectations. It is a balancing act between managing the affiliate's expectations and individual Care-A-Vanner's expectations. We as volunteers do not want to be a burden to the affiliate. We are there to serve them, not create more work for them. Lunches are a nice perk, but not a requirement especially if the affiliate has limited resources. The affiliate where Dave and I are building this September is down to two employees from five. They don't even have an executive director. The town is very small and just lost their only industry, the paper mill that closed giving the community two days' notice. The majority of the town is unemployed now. With a suggestion from the team leaders (Dave and me) the Care-A-Vanner team is putting on a welcome potluck and inviting the affiliate staff and the owners of the campground as our guests. The staff, all two of them, were touched by our offer. Remember; go to a build with the thought of what you can do to help the affiliate. That could be making your own lunches, hosting the welcome dinner or leaving a donation.

Camping costs is an issue I hear a lot. I work with the affiliates to try to find as cheap camping as possible, but when some areas only have a three month camping season, like Colorado or Maine, the campgrounds are not as willing to give a discount. It is our policy not to ask the affiliate to take money from their build budget to support our camping. So yes, expect to pay for camping knowing that the affiliate and I are working to get you as good a deal as possible. For amenities, expect a bare minimum of 20 amp electrical with access to water and a dump station within a reasonable distance. A sewer hookup and 50 amps are a luxury. One of the things that makes Care-A-Vanners a unique and sought after volunteer group is we are self-contained and require little support. Let's not lose that reputation.

And finally, be supportive of the affiliate staff, especially if they are new to our program. I do my best to educate them on topics like the difference between 20/30/50 amps electrical, but sometimes it takes the first Care-A-Vanner team to work with the affiliate and help them with hosting, remembering that we should not be a burden to the affiliate, but a help.

Know that we at the Care-A-Vanner Desk are aware and appreciate all that you are giving to this important mission to end poverty housing. By working together, we can leave our affiliates, after a build, inspired by our impact and ready to sign up the next Care-A-Vanner build team.

God Bless,

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

Byron P. Smith, 77, from Higganum, Connecticut beloved husband of Mildred passed away on August 8th, 2015. An avid Care-A-Vanner for more than a decade, Dave and I had the opportunity to build with Byron and Mill on a number of occasions. On the build site, Byron was a perfectionist and a wonderful soft spoken teacher. He loved the program so much his dying wish was to have any memorials donated to the RV Care-A-Vanner Program. Byron will be sadly missed by many Care-A-Vanners.

Joan Pound, 78, of Sullivan, Illinois passed away on July 5th. Joan was the first Executive Director (for ten years) of the Moultrie County affiliate of Habitat for Humanity, responsible for the first 15 Habitat homes built throughout the county.

Why We Build

Kenai, Alaska, August 2015 …by Ron Sheridan

During our 2nd week on site, while working on a ladder in the home's garage, a car pulled up out front of the house, and the woman got out and began walking up the dirt driveway. She had a look that told me something serious was on her mind. When she got near I tried to cheerfully greet her, but her eyes stayed focused on the ground. Her voice quivered and her face showed pain, when she spoke.
She said, "I'm possibly one of the folks that might be lucky enough to get this house, but that's not important. Whoever gets it, that's fine and wonderful, I just want to tell you, that you all are doing such a beautiful job. I drive by every day and it looks so wonderful and you are working so fast." She was almost crying now and I too, was choked up and almost in tears myself.

She continued; "I just want to thank you all for what you are doing and again, it looks so beautiful." She paused, eyes still to the ground and then said very choked up and emotional... "This is somebody's dream come true". She then shed tears.
After a moment, I asked her if she would please repeat what she said to the other two Care-A-Vanners on site explaining that what she said would be a wonderful thing for them to hear also. She did and I saw her and the other woman on our team embrace before she walked back to her car and drove off.

I still get choked up when I think of her stopping by and especially her words...."This is somebody's dream come true".

Announcements

Good Sam Club Volunteer of the Year: Our very own Bill and France Moriarty have been nominated for this award, but to win, they need our votes! Bill and France have logged more than 150,000 miles in their rig while building more than 560 homes. Terrific work Bill and France! If you are a Good Sam Club member, VOTE HERE. If you are not a Good Sam Club member, join now and vote! The last day for voting is September 15th.

Safety Grants: The RV Care-A-Vanner Program has awarded two more grants of $2,000 each to Lenawee Co HFH in Adrian, Michigan, and Teller County HFH in Woodland Park, Colorado. Our Master Safety Trainers get the credit for their hard work as some of the registration money for the Competent Person Safety Training paid by affiliates comes back to the Care-A-Vanner Program. We have chosen to give that money back to affiliates to support their safety efforts and help them purchase safety equipment. The criteria we use to issue the matching grants are as follows:

The affiliate's support of the RV Care-A-Vanner Program and regular use of Care-A-Vanner teams.
The need the affiliate has for scaffolding or other safety equipment as reported to me by Care-A-Vanner teams or the affiliate.
The affiliate's willingness to learn and practice safe building practices.
The affiliate personnel taking the HFHI Competent Person Safety Training course.

These two deserving affiliates join Tahlequah, Oklahoma, who received a grant earlier this year. Thank you Master Safety Trainers for your efforts to make our build sites safer! To date, the RV Care-A-Vanner Program has given a total of $22,600.00 in grants to affiliates to buy safety equipment.

Mason, TX, 2016 Builds: Signup for the Mason, Texas, winter builds will be on Tuesday, September 22, at 11:30 Eastern. Signup is only online. 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 at 11:30 AM Eastern. Both Lu and I will be available online that day for the signup. Remember, if you don't get on the Mason build this year, there are nearly 300 builds a year to choose from. And please give Lu 72 hours to sort out all the registrations and waitlists. She will get back to you with a confirmation that you are on the build or where you are on the waitlist. Clogging her inbox with questions on where you are on the waitlist only slows up the process! The builds that will be listed are as follows:

GV16-0070 Mason, TX, 2.7.16-2.21.16
GV16-0071 Mason, TX, 2.21.16-3.13.16 3 week build
GV16-0072 Mason, TX, 3.13.16-3.27.16
GV16-0073 Mason, TX, 3.27.16-4.17.16 3 week build

RV Care-A-Vanner Promo Video: We have updated the video and would 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 any of 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-Vanner: Travel with a Purpose from my drop box. I have updated some of the STATS since last month, so this is a new version since that last newsletter. Be sure to let me know how your presentation went!

Featured builds:

GV15-0301 Bel Air, Maryland, 10.18.15-11.1.15: A new affiliate for us. Camping is free!

GV15-0310 Rapid City, South Dakota, 10.4.15-10.18.15: This build was just posted and they would like to list again next year. Let's show them Care-A-Vanner support and sign up for the build in the South Dakota badlands.

Lafayette, Louisiana, is back! I have posted two builds for them, one in December and another in January. They are excited to invite Care-A-Vanners back, so let's show them our support.

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

Habitat is doing truly innovative work both here in the United States and abroad. In the next few issues, we are excited to share with you information around Habitat's work with orphans and vulnerable groups (OVG) and the development of the OVG fund that an affiliate can tithe to.

As you know through your volunteer work, Habitat believes that it is important to help people who are willing to help themselves. However, there are countless vulnerable groups around the world that have very limited capacity to escape chronic poverty by themselves. What does Habitat do to support them?

First, who are the vulnerable?

They are people who not only have low incomes, but also have additional, challenging obstacles to obtaining safe and adequate housing. Vulnerable groups include:

Orphans and children who have lost their breadwinner or have a caregiver who is part of a vulnerable group.
People stigmatized or marginalized by a disease or disability.
The elderly.
People socially marginalized and excluded based on race or ethnicity.

Vulnerable people often live on less than US$2 a day. They are more likely to live in substandard housing, where they struggle to meet their essential needs, and where caregivers do not have the health or resources to properly care for their dependents.

Habitat's vision is a world where everyone – including those who are most vulnerable – has a safe and decent place to call home.

We look forward to sharing with you some general information around the ways in which Habitat works with orphans and vulnerable groups, and we will provide more specific examples of this work in subsequent newsletters, as well.

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

Windows to Washington - September

Promises, Partnerships and Policy

Earlier this year, Nizam Baksh did something remarkable. As the Minister of Community Development, Mr. Baksh had promised to help Habitat for Humanity Trinidad and Tobago improve housing conditions for the residents of this twin island nation off the coast of South America. Only after that promise was made, Mr. Baksh left that post to become the Minister of Public Utilities. It would have been easy, and even understandable, for Mr. Baksh to leave his promise in the hands of his successor to fulfill. After all, Mr. Baksh now had an entirely new set of responsibilities in his new post, so how could he be expected to keep a promise that he'd made while in an entirely different department of government?

But keep his promise is exactly what Mr. Baksh did. In fact, this champion for decent housing went to great lengths, even at the risk of his own political standing during an election season, to ensure that he could keep his promise to Habitat for Humanity Trinidad and Tobago. When asked why he worked so diligently to fulfill his promise, the Honorable Baksh stated:

"I have worked closely with Habitat for Humanity Trinidad and Tobago as the Minister of Community Development and later as the Minister of Public Utilities, and I saw their commitment to our common goals ofassistingfamilies living in abject poverty. This is why, having made a promise to support their work in one jurisdiction, I felt compelled to find a way to continue to contribute to the cause even when myresponsibilitieschanged."

Mr. Baksh, who has participated in building homes with Habitat, diligently ensured that electrification grants would become a reality and provide low-income households in Trinidad and Tobago with access to quality public utilities, which are a key part of decent housing. For its part, Habitat for Humanity Trindad and Tobago has worked hard to ensure that their policymakers understand the importance of decent, affordable housing – and the sound policies that make it a reality.

At the end of the day, that's what advocacy is all about: keeping promises. We elect lawmakers and select representatives based on the promises they make and, once they are in their posts, we advocate for them to keep their promises.

At the end of this month, leaders from more than 200 governments around the world will meet in New York City to announce global goals for ending poverty. These goals, also known as the Sustainable Development Goals, are unprecedented in scope and will provide guidelines for every single government, from the local level on up, to end poverty by 2030. The goals include guidelines for housing policy, particularly in cities and urban areas, including providing access to basic services and upgrading slums.

Throughout Habitat, we are celebrating the fact that global leaders are recognizing the crucial link between decent housing and ending poverty. With the announcement of these global goals, leaders are standing before the world and promising to address poverty.

We must do our part to ensure those promises are kept. That, at its essence, is what advocacy is all about. And when advocacy is done well, policymakers do keep their promises.

A few weeks ago, when Minister Baksh publicly signed a formal agreement to work with Habitat for Humanity Trinidad and Tobago to end poverty housing, he quoted the well-known activist, author and lecturer, Helen Keller, in recognizing the powerful partnership that the public and policymakers should have in doing what is best for their communities:

"Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much."

Everyone reading this message can be part of ensuring that global leaders keep their promises. Use your voice today to call for ending poverty by 2030.

Note: In the photo above from left: Jennifer Massiah, National Director of Habitat for Humanity Trinidad and Tobago
Minister of Public Utilities Nizam Baksh
Permanent Secretary Jacinta Bailey-Sobers

Team leader corner

Hello team leaders,

A very special thank you goes out to our August Team Leaders. They are: Larry and Margot Durham; Erwin and Maureen Nesvacil; Alan and Cheryl Schmiedt; Jim Colby; David and Roxanne Draves; Lenny and Jo Ann Phelps; Dennis and Christine Davis; Karen and Greg Harbage; Chuck Ostrander; Dave and Karen Ransom; Gary and Avis Norton; Jay and Joyce Rush; Dan and Carolyn Banks; Ray and Mary Kay Johnson; Kurt Newton; Clint and Kathy Norrell; Bill and Gae Bradley; and Debora Locke and Gary Vines.

Sometimes, on a build, only one spouse or partner volunteers. No matter the reason, it is totally acceptable in our program. The non-building partner can be encouraged to help out in the ReStore or office if that is within their ability and desire. It is also perfectly acceptable for the Team Leaders to have only one construction volunteer. As Team Leaders, it is a good idea to know if there are members of your team that will not be building, so that the Construction Supervisor has an accurate count of the number available on-site for assignments. The Care-A-Vanners appreciate ALL of their volunteers and those that support them.

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.

If you are already a Team Leader, and identify someone on your team that you think has what it takes to be a Team Leader, please consider talking to them about it and perhaps mentoring them during the build. Remember, construction skills are not as important as communication and organizational skills
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 Care-A-Vanner Desk about a build. It makes it so much easier to find the build you are referencing.

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

September 13-27	Bayfield, Colorado
September 13-27	Hobbs, New Mexico
September 27-October 11	Newland, North Carolina
October 4 – 18	Wayland, Massachusetts
November 1 – 15	Goldsboro, North Carolina

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

FOUR MAJOR "MUST HAVES" IN CONSTRUCTION

I know we've heard it before, but these 'must haves' are worth repeating again and again…

Hard hats—Prevention of head injuries is important in every safety program. How does a hard hat provide protection? It can shield your head (scalp), face, neck and shoulders from a falling object, splashes, spills and drips. A rigid shell can resist blows to the head. The suspension system inside the hat acts as a shock absorber. The right hard hat can serve as an insulator against electrical shock. Some hard hats can be fitted with face shields, goggles and hoods. A survey conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics noted that most who suffered head injuries were not wearing head protection. We all have a "Duty of Care" to ensure the health and safety of employees.

Safety glasses—Why is it important to wear safety glasses? According to a survey 800,000 work related injuries to eyes occur each year. From 10% to 20% of these injuries cause temporary or permanent damage. It is believed that up to 90% of these injuries can be prevented by wearing safety glasses. Safety glasses come in many different styles, physical makeup and usage. It is important you use the safety glasses you need for the task you are performing. It is equally important to choose glasses that fit properly and are comfortable to wear.

As a reminder – prescription glasses or sun glasses are not safety glasses! The safety frames, lenses and side shields will provide adequate protection and safety from flying objects. Safety glasses help protect your eyes from objects that could bruise, pierce or damage the eyes and are tested to withstand high impacts. Safety frames are tested to ensure they can withstand the impact from a 1/4" steel ball traveling at 150 fps (feet per second) without dislodging the lenses. Safety lenses are tested to withstand impact from a 1/4" steel ball shot at 150 fps. It is a fact that the frame and lenses used in safety glasses are stronger than the frame and lenses used in conventional glasses. When an object strikes the lens of safety glasses it is very unlikely that the lens would dislodge. This is not true of conventional eye wear, especially those types with wire frames. When an object strikes the lens of conventional glasses, the lens can shatter, showering the wearer's eye with shards of glass. This can happen, and it has happened. But, with a pair of approved safety glasses, the lens may break, but it will not shatter back into the eye. Think your prescription glasses are safety glasses? Look on the frame for "Z87.1." This is the ANSI designation identifying the glasses as approved safety eyewear.

Safety boots (preferably steel toe boots)—In construction many people question whether or not to wear safety boots. If something heavy were to fall on your feet, or your feet should come into contact with sharp objects, steel toe boots can help to prevent injuries. Safety boots will also protect your ankles should you step in a hole or onto an uneven surface. When it comes to choosing comfort over safety, safety should always win.

Gloves—While performing a task that has the possibility to produce injuries to any portion of the hand, gloves should be used. In certain circumstances, there are exceptions to this. Some tasks where gloves can be caught in a tool or machinery and can be determined to have more of a chance to injure the hands, gloves should not be used. This should be discussed with the onsite safety professional prior to proceeding. For further information on gloves to protect your hands, refer to 29 CFR part 1910.138.

This article was brought to you by: Warriors4Safety.com

Lisa Crawford
Master Safety Training program coordinator
[email protected]

Collegiate Challenge and Care-A-Vanners

More places to choose from coming soon:
The Care-A-Vanner program worked with the Collegiate Challenge office this last summer and affiliates registering for teams of college students were asked if they could use additional help with the supervision of these students. The response was overwhelming with 56 affiliates stating they could use help. We have sent each of these 56 affiliates an email explaining our program and what the needs of the Care-A-Vanners would be, including RV parking. We don't expect that all 56 will end up on the build schedule, but we do hope to have additional places to choose from, for those of you interested in helping to supervise college students next winter and spring. This is an exciting cooperation between our two programs.

Macon, Georgia, on the list now:
Look for the CC after the city for these builds on the build schedule.Don't forget that Collegiate Challenge builds are only a week long, but you can sign up for as many weeks as you like. You will be assisting the affiliate with teaching construction skills and supervising the students on the build site.

Diane Gravlee
Collegiate Challenge coordinator
[email protected]

Welcome new Care-A-Vanners

Lee Allem, Herman and Carol Bojarsky, Dona Byron, Ed Ditmer, Steve and Valerie Hosford, Bruce and Cindy Knoechel, Pete and Susan Lyle, Robert and Louise McLaughlin, Peter and Beth Sanderson, Phil and Barbara Schuler, David and Diana Spahn, Paul and Mary Webber

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

Hurricane season is upon us and as we all pray for no landfalls, we are ready if needed. 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 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 the help is the disaster that 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 and when disaster does strike. This includes building safe rooms in tornado area, 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.

Tuscaloosa, Alabama: Tuscaloosa is still building homes for people who lost their housing unit in the 2011 tornado. And 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.
High Falls, Alberta: Some of our Disaster Rebuild Team along with other Care-A-Vanners are in High Falls now doing a great job building two flood recovery homes. Stay tuned for follow up. I expect that we will be back to help next summer.
Fire Season out West: As you have seen from the news broadcasts, this is an epic fire season out west. Fire fighters from our own DNR station in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan are out in Idaho helping with fire containment. It will be a while before we know if any low income families have been affected and if we are able to help in anyway, so stay tuned to this newsletter for updates.

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].