January Happenings

[Mesilla Valley Habitat for Humanity]

HABITAT  HAPPENINGS    January  2009
 

It’s a new year and all sorts of new things are happening at Habitat - - along with a lot of continuing efforts.
 
The big news is that we have a new Executive Director -  Ed Johnson.  He has lots of building  and volunteer experience and is anxious to get started.  Unfortunately he won’t start work until February 15 but we’re sure he’ll be around to meet and talk with all of us soon after.  He’ll be working more with the construction and family part of our work and Jack Becker will make sure all the needs are met at the ReStore. 
 
Some of the changes at the ReStore include new Cash Registers, Security Cameras and Ed Pollack (Big Ed).  Being open another day each week has definitely increased sales (and reduced inventory).  Henry and Big Ed are working hard to find new sources of donations.  Other minor changes will show up all Spring.  
 
Debbie’s (Errnie’s assistant at the ReStore) arm and shoulder are still too sore to do her regular work, so she’ll be helping out in the Office for awhile.
 
New Board members and officers were elected last week.  Grady McCullough is the new President.  A retired Methodist minister, Grady has been active in Habitats both here and in Oklahoma for many years.  Ed Kosciolek (little Ed) is the new 1^st Vice President and will continue as Family Selection Chairperson, at least until the application process for the current group of applicants is finished.  Clay Doyle will continue as 2^nd Vice President and Resource Development Chairperson.  New members of the Board include Chuck Olson from EXIT Realty, Bill Nation, Don Ettinger and Oscar Butler.  More new members of the Board will be elected at the February Board meeting (18^th).  All Board meetings are open to anyone interested in Habitat’s work.  Leaving the Board but not Habitat, we hope, are Mac Fell, Ron Ensey, Mary Lou Brown, Dave Kibler, Allan Lindley, and Collins Reynolds.  Thank you all for your wonderful service.
 
All four Homes are under construction now with most of the work now being inside.  Lopez’s will be laying their tile floors this weekend.  EXIT Realty is painting the inside of Laura’s home.  We’ll be painting Celia’s home next week.  Electricians, plumbers and heating subcontractors are getting Sonia Barron’s walls cluttered with pipe, wire and ducts.   About 3/4 of the Stucco work is finished so all are beginning to look like real homes.
 
Chuck James and Kat are no longer working at the Office.  We’ll soon be hiring a new bookkeeper to take Chuck’s place.  Jane Carter is scheduling the construction volunteers and answering the phone at the Office every afternoon.
 
MORE NEXT MONTH !