ImageJuly 23, 2014 NewsletterImage

By John Hammer

Charlotte Shelburne Rotary

Wednesday, July 23, 2014, 7:15 a.m.

Trinity Episcopal Church Community Room

Welcome

Incoming President Richard Fox opened the meeting with the Pledge. Kris Engstrom gave the invocation.

Guests:

Catherine Stevens – Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity.

Upcoming:

Week of July 27-Aug 2 – Volunteer at Charlotte Frogbit eradication project. There are still some spots to be filled.

July 29 – Camp Ta KumTa Breakfast at 0630. Meet at Trinity Church parking lot at 5:30AM for car-pooling. Bring ID, no open-toed shoes and hair pulled back.

July 30 – Brenda Torpy will speak on Champlain Housing Trust.

August 6 - Julie Moore – Will speak about the lake and water quality.

August 13 – Committee Meetings

August 14 – Board Meeting

August 16 – Shelburne Day (Volunteers will be needed to man the booth 8AM-3PM)

August 20 – Cheryl Hannah of the Vermont Law School.

August 22 – Volunteer support to the Charlotte Senior Center Annual BBQ

August 27 – Visit by District Governor.

District 7850 Calendar: Hot Link http://www.clubrunner.ca/Portal/Events/EventsCalendar.aspx?accountid=50051

Announcements

Shelburne Veterans’ Memorial – Sam Feitelberg reported that they had raised $65,000 so far. They have met with the town tree committee and worked on the final location of the memorial. Bricks will be on sale at the Farmers’ Market.

Honorary Membership – Ric Flood moved that Robert Maynes be granted an Honorary Club Membership in recognition of his many years of service to the club. It was voted unanimously.

Sergeant at Arms – Evan Webster

Sam Feitelberg –Daughter Debbie still on chemo and has had to go into the hospital with pneumonia but she is doing well. His other daughter, Cher has formed a relationship with an American widower from Switzerland. This has resulted in his gaining three new grandchildren overnight, all of whom speak German.

Ric Flood – For mention in the Shelburne News and Charlotte News and a thank you from Teena who exceeded her fund-raising goal of $25,000 in celebration of her 60th birthday and 25 years cancer-free.

John Hammer – For Fletcher Allen Health Care to which he has visited three times in as many weeks and has had excellent and caring treatment.

Eric Hanley – Paid his first college tuition check today for Megan and for Lauren who is playing in a hockey championship tournament in Boston.

Steve Dates – Also kudos for Fletcher Allen, particularly since Elaine is back in the hospital with an infection.

John Dupee – Sailed aboard the yacht Jubilee, which takes persons out who need a break from health-related stress.

Lara Keenan – Watched a new video by Weird Al Yankovich entitled Tacky. She highly recommends it.

Carole Obuchowski – For her birthday.

Bill Root – Had a great time at his Spaulding High School reunion in Barre.

Gary Marcotte – Happy to be back and for the ability to remember members’ names after his prolonged absences.

Michael Clapp – Happy he was able to shame Gary into coming back.

Kris Engstrom – Happy to see Gary Marcotte.

Linda Barker – Recommended that everyone go down to the Burlington waterfront next Sunday to watch the Dragonheart Festival.

Bill Deming – For Michael who managed to fly a spinnaker upside down. Just how do you do that?

Michael Clapp won the draw and picked the wrong card to roll over the $115+ pot.

Speaker – Catherine Stevens who is the Advancement Director for Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity (GMHFH). The mission of the GMHFH centers on the statement, “Everyone deserves a decent place to live.” The GMHFH has two chapters working with it in Lamoille and Franklin and Grand Isle Counties. GMHFH has built 65 houses in Chittenden County in the past 30 years of existence. They get no money from the International Habitat for Humanity organization.

There are three on permanent staff: The executive director – David Mullin who has been there 12 years, Ms. Stevens, and a bookkeeper. Ms. Stevens acts as grant writer, communications and fund-raiser.

Chittenden County has a rental vacancy rate that is lower than 1% and many of the rental properties are substandard housing. This creates a great problem for those on minimum or below minimum wages. To qualify to occupy a HFH home you must earn 60% or less of the local median income, be living in substandard conditions and be able to prove that you will be able to pay the HFH mortgage. The family must also commit to 400 hours sweat equity on the home before occupation. This is a “hand up, not a hand out.” GMHFH is solving the homeless problem one home at a time.

HFH homeowners get a zero interest, 30-year mortgage with no dollars down. The houses, which normally cost between $120 and 150 thousand, are chiefly so inexpensive because of all the volunteer labor. Each home takes between 300  and 400 volunteers. Charlotte has seven homes while four are being built in Shelburne’s Harrington Village. The homes are energy-efficient and HFH works closely with Efficiency Vermont to ensure efficiency standards are met.

Families are helped to understand the obligations of home ownership. The deed that they receive is perpetually affordable and the family when moving out must sell the house back to the HFH or Champlain Housing Trust. They get the equity that they had put into it plus payment for any improvements that they have put into it during their occupancy.

GMHFH raises its funds from grants and donations as well as from profits from the HFH Restore at Taft’s Corners.

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The Club will be presenting a book to one of the libraries in Shelburne, Charlotte or Hinesburg in the name of presenters in honor of their presentations. This replaces the time-honored coffee mugs that have been phased out in favor of this more community-minded gift.