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HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
OF BOX BUTTE COUNTY
ANNUAL REPORT
August
22, 2007
Presented by
Karen Brown
Vice President, Bd. Of Directors
BOARD
OF DIRECTORS
The Board
of Directors was increased at the June, 2006 annual meeting with the addition
of Jeremy Smith, Karen Fischer and Melissa
Dodge. This brought the board membership, along with
offices and committee assignments to:
Karen
Brown-
President/ Development Fundraising and Development PR
Jeremy
Smith- Vice
President/ Construction and Budget/Finance
Donna
Costantini-
Secretary/ Family Selection and Site Selection
Peggy
Sheldon-Treasurer/
Budget/Finance and Nominating
Maurine
Roller-Recording Secretary/ Development, Nominating and Family Support
Lynda
Wood-Construction
Melissa
Dodge-
Budget/Finance and Development/Fundraising
Julie
Bergfield-Site Selection and Family Selection
Karen
Fischer- Family
Support and Development/Church Relations
In April
of 2007, Karen Fischer resigned due to her family relocating to Lincoln, NE.
As a result, Donna Costantini was
assigned to Family Support and taken off Family Selection. Development/Church
Relations was assigned to Karen Brown.
The
current board now consists of 8 directors, with by-laws calling for 7-12.
BOARD
ACTIVITIES
The
primary focus of the board, in the past year, has been to transition from an
organizational phase to an operational phase. Some organizational processes,
such as movement toward non-board chairs for each committee, development of
working policies and procedures, are still incomplete. The operational phase
has consisted of developing donors, volunteers, fundraising and home
building. Each of these areas has shown considerable growth, with a
donor/volunteer base of over 600 individuals, businesses, churches and
organizations, the completion of the first Habitat home in Box Butte
County, and nearly
$60,000 raised in the past year. The board has operated without the luxury of
an executive director, but has had significant assistance from offices
volunteers, headed by Sheryl Johns.
FINANCE
Peggy
Sheldon continues
to develop a reporting system that is easily understood by the board and
presents a report on a monthly basis. A compilation report was done at the
end of the 2005-2006 fiscal year
and a report is currently being prepared by Keiffer and Moeller for
the 2006-2007 fiscal year. Our affiliate has faithfully tithed to HFHI and
those tithes totaled $5180 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2007. The
finance committee worked to adjust the policies so that, while retaining high
levels of accountability, the process became less cumbersome. The committee
invested funds in a short term CD, to earn interest as we prepared for the
first home construction project. The fiscal year financials show and income
of $56,956 and outflows of $63,166. While this shows a deficit for the year,
the funds acquired in the previous fiscal year more than covered the deficit
and the fiscal year ended with a positive financial picture.
DEVELOPMENT
COMMITTEE
In the
area of public relations, the following accomplishments are reported for the
2006-2007 fiscal year:
- 3 newsletters were published and disseminated.
These have been developed by Melissa Smith, who has also accepted the
chairperson position for public relations. The RSVP program has been
vital to helping get the newsletters into the mail.
- Numerous radio and newspaper releases have
been used throughout the year, thanks to Melissa Smith and Maurine
Roller.
- An information table and volunteer sign up
board were presented during the Health Fair in March.
- A PowerPoint presentation has been prepared for
use by board members in presenting HFHBBC information, thanks to Sheryl Johns and her daughter, Stephanie
Woodard.
- The website, though up and
running, has not been updated or kept current for several months, after
the resignation of Allison Gullion from that position. We currently seek
someone to accept this responsibility.
In the
area of fundraising, the committee has accomplished the following during the past year:
·
A very
successful Blitz week was held in September, 06, in which the entire communities of Alliance and Hemingford were canvassed.
This, along with a tailgate party and
volleyball concessions, resulted in nearly $17,000 being raised.
·
A large
event, Harvest Fest, was coordinated by many volunteers and headed by Angela
Isom, Rikki Stewart and Rhonda Purviance
in October. Though it was work intensive, it was a very positive event in the
area of public relations but somewhat disappointing in the amount of funds
raised. Therefore the committee is exploring new ideas for the next major
fundraising event.
·
A quilt
auction coordinated by the Tammy Reuss of E-Free, a bake sale hosted by YMCA
and a Christmas promotional also resulted in a few thousand dollars.
·
The second
annual Habitat Fun Run was held in April, 2007. This event was coordinated by
Yolanda McCue and was very successful in raising nearly $1000. Some changes
are proposed for next year, including changing it to an evening event.
·
Several
significant grants were made to HFHBBC. The largest grant in the amount of
$17,000, was received from the Wells Fargo
Foundation. Other significant grants were received from United Way, United
Partners of Box Butte County and
Tier One Bank.
·
The Cans
for Habitat program is underway with a steady stream of income. A collection
house has been constructed by Tim Keenan
and placed at BF Foodpride lot. Tim and other volunteers perform regular can
pick up duties and recycle them for a cash account at Hand H Sanitation.
In the
area of church relations, the committee has accomplished the following:
- Almost all area churches participated in the
International Day of Prayer on Sept, 17, 2006.
- Weekly prayer requests and praises have been
sent throughout the year, via e-mail, to a list of prayer partners.
- Sheryl Johns has accepted the position of Church Relations
chairperson and has coordinated liaisons from 10 area churches, with a
number of others beginning to show interest in partnering with the
affiliate.
- Most Saturdays at the construction site had a
volunteer there to lead prayer and
a short devotion during coffee break. It is hoped that this can
be developed further for the next project.
FAMILY
SELECTION AND SUPPORT
This
committee was actually redesigned to become 2 committees midway through the
year. However, this split is still being refined and so they are presented
here as a single committee. The highlight of the year was the Terry and Elizabeth Kelley family being selected as the
family to build and own the first Habitat project. It is felt that a true
partnership developed during the process. The family selection committee is
now reorganizing and planning to begin accepting applications for the next
home soon.
The family support policies are not yet
firm, but a good working relationship for family support was initiated by Karen Fischer and, upon her departure, continued
by Donna Costantini. The family
exceeded their sweat equity commitment and expressed their appreciation by
hosting an open house and
BBQ in the yard, with
donations from local businesses and grilling done by Terry Kelley and other
volunteers and board members. A committee is currently working on a formal
family support plan. It is hoped
to provide budget training as part of the partner agreement with the next
family. Also, First National Bank has volunteered to educate future families
about all aspects of closing on a house mortgage.
CONSTRUCTION
and SITE SELECTION
This
committee was headed by Lynda Wood
and first met in June, 2006. Groundbreaking occurred in conjunction with Building
on Faith Sunday on Sept, 18, construction began on October 14th and the house was fully enclosed in
December, enabling work throughout the winter and spring. General
construction was directed by volunteer Archie Lawrence. Unfortunately, Archie
encountered health problems and resigned in March. Lynda
Wood then assumed the role of general contractor, with
assistance from a number of dedicated volunteers. The home was built with a
basement to accommodate the number of family members in the Kelley household.
An energy efficient home was built using poured cement blocks. The house plan
was adopted and modified, with much assistance of Lynn Edwards. The house was
completed, closing was done on July 27 and the house dedication was held on
July 28, along with a volunteer appreciation bbq. A storage shed has been
donated for use by Olson Storage, yet more storage space is an anticipated
need in the near future. The committee will be meeting soon to assess the
construction process and plan for the next project, which will be
rehabilitation of the house at 651 East 8th. This house was
donated to the affiliate by Bank of the West. It has an urgent need for roof
repairs/replacement, but otherwise construction will not proceed until a
family is selected. The construction committee had originally expected that
the cost to build the first home
would be $65,000, including in-kind donations. Remarkably, this figure held
true throughout the project.
SUMMARY
It has
been a remarkable year. It has been a year in which we have truly seen God at
work, providing for every need as it arose. There were many situations which
seemed insurmountable, as we learned how to become builders, bankers and
human relations directors. But, at every point of need, and in answer to
prayer, God provided. Truly, His power was made evident in our weaknesses. As we celebrate the
triumphs of the past year, we realize many challenges lie before us. But, as
we have in the past, we continue to trust His guidance and blessing as we
move forward in faith.
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