Nonprofits provide the community unique opportunities to give back and become involved. Amarillo Habitat for Humanity is no exception. We provide opportunities for donors to fund projects and for individuals to help build on our job sites, but those just scrape the surface. We have numerous committees that help our organization grow and function. These committees make decisions, determine qualifications, and approve applications. We also have a board of directors who gives our organization direction guidance and keeps us focused on our mission. Amarillo Habitat for Humanity has grown tremendously over the past five years and we are continuing to grow. This past fall we started putting together a Family Support Committee and now we are looking for a few interested volunteers to join us. The Family Support Committee would work directly with our families who have been selected to take part in our program by supporting them every step of the way. If you are interested in learning more about this committee and being involved with it, please read the mandate below and contact Sasha Renee at 383-3456.

Family Support Committee Mandate
Purpose:
To build a strong relationship with each family by serving their needs and supporting them as they work toward changing their current situation by owning a home of their own. This committee is the people-to-people partnership of Habitat for Humanity and is what makes this ministry tick. This will be a working committee and will plan, implement, and evaluate the support program.

Members should:
• Have good “people skills” and be able to work with all different kinds of people
• Understand the mission and purpose of Amarillo Habitat for Humanity
• Be successful homeowners
• Be nurturing
• Firmly believe in giving a hand up and not a hand out
• Be able to make contact with their assigned family partner and be able to attend monthly Family Support Committee Meetings
• Understand the difference between “doing for” and “doing with”
• Understand the difference between “enabling” and “empowering”

The Committee will:
• Nurture their assigned Family Partners
• Assist with the Homeowners Auxiliary
• Plan annual events for our Partner Families, Homeowners, and Volunteers
• Assist with interviews with homeowners and Partner Families to be used in monthly newsletters and recruitment
• Assist with our Financial/Family Stability Classes
• Assist with House Blessings
• Assist Partner Families throughout the entire process of becoming homeowners (answering questions, helping with planning and budgeting, identifying other community resources, follow-up explanations from financial classes, providing home maintenance tips, etc.)

February 2011

In This Issue! “I Paid off My Mortgage” Message from the President Meet the new ReStore Manager Financial/Family Stability Classes Constructive Discussion Amarillo Habitat for Humanity Board of Directors Jason Clements - President Dwayne Gresham – Vice President Open – Secretary Lilia Escajeda – Treasurer Dick Doyle – Past President Matt Sherwood – Parliamentarian Thomas Bonilla Joe Hastings David Pompa Atoie Horton The Staff Steve Smart Executive Director Jeremy Cleaver Construction Supervisor Becky Davis Family Services Coordinator Sasha Toillion AmeriCorps Family Services Linda Hutchinson ASCA – Admin Teresa Hillman Bookkeeper Charlotte Needham ReStore Manager Elena Soto ReStore Staff Robert Gauna ReStore Driver Jimmy Khamisi ReStore Driver Terry Melvin ASCA – ReStore Tim Croft Volunteer Your Support is Valuable to Us! Your generous gifts will help provide quality, safe, sustainable homes to families right here in Amarillo! Click here to donate now! Forward this Email to a Friend Hello everyone! This month you will LOVE reading about one of our homeowners who has actually paid off her mortgage, owning her home free and clear! She is a delightful example of how Amarillo Habitat for Humanity changes lives, for generations! We’d love to hear your feedback, so let us know how Bessie’s story impacts you. We have a new board president for 2011, Jason Clements. We are so very grateful for the leadership that Dick Doyle provided as our past president and look forward to seeing what Jason brings to this next year. We may be a bit prejudiced, but we feel like we have the best board around!  If you see Jason, Dick, or any of our other board members be sure to express your appreciation for what they bring to AHFH! Also this month, you will meet our new ReStore manager, Charlotte Needham. She has hit the road running and the store is looking great and the inventory is changing daily. With many of the interior walls removed, the ReStore looks like a completely new place.  You’ll want to stop by at 34th and Western in the Fleetwood Shopping Center. This month, we’ve given you just a small report on the enormous growth of our Financial/Family Stability Classes! You’ll definitely be impressed with what is going on there. The weather should be warming up, so its time to give me a call so we can set you and/or your group up to volunteer on one of our homes or A Brush with Kindness project. There’s no better way to spend some free time than helping a family out with a home of their own. Have a great February and we’ll see you soon! Becky Davis Family Services Coordinator “I Paid off My Mortgage!” by Sasha Renee Toillion Thirty years ago, Bessie was a single parent living with her two young children in an apartment in Amarillo that was not up to code.  It had a heating system that had been outlawed but never updated and it violated several health codes.  She had always wanted to own a home and she wanted better for her children but she always thought it would be out of her reach.  Then she heard about a program called Habitat for Humanity and about Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter being in Amarillo, TX to dedicate a house to its new owners.  Bessie checked into Habitat for Humanity and became the seventh homeowner in Amarillo. When it came time to move into their new home, Bessie decided that it was going to be a completely new beginning for her family.  They even left all their furniture at their apartment.  ”We just packed up our clothes and left” Bessie said.  “We slept on the floor until I could afford furniture.  People would tell us we were crazy, but we were just happy to have a safe heater, an air conditioner, nice carpet, and no bugs!” Bessie also told us that once they moved out of the apartment, not a single person has rented it since.  One of her favorite things about the program, besides her house, was the camaraderie that was formed amongst her and the other partner families.  “They were like family to us.  All the kids used to play outside together and we would have big potluck get-togethers.” Bessie cautioned us though, “it was not always easy. There was a time when I got behind on my mortgage and I did not know what to do.  I learned that I had to make sacrifices and that I had to work hard, but it pays off in the end.  I own my own home and I am so proud of that accomplishment.” She told us that she knows how hard it can be, but she just encourages everyone to work hard and stay focused on the goal of owning a home.  We asked Bessie how she felt the day she paid off her mortgage and she said it was the best day ever!  She said she came to the office and handed her last check to our Executive Director and she was so excited. She had to keep pinching herself to make sure that it was real.  Years later, she still thinks to herself “I cannot believe that I really own this!” Bessie’s daughter Totundra  was in town visiting and came to the interview too.  Totundra said that she was so proud of her mom’s accomplishments and so thankful for the lessons she learned growing up and watching her mom struggle.  Her Habitat experience influenced her so much that after high school she went on to earn a Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in social work.  She is currently working at a hospital in Dallas and just bought her first house. __________________________________ Message from the Board President I am honored to have been working with the Amarillo Habitat board, staff, partner families, and volunteers for the last six years and am thrilled to be serving in this capacity. For as long as I can remember, I have always enjoyed serving the community and Habitat has been the appropriate channel for me to do so. With spring coming up there will be many opportunities to volunteer and help with our upcoming builds and fundraisers. I hope that you will join me in lending a hand! One great opportunity is through our A Brush with Kindness program where we work to make exterior repairs on existing homes for low income families.  Contact the office for more information. Don’t forget to stop by our ReStore regularly as stock is always changing. If you come across an appliance or piece of furniture that you no longer need, please remember that the ReStore at 34th and Western is always accepting donations. ReStore News!! Meet our new ReStore manager, Charlotte Needham.  She’s very excited to be with ReStore and is making many changes in the look and feel of the store! Her comments after only a week, “I have only been with the ReStore for 8 days and I am so amazed. I just love what I do here and I hope to be able to help our efforts to build houses for those in need. I am humbled to say the least that I was asked to be a part of such a wonderful group of people…” Come by and meet Charlotte and check out our amazing stock of merchandise, whether you’re needing furniture, appliances, or building materials you will want to shop with us first!!  The best thing of all is that your purchases and donations help us to build more homes for needy families right here in Amarillo! Contact Charlotte at  (806) 373-1185 or swing by 34th and Western in the Fleetwood Shopping Center. Financial/Family Stability Classes Our classes have been going great!! We have grown by leaps and bounds and are excited to see how much our crowds  grow in the future! From Plumbing Basics to Creating a Budget to Tax Help to Developing Job Skills (and much much more!) these classes appeal to any audience.  Our Habitat family partners are required to attend as part of their sweat equity. Also, various agencies in Amarillo refer their clients to us. We have had social workers, teachers, and even Girl Scouts take advantage of these free classes! Our teachers are leaders in their particular subject matter and have been fantastic. Door prizes are given away at every class, which is definitely an encouragement for them to come again! Classes are held on Tuesday evenings from 6:30 – 8:00 and Thursday mornings from 9:30 – 11:00, all at our office at 27th and Wilson, between Ross and Arthur Streets on 27th.  Call 383-3456 to sign up or email Sasha Toillion. We are looking for folding chairs to use for these classes. Trinity Fellowship Church’s Bethesda Outreach Center is loaning us the use of chairs for this semester, but if you have some you’d like to donate for the future, please give us a call! Constructive Discussion There are so many out there less fortunate than many of us, and Amarillo Habitat for Humanity is here to help them get the boost that they need to live a better life. “YOU” could help by volunteering on our job site or at the ReStore, donating to our ReStore, or making a contribution. We would like to acknowledge a gracious donation this past month. Bob Lang at Lang Tire donated two new tires for our tool trailer. We can make it safely to and from our jobsites! Thank you very much, Bob! Your donation helped immensely! It is now time to follow through with those New Year’s Resolutions! If every one of you resolved to come out and volunteer just half a day this year, do you know how much we could do in our community? We could really do a lot! Give us a call and schedule a time to volunteer with us. Our latest project is a remodel on one of our previous houses that we got back. We have already gutted it to the studs, and are now beginning to build it all back. We are also getting ready to have a couple of A Brush with Kindness projects ready to start, and we’re needing some volunteer groups who can scrape and paint. We are very excited to get this program off of the ground and start helping out those who already own their home, and aren’t physically or financially able to do the work themselves. For more information on our A Brush with Kindness Program, call our office at (806) 383-3456. Jeremy Cleaver Construction Supervisor

We have kicked the year off with a bang here at Amarillo Habitat for Humanity.  January has been quite a busy month for us.  We have a new ReStore manager who will be introducing herself in our February Newsletter, so be sure to read that and stop by the store at 34^th and Western to meet her.  We also started up our Financial/Family Stability Classes again.  (Look back at previous posts to see the schedule).  So far, we’ve had a wonderful turnout and several fantastic teachers!  Heather Reid taught two classes on Taxes, where she helped everyone better understand the filing process, common mistakes to watch out for, and a few new laws that could affect your 2010 tax return.  Cael Shield taught a class on Plumbing Basics where he showed everyone how to perform maintenance on a garbage disposal, how to maintain your hot water heater, discussed common pipe problems, and toilet maintenance.  Remember these classes are free and open to the public, so if you see a class you are interested in call our office and we will get you signed up.

This past Monday night we had an orientation for everyone in the community who was either interested in applying for our housing program or just interested in learning a little more about what goes on behind the scenes here at Amarillo Habitat.  We had a great turn out despite the cold weather and we passed out almost 50 applications.  We spoke with a lot of people who were really excited to have the opportunity to apply.  If you or someone you know might be interested in partnering with us and becoming a homeowner call or stop by our office to pick up an information packet and get your name put on the list to receive information about our next orientation meeting.

We also have begun building again!  We are rehabbing an older Habitat house that we got back.  This summer and fall we had multiple groups work on gutting this house and take it down to the studs.  A few weeks ago we got started building and are on our way to turning it into a home for a very special partner family.  If you are interested in volunteering at our job site, please call our office and we can give you the information you need.

Tonight begins our Winter Financial/Family Stability Classes.  They are free and open to the public.  These classes will be held on Tuesday nights from 6:30-8:00 pm and Thursday mornings from 9:30-11:00 am.  If you are interested in learning more about these classes or attending call our office at 383-3456.

The holiday season is one of the worst seasons to find yourself without a job.  And while snatching up a temporary holiday job can help pay the bills until you find something else, oftentimes it is not a long term solution.  Last week was our final Financial/Family Stability Class for our Fall Semester and the topic was Jobs.  Matt Morgan taught the class the essential keys to begin looking for a job, how to write a resume, how to prepare for an interview, and where to shop for less.

First Matt began talking about how to successfully market yourself, and he gave four steps everyone should follow.  You have to first change your mindset and look at yourself as the product and potential employers as consumers.  If you make yourself the only/best/most logical option to fulfill their need, chances are they just might hire you!  Second, you have to start networking.  The more people you know the more opportunities you will have.  There are many different ways you can accomplish this, whether it is through social networking online, joining local clubs/groups, or just making it known to all your friends and family that you are looking for a job.  When people hear that you are looking, they are more likely to suggest you to employers and to listen for job opportunities.  This is a very valuable resource because you can not be in two places at once or hear everything that is going on.  Another important part of networking is to volunteer.  Volunteering shows that you dependable, willing to work, and that you have an idea of what is going on in the world, which employers love.  The third step is to develop an elevator speech.  This is basically a sales pitch that can be delivered during a typical elevator ride, but sums up your resume and gives two or three of your strongest skills.  The key to the elevator speech is to make it sound casual and unrehearsed.  I will give you a sample elevator speech, just to help you write your own.  “Hi my name is Sasha Renee.  I graduated from college last May and I am currently an AmeriCorps volunteer at Amarillo Habitat for Humanity where I work in Family Services.  I love my job at Habitat because it enables me to work closely with the Partner Families and those interested in joining our program.  I also work with the Financial/Family Stability Classes and I am in charge of recruiting teachers and getting donates to keep our classes going.” It’s as simple as that!  The fourth key is to learn patience.  Sometimes it takes a long time for something to come around, but if you get discouraged or impatient right off the bat, you will give up and lose out on vital opportunities.

The second important item Matt talked about was the resume.   He provided a list of do’s and don’ts that I will list below, but he also talked about tailoring each resume you send out.  Gone are the days where one size fits all.  Employers want to know what you have to offer them and how you will benefit their company.

Resume Do’s and Don’ts for Today’s Job Market

1.      DO use your resume as a marketing tool.

2.      DO edit your resume based on the job for which you are applying.

3.      DO research what message your resume should send.

4.      DO edit your resume for spelling, grammatical, and punctuation errors.

5.      DO use strong language.

6.      DO highlight your skills and capabilities.

7.      DO choose interesting headings.

8.      DO use numbers to highlight specific accomplishments.

9.      DO leave “white space.”

10.  DO use standard fonts and sizes.

1.       DO NOT use personal pronouns such as “I” or “me”.

2.      DO NOT flatter yourself with adjectives—let your accomplishments speak for themselves.

3.      DO NOT be over-modest.

4.      DO NOT be too wordy—most resumes should only be 1 or 2 pages.

5.      DO NOT put previous salaries or current salary requirements.

6.      DO NOT list references or say that they are available upon request.

7.      DO NOT put dates of education if you feel age could be a problem.

8.      DO NOT fold resumes in the mail—use a large, flat envelope.

The third thing Matt talked about was the interview.  First, congratulate yourself on getting an interview and then you better start preparing.  If you did not research the company before submitting your resume, now is the time to do that.  Employers want to know that you took the time and interest to look into their company.  Your answers will be better tailored to the company and that also gives you an opportunity to come up with a few good questions to show your interest.  Next practice answering interview questions with yourself in the mirror.  Not only will this help you answer tough questions, but you can practice maintaining eye contact.  A few other tips Matt shared are always bring another, unfolded, copy of your resume and references, dress a step above what the company requires, have a firm handshake, and remember to smile.

The final part of Matt’s class focused on what to wear.  His suggestion is to dress a step above what is usually worn by the other employees.  Also, be careful about your choice of jewelry and perfume.  You do not want to distract from your answers.   He also made it a point to talk about where to get clothes to wear.  You do not have to spend a fortune on something to wear, especially if it is just for an interview.  Some great places to go shopping include the Downtown Women’s Center Thrift City, Goodwill, the Salvation Army, and any other thrift or consignment store in the area.  While some consignment stores are still pricey, you can always try to bargain.  However, unlike other stores, you will not be able to pick up something you like and then look for your size.  Most stores are very organized and already have things sorted by size and sometimes even by color, which makes it easier to meet your needs.  Just be prepared to spend little bit more time browsing then you would otherwise.  Happy Job Hunting!