The new week ahead begins with uplifting news in this morning’s Press. Habitat for Humanity dedicated two homes this weekend, giving new hope to families in need. The article said Habitat has now built almost 400 homes in North Idaho. Now that’s the way to help with “affordable housing”! Habitat’s director, Jim Brannon, comments here on OpenCdA sometimes, so our congrats go out to him. Way to go, Jim!
You can read the full Press article here: http://www.cdapress.com/articles/2009/06/01/news/news04.txt Any thoughts, comments or ideas?
One of the really neat facts in the article was, “The Millard Place project was unique in having some of the homes built by Post Falls High School students from Riverbend Professional Technical Academy.” Clearly, Habitat for Humanity does a lot of good for the entire community, not just the homes’ recipients. Not only did the students learn and practice vocational skills, they also should feel justifiable satisfaction at helping someone get into a home.
Comment by Bill — June 1, 2009 @ 8:47 am
I am an enormous believer in helping people to help themselves. Building self esteem is a gift that results in dividends forever.
Comment by Faringdon — June 1, 2009 @ 9:18 am
Mary thank you for the kind words. The success of the Habitat for Humanity housing program is totally attributable to our many volunteers who selflessly give of their time, talent and treasure to assist deserving families achieve the goal of home ownership. Every family in our program works very hard on their own home and the homes of their neighbors. Habitat is not a hand out; it is a hand up. I have the best job in Kootenai County working for this great organization and with our fantastic volunteers. To each of them, I convey my sincere thanks and say “way to go, now let’s get busy there is more work to be done.”
Comment by Jim Brannon — June 1, 2009 @ 10:02 am
I agree, building true self esteem (not handed on a silver platter) is life changing but it takes hard work. The high school students who helped build these houses not only got a strong dose of confidence, they learned real skills that can help them in the future. And the folks who will live in the houses were part of the whole process, working on their own homes as well. Habitat’s system makes good sense to me and I think it’s one of the best examples of helping others help themselves.
That same common sense seems to be missing from many of our federal assistance programs. Where did we veer off the road?
Comment by mary — June 1, 2009 @ 11:18 am
I’m not sure where we veered, but when we veered was the time people started demanding and accepting government entitlements in which they had invested no sweat equity (to borrow Habitat’s term) and assumed no risk for failure themselves.
Comment by Bill — June 1, 2009 @ 11:32 am
“The timing is perfect for Lazor, who will return to Gonzaga University in the fall to pursue her MBA”.
I hate to be a little critical, because Habitat does good work, but
maybe Jim Brannon can elucidate on why, a person who is going for their masters degree would qualify for a Habitat home? I thought the prospective owner would have to be working, instead of going to college for a masters degree no less.
Comment by kageman — June 1, 2009 @ 11:37 am
Ms. Lazor works full-time while taking an extensive class schedule and has more than 400 volunteer hours in our program. She has shown exceptional time management skills. Kat needed a home and was willing to work for it. Now she wants a quality education and is working toward this goal. Knowing this woman, I fully expect her to make the dean’s list this fall.
Comment by Jim Brannon — June 1, 2009 @ 1:32 pm
Good for her! And I bet in the future she will be one of the biggest cheerleaders, and probably contributors of work and money, to Habitat in order to help others.
Comment by mary — June 1, 2009 @ 4:05 pm
I see that Mary is doing battle with Our Old Friend over on the CDA Press blogs. (When will you learn, Mary?) They say the Kroc Center membership is up to 13,000. Is there any documentation to prove it? Because that would mean that 1 out of every 10 people in Kootenai County is now a member of the Kroc Center. For a city of about 41,000 people, the 13,000 figure is pretty remarkable and I’m certain that Mayor Bloem and others would love to publish a press release.
Along with the membership figures, I’d love to see a count on the total number of visitors, which I assume is much higher than 13,000. Again, that would be an impressive number.
If these numbers pan out, then my concerns about the eventual taxpayer funding of the Kroc Center would be gone. Understand that I had these concerns from the beginning, and was assured by some in City government that the taxpayer would never fund the Kroc Center. Immediately after that, the Mayor and City Council turned around and gave over $3.5 million taxpayer dollars to the Kroc. Add another $1 million from the LCDC. That’s a lot of “stimulus” for a private, religious organization, which was against what they promised and is why I’ve had my eye on the entire thing.
Comment by Dan — June 2, 2009 @ 12:08 pm
Ms. Lazor sounds like one fantastic lady. Very deserving and an asset to our society. I am seriously impressed!!
Comment by Faringdon — June 2, 2009 @ 12:12 pm
It seems that Kroc members are from all cities not just Coeur d’Alene. In light of the fact that tax dollars were given to the Salvation Army Kroc Center, do Coeur d’Alene property owners and/or residents get a discount? Is it true that discounted or free memberships were not offered to our veterans?
Comment by Susie Snedaker — June 2, 2009 @ 8:15 pm
“They say the Kroc Center membership is up to 13,000. Is there any documentation to prove it? Because that would mean that 1 out of every 10 people in Kootenai County is now a member of the Kroc Center.” Comment by Dan — June 2, 2009 @ 12:08 pm
Dan, It’s hard to believe that 13,000
residents of KC are members of the Kroc Center and it has only been open for almost a month now.
What I think is happening are some
Kootenai County residents are signing up members of their extended
family, who live outside the area,to be included in the family membership at the Kroc Center.Everybody, knows you are only supposed to sign-up members of your immediate family.I know of a family of three who surreptiously,signed up 2 members of their extended family who happen to live in California.Joining the Kroc Center in CDA is cheaper than having a membership in California.(But, hey
mums the word). 😉
Comment by kageman — June 3, 2009 @ 8:39 am
I don’t get it, Kageman, why would someone living far away want a membership here? Just to use when they happen to visit?
Comment by mary — June 3, 2009 @ 9:01 am
Mary,the family I mentioned live here partime and own a summer home.
Anyway, when people sign-up their immediate family members for a membership at any club, the family members include kids living in the household, who are 18 years of age or younger.I contend that some people bend the rules and include extended family members, who are over the age of 18 and don’t live in the immediate area.
Comment by kageman — June 3, 2009 @ 10:09 am
Looks like we need an official statement from the Major himself. But unoffically I was told offically yesterday during a tour visit by the tour guide, a Mr. Charboneaux, that they had hoped for 6000 by the end of 2009. He said they were overwhlemed by the fact that they now had 10,000 memberships. Myself, I’ll probably go for a day pass of five bucks when I feel like a swim. Nothing else there interests me, especially the pee pool even though it is heavily chlornated. Interesting to see Mayor Bloem’s name emblazoned in Bronze at the entrance along with two commanding generals, or whatever they call the pope or cardinal types, who are also on the plaque. She is the bride of this extravagant wedding even though Ray and Joan Kroc paid for it, except for the 4.5 million her Sandiness donated from the city taxpayers. BTW, off to the right of the complex entrance is a very nice church and meeting rooms; afterall, it is a Salvation Army Worship Center and certainly deserving of public tax money. Question. Will the Salvation Army pay property taxes?
Comment by Gary Ingram — June 3, 2009 @ 6:02 pm