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Summer was in full swing as Rotarians gathered at the Lansing Center to break bread and hear about “partnership housing.” The meeting was called to order by President Lisa Smith. The invocation was presented by Colin Maguire, who also asked that we offer a prayer for Ned Legg. The invocation was followed by “America the Beautiful,” accompanied by John Dale Smith and sung with gusto. (For those who may be interested, the song was originally a poem written by a Wellesley College English Professor, Katharine Lee Bates, in 1893 during a trip to Piles Peak. The poem was put to music in 1910, using a hymn tune composed by Samuel Ward in 1882.)
The introduction of guests and visiting Rotarians was handled by Todd Lake and Diane Sanborn’s Remembrance Report advised that the health of the Club was good, though the Club was again asked to visit or write to Ned at the Willows.
The day’s announcements began with Jim Dixon’s presentation of the July birthdays. The question of the month was “When I dance, I look like ____________.” Jim’s assembled responses, while entertaining, did not reveal any Fred or Ginger’s in the Club. Rather, we have folks who dance like “a penguin on fire,” “John Travolta plus 100 lbs.,” and “the winner of a Jitterbug contest in 1945.” Jim also reported that 53% of the July birthday members had participated in contributions to the Foundation.
The special music of the day was introduced by Donna Gardner. In what could be described as an existential group, she introduced the four members of the Austin Howard Trio.” Led by Drummer Austin Howard, the Trio will be performing at this year’s Jazz Fest in Old Town. We can catch them at 6:00 p.m. on this upcoming Saturday. The Trio performed two very up tempo numbers that were well received by the Rotarians in attendance.
The day’s program was introduced by Chair of the Day, Jack Davis, who presented one of our own, Vicki Hamilton-Allen. Vicki is the Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity of Lansing.
Ms. Hamilton-Allen began her remarks with a quiz, through which Rotarians learned that Habitat for Humanity does more than just build houses. It is a mortgage provider for its program participants, a retailer through its ReStore outlets, and it teaches home repair and maintenance. We also learned that Habitat is a “brand” and each Habitat location is independent, but using the national brand and program design. Thus, contributions made to the national Habitat for Humanity benefit only the national office. For those wishing to aid the Lansing program, contributions need to be made directly to the Lansing Habitat organization. (Ms. Hamilton-Allen noted that the Lansing organization will be expanding to the entire Capital region in the near future.)
The Lansing Habitat organization has developed its ReStore retail operation to the point where it now supports the operating expenses of the Lansing Habitat for Humanity. This allows 100% of contributions received to go strictly to home construction. In addition, the home mortgages that Habitat offers its program participants are interest free, making the homes more affordable.
Lansing Habitat of Humanity has built or rehabilitated 110 homes for Lansing families since 1987. Recently, the program has been doing more rehabilitations since they can be more cost effective than a new build. The homes provided average 1,100 sq. ft. and are Energy Star rated 5.0, which is very energy efficient. The homes have refrigerators and stoves provided by Whirlpool and blinds throughout donated by Hunter Douglas. Dow Corning donates the insulation. Washers and dryers are also included as is a dishwasher if there is space available.
Participation in the Habitat program requires a significant partnership participation by the family fortunate enough to receive a home. Participants must contribute 200 to 400 hours of “sweat equity” to their home’s construction, to the ReStore outlet or to other approved community service. Participants must also attend homeowner education workshops where they can learn to maintain and repair their homes.
To be eligible for a home, participants must be legally in the United States and must have lived in the area for at least one year. If they misrepresent the information on their application, they are dropped from the program. Participants must have incomes that fall between 40% to 70% of the area’s median income for a family of like size to their own. The must have a credit score over 550 and have no judgements pending against them.
Once a home is complete, Habitat has a right of first refusal for 10 years allowing them to repurchase the home if it is offered for sale. But the best part: once done, the family and Habitat hold a dedication and an open house for all who participated.
Upon completion of her remarks, President Smith noted our traditional donation to our Bio Sand Filter project in Ms. Hamilton-Allen’s honor. She then closed the meeting, advising the Club that for the next month, we will be meeting at the Lansing Center. Next week, the Club will hear from Richard Peffley, Interim General Manager of the Lansing Board of Water & Light.
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Dick Peffley, who joined the BWL in 1976, was named Interim General Manager by the BWL Board of Commissioners in January 2015. Peffley previously served as Interim General Manager in 2006-7. He most recently served as Executive Director of Operations and before that as Executive Director of Water Operations. Peffley's experience at the BWL is extensive, having served in many capacities in the electric and water utilities. Peffley was the project manager for the $182 million REO Cogeneration Plant and Headquarters which came in on time and on budget. He was the project manager for the $23 million repair and refurbishment of the Wise Road Water Conditioning Plant following a chemical accident. Peffley led the Water Department's efforts that distributed a record-breaking 1 billion gallons of water in a single month to customers during the heat wave in July 2013, and repaired a record number of frozen water lines and water main breaks during the 2013/14 winter's deep freeze. He led the BWL's redevelopment effort to sell the former Ottawa Power Station that became headquarters for the Accident Fund. And Peffley was the project manager for the $20 million Chilled Water Plant, which came in on time and on budget, named after his father, BWL retiree Roy E. Peffley.
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