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Church Relations:
As of November, 2003, this committee does not have
a chairperson. Its duties have been distributed among the
Volunteer, Public Relations,
and Family Support Committees. Those responsibiliies are: recruiting
and activating local churches and getting them to help us
by sending
volunteers to the worksite, providing lunches, conducting fundraisers,
identifying possible partner families, and planning the house
dedications
when a project is completed (helping the family develop the ceremony
and prayer service, securing gifts, and coordinating refreshments).
This involves a LOT of written and verbal contact with churches,
onsite visits (guest-speaking at services), plenty of following-up
and thanking, and generally major people-skills. Computer
literacy
is a must. We’re hoping to find a person of the cloth to chair
this, but would consider a knowledgeable layperson.
Building
(aka Construction):
Responsible for timely and cost-effective completion of the house.
Committee identifies lowest-cost vendors, gift sources, and other
means of acquiring materials at low or no cost. Committee also plans
out work days, brings in appropriately-skilled volunteers as needed,
orients and trains volunteers and, bottom line, gets the house built.
Construction experience, either hands-on or administrative, is a
plus! We are currently in need of a building coordinator - it's
rewarding work!
Executive:
Membership restricted to affiliate officers (president, vice-president,
secretary, treasurer, assistant treasurer), plus up to three at-large
members who can be appointed by the president. Committee develops
and revises affiliate policies, considers requests from individuals
and committees for projects and nonbudgeted expenditures, and trouble-shoots
for committees as needed. This committee meets once per quarter,
with group email as preferred method of correspondence in between.
Family Selection:
Committee accepts and reviews applications from
prospective partner families, conducts credit checks, home
visits and interviews
as part of the acceptance process. All applicant information is
kept confidential. Committee presents acceptable families
who meet
HFHOC criteria to Board for approval. Board is not aware of family’s
identity until after the vote is completed.
Family Support:
Committee works with selected families throughout the homebuilding
process, and for at least one year beyond closing.. Helps families
recognize difference between renting and ownership, especially understanding
the responsibilities of homeownership. Answers questions regarding
building process, community resources, etc. Offers assistance in
budgeting and other skills as needed. Monitors families for compliance
with sweat-equity requirements (250 hours for single adult head
of household, 500 for two adults). Assigns a sponsor to each family,
and family uses sponsor as initial contact when any questions or
problems occur. Sponsor is supervised by Family Support chair. Assists
in planning and organizing house dedications. |
Finance:
Committee develops annual operating budget, prepares and submits
forms required by state and Federal governments in accordance with
our not-for-profit status, makes sure our books are reviewed annually
(an informal audit) by an independent accountant to ensure accuracy
and compliance.
Fund
Raising:
Committee continually works to add funds to our budget, through grant applications,
fund-raising events,
and mailers sent out requesting donations. The committee keeps track of donations,
follows-up with thank you notes, and reports its progress to the board.
Governance:
Through our Habitat's affiliate monthly Board meetings and Exective Board considerations
and directives, the affiliate works to advance and grow, while continuing
to work within the guidelines the National Habitat for Humanity sets
out for us.
Nominations:
Committee identifies and recruits new members for the Board, and
is charged with preparing a full slate of officer nominees for our
annual elections. A good committee assignment for someone whose
job puts him or her in contact with a wide range of people.
Publicity/Public
Relations:
Committee is responsible for regular publication of our affiliate
newsletter. Also notifies public and promotes all HFHOC activities,
including the building process, fundraising drives, volunteer and
partner family recruitment efforts, visits for out-of-area volunteers,
house dedication ceremonies, etc. Develops audio-visual aids to
assist in group presentations.
Site
Procurement and Development:
Committee identifies and purchases (or accepts donations of) land.
Once land is procured, committee assesses for use: water/sewer/electrical
needs, accessibility from main road, what is needed to be in compliance
with local ordinances, and time and effort that will be involved
in preparing the land for building. Sometimes committee decides
that site is not suitable for HFHOC’s purposes; in these cases,
committee arranges for us to sell it. Helps to have real estate
development experience, although most of our people picked it up
on-the-job. Willingness to learn is definitely a plus!
Volunteer:
Committee recruits volunteers and screens for areas of interest
and expertise. Maintains database sorted by name and interests.
Provides listings of appropriate volunteers to committee chairs.
Volunteer has also been arranging with churches to provide worksite
lunches. They also plan volunteer recognition events, and ways to
help prospective volunteers gain an understanding of Habtat, and
skills necessary to work on committees and cons\rttuction.
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