Volunteers and supporters of Habitat for Humanity Sunshine Coast put down their hammers and reflected on the year's success at their annual general meeting Tuesday night in Davis Bay.
2007 was a busy and productive year for the local Habitat chapter, which has been going strong on the Coast the past four years. Highlights of 2007 included: 12 board meetings and the AGM were held; 57 active members as well as countless other volunteers offered support; the ReStore opened in July in Wilson Creek; Habitat won its third straight $60,000 Alcan award for recycling; the first Habitat home was completed in Gibsons; work was started on a duplex on Reef Road in Sechelt; and Habitat initiated the purchase of two lots in Wilson Creek to build the seven duplex, 14-home Sunshine Coast Village.Land clearing has started on the Wilson Creek project and Habitat is currently working with the District of Sechelt towards fourth and final reading on its rezoning application.
On July 12, Habitat will host a one-year anniversary celebration at the ReStore and an open house at the Wilson Creek site to allow the public to see the progress so far.
"2007 has been an exciting year and 2008 promises to be even more so, as we take on the challenge of building (and funding) the new Sunshine Coast Village project, while identifying, selecting and mentoring the new families for those homes," said board chair Charlie Russel in his report.
"The ongoing efforts of our volunteers are the heart and soul of Habitat. Whether it's recycling cans, staffing the ReStore, helping on our committees or working on our homes, it's the volunteers who make it all possible. And we continue to need you more than ever as we move forward to build Sunshine Coast Village."
The new board was elected Tuesday and is a mix of new and old.
New members elected to a three-year term on the board are Karen Chalmers, Nanette Walker, Bonnie Helsdon, Richard Barry and Susan Brinton. Three members stood up for re-election; they included Monika Schittek, Kenan MacKenzie and Barry Smith. There are eight current standing directors, six with one-year remaining on the board: Ron Pepper, Helga Schmidt, Greg Welstead, Bobbie Smith, Laima van Turnhout and Gwen Hawkins, while Charlie Russel and Cassandra Gierden have two years remaining on their terms.
Committee chair positions for the new board will be determined at a board meeting later this week.
To find out more about Habitat and how to get involved, check out www.habitatsc.ca.
