Meet the Presidents: Board of Directors

Val Gorder

Val has been on the Rebuilding Together Seattle's Board of Directors since 2006. She first learned of Rebuilding Together Seattle when an acquaintance asked her to visit a project worksite on Spring Rebuilding Day to see what RTS was all about. Val ended up making several runs to Home Depot for the project and after a day of watching RTS in action, she was hooked. Val was elected as President of the Board of Directors in 2009.

Val chose to get involved with RTS because it was a good match for her: “I really wanted to help out those in need in the community that I had recently moved to,” she said. “Plus, I really liked how hands-on RTS is. I enjoy being very involved and actually doing a lot of the work at the sites along with the regular board duties."

Val is so proud of the mix of people that make up the members of the Board of Directors including all the knowledge that they bring and respect that they have for each other. She enjoys being President of such an amazing group of people.

Val loves getting to meet the homeowners, going on previews and being aware of what is going on in her local community:  "You can always read about what is happening in your community, but it is a whole different perspective to actually see the real issues right before you," Val expalined. “It is that firsthand knowledge and the passion of the volunteers, the other Board of Director members, and RTS staff that gets me energized.”

Witnessing the accomplishment at the end of a day of volunteering with RTS is a big driving force in Val's commitment to RTS.  "A person can work for years and years on something and not get out from under and we can make that difference in one day.  We can help them get to the next step, and get them out of that feeling of being overwhelmed with a project," Val explained.  "A lot of hands is what can make the difference."