Meet the 2010-2011 YPS Executive Team: Cameron Cavette, Recruitment Chair

1. How did you get involved with YPS? Why did you choose to become a member of YPS? I got involved with YPS through Andrea Genord, my coworker at Boeing. She spoke highly of RTS and I was interested in taking on a new commitment to service with like-minded peers.
2. What is your favorite part about YPS?

I enjoy the service projects and the Rebuilding Day and the comraderie it builds with other YPS members. The work isn't always easy but it's satisfying to make progress on an over-grown yard, for example, and make the homeowner smile and grateful for our help.

3. Why do you support Rebuilding Together Seattle?

I support RTS because the organization is really doing a great service to the community with limited resources. It takes so little in funding and energy to make a difference in homeowner's lives.
4. What are your favorite pastimes?
Travel is #1. I try to get a new stamp or two on my passport every year (last year was a banner year with China, Hong Kong, Chile, and Iceland!). I love going to sporting events but mainly to eat stadium nachos.
5. Where do you work? What do you do for a living?

I work at The Boeing Company - 6 years and still going! I've just taken a new position in Supplier Management Contracts on our new 787 airplane program.

What the RTS Director has to say about Cameron:

"We are pumped to have Cameron on our Executive Team this year! Cameron has always made a great commitment to YPS from day one. Cameron always asks how she can help out with 'behind the scenes' work for Rebuilding Together Seattle, and contributes new ideas for YPS on a regular basis. This year, Cameron's role as YPS Recruitment Chair will be key to the success of the group. One of YPS's top priorities for our third year is expanding and diversifying our group. We're thankful to have Cameron's leadership in this area!"

Meet the 2010-2011 YPS Executive Team: Raymond Loyola, Vice President

Vice President, Raymond Loyola

Hard at work on a rebuilding day!

1. How did you get involved with YPS?

I first found out about RTS via Gonzaga University's Seattle Alumni Association. We've had a yearly service project with RTS for the past few years, and I really enjoyed the work we did. I was interested in continuing to volunteer my time to RTS (more than just the one day a year). When I found out that there was a way to get involved in more than just the one day, I immediately signed up.
Since graduating from college, I hadn't been involved in much community service -- YPS is my way to get involved again.

2. What is your favorite part about YPS?

I think the best part about YPS (which, to be fair, is common to many "young people" service groups) is getting to serve the community while being around other people around my age. It's great to meet new people and also help people at the same time.

3. Why do you support Rebuilding Together Seattle?

I support RTS because it's important to me to help those less fortunate than myself, and RTS allows me to do this in a way I can actually understand and see at the end of the day.
I like seeing the transformation of our clients' houses -- and part of this is kind of "selfish", in a way. My daily work is very intangible - I don't "make" anything, and I typically don't get to see the end result of my efforts. When I volunteer with RTS, I get to see the end results of our efforts. I can tell immediately, in the span of just a few hours, how we're helping people and how their quality of life has improved because of our time and effort. It's just inspring to me, to see the difference RTS can make on a person's life.

4. What are your favorite pastimes?
I enjoy doing so many different things, it's hard to keep track of them all. Between the months of November and March, I'm obsessed with Gonzaga basketball. I love seeing live music - the Showbox is definitely my favorite venue in Seattle. A few other things I enjoy: taking photographs, playing soccer/tennis, cooking, and pretending that the Mariners will win the World Series one day.

5. Where do you work? What do you do for a living?

I'm currently at Boeing, working in Flight Test Engineering. My group helps run ground/flight tests on the new 787 Dreamliner to verify that we're meeting all of our Boeing and FAA requirements, before we start delivering planes to airlines.

What the RTS Director has to say about Ray:

"Ray has been a part of YPS from its beginning in August 2008. Ray has made an excellent commitment to the group, and has shown great leadership in recruiting new members to the team. He served as our Vice President for the last year and offered to continue his term for another year. Ray has a great talent for gathering our members and finding fun things to do in the city. He will do a fantastic job thinking of new ideas for our group socials, meetings, and service days!"

Meet the 2010-2011 YPS Executive Team: Alex Hamling, President

The Rebuilding Together Seattle Young Professionals Society is entering their 3rd year of existence and getting stronger by the day. RTS would like to introduce the new 2010-2011 Executive Team for YPS! First up is our incoming President, Alex Hamling.

1. How did you get involved with YPS?

I joined YPS soon after I moved to Seattle. I was looking for a group of fun, energetic, young professionals that had a heart for giving back to the community and being active volunteers. YPS IS that group. I felt connected to the projects and to the people who belonged to YPS, and I wanted to do my part in helping others.

2. What is your favorite part about YPS?

Seeing the amazing difference that 15-20 YPS members can bring to a home, after devoting an afternoon of helping. I enjoy sharing that energy and enthusiasm with other like-minded people after completing a project.

4. What are your favorite pastimes?

I've always had a passion for travel (both US and international), and I toured around Japan in 2006, London two years after that, and most recently I took a cruise for the first time! If my work allows and the stars aline I'll be in Haiti helping out with disaster relief in about a month. I'm hoping my next vacation (maybe in a year or two) involves Alaska somehow. :-)

5. Where do you work? What do you do for a living?

I moved Seattle to start work as a pediatrician at two hospitals in the area about a year ago. One hospital is in Kirkland and the other is is Everett.

What the RTS Director has to say about Alex:

"Alex has been a phenomenal addition to our group. Alex joined YPS in August of 2009, and instantly brought a new level of enthusiasm, committment, and heart to the group. Alex will be a fantastic President during our 3rd year of YPS. He has a true passion for volunteering and the mission of RTS, and we're all excited to see what he brings to the table!"

Interested in joining YPS? Contact Alex at Hamling@gmail.com and join the YPS Facebook page!

SAVE THE DATE! Oct 1st!

Rebuilding Together Seattle is excited to announce that on Friday, October 1, 2010, we will host our first official Beer & Wine Tasting event at REI (Seattle)! We are thankful for the opportunity to connect with our volunteers and raise funds to benefit our programs.

Information on registration, our invitation, and other event details will be released later this Summer. In the meantime, you can visit our event website or email sihrie@rtseattle.org for more information.

If you or your company is interested in event sponsorship opportunities, please email mthirlby@rtseattle.org.

RTS thanks REI for their donation of the event space, and for their support of our organization.

RTS Veterans Program featured by Seattle PI Blogger

Michael Schindler, the President of Operation Military Family, is also the author of the blog, The Military Wire, on the Seattle PI's website.

Mr. Schindler was nice enough to write an article about our Veterans Program. Read it here.

If you know a veteran in need of home repairs, please send him or her our way! Our application is available on our website. Or you can always give us a call and we can send one out to you! 206-682-1231 or sihrie@rtseattle.org.

RTS Energizer: Rick Jones

 

Rick Jones was nominated by his team, the Magnolia Rotary, as their RTS Energizer for Spring Rebuilding Day 2010.  Although Rick was Project Leader (normally precluded from being an Energizer), we decided to let this one slide.  Rick not only lead the team on SRD 2010, he also took on a project just weeks before Spring Rebuilding Day. This project took place on April 10th and was sponsored by Safeway.  The team built a ramp, painted the entire inside of the house, donated a new stove, and landscaped the entire property, to name just a few!  Check out our previous post to learn more about the Safeway project.  

 

On SRD 2010, Rick lead the Magnolia Rotary team at the Daybreak Star Center.  Both of these projects benefited from Rick's relentless hard work and amazing team leadership skills.

Rick, talking with homeowner, Ola

 

 

RTS kicks off Annual Repair Program with Outdoors for All!

Rebuilding Together Seattle is excited to announce our first Annual Repair Program project: Outdoors For All (OFA). The Annual Repair Program is a new RTS program, made possible by the Adobe Foundation. RTS will partner with Tarragon, LLC for the purchase and installment of 90 feet of fencing that will create a storage area for all of OFA's specialized sporting equipment (bikes, skis, snowboards, etc). The fencing was purchased at a generous discount offered by Matt McCurdy at Quality Fence Builders.

Outdoors For All is a nonprofit whose mission is to enrich the quality of life for children and adults with disabilities through outdoor recreation. It is one of the largest nonprofit organizations providing year round instruction in outdoor recreation for people with physical, developmental, and sensory disabilities. The new storage space it will help OFA keep their equipment organized and give them the ability to store more equipment as their organization grows.

RTS wants to thank Tarragon, The Adobe Foundation, and Quality Fence Builders for making this project possible. RTS looks forward to many more Annual Repair Program projects to come!!

Feature Project of the Week: Assumption Parish and Premiere Builders NW

RTS wants to share an incredible story with all of you:

This year, Assumption Parish (Seattle) and Premiere Builders Northwest took on a project that required volunteers to dedicate their time not only on April 24th, but also for several weekends before to prep for Spring Rebuilding Day. The goal was to improve the living situation of a physically and developmentally disabled mother and daughter in Shoreline.

Shoreline Fire Department had responded to this home on 60 different occasions last year alone. Because the clients' problems included ongoing mental health issues, Shoreline Fire was not sure how to help or improve their situation. Shoreline Fire learned of Rebuilding Together Seattle's efforts and of the volunteers from Assumption Parish and Premiere Builders NW and jumped at the opportunity to help out. On Spring Rebuilding Day 2010, Firefighters and staff from Shoreline Fire Department showed up eager to help with the work needed on the home of this mother and daughter who were in desperate need of help. The resulting improvements were simply astounding. Thank you to all the volunteers involved in this tremendous project!!

 Below is a letter RTS received from the Shoreline Fire Department Chief, Mark Bunje:

May 2, 2010

To: Assumption Catholic Church

And Rebuilding Together Seattle

To the incredible volunteers who gave their time in Shoreline in April:

On behalf of the entire Shoreline Fire Department: Words cannot express our gratitude for your energy, enthusiasm and generosity in helping us solve one of the most challenging human service issues Shoreline Fire has ever encountered.

Your willingness to give your own time and to use your exceptionally varied and unique skills in our community is something we will never forget. You came forward at a time when we were desperate for help – and at a loss to where to find it.

You may not realize how often our emergency responses lead to the discovery of horrible and sad living conditions that we are unable to fix. Our firefighters and paramedics are great when they are needed to save life and property – and they can do it fast! But when faced with chronic, ongoing mental health issues, extreme poverty and desperate living conditions … we are often at a loss.

Because of you, we didn’t have to walk away. We were able to benefit from human kindness, caring and selflessness that astounded us. We are humbled by your actions and will be forever grateful that there are people in our community who are willing to show this level of compassion.

Know that you all have the entire Shoreline Fire Department watching your backs – and hoping that you, too, enjoyed the wonderful fellowship and the incredible leadership of Anne Quiqq during the month of April. We would like to recruit her as our next Battalion Commander!

Sincerely yours,

Mark Bunje

Fire Chief

RTS is so grateful to Ray Meuse of Ray Meuse Photography for taking such great photos at the project site. To see his other work, visit www.raymeusephotography.com. Here are some of his amazing before and after shots:

Featured Project of the Week: Booz Allen Hamilton

RTS congratulates Booz Allen Hamilton for their great work on Spring Rebuilding Day 2010! Volunteers at the Booz Allen Hamilton site assisted Helen and her son, Jeff, in Beacon Hill. Thank you for making Helen and Jeff's home a better place to be!