SAVE THE DATE for the Beer and Wine Tasting 2013!

Remember to save the date for this year's Beer and Wine Tasting at the new MOHAI on Friday, October 4th!  To learn about sponsorship opportunities, how to donate to our auction, request an invitation, or sign up to volunteer, please email Paige Schultz at pschultz@rtseattle.org.  Cheers!

RTS thanks Jeni Goeke for serving as our first AmeriCorps Member!

 

Jeni (R) at The Home Depot Veterans Rebuilding Day (June 13, 2013)

Today, Jeni Goeke, Rebuilding Together Seattle's first AmeriCorps Member, will complete her last day of service at our organization.  Jeni was welcome to RTS in August, and spent the past 10 months completing key rebuilding days, conducting veterans outreach work, and managing the RTS Youth Program.  Jeni did an outstanding job with her role, and enabled RTS to help over 90 families this year, compared to 63 families the previous year. 

 Jeni (L) working away at an AmeriCorps service project!

What RTS has to say about Jeni:

"Jeni has accomplished a lot this past year.  Her greatest accomplishments include restructuring the Youth Program, managing 16 of our 26 homes for National Rebuilding Day, and strengthening our Veterans program. For Jeni’s service project, she revamped the Youth Program so that the structure is more realistic and sustainable moving forward. Over 550 hours of service were logged by our Youth Program volunteers this year. As for NRD, Jeni took on the huge task of managing 16 home repair projects while working with approximately 30 Project Leaders from the various sponsoring organizations.  This required a tremendous amount of organization and attention to detail in order to carry out successful projects.  Jeni also took it upon herself to strengthen our Veterans program.  She conducted outreach throughout the year with veteran organizations which has lead to greater visibility and notoriety for RTS in the veteran service provider community.  During outreach meetings, Jeni asked strategic questions about veteran culture to learn how we can better reach and communicate with veterans in need of our services.  She was also a part of the decision to change (increase) our income requirements for veterans and their families with the hope that we will be able to serve more veterans every year.   

Other successes include Jeni’s involvement with the creation of a post-project survey for clients, a restructuring of our site preview process, and the creation of a RTS AmeriCorps packet that can be passed on and revised to help train our new members each year.  Jeni was a highly efficient member of our team who was very skilled at managing multiple projects simultaneously and ensuring that her work was complete.  She was always willing to roll up her sleeves and help her colleagues when needed. We will miss these great assets that she brought to our team!" 

-Claire Oatey, AmeriCorps Site Supervisor (former Program Associate)

What was your favorite thing about serving as an AmeriCorps Member for Rebuilding Together (CapacityCorps)? 

Serving as an AmeriCorps Member with Rebuilding Together National was a very special experience. To know that I have fellow service members all over the country was very motivating. I have made valuable relationships with my fellow CapacityCorps members and it’s nice to know that I will have friends almost anywhere I go.

What I love about Rebuilding Together is the meeting of two people that, in any other context, might never meet. Through Rebuilding Together, not only do they get to meet, but usually they both impact each other’s lives in ways that they never saw coming, and I just think that’s amazing.

 

Jeni (C) with RTS Youth Program members

What Jeni has to say about RTS:

What was your favorite memory during your time at Rebuilding Together Seattle?

It’s hard to pick just one favorite memory from my time at RTS but one of them was Spring Rebuilding Day (April 27th).  I was only able to visit about 7 or 8 of the 28 projects that were taking place and I was amazed by all the volunteers I saw working, and working happily! I remember stepping back and realizing that the volunteers I saw were just a small portion of the people that were selflessly serving that day. I still feel humbled by the number of volunteers all over the city of Seattle that were willing to dedicate their free day to helping someone else. Whenever I think back to that feeling, I can’t help but smile.

What did you like the most about working at RTS?  What will you miss the most?

The RTS community (Staff, Board, Donors, Volunteers, etc.) is one of the best ones I’ve ever had the privilege of stepping into. I have felt welcomed, supported and valued since my 1^st hour of service to my 1700^th hour, and I know it won’t stop here. Everyone in the RTS community is deeply passionate about what they do and why they do it. They are a family that works together, mourns together and laughs together and it has been my honor to be a part of it for this short time. I will miss you all much more than you know.

Where are you headed next?  What plans are in your horizon, and what are your hopes for your future career endeavors? 

My next chapter in life calls me back to my home state of Minnesota where I will be marrying my amazing fiancé, Nathan, in just 3 short months. At this point, I don’t have a job lined up but I am hoping to work in a church or ministry near Minneapolis/St. Paul. Wherever my career path takes me, I feel like Rebuilding Together Seattle was the perfect spring board to launch me towards my dreams with new confidence and skills.

 

Jeni (C) with the RTS Young Professionals Society (YPS)

Congratulations, Jeni!  Thank you for all your contributions to RTS.  We wish you the best of luck on your future endeavors!

THANK YOU TO OUR AMERICORPS SPONSOR!
RTS sends a big thanks to Mary and Tom Herche for serving as the Sponsor of our first AmeriCorps Member this year.  To learn how you can increase the program capacity of Rebuilding Together Seattle by sponsoring an AmeriCorps member, please email mthirlby@rtseattle.org.

RTS Energizer: All 15 volunteers, Wells Fargo Rebuilding Day

On Saturday, June 8th, 15 volunteers helped disabled homeowner, Marilynn, with critical repairs at her home. Originally, there were supposed to be around 30 volunteers to do the work that day but only 15 were able to make it in the end.  Despite this, the volunteers were determined to uphold their commitment to Marilynn so they worked twice as hard to get the all of the work scope items done in time.  As a result, the Project Leaders want to recognize the entire team as the RTS Energizer!

About the Wells Fargo volunteers:

"The leaders said the entire team because with the guidance of Richard, Morgan and Andrea they accomplished a job that should have been for 35-40 people with 15. So they are all energizer bunnies for working together and seeing it through to the finish." (written by Volunteer Coordinator, Kristi Bruketta).

Team Depot volunteers are 'Doing More for Veterans'

Yesterday, volunteers from The Home Depot repaired the home of veteran, Antonio, and his family. Antonio is a Vietnam veteran who served in the Army from 1966-1969. After returning from his service, he started working to help other veterans get education and housing through the community college. The volunteers renovated the kitchen, repaired and stained the deck, cleaned the siding and built new stairs. Antonio was in awe of all the help that the volunteers gave him and he can't say thank you enough! 

Monty (Antonio's son), Joe (Project Leader), Antonio (Homeowner), Jeni (RTS AmeriCorps member)

Way to go, Team Depot!

RTS thanks Claire Oatey for two years of service to our organization

This Friday, our Program Associate, Claire Oatey, will depart from Rebuilding Together Seattle after working at RTS for two years.  Claire joined RTS in June 2011 after graduating from Whitman College.  After completing an internship with RTS for four months, Claire became a Program Assistant, and then served as the Interim Director of Programs for three months.  Claire then became a Program Associate, coordinating outreach efforts and key rebuilding days for major sponsors. 

What RTS has to say about Claire:

"Claire has been an instrumental member of our team from day one.  Claire is beyond talented and a treat to work with.  Claire always has a good attitude, looks for ways to improve her work, and is willing to roll up her sleeves and do whatever it takes to better RTS.  Claire is known as the 'steady calm' of our office, working through challenges with grace, patience, humility, and professionalism. 

Claire has a big passion for working with our clients and better understanding their needs, which has kept us grounded as we navigate through our programs.  This year, Claire played a key role in developing a comprehensive client survey that will enable us to critically evaluate the effectiveness of our programs, and better serve our community.  In short, Claire will be sincerely missed by our Staff, Board, and the entire RTS community.  We truly wish her the best of luck on her future endeavors and (of course) hope she'll return back to RTS one day!" -Margie Thirlby, Executive Director

What Claire has to say about RTS:


"Although I am excited for my upcoming travel adventures and the next chapter in my life, it will be incredibly sad to leave this organization.  It amazes me to think back to my first day at RTS two years ago, without a clue that my summer internship would eventually lead to such a meaningful and significant milestone in my career and life.  There are so many aspects of RTS that I will miss but at the top of my list, without a doubt, is witnessing transformations.  I am a sucker for those shocking before and after photos—the kitchen upgrades, the bathroom overhaul, the fresh coat of paint.  More powerful than any of that, however, is witnessing the total transformation of a person’s spirit.  I love noticing when a homeowner stands a little straighter, breathes a bit easier, and smiles more freely.  

It will also be nearly impossible to say goodbye to the RTS community.  It’s a special one—as anyone knows who has been a part of it as an employee, volunteer, Board member, or donor. I will be hard pressed to find better colleagues than Margie, Caleb, Jeni, or Paige!  There is never a dull moment at the RTS office with this team (and not just because we have office dogs).  The goodbyes will be made a little easier knowing that RTS will always be a part of my life. I can’t wait for Rebuilding Together Seattle to become a household name in our community and I look forward to continuing to tell the RTS story until that day comes."

Thank you, Claire, for all of your service to RTS.  We wish you the best of luck on your journey ahead and will always cheer you on as you continue to make the world a better place!

HomeStreet Bank volunteers in action!

 

Today volunteers from HomeStreet Bank and Trade Craft Builders are busy restoring the home of Virginia, an 89 year old disabled homeowner and widow of a WWII veteran living in White Center.  Volunteers are repairing and painting her deck, removing carpeting, completing yard work, and more!

Stay tuned for more updates!  Thank you HomeStreet Bank for sponsoring this special event! Thank you, Trent and Tradecraft Builders for managing our project - we couldn't do it without you.