FMCA Chapter: Habitat for Humanity
Cass County MI Habitat for Humanity Affiliate
May 26 through June 6, 2003

BUILD REPORT
Submitted by John &Carol Lee, Team Leaders

Our seven coach team for 2003 consisted of John & Carol Lee, team leaders homeless with a South Dakota mailbox; Jack & Gail Dolan hailing originally from Massachusetts ; David & Nancy Jo Fridline homeless with a Texas mailbox; John & Carell Harder from Ontario, Canada; Gordon & Fay Hertz from California/Minnesota; Don & Marilyn McBain from Ontario, Canada; Dave & Sue Salter from Sherman, Texas.

By Monday afternoon May 26th our team assembled at the United Methodist Church in Dowagiac, MI, except for one. David and Nancy Jo Fridline were broke down East of Elkhart IN. We grilled hamburgers and had potluck. The Fridlines arrived around 7 pm. They located the local motel which by mentioning they were in town for Habitat for Humanity gave them a suite complete with hot tub at a greatly reduced rate.

After morning devotions, we split into 2 crews with the Hertzs, Fridlines, &Dolans working on building a garage complete from the slab up in Cassopolis, MI about 7 miles to the southeast of Dowagiac. The other 4 couples were to build a garage, a storage shed, and complete a second storage shed in Dowagiac, MI. The garages and sheds were very nice looking and sturdy structures, complete with shingles and vinyl siding, soffit, etc.

May 27th Tuesday, we met the local affiliate board members for dinner at Methodist Church dining hall. It was a fruitful meeting as one of our team, John Harder (who was sitting with a board member that owned the local lumber yard) was able to get scaffolding for our teams to use on the jobs. This made are jobs easier and safer. Last year it had not been available. We really appreciated the board providing the scaffolding.

By Wednesday David Fridline was able to retrieve his motor home, which had suffered some from the towing experience. By Friday of the first week the garages at both sites were coming along well having most of the shingles and some siding done. The shed at Dowagiac was also 75% done. Friday we celebrated Carell Harder’s birthday at Lindy’s on the Lake (a rather nice dining experience with a view).

Over the weekend some of the team took advantage of the city of Dowagiac’s sanitation facility which we were allowed to use to empty our black/ gray tanks. We were able to ultilize the water tap from the church to maintain our fresh water.

Sunday as a group we attended services at the United Methodist Church. The pastor introduced all individually and as the FMCA Habitat for Humanity members who were parked outside their church. We enjoyed their choir and organ accompaniment.

Tuesday of the second week the ladies scheduled a day trip to Shipshewana, IN for a “flea market” thing. Not to be left out (actually, we were rained out that day anyway), the men had to tag along. Everyone had an enjoyable day, even with the damp day. Wednesday found us all hard at work with much accomplished. Wednesday evening, the Lion’s club hosted our group and the local girl’s softball team. They treated us to hamburgers, chicken, etc. They extended an invitation to return again. Thursday the Harders had to leave.

Friday found us putting the finishing touches on the garages, garage door openers, and completing the second shed in Dowagiac that had been previously started. We had considerable work on it: finishing the siding, soffit, shingles, hang the doors, etc. Dave Salter’s pickup came in handy, transporting the scaffolding from site to site and returning it to the Lumber Yard. That evening, after distributing what was left from the ample lunches the churches and other organizations provided, we had our business meeting and final meal at Zeke’s Restaurant in historic downtown Dowagiac. We hosted the affiliate president, Ned Sutherland and his wife Lou and distributed build pins. Ned invited us back in 2004, same time, same place.

Once again the affiliate provided most of our requirements. We had excess funds from our build fund. It was decided to divide the fund equally between the United Methodist Church and our Chapter Build fund. Ned Sutherland was given a check for the church in the amount of $114. David Fridline our chapter treasurer was given a check for $114.09. We worked a total of 716 hours for the Cass County Affiliate, accomplishing the work that was scheduled, had a good time with great fellowship in slightly less than two weeks of rather damp weather.

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