FMCA Chapter: Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity Greater Ocala, Inc. Ocala, FL
February 11 – February 22, 2002

BUILD REPORT

Submitted by Team Leaders
Bill & Rosemary McLaughlin
March 4, 2002

Thirty-three volunteers from the FMCA Chapter: Habitat for Humanity participated in a build, under the direction of the Habitat for Humanity of Greater Ocala, Inc., Ocala. FL, for a two-week period, from February 11 - February 22, 2002.

The seventeen coaches parked at The Oak Tree Village Campground, about five (5) miles from the job site, Providence North. The campground discounted their regular rate by 10 % or $13.86 per day for twelve (12) days. In addition they gave the last night, Friday, February 22, at no charge. We had electricity and water at our sites with a dump station.

Sunday evening, February 10, 2002, a team orientation meeting at the campground recreation center was followed by a welcome dinner provided by the affiliate and Olive Garden Restaurant. Executive Director, Walter Hendrix, Volunteer Coordinator Rhonda Wray and her husband Ron, and board members Bob Murray, Fred Jackson and their wives attended. Walter, Rhonda, and Bob became daily visitors to the build site during our stay lending enthusiastic support to our efforts, water and ice, and Bob’s home made cookies.

Our group requested and was granted the option to extend the workday from Ocala’s traditional 8:00 to 2:00 to 8:00 to 3:30/4:00.

Each workday started with meaningful devotions provided by different team members.

Monday morning we began work on a slab, #57. Our primary mission, under the direction of affiliate construction supervisor Bob Whitney was to bring this house along as far as possible during our two-week stay.

The affiliate had been told this was a group of experienced Habitat builders and the affiliate had said there were plenty of work options. It quickly became apparent that it would take more than one house to keep this group actively engaged, working in revolving, interchangeable teams.

At the end of the two weeks, lot 57 was up, shingled and sided, with windows and doors in. Two other houses were framed, with interior walls erected, both were sheeted, and one was wrapped. Team members also dried in another house with roof sheeting and paper, added a porch to ready a house for roof trusses, worked with local volunteers on siding another house.

Altogether, six of the houses in the twelve-lot subdivision were worked on by FMCA Chapter volunteers. This was a talented large group where individuals quickly demonstrated the ability to find a comfortable and meaningful niche. Also demonstrated was the ability to cooperate. Early in the build a “local” was amazed that the group had just come together and had not all worked together before.

This group lived by the axiom that all work and no play makes for a dull day. Almost daily social hours after work with snack favorites, a soup supper by Polly Paterek, a pulled pork and baked bean dinner by Polly and Connie Pool, a pot luck dinner with pork grilled by Larry and Jean Storeholder, and a dinner at First United Methodist Church gave opportunities for social interaction. Cakes helped us honor three birthdays and an anniversary.

Two lunches were provided by church groups, one by Kentucky Fried Chicken, and one by Tommy’s barbeque. Break snacks and other lunches were prepared by team volunteers in the McLaughlin’s on-site motor coach.

Bev and Bill Cahill had to leave after one week because of family illness. Because two team members needed to leave by the last Friday noon, hammers, saws, or house pins were given by the FMCA Chapter to team members at the social hour on Thursday. A mini auction added funds to the chapter house fund.

On Friday evening, the Ocala affiliate treated the group to a farewell dinner at the Golden Corral. Three members of a partner family assigned to the last house the group worked on attended the dinner, along with staff and board members. The affiliate thanked us, and reaffirmed their strong desire, expressed during the two weeks, that FMCA chapter return next year. Bill McLaughlin responded, and thanked Ocala for their cooperation and support. If FMCA Chapter decides to return to Ocala following the Brooksville rally in 2003, assistant team leaders Ken and Dottie Shipe have expressed willingness to lead the build.

Being team leaders has been a rewarding experience because of the quality and cooperation of the build team. For any build volunteers thinking of taking a turn, the McLaughlins say, “Go for It.” Information from build coordinator, Linda Walden, and shared information from other leaders makes the job easier.

Sincerely,

Bill & Rosemary McLauglin

Bill & Rosemary McLaughlin
F M C A Chapter Habitat for Humanity

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