President’s Message
January 2025
Often when taking over the helm of an organization there is a desire to set a new course for the upcoming year. But, quite honestly, I like the course we’ve been steering. Perhaps it is because I am more a man of detail and less a man of vision. But more likely it is because many others who have come before me and who continue to work beside me are men and women of vision. Our organization is strong and we’ve made good headway toward a number of goals that we have established.
Our decision to do active fundraising has paid off beyond our expectations. The Board stepped out in faith before our most recent fundraising gala to approve the building of homes for five Oconee families and our Gala attendees rewarded us with more than adequate funding to achieve that goal. As I write this, plans have been set for the dedication of the last of five homes in our Walhalla subdivision; we are making good progress on the first four homes in our West Union subdivision; and the foundations for our fifth and sixth homes in that same subdivision are underway. The construction team recently welcomed these five new families and their friends at the construction site as they began to put in their sweat equity hours. If you haven’t seen what we’ve accomplished at that location, I invite you to visit Pointe Place (behind Ingles) in West Union to see our progress. But a word of caution…. we may just put a hammer in your hand and put you to work.
Most of the goals that the board set for our strategic plan in 2023 have been met and new goals recently established. While I’m sorry to see many of my friends step away from the board as their terms expire, we are blessed to have talented people step into their shoes. Likewise, that has been the case for the ReStore and the construction team as well.
But while our finances are strong and I feel encouraged by the influx of new volunteers, I am aware that for the Board and its committee chairs, there are term limits and those talented and hardworking friends of ours will need successors.
Some time ago, I read that historians believe that the Constitutional drafters never envisioned someone actively seeking the job as president of the United States. They believed that the candidates would have to be drafted by their political parties; encouraged and enticed into running; convinced of their obligation to put duty to their country before personal aspirations.
History has written a different story with respect to our presidential elections, but not so for not-for-profit organizations. We must continue to draft our volunteers. We cannot wait idly by, in hopes that the right volunteer, the man of vision, the woman of action, or the man of detail, will step onto our deck looking for a job. We must seek out those men and women. Not just we the board, but we the members.
So, I offer you this charge…be on the lookout. Keep your eyes and ears peeled for that worker cum leader that will enhance and strengthen OCHFH and encourage them to take a more active role in our organization. Who knows, you may even see that person in your mirror tomorrow morning.