Oakville, Iowa VIM

From October 11 - 16, 2009 there were 37 VIM volunteers in Oakville, Iowa for the fall 2009 VIM trip. This was for flood repair resulting in 2008. This community of 400 was devastated and only around 200 are back in their homes so far.
The workers made a significant contribution to the repairs in progress and it appears that there is much to be done yet. The community hosted a noon meal for anyone in town every day and what a treat that was to be fed and fellowship with the community. A return trip is likely and any help from the public is greatly appreciated. The recovery is a cooperative effort of the churches in the area mainly the host UM Church and the Apostolic Church in partnership with the national agency of that church.
The trip specifics are as follows - money contributions $3442.38; donated labor - 1173 hours for $18,181.50 value; expenses $2877.62.
This was a very rewarding VIM trip as much work was done and much personal growth and community fellowship was felt by the group. There were many repeat work campers in attendance. Pictures will follow - deep checking.

UM Church Camp Lucerne

October 4-9, 2009
Our VIM trip to Lucerne began with Sunday supper assembled by volunteers at the Ridgewood Retreat Center. After the meal we discussed the work to be done during the week, prioritizing and assigning it as we got to know the skills and interests of the volunteers.
Some of the work completed during our week included; power washing and staining the shower house, moving bunks and boats to shelter, cleaning and closing cabins, cutting dead trees near power lines and buildings and making/hauling fire wood. The Goldfinch cabin received upgraded windows, doors, wiring and insulation. Part of the interior paneling was completed at Goldfinch and Whippoorwill cabins. The landscaping around the Giese dining hall was ridded of invasive species, seeded and mulched. A basketball back board was scraped and repainted. One of 3 garage doors in the shop was closed in and another door replaced. Friday branches and brush trimmed along the roads were chipped.
We had only one rainy day and found plenty to do every day as we practice our flexibility. Our group took joy from our beautiful surroundings and good fellowship and felt fulfilled at completing nearly all the tasks set for us.

Bishop VIM goes to UMCSTLP - Milwaukee

On July 6 - 10, 2009 the Wisconsin Conference Bishop Lee went to United Methodist Children's Services and Transitional Living Program in Milwaukee for a VIM work camp with the extended cabinet. This was led by Jeff Cupery and included 16 adults for 3 days of assistance at the facility. There were many varied tasks done and the agency is now more on the minds of those at the conference office. While housed at Kenwood UMC the group had devotions twice a day and for this group of pastors that proved to be eventful.
The summary of the trip is as follows - Money contributions to the hosts $1085; donated labor
$5950.; trip expenses $390.
Next summer the Bishops extended cabinet VIM trip is planned to the Bad River Reservation at Odanah which is near Ashland, Wisconsin. That will be September 20 - 27, 2010.

U M Children's Services and Transitional Living Program 2009

UNITED METHODIST CHILDREN’S SERVICES AND TRANSITIONAL LIVING PROGRAM

VIM – AUGUST 10 – 14, 2009

Registrations - $1525.00

Expenses –
Community United Methodist Church - $100.00

Groceries - $360.00 (low figure thanks to the 3 meals served to us by the church members without charge)

Materials purchased – screws, lumber, misc. - $65.00

Donation to UMCSTLP - $1000.00 + $1100.00 = $2100.00 (see below)

There was also a donation of $1100.00 given to UMCSTLP from left over registration funds from the Red Cliff Reservation VIM work camp in June along with this above donation. That total donation was $2100.00 and they were very happy as their financial demands are huge.

Hours of volunteer labor during the 5 work days = 478.

Value of donated labor calculated at $15.50/hour = $7409.00

Thanks to everyone for their part in this successful VIM trip.

Bruce Koch

Cedar Rapids VIM 2008

FLOOD RECOVERY in IOWA 2008


In November 2008 twenty-two volunteers from Wisconsin VIM went to the Cedar Rapids , Iowa area to help with FLOOD RECOVERY.

That area of Iowa had a huge flood in June 2008. Our trip to New Orleans was re-routed to Iowa due to its closeness to Wisconsin and high fuel prices to travel to New Orleans . We slept in the United Methodist Church in Marion , Iowa . We cooked our own breakfast and supper at the church. We had lunch on the worksite every day. We went a few blocks away to shower each night at a local middle school. The weather was unseasonally warm as we began our week’s work. On Friday we were working in snow showers.



We all worked on finishing projects at one home in Palo , Iowa , for two days. Projects were replacing OSB walls in the garage, replacing drywall in the lower level of the home, changing two overhead garage doors into a wall with four windows, adding insulation, replacing wiring, mudding the drywall, and hanging a sink.

Part of our crew moved on Wednesday to a home about six blocks away to begin insulation replacement, fixing joists, and drywall installation.



A few other crew members moved into Cedar Rapids to do some finishing work left by crews of the week before.



By the end of the week we had done many things. Each day we were tired. Each night we had supper and devotions together.



Another trip is planned for October 11-16, 2009, to Cedar Rapids , Iowa .

Red Cliff Reservation Summer 2009

The VIM work camp trip to the Red Cliff Reservation near Bayfield , Wisconsin was another good one. We have been to the Reservation about 8 years now and have made some great friends both in the group of work camp attendees and at the reservation homes at which we have worked.

Because of the donation of love and labor to the Red Cliff Reservation residents by the VIM work campers during this week during the dates June 22-26, 2009.

The resources of the group allowed the following programs to be given assistance financially - the early childhood program, fund for repair and remodeling residences, fund for language preservation, fund for elderly outings, and a donation toward the ice rink to be built.

There was about $12300. worht of donated labor during the week as listed below.

Donald Basina new steps, a railing on his porch, a stone walkway to his parking area so he does not have to slide down in the slippery dirt. He has mobility problems so he is happy to have his new grab rails in the bathroom.

Martin Gordon has a garage door entry door that closes properly.

Betty and Bruce Johnson have clean walls and a coat of fresh paint in their mobile home.

Annie Defoe has a rear door that will close and lock hopefully keeping the bear out and her safe from intruders. Plus her steps to get in are stable now.

Amanda Peterson has a long ramp so her step grandfather – Roger Basina can get into the house with his electric wheel chair. He is now going to live with Amanda and her children.

Vicki and Harold Leaske have a new kitchen window.

Leo LaFernier and his wife have rain gutters and downspouts that don’t leak and drop on the sidewalk in the winter (hopefully!).

Teresa LaFernier who was having surgery when we were there has new ramp to get into her house with out a real hassle.

Bob Chelberg, a nice tribal elder who has major health issues was the recipient of an entire weeks work by several workers and now has a new overhang above his front entrance so it will not be slippery, new gable ends on his home, new paint or stain on the siding of his home and shed next to his house.

Earl Gordon has a house with finished siding on the gable ends after several years of not being completed.

Ben Gordon has had his deck and porch repaired and given a fresh coat of stain.

Joyce Livingston has a ramp lowered so she can get up and down it now. It was too steep before. Plus, she has a much less drafty porch enclosure due to the crack closing and leak proofing done. While there the workers repaired her front porch.

Veronica (Babe) Newago now has ramp that isn’t unsafe and has no step in it.

In addition to that a group installed grab bars in 11 homes on the reservation.

That adds up to one whole lot of work. Thanks to each and everyone who helped by coming and giving of your time. During this week you were truly God’s willing servants.

Well this will be a regularly or irregularly changing site as the VIM trips are conducted the participants will post their memories, photos or information from them for all to see and enjoy.

Remember to register so you can be alerted about any additions or postings on the site.

Let the age of electronics work for you.

Lets keep in touch.

In His Service - Bruce Koch

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