| Loaves and Fishes |
Vol. 39, May 2009 |
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| Camp CO 2009 Is Here! |
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The conference kicks off Wednesday, May 6, with the second annual Executive Director's Retreat, and for the first time, the State Support Organization meeting, both sponsored by TrueSense Marketing.
Here is a preview of what to look forward to this week at Camp Colorado...
- Networking with 230 participants from 30 affiliates and 11 state support organizations - Mingling with Sponsor Organizations - CHFA, TrueSense Marketing, Wells Fargo, Energy Outreach Colorado, FHLB Topeka and Moye White
- Visiting with 17 exhibitors
- 22 workshop session facilitated by more than 40 presenters,
Camp Fire, Award Dinner, Homecoming Dance, and Closing Celebration!
- Presentation from HFH of Paraguay
 - Keynote from Jonathan Reckford, HFHI CEO
- Beautiful location in Estes Park
- Simply said - an overall great time! See you at Camp!
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| Support Habitat with Everyday Purchases |
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| Federal Mortgage Licensing Requirements |
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About a month ago, HFHC sent out an alert about the SAFE act, federal legislation requiring all mortgage lenders to become licensed. States had the opportunity to pass legislation by July of 2009; in Colorado that took the form of House Bill 1085. While Habitat supports licensing, HFHC felt this requirement was too heavy a burden for nonprofits providing homeownership opportunities to low income families.
HFHC worked with the Colorado Mortgage Lenders Association and the Colorado Division of Real Estate to ensure that affiliates and/or employees of Habitat would not be required to become licensed mortgage lenders. The sponsors of the bill assured us requiring Habitat to be licensed was not the intention of the bill; the Division of Real Estate echoed those sentiments. This issue will be dealt with through regulations, and HFHC will continue to work with the Division of Real Estate to ensure that nonprofit housing providers are specifically exempted. In addition, Habitat for Humanity International has been working with the federal regulatory agency for mortgage licensing to provide national-level exemptions in addition to our Colorado provisions.
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| Your Next Vacation Can Help Build Hope |
By DiAnn Butler
 Destinations West, a leading Winter Park vacation lodging company, is teaming up with Habitat For Humanity to help you build hope for others while enjoying fantastic vacation fun. With their new Vacation For Habitat campaign, Destinations West is offering every Habitat For Humanity vacationer an automatic 10% discount on vacation lodging AND an additional 10% discount that goes directly to the Habitat For Humanity 1,000 Home Campaign.
A turnkey promotional kit makes your fund raising fun and easy. The Vacation For Habitat program is easy to roll out with a dedicated website, promotional rack cards, text and graphics for newsletters (printed and email), a sweepstakes and graphic and text banners for your website. All this makes it a snap to add this great program to your fund-raising arsenal. Visit http://www.vacationforhabitat.com once the website is up and running in about two weeks to book your vacation! For more information about the program, contact DiAnn Butler at dbutler@mtnlodging.com or Stefka Fanchi at stefka@habitatcolorado.org. |
| Grants Management Corner for Affiliates |
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Habitat Homeowners Eligible for up to $8,000 First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit
Habitat homeowners who close on their home between January 1, 2009, and December 1, 2009, can claim the federal first-time homebuyer tax credit next year on their 2009 return. Congress included the credit as part of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 and increased the amount to $8,000 in the stimulus legislation passed this year. Habitat Colorado would like to know how affiliates are already messaging this tax credit to families. Please send the ideas you have been telling your families to ryan@habitatcolorado.org. Next month we will report the most innovative ideas to you in our e-Newsletter. Visit http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=204671,00.html?portlet=7 to learn more about the tax credit from the IRS website.
HFHI Softwood Lumber Reimbursement Changes
HFHI has updated the Softwood Lumber Grant reimbursement process. As of May 1, 2009, certain affiliates who have participated in the reimbursement program for a period of time in the past will receive a fixed amount per request going forward. The amount will be determined based on your average lumber reimbursement in the past. Affiliates new to the program should follow the old reimbursement guidelines.
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| Habitat Prison Program Cabinets Can Now Meet LEED Standards
 Habitat Colorado's Prison Partnership Program can now manufacture kitchen cabinets for Habitat homes that meet LEED standards. If your affiliate wants to take energy efficiency to the next level by building LEED certified homes, cabinets ordered from the prison can now get you points toward certification. To order LEED standard cabinets, please specifically request them when you place a cabinet order with Ken Baylor at the prison. His number is 719-267-5323 and email baylor@bresnan.net.
Next Front Range Jamba Juice Fundraiser Friday, June 5th
 Habitat Colorado's first Jamba Juice 20% fundraiser day was so successful that we've partnered with Jamba again for another on Friday, June 5. Jamba was only about $50 short of becoming a 1000 Homes campaign Yellow Brick sponsor. Let's help them reach that goal!
On June 5th, 20% of the sales from customers at participating locations who mention Habitat for Humanity will go to support the 1000 Homes campaign to build 1000 more Habitat homes in three years. Corporate Jamba locations from the Denver Metro area, north to Fort Collins will be participating in the fundraiser.
Help make the second day a bigger success. If you would like to find the Jamba location nearest you, visit www.jambajuice.com. |
| Fun Fund and Friendraising Ideas |
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Affiliate Successes in Challenging Times
 Fort Collins Habitat is striving to make their affiliate more visible to their community by taking advantage of social networking. Ft. Collins HFH recently created a Facebook account to promote their activities to younger crowds. They see it as an easy way to connect with younger supporters using a free medium. They've also created accounts for the affiliate on LinkedIn and Twitter to connect with the chronically mobile.
To learn more about their affiliate's Facebook page or to ask about setting up one for your affiliate, contact Mary Steinke, Fort Collins HFH Marketing and Design Coordinator, at msteinke@fortcollinhabitat.org. |
| Training Calendar |
 Camp Colorado - Much to Celebrate-More to Build!
 May 6 - 9, 2009Estes Park
HFHC's flagship annual training conference.
Everything You Need to Know About Financial Reports Without Having to Know Accounting!
May 20, 2009
Denver Hosted by Colorado Nonprofit Association https://www.coloradononprofits.org/workshops_reg.cfm?id=7037
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| Get 30% Off Email Marketing!
 Click the link below to learn more about Habitat Colorado's partnership with Constant Contact. |
- Send tailored e-newsletters to volunteers, donors, staff, and board members
- Send and track e-surveys
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- 30% off a one year, non profit subscription
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CLICK HERE FOR A 60 DAY FREE TRIAL! | | |
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