Introducing: OpenBriefing.org ~ A Site to Bookmark

Today I came across what promises to be an interesting site and organization as it moves forward. They offer a unique perspective in this age of sensational journalism. I have to say it’s a welcome change from the norm which I will be watching closely. Hopefully we will see more people attempting to do the same. Maybe if more people go to get information at sites such as these, our mainstream media will get the hint.

Their mission statement is as follows: “To be the leading authority for open source intelligence assessments, independent security briefings, and insightful and timely comment on defence, security and foreign policy issues.” It is a lofty goal but one that meets with the needs of today’s society. Their goal is to keep society better informed without all the sensationalism and bias that often comes from our media outlets.

Life Produces Love - A Habitat Story of the Benford Family (Part 2)

To read the first installment in this series, please click here.

Wednesday, June 6, 2012 was a beautiful hot summer day. At 10 am the ceremony began for the groundbreaking of the new subdivision in the 900 block of east Martin Luther King Drive in Bryan, Texas. This is the new Faith subdivision for Habitat for Humanity. 24 homes will be built in this area. All the homes are scheduled to be completed by June 2014.  I was not able to attend the ceremony but I was able to speak with Melanie earlier this week.

An Amazing Find ~ Our Habitat Restore

A few weeks back I visited our local Habitat Restore in Bryan, Texas. I was simply amazed at all the items they have for sale! I spent about forty five minutes there walking around the ground floor and upstairs exploring all they have. I could have spent another hour there easily. They had everything you could think of to furnish a home and then some. There might have even been a kitchen sink back in a corner that I didn’t see. This is the epitome of what a green organization does!

Invaluable Lessons of Happy Trails

Today I took my kiddos out to Happy Trails for their second set of riding lessons. They were so excited to be going. I am ecstatic to be seeing how well they are doing and watch the changes that are taking place from these lessons.

While my son had his lesson, my daughter and I started the first coat on the soon to be chicken coop mural wall. My daughter is going to do the entire mural and she’s got it all planned out in her head from the grass to the sky and sun, to the horses and chickens and flowers the mural will hold. I will post pictures as it progresses. My son and I finished the first coat while my daughter had her lesson. Below is the blank canvas the wall is now after the first coat of paint

Life Produces Love - A Habitat Story of the Benford Family (Part 1)

Melanie Benford is a remarkable woman. Her story is similar to so many of us, where we work hard to earn the things we have in our lives. She has dealt with many of life’s challenges, including the grave illness of one of her children. However, she stands firm and ready to face this next chapter in her life with courage, faith and love.

I am very excited to be able to write about the Benford’s Habitat for Humanity home. Melanie is really thrilled to be able to be able to move back into an area where she has history. Her family will be one of the first to move into the new subdivision near East MLK. The groundbreaking for the new subdivision will occur on June 6, 2012.

Press Release ~ Three Bryan mothers will become first time homeowners this Mother’s Day weekend

N E W S R E L E A S E

PHOTO AND INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE

Media Contact

Ryan Pierce

Director of Volunteer Experience and Communications

Bryan/College Station Habitat for Humanity

979.703.1895

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Three Bryan mothers will become first time homeowners this Mother’s Day weekend

(May 9, 2012 – Bryan, TX) Vera Love and two other Bryan mothers will celebrate Mother’s Day for the first time in their own homes. “That’s the biggest Mother’s Day present I could ask for,” Vera said.

Bryan/College Station Habitat for Humanity will dedicate three houses Saturday, May 11, new homes for Vera, Latoya Pleasant and Marjorie Gibbs. The dedication ceremonies are open to everyone and will include photo/video opportunities.

Latoya and her four children have never had a place to call home, often unsure of where they were going to live from month to month. Denise Bermudez, the financial sponsor for Latoya’s new home and a mother herself, understands the challenges Latoya faced and praised her for overcoming those difficulties. “Although living in less-than-adequate housing, in a situation that was dangerous for her children, Latoya did everything she could to create a secure, loving environment for her children. But she did not settle. She fought and she sacrificed to find a way to give her children a safe home.” Those sacrifices are finally paying off this Mother’s Day weekend.

Latoya’s new next door neighbor is also moving in this weekend. The neighbor, Marjorie Gibbs is excited about her new Habitat house, but is especially thrilled for her four children. “I love seeing the smiles on my children’s faces when we pull into our driveway,” she said. “Having their own yard is a dream come true! This is our home!”

If you drive through Angel’s Gate subdivision in Bryan on Sunday, you may notice the smell of a barbecue. It’ll be coming from Vera Love’s new house. Her children and grandchildren will all be there, enjoying Vera’s first Mother’s Day celebration.

Marjorie Gibb’s home was sponsored by the Dansby Foundation and Wells Fargo Trusts. Latoya Pleasant’s home was sponsored by Denise and Jorge Bermudez. Vera Love’s home was sponsored by Aggie Habitat. The Aggies not only provided financial backing, but joined Vera in building her home on six Saturdays.

What: Three home dedications for three local mothers

When &Where:

The Love Family - May 12, 2012 at 9:00 AM

1329 Aggie Way, Angels Gate Subdivision, Bryan

The Pleasant Family - May 12, 2012 at 10:15 AM

1212 Thompson, Bryan

The Gibbs Family - May 12, 2012 at 10:15 AM

1205 Thompson, Bryan

About Bryan/College Station Habitat for Humanity

Bryan/College Station Habitat for Humanity is a locally run affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing organization. Formed in 1989, the local affiliate is dedicated to eliminating poverty housing and making the right to simple, decent, shelter a matter of conscience and action. Habitat for Humanity partners with low-income families and gives them an opportunity to work side by side with local volunteers in the construction of their homes. Once the homes are completed, families buy them at cost through zero-interest twenty to thirty-year mortgages. BCS Habitat has partnered with over 200 families impacting over 800 people over the past 21 years. For more information, please visit www.habitatbcs.org

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Ryan Pierce

Director of Volunteer Experience and Communications

Bryan/College Station Habitat for Humanity

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119 Lake Street

Bryan, TX 77801

Phone (979) 703-1895

Fax (979) 775-7412

Chamber Day 2012 - Recap of What I Learned

I had the privilege of participating as a volunteer in our local Chamber Day on Thursday, March 29, 2012. For those who are unaware, this is a day that is set aside to visit local businesses and find out what their challenges are and thank them for choosing our community to have their business in. It was a full day event, broken into 2 halves and ending with the monthly Chamber After Hours event at Allen Honda.

I learned quite a bit from the local businesses we visited. I really enjoyed being a volunteer and will do my best to participate each year. I learned a lot of things I was unaware of about the businesses I drive by every day. It was a great experience that I would urge everyone to try to participate in at least once.