If you're willing to work hard for a very good cause, the Michigan Tech Chapter of Habitat for Humanity will give you a warm welcome, even if you've never held a hammer. Although Tech students have always assisted in building Habitat houses, this year the student chapter, with help from Tech staff and faculty, will be responsible for building one of the two houses that the parent organization, Copper Country Habitat for Humanity, builds this year. Matt Walz, a civil engineering major at Michigan Tech, and a veteran of several Habitat projects, including four collegiate challenges ("blitz builds" undertaken by students at spring break), is the guest at Tech Tea Time on Wednesday, March 22, at 4 p.m. in the MTU Memorial Union Alumni Lounge.
Walz will talk about the mission of Habitat for Humanity and explain why his organization feels it's important for the Michigan Tech chapter to take on the responsibility for building the house. He'll also introduce several key people in the organization, including Dr. Ron Gratz, president of the Copper Country chapter, who will discuss the work of volunteers in the community and the need for this work, and Merle Kindred, who will give a short slide presentation about the energy efficient Habitat houses being built in the area.
By the end of "blitz week," August 21-26, Michigan Tech students, staff and faculty volunteers will have raised and sheeted the interior and exterior walls, put up the trusses, shingled the roof, and installed doors and windows on the house. The remaining work-the trim, flooring, painting, and landscaping-will be completed on Saturdays during the fall semester. The end result will be a home for Kelly and Brenda Maki and their three children.
Recruiting for the project will begin this spring. No skills are required, and there is plenty of work for all. However, anyone with house construction experience is a bonus for the group, and can teach the novices valuable skills. Any member of the Michigan Tech community who is interested in donating a few of the 2000 hours it takes to build a Habitat house and is unable to attend this Tea Time, can get in touch with Walz at 482-4705 or mawalz@mtu.edu.
Tech Tea Time is coordinated by the University Cultural Enrichment Department. For further information call 487-2844.