THANKS UNCLE BILLY

Hello All,

It has been a little while.  This past week was really something else.  So, we all know that person in our lives who can sort of do it all.  Fix the leaky faucet.  Get your car to start.  Demolish a shed!  Well, maybe you don't know that guy, but I do.  My Uncle Billy.  The guy can do it all, and to top it off, he doesn't have a bad bone in his body.  I absolutely love having him around.

Well, I was lucky enough to have him come down to Long Island, NewYork, to join the Nechama Disaster Response Team this past week!  After about 10 minutes on the job, it was beyond clear that he could take my job as field team leader immediately if he wanted to.  Not only was he dominating our work sites, but his engaging personality and skills had everyone gravitating towards him to see him in action.

A while back, I made reference to my desire to have more experiences in my life to hang my hat on.  Memories that would stand the test of time.  Well, getting the chance to live and work alongside a man that I have looked up to my whole life, certainly counts as one of those experiences.  Uncle Billy, over the years you have made a real difference in my life, and those down here in New York wont soon forget what you have done for them as well.   It is an honor and a privilege to call you my uncle.

Love,
Mark

ZERO DEGREES FAHRENHEIT WITH THE WIND CHILL AS WE SURVEY OUR DEMO JOB ON LONG ISLAND!

UNCLE BILLY IN ACTION!

ANOTHER LOOK AT THE SHED

OUR HOME OWNER/VOLUNTEER FIRE FIGHTER JOHN GETTING IN ON THE DEMO JOB!

UNCLE PULLING DOWN WALLS AT WILL

JOB COMPLETE!  UNCLE BILLY AND ME STANDING WHERE THE SHED HAD BEEN.  TOP NOTCH DEMO JOB DONE IN RECORD TIME!

The Future Is No Place To Place Your Better Days

HELLO 2013!

Hello all,

I am checking in from Long Island, New York.  I am still out here serving as a Disaster Response Field Team Leader.  Over the past two months, we have coordinated over 1,500 volunteers working at our home sites!   With 10,000+ hours of service in the books, our field teams have completed work on over 100 homes and counting!!  Simply remarkable effort!  Below are some pictures from the past few weeks.

I hope all is well and best of luck with 2013!  

Mark/Chops

BC HIGH CLASS OF 2001 GETTING THINGS DONE ON LONG ISLAND! ME, BILL, AND MY TWIN BROTHER KEITH WHO CAME DOWN TO VOLUNTEER RIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS.

GREAT VISITING WITH MY AUNT AND UNCLE!  LOVE THESE TWO!

CLEMSON REUNION WITH SMITHAZ AND GWA!  

HANGING OUT WITH MOM AND DAD!

PLAYING PRINCESSES WITH THE D'AMBRA GIRLS!  THEY HAD ME WRAPPED AROUND THEIR FINGERS.  ADORABLE.  KEVIN AND JEN, GOOD LUCK WITH THEM!

NOTHING QUITE LIKE THE CONEY ISLAND, BROOKLYN POLAR BEAR CLUB! ABOUT TO JUMP IN THE OCEAN WITH THOUSANDS OF AWESOME PEOPLE ON NEW YEARS DAY!

MADE IT OUT IN ONE PIECE WITH MY DISASTER RESPONSE PARTNER IN CRIME, ZACK!

BEFORE PICTURE AT ONE OF OUR SITES.  WHAT YOU CAN'T SEE, CAN KILL YOU.  MOLD BEHIND THE DRY WALL AND SEVERELY COMPROMISED HARD WOOD FLOORS. EVERYTHING MOST GO.

AFTER 3 DAYS OF GUTTING, LOU'S HOME IS READY FOR THE REBUILD!

A COMPLETELY GUTTED CRAWL SPACE.  NECESSARY IN ORDER TO INSTALL NEW INSULATION 

DEBRIS REMOVED FROM THE 1,200 SF HOME ABOVE!

ABOVE IS PART OF MY FIELD TEAM RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEMO WORK!  SITTING IS LOU, OUR HOME OWNER WHO IS BATTLING MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS LIKE A CHAMPION!  HE IS  ONE OF THE MOST INSPIRATIONAL GUYS I HAVE EVER MET!  LOVE HIM AND SO HAPPY THAT THE REBUILD WILL PROVIDE HIM WITH A HANDICAP ACCESSIBLE HOME! I HAVE TO GET HIM A CLEMSON HAT THOUGH!

SAYING GOOD BYES TO FELLOW FIELD TEAM LEADER, MITCH.  GREAT GUY!

THE "A" TEAM AFTER FINISHING TWO HOME SITES IN ONE DAY!  LUCKY DAY FOR GREG AND MYSELF.  LOVELY LADIES!

The Future Is No Place To Place Your Better Days