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Thanks to the imaginations and hard work of
Chuck Thomas, Jean Doerr and Leah Mervine, HOME’s 40th
Anniversary Gala was an extraordinary event. Before the Annual
Meeting got underway and dinner was served—for some of us long before
dinner was served—the lobby of the former Studio Arena was mobbed with
supporters of fair housing. Many members of HOME’s founding generation
returned to hear a keynote address by Dr. James L. Hecht, whose
contributions were so critical during our first decade. Much more than business meetings and
celebrations of another year’s accomplishments, HOME’s annual meetings
often take on the flavor of a family reunion—where hugs seem to outnumber
handshakes. This year, family members came together when, on the eve of
the event, Marilyn S. Thomas, the mother of President & Annual Meeting
Chair Chuck Thomas, passed away. Jean, Leah and Senior Vice President
Janet Barnes carried on in Chuck’s place.
In honesty, several of us were
disappointed by some aspects of service provided by the impressive new
downtown venue HOME had chosen as the site of this gala event. Afterwards,
the facility was apologetic and guests remarkably understanding.
Thankfully, our guests come not for the dinner but rather to support HOME
and our important cause.
New
staff
Regrettably, during the month of May HOME
lost two veteran staff. After more than two and one-half years of
committed work, Mobility Counselor Lisa Maria Cruz has left HOME to work
with former Board member Linda Sabo at the Alzheimer’s Association of WNY.
HOME also lost the valuable services of Fair Housing Specialist Luz
Pirela, who is pursuing new opportunities at the Red Cross.
Their places have been taken by two very
qualified women. New Mobility Counselor Stacy Brownell is, like her
predecessor, bilingual. In addition to working at HOME, she is pursuing an
MSW at the University at Buffalo.
Starting work only two weeks after Stacy
was new Fair Housing Specialist Alline Powell. Alline is an alumna of the
Housing Assistance Center, an agency which grew out of HOME in 1973 and
contributed so much to our community over more than a quarter century. As
the former head of HAC’s rental counseling unit, Alline brings valuable
skills and experience to us.
Leaving a Legacy
In a bit more than 21 years at HOME, I
hope I’ve contributed in a small way to the furtherance of civil rights in
Western New York. However, those two decades have made me understand that
however many battles we win, the struggle for civil rights will continue
beyond my lifetime.
Accordingly, when recently revising my
will I chose to "leave a legacy" to HOME’s John Howland Koekkoek Endowment
for Fair Housing Education. While an admittedly modest percentage of an
estate the size of mine will never translate into financial stability for
HOME, one is reminded of the Chinese proverb that a journey of a thousand
miles begins with a single step.
This is a step that feels good. I hope
others will consider joining me in making a lasting gift to the cause of
fair housing.
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