Thoughts from the First Training Session...

Now that the first Habitat Women Build training session is under my belt, my "tool belt" feels a bit better prepared to hold hammers and nails. Surprisingly to me (though not to our illustrious leader, Debra) hammering in a nail straight was the most difficult part! Those scary electric saws were really not so bad nor so intimidating once you understood how to turn them on and safely operate them. But hammering in a 12D nail is no easy task, especially when you're doing it upside-down on an angle. Laurie Quinn and I failed miserably the first try, and thankfully Wendy Carroll of Chatham helped straighten us out, literally. I was able to hammer in a few of them with no problem, and got a great sense of accomplishment from those successes. But I'll need to spend the next few months building my arm strength so I can do it with a few swift swings, like my classmate Leslye Alexander. My advice: practice, practice, practice!!!

Taitia Shelow, Chatham, Steering Committee

Practice! Practice! Practice!

Everyone keeps asking me how they can prepare for the Women Build. Other than attending the training classes, there is one huge way that you can prepare if you are going to be building on site this spring.
I am very serious when I tell you this: get yourself some scrap lumber, a hammer, and some 12D nails. (You can ask your local lumber yard about that, ladies. Or, you could find out if your husband knows what a 12D nail is) Once you get this equipment together, start to practice hammering those nails into your scrap wood. This is the number one skill that will help us to stay on schedule. This assignment is easy, the cost is inexpensive, and everyone can do it.
Trust me when I tell you that if you don't practice this skill, and you are constantly bending nails over or your nail won't even go in, you are either going to have to pull them back out, or be embarrassed because it is going to feel like everyone is watching. This is NOT fun, and you are going to be sooooo mad at yourself that you did not do this. So, good luck, and get started!

Debra Gestwicki

If I had a hammer...

If you drove by Questar last night between 6:30 and 9:00 pm, you might have heard the unlikely sound of ladies laughter and the pounding of hammers simultaneously. We completed our first night of training for our Women Build, and it was a success for everyone.

Thanks to Questar for letting us hold our classes there, and the help of two of their staff, Dan Kelly and Rolf Gorlan, we had a wonderful time learning and getting to know each other. John Livinston, a new Habitat volunteer, also joined us and gave the women pointers on tool use and safety. I couldn't believe it when the ladies wouldn't even stop for the coffee and scones that I brought! What dedication! This build is going to be great!

I would also like to thank Doug Dumont, President of DRD Building Products for donating the siding for the project we are working on, and thank you also to P&R Truss, who is donating the trusses. Did I mention that they are also converting our floor plans to panel drawings so that we can build our house on Mill Street faster and more efficiently? It continually leaves me speechless when I see the generosity of this community. These are the people, alongside our volunteers, who make Habitat for Humanity the huge success that it is.

Thanks, everyone! Debra Gestwicki

Wait List for Taining Sessions

We have three more Training Sessions: March 20, April 17 and May 15. Although the classes are filled, we are wait listing anyone who would like to attend. There is always a chance that someone who is registered will need to drop out.

The training sessions on basic skills are being offered in preparation for the May build. All sessions will be held at Questar on Route 66 (131 Union Tpke.) in Hudson from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

The emphasis will be on:
1. How to use power tools safely and effectively.
2. Basic blue print reading.
3. Overall view of construction sequence.
4. Overall instruction and hands on practice of various construction tasks, ie. framing, insulation, sheetrock, siding, painting.
5. Question and answers.

Attending training classes is not a prerequisite for participating in the build. But it offers an opportunity to meet some of the volunteers, get a more detailed understanding of the project, work on specific construction tasks, and solidify your scheduling preferences.

If interested, click here to e-mail Pat Baer

Volunteering - We Need Crew Leaders!

As you can imagine, we need many volunteers for the Women Build project to succeed. We need at least 15 workers on site every day of the build, plus people to provide food and drink for the volunteers. No previous skills or training are required to be a volunteer! If you do have some experience and some skills, and are willing to commit to at least three days on the build, please think about becoming a Crew Leader. Crew leaders oversee small groups of volunteers and ensure the work proceeds smoothly and safely. Volunteer training for crew leaders will be offered. Do you have what it takes to be a crew leader? Click here to find out!

How-to Clinics will be held monthly prior to the Women Build, on the following topics:

• How to safely use hand and power tools, basics of painting
• How to frame walls and roof
• How to install windows, doors and trim, flooring
• How to install siding

To be a Women Build volunteer, please click here to sign up or contact Pat Baer at 518-325-5145 or by email

Build skills, construct a home and create a community.

Women Build, a program of Habitat for Humanity, encourages women to have fun and make a difference in their community by building homes. Women from all walks of life work together on an important issue — affordable housing. A Women Build is run the same as traditional Habitat builds, except that women occupy the leadership roles, from fundraising to construction.

Building Skills: Besides helping their neighbors, Women Build participants get a chance to learn valuable construction skills. They can learn to use power tools, how to sheetrock and much more in a welcoming and non-intimidating atmosphere. No experience is necessary to participate — just a willingness to learn and take direction. Click here to sign up!