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RTMC Awarded Seal of Excellence: Rebuilding Together Montgomery County has been awarded the Maryland Association of Nonprofit Organization’s Seal of Excellence for successfully completely the Standards of Excellence® certification program. The Maryland Association of Nonprofit Organizations (Maryland Nonprofits) recognized RTMC and other nonprofits earning this award at their 17th Annual Conference on November 10.

RTMC was reviewed by a “jury of its peers” to determine compliance with the Maryland Nonprofits Standards for Excellence: An Ethic and Accountability Code f or the Nonprofit Sector®. The Standards for Excellence® are based on fundamental values such as honesty, integrity, fairness, respect, trust, responsibility, and accountability. RTMC’s programs and services, management, fundraising and financial practices were examined before the certification was awarded. RTMC is one of 10 nonprofits in Montgomery County who have been awarded the Seal of Excellence.

Susan Hawfield, Executive Director of RTMC comments, “We are proud to be recognized in this way. We understand that we are stewards of the public’s generosity in donations of time and money. We hope that this will give those who support us confidence that their money is going to an effective and healthy organization. Trust is very important.”

The Standards of Excellence® is a voluntary certification program and is the first effort of its kind in the nation. To learn more, please visit www.standardsforexcellence.org.

RAFFA Partners with RTMC: On Saturday, October 24 volunteers from RAFFA in DC and Rockville partnered to make repairs and safety medications to the home of a local senior couple. The couple, who have lived in their home for 16 years, found it difficult to maintain their home due to their tight financial situation and the frailty that can come with age. RTMC had previously been able to make some emergency repairs but RAFFA’s grant of $10,000 and commitment of volunteers allowed us to work together to do a complete renovation of the couple’s home.

Despite the rain, 25 RAFFA volunteers and their families enthusiastically came together to paint, install safety grab bars, and replace the kitchen counter and nonfunctioning refrigerator and stove. The volunteers rebuilt a deteriorating fence replaced the sub-pump in the basement to prevent flooding, and structurally reinforced sagging windows.

The project was the first of RTMC’s new partnership with RAFFA. As an accounting firm providing services to nonprofits, RAFFA’s partnership with RTMC exemplifies its mission. “This is why our firm exists: to create positive, systemic change in our community,” says RAFFA President and CEO Thomas Raffa. “And certainly even this small effort will have a profound effect on the lives of the family we are helping as well as on my partners and our families who are volunteering… Through our actions, we hope to encourage the corporate leaders in our community to do more for the nonprofit sector, especially during these tough times.”

To learn more about RAFFA please visit www.raffa.com.

Choice Hotels and United We Serve Video:  Click here to watch the National Rebuilding Together video about our September 11, 2009 project, a renovation of Stepping Stone Shelter in Rockville, MD sponsored by Choice Hotels.

Tribute to America’s Veterans Benefit Concert: RTMC was selected as the recipient of this year’s Veterans Benefit Concert proceeds. On Tuesday night, November 10, the Round House Theater in Silver Spring, MD filled with music from singer/songwriter Jonny Grave and blues duo Memphis Gold and Jay Summerour. Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett and County Council Members Phil Andrews, Duchy Trachtenberg, Valerie Ervin, and Marc Elrich were in attendance as well as Rebuilding Together President Gary Officer. The night honored two Buffalo Soldiers, Joseph Hairston and James Harden Daugherty. And our very own Board President Bob Quinn gave a beautiful speech about Rebuilding Together and our work with veterans. Thanks so much to Lorrie Knight-Major for nominating us and to everyone who came out to support us and the veterans of our country!

Rebuilding Together National Conference: November 11 – 14 RTMC staff will be participating in professional development and training at Rebuilding Together’s National Conference, hosted this year in Washington, DC at the L’Enfant Plaza Hotel.

Fundraising Successes

RTMC is pleased to announce that the 11th Annual RTMC Golf Classic successfully raised over $84,000 last month! This money will go a long way in supporting the operational costs of our office. Thanks so much to our presenting sponsors TW Perry , Bart & Associates, and Monument Bank without whose support the tournament would not be possible.

Attention House Captains and Spring Rebuilding Day Teams – the Sponsor Mailing is going out this week to recruit for April 2010. Keep an eye on those mailboxes for your forms, and respond today! Also, we will be hosting two Informational Sessions to help people get ready for Spring Rebuilding Day:

December 3 – Civic + Religious Groups

December 10 – Corporate Partners and prospects

RT National News

Celebrate Veterans with Rebuilding Together and HGTV Watch Change the World: America’s Heroes: Rebuilding Together, the nation’s leading nonprofit organization working to preserve affordable homeownership, has partnered with HGTV, the cable network for home lifestyle programming, to complete a truly life-changing home makeover event for two different homes and its residences.

HGTV’s one-hour special, Change the World: American Heroes; is airing on Veteran’s Day, November 11, at 8 p.m. ET/PT. Windsor Transitional House in St. Louis, MO and a house in Philadelphia, PA, both homes to American veterans, were chosen to receive the much needed renovations. The program will feature host and carpenter Carter Oosterhouse, designer Monica Pedersen, and volunteers from Rebuilding Together, who successfully tackle a multitude of renovation projects to complete the makeovers and improve the quality of living for these veterans. (full story)

National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week: Today, childhood lead poisoning is considered the most preventable environmental disease among young children, yet and estimated 250,000 U.S. children have elevated blood-lead levels. A simple blood test can prevent permanent damage that will last a lifetime. Established in 1999 by the U.S. Senate, National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week occures every year during the last week in October. During this week, many states and communities offer free blood-lead testing and conduct various education and awareness events. For more information about National Lead Poisoning Prevention week activies in your area, please contact your state or local health department. (full story)

Upcoming Events + Volunteer Opportunities

Civic + Religious Group Information Session – 6pm, Thursday, December 3

Corporate Partner Information Session – 6pm, Thursday, December 10

RTMC is hosting Information Sessions for new and returning groups interested in sponsoring a house for Spring Rebuilding Day 2010 at the RTMC office. Please join us at 6 pm for networking and refreshment with a presentation to follow at 6:30 pm. RSVP with Susan Hawfield.

Site Previewers – Winter 2009/2010

RTMC needs help visiting and previewing the homes of hundreds of applicant for Spring Rebuilding Day. If you are interested in becoming a site previewer or would like to learn more about site previews please contact Kathy Thrower.

AmeriCorps Monthly Projects – Ongoing

Calling all high school and college students! Learn new skills, earn service learning credits for graduation, and help out a family in your community. RTMC is coordinating on rebuilding project a month with local high school and college groups. Contact our AmeriCorps members, Lane Van Buren and Chris Somers, for more information.

Ways to Support RTMC

This holiday season book your travel and finish your holiday shopping at www.ytbtravel.com/rebuildingtogether and support RTMC from the comfort of your own home! Flights are comparable in price to Orbitz and Expedia with a portion of the proceeds benefiting RTMC.

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