Media says "bon voyage" to MAR builders

Yesterday, a Bangor TV station featured REALTOR Emilie Jones and the trip to Mobile; and the Bangor Daily News has an article at this link, or read here:

Realtors to 'Deliver' Home to Katrina Family
by Joni Averill

"Bon voyage and happy building wishes go with 20 people representing the Maine Association of Realtors, who leave Sunday for Alabama to participate in a Habitat for Humanity home construction project for a family affected by Hurricane Katrina.

Mary Kuykendall of Bangor is president of the Bangor Board of Realtors.

She e-mailed me that the Maine Association of Realtors, in partnership with the National Association of Realtors and Habitat for Humanity International, is participating in Operation Home Delivery.

"Funds in the amount of $70,000 have been raised, and 18 Realtors (one of whom is bringing his wife as a volunteer) from all over Maine … along with Jeremy Payne" of Augusta "who is our association’s Government Affairs Director, will spend a week building a home in Mobile.

"Weather and stamina permitting," Kuykendall continued, "the house should proceed from just a slab to needing only carpet and appliances in the week we’re there."

Kuykendall explained that "each state’s association was challenged by the National Association of Realtors to raise money and build a home in the hurricane area."

The Habitat volunteers traveling with Kuykendall and Payne include JoAnn Higgins of Bangor; Steve Joy and Emilie Jones, Ellsworth; Peter Wood, Belfast; Paul Trowbridge, Blue Hill; Vicki Doudera, Camden; Marsha Steinglass, Rockport; Tom Munson, Fairfield; Bart Stevens, Winslow; JoAnne Webber, Waterville and Sherry Gregory, Winthrop.

Also taking part are Mark and Paula Schoenthaler, Rangeley; Gail Rizzo, Belgrade Lakes; Callie Pecunies, Bethel; Patti Lawton and Carol Minnehan-Lee, Brunswick; and Deb Marathon, Ogunquit.

Members of the Maine Association of Realtors can take pride in accepting and meeting that challenge and for the contributions these people are making to help those still suffering from the 2005 hurricane. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Web site, more than 1,800 people died and damage totaled at least $81 billion."