My dad was an all-around handyperson. He had a well-equipped work room in our basement and the knack to take on and complete difficult home improvement projects, such as installing a central air conditioning system, vents and all, to cool our entire house.
Sadly, I did not inherit his skills. Even when I take on small repair or improvement tasks, I get frustrated and confused. Oftentimes, I pick up the telephone to ask a professional to finish the project before I’ve done too much damage. Some of my failures include building an elliptical trainer that had the arms incorrectly fitted. I also managed to mess up the engine by leaving a screw or bolt in the machine’s innards.
Another failure was my three-shelf bookshelf construction project. My attorney colleague/co-tenant and I so poorly botched its construction that I ended up returning the bookshelf to Target.
My cooking skills are not much better. Once, I left the 3-by-5 card containing the recipe for the ole souffle casserole I made, in the casserole. My guests thought it was funny, but I was mortified.
Despite this rather poor history as a handyperson, I’ve agreed with great trepidation to assist with one of Rotary’s community service projects. Rotary Club of Los Gatos and the Morning Rotary, also of Los Gatos, partner with Rebuilding Together Silicon Valley, to repair and improve homes in the area. Last year, a team of us taped, cleaned and painted the entire exterior of a home. This year, volunteers will repair and improve 20 homes and nonprofits in Santa Clara County. The Los Gatos Rotary clubs are assigned to a mobile home in Campbell. Our team of more than 20 Rotarians and others will gather on a Saturday, in a few weeks, to complete our tasks, which we generally can accomplish over the span of one morning and the better part of an afternoon.
Rebuilding Together is a national nonprofit organization with a mission to repair the homes of people in need and revitalize communities. Rebuilding Together works with community leaders, residents, funders and volunteers to build safe and healthy homes and communities.
Rebuilding Together started in 1973 when a group of people in Midland, Texas realized homes in their community had fallen into disrepair and their neighbors were unable to fix them on their own. The group volunteered their time and skills to work together and provide repairs to their neighbors’ homes. Eventually the group’s mission expanded by bringing together partners, such as our two Los Gatos Rotary clubs.
Most of the people served by Rebuilding Together come from the low-income strata. Rebuilding Together also serves veterans, people with disabilities, older adults and families with children. Eligibility for services is dependent on the homeowner’s Annual Median Income (AMI). Typically, eligibility is set at a household income at or below 80% of the local AMI. Most of Rebuilding Together’s affiliates help homeowners, although some affiliates also assist renters.
Community service such as this Rebuilding Together project is one of the five Avenues of Service where Rotary believes it can make a difference. The other ones are club service, to enhance the effectiveness and engagement of Rotary, vocational service, using our skills and expertise to address community needs, international service, to collaborate on global initiatives to promote understanding and peace, and youth service, to support the development of young leaders, such as through our club’s Rotaract and Interact programs.
As Rotary Club of Los Gatos heads toward its centennial anniversary, occurring in February 2024, I reflect on my role and reputation within our club. I serve as membership chair and on the board of directors for our club. I help with many other club-related projects, as do many people in our club.
However, I still have hopes and aspirations to receive greater acknowledgment for my service. Perhaps it will come from my handyperson work with Rebuilding Together. When word gets out that I’ve helped in Rebuilding Together projects, will my fellow club members view me as an all-around handyperson, such as my dad was? Not likely. My fellow Rotarians know me for what I am—a soft spoken fellow who loves to write and who sometimes comes up with creative and constructive ideas, but who doesn’t know a darn thing about actual construction work.
Give me a computer and time to write, but for goodness’ sake, keep the hammer and nails away from me.
Jeffrey P. Blum is a family law mediator who lives in Los Gatos. He can be reached at [email protected].
