The Giving Circle, Inc

Spring Trip Update:

It was as all are a wonderful trip with much hard work, good friends new and old, and as always many ups and some downs.

Ms June: This last trip was to be a two project trip splitting our great crew between Ms June and finishing up our great friend Al’s home. Sadly sweet Ms June has become very ill and will not be returning to her beloved Waveland. What all of you gave her was a gift just as valuable as her home finished, the knowledge that people who she has never meet cared about her and her happiness.

Al’s home, in short together we all got a huge amount of work done and Al is now so close to being in his home.

The trip included many fun after work events and meals including the worlds best Gumbo at Ms Diane, AKA The-real-gumbo-mama, and an incredible meal and party at Charles. Oh yes, a few tips to the casinos also.

Of course along with all the fun and friendship of our crew is the time we get to spend with our Mississippi family including but not limited to Stacey, TJ and the kids, Al, Ms. Diane, Charles and Betty just to name a few.

During the trip we meet a young family with one small child and one on the way living in this ice cream truck. After some hard work teaming with friends in Waveland we were able to help this family begin to improve their lives. slideshow > [8 MB, 1min 50 sec.]

Our Team:
Old friends/team members.

Richie Cunningham from Pennsylvania once again joined us and as always did a great deal of hard work, and as always stayed on for an extra few weeks. Few have spent as much time in Waveland helping our friends as Richie. I look forward to again working with my/our friend Richie on up coming trips.
Ron Deutsch our new president again joined us and as always provide us with much work, leadership and laughs. We will never forget his epic battle Tee-shirt battle on the beach with “Larry” Minwook Chong
Mike Butterfield from Saratoga my travel partner for many trips. Once again joined us bringing along his great skills and expertise.
Tom Wetzel along with Mike is The Giving Circle’s construction leaders and experts. He and Sam Lantz both on their 2nd trip came in a few days early and designed and constructed the most beautiful railings for Al’s stair case all from rough lumber.
Joan Smith joined us again for her 2nd trip to Waveland and this one like the last Joan will be staying in Waveland for a full month. Joan will shortly be joined by Raynel Stone, Judith Gillern and Ellie Byrnes. The 4 woman super team of friends back in Waveland once again.

NEW friends/team members:
Our Family, our Giving Circle grew again on this trip with the addition of several wonderful new people.

David Jones (No not the one from the Monkeys) from Greenfield Center drove down and joined us for his first trip. This man is a very skilled and very compassionate new member of The Giving Circle. His pictorial slide show can be found on our site and is also attached in this e-mail. It’s my hope David will be with us on many TGC activates and projects.
Cameron Asay, Saratoga Springs - The king of Kettle Corn who all from Saratoga know well. Cam worked endlessly using his carpentry skills on many projects in the house. He also did quite well at the poker tables and battle on the beach… Cam proves that compassion for others is alive and well in younger people.
MaryCae Asay. Cams mom and owner of The DownTowner on Broadway in Saratoga has been for years now a true friend of The Giving Circle helping in many fund raisers including always giving us space in their hotel parking lot for events. This time MaryCae joined us on a trip and was a wonderful help and painting machine.
Winnie & Black Jack Mo O'Connell, Greenfield Center. We are lucky to have this wonderful retired couple known for their compassion and volunteer work become part of TGC family. Winnie on paint brush and Mo on plumbing could put far younger people to shame with their work ethic.
James Wilhite & Carol Terry from Louisville KY. Like with Winnie & Mo O'Connell James and Carol are the most wonderful people. Carol painted like a machine as much as she hates to paint, now that is true selflessness and James the one leg wonder amazed everyone with is ability to work with only one leg, his skills and his humor. It’s my hope James and Carol will always be part of this family.
“Larry” Minwook Chong NYC/Skidmore College. Larry is our first of what we hope will become many Skidmore student volunteers. Like Cam Larry is living proof of the compassion of our younger people. Long days of work and having to wrestle 4 old guys nothing was too much for Larry.
From Washington University in St. Louis came a team of 7 friend lead by a very impressive young man Dave Warnock. While the team which included Dave, Mike Scholl, Sam Folk, Will Daha, Dustin Palmer, Jeremy Palmer, Tommy O’Brien were to join us on Ms Junes home but due to her illness the guys worked on projects set up by our friends at Camp Salvage and Camp Coastal.
3 new members from Troy their first trip to Waveland. They were young guys with big hearts. Robb, David, and Ben.
In early April yet 3 more new members, 3 women all from Saratoga will be making their first trip. Martha Precheur, Lois Radke and Peg Mangano.

To all our new members welcome and thank you for your great kindness!!!!!

--- Mark Bertrand, Founder TGC