Habitat for Humanity of Logan County honors Bill Sahs with Life Membership
Wayne Clark added to Wall of Fame
Steve Allen also recognized

 

[July 09, 2020] 

Habitat for Humanity of Logan County Board of Directors held the first meeting of their new fiscal year on Tuesday, July 7th.

At the start of the meeting the board recognized some special people with certificates of appreciation for their contributions to HFH. This year they also presented a special Honorary Life Membership to Bill Sahs.

Sahs will be leaving the board at Habitat after 27 years of service. In 1992 Sahs began a quest to create a Habitat for Humanity in Logan County. He soon received the support a number of people including George and Wallace Dahmm and Leonard Krusemark.

This week Sahs said that 27 years ago, he never imagined that what these men started would culminate into 24 homes being built for families within our county. He said it had been a great experience and one that he will hold dear, but he’s reached that point where he feels it is time to move on, step aside, and let others do the heavy lifting.

However, the board saw to it that Sahs will never fully say “good-bye” when they presented him with an honorary lifetime membership certificate. Sash said that was okay, he would probably still be around some, he just wasn’t going to be ‘around’ as much.

The award was presented to Sahs by another long term member of the board, Tonita Reifsteck.

Sahs is the second board member to receive such a membership. In 2018, Leonard Krusemark was the first board member to be given a Life Membership.

Sahs served as the board president for the 2019-20 fiscal year. On Monday evening that torch was passed to Reifsteck, who will now serve as president for the next 12 months.

As his last duty as president and board member, Sahs had the pleasure of presenting two certificates of appreciation to local volunteers who have supported Habitat with their time and talents throughout past years, and specifically during the 2019-20 fiscal year.

The first presentation was given to Wayne Clark who was added to the Habitat for Humanity Wall of Fame. The Wall of Fame certificate was given to Clark in appreciation for all the work he does around the habitat warehouse and read, “In recognition of unselfish support of HFHLC keeping habitat property mowed and (working as) warehouse handyman.”

Clark was given a framed certificate to keep and will also have his name placed on the Wall of Fame plaque at the HFH warehouse.

The HFH Wall of Fame was started in 2002, and Clark joins a long list of supporters and volunteers who have helped in the Habitat mission over the years.

2002
Carpet House
Lincoln IGA

2003
Julius J. Kasa
Wal-Mart
First Presbyterian Church

2004
Thomas W. Funk
Johnson True Value
Thrivent Financial

2005
Genesis
Lincoln Daily News
Lincoln Iron & Metal

2006
Lighthouse Appraisal Services
Logan County Pest Control

2007
Bob Ford
Kent Young

2008
Clarence Barney
Verdia Lee
Harley Petri

2009
John Sutton

2010
Regions Bank
St. Clara’s Manor

2011
Joe Funk

2015
Steve Allen

2016
Justin Dietrich
LTEC Building Trades

2017
Leonard Krusemark
Bill Sahs

The second certificate given out was to Steve Allen. Allen is with the Logan County Housing authority and has been very instrumental in assisting families in low-income housing to work their way into home ownership through the Habitat program. He has also served on the Habitat board with his term expiring this year and he will be exiting the board.

His certificate read “For continuous support of HFH applicants and HFHLC Board Member 2018-2020.

As part of the first meeting of the year, the board elected new officers. Bill Sahs stepped down as president and Tonita Reifsteck was nominated and elected for the role.

Cince Bown stepped down as Vice-president and the seat was filled with Marc Schoonover.

Other officers selected include:

Secretary Laura Tomlinson
Asst. Secretary Cince Bowns
Treasurer Bob Chamberlain
Asst. Treasurer Jamie Voyles

Dean Leesman is also a member of the board, and there are vacancies that the board hopes to fill soon.

Reifsteck said that board members will offer suggestions as to whom could be invited to join. In addition, anyone who wishes to join may contact HFH by calling Reifsteck at 217-855-1645 or Schoonover at 217-737-9398.

In addition to board membership there are committees that need volunteers. Anyone who is interested in finding out more about the committees can also contact Reifsteck or Schoonover.

Reifsteck also shared that the HFHLC will be holding a ground breaking soon as they prepare for home number 25 in Logan County. Future announcements will be coming.

Habitat for Humanity of Logan County also maintains an office and warehouse on Woodlawn Road in Lincoln. The phone number for the warehouse is 217-721-6412.

At the warehouse, the organization collects for resale donations of good used furniture, building materials such as electrical boxes, switches, etc. and plumbing and lighting fixtures. These items are offered for sale to the public with the proceeds going to support future home builds. The warehouse is open to shoppers Wednesday through Saturday. Donations will also be accepted on those days. Donors are asked not to leave items outside the warehouse when it is closed. Therefore calling ahead of time would be advisable.

Habitat for Humanity of Logan County is managed completely by volunteers with no paid employees on staff. This enables the group to focus its financial resources on the needs of the community through home construction. Monetary donations are always appreciated.

[Nila Smith]