As the new board of Faith House Florida began to take shape, a friend was asked to help. This friend has owned association management companies for many years and is considered one of the leading authorities on how to operate an organization.
We asked him about coming to visit with the Faith House board as we developed the vision and mission statement. He said I was getting ahead of the process.
'The first question', he said, 'is to ask if the group should even consider continuing to exist. Perhaps you are trying to make something happen that should instead be allowed to just stop existing. Why does this group exist?'
The answer was a simple, '52'. That is the number of residents we could house at that time. We knew of another organization in the Pinellas County area that was raising several million to build a facility that could house approximately 40 residents. Their budget for all the work they do, and it is wonderful things they do, is an amount that is a multiple of our annual budget. However, on any given night, we have the facilities to help 52 people who have said they want to get sober.
For my friend, the expert in associations, there needed to be more of an answer. One recent morning during devotions, the answer appeared. It was Luke 15:24. It is the vision I see of Faith House Florida.
'My son was dead, but now he is alive again! He was lost, but now he is found!'
Monday, February 24, 2014
Saturday, February 22, 2014
On volunteering at Faith House Florida
Ever have a comment made by a friend and the comment just stays in your mind?
Such was an experience with a friend, Tom Norton. Some 10 years ago we discussed volunteering to help people in some way in St Petersburg. We both did a lot of research on the issues as well as the organizations that already existed for those we wanted to help to get some help.
The conclusion was that most everything we wanted to do was being done somewhere else. At that point, my heart sank as I thought my friend, Tom, was going to say we needed to move on to something else as a way to volunteer.
And then he said it. 'I am confident that these people we want to help will be just fine without us. But I won't be fine without them. I think I need them more than they need me.'
When someone first learns about Faith House Florida, they get an invitation to take a tour of the place. If they accept, at some point in the tour they will hear, 'If this place speaks to you and you want to become a part of it, there is a place for you to help.'
As a member of the board, I have been a part of Faith House Florida for about four years. It continues to speak louder and louder to me. And I know I will not be fine without the opportunity to help these people.
Thanks Tom Norton, for the message that will not go away. I love giving that introductory tour. Give me a call; 727-823-7205 Tom Shay.
Such was an experience with a friend, Tom Norton. Some 10 years ago we discussed volunteering to help people in some way in St Petersburg. We both did a lot of research on the issues as well as the organizations that already existed for those we wanted to help to get some help.
The conclusion was that most everything we wanted to do was being done somewhere else. At that point, my heart sank as I thought my friend, Tom, was going to say we needed to move on to something else as a way to volunteer.
And then he said it. 'I am confident that these people we want to help will be just fine without us. But I won't be fine without them. I think I need them more than they need me.'
When someone first learns about Faith House Florida, they get an invitation to take a tour of the place. If they accept, at some point in the tour they will hear, 'If this place speaks to you and you want to become a part of it, there is a place for you to help.'
As a member of the board, I have been a part of Faith House Florida for about four years. It continues to speak louder and louder to me. And I know I will not be fine without the opportunity to help these people.
Thanks Tom Norton, for the message that will not go away. I love giving that introductory tour. Give me a call; 727-823-7205 Tom Shay.
Thursday, February 20, 2014
The best kept secret in Pinellas County
Generally, 'the best kept secret' is a title reserved for a restaurant that has been discovered by one who enjoys eating out.
However, we often hear Faith House Florida mentioned as a secret within Pinellas County. With our enlarged website, blog and more frequent open houses, we are working to remove that title.
Our resident aides recently completed a study for our board to see what were the options for someone who was looking for transitional housing. The study showed there were a number of options for that individual to choose from.
The board then decided to raise the bar for Faith House Florida. Our residents are now required to attend more substance abuse meetings each week; more than any other facility.
The doctor who advises the board has also suggested we implement a program of 'therapy work' for each resident which will help them in gaining social skills as well as improving their work ethic before they leave Faith House Florida. This suggestion is also being implemented.
We have added several new advisers and members to our board. These individuals bring specific skills that are necessary for Faith House Florida to provide the best option for an individual who truly wants to gain sobriety and rejoin society as a productive individual.
Faith House Florida; a secret no more.
However, we often hear Faith House Florida mentioned as a secret within Pinellas County. With our enlarged website, blog and more frequent open houses, we are working to remove that title.
Our resident aides recently completed a study for our board to see what were the options for someone who was looking for transitional housing. The study showed there were a number of options for that individual to choose from.
The board then decided to raise the bar for Faith House Florida. Our residents are now required to attend more substance abuse meetings each week; more than any other facility.
The doctor who advises the board has also suggested we implement a program of 'therapy work' for each resident which will help them in gaining social skills as well as improving their work ethic before they leave Faith House Florida. This suggestion is also being implemented.
We have added several new advisers and members to our board. These individuals bring specific skills that are necessary for Faith House Florida to provide the best option for an individual who truly wants to gain sobriety and rejoin society as a productive individual.
Faith House Florida; a secret no more.
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