Meet the 2010/2011 Team!

Louise Hoppe-Mermond     San Rafael, CA

Hello All, My name is Louise Hoppe-Mermod.  San Rafael is about 17 miles north of the GoldenGate Bridge. I am a retired nurse. I grew up in MN, and moved to San Francisco many (too many to talk about) years ago. After a short visit with friends who were living there at the time I decided it was the place for me!! It is a world class city -- I still love going there although the weather in San Rafael is infinitely better. I enjoy cooking - for others - reading, gardening among other things. I am very excited about being on Molokai, meeting all of you & the recipient family and getting to know everyone. Unlike some of you this will be my first experience with Habitat and perhaps not the only one for I am a firm believer that Habitat is a most worthwhile endeavor. See you soon.
 Caroline Reynolds   Amherst, MA

Hi, I'm Caroline and I live in Amherst, Massachusetts with my dog, Sadie. Currently, I am student preparing to teach earth science to middle schoolers some day (soon, I hope!). Previously, I had been working in environmental engineering and alternative energy research... with a bit of a sustainable design/build hobby on the side. I enjoy yoga, running, tennis, crafts, theater, and live music. I'd advise those with a discerning palate to avoid my cooking. 

Occasionally I've been caught singing narration to my activities.... usually off key. You're welcome to point and laugh.

This will be my second trip to Moloka'i and my second trip with Habitat GV. I'm looking forward to getting back to the beautiful people, scenery and food in Moloka'i this December, and meeting all of you there!

Phil Weiner    Newport Beach, CA

Hello, my name is Phil Weiner, I am a professional Video Cameraman based in Orange County, California.  I couldn't be more excited about this trip and I look forward to meeting each and every one of you. I have a passion for everything I do and this will be one more adventure to add to the list. I am blessed to be invited by Kat and can't wait to experience the new friendships and to help where help is needed.

Alex Teitelbaum    Manhattan Beach, CA

Hi! My name is Alex and I am a freshman at Tulane University in New Orleans, originally from southern California. The Moloka’I build last year was one of the greatest experiences of my life, and there’s no reason why this year will be any different. I can’t wait to go back this Christmas, see the finished house from last year, and start the process again. It was an amazing time will be amazing again!

Bob & Diana Kelly     Alpena, MI      

We just recently celebrated our 50^th wedding anniversary by spending a month in Europe. We flew to Amsterdam on our anniversary, spent a week on a bike a barge trip, then a week in Germany with our daughter and grandsons, and then flew to Portugal for a two week Habitat build in Braga in Northern Portugal. This build was a reunion of most of our team from Hungary 2008, so we all knew each other and it was great fun working together again.  We are getting to be experts at tying re-bar, mixing concrete and digging foundations. (We call ourselves “TEAM REBAR”)  We have been hooked on Habitat for a number of years.  I began going on GV builds in 1999 and the build in Molokai will be my 20^th.  Bob began going on builds after he retired from teaching 7 years ago. The Molokai build will be his 12^th.  We are going to Guatemala in November for another build.

We are looking forward to returning to Molokai and renewing friendships from last year and meeting the new team members.  It will be great to see the  completed house that we worked on last year.

 

Mary Ann De Jesus      Ozone Park, NY

Aloha!  My name is Mary Ann and I’m a lifelong resident of Queens, NY.  I am the Director of Human Resources at a financial communications firm in NYC, but my passion is volunteering.  I began volunteering with Habitat in 1995 and since then have built with Habitat in 13 states, plus Hungary and Poland.  I also have built or otherwise volunteered in 5 other states and Poland through other organizations.  My goal is to volunteer in all 50 states – Hawaii will make #19. While I love all GV trips, this one will be particularly special because my husband is joining me.  Jose and I were married 7 years ago on a beach in Maui, and spent a day of our honeymoon in Molokai.  I’m very excited that we will return for the first time to each of these islands during this trip.  I’m looking forward to seeing Kat again and meeting all of you. 

 Jose De Jesus     Ozone Park, NY

I am a lifelong New Yorker, having lived in Manhattan, the Bronx and Queens.  One of my favorite things to do is riding my motorcycle.  I also like to ride my bicycle, and have done two long-distance bike rides for charity.  I enjoy working with my hands, but building a house is new to me. 

Julia Cohen   Arlington, MA  

 I’m Julia and I’m 18! I have lived in Pittsburgh PA, Durham NC and most recently Arlington MA. I enjoy art, music and physical activities. I enjoy cats, too, and will miss my cat when on the trip. I’m a huge Duke Men’s Basketball team fan. I am very excited to go to Molokai for my very first trip to Hawaii and first build for H.F.H.

Kayathiri (Kaya) Subramaniam    Toronto, Canada
My name is Kayathiri (Kaya) Subramaniam and I’m 21 years old! I live in Toronto and I am currently a third year nursing student. I also work part time in a hospital and volunteer some time with children at the Hospital for Sick Children. This is my first (of many more) Global Village trip. I am thrilled to meet you guys and help build homes for people in Molokai. I enjoy travelling and learning about new cultures and tasting new cuisines. Some of my hobbies are reading, cooking, baking and mediating. Lastly, I love to try out new things and hope to do so during the trip!!

Patricia Sullivan  Pasadena, California
 I was asked to take early retirement in 2000 which turned out to be one of the best things that ever happened to me.  I was living in New York City at the time, and I love the city but after 20 years there, I decided to spend time exploring other places - lived in the suburbs for a few winters shoveling way too much snow, spent a great winter in Charleston, SC one year, drove Route 66 and around the country for 25,000 more miles in 2005 and have been in Southern California for the past few years.  Working again part-time in a community college which gives me time to do a lot of reading, mainly mysteries and some weaving (have my own loom).  I still travel as much as I can, back to NY, to weaving conferences and also trying to do a Habitat Global Village at least once a year (Molokai will be my fourteenth one).   I enjoy movies, museums, theatre and dance performances (ballet is a favorite). And I like taking classes to try new things – trying tai chi this semester.  

Rachel Clancy   Santa Clarita, California

 My name is Rachel Clancy and I couldn’t be more excited about my first ever work trip to Molokai, Hawaii.  I’m 16 years old and a junior in high school.  I live in southern California, and I love it.  To occupy my spare time I listen to music, go to concerts, and participate in student government activities for my school.  I hope this trip will show me different ways of living, and allow me to experience a new culture.  I can’t wait!






Jill Goldberg   (Vancouver, Canada)
I'm a Montreal (Quebec) ex-pat living in Vancouver, B.C. where I teach English Literature at the college level, go on long bike rides and run near the ocean.  I am also a writer and a shiatsu massage practitioner and use massage as a tool for outreach by offering it on a volunteer basis at a women's drop-in center for women who are mostly sex trade workers and addicts.  I'm delighted to be going on Habitat's trip to Molokai and am looking forward to meeting fellow volunteers!


*from Kat - check out Jill's website: Blissful Shiatsu

Welcome to the Moloka'i Christmas Build 2010!