Naperville Responds

How some of Naperville’s Partner City Initiatives Connect with PROJECTS coordinated by the Rotary Club of Pass Christian

Rotary Rebuilds – Home owners are brought to us by the UMCORE Case Managers. The Mennonite Disaster Services provides preconstruction. Rotary is responsible for purchasing building supplies, specialty contractors and fees. These homes are 1,200 square feet with three bedrooms, two bathrooms, kitchen, living room - dining room area, AC and heat. Clients are selected according to property ownership in the Pass, low or no annual wage, inability to obtain an SBA loan and at most some help from FEMA and at most some help from insurance. Clients do not have to pay anything for these homes, but they may if they wish. After completion we only ask that they help their neighbors. To date, we have completed four homes, four more are under construction and another home will be started in four to six weeks. Two of the homes currently under construction are Naperville Responds homes. Building cost is $55,000-$60,000 per home.

To date, Naperville Responds has provided private funds for five houses in partnership with the Rotary Club of Pass Christian and the Mennonite Disaster Services . Three homes were dedicated and presented to their owners on Aug. 19, 2006, and the fourth is a work in progress. Naperville Responds has pledged to fund building 20 homes.

The first home started by the Rotary Club of Pass Christian last March was dedicated on September 29, 2006.

We anticipate building 100 homes. No one on the Gulf Coast is providing this service to their less fortunate neighbors.
The Pass Library – Our library temporarily is housed in a double wide trailer. Rotary and “Friends of the Library” provided all utility hook-ups and ramps. A California Rotary gift of ten (10) computers was given to us. Our Rotary friends in Pennsylvania are holding shelving and furniture for an 80,000 book library, which will be shipped and used when our permanent library is completed. A Rotary in Illinois will sponsor our children’s library and a Rotary in Philadelphia will sponsor our handicapped section. We have started a $250,000 fund to provide support for the cities cost for reconstruction and for the counties cost for content replacement. We have gifts and grants for new books, some of our library equipment and for construction. We need $110,000 to complete our goal. The estimated cost for rebuilding our library is $1,250,000. We should have some help from FEMA, the FEDS, and our State government. Our citizens have a passion for their library.
“Nip” Lang Community Center – A Rotary District in Southern California provided a double wide trailer for us to use as a community center. This provides the ONLY building in our town for our church groups, social clubs, business organizations and scouts to use. We need a second permanent building to complete this community complex. Estimated cost is $100,000. This center has been a God send for our city.
Dump Trucks – Our cities four dump trucks, all of its excavators, back hoes and other mechanical equipment were destroyed in Katrina. Our Rotary friends in Truckee, California have given us our first dump truck. They drove it here with a load of Douglas Fur. They asked that a few of these timbers be used in every home that we built, as California’s contribution to the home. Another Rotary District in Maine has put together a project for “dump truck fund raising.” You cannot imagine how important a dump truck is to a city.
Adopt a Sewer – Hurricane Katrina disrupted 20,000 feet of sewer on the South side of our town. At $200/linear foot, the estimated cost for replacement is $4,000,000. We should get help from FEMA, the FEDS and the state government. But the city will still be responsible for 5%-10% of the cost. Our Rotary project offers an individual the opportunity to adopt ten feet of sewer for $2,000. The contributor’s name will be permanently placed on bronze plaques at either end of US 90 so that their grandchildren and great grandchildren can see who helped rebuild the cities sewer. Any excess funds raised will be used to provide
plumbing supplies for our Rotary Rebuilds project. Our program of Pass Christian’s National Toilet Paper Rollout raises additional funds for this project. People contributing $20 or more will receive a roll of appropriately labeled toilet paper.
“Potty” in the Park – The Rotary is rebuilding the public restroom in our community park which was destroyed by Katrina. The restroom will be fully ADA compliant. There is a significant need for this “potty”. It will be appropriately designed to fit with the architectural scheme within the park. Our Rotary friends in South Carolina have made a significant contribution to our “potty”, as has our local Chamber of Commerce. Wheelchair accessible walkways to the “potty” will be provided.
The Ultimate Playground – Our “Ultimate Playground” in Pass Christian, Mississippi will include existing playground equipment in addition to a handicapped accessible playground and a special section for senior citizens. The handicapped accessible playground and senior activity area will include eight (8) pieces of handicapped accessible equipment and four (4) pieces of equipment for our senior citizens. The center will encompass all areas of activity together so that the children especially will sense togetherness and the handicapped children will not feel ostracized from the other children. All will be encouraged to play together. The senior activity area will be located close to our park’s walking track so that the adults will have activities before and after walking and will be able to enjoy watching the socialization of the children.

Their activities will include exercise bars for arm strength and several pieces of exercise equipment for the legs, including strength bars and stationary bicycles. There will be adult double-seated gliders, adult safety swing chairs and adult wheelchair swings. There will also be a stationary game table.

We feel that the “Ultimate Playground” will provide a remarkable and unusual activity center for our community park. The estimated cost for the handicapped equipment, adult activity equipment and their set-up is $60,000.

We already have received support from several Rotary Clubs in South Carolina. We have been told that the local Chamber of Commerce, several businesses and other service organizations are interested in supporting our project. To my knowledge this is the first “Ultimate Playground” in our country. All children and adults are welcome to play together and socialize together.
Police Station – A metal building for a police station with eight-ten rooms is proposed. This will be approximately 12,000 square feet. This area will include offices for the chief, secretaries, investigators, patrolmen, a communication center, holding cells, small kitchen area, activity room and restrooms. This will be located on land owned by the city at an elevation of twenty-four feet above sea level. There will be a secured parking area next to the building.

The interior of this building will be finished by our Mennonite Disaster Services team with wood products and appropriate siding. Heat and air conditioning will be in place. Flooring will be cement slab covered by tile. Private contractors will be needed for plumbing and electric.

It is anticipated that the overall cost will be less than $500,000 considering there will be no construction cost other than the specialty contractors. It must be clearly understood that these plans may require alteration, secondary to land availability and unforeseen cost/circumstances.

A Rotary District in Southern Illinois has indicated that they want to provide support for this project. In addition, a Rotary Club in northern Illinois has begun fund raising for this project’s contents.

---D.H. Short
Rotary Club of Pass Christian
Pass Christian, Mississippi



	How some of Naperville’s Partner City Initiatives Connect with PROJECTS coordinated by the Rotary Club of Pass Christian Rotary Rebuilds – Home owners are brought to us by the UMCORE Case Managers. The Mennonite Disaster Services provides preconstruction. Rotary is responsible for purchasing building supplies, specialty contractors and fees. These homes are 1,200 square feet with three bedrooms, two bathrooms, kitchen, living room - dining room area, AC and heat. Clients are selected according to property ownership in the Pass, low or no annual wage, inability to obtain an SBA loan and at most some help from FEMA and at most some help from insurance. Clients do not have to pay anything for these homes, but they may if they wish. After completion we only ask that they help their neighbors. To date, we have completed four homes, four more are under construction and another home will be started in four to six weeks. Two of the homes currently under construction are Naperville Responds homes. Building cost is $55,000-$60,000 per home. To date, Naperville Responds has provided private funds for five houses in partnership with the Rotary Club of Pass Christian and the Mennonite Disaster Services . Three homes were dedicated and presented to their owners on Aug. 19, 2006, and the fourth is a work in progress. Naperville Responds has pledged to fund building 20 homes. The first home started by the Rotary Club of Pass Christian last March was dedicated on September 29, 2006. We anticipate building 100 homes. No one on the Gulf Coast is providing this service to their less fortunate neighbors. The Pass Library – Our library temporarily is housed in a double wide trailer. Rotary and “Friends of the Library” provided all utility hook-ups and ramps. A California Rotary gift of ten (10) computers was given to us. Our Rotary friends in Pennsylvania are holding shelving and furniture for an 80,000 book library, which will be shipped and used when our permanent library is completed. A Rotary in Illinois will sponsor our children’s library and a Rotary in Philadelphia will sponsor our handicapped section. We have started a $250,000 fund to provide support for the cities cost for reconstruction and for the counties cost for content replacement. We have gifts and grants for new books, some of our library equipment and for construction. We need $110,000 to complete our goal. The estimated cost for rebuilding our library is $1,250,000. We should have some help from FEMA, the FEDS, and our State government. Our citizens have a passion for their library. “Nip” Lang Community Center – A Rotary District in Southern California provided a double wide trailer for us to use as a community center. This provides the ONLY building in our town for our church groups, social clubs, business organizations and scouts to use. We need a second permanent building to complete this community complex. Estimated cost is $100,000. This center has been a God send for our city. Dump Trucks – Our cities four dump trucks, all of its excavators, back hoes and other mechanical equipment were destroyed in Katrina. Our Rotary friends in Truckee, California have given us our first dump truck. They drove it here with a load of Douglas Fur. They asked that a few of these timbers be used in every home that we built, as California’s contribution to the home. Another Rotary District in Maine has put together a project for “dump truck fund raising.” You cannot imagine how important a dump truck is to a city. Adopt a Sewer – Hurricane Katrina disrupted 20,000 feet of sewer on the South side of our town. At $200/linear foot, the estimated cost for replacement is $4,000,000. We should get help from FEMA, the FEDS and the state government. But the city will still be responsible for 5%-10% of the cost. Our Rotary project offers an individual the opportunity to adopt ten feet of sewer for $2,000. The contributor’s name will be permanently placed on bronze plaques at either end of US 90 so that their grandchildren and great grandchildren can see who helped rebuild the cities sewer. Any excess funds raised will be used to provide plumbing supplies for our Rotary Rebuilds project. Our program of Pass Christian’s National Toilet Paper Rollout raises additional funds for this project. People contributing $20 or more will receive a roll of appropriately labeled toilet paper. “Potty” in the Park – The Rotary is rebuilding the public restroom in our community park which was destroyed by Katrina. The restroom will be fully ADA compliant. There is a significant need for this “potty”. It will be appropriately designed to fit with the architectural scheme within the park. Our Rotary friends in South Carolina have made a significant contribution to our “potty”, as has our local Chamber of Commerce. Wheelchair accessible walkways to the “potty” will be provided. The Ultimate Playground – Our “Ultimate Playground” in Pass Christian, Mississippi will include existing playground equipment in addition to a handicapped accessible playground and a special section for senior citizens. The handicapped accessible playground and senior activity area will include eight (8) pieces of handicapped accessible equipment and four (4) pieces of equipment for our senior citizens. The center will encompass all areas of activity together so that the children especially will sense togetherness and the handicapped children will not feel ostracized from the other children. All will be encouraged to play together. The senior activity area will be located close to our park’s walking track so that the adults will have activities before and after walking and will be able to enjoy watching the socialization of the children. Their activities will include exercise bars for arm strength and several pieces of exercise equipment for the legs, including strength bars and stationary bicycles. There will be adult double-seated gliders, adult safety swing chairs and adult wheelchair swings. There will also be a stationary game table. We feel that the “Ultimate Playground” will provide a remarkable and unusual activity center for our community park. The estimated cost for the handicapped equipment, adult activity equipment and their set-up is $60,000. We already have received support from several Rotary Clubs in South Carolina. We have been told that the local Chamber of Commerce, several businesses and other service organizations are interested in supporting our project. To my knowledge this is the first “Ultimate Playground” in our country. All children and adults are welcome to play together and socialize together. Police Station – A metal building for a police station with eight-ten rooms is proposed. This will be approximately 12,000 square feet. This area will include offices for the chief, secretaries, investigators, patrolmen, a communication center, holding cells, small kitchen area, activity room and restrooms. This will be located on land owned by the city at an elevation of twenty-four feet above sea level. There will be a secured parking area next to the building. The interior of this building will be finished by our Mennonite Disaster Services team with wood products and appropriate siding. Heat and air conditioning will be in place. Flooring will be cement slab covered by tile. Private contractors will be needed for plumbing and electric. It is anticipated that the overall cost will be less than $500,000 considering there will be no construction cost other than the specialty contractors. It must be clearly understood that these plans may require alteration, secondary to land availability and unforeseen cost/circumstances. A Rotary District in Southern Illinois has indicated that they want to provide support for this project. In addition, a Rotary Club in northern Illinois has begun fund raising for this project’s contents. *---D.H. Short* *Rotary Club of Pass Christian* *Pass Christian, Mississippi*