PET Tampa

Director’s Report 2010

Year In Review

2010 started out with our workshop stripped to the bare walls.  We were following through on a decision made in late 2009 to redesign the workshop for better efficiency and less congestion.  We were fortunate to have Al Kendig, from the Holland Michigan PET workshop, assist us with the redesign and layout of the shop’s workflow.  After seeing our operation and taking a careful look at the workshop interior, we all agreed on his recommendation to open up the space as much as possible and basically start from scratch.

Walls were removed and painted, rooms rearranged, the sawdust collection system was improved, but the major improvement was the layout.  Movement of parts and assemblies through the shop was clumsy and the space was not being fully utilized.  So now with a design that looked good, and that had consensus among the board of directors and key workshop volunteers, renovation and construction work began in January.

At the same time, we were saying goodbye to our PET Tampa Workshop founders, Jeff and April Sukup and transitioning to a new management team.  As we began to examine Jeff’s duties, it became quickly apparent that this was simply too much for a part time volunteer!  So, Jeff’s responsibilities were divided between our new Workshop Coordinator, Dave Halterman, and Workshop Administrator, Tom Behrens.

In April, the shop was ready and we began again producing PET carts.  With some shifting of organizational elements, we were quickly back on pace at roughly the same production numbers as the year before.  Our expectation was that perhaps production would improve, but now we see that the most notable improvement is the experience that our volunteers have when coming to work in our shop.  There has also been more attention paid to the quality of the vehicles being built, as we work to comply with PET International construction standards.

In September, we attended the PET International Annual Workshop for all PET Project Affiliates.  We expressed our concern that our warehouse would soon be full and we soon would have to consider scaling back on production quantities.  There was talk of a new PET International Partner in Haiti, so we anxiously awaited the formalization of that partnership.

In early October, we were informed of a partnership that had been forged between PET International and the Albert Schweitzer Hospital (HAS) in Haiti (www.hashaiti.org). We waited with excited anticipation to send PET carts from our inventory to help the most needy pick themselves up off the ground for a new experience in mobility.  News came in late October that a container was waiting in Miami for twenty or so PET carts.

While we made arrangements for that delivery, yet another introduction was made to a local ministry that we never knew was right in our back yard.  PET International stepped in and helped us forge a new partnership with Love A Child (LAC) Ministries (www.loveachild.com) in Riverview, Florida.  LAC operates an orphanage, physical rehab clinics, as well as many health clinics.  They are also providing temporary and permanent housing to earthquake victims.  The folks at LAC wanted some PETs right away to go into a container they were packing in November.

So, as LAC is sending teams to our workshop loading up PETs, Don Hitchcock and Tom Behrens drove to Miami with a load of PETs for HAS.  We received word just after the new year that two of our PET vehicles had been distributed by LAC to needy individuals.

All in all this year, we logged 2,196 volunteer hours with 549 total volunteer registration signups.  We produced a total of 127 adult and 12 child vehicles, and shipped 74 adult and eight child vehicles.  We continue to be blessed with volunteers and donations, and it truly is by the grace of God that our ministry continues to thrive.  We thank all of our volunteers, contributors, and stakeholders for their continued support of our ministry.