by Charles Hendricks | Jun 22, 2014 | Charles Hendricks, citizen architect, community, Local Leaders, Rotary, team
The Annual Harrisonburg Soap Box Derby took place earlier in June. This event teaches kids workmanship, sportsmanship, and community service. This event is sponsored by the Rockingham Rotary. It is spearheaded by Farm Credit’s Matt Findley who puts countless hours into the event along with most of his family. This derby just completed the ninth year with 30+ kids participating and going on to the national competition. We were thrilled to be one of the many volunteers this year and hope to see twice as many kids involved next year.
by Charles Hendricks | Jul 6, 2012 | Charles Hendricks, citizen architect, Harrisonburg Architect
As we stand at the edge and look towards the future, I wonder if we will start to build bridges or continue to erode the banks. As we continue to borrow against our future, our children’s future, we are damaging the fabric needed for success. We fight for things that benefit ourselves right now without thinking through the issues in a holistic manner. We throw insults and accusations at those in leadership to discredit them often simply because they are not on our ‘team’. We shove people in a category because they have voiced an opinion about one issue, at one time, concerning one matter. We are ripping away the power of thoughtful discussion and compromise. We are tearing down the pathways to unity and power all in the name of money, taxes, ‘freedom’. As we stand at the edge I wonder if you will reach out your hand to help me up or continue on your way without looking back.
Every decision we make has an impact. You can choose to support those looking to build community or those looking to build themselves. What do you want our future to look like? What do you want to pass down to our children? Will you stand up for those making decisions that do not benefit you today, but rather benefit us in the long run? Will you make changes to your lifestyle today that reduces air and water pollution in the future? Will you change your shopping patterns to support your neighbors even though it may cost you more cash today? Will you stop spreading hate so that your children can experience a world that puts respect, conversation, and community as a top priority?
I don’t have the answers and I struggle to make the right changes myself. I am always looking for a better way, but often fall short. We are standing at the edge of an ecological disaster, a financial meltdown, an energy nightmare. We are facing serious climate change issues, over fishing, agricultural deprivation of soil, polluting chemical companies, ozone layer deprivation, waste disposal problems, energy production issues, energy grid failures, overpopulation, food shortages, water pollution, poor fiscal policy, political lobby groups, and communication failures just to name a few. How can we ever overcome all these challenges? How can we get past the political maneuvering of those with money and power and make a real change in our community? We only have one option that can provide success – we have to come together, as a community, as a nation, and as a family and work towards a positive future. We need to stop fighting for power and instead work to help each other.
“The encouraging thing is that every time you meet a situation, though you may think at the time it is an impossibility and you go through the tortures of the damned, once you have met it and lived through it you find that forever after you are freer than you ever were before. If you can live through that you can live through anything. You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, `I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.’ The danger lies in refusing to face the fear, in not daring to come to grips with it. If you fail anywhere along the line, it will take away your confidence. You must make yourself succeed every time. You must do the thing you think you cannot do.”
— Eleanor Roosevelt
You Learn By Living (1960)
by Charles Hendricks | Jun 16, 2012 | architecture, Charles Hendricks
Life of a father
Many look at our plight as a fairy tale of watching television, burping, yelling for our team, and mowing the yard. However, there is more to the story than you have seen in the news. There are more trials and tribulations to being a father than any other role in the world. The FATHER is more than a stereotype of football fanatic, grill loving, trash taker outer. The FATHER is the glue that makes all things possible. Here is a look at dads on this Happy Father’s Day.
Father, or Dad as some people prefer, is the person that makes all other things possible. Without Dad nobody leave the seat up to give that cold surprise in the middle of the night that wakes you up early so you can get more done. This is a role only a father can fill to the utmost potential!
Dad is the person that is called in when there is a spider that needs a special friend to take them on a trip outside. Of course Dad probably does not want to touch the spider either, but he braves the 8 legs and disposes of the spider carefully.
Dad is the person that avoids climbing on the roof so you can have that vegetated roof you always wanted and did not know to ask for. Without his not cleaning out the gutters that seed pod would have never seen the potential of growing in the gutter. Those weeds would not have sprouted roots and flowered.
Dad is the person that brings the tickles in the morning when the little ones are having trouble getting up. There is nobody else fully qualified to get the belly button with slobbery vigor.
Dad is the one person available at all times for that afternoon nap that someone needs to take. That couch was purchased and paid for with money that took time to earn, delivered with the sweat of the delivery men hired so dad would not have to carry it, and it just sits there. Dad gives it potential and purpose making the efforts and money used worthwhile.
Dad does not mow the grass more often so when it gets done it looks that much better. If it was mowed weekly you would never get to experience it looking terrible. Without Dad procrastinating you would not get to experience the full beauty of a neat trimmed lawn compared to the unkept experience it has every other week.
Without Dad, who would finish that half eaten ice cream, donuts, or hamburger? Dad is the ultimate environmentalist helping reduce food waste one meal at a time.
Dads were created to give kids something to climb on, jump on, and bounce on. Dads were created to give others a higher sense of accomplishment.
Dads give purpose to kids. Dads give motivation for others to get better, always looking for ways to set a baseline standard that others can surpass to give them the feeling of success. If a Dad was to get up and do all the work, follow all the rules, and always behave, then others would feel inadequate.
As a Father, I pride myself in my ability to give my kids a sense of accomplishment. I hope your father’s day can be just as beneficial to those around you and that you take an extra long nap, grill a few extra burgers, and watch many hours of the game.
Happy Father’s Day!
by Charles Hendricks | May 23, 2012 | architecture, Charles Hendricks, citizen architect, community, Local Leaders, Rotary, team
I was told by another architect recently that my approach to business was “not like his at all.” I will be the first to admit that his basis for measuring business success is certainly in line with the traditional basis. The goal of making as much money as you possibly can make, beating your competition, and getting the highest profile projects is certainly one very easy measure of success. My problem with this attitude is that it leads to what I consider an empty fulfillment of what is possible in an architectural career. I want more out of my career than just buildings, I want to build community.
Of course, I do want to make money designing architectural solutions, at least enough to live comfortably at the level my family and I are used to living. I just believe that I have an ethical obligation to do more. In my opinion, an architect has the best tool available at their disposal to create positive outcomes for their community – DESIGN. Sometimes this comes in the form of a paying client that allows you to design solutions for their buildings and homes. Done right, this will add to the energy-efficient, aesthetically pleasing, and healthy built environments for our community. However, architects should also give their time to worthy organizations that help build positive outcomes in the community. After all architects are trained problem solvers that are able to take complex issues and create solutions.
So while I may not approach business success in the traditional sense, I hope you will agree that I am working hard to build success in and for our community.
by Charles Hendricks | May 22, 2012 | aging in place, Charles Hendricks
The SVBA is hosting a nationally recognized certification program in Harrisonburg this week. The building industry professionals taking this course have come from Harrisonburg, Charlottesville, and as far away as Lynchburg and Baltimore. This training will provide the knowledge and training for those attending to better serve the community by offering solutions for people to live more comfortably in their homes with comfort, security, and dignity. Aging in Place is not about designing for a disability, it is about designing solutions that work for all abilities. CAPS certification is a recognized, understood, and respected designation that you can trust when selecting professionals to help you live better.
The Certified Aging-in-place specialist (CAPS) designation was developed by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Remodelors Council, in collaboration with the AARP, NAHB Research Center, and NAHB Seniors Housing Council.
This program was developed to provide professionals training that would enable them to accommodate the needs of people over the age of 50, as well as the knowledge they would need to modify their homes for aging in place.
The program focuses specifically on the customer service skills, technical information, and business management training needed to properly serve the needs of older adults.
In other words, the CAPS certified professional is trained on the unique needs of the baby boomer generation by modifying homes so someone can live there longer as they age addressing the most common barriers in a home.
by Charles Hendricks | May 15, 2011 | architecture, Charles Hendricks, Harrisonburg Architect
Playhouse Design 2011
Here is the final version of the new playhouse for those interested. There was a LOT of input from my clients…
We got great input from readers of this blog CLICK HERE. I look forward to good weather next weekend and the ground breaking ceremony!
