Click on the icon at the bottom of the page to access an audio interview between KCOW's Kevin Horn and BBGH Audiliary Home Tour Coordinator Ellen Feldges.
So there is this beautiful home, showcasing great decorating ideas and unique floor designs. It would be a nice addition to the annual Box Butte Auxiliary Home Tour fund raising event, that organization's top money maker. Having such a nice home would seem to indicate the proud homeowners would jump at the chance to showcase their home to the community at large, yes?
"No."
That mischievous one word answer came from Auxiliary Home Tour chair Ellen Feldges, a long time Auxiliary member who has spearheaded the Tour effort over four years. "No. I've never had anyone volunteer their home for the Auxiliary Home Tour," she said with a smile. "Quite often we have to search pretty hard to find enough homes to show. But I can tell you this. Those who have agreed to let us show their home, when the tours are done they almost all say they enjoyed the experience. As for me ... when it is all said and done ... I find it to be a rewarding experience as well. The comments we get from both the public and home owners always make it worthwhile and rewarding."
Mrs. Feldges took over the Home Tour from an Auxiliary member who ran the event for decades, Mrs. Maryetta Lyman. "I co-chaired with her for two or three years before I took over," Mrs. Feldges said. Since Mrs. Lyman has stepped down, Ellen has been helped by Auxiliary member Joyce Hulquist. "We're very fortunate to have Ellen and Joyce in charge of the home tour committee," said Auxiliary President Nancy Isom. "They do so much work behind the scenes."
The 2010 Home Tour is scheduled to be held Sunday, September 19, from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. Tickets are $10.00, and can be purchased from an Auxiliary member or during the day of the event at any of the homes on the tour. "We always have five homes to show," Mrs. Feldges said. "This year we've added one more, the most recent Habitat for Humanity home built in Alliance. We thought it would be nice to add it to the tour so that volunteers can see the result of all their time and talent. Showing it also gives the community at large an idea of what Habitat for Humanity can do. We had a lot of volunteers that contributed money as well, for cupboards and such. So this is a nice way to show them how much all of that was and is appreciated."
Homes included in the Tour this year are: Rick and Deb Thiems, 711 Cheyenne Ave.; Larry and Kathy Lybarger, 901 Cheyenne Ave.; George and Katie White, 924 Cheyenne Ave.; Diane and Gerald (Mitch) Mitchell, 2824 Toluca Ave; the Habitat for Humanity home of Kent and Tania Seebohm, 1407 Big Horn Ave.; and the home of Dede DeVeny, 2811 Big Horn Ave.
"Around the first week of August, we only had three residences, and I was a bit worried," Mrs. Feldges said. "But it all came together and we've another nice sampling of great homes in Alliance. The tour this year will conclude at the hospital with an additional tour of the Bridges to Home swing bed program, along with cookies and coffee at The Lunch Box, the hospital cafeteria."
As mentioned by Mrs. Feldges, this year was especially challenging. Three of the homes scheduled to be on the tour had to cancel due to circumstances beyond their control. But several others opened their doors for the tour, continuing the string of annual events since the Auxiliary started it over 30 years ago.
All proceeds from the event will go toward the purchase of an instrument called an AccuVein, which is used to help visually locate veins for medical procedures of all types, from drawing blood to starting IVs. "From what I understand, this instrument is around $4,500," Mrs. Feldges said. "The Home Tour proceeds will go a long way in making the purchase possible." The Tour helps raise around $3,800 a year, on average. The money has been used for everything from scholarships to hospital equipment and renovations.
Mrs. Feldges couldn't say enough about the people who open their doors to allow upwards of 300 people to tour their home over a three hour period. "They really do a lot to make sure their homes are in top shape for the visitors," she said. "I've never had anyone say they wish they hadn't done it. The comments from the public on how nice their homes look are always appreciated by the homeowners."
She said around 35 to 40 Auxiliary volunteers (split into two hour and half shifts) help keep everything in order and running smoothly. "We usually have around three to four Auxiliary members to a home," she said. "It takes a lot of planning and help to pull this off each year. They all are great help."
Mrs. Feldges urged others in the community to consider joining the Auxiliary. "We really do need new membership," she said. "It is a great group that helps a very worthy organization in our community. And you don't have to be retired to belong." Ellen is a good example of that, being a New York Life insurance agent with her own office in Alliance.
To become a BBGH Auxiliary member, contact Membership Chairperson Opal Tolstedt, 308-762-3744. Dues are only $5.00 per year for active members and $10.00 per year for inactive members.
She is, or has been, involved with any number of other organizations, including: Chair of the Taste of Holy Rosary Catholic Church; founding board member of the Box Butte Health Foundation; Past President of the American Legion Auxiliary Post #7; Eagles Auxiliary member; Advisory board member of Good Samaritan; Board member of the Nebraska Boys Ranch (now known as the Snow-Redfern Memorial Foundation; and Board member of the Ft. Robinson Post Playhouse.
She has several hobbies as well, including playing Bridge, gardening, woodworking, traveling, spending time with family and friends. "And learning golf," she concluded. 'I just picked that up in the last year."
