GE Volunteers News

Here are the projects and events we have be doing. Please consider joining us!

Reptile Discovery Center Tour

What a fun, interesting and informative visit we had to the Reptile Discovery Center near DeLand. The center has a large outdoor trail with alligators and large land tortoises with an old Florida feel. We had a guide who described the animals and fed the alligator. Inside, the snake milking was very impressive with snakes ranging from tiny coral snakes to copperheads, cottonmouths, large cobras and a powerful diamondback rattlesnake. We also were able to handle some beautiful and smooth corn snakes and pythons that were very quiet and easy to hold. We did not hold any of the snakes being milked. We plan to schedule this tour again and recommend you sign up for it, it was fun and fascinating.

MOAS and NASA Space Days
Saturday April 13

Once again the GE Volunteers set up their rocket launching equipment in the MOAS auditorium for the MOAS NASA Space Days event. It was supported by 11 GE Volunteer rocket scientists who helped the kids align and launch their rockets aimed at targets with dollar values. If the rockets made it through a dollar value hoop our Elfun organization donated that amount to the MOAS Kids Wing.

During the busy day there were 67 kids who built and launched their rockets. And then launched them again, and again, and again...... In total our Elfun organization donated $265 to the MOAS for the successful target rocket launches.

On March 21 we had 31 Elfuns and GE Volunteers board the Lady Dolphin paddle boat in Daytona Beach Halifax Harbor. It was a picture perfect blue sky day, just right for a cruise along the Halifax River, having a delicious dinner on-board and then getting to see a rocket launch on the return trip. A very fun trip with friends and family!

Pancakes and Boat Tour

On Feb 22 we had over 20 people join us to eat pancakes at the Old Sugar Mill restaurant in the DeLeon Springs State Park on a beautiful spring day. After making our own pancakes and catching up with friends many of us boarded the boat called "The Fountain of Youth”. We were treated to a great tour seeing multiple alligators, white egrets, and many other birds and wildlife.

Longstreet School STEM Class

Approximately once a month, a number of GE Volunteers teach an after school math/science class at J.R. Longstreet School in Daytona Beach Shores. GE Volunteers donated over 100 hours in 2023-2024 school year!

Watching a rocket launch

GE Vols Help Out MDC

Our friends at the Marine Discovery Center in New Smyrna Beach had a problem with their aquarium top. It was designed as a terrarium so that turtles could climb up out of the water and onto the enclosed terrarium top lid to bask in a small heat lamp. But the original top had been made out of plywood and was starting to decay and fall into the tank. After measuring the top and discussing what was needed by the MDC staff our GE Volunteers built a new replacement top with more durable material. The old top was removed and the new version installed which is now being used by the friendly turtles in the aquarium. Stop by the Marine Discovery Center and check it out. They have some very interesting salt water exhibits and you can see the new terrarium. Many thanks to Lew DeWitt and Jim Kotas for the project.

RAY JOHNSON MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE
SELECTS FOUR RECIPIENTS FOR 2025

In 2015, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Volusia County, Inc. (formerly Halifax Habitat for
Humanity) announced the creation of the Ray Johnson Memorial Scholarship to commemorate
the life, and to posthumously continue the tradition of dedication and service, of this long-
time volunteer and friend of HFH of GVC. Through the GE Volunteers, Johnson contributed
over 8,000 hours of his time over a 20-year period following his GE retirement in 1993.
Johnson served Habitat on the Board of Directors, the annual budget committee, and chaired
the construction committee. He stood on roofs, nailed trusses, painted walls, and served as a
site supervisor. In total, he was involved in building 60 Habitat homes in the Daytona Beach
area.

The Ray Johnson Memorial Scholarship Committee was formed in 2015 with representatives
from the local HFH of GVC affiliate, the GE Volunteers, and Ray’s friends. The committee
established several requirements for the Scholarship program, which is for the exclusive
benefit of qualified HFH of GVC homeowners and/or their resident dependents. In the spring
of 2016, the Scholarship Committee selected the first recipients for the fall term of 2016.
Scholarships have been awarded annually since that time, and to date have totaled almost
$50,000.

In the spring of 2025, four recipients were selected to receive scholarships totaling $7,000.
Recipients will attend Florida A&M University, Daytona State College, and South College,
pursuing degrees in Advanced Practice Registered Nursing, Criminal Justice, Sociology, and
Automotive and Mechanical Studies.

We will continue to need financial help in the years to come to fund these scholarships. If you
would like to make a contribution, Habitat can accept both cash and marketable securities. If
you wish to donate securities, please contact the Habitat office at 386-257-9950 and ask for
Darlene Wolfson. For cash donations, please make your check payable to Habitat for
Humanity of Greater Volusia County, Inc. and mail it to Habitat for Humanity of Greater
Volusia County, Inc., 1030 West International Speedway Blvd., Second Floor, Daytona Beach
FL 32114. Note on the memo line of the check that it is for the “Ray Johnson Memorial
Scholarship”.