EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S REPORT Mary Werderitch, IFSA Executive Director

From the January 2011 newsletter... Mary Werderitch, Executive Director
18 years ago, the Illinois Fire Safety Alliance (IFSA) had grown enough to need an executive director and an office. The Executive Director’s home became the office. First it was a dining room table, shortly thereafter a small part of the basement. The office has continued to grow through the years to the point of using almost the entire basement, along with various locations throughout the house and a storage unit. It was decided in 2010 to set the long range goal of researching leasing office space or in this economy to purchase. We didn’t think purchasing would be an option. The IFSA has always been extremely frugal with our donor dollars….to the point of reusing manila folders!

The search for leasing options began with little success. When we broadened the scope to include properties for sale, the options weren’t much better for what we would consider as a purchase price. Then our real estate agent took us to a beautiful building. With new carpeting and wide open spaces we could truly make it our own. The bad news… At 6,000 sq.ft. , it was bigger than our needs and out of our price range. The good news… The original owner had foreclosed on the property and the bank had been sitting on it for a few years. The board approved an offer to the bank for half the asking price (which in itself was below market value) thinking they would never consider it. Not only did they consider it, THEY ACCEPTED! We quickly found ourselves the owners of a 6,000 sq. ft. store front for only $200,000. What can you buy for $200,000 even in this economy? We closed on December 20, 2010. The real estate lawyer stated that this was an amazing price and termed it “legal theft”…

The IFSA mission is Fire Safety and Burn Prevention. As they say, “Do as you preach.” We believe and preach the importance of sprinkler systems not only in places of business, but also in the home. As we prepare to move the office into our new home we recognize the significance and necessity of installing a sprinkler system in our building. We do not have any plans of moving in until the building has been retrofitted.

Now for the heartwarming story:
Ryan O’Sullivan started at Camp “I Am Me” when he was 8 years old. He is now 24 years old. He has been a full time camp counselor for a couple of years now. He called the office the other day to say he wanted to be a counselor this summer and was sorry he hadn’t sent in his application yet. I just joked and said “you’ve always been one of my favorite delinquents”! He then asked what was new with the IFSA. I shared with him that after 18 years we were going to move into an office. He then reminded me that he was in the HVAC union licensed and had an electricians license. He came out and helped my husband Randy move two of the thermostats that were poorly placed for our needs. He hopes to come back with his Uncle to review and follow through on our immediate electrical needs. He stated “camp has done so much for me all my life, I am so happy to be given the opportunity to give back”.

We’d like to extend our special appreciation to:

  • Randy Werderitch, my right arm, for taking care of so many things in the building and as always giving without needing recognition.
  • Jim Miller with the Mount Prospect Fire Department who took a vacation day to come out and help Randy remove the plethora of wires that we won’t need. The office was previously a real estate office. There were about 200 wires and we need at the most 3 to each outlet.
  • Andy Skic with the Mount Prospect Fire Department who shared his time and talent to create our signs for the outside of the building. He spent countless hours on the project and even hung the signs for us.
  • Joe Paczosa, retired Morton Grove District Chief has offered to bring his talents and volunteers to do any carpentry we need done.
Volunteers are not paid because they are worthless, but because they are priceless!