As Chairman of the Brookline Community Foundation, I have had a lot of pleasures and experiences in seven years of work with BCF. But I have been totally humbled to watch the community respond to the call for help in "greening" our beautiful (but previously quite drafty) old building at 40 Webster Place.

You have to understand, this is at least a triple win. We reduce our carbon footprint; the earth wins. We reduce our energy consumption; Brookline wins (we can do more for the community when we avoid sending our limited funds off to the utilities!). We reduce the drafts; our staff, nonprofit tenants and everyone who attends meetings at 40 Webster Place wins.

And these are just the obvious wins. Many believe that those who give of themselves, receive much in return. The intangibles, sense of contributing, warm and fuzzies. True enough. Everyone I've seen at 40 Webster Street weatherization action Saturdays seems to feel good about what they are doing. But what I didn't count on was the fun, the comradery, the just plain good time. 

So, in my official capacity as Board Chair, and my unofficial capacity as shlepper of dirt and cleaner of windows, I want to say that I have been deeply humbled and gratified to see the many people who have turned out to make this happen. And the fun will assuredly spread (don't believe me?Come join us Saturday anytime 8-3).

And let me say, THANK YOU very loudly. First and foremost to Jim Lockwood, the pied piper of weatherization, his partner, Harold Simansky, and their company, Green Guild. In this production, Jim is also playing the role of the energizer bunny of weatherization. he and Harold have been tremendously generous with their time, expertise and leadership. Every last bit of it donated.

And THANK YOU to all of the individuals and businesses who have contributed so generously to these efforts. I hesitate to name them, because I fear leaving anyone out. But I feel I must name the businesses, not only to thank them, but to encourage anyone reading this to go out and patronize them. That's clearly not why they are doing this work and donating their services, but that's all the more reason we should reward them for their community-mindedness.

• Green Guild
• Village Green Renewal
• Malin FX Electric
• Connelly Hardware
• WL Grant
• United Rentals
• Save That Stuff
• Zaftigs
• Michael Peering Landscape Collaborative
• Fitts-Trafford Carpentry

Finally, I want to thank BCF's own Gwen Ossenfort who has taken on this project out of love and passion and greenness and community-minded and great spirit, adding many many hours to her "job", which is clearly more than a job to her. Without her support of and partnership with Jim, none of this would be happening.

Humbled, lucky, and looking forward to Saturday,

Tom