Tenant association enhances lives of castle dwellers
By Joanne Fox, Journal staff writer | Posted: Monday, October 30, 2006
Little MacKenzie was very meticulous as she painted her good-sized pumpkin with a Q-tip.
"Look at the mouth!" she said happily after swabbing some pink on the orange skin.
Then, she began singing repeatedly, "I paint. I paint. I paint..."
MacKenzie and nine other children were having a Halloween party courtesy of the first-ever nonprofit tenant association in Sioux City.
Debra Moriston is the founder and chairperson of the Keepers of the Castle Committee (KOTCC), a volunteer corporation set up to enhance the lives of the tenants of the Castle on the Hill Apartments.
Moriston moved into her second-floor apartment in January of 2004, just months after the first tenant took occupancy in the newly-created apartments.
"My daughter Heather and I had a bet, as to whether or not we could get in," she said with a laugh. "She won, but I was grateful. We were living in a third-floor walk-up and it was taking a toll on my rheumatoid arthritis."
It was just after the first-year anniversary that Moriston started to think about a tenants' group. Former Central High graduate Genny Lynns encouraged Moriston in her quest.
"I went on vacation and had a lot of time to think," she recalled. "I felt like we really needed a structured organization."
Moriston began contacting other tenants in the Castle's 75 apartments to see if there was an interest. Several tenants volunteered to work on the process. A board, officers and the aspects of making the corporation a reality were achieved.
Previously called the Castle on the Hill Apartments Tenants Association (COHATA), the group underwent a name change due to trademark infringement.
"The apartments are called the Castle on the Hill Apartments and the group of Central alumni are the Castle on the Hill Association," Moriston explained. "There were concerns about confusion if someone was applying for funding or grants so we thought it easier just to change our name."
Moriston gave credit to another Central High alum, Sue Dunsworth, with coming up with the final name change.
The corporation then needed to address the concerns of the tenants at their meetings, held the second Tuesday of each month. All tenants who reside in the building may attend.
Taking pride in the former school's best features -- the building, its history, the property -- were at the top of the list.
"One gentleman, Bud Henderson, is in a wheelchair and he helped build a planter on the grounds," Moriston pointed out. "I have some great pictures of him sitting and digging in the dirt."
But tending to the landscaping around the castle is just one aspect of their tasks. The group employs many educational services that include career exploration, educational opportunities and funding and employment searches. All of their services are free.
They also assist in surfacing needed social services for individuals and families with students at Hunt and Irving Schools. Along with projects to enhance life for the tenants, the organization is also involved in community development and support projects.
One of those is an after-school program open to students attending Hunt and Irving schools and the homeless children, Moriston said. The program is held from 3:15 to 5:15 p.m., Monday through Friday. It is staffed by volunteers who interact with the children, plan activities, demonstrate and teach social skills, work on computer skills and assess children's needs.
"Right now we are looking at programs for the kids during their long breaks from schools," Moriston said.
There were a number on hand for the Halloween party this beautiful Saturday afternoon. Volunteers chaperoned the kids on a trip to the Pumpkin Patch where participants picked out pumpkins, "oohed and ahhed" over the caged animals and went through a haunted house.
Then it was back to castle for the Halloween costume party. Even Moriston -- donning a Scary Movie mask -- and KOTCC secretary-treasurer Grace Engelhart -- sporting an Indiana Jones hat -- got into the festivities.
But as with most nonprofit groups, there's never enough volunteers, Moriston admitted. Right now the group could use some more board members and one need not call the castle home to be on the board.
"You have to be over 18, a citizen and undergo a police background check," Moriston said. "You can't have been charged with a sex, violent or drug-related crime. We can't have that with the number of activities that include children."
Individuals interested in volunteering with any aspect of the KOTCC may call Moriston at 226-4557.
VITA
Name: Debra Moriston
Hometown: Sioux City
Education: 1980 West High graduate; awarded a bachelor of science degree in biology and chemistry from Briar Cliff College in 1999
Professional: worked at St. Luke's Regional Medical Center and some nursing homes as a nurses aide; health problems have prohibited her from working recently
Personal: single with three children
How she's making a difference: by volunteering as chairperson of the Keepers of the Castle Committee
"Look at the mouth!" she said happily after swabbing some pink on the orange skin.
Then, she began singing repeatedly, "I paint. I paint. I paint..."
MacKenzie and nine other children were having a Halloween party courtesy of the first-ever nonprofit tenant association in Sioux City.
Debra Moriston is the founder and chairperson of the Keepers of the Castle Committee (KOTCC), a volunteer corporation set up to enhance the lives of the tenants of the Castle on the Hill Apartments.
Moriston moved into her second-floor apartment in January of 2004, just months after the first tenant took occupancy in the newly-created apartments.
"My daughter Heather and I had a bet, as to whether or not we could get in," she said with a laugh. "She won, but I was grateful. We were living in a third-floor walk-up and it was taking a toll on my rheumatoid arthritis."
It was just after the first-year anniversary that Moriston started to think about a tenants' group. Former Central High graduate Genny Lynns encouraged Moriston in her quest.
"I went on vacation and had a lot of time to think," she recalled. "I felt like we really needed a structured organization."
Moriston began contacting other tenants in the Castle's 75 apartments to see if there was an interest. Several tenants volunteered to work on the process. A board, officers and the aspects of making the corporation a reality were achieved.
Previously called the Castle on the Hill Apartments Tenants Association (COHATA), the group underwent a name change due to trademark infringement.
"The apartments are called the Castle on the Hill Apartments and the group of Central alumni are the Castle on the Hill Association," Moriston explained. "There were concerns about confusion if someone was applying for funding or grants so we thought it easier just to change our name."
Moriston gave credit to another Central High alum, Sue Dunsworth, with coming up with the final name change.
The corporation then needed to address the concerns of the tenants at their meetings, held the second Tuesday of each month. All tenants who reside in the building may attend.
Taking pride in the former school's best features -- the building, its history, the property -- were at the top of the list.
"One gentleman, Bud Henderson, is in a wheelchair and he helped build a planter on the grounds," Moriston pointed out. "I have some great pictures of him sitting and digging in the dirt."
But tending to the landscaping around the castle is just one aspect of their tasks. The group employs many educational services that include career exploration, educational opportunities and funding and employment searches. All of their services are free.
They also assist in surfacing needed social services for individuals and families with students at Hunt and Irving Schools. Along with projects to enhance life for the tenants, the organization is also involved in community development and support projects.
One of those is an after-school program open to students attending Hunt and Irving schools and the homeless children, Moriston said. The program is held from 3:15 to 5:15 p.m., Monday through Friday. It is staffed by volunteers who interact with the children, plan activities, demonstrate and teach social skills, work on computer skills and assess children's needs.
"Right now we are looking at programs for the kids during their long breaks from schools," Moriston said.
There were a number on hand for the Halloween party this beautiful Saturday afternoon. Volunteers chaperoned the kids on a trip to the Pumpkin Patch where participants picked out pumpkins, "oohed and ahhed" over the caged animals and went through a haunted house.
Then it was back to castle for the Halloween costume party. Even Moriston -- donning a Scary Movie mask -- and KOTCC secretary-treasurer Grace Engelhart -- sporting an Indiana Jones hat -- got into the festivities.
But as with most nonprofit groups, there's never enough volunteers, Moriston admitted. Right now the group could use some more board members and one need not call the castle home to be on the board.
"You have to be over 18, a citizen and undergo a police background check," Moriston said. "You can't have been charged with a sex, violent or drug-related crime. We can't have that with the number of activities that include children."
Individuals interested in volunteering with any aspect of the KOTCC may call Moriston at 226-4557.
VITA
Name: Debra Moriston
Hometown: Sioux City
Education: 1980 West High graduate; awarded a bachelor of science degree in biology and chemistry from Briar Cliff College in 1999
Professional: worked at St. Luke's Regional Medical Center and some nursing homes as a nurses aide; health problems have prohibited her from working recently
Personal: single with three children
How she's making a difference: by volunteering as chairperson of the Keepers of the Castle Committee
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Trish wrote on Oct 30, 2006 10:06 AM: