Coordinator Update: Fall 1999

Changing Seasons...and Staff!

Change is both perpetual and dynamic in nature. Like all things that grow and flourish, CalMAX is no different. With that said, CalMAX would like to say thank you and bid adieu to our friend, Kevin Taylor. As many of you know, Kevin has been dedicated to CalMAX for the past five years. In that time, both Kevin and Ken Decio (who left CalMAX in the fall of last year) have been instrumental in publishing the CalMAX quarterly catalog. In that time, they developed the CalMAX Web site and ushered in the new electronic database that we utilize today. Now, due to their perseverance, CalMAX offers business owners and nonprofit organizations a user-friendly online networking and information service, available 24 hours a day. This service provides users with the ability to search for and create new listings online throughout the state. We are grateful to Kevin for his dedicated efforts while working with CalMAX. A fond farewell to Kevin, as we wish him well in his new endeavors.

Scrap for Art Lovers

The UCLA Fowler Museum of Cultural History is presenting several concurrent exhibitions involving the motif of scrap as media for art. Running from now until Spring 2000, these collections from artists who utilize discarded and found objects truly stretch the imagination. If you find yourself in Los Angeles this season and are saddened by the departure of Van Gogh from the Getty, check out these modern art revolutionaries. For more information, see www.fmch.ucla.edu.

Environmental Activities/Events

• Second Chance Week: October 16-24, 1999
• America Recycles Day: November 15, 1999
• Use Less Stuff Day: November 18, 1999 http://use-less-stuff.com/
• Buy Nothing Day: November 27, 1999   

Second Chance Week (October 18-26, 1999)

As CalMAX continues to promote materials exchange activities throughout the state, other activities promoting reuse continue to gain momentum. During the week of October 18-26, statewide activities will be aimed at promoting Second Chance Week. Designed to promote reuse, Second Chance Week events may be underway in your community.

What is Reuse? Reuse is the process of taking commercial and residential goods and materials—such as clothes, computers, office supplies, manufacturing by-products and building materials—and utilizing them in a manner that does not alter their original form. Reuse can also mean using something over and over again. A number of reuse businesses have flourished in past years. They include:

• Thrift Stores and Consignment Shops

• Used Book Stores

• Repair Shops (Appliances, Bicycles, Computers, etc.)

• Auction Houses

• Reuse Construction Materials Stores

• Government Surplus Facilities

Increasing the popularity of reuse activities can be further achieved by increasing public awareness of the significance of reuse. Creating new reuse opportunities and community efforts is essential to increasing community support for reuse. Through the combined efforts of Second Chance Week organizers, such as local governments, reuse businesses, high schools, and nonprofits, the concept of reuse is gaining more acceptance.

For the residential community, weekend garage sales and flea markets are examples of widespread reuse activities. Several new reuse opportunities have emerged in the last decade, such as facilities that collect and exchange specific types of materials, such as art supplies, building materials, and medical supplies, providing said materials to nonprofits for a reduced fee or at no cost.

Second Chance Week

As local communities seek new ways of introducing Second Chance Week, we would like to offer a few recommendations provided by the Local Government Commission. In doing so, we hope to provide local agencies with the tools and inspiration needed to create and support Second Chance Week this year and in the years to come. There are a wide range of activities those local jurisdictions and nonprofits may choose when organizing events. They generally fall into three categories:

Exchange Activities:  Community rummage sales, donation drives, and reuse markets *

Educational/Awareness:  Distribution of reuse business directories, reuse art contests, and reuse media promotions.

Repair Activities:  Repair workshops and the repair, refurbishment, and donation of used furniture.

* Once your event is over, you can expect that there will be some items remaining. If so, contact a local charity that will accept these items and collect them following the event. You might also want to review some of the following reuse publications, for additional ideas and resources. Second Chance Week promotional efforts are sponsored by The Local Government Commission (LGC). For further information, please check the LGC Web site at:

www.choose2reuse.org

If you would like information on local 2nd Chance Week case studies, or if you would like to register your event, go to www.choose2reuse.org web site. By registering your event, you can add your community activity to the growing list of state-wide events and activities and take advantage of the free promotional opportunities that this site offers. You can also e-mail a description of your activity to leif@lgc.org.

Resource Information

Choose to Reuse: An Encyclopedia of Services, Products, Programs and Charitable Organizations That Foster Reuse
Lists 2,000 resources related to reuse in the U.S. and describes how to reuse over 200 different items, from air filters to zippers. www.healthiestdiet.com/

Beyond Recycling: A Re-user’s Guide. Clear Light Publishers
Written by Kathy Stein, this guide offers 336 simple and practical tips for reusing products that are not generally accepted for recycling.  www.clearlightbooks.com

Creating Wealth from Everyday Items. Institute for Local Self-Reliance
This report, which highlights several reuse businesses and collection programs, provides valuable insight into utilizing reuse as an effective tool for promoting waste reduction and local economic development. www.ilsr.org/pubs/pubbroch.html

Resources for Community Development Enterprises in Recycling & Reuse
Resources is a quarterly newsletter of the Materials for the Future Foundation, a nonprofit organization that supports community based reuse and recycling enterprises in the San Francisco Bay Area and Northern California.
www.materials4future.org/resources.html

Rummaging Through Northern California (RTNC)
RTNC is a free bimonthly newspaper for secondhand, surplus and salvage around the San Francisco Bay. www.rummaging.com 

Additional Online Reuse Resources

National Listing of Internet Waste Exchanges
www.govlink.org/hazwaste  

Internet Resale Directory
This directory features thousands of resale businesses—from antique stores to thrift shops, consignment to flea markets, find all types of secondhand, surplus and salvage businesses around the country. www.secondhand.com 

Recycler’s World
Established as a worldwide trading site for information related to secondary or recyclable commodities, by-products, used and surplus items or materials. www.recycle.net 

Garage Sale Near U
Place to post garage sale ads for free. Includes listings by city of upcoming garage sales. www.garagesale.nearu.com/ 

Cheap Thrills: Free Yard Sale Tips
Lists tips on having a successful yard sale. Also includes tricks to becoming a smart yard sale shopper.
www.geocities.com/RainForest/7678/ 

How to Have Big Money Garage Sales and Yard Sales
This manual describes proven methods for increasing money made from organizing garage sales and yard sales. www.win-edge.com/GarageSale.shtml

Coordinator's Updates

Last updated: December 30, 2008