ReBuild August Newsletter

"I applaud Paul Hughes and the Rebuild Warehouse for being leaders in the effort to promote recycling and green jobs. I wholeheartedly support his environmentally responsible entrepreneurship and look forward to working with the Rebuild Warehouse to make Virginia greener and stronger."

Volunteers Needed

volunteers Become a ReBuild Warehouse volunteer.

Volunteers who volunteer for a minimum of 20 hours receive a 20% discount on all warehouse materials!! Call the warehouse to help us out!

In addition, you can help by

Providing your professional services, helping in office administration, public relations & media relationships, or fundraising
Donating used building materials
Becoming a steady customer and bring a friend
Recommending ReBuild to your friends or in your community newsletter
Making a financial donation
Providing a workshop on some aspect of environmental sustainability
Holding a fundraising house party or help staff a table at a community event
Donating office supplies, equipment or tools.

Greeting

Dear ReBuild Friends,

With the "dog days of summer" having set in with a vengeance, ReBuild board and staff members have been buoyed by our steady increase in sales and the continued support from the community. Every day we have people visiting the warehouse for the first time, having just recently learned about ReBuild and our mission from their friends, family members, or co-workers. Our only regret is that we do not have sufficient funds in our budget to do widespread advertising.

We do advertise via our website, newsletter, Craig's List, Facebook, Twitter, hand-delivered residential flyers, community fairs, yard signs at our work sites, and occasionally civic association newsletters. But by far the biggest source of new customers is word-of-mouth from our (hopefully, satisfied) customers. This is where you can help ReBuild - by mentioning ReBuild to your friends and associates, including a reference to ReBuild in your neighborhood newsletter, inviting a ReBuild representative to speak at one of your civic association's monthly meetings, helping us staff a booth at a neighborhood fair or community festival, writing a letter about ReBuild to your community newspaper, etc. Coming from one of their friends or neighbors, your endorsement of ReBuild, both as a destination for products to be donated as well as an outlet for purchasing inexpensive building materials, can be more valuable than paid advertising, since it reaches interested parties from a trusted source.

On another publicity front, ReBuild was featured in an article in the Times Newspapers in Northern Virginia in their June 23^rd edition. Many of you told us you saw it but, for those who didn't, you may want to click here and read it. As a result of this article, ReBuild was interviewed by CNBC on July 19^th for an in-depth segment on an upcoming show. As soon as we know we will pass it along on our mailing list so you can watch it too.

The most exciting event at ReBuild in July, however, was our first successful fundraiser held on July 21^st. Structured as a house party at Paul's home, it provided the first opportunity for our board members, staff, volunteers, and friends of ReBuild to get together and discuss the many facets of its mission. It was an opportunity for many to "put a face with a name" and for us to thank the many folks that have made our first 18 months so successful. Guests were treated with a very informative presentation on key energy and recycling issues before the state legislature by Del. David Bulova followed by a lively question and answer session. VGuests were encouraged to follow developments in Richmond, as well as locally and at the federal level, because that's where many of the laws and policies that impact us directly are made. If you were not able to attend, but would still like to make a donation, you can do so using PayPal or by mailing a check made payable to ReBuild to 8929 Colesbury Pl., Fairfax, VA 22031.

Sincerely,

Daryl Spencer Paul Hughes

President Executive Director

Meet ReBuild's Board and Staff

This is a new ReBuild newsletter feature introducing members of ReBuild's Board of Directors and staff members to our readers. In these interviews we will seek to give readers an insight as to why the interviewee chose to make a commitment to ReBuild, what areas they are working in, their aspirations for the organization, and a little about what they do when not working on behalf of ReBuild.

This month's interview is with Erin Brandt, a member of the ReBuild Board of Directors and its current Vice President.

RB: What attracted you to become affiliated with The ReBuild Warehouse?

EB: I love recycling and green building, so when I first learned about ReBuild, it was easy to get excited about the organization and the mission. Previously, I worked for Habitat for Humanity, so I am familiar with the concept of having a warehouse that sells reused building material to raise money for a great cause. The fact that ReBuild is training workers for the new green economy also excites me because I really want to see the US move in a green direction, and for this we need trained workers.

RB: What is your position on the Board and how long have you been a Board member?

EB: I have been on the board for 1.5 years and am the Board Vice President.

RB: How do you see ReBuild evolving over the next 2-3 years? 5 years? 10 years?

I hope that in 2-3 years the warehouse will be self sustaining and ReBuild will be training 4-5 workers per year while making a positive impact on the environment in northern VA. In 5 or 10 years, I hope that ReBuild will be a prominent environmental organization in northern Virginia and training 10-20 workers a year.

RB: What ways have you found to be involved with ReBuild that gives you the most pleasure or satisfaction?

EB: I love volunteering at the warehouse. Every time I go, there are fantastic new items with great potential to add character or utility to someone's house. I almost always find something that I "need" for my house!

RB: How would you encourage folks who might be interested in ReBuild to become involved?

EB: Think of what you love to do and bring that to ReBuild. Do you love people? Volunteer at our warehouse. Photographer? ReBuild needs help taking pictures of items to post online. Expert builder, gardener or environmentalist? Give a presentation to interested community members. Writer? Help us write grants, newsletters and other materials. The possibilities are endless!

RB: What do you see as ReBuild's biggest challenges over the next several years?

EB: Becoming sustainable with a combination of warehouse sales, grants and donations from individuals. Also, ensuring that we give enough attention to each part of our mission - recycling building materials, training workers for green jobs, and educating the public about environmental issues.

RB: What is your day job?

EB: I work as a Management Analyst at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke at the National Institutes of Health.

RB: What kinds of activities do you enjoy doing when you're not working with ReBuild?

EB: I love hiking, gardening, making pottery, baking and working on my house.

In The Doghouse?

ReBuild now offers dog houses built from reclaimed materials. Sizes vary so call the warehouse for pricing. Get your pooch a new roof over his head and benefit the warehouse as well!

Upcoming Workshops

kudzu Saturday, August 14, 11 am

Invasive Plants -- Identification and Control

Learn more about which plants are invasive, why they are considered so damaging to our environment, and what measures you can take to reduce their deleterious effects on native plants, wildlife, and even cleaner air. Join natural resources expert Kirsten Conrad Buhls as she explains how invasive plants have migrated to our communities, what effects they are having in our forests, parks, roadways, and even our own yards, how land stewards and individual property owners are combating them, whether you should use herbicides to eliminate them, and what other measures you can take to get rid of them. Fee: no charge. Location: The ReBuild Warehouse, 6625 Iron Place, Springfield, VA 22151.

Saturday, August 21, 11 am

Permanently Reduce Your Energy Bill with Solar!

Come here the solar experts at Continuum Energy Solutions explain how great solar electricity works in this area and learn about federal, state, and local money available to reduce your electrical and heating expense by 50%-90%. Solar systems are clean, quiet, environmentally sound, and help reduce our overseas oil risk and carbon footprint. See how easy it is for you to go solar! Fee: no charge. Location: The ReBuild Warehouse, 6625 Iron Place, Springfield, VA 22151. Please RSVP to info@thesolar411.com.

Donate

How Does My Donation Make A Difference?

ReBuild seeks to train "hard-to-place" workers in new "Green Collar" jobs. Because of their lack of formal education, work history, bad choices, and sometimes just plain bad luck, some workers have been unable maintain a steady job for any length of time. In this economy, it's even tougher than usual to find steady employment. Many have seen the rougher side of life and do not want to go there again. They are bright and resourceful and in many cases just need the opportunity to prove what they can do. By getting a certification or state license in a certain line of work (e.g., asbestos abatement, solar hot water installation, pesticide application, green roof installation, etc.), these workers will have a competitive edge when it comes to hiring or being laid off in their new careers. Training courses for these skills can easily cost $750-$1,000. Your contribution can go a long way to helping a person achieve one of these specialized skills that can mark a new beginning in their life. If you like to help "Rebuild Lives and Communities Together" by making a donation follow this link to ReBuild's secure website.