Party at Hopworks Feb 7 & we get 20 percent!

UPDATE: "Please have your Tool Library's supporters call ahead and make a reservation with a host at
503.232.4677, at least two days before the event. This way we kind of know how many people to expect and can then seat the supporters comfortably."

Wow! This is a really wonderful chance to show your support for the SEPTL and to have a great night out.

On February 7th, 2011, from 4pm to 11pm, Hopworks at 2944 SE Powell, will be hosting a fundraiser for the SE Portland Tool Library. Twenty percent of all of the evenings proceeds for the night will go to the SEPTL.

Proceeds from the evening's event will help purchase tools and support the construction/development of an outdoor SEPTL tool shed at St. David's.

All you have to do is go to Hopworks that night, enjoy a tasty meal, order an organic beer or homemade soft drink and know that you are supporting a great program. And of course there will be a great group of SEPTL members, friends and supporters there to have some great conversations with. There also might be a few surprises you won't want to miss out on!

Oh, and feel free to invite your friends, in fact, invite LOTS of them!

If you have other questions, contact us.

Great news about Tuesday nites

The Tuesday evening hours haven proven to be so popular that (thanks to some of our tireless and awesome volunteers) we will continue to be open Tuesday nights year-round!  Hours remain 5:30pm - 7pm.  So be sure to give a big thanks to the folks who have volunteered to help you those dark winter nights.!

We need volunteers!

October’s upon us, and we’re in need of volunteers, so check our calendar and sign up at http://www.septl.org/volunteer.php. Shifts are from 8:30am-11:30am and from 11:30am-2:30pm on Saturdays. You don’t need to know about tools, you just need to check’em in and out! Plus it’s fun meeting your neighbors and learning about all the projects they’re working on. Do your part to help keep the tool library thriving; we can’t keep our doors open without you!

Our ongoing success.

The Southeast Tool Library continues to grow. In 5 short months, we’ve almost reached 500 members and our space has doubled in size. We've hosted incredibly successful Rainbarrel and Weatherization workshops, continue to loan out tools on Saturdays and Tues evenings, and are receiving new tools from generous friends and neighbors each week.  It's an ongoing success story.

The Belmont Street Fair is Sept 12

Learn more about your Tool Library, or just stop by and chat. We'll be at the Belmont Street Fair on Sept 12th, 10a-3p, where there also be over 160 craft booths, 4 music performance areas, a food festival, children's fun center and an alternative transportation expo. See you there!

Weatherization Workshop Sept 30

On September 30th (yes it is right around the corner) from 6:30 to 8:30pm we will be holding a "Do-It-Yourself Weatherization" Workshop at St. David's Episcopal Church, 2800 SE Harrison.

This workshop is put on by the Community Energy Project in NE Portland.

In the words of the sponsors: "Simple Do-It-Yourself weatherization and energy conservation materials, actions and tips to help you lower your energy bill, keep your home warmer, and do your part to protect the climate!

Hands on demonstrations show how to install effective weatherization materials for both renters and home-owners alike.  Income qualified Multnomah County residents receive free weatherization materials.  Order forms will be available to folks not qualified to receive a free kit.

Call the Community Energy Project, 503-284-6827 to sign up for this workshop.  Let them know that it is the SE Portland Tool Library workshop, September 30th at St. David of Wales Episcopal Church.

The Community Energy Project folks should be able to answer any questions that you may have.  Also, let them know if you need child care as it sounds like they can provide that too. If you have questions other than the content of the workshop, hopefully they can answer those as well.

If other questions surface you can call Steve at 503-232-0699 and leave your name, phone number and your question, and he'll get back to you.

Say hi at Sunday Parkways

Our next big outreach event is this Saturday, August 15th at the SE Portland Sunday Parkways.  SEPTL will have a table and be be servicing the Sunday Parkways folks at "Intersection Super-heroes". Come say hi, meet your neighbors and learn how you can borrow tools for free.

Downspouts, A Final Tally

The downspout disconnect team from SEPTL managed in their two days of effort to disconnect a total of 35 downspouts at 24 properties (19 spouts on the first day, 15 on the second day).  This is is calculated to remove annually from the combined sewer system an amazing 484,421 gallons of water, AND earned for your library an awesome $910.00 to add to the tool fund!  (If you would like to donate some of your hard-earned cash to that fund, just let us know!)

Rain Barrel Workshop NEW TIME

Our first Workshop will be about Rain Barrels !

Saturday August 7, 2010
2 - 4pm (NEW TIME)
In the Fireside Room at
St. David of Wales Church, 2800 SE Harrison St.

The two hour class will cover all aspects of creating, deploying, and using Rain Barrels here in Portland.

Class size will be limited to the first 30 people to sign up.  The workshop is free, but donations will be (graciously) accepted.

Sign up by calling 503-232-0699 and leaving your name, phone number and email address, so we can get back to you.

Division Clinton Street Fair

Hey, we''d love to meet you at the Division/Clinton Street Fair on Saturday, July 24, 2010!

Come meet us at our table 10:00am to 3:00pm where we'll be handing out brochures, signing up volunteers and answering any questions that you might have about your neighborhood Tool Library.

For more about the other fun to be had at the Fair, a really great Event,  visit http://www.divisionclinton.com/

Julie. A story.

As our computer wizard, Julie has been studiously and tirelessly entering donated tools into the Library's Inventory database.  We thank her for her efforts, despite the recent discovery that she's been perhaps just a bit too tireless: at closing on a Saturday a librarian went to sweep the floor but discovered our broom was nowhere to be found.  Mystery.  Days later at our monthly organizational meeting the mystery was solved -"Oh my goodness, I put a Tool Number on that broom!  If something is sitting there, a number goes on it."  Our broom had been loaned out.  So from now on you'll see that the Tool librarians always keep moving to avoid being inventoried for lending!

Do you need a Tool or Knife Sharpened?

Jesse Bennett and Harmonie Medlin, of Sharpening4U will be available at the SEPTL on Tues, July 6 from 5:30 to 7:00pm (our new weekday hours!) to sharpen SEPTL members' personal Tools and Knives (at their standard rates). They'll be there to sharpen SEPTL tools gratis, a valuable and much appreciated service they perform on and ongoing basis for us  - part of our effort to keep our tools in tiptop condition.  We hope this time the push lawn mower will be available for them to take away to sharpen in their shop!

Disconnecting Downspouts

Last week six SEPTL members

Catha Loomis

Colombe Jodar 

Truman Daniels

Oliver Daniels

Steve Couche 

Sue Brown

Michael Brandt

volunteered their morning, working along with some fabulous Portland Downspout Disconnect Program employees, disconnecting residential downspouts from the sewer system.  This allows roof water to drain to lawns and gardens rather than allowing it to overwhelm the city's sewer system and pollute the rivers.

But we also had an ulterior motive. In this special program, we earned $26 for each disconnect!  This money (check back right here in a few days for the Total we earned) goes right into the  Library's tool fund to buy some of those tools you've been asking for.  Once again, neighbors helping neighbors.

We'll be able to participate in this cash-generating program one more time on July 13.  Contact downspouts@septl.org if you'd like to be added to the alternates-list in case one of the volunteers already signed up needs to bow out.  It was fun, informative, and a great way to help our community and our Tool Library.

Tuesday evening hours!

Wonderful news! Thanks to our fabulous volunteers, your neighbors, we are thrilled to announce that the SEPTL will be open Tuesday nights June 29th to October 2nd from 5:30 to 7:00pm. Members will be able to check in and out tools, and people will be able to donate tools.  See you then!

July Tabling Events

Visit SEPTL any Saturday from 9am to 2pm to see what the Tool Library is all about, or feel free to come chat with us at a couple of upcoming tabling events:

Mt Tabor Concert - July 15th, 6:30 - 8:00pm

Clinton/Division Street Fair July 24, 10am - 3pm

See you then!

Please get tools back on time!

Most users are getting their borrowed tools back to the Library before the 10am deadline the following Saturday. Thank you!

But alas not everyone. Return a tool late and you will pay a Late Fee, but that does not undo the distress you have caused your neighbor waiting for that tool. Consider how would you feel if the tool you were looking to check out from the Library was not checked back when it was supposed to be.

Please remember your neighbors!

Thank you Dennis!

Dennis Fantz first got stimulated to look into the SE Portland Tool Library by an article on Tool Libraries in The Oregonian written by Scott Learn. He has since become the single largest source of great tools donated to the SEPTL.

Among the tools are a two belt sanders along with sand paper, two jig saws, two chop saws, a virtually new Milwaukie SawzAll, two drills, a Milwaukie HoleHawg with bits, and two circular saws with several blades.

Even more amazing, Dennis says he's not done yet. He's asked Steve Couche, SEPTL Founder, what other tools the Library most needs so he can go out and find them to donate as well.

What more can we say, but "Thank you Dennis!"

Help us buy more tools!

SEPTL has an amazing opportunity to earn money through the Bureau of Environmental Services' downspout disconnection program.  We need volunteers willing to donate 3 hours and join a team of 3-4 to help disconnect downspouts in SE Portland.   It's easy work and no previous experience is necessary.  With each downspout we disconnect, we'll earn $26!   Not only that, but you get free pizza at the end of the shift!  ALL the money will go towards buying tools from our wish list.

As an additional bonus, once you've completed the training you'll be able to check out a downspout removal kit from SEPTL and add your home to the thousands that have already disconnected their downspouts.

We're organizing groups on Tuesday evenings from 4-7pm and Thursday mornings from 9am-12pm.  If you're interested in helping out, contact Jonathan at downspouts@septl.org and let him know which Tuesday afternoons or Thursday mornings work for you between June 10th and July 8th.   He'll then confirm when we have enough sign-ups.  If those times don't work for you but you'd like to help, let us know when you are available (or form your own group!), and we'll set something up.

It's fun, you learn a new skill, you're helping our community, and you get pizza.  What more could you ask for?  Disconnecting downspouts is important work; it helps keep sewage from polluting our rivers.  To learn more about how this program helps the environment and saves millions, visit www.portlandonline.com/downspoutdisconnect.

Our latest tallies.

As of May 22, 2010, we have a total of 123 members, and we even remembered to snap a photo of the 100th member, whose smiling face you see here.  In our first three weeks, we've loaned out a total of approximately 180 tools, with a total of about 450 tools in the Library. Pretty darned exciting!  We thank all of you who have helped, have donated, have joined and have spread the word.  With your continuing support we hope to be a valuable community resource for many years to come.  Thank you all.

The Raffle Winners

We'd like to announce the winners of the Grand Opening Day Raffle. The winners were, naturally enough, very pleased and excited to win!

Green Hammer home energy audit -- Mary Plier
Restore gift certificate -- John Pioli
Urban Farm Store gift card -- Nancy Loso
7 Dees gift card - Kim Price
Portland Nursery gift card -- KW Edget
Naomi's Organic Farm Supply gift card -- Emily Shultz
NW Maritime Planting Guide from Naomi's -- (awaiting permission to release the winner's name)

Thanks to all who entered the Raffle.  Your funds are being well spent acquiring more tools for you to borrow.

Pro Tool Sharpeners to the rescue.

Jesse Bennett and Harmonie Medlin, of Sharpening4U, arrived a little after 10:00am to the backdoor of the Church where SEPTL is located.  They unloaded their tools and tables and brought them into the Library.  In a couple of hours the two of them touched up and sharpened a pair of tin snips (it was cutting paper like a good pair of scissors), a couple of hedge trimmers, and a couple of machetes. They also squared off a couple of screwdrivers, and sharpened three knives from the St. David's church kitchen.  To top it off they sharpened two of our shovels.

What was a shame is that they were planning on sharpening our push mower, but it had not been returned.  Same thing with a pair of pruning shears.  They too did not get sharpened since they'd not been returned on time. (If tools are not returned on time either the tool loses out by not getting the maintenance it needs, or the next person loses out.)

We are so grateful to Jesse and Harmonie, who can be reached at sharpening4u@yahoo.com and (503) 962-0574 should you need some expert sharpening. Please let them know we sent you! They are simply fabulous.

Thank You!

We're opening our doors for lending on May 1st, but couldn't have done it without these lovely folks and organizations. May 15th we will want to publicly recognize them at our Grand Opening Celebration. Until then, we'll recognize them on the world wide web.

A round of applause for:

• Southeast Uplift (Tim and Kristen particularly)
• Chris Haberman, for our awesome hand-illustrated event banner
• Sara Fisher and the people of St. David Wales Episcopal Church, for donating the space to the library
• All the folks who helped with the reconstruction of our Tool Library Space
• All the volunteers who have reached out to the community by tabling events, selling raffle tickets, working on the website, working on the blog, worked on tool donations and grants and have overall volunteered so much of their personal time to get this resource off the ground. They've done such an enthusiastic job of bringing this to fruition.
  
  

Thanks to these organizations for donating to the raffle prize pool. All money raised will go towards buying new tools for the library:

• Green Hammer Construction, for their $450 home energy audit donation
• ReStore Habitat for Humanity Store, for their $50 gift certificate donation
• Urban Farm Store, for their $25 gift card donation
• 7 Dees Nursery on SE Powell, for their $25 gift certificate donation
• Naomi's Organic Farm Supply in Sellwood, for their $20 gift certificate donation

Table at People's Farmers Market: Wednesdays 3-6

Spring has sprung, which means Farmers Markets are open for business. Now that we have more daylight at the end of our days, these gatherings of local farmers and vendors are so much more enjoyable than the supermarket.

While you're perusing the fresh, seasonal produce and meeting your local farmers at People's Farmers Market, stop by and visit us as well on Wednesdays from 3 to 6 pm. We'll be selling raffle tickets ($1 each or 7 for $5,) taking ideas for workshops or tools you might be interested in and in general, providing information about the library.

Today is turning out to be quite beautiful actually, so hope to see you there!

Our New Banner

A big thank-you goes out to Chris Haberman who recently finished our fantastic banner. (Look for it at each event we attend.)

"Southeast Portland" features unique Southeast landmarks within the letters while "Tool Library" represents the varied amount of tools we have to lend.

He donated a lot of his time, not to mention materials, to our organization and we couldn't be more happy with his work.

Thanks again, Chris!

Spring Cleaning & Tool Donation Event

Our big Spring Cleaning & Tool Donation event is almost here!

This Saturday, stop by between 10 and 3 to check out the new tool library space at St David's Episcopal Church located at 28th and SE Harrison. You can get a sneak peak of the new space, become a member, savor delicious coffee and pastries, and purchase many raffle tickets that will be awarded during our Grand Opening Celebration on May 15th.

What to bring? Any working hand or electric tools you'd like for us to take off your hands. If you have gas-powered tools, we'll take those and resell them, the funds going back into the tool library. Bring your ideas as well. What kind of tools would you like to see at the library? Any workshops sound interesting? Would you like to volunteer? We'd love to see you.

If you can't make it, visit our website for updates or contact us to purchase raffle tickets. We're selling them for $1 each, or in bulk at a bargain price: 7 for $5.

It should be a beautiful weekend, so hope we see you there.

Spiffy Space

What was a somewhat unused space in the corner of St David's Episcopal Church on 28th and SE Harrison, also known as the "black hole," is now becoming quite a dashing tool library space. It's bright and cheery and even seems to have grown a few feet with the additional light of four double-fixture fluorescent lights.

And now, there's even more room to get into this lovely space via a double door, which will be nice when you have tools in tow.

Very soon, our space will not only be spiffy, but will be official as well with the addition of a red and white sign affixed to the exterior of the building announcing our presence. We're also working on a path to our door over the next couple of weeks, which will minimize mud on your boots.

To get a preview of the new space, come to our Tool Donation & Spring Cleaning this Saturday the 20th from 10-3. We'll be offering coffee, pastries, and early enrollment. Bring along any working hand or electric tools to free up space in your garage. They will get put to good use at the library. Looking forward to seeing you soon.

SEPTL Open May 1st, Grand Opening Event May 15th!

It's official. We will be open for tool-borrowing on May 1st! Come one, come all, fellow Southeast neighbors. Borrow some tools, donate some tools, maybe sign up to volunteer or share some of your ideas with us, like what kind of tools you'd like to see in the library or any workshops we can host that might come in handy. We're located at the St David's Episcopal Church at SE 28th and Harrison.

How does it work? Simple. You just have to be over 18 and a resident of SE Portland within SE Uplift's boundaries. Click here to read more.

If opening the doors itself isn't exciting enough, check out the Grand Opening celebration on May 15th. There will be food, refreshments, prizes and of course, tools. We'll be holding the raffle drawing that day, so make sure you're there if you've purchased a raffle ticket. (If you haven't, get on it! They're only $1 each, or buy in bulk with a special price of 7 for $5. Contact us if you'd like to get in on this deal.)

So far, we have graciously received the following donated prizes:

• $450 Home Energy Audit from Green Hammer
• $50 gift certificate from the ReStore Habitat for Humanity Store - a $50 gift certificate
• $25 gift card from the Urban Farm Store
• $25 gift certificate from 7 Dees Nursery on SE Powell
• $20 gift certificate from Naomi's Organic Farm Supply in Sellwood, along with a free copy of the "NW Maritime Planting Guide"

(A really big thank-you to all of these wonderful retailers and organizations for providing these prizes. All funds raised from the sale of the raffle tickets will be used to buy new tools for the library.)

Hope to see you soon. We'll be open before you know it!

Reminder: Logo Contest due 3/19

You: a creative spirit with a philanthropic nature, a dash of generosity and some spare time on your hands.

Us: an excellent up and coming community resource, an all-volunteer tool library that lends tools with neighbors in Southeast Portland, in need of a dashing logo.

We're opening this logo search to anyone and everyone who is interested. As this is a non-profit organization in its infancy, we aren't offering a prize, but just the recognition that comes with being the winner and seeing this logo displayed throughout the Southeast community.

If you're interested, here are the details:

• Deadline is March 19th. Please submit your logo in color and black and white, along with your name and contact information, to info@septl.org.
• The logo needs to include the acronym "SEPTL" along with "Southeast Portland Tool Library."
• Ideally, the logo will include some sort of tool icon or something that visually communicates the organization.
• The logo will be used on the website , printed on t-shirts, letterhead, banners, etc. so therefore will need to be compact, clean and easy to read. (Ideally the logo will fit within the designated area across the top of the existing website.)

Upon submission, please allow 10 business days for review and selection. If you have any questions at all, please feel free to contact us at info@septl.org.

Good luck and we're looking forward to seeing your ideas!

News: 7 Dees Edible Landscapes March 6th

7 Dees Edible Landscapes Event? We wouldn't miss it, and neither should you. While you're expanding your gardening knowledge this Saturday the 6th from 10-5, stop by and visit with us. Check out our upcoming tool events, tool needs, volunteer opportunities and overall, get to know your fellow Southeast neighbors.

While you're at it, spring for a few raffle tickets for a chance to win a range of wonderful prizes at our Grand Opening in April or May. (Final details on the Grand Opening to come.) We'll be offering prizes like a $450 home energy audit donated by Green Hammer, a $25 gift certificate from 7 Dees Nursery, a gift certificate from Naomi's Organic Farm Supply in Sellwood and much, much more.

All raffle ticket sales will go to purchase more tools to share with the community. See you soon!

Raffle Tickets to be Sold at SEPTL Events

As we approach our Grand Opening in April or May, we'll be selling raffle tickets at each Community Event where we host a table, the first being the "7 Dees Edible Landscapes" event on March 6th from 10:00 - 5:00 and the next being our own Spring Cleaning/Tool Donation Event at the library on March 20th.

Visit us at our 7 Dees table on the 6th or at our library location on the 20th to buy tickets and be entered to win a range of wonderful prizes such as a $450 home energy audit donated by Green Hammer, a $25 gift certificate from 7 Dees Nursery, a gift certificate from Naomi's Organic Farm Supply in Sellwood, and so much more.

All raffle ticket sales will help us purchase more tools to lend to the community. Now that's a win-win.

News: Mt Scott Community Center March 3rd

Stop by and visit our table at the Mt Scott Community Center this Wednesday, March 3rd from 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm.

We'll have new information regarding future tool-gathering events and ways you can help this wonderful community resource become active in time for all your Summer projects.

Hope to see you there!

(The Tool Library is located at St David's Episcopal Church at 2800 SE Harrison and planned to open in May.)

Big Party and Tool Donation March 20th

Our first big Event - March 20th between 10:00 am and 3:00 pm!

Come check out the fledgling Southeast Portland Tool Library. Enjoy coffee, tea and delicious pastries as you make your way through the library, meeting members and volunteers along the way.

You'll learn how the process works so you'll be ready to spring to action come time for your next tool need.

You'll also learn what tools and services are still needed prior to opening in May.

This would be a great time for you to clean out your garage! This year, think about donating some of those gently used tools to the Southeast Portland Tool Library to share with your neighbors.

The Tool Library is at the St David's Episcopal Church at 2800 SE Harrison.

Hope to see you there!