We closed early due to a lack of volunteers

We closed early last week due to a lack of volunteers. A hard truth.

It was the first time we've actually had to close our doors, but we've come close plenty of other times.

We need more of our members to become volunteers.  Simple as that.

Please, right now, offer to become a volunteer.  Our Tool Library is a community resource run entirely by people like you, and we are asking for your help.  Thanks.

Meeting: The future of our Tool Library

Come all friends of the Southeast Portland Tool Library (SEPTL) to a general meeting in which we will be discussing the future of the SEPTL.

We need volunteers and we need money to help maintain and repair SEPTL tools.  Ideas that have been proposed are charging a small sliding scale membership fee 10 to 20 dollars; creating a Co-op out of the SEPTL, which again would result in some sort of membership fee; creating a committee to search and help create and host grant writing efforts, fund raisers and the like.

Come all with your ideas.  We will be in the Grace Room at St. David's unless we have to move to a location where we have more space.

When: Thurs, Dec 8, 2011
Time: 7 - 9 pm
Where: St. David's Episcopal Church, 2800 SE Harrison Ave

Coffee + Growing Food: 11 am Sun, Oct 30

Coffee + Growing Food:

Join representatives from the Food Bank, Food Not Bombs, and others for a conversation about food security and growing food in our neighborhood to help feed people who are hungry.

At St. David of Wales Parish Hall, 2800 SE Harrison Street.

11 am Sun, Oct 30. Free.

RAIN GARDENS 101 WORKSHOP

Rain gardens are a great way to add beautiful landscaping to your yard and protect overloaded urban sewers and streams at the same time. Join us at this free workshop to learn how to build a rain garden on your property to keep our streams clean and healthy!

DATE: Sunday, November 6
TIME: 1:00-5:00pm
WHERE: St. David’s Episcopal Church, 2800 SE Harrison St
         
Hosted in Partnership by:
SE Portland Tool Library & St. David’s Episcopal Church

Advanced registration is required and space is limited.
   
Register online at: www.emswcd.org
Information: 503-935-5383

SITE PLANNING WORKSHOP 1

An extension of the Naturescaping Basics Workshop, this workshop gives participants experience with the steps involved in planning a landscape or project. You will learn how to map your property, assess your garden style and needs, do some garden dreaming, and work on a group design scenario.
 
Please Note: Participants must have attended the Naturescaping Basics workshop first!

Advanced registration is required and space is limited.
 
DATE: Sunday, October 16
TIME: 1:00-5:00pm
WHERE: St. David’s Episcopal Church, 2800 SE Harrison St
         
Hosted in Partnership by:
SE Portland Tool Library & St. David’s Episcopal Church
Advanced registration is required and space is limited.
   
Register online at: www.emswcd.org
Information: 503-935-5383

NATURESCAPING BASICS WORKSHOP

DATE: Sunday, September 25
TIME: 1:00-5:00pm
WHERE: St. David’s Episcopal Church, 2800 SE Harrison St.

Naturescaping is beauty and function. Discover the practice of designing or redesigning a landscape so that it reduces water use, stormwater runoff, and pollution without sacrificing splendor. Plus, learn how it can save you time, money, and energy – all while providing a beautiful habitat for birds, wildlife, and you.

Hosted in Partnership by:
SE Portland Tool Library and St. David’s Episcopal Church

Advanced registration is required and space is limited.  
Register online at: www.emswcd.org
Information: 503-935-5383

Seismic Strengthening Workshop

The Portland Office of Emergency Management along with the Portland Bureau of Development Services and SE Portland Tool Library are sponsoring a presentation on Tuesday, August 16th to educate residents how to strengthen their homes for an earthquake. This free event is taking place at St. David of Wales Episcopal Church (SE 28th and Harrison) from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

The recent 9.0 magnitude earthquake in Japan is a reminder the Pacific Northwest is also in a seismically active region. The last catastrophic quake was geologically similar to the one in Japan and struck off the West Coast in 1700. Scientists expect it is only a matter of time before the next one occurs locally.

Jim Nicks of the Portland Bureau of Development Service will provide information about the City’s Residential Seismic Strengthening Program, including an overview of the program’s standards and steps residents can take to better prepare their homes and to reduce the likelihood of damage.

Members of the SE Portland Tool Library will be available to explain how residents within the boundaries of the SE Uplift Neighborhood Coalition can join the library and gain free access to tools.

Volunteers from Portland’s Neighborhood Emergency Teams (NETs) will also be on hand to share information about the NET program as an opportunity for Portlanders to get directly involved with community preparedness.

WHEN: Tuesday, August 16, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

WHERE: St. David of Wales Church (2800 SE Harrison Street, Portland, OR 97214)

COST: Free

New software does new tricks

We have spent many months developing new software to track Members, Tools, and Loans. Among the many benefits, there are two I'd like to mention now:

1. New members can fill out their information online! This will greatly speed data entry and shorten the line. Hooray! So when you tell your friends to join up, be sure also to tell them to visit the Join page and find that link! Thanks.
2. Now our online Tool list is entirely accurate and up to-the-minute. Need to know if that special tool is out on loan or sitting on our shelves? Just visit the list - you can even Search the database! If the tool is out on loan, it will tell you exactly when it is (or was) due back.

We know these two new features will make everyone's lives easier.

Thanks for your support, and remember, volunteers make the Library. Do consider volunteering - you'll meet great people and help our community!

Party! Sat, July 30, 4-7pm

When:
 Saturday, July 30  4:00pm - 7:00pm

You re invited to the SE Portland Tool Library s 1st Anniversary Party! Its time to celebrate! SEPTL turned 1 year old in May. In one years time, we ve grown to over 900 members and 1200 tools. 

Featuring:

*Free Pizza

*Free Beer

*Free Prizes

*Sexy Tools

*Games?

*Amazing feats of strength! (maybe not)

Volunteers, pose with your favorite tool and be immortalized on our Volunteers of Extraordinary Excellence board!

Members, email volunteer@septl.org with pic of you and a project you worked on with tools from the library and find yourself on our   Look what i Built!   board. 

At 5pm, well give a big thanks to our excellent volunteers and raffle off prizes from local businesses.

If you d like to help out and bring food, play music, host games, donate prizes etc., email volunteer@septl.org and let us know!

Where: 

St. David of Wales, Parish Hall

2800 SE Harrison

Portland, OR

See you there!!

Last Naturescaping Workshop Sat May 28

Sunnyside Neighborhood Association has partnered up with Southeast Uplift to host the last FREE Naturescaping workshop of the spring 2011 season!

Naturescaping Basics
Learn to design a landscape so that it reduces water use, decreases stormwater runoff and pollution while saving you time, money and energy. You’ll learn how to create a thriving, low maintenance, garden that is free from chemicals. You will get advice on native plant gardening & landscape design, visit a nearby naturescaped garden, and receive a comprehensive workbook and a native plant to help you get started.  Space is limited and advanced registration is required.

• Saturday, May 28
• 9am – 1pm
• Southeast Uplift, located at 3534 SE Main, Portland, OR 97214

Register online at www.emswcd.org . For more information call: 503-935-5368

Bike Repair Clinics

Want to learn how to tune up your bike?

Like to help make bicycles more accessible to people who need them?

Bikes For Humanity (B4H) Volunteer Repair Clinics are run by Steven Kung, who is a graduate mechanic of United Bicycle Institute in Ashland, OR.

The Repair Clinics began last Tuesday 5/3 and run twice weekly in May and June.

Tuesdays 7pm - 9pm
http://shift2bikes.org/cal/#03-2229

Saturdays 10am - 12pm (Refreshments Provided)
http://shift2bikes.org/cal/#07-2230

Weatherization Workshops - a few spaces remain

We've heard that here are a few slots open, so now is the time to email tim@southeastuplift.org to sign up for the The SE Uplift Sustainability Program's series of free trainings to help homeowners learn about inexpensive do-it-yourself ways to increase the energy efficiency of their homes.  Professional trainers will cover topics such as behavior modification and light weatherization, bypass sealing, basic insulation, ventilation corrections and discussing when to call a contractor.  There will also be a field session in a home where participants will get guided hands-on experience applying weatherization methods.

The first training is on Monday, May 23rd, from 6:30 to 8:30 PM.  It will be held at SE Uplift, 3534 SE Main.  Dates for the following two sessions will be scheduled soon.

Learn more at:

http://southeastuplift.org/content/diy-weatherization-trainings

Weatherization Workshops May 23, 2011...

Begins Monday, May 23rd, from 6:30 to 8:30 PM.  Dates for the following two sessions will be scheduled soon.

The SE Uplift Sustainability Program is hosting a series of free trainings to help homeowners learn about inexpensive do-it-yourself ways to increase the energy efficiency of their homes.  Professional trainers will cover topics such as behavior modification and light weatherization, bypass sealing, basic insulation, ventilation corrections and discussing when to call a contractor.  There will also be a field session in a home where participants will get guided hands-on experience applying weatherization methods.

This training opportunity is for residents of southeast Portland interested in weatherization techniques they can learn to do on their own without having to hire a contractor.  The result will be low cost energy efficiency that will lower the carbon impact of your home!

Email tim@southeastuplift.org to sign up!

Rain Gardens 101 Workshop

Taught by professional landscape designers (from the East Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District), this workshop provides step by step details on how to build a rain garden. You’ll learn how to determine soil suitability, calculate impervious surfaces, determine the correct size and location for your rain garden, choose appropriate plants, and much, much more. Participants will receive a comprehensive manual to help as you do it yourself.

Space is limited and advanced registration is required for this FREE Workshop.

Sunday, May 15
11:30am – 3:30pm
Cost: FREE
St. David’s Episcopal Church at 2800 SE Harrison Street, Portland, 97214.

Register online at www.emswcd.org. For more information call: 503-935-5368

Naturescaping Basics Workshop

Learn to design a landscape so that it reduces water use, decreases stormwater runoff and pollution while saving you time, money and energy. You’ll learn how to create a thriving, low maintenance, garden that is free from chemicals. You will get advice on native plant gardening & landscape design, visit a nearby naturescaped garden, and receive a comprehensive workbook and a native plant to help you get started.  AND all  participants get to take home a free native plant!

Space is limited and advanced registration is required for this FREE Workshop.

Saturday, May 21
Cost: FREE
9am – 1pm
St. David’s Episcopal Church at 2800 SE Harrison Street, Portland, 97214.

Register online at www.emswcd.org (East Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District). For more information call: 503-935-5368

Ask the real, live Contractor

Every 4th Saturday of the month beginning April 30th, Jesse Pender of Portland Tradesmen (www.portlandtradesmen.com) will be at SEPTL live and in person, from 12pm-2pm to offer information, recommendations, and general moral support regarding your home projects!

Like a one-on-one Workshop, just for you.  Bring your questions and ask the contractor!