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As of February 7, Champaign County Forest Preserve, Champaign County Master Naturalists, and the Rotary Club of Champaign have expressed support for the initiative and will advertise the volunteer opportunity to their respective communities come April/May.
On February 7, Daphne Hulse met with Nate Himes (Director of Counseling Ministries) at Merci's Refuge and Tom King (Director of Logistics) + Wally Proenza (VP Retail Operations) at Goodwill Land of Lincoln to discuss donation logistics. On February 13, Daphne will meet with Lisa Sheltra (Director of Community Engagement) + Mike Jenkins (Director of Retail Operations) at Salt & Light.
All, Steady week. Had a few new staffers start, held a staff meeting—some good ideas batted around!—and got a couple bikes safety inspected and ready for the sales floor. Still about a dozen bikes that are student-level “finished”.
This week is another round of interviews as we bolster our team for expanding hours and programming this spring/summer. I’ll also move a few forgotten steeds over here from the land of the abandoned bikes.
The numbers:
Visitors: 24
Sales: $151
Memberships: 1 for $30
Thanks!
Jacob Benjamin
Campus Bike Center Coordinator
As of February 6, Daily Bread Soup Kitchen, Merci's Refuge, Salt & Light, Goodwill, and Habitat for Humanity ReStore have all expressed interest in exploring a donation partnership for Dump & Run.
Attached is the retirement transaction confirmation from M-RETS (the regional entity that issues unique certificates for the environmental attributes), and the JV for the REC charge.
Jay Hayek, Extension Forestry Specialist, compiled all the information and effort for the 1.5-acre oak-hickory teaching arboretum. The story map below contains information on the two phases of planting and great pictures of the volunteers that contributed. In addition to the story map, there is an attached Excel spreadsheet detailing the exact species in their respective plots.
ArcGIS StoryMap: https://go.illinois.edu/oak-hickory-arboretum
Attached is a presentation for ENG 177 with resources for students.
Attached is a newsletter from the Illinois Geothermal Coalition regarding the review of geothermal energy in the Midwest.
All, Last week we had some ominous weather that didn’t turn out to be much. Our visits were down but only barely—I expected a bit of a nosedive that didn’t materialize. Champaign Cycle donated some kids bikes and box store bikes, which is always appreciated. We had another person start a B-a-B.
This week I’ve got another interview, some new hires starting, and a staff meeting on Thursday night. I’ll also draft a B-a-B/Membership flyer to better explain those programs as there’s been some consistent misunderstanding/miscommunication on that front.
The numbers:
Visitors: 34
Sales: $933.50
Bike (refurb): 2 for $375
Memberships: 6 for $180
Tires/tubes: 5 for $50
Thanks!
Jacob Benjamin
Campus Bike Center Coordinator
Below is an email from Jack Reicherts regarding SSLC's first meeting of the semester.
Ahoy there ye lily-livered landlubbers!
(If any pirate speak is unclear, please email me for clarification). This be yer friendly neighborhood pirate, writing to remind ye that the first meeting of the Spring semester for the Student Sustainability Leadership Council be approaching fast. We'll be meeting on the 6th day of February, at the strike of 6 bells in the evening (2/6 at 6 pm!), in the Student Org Complex.
Now, if ye be new to these parts, ye should know that the Student Org Complex be located on the southwest stairwell in the Illini Union. Ye can't miss it, just keep yer eyes peeled for the skull and crossbones.
And remember, every meeting requires a representative from each member organization to be present, otherwise ye'll be walking the plank. But if ye have a recurring conflict, ye can always reach out to me, yer friendly neighborhood pirate.
But there's more to this meeting than just the usual business. We're electing a new exec board for SSLC, and we'll be holding a simple application and interview process. So, I'd like to invite all interested members of your respective organizations to attend, so they can see a normal general meeting.
So, mark yer calendars and don't be late, or ye'll be feeding the sharks. And don't forget, to bring interested members with you to join SSLC exec board.
Yours in service,
Jack "The Scalawag" Reicherts, Pirate Co-Captain of the SSLC
The link to the article can be found here:
https://news.illinois.edu/view/6367/626315322
A pdf of the article can be accessed below.
Attached is the summary document for the total RECs retired for UIUC in FY22.
On January 24, Daphne Hulse met with Kasey Umland, Director of the Women's Resources Center, formerly the Associate Director at University YMCA, to discuss the following:
What is the history of UIUC-YMCA Dump and Run events?
Started with private certified housing, religious affiliated groups around 2012. 3 semi-trailers worth of stuff from campus and from the community. A lot of staff time went into the program.
Previously had 2 boxes on every floor of Illini tower, which was a huge source of items. 26 boxes in this one building. Change in Illini tower management meant YMCA couldn’t do collections here anymore. It was great to have the materials, but hard to get everything out in time. the same year, University Housing came to YMCA about their Housing salvage drive (the person who ran it left). This was the first year YMCA collaborated with UIUC.
Started doing some university housing dorms, but not all.
Realized they couldn’t keep up with the overflow of materials.
Big shift in kinds of items they received. Went from servicing mini apartments/suites (Illini Tower) versus university dormitories. 10x the amount of stuff as before with the Illini tower. 3/4 was clothing and bedding.
Talked to Housing and needing more resources. It was too hard for YMCA to keep up. Majority of volunteers who did collections were students, but it was finals. Had a close relationship with them, but students would need to go right when things were picking up near the end of the move out week.
Based off a quick survey of other schools move-out programs, it seems most common for schools to work with local nonprofit(s) to immediately donate items following the move out program. As opposed to storing items over the summer and preparing for a fall move-in sale. Thoughts about these two different ways of operating?
Donating most items straight away seems like it may be the only way it can work for the university, since there’s an immense quantity of items to deal with.
Suggest talking with intended recipients of non-profits beforehand, to see if they can accept it all immediately, or if it will be too much.
Even when YMCA was running it, their excess was too much for some places.
Salt and light had capacity.
Goodwill said to stop (no more clothes).
Most places would say they would want at least some items.
The value of selling these items in a sale near move in is that there are items unique the college experience: XL twin sheets, for example.
What are some best practices for event coordination?
If you are dealing with multiple sites - think in advance about plotting out how to do collections.
Thinking about when things will come in from certain places. Which were high donation spots? Some will only need checked every so often, some places needed checked 2 or 3 times a day.
Capacity - Kasey always wanted something better than just putting items in a cardboard box.
It is easier if items are placed directly into a bag. Otherwise, volunteers have to do this work.
Try to be really clear about what people can and cannot donate. In a perfect world, check the boxes in the evening, that’s when students move out.
We will have to rely on the help of volunteers, but students will have their finals during this time, and be moving out. We want to strengthen town and gown relations through this program. Any suggestions for local groups/organizations who would be good to reach out to who you think would have an interest in volunteering?
Rotary Clubs
Church or high school youth groups
If the university would consider half day leave, that could be an incentive
during business hours means it increases the privilege needed to participate
Honors societies
Sierra Club
Junior League
Humane Society
Court Diversion
On January 19, Daphne Hulse met with Marc Alexander, Director of Development and Membership at University YMCA, to discuss the following:
What is the history of UIUC-YMCA Dump and Run events?
Started to 20ish years ago as a garage sale (2001) in front of the YMCA. Clearing stuff outside of the building. Grew to a community collection, private residential collection, Housing was doing some salvage operation, approached the Y about helping do a program. Through 2019, The YMCA would collect from Housing every May.
2019 Y started doing renovation in the building and streets so the YMCA couldn’t use the building for collections.
Started conversations about the YMCA pulling back, and then COVID hit.
Last year YMCA and UIUC had a very long conversation and decided YMCA couldn’t do any of the May period.
Mostly was the YMCA running it, was done by the one coordinator. Staff from the YMCA helped here and there. Volunteers assisted. UIUC helped with getting access to the building.
2019 Housing and F&S each provided a truck to help load and haul stuff. F&S provided two workers to collect things and load them and sort them. More partnership that year.
Piece in August is the sale itself. F&S provided supplies, tables, dumpsters, F&S and Housing put out advertisements about the sale to students. Used UIUC networks.
Based off a quick survey of other schools move-out programs, it seems most common for schools to work with local nonprofit(s) to immediately donate items following the move out program. As opposed to storing items over the summer and preparing for a fall move-in sale. Thoughts about these two different ways of operating?
Biggest lift was sorting and storing it. It could take a very long time. Stuck it in semis. Sifting out what is useful and what is not, was the hard part.
If there is a way to get the stuff out in May and then repurpose it, that is most ideal. But this can be challenging.
Michigan State established their own ReStore, and do this year around.
Salt and Light, Habitat for Humanity, could be helpful with collection.
If there way a way to sort and pull things for Y in August sale, is also possible.
What are some best practices for event coordination?
Breakdown of varying roles to pull this off.
In general, need to coordinate volunteer and staff schedules for the workload.
Have to set up a defined schedule for each dorm, how often you’ll be there. 24 lobbies they would have to collect from (couple times a day). If you fall behind, what’s the contingencies?
Tuesday - Monday and Tuesday following Move-Out Saturday. Heavy time period, make sure you have volunteers.
Takes a very detail-oriented person to manage this and schedule it out for attack.
What are some best practices for volunteer coordination?
Each volunteer is doing it for a different reason:
Some love it, some they have to do community service, different levels of commitment, one person will not show up. Be aware of these motivations. Everyone’s physical capabilities, developmentally challenged (has to have certain tasks). Shift may never go the way you want it to. Be flexible at all times, have Plan B and Plan C at all time.
What were some of your biggest obstacles with this event? Things to watch out for?
It’s not all usable items. Despite all of your communication efforts, it will happen. Maybe 1/6 or 1/5 of things will be unusable.
We will have to rely on the help of volunteers, but students will have their finals during this time, and be moving out. We want to strengthen town and gown relations through this program. Any suggestions for local groups/organizations who would be good to reach out to who you think would have an interest in volunteering?
F&S ideas so far:
Faith in Place
Champaign County Environmental Stewards
YMCA’s suggestions
Rotary Clubs often do volunteer work
Chambana Moms (not really volunteer base, but they could advertise the need for volunteers)
Will ask staff for more suggestions
There was another YMCA member who helped with Dump and Run, Kasey Umland? Would she be good to reach out to? Would I be able to get her contact information?
Director of Womens Resource Center.
Was associate dir of the YMCA. Some years she supervised Dump and Run, some she ran it. Played a key role. Started in 2012.
Daphne will meet with Kasey Umland 1/24/23.
All, Surprisingly busy start to the semester! On Friday afternoon we even had a wait on stand time, which is unheard of for January. Unfortunately, that was partially due to allowing First Visit Free repairs, which left a couple due-paying members waiting. They didn’t mind but still. For how busy we’ve been I’m already wondering if we should be open 5 days a week. However, it has been a mild winter thus far; the real test will be how many folks show up after the projected snow on Wednesday. We also had one person select and start a B-a-B.
This week I’ll schedule our staff meeting, some interviews, as well as receive a “vanload” of bikes from Champaign Cycle. They generally give us good quality stuff that we can put to use quickly, so fingers crossed. Additionally, we still have 100+ bikes to move out of the warehouse.
The numbers:
Visitors: 37
Sales: $961
Bikes (refurb): 3 for $565
Memberships: 7 or $210
Tires/tubes: 7 for $39
Thanks!
Jacob Benjamin
Campus Bike Center Coordinator
Congratulations to the newest recipients of our Greener Campus Programs as we head into a new semester!
Green Office: Visit Champaign County, Gold, Recertified January 2023
Green Chapter: Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority Inc., Delta Chapter, Silver, Certified January 2023
Green Event:
-SSC Sustainability Career Panel, Certified January 2023
-University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign Everyday Environment Webinar Series, Certified January 2023
-Office of the Chancellor for Special Events and Commencement Illinois vs. Nebraska Men's Basketball, Certified January 2023
-University of Illinois-Special Events-Chancellor's Office HOPE Chicago Luncheon, Certified January 2023
Keep up the great work!
All, Last two weeks we’ve been closed so no sales/visit numbers. TBP members and I moved bikes from the warehouse, and I’ve been checking over the 30 or so new bikes for damage. Sarthak and I tabled at the Law School’s orientation last Thursday.
This week we reopen. We’ll be open M/W/F 2 – 6p for the winter months and bump back to 5 days a week after spring break when the weather warms up.
Thanks!
Jacob Benjamin
Campus Bike Center Coordinator
