ReuseApalooza is a celebration of reuse in Vermont and an opportunity to learn about, promote, and engage with those working in reuse and repair. Through the many lenses of reuse, we will share stories, challenges, and help build a state-wide coalition that reduces waste and raises up the local and circular economy. This is a hands-on, high-participation event so come with your enthusiasm, stories, questions, and desire to build this network.
Who should attend? Anyone interested in reuse and waste reduction! Thrift and repair shop owners, sewists, upcyclers, thrifters, makers, lending libraries, home repair businesses, community leaders, creators and dreamers, entrepreneurs, artists, collectors, students, educators, and YOU!
Registration Fee: $25. Click here to register in advance. Scholarships available, email mullandmor@outlook.com to apply. Day-of registration opens at 8:00AM.
Agenda:
8:00 Registration: Refreshments, Sign-up for Repair Clinic, Drop your gently used item at Swap Shop
9:00 Welcome
9:15 Keynote Alex Eaves, escapethewaste.com
10:00 Re-Story Hour
Corey Berman, UVM Zero Waste Program Manager
Lise Anne Cooledge, ReMarket, St Albans
Jeff Dardozzi, livingstructures.org
Derek Diedricksen, Relaxshacks
Trav Fryer, Old North End Repair Café
Ruah Swennerfelt, Sustainable Charlotte Vermont
10:45 Stretch and Re-shuffle
11:00 World Café Conversations
12:00 Senator Welch and Right to Repair Legislation
12:15 Lunch provided. Please bring your own Reusable cup, plate, silverware, and napkin.
1:00 Choose your own adventure(s)
Room 1: Visit the Swap Shop or Repair Clinic
Room 2: Sort Can Carriers with Reusable Solutions
Room 3: Meet our Exhibitors and Vendors
Room 4: Tour the Tiny House
2:00 Panel Discussion: The Many Shades of "Re"
Tom Longstreth, ReSource
Wendy Rice, Vermont Connector
Amy Grasmick, Lending Library
Meh Hammond, The Generator Maker Space
3:00 Word Cafe Wrap-Up: Share out the main themes and actionable items
3:30 Closing and What’s Next for Reuse VT?
Conference Schedule Details:
REPAIR FAIR (drop off items from 8 to 8:45 and pick up by 4:00): While you attend ReuseApalooza, the Vermont State College engineering department and students will attempt to repair your broken electronic device. Think radio, remote control, coffee maker, clock. To participate, please bring just one item, put your name and phone number on a piece of tape and affix to the item, and let staff know at drop-off what you may have already tried to do to fix it…if anything!
DROP AND SWAP: (drop off items from 8 to 8:45 and pick up by 4:30) Limit to one small item (book, jewelry, sweater, plate, etc) that you would love to pass along to a new home. Bring one and take one. Be kind and ensure items are clean, working, and in good shape…no cracks, tears, or missing pieces.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER: ALEX EAVES: Alex considers himself an “edutainer” combining important facts about waste with the lighter side of reuse. He has an interesting journey to finding his niche in reuse and has documented this trajectory. We encourage you to watch these documentaries before you attend the conference. www.escapethewaste.com/
RE-STORY HOUR: Presenters will share their reduce, reuse, repair story in these lightening talks to prompt forward thinking, encourage collaboration, express concerns or needs, offer valuable lessons and share the joy in working in this space. Want to share your story? Contact Susan Alexander, mullandmor@outlook.com.
WORLD CAFÉ CONVERSATIONS: We'll rotate every 20-minutes through tables with different topics which might include:
consumer buying habits that prioritize reuse and repair,
education and skill training for the repair workforce,
the building blocks for creating a permanent and productive Reuse VT network,
creating and maintaining a comprehensive reuse and repair directory,
impacts of reuse on the climate, or
how the local and circular economy benefit from reuse and repair.
LUNCH: Please bring your own durable cups (including coffee mugs), plates, bowls, silverware, leftover container and cloth napkin. In the spirit of the reason for bringing this community together, we wish to make this a waste-less event. A food scrap bucket will be provided and yet we hope that bucket goes home empty!
CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE: You are encouraged to tour through 4 classrooms filled with vendors, the swap shop, exhibitors, participate in the reusable can-carrier sorting program, create art on our poster wall, sign a “buy nothing” pledge, or simply sit and converse with others in this rich and creative community.
THE MANY SHADES OF “RE” PANEL DISCUSSION: You'll hear from experts who have established a footprint in the “re” world on the many facets of reuse from waste management, poverty alleviation, and the circular economy to building a business, employing Vermonters, contributing economically, and encouraging a reuse ethos. They'll share the trials and tribulations of working in this space.
CLOSING: Where do we go from here? What will YOU do differently going forward? How to keep the momentum humming? Who would like to host a thrift/reuse/repair business tour in their town this summer? Exit evaluation.