Rain, Rain Go Away!

Everyone is wondering what to do if it rains!  In the unlikely event that it does rain on Rebuilding Day, we forge ahead.  Much of what we have planned can be done in the rain.  Even painting can be done if it's only a sporadic drizzle.  If the rain does prevent your group from painting, please consider scheduling another day to come out and finish.  Otherwise, your homeowner will be put back on the list for our next Rebuilding Day.  But let's don't go there yet!!!!

Sign up for Pick Up!

If you are NOT with Adopt-a-Park, please be sure you have signed up for a time to pick up your supplies.  This is for House Captains AND Project Coordinators.  We won't have your items pulled for you unless we know you are coming. 

Please use our online calendars to sign up:

House Captains:  http://www.brownbearsw.com/freecal/HCSIGNUP

Project Coordinators:  http://www.brownbearsw.com/freecal/PCSignups

For your preferred time (if it doesn't already have a name by it), double click on the time and a new screen will open.  Under "Modify the Text", replace the text with your project # and name; for example:  "Project 10/Deanne Everton".  Then click on "Replace Event" and you're all signed up. 

Green Team Repairs and Heavy Metal Squad visits

Just wanted to give you a heads up that the Heavy Metal Squad will be circulating through the projects on Saturday, picking up anything metal, e-waste and old appliances that you plan to get rid of--instead of putting them in the dumpster.  Please make a pile in the front of your house of anything that the "Squad" should pick up.  The Heavy Metal Squad is light in numbers this time around, so please ask your volunteers to help load when the "Squad" stops by your house.  The times will vary as to when they'll be by, so let them know if you'll need a 2nd pick up later in the day. 

The Green Team is especially light in numbers, so not every house will get visited.  If your project is one of the lucky ones, please welcome them when they arrive.  They'll be working with the homeowner to complete resource efficiency repairs and modifications.  They will try not to interrupt any work that is going on.  Also, be sure to ask them to stay for lunch if they are there near lunch time.  We have ordered plenty of pizza for everyone!  And finally, if your project does not get visited by a Green Team, our hope is to get out there at a later date.


Both traveling teams will be wearing green vests over their RT t-shirts.

Clarification on Pick Ups

If you are a House Captain or Project Coordinator at the Adopt-a-Park at 3300 Narvaez Avenue (Projects 38-60), you do NOT need to schedule a pick up.  We will be delivering your supplies to the park. 

All other House Captains and Project Coordinators (Projects 11-28) DO need to schedule a pick up. Here are the Project Coordinators (or those acting as PCs) we have listed for the other projects that DO NEED to schedule a pick up on Friday, October 22:

11)  Chuck Stees
12)  Henry Buffalow
13)  Jeff Hultquist
14)  Melissa Bedlington
16)  Unsure
17)  Elise Miller/Chris Mitts
18)  Leslie Carmichael
19)  Gary Fessenmeyer
20)  Elena Sexton
21/22)  Stephanie Chow
23)  Lynn Hood
24)  Marc Argabright
25)  Terry Hickey
26)  Iain Crabb
27) Michael Pate

If you asked for grab bars, 1/2 steps, railings, etc....?

Here's the scoop:
1/2 steps:  I will contact each of you regarding the status of your pre-built steps.  If we have pre-built them, they will be delivered prior to Rebuilding Day and your team will be removing the old steps and installing the new.

Railings: Due to the complexities of each project regarding railings, we have decided to ask each House Captain to purchase their own.  We typically install two types of railings (1) Black Rod Iron and (2) White Aluminum.

• The black rod iron railings - For these, you can go directly to Home Depot (Capitol Expressway and Winchester Campbell locations only) and Lowes (Cottle, Montague and Gilroy only). There are two types of railings in black. There are straight railings that come in 8ft sections and angled railings that come in 6ft sections. The angled railings must be pre-ordered and take 10 business days to arrive. Also you need to buy the 2x2 posts and hardware.
• The White aluminum railings - These require assembly and can be purchased from JRW at 850 Aldo in Santa Clara, 408-988-4097.  Just tell them how many posts, angled and straight railing needed and they will get you what you need. These require lots of assembly, so please keep this in mind.

If you have ANY questions regarding railings, please call Jerry Zuniga at 578-9519 or email him at jzuniga@rebuildingtogether-sv.org.

Grab Bars:  We will have your requested grab bars here at the warehouse when you come to pick up supplies.  We will also have Toggler Brand Toggle Bolts if you need them.  These can be used if one end of your grab bar is not going into a stud or if you are installing in tile or fiberglass.  Check out this video on how these work: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SC1ZuxuZ2PU&feature=related

When you install a grab bar using these bolts, use a 1/2" drill bit and move it around a bit once you've made your hole because these togglebolts are slightly larger than 1/2".  Be sure to use a glass/tile bit if drilling into tile.  Lloyd, our Home Repair technician, suggests using clear silicon on the back of the grab bar before screwing it into the wall for added strength. 

Other Accessibility Items (such as shower seats and handheld showers):  We are having trouble with the supplier we have worked with in the past, so we currently purchase these at Lowe's or Home Depot.  So again it makes sense for you to add these to your shopping list rather than pick them up here.

It's Pick Up Time

It's time to schedule your pick up of supplies from our warehouse, 2827 Aiello Drive, San Jose, 95111. 

House Captains:  We are making appointments beginning next Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.  You'll be picking up your House Kit, Paint and Paint Kits (if applicable), Ladders and smaller appliances you may have requested.  Large appliances will be delivered.  If you requested Accessibility items from us, see separate article about those details.

To make your appointment, please go to the following link and sign up for your preferred time:
http://www.brownbearsw.com/freecal/HCSIGNUP
Find the week of Oct. 17-24.  Any time that has a name by it is taken.  For your preferred time, double click on the time and a new screen will open.  Under "Modify the Text", replace the text with your project # and name; for example:  "Project 10/Deanne Everton".  Then click on "Replace Event" and you're all signed up. 

Project Coordinators: Your Project Box and supplies will be available to pick up on Friday, October 23.  You'll be picking up a tote with you first aid kit, extra waivers, safety poster, plates and napkins, cookies, fruit; in addition you'll pick up a 5 gallon water container, project sign and bucket(s) of soda.  If you have a small car, be sure it's empty before you come so you can fit everything in.  Here's your link for a pick-up appointment:
http://www.brownbearsw.com/freecal/PCSignups
Find Oct. 22.   Any time that has a name by it is taken.  For your preferred time, double click on the time and a new screen will open.  Under "Modify the Text", replace the text with your project # and name; for example:  "Project 10/Deanne Everton".  Then click on "Replace Event" and you're all signed up. 

Timeline Check In

House Captains:  Your Online Project Scopes were due Monday.  I have received most of them.  Thank you to those of you have gotten them in!!! I still have not received them for the following projects:  11, 15, 16, 18, 44, 45, 46, 49, 50, 51, 53, 54.  I am ordering supplies tomorrow:  paint, accessibility items, appliances, porta-potties and dumpsters.  So be sure to get yours in today!!!

I will be creating Scopes of Work from your online scopes and sending to you as well as the homeowner.  Please review your Scope of Work with your homeowner prior to Rebuilding Day. I will also be sending out credit cards next week. 


Project Coordinators:  Project assignments are being made this week.  We will be sending out a list next week of who from your group has signed up online.  Next week we'll also be emailing everyone with their project assignment, project details, what to wear, bring, etc.  Please continue to encourage everyone to sign up online.  This way we can have a more accurate account of who and how many volunteers will be at each project.


Homeowner Companions:  Homeowner Orientations are happening this week.  We've had a good turnout.  Thank you for helping get those homeowners to the meetings.  Your homeowner will probably have more questions now that they've been to the orientation.  You might want to check in with them in the next few days.

POWERWASH--NOT!!!

Because of the new Lead Safety RRP ruling, we are not allowed to powerwash any home built prior to 1978.  Even if the paint is in good condition but just dirty, we don't want to risk creating paint chips that might be left behind. I would suggest using a garden hose and doing a light wash. The only homes of the 41 we are working on that were built after 1978 are projects 44, 46, 51, 52, 57, 59, and 60 (all in Adopt-a-Park). 

The following projects are being prepped prior to Rebuilding Day in accordance with the new RRP ruling because they were built prior to 1978 and have peeling or flaking paint on more than 20 square feet on the exterior:  11, 12, 14, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 25, 26, 28, 54.  If painting is part of your scope and you are not on this list, then your paint is in good condition or the paint is peeling/flaking on less than 20 square feet of the exterior  OR  your home was built after 1978. 

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation in following these recommendations.  If you have any questions regarding this, please don't hesitate to contact me. 

HOUSE CAPTAINS: Online Project Scopes Due Monday

HOUSE CAPTAINS:

Remember, your Online Project Scopes are due this coming Monday, October 4.  A visit to your project(s) is a must before you can complete this online questionaire.  If meeting this deadline is not feasible or possible, let me know.  I know some of you are just now receiving your project match.

Next week is our deadline for ordering paint, appliances, safety items as well as pre-builds begin on 1/2 steps--so we must have your information in so that your requests can be included in those orders.  If we don't have your information before we order supplies, you will be responsible for purchasing those items with the credit cards you receive from us (and pricing may be higher.)

Once we receive your Online Project Scope, we will in turn send you your Lowes, Home Depot and OSH credit cards and your "Scope of Work" form that you share with your homeowner. 

Thanks for all your work thus far!  23 days and counting....

Volunteer Sign-Ups Due NOW

Hey Project Leaders,
Be sure YOU have signed up online as a volunteer for Rebuilding Day!  We need everyone signed up, ideally, by tomorrow, October 1.  We will start assigning volunteers, giving you reports on who has signed up from your group, etc. next week.  Volunteers will still be able to sign up after Friday, and are encouraged to, but we will begin placing volunteers next week based on the numbers we have at that time; and we'll begin ordering supplies based on those numbers as well.  Help us out by signing up today, if you haven't already, and encouraging your groups to do so as well.

Here's the link: http://rebuildingtogether-sv.org/?q=node/184

ATTENTION HOUSE CAPTAINS: DEADLINE EXTENDED FOR ONLINE SCOPES TO OCTOBER 4

Most project matches are being made this week with project information and online surveys being emailed to House Captains concurrently.  Our original deadline for submitting these Online Project Scopes was September 27 (next Monday).  Although we would LOVE to get as many in as possible by that deadline, we know some of you may need more time.  So, we have extended the submission deadline to Monday, October 4.  That's less than 3 weeks before Rebuilding Day, so we absolutely CANNOT accommodate any requests for items that we normally provide if your survey is submitted after that date.  That means if you need Appliances, Flooring, Safe at Home items such as grab bars, toilet risers, shower seats, etc. as well as pre-built steps, we won't be able to provide those.  Paint is also questionable depending on the submission date. 

So, best bet is to get those Online Scopes in by October 4, earlier if possible!!! Thanks!

Lead Safe Practices and how they affect your project

If you've been around Rebuilding Together in the last 6 months or so (or if you are in the construction industry), you've heard about the new EPA Renovate, Repair and Painting (RRP) rule that went into effect April 22, 2010.  The ruling states that if you are disturbing more than 6 square feet of interior painted space or 20 square feet exterior on a home built prior to 1978, you must use lead-safe practices led by a certified lead-safe renovator.

This ruling primarily affects the painting we do, although some of the other repairs and upgrades we do might also fall within this rule (i.e. replacing windows, doors, etc.)  In preparation for our upcoming Rebuilding Day on October 23, we have been gathering additional information on all recommended pre-1978 projects, particularly if they have painting, interior or exterior, on their list.

Once you have been matched with a project, you will receive a link to your Online Project Scope.  In that scope, I will provide you with particulars about your project in relation to any lead paint issues that may be present on your project.  Then, I will wait to hear from you once you have visited the site and developed your scope of work by prioritizing and narrowing the task list into what is doable in one day, with limited budget, time, volunteers, skills, etc.  If after creating your scope you still have painting on the list, we will get to work organizing a prep team, led by one of our Certified Lead-Safe Renovators (volunteers who have gone through the certification and agreed to lead volunteer teams) to prep your home prior to Rebuilding Day.  (This is another reason to get your Online Scope into us on time!)

The goal is for this small volunteer team, led by a Certified Renovator, to do any scraping (following the lead safe practices outlined in the RRP) prior to Rebuilding Day so that your team can begin painting right away on Rebuilding Day.  Certainly if any of your team members want to volunteer to help with this, that would be greatly appreciated.  Most prepping will likely take place on the weekends leading up to Rebuilding Day.

Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns about this ruling.

If you'd like to learn more about the RRP, you can find more details on this website.

Project Profiles Ready to Preview

51 projects are approved for Fall Rebuilding Day and awaiting Sponsoring groups and/or House Captains to select them.  These 51 projects represent low income homeowners, mostly seniors and/or disabled, who have critical warmth, safety and independence problems in their home that we can help repair.  If you represent a Sponsoring Group and/or you are a House Captain, you may go to our website and login to preview the available Profiles.  Let us know, by email, your first 3 choices.  We'll be making project matches within the next week.  When logging in, username=sponsor; password=fall2010.  Click on Project Profiles on the right.  Then click on project name or picture to see more details.

Training Dates for Project Leaders

House Captains--choose one: 

Monday, August 30, 6pm 

Friday, September 17, noon. 

Project Coordinator and Homeowner Companion Training--choose one:  

Tuesday, September 14, noon 

Monday, September 20, 7pm.

Project Leaders are key to the success of Rebuilding Day.  These trainings are designed to provide you with key information regarding what's involved so that you can be prepared, productive and enjoy the process!  Please SIGN UP now for one of these training events.