Presentation at 2014 Massachusetts Sustainable Communities and Campuses Conference

1. Bolton Repair Cafe
By Ray Pfau
ray.pfau@oracle.com

2. Acknowledgements
• Most pictures by Ken Horton
• Group volunteer picture by Catherine Pfau
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3. Repair Cafe Purpose
• Reuse things
– Less things in landfills
• Save $
• Less raw materials and
emissions making new
things
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4. How it Works
• Guests bring in items
• We fix them for free
• Guests only pay for
needed parts
• Guests can help, watch,
and/or have a snack
• Open to anyone
• Not competing with
professional repair
shops
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5. Types of Items We Can Fix
• It all depends on the
volunteers
– Electrical
– Sewing
– Furniture
– Sharpening
– Computers
– Bicycles
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6. Future Plans
• Hold events 3 times a
year
• Reach more people
– Get the word out
– Help others start Repair
Cafes
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7. Tricks – To Start a Repair Cafe
• Find an existing
organization that might
be interested
• Talk to them
• Cannot find one, you
can still do it
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8. Tricks – Register with the Repair Cafe
Foundation
• repaircafe.org
• For a small one time fee
you get a lot of help
– “How To” booklet
– Sample documents
– Logo files
– List location on web site
• You agree to
– Use the Repair Cafe name
– Use the logo
– Refer to the web site
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9. Tricks - Get Good Volunteers
• Talk to friends
• Contact local service
groups
• Ask people to suggest
others
• Talk it up
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10. Tricks – Miscellaneous
• Find a location
• Get people to come
– Press Releases
– Flyers
– Emails
• Cover costs
– Put out donation jars
• Keep things positive and
fun
• Use written registrations
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11. Ongoing Issue – Liability
• Have guests sign a
waiver
• Volunteer homeowner’s
insurance
• Other insurance for
organization sponsoring
the event
• Event insurance
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12. Come to Our Next Event
• Sat May 31 from 9 am –
1 pm
• See boltonlocal.org for
more details
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13. Want More Information?
• boltonlocal.org
• repaircafe.org
• Contact me
– ray.pfau@oracle.com
– (978) 779-5545
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