The months of May and June have been the busiest in the history of TRP. In addition to completing 49 deconstruction projects, we trained 18 California Conservation Corps (CCC) members and supervisors in the art and science of deconstruction. This is a project that had been in the works for many months and when it finally came to fruition, the results were both exciting and gratifying.

Assisting me with the training were Brandy Sosa, Oakland Retail Manager, and Dianne Schilling, instructional designer, TRP advisor, and the architect/writer of the training program. The basic training was accomplished in 12, seven-hour days. An additional two days were spent doing crew chief training for supervisors and those corps members who demonstrated leadership qualities during the basic training.

The objectives the training were to understand the philosophy and advantages of deconstruction, to learn the step-by-step process of deconstructing a building, to practice using deconstruction tools, and to gain experience working on a deconstruction crew.

All of the students had illustrated workbooks, and an animated slide presentation accompanied the classroom training. The students participated in simulation activities and were actively involved in demonstrating safety equipment and tool usage, and removing fixtures from specially designed props in the classroom before trying out their skills on an actual job.

For the on-the-job portion of the training, the CCC had arranged to deconstruct a building belonging to the City of Long Beach. The students removed wood trim, cabinets, plumbing and electric fixtures, doors, windows and oak flooring, and prepared all the materials for shipping to TRP's Los Angeles warehouse.

Back in the classroom on day-seven, the students learned how to remove plaster, drywall, siding, and framing members (rafters, ceiling and floor joists, top and bottom plates, subfloors and studs). Then we returned to the jobsite for the actual framing removal, lumber denailing, stacking and banding. On the final classroom day the students participated in a several experiential activities, including a job-strategy contest, and took a comprehensive quiz (the last of three quizzes). At the close of the day we handed out "graduation" certificates and celebrated with cake and prizes.

The crew chief training focused on leadership skills, job safety, documentation, and bidding. We spent the first day in the classroom and the second in the field, actually bidding a couple of sample jobs. Working in teams, the students developed cost estimates and recycling plans, estimated cubic yards, tonnage and debris disposal costs, and projected crew hours. They also estimated the costs of supervision, equipment rental, and transportation of salvaged materials to a local warehouse for resale. It was quite a challenge, but everyone did a great job.

With proper supervision, these trained CCC crews are now capable of deconstructing public works buildings throughout California on behalf of TRP. Working collaboratively, TRP and the CCC hope to consistently maintain at least one working deconstruction crew. In addition, TRP will assist graduating corps members to obtain crew positions with TRP-certified deconstruction contractors.

The ReUse Contest Please remember the Reuse Contest unveiled in last month's e-letter. To summarize, all entries are due by September 1 of this year. A three-person jury will select the first, second and third place winners, and the winner will be showcased on the TRP website and in our booth at West Coast Green, September 25- 27 in San Jose. All entries will receive a $25 TRP gift certificate good at any TRP retail warehouse. First prize will receive an additional $200 gift certificate, second prize $100, and third prize $50. Each submission is to include before and after photographs (four, maximum) and a write-up of 250 words or less. For more information, click on "News Room" on our website and then click on the June, 2008, e-letter. Submit entries to tedreiff@thereusepeople.org. Email entries only will be accepted.

Potential Expansion Opportunity We have received several inquiries from Columbus, Ohio, regarding possible expansion to that area of the country. Please email me if you have friends or relatives in the Central Ohio area who would be interested in joining the TRP team.

The Oakland warehouse just received a large shipment of beautiful 1x4 redwood paneling from a house in Sausalito.

The Los Angeles (Pacoima ) warehouse has received a large shipment of oak flooring and beautiful bay windows in several different sizes.

At the Oakland warehouse we're featuring windows. Receive 50% off on any window purchase through August 10, 2008.

At the Los Angeles (Pacoima) warehouse all interior doors are $25/ea through August 10, 2008..

Go to our website www.thereusepeople.org, click on the tab "Opportunities" and look under the heading "Employment Opportunities"

In Northern California, TRP's Oakland warehouse will receive:

• All materials from a 1,700 sq-ft Lake Tahoe cabin loaded with Douglas Fir paneling, exposed beams, cast iron wood stove, brass outlet and switch plates, pewter door handles and bathroom fixtures
• All materials from a 3,000 sq-ft house in Los Gatos, with numerous pocket doors, marble countered vanities, exquisite light fixtures (some all glass), custom built-in appliances (radio, toaster, bathroom scale, electric can openers, even a blender), seven-burner cooktop w/professional hood
• All materials from a 1,400 sq-ft home in Orinda, including cherry wood kitchen cabinetry w/Kitchen Aid appliances, Andersen dual-pane windows, new carpeting and lots of lantern style sconces
• All materials from a 4, 000 sq-ft house in Orinda, including custom cabinetry w/granite counters, GE Monogram refrigerator and dishwasher, six-burner Thermidor gas cooktop and double electric/convection ovens, Andersen dual-pane windows, three chandeliers and 14 contemporary concrete pillars
• All materials from a 1,200 sq-ft Palo Alto house, including old-growth Douglas fir framing
• All materials from a 1940s Palo Alto house, with old brick, redwood paneling and T&G oak flooring
• All materials from a 4,000 sq-ft Palo Alto house, including T-111 siding and dual-pane wood windows
• All materials from a 1920s Palo Alto house, including old growth, rough sawn lumber and redwood lap siding

In Los Angeles, the Pacoima warehouse will receive:

• All materials from a vintage 7,500 sq-ft Beverly Hills house, built in 1935, including raised panel doors with decorative brass hardware, solid wood kitchen cabinetry, several sets of French doors with vintage hardware, beautiful old light fixtures and dark-stained oak hardwood flooring
• All materials from a 4,200 sq-ft Brentwood house, circa 1950, with hardwood floors, plantation shutters, French exterior doors, raised panel interior doors, SubZero refrigerator/freezer, Thermador 6-burner gas countertop range and electric double oven
• Select materials from a 1927 West Hollywood remodel, including a Gaggeneau oven, quality cabinets, solid raised panel interior doors with premium Baldwin brass hardware, six sets of exterior French double doors, two pedestal sinks and a whirlpool tub
• All materials from a 2,000 sp-ft Pacific Palisades house/guest house, built in 1941, including oak hardwood floors, premium chandeliers and light fixtures, kitchen appliances and a Maytag stack-set washer and dryer
• All materials from a La Jolla home, including hardwood flooring, dual-pane vinyl windows, raised panel doors, nice white cabinets with granite countertops, and SubZero refrigerator/freezer. (These materials be go to the Habitat ReStore in San Diego.)

Location and Contact Information

TRP ReUse Bazaar
9235 San Leandro Street
Oakland, CA 94603
(510) 383-1983; toll-free 888-588-9490
Hours: Mon through Fri 10:00 to 6:00; Sat and Sun 10:00 to 4:00

TRP Los Angeles (Pacoima) warehouse
11017 Sutter Avenue
Pacoima, CA 91331
(818) 897-2798
Hours: Tues through Fri 10:00 to 5:00; Saturday 10:00 to 4:00

Boulder Warehouse
10500 Isabelle Road
Lafayette, CO 80026
(303) 666-8094
Hours: Thursday through Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Please visit our partnering warehouse in the Los Angeles area:

Silver Lake Yards
1086 Manzanita Street
Silver Lake, CA 90026
(323) 667-2875
Hours: Friday, Saturday & Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. by appointment
Directions: Manzanita Street crosses Sunset Boulevard in Silver Lake. Go south 1 short block and turn right just before Santa Monica Boulevard.