The Times Advocate, 2008-04-16, Page 3Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Times -Advocate
3
Freecycle turns junk into gold
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Internet barter — Cindy and Ian Palmatier of Huron Park are members of Huron
County Freecycling, an Internet group that allows people to exchange materials they no
longer use. Cindy is also the group moderator. (photo/Pat Bolen)
By Pat Bolen
TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF
HURON PARK — "If you
want something, just ask for
it," says Ian Palmatier, who,
along with his wife Cindy is a
member of Huron County
Freecycle, which is part of the
international Freecycle net-
work, a non-profit Internet
movement of people who
keep useful material out of
landfills by giving and receiv-
ing items for free.
Cindy has been a member of
the Huron County group since
October 2006, after her
daughter told her of the
group. After joining, Cindy
soon became the moderator
for the group.
"It's quite a movement,"
says Cindy. Huron County
Freecycle started in June
2004 and has 673 members
across the county. Freecycle
also has groups across
Canada and around the world
including the United States,
Australia and England.
Freecycle allows its mem-
bers to post both requests and
offers for items that can
include almost anything
except illegal items and ani-
mals.
The Palmatiers say they
have given away items such
as books, weights, an exercise
bike and decorations and they
acquired a fireplace through
Freecycle. They also gave
away a freezer to someone
who turned out to have previ-
ously lived in their home in
Huron Park.
According to Cindy, some of
the most popular items on the
site are childrens' clothes and
toys, lawn maintenance
equipment and pet supplies.
Cindy says her job as co-
ordinator for the Huron
County site isn't hard. "People
in Huron County are pretty
level headed...they do a good
job. They're very easy to work
with."
Privacy and security are
important on the site, says
Cindy. "We stress using com-
mon sense. You exchange at
your own risk."
Cindy explains that after a
message is posted to the site
and someone replies to it, all
further messages go between
private e-mails.
Cindy said the group consid-
ered adding pet adoptions to
the site and said it was "very
controversial and a hot button
issue," and it was decided not
to do it.
"We're not qualified to
place animals in safe
homes," said Cindy.
"There are a lot of rami-
fications."
Cindy adds there are
"no free-for-alls on the
site. The person who
posts the item gets to
decide who receives it."
She says she encourages
a 24-hour waiting time
before someone gives
away an item to make
sure everyone gets a fair
chance.
"It balances out," she
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says, and adds that if some-
one misses out on something
posted they often post a mes-
sage asking for the same
thing.
To join Freecycle, a Yahoo
ID is needed and then go to
FreeCycle.org and follow the
links.
After signing up, members
can start posting immediately,
although initially members'
messages are held until Cindy
checks them. "Once people
realize what is expected,
they're off moderation," she
says.
Another part of the site peo-
ple can join is the Freecycle
Cafe, which is a discussion
site for a wide range of issues.
As well as keeping material
from being thrown out, Cindy
says the other advantage of
being a Freecycle member is
getting to know people. "It's
nice, you really meet a lot of
community members."
Getting there —The CT Scanner for Huron County campaign is
$50,000 closer to its goal thanks to a donation by Heartland Credit
Union April 3 in Clinton. From left, Marj Dobson presents the check on
behalf of Heartland to Gord Hill and Willi Laurie of the CT Scanner for
Huron County Campaign team. (photo/submitted)
Volunteers honoured
Awards ceremony — Midwestern Adult Day Services honoured some
of their long-term volunteers at the Ontario Volunteer Service Awards
ceremony in Stratford April 7. Pictured above from left are Huron -
Bruce MPP Carol Mitchell; volunteer Evelyn Josephson, 10 years with the
Exeter Adult Day Centre; Fred Radley, 15 years with the Clinton Adult
Day Centre;Viola Riley, 25 years also with the Clinton program; execu-
tive director Anne Rollings; and Bob Raper, 10 years with the Wingham
Adult Day Centre. In a show of appreciation for their many years of
dedication, Midwestern treated the volunteers and their spouses to sup-
per before the awards presentation. (photo/submitted)
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