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JAN 26 '94 10 :46AM PETERSEN TEWS SQUI <br /> Laura Kuettel reported on her inquiries regarding pickup of <br /> unsold items at curbside after the sale. In short, none of the <br /> charitable organizations she contacted was interested in doing such <br /> a pickup. Those that would do it would charge a substantial fee. <br /> Rather than providing organized pickup, the Commission will compile <br /> and provide to participants information about where they can dispose <br /> of their unsold items. <br /> Susan Smith reported on her conversation with Abby Struck of the <br /> St. Anthony Park Community Council regarding that community's annual <br /> garage sale. SAP has organized a community sale for two years and <br /> is considering two sales this year because the event has been so <br /> successful. Of 2700 households, approximately 50 participated in <br /> last year's sale (which was held in the rain). SAP requires <br /> participants to register and to contribute ten percent of their sale <br /> proceeds (up to a maximum contribution of $50) for publicity costs. <br /> Although the primary purpose of the sale is public service and <br /> community building, SAP also ended up with a $500 profit last year. <br /> SAP advertised its sale in the Bugle and in the garage sale <br /> classified advertising sections of the Star Tribune and the Pioneer <br /> Press. In addition, the Community Council has invested in reusable <br /> painted wooden signs for distribution to participants. SAP also <br /> prepared fliers with a map of the neighborhood on one side and the <br /> addresses of participants on the other. These were distributed at <br /> two locations which were specified in the advertisements for the <br /> sale; one was a business location and the other was in a,tesidential <br /> area, and the fliers were handed out to shoppers at curbside so they <br /> would not have to leave their cars. SAP had no particular problems <br /> with parking, nor did they have reports of nonregistered residents <br /> "poaching" on the community's organized and advertised sale by <br /> holding private sales without registering or contributing proceeds. <br /> After discussion, the Commission tentatively decided that <br /> participants would be asked to register at City Hall and pick up <br /> guidelines for the sale, to be prepared by the Commission, as well <br /> as blue balloons, to be provided by the City, to attach to garage <br /> sale signs. There will be no charge to participate. The Commission <br /> will use the registration list to prepare a map for distribution to <br /> shoppers. Advertising will be placed in the Focus, the Bugle, and <br /> the Review, as well as in the Star Tribune and the Pioneer Press, <br /> but ads in the two daily papers may be limited to the day of the <br /> sale to discourage early shoppers. Balloons and signs will also be <br /> placed at the ends of streets on which residents are participating <br /> in the sale. <br /> USED CAR SEAT COLLECTION: Laura Kuettel will attend a February <br /> meeting on the Ramsey County used car seat collection project. The <br /> goal of the project is to collect used car seats, dispose of those <br /> which are unsafe, and refurbish the others for distribution to low <br /> income families. The Commission may want to consider involvement at <br /> some level, from publicizing the project to organizing a collection <br /> in the community. <br /> -4 <br />