Volunteers are the lifeblood of our operations. A mom (Amy) and daughter (Alice) shares their motivations and volunteer experience:
We feel like we live on Earth, not only Austin, Texas, and love to find connections to everyone else with us. Ten Thousand Villages allows us, in a small way, to touch so many parts of the world.
Three years ago when we were struggling through the mom and daughter “who’s-in-charge” years–as a deep thinking, save-the-world student and a love-everyone assistant principal–we decided that a common adventure was our goal. As frequent shoppers at Ten Thousand Villages of Austin, our lightbulbs clicked on and we thought this might be a good way to spend our time. So, we signed on to train and then met Polly, who we immediately knew was a fellow lover of all things global and a kindred soul.
We enjoy all of our new relationships with volunteers and our fearless leaders. We both have learned so much about the strength of non-profit, fair trade retail. We are consumate believers in building bridges throughout the world and love the underlying belief in beauty that Kitty, Polly and the board create. We feel blessed to be a part of the Ten Thousand Villages community.
For more than three years, our store has been providing a marketplace for disadvantaged artisans and telling their stories in a welcoming and positive environment.
We hear it over and over again from our customers: “This place is so peaceful!”; “I love what you guys do and I’m so glad you are here”; and “I can’t wait to tell my friends.”
We are listening. Your comments reinforce our positive attitude and our motivation for continuing to do what we do with genuine joy.
Some of you have felt so moved by what we do and how we do it, that you have become part of our fair trade family. Our ever-growing number of volunteers is a true testament to how our positive environment is contagious. Please join us - our volunteer family could never be too big.
So, thank you again for all of the positive energy you have given us during our three years on Congress Avenue.
Ten Thousand Villages of Austin seeks a full-time assistant manager to assist in the daily operations and offsite sales of the store. This position requires extensive coordination and work with volunteers. Reliable transportation and ability to lift 40 lbs also necessary. Candidates must be available to work weekends and evenings. Salary range is $22-25K. An ideal candidate would possess the following qualifications:
Interest in and commitment to the mission of Ten Thousand Villages
Managerial experience and ability, including inventory planning and analysis
Computer experience with Word and Excel
Enjoyment of meeting the public and relating to a wide variety of people
Willingness to learn a variety of tasks under the direction of the Store Manager
Experience or training in retail sales
Ability to demonstrate proactive and creative problem solving
Above: Kitty uses a technique of wrapping raffia around banana stem to form a traditional pattern of colors that make up a basket.
“We are sitting under the jack fruit trees on a gorgeous Ugandan day. Lots of children are playing around and neighbors who were interested in the Americans have come to visit and ask questions.”
About five weeks ago in March, Kitty visited Kenya and Uganda on a 3-week Learning Tour to meet the artisans who supply our crafts. Each year Ten Thousand Villages U.S. organizes two Learning Tours for staff, volunteer, and board members to walk and talk with the people whose crafts we sell here in North America. The first-hand witness of the impact of fair trade on these artisans both re-energizes our mission and strengthens bonds. More stories to be posted in the near future.
Click on the below thumbnail to view Kitty’s album.
I’ve previously blogged about the use of compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) bulbs in our store. Today’s Weekend Journal has a front page story about the push for “a nationwide energy-saving lighting standard that, if enacted by Congress, would effectively phase out the common household light bulb in about 10 years.” Additionally, CFL gained some traction from Home Depot’s free CFL giveaways in honor of Earth Day.
Generates approximately $180 savings per average U.S. household
Is better for the environment–uses less than one-third the energy of the common bulb and last up to 9 years
A word of caution: CFLs contain an average of 5 milligrams of mercury (roughly the amount in the tip of a ballpoint pen) which helps increase the bulb’s efficiency and must be properly recycled when burnt out and carefully handled (gloves, airing of room, etc.) if broken.
You might have noticed that I’ve selected a new theme for this blog. Hope it makes it easier to navigate and is easy on the eye. Minor but important change: Pictures of the blog team are now available.
Kitty is a proponent of pictures as they make sites friendly and welcoming. I agree.
