Dorr, Hesser to speak to Exchange Club
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Kathy Dorr and Marie Hesser will speak Friday at noon in the Holiday Inn to members of the Exchange club.
Title of their presentation is "Helping People in the Stillwater Area in 2003 and Beyond." Dorr has been a volunteer with Habitat for Humanity for 12 years.
Hesser is on the board of Habitat and has worked for the Elite Repeat resale shop since it opened, a year and a half ago.
Topics that will be discussed during their presentation include need for housing, how families are selected to receive help from Habitat, how inventory is gathered for the resale shop, how funds are raised, and volunteering. Funds from the store benefit Habitat for Humanity and Central Oklahoma Community Action Agency (COCAA).
Organizations receiving assistance from COCAA include the Mission of Hope, the Food Bank, Community Health Center, and the Transitional Housing Program.
Any interested community members and all Exchange Club members are welcome to attend. Exchangite of the Day is Michelle Overstreet.
Elite Repeat brings back silent auctionHide Article
A silent auction of special merchandise will continue through Saturday at the Elite Repeat Resale Shop in downtown Stillwater. All proceeds benefit community organizations.
The Elite Repeat was established to provide an ongoing source of funding for the Stillwater chapter of Habitat for Humanity and Central Oklahoma Community Action Agency.
There are no paid employees, and Elite Repeat donated more than $50,000 to each organization in its first year of operation.
"The silent auction is a holiday event for our customers says Marie Hesser, one of five Elite Repeat managers. "It's also a chance to share some of our really unique items with the community."
Auction items are on view in the storefront windows at 716 S. Main. Two Victorian doll houses, one with furniture and one without, and a "Gingerbread Mouse House" are included in the auction.
The auction also features several original oil paintings, a child's tool set and case, an off-white vintage tablecloth featuring embroidery and crochet, a six-inch Roseville vase, a Beauty and the Beast snow globe, a Native American porcelain doll, a log cabin quilt, an antique fur stole, and more items. The silent auction will continue through 4 p.m. Dec. 6. For more information, call Elite Repeat at 377-4462.
GambolingHide Article
By Lawrence Gibbs
There's been some hanky-panky going on downtown and some merchants were planning a stakeout to see how it was happening.
Perhaps you've noticed all the Halloween decorations on Main Street. Especially the decorated scarecrows. Business owners have decorated a scarecrow in front of their business in a theme in keeping with the business involved.
Well, it seems that once the stores close and the sun goes down, the scarecrow games begin. Ella Repeat, from Elite Repeat, seems to have fallen for Mr. B from in front of Bates Bros. and didn't make it home before store owners began unlocking their doors.
Shameful. Will Mr. B. make a honest woman of her? No one is certain, but we hope she had sense enough to preclude and little BBs.
If we hear of more shenanigans downtown, we'll let you know.
Scarecrows decorate Main StreetHide Article
By Ginger Sheperd
Staff Writer
The scarecrows in downtown Stillwater serve a dual purpose.
Downtown Main Street Director Kristi Brown said she wanted to do something to decorate the area for fall.
What better than scarecrows? she thought. So she began building wooden frames for merchants. Brown used scrap wood she found around town to build the frames she left for merchants and business owners.
Each scarecrow, she said, is unique to the store that created it. And there are some unique scarecrows. Gose and Associates created a survey scarecrow while Murphy's built a housewife.
The Murphy's housewife has curlers in the hair and has a rolling pin, she said.
The Cat & The Fiddle has a "Cat in the Hat" scarecrow and fish bowl.
The joke is that the old man scarecrow from Bates Brothers will run away with the old lady from Elite Repeat, Brown said.
A new sports radio station downtown went beyond fall decoration. She said they build an Oklahoma State University fan whose head is a basketball painted with the station's logo. It even has an official OSU jersey given to the station by the athletic department.
In addition to providing the scarecrow frame, Brown also made sure merchants had a bale of hay to use in their decorations.
She hopes the scarecrows and the other fall decorations bring attention to improvements downtown.
As she worked through the project, it wasn't just the traditional downtown merchants getting involved. She said the Holiday Inn, which is located on West Sixth Avenue, wanted to join in fall decorating effort, and created a couple scarecrows.
She said she hopes the idea will grow to other Stillwater business and it becomes a townwide, not just a downtown, project.
Although the scarecrows' main function is to decorate downtown, they are also being used as a way to raise money for the program.
Brown said scarecrows are being sold through a silent auction. Those interested can inquire inside the stores. High bidders will be contacted.
Brown plans to have the scarecrows up for homecoming on Saturday.
Shop's profits register group's spirit of givingHide Article
By Mark Taliferro
State Correspondent
Stillwater--A goup of Stillwater women has turned the spirit of giving into a thriving business.
Elite Repeat resale shop opened a year ago to raise money for Habitat for Humanity and the Stillwater Community Action Agency.
The store has grossed more than $45,000 going to each of the charities. Elite is able to donate so much money because none of its 65 employees--including the five managers--is paid. After the rent and bills are paid, the rest goes to help others.
"We were all friends, and we were meeting for lunch regularly and we said, 'Let's do something,'" said Marie Hesser, one of the store managers. "We decided on resale, started looking for a location, chose our charities and chose our name. We did it all by voting."
The store carries a variety of items, including clothing, books, toys, and furniture. Almost everything is donated.
The store will celebrate its first anniversary Thursday.
Elite's donations have had such an impact that Habitat's newest house in Stillwater has been named the "Elite Repeat House." The cost of the house is close to the $45,000 donated so far.
Elite's donations are expected to make up about half of the funding for Habitat's Stillwater affiliate for the fiscal year ending June 30, treasurer Dale Alspach said.
Elite was doing business under the corporate subsidiary of Habitat until recently. Operating as a subsidiary of Habitat had allowed the Elite volunteers to work on the store rather than worry about things such as liability insurance and the paperowrk required for a nonprofit corporation.
Elite is now its own corporation, but Hesser's ties to Habitat remain strong.
When Hesser was searching for a store location, her voice of reason was Kathy Dorr, president of the Habitat board in Stillwater.
"Marie kept saying that she wanted a good, downtown presence, and I wasn't sure if she could really afford that," Dorr said. "The rent was higher, but she was very secure in her feeling that it was a good idea."
"Hesser got her downtown location, and the risk paid off
"I was amazed at the success because I was worried about the overhead they were taking on in that location," Dorr said. "They've been invaluable to Habitat for Humanity. They're a wonderful group of people."
Dorr realized how successful the business had become when she purchased a pair of pants for her daughter who lives in Tulsa, only to find out that the pants had been donated by her daughter a few weeks earlier.
Hesser said 27 women were involvd with forming the business, with five volunteering to take on management positions.
While the success can be credited to dozens of volunteers, many give the highest praise to Hesser, whom Shirley Brassfield called the "guiding force" behind the group.
"She is one of these people that just gives of herself to her community all the way," said Brassfield, a volunteer since the beginning of the project.
Elite Repeat helps raise funds for charitiesHide Article
By Ginter Sheperd
Staff Writer
Elite Repeat isn't like other resale stores in Stillwater.
There is no employee benefit package; no payroll; no overhead, nothing. What it does have, is a good will spirit.
The Main Street resale shop is operated by a large number of volunteers, managers Marie Hesser said. Volunteers don't just collect and sell the merchandise, but they handle the store's management.
There are five volunteer managers, she said, and one volunteer takes care of the bookkeeping.
A group of ladies, who happen to enjoy resale, were having lunch one day. The idea of opening up a resale shop in order to generate money for the Central Oklahoma Community Action organization and Stillwater Habitat for Humanity seemed like a good idea.
One year later, those volunteer women have accomplished the goal and are still going, raising more than $82,000 for the two charity groups.
Volunteer Manager Vicki Phillips said there are three things the store's success can be contributed to: customers, donations, and volunteers.
One way to commemorate the event is to hold a silent auction which started on Thursday and will run through May 30.
Since their one-year anniversary is on May 15, volunteers are going to do something special all month long.
Items include antiques, such as antique tricycle quilts and a doll house. She said volunteer Barbara Mintmire has refurbished a dollhouse for the auction. This project included putting individual rooms together with doll furniture.
Elite Repeat features top quality resale items ranging from clothing to knick knacks to buttons. Hesser said the store also features some jewelry made by individuals in a third world country. Money made from the jewelry sale goes back to the third world country.
Donations can be brought down to the shop at 716 S. Main. Volunteer Frances Griffin said they are looking for articles that are in fairly good shape.
They can accept a skirt that has been slightly ripped because it can be repaired by the volunteer seamstress, she said, but they can't fix something that is badly damaged or stained. All clothing items are cleaned by a local cleaner before they are put on the rack for purchase.
Volunteers can pick up donations, Phillips said, but on a limited basis. Generally, items they pick up are large items or items from an individual who can't bring them.
For more information about donations collection call the shop at 377-4462.
While the shop primarily raises money for COCA and habitat, Hesser said they do assist Stillwater Domestic Violence and the Red Cross in providing clothing and other related items to families in immediate need.
"It's the greatest shop in town," Habitat for Humanity member Ron Beer said.
Habitat volunteers assisted Shop volunteers in recarpeting the shop and installing the fitting rooms.
Appreciation to Elite RepeatHide Article
May 15, Elite Repeat resale store opened its doors at 716 S.Main. The dream of its five managers and many volunteers was to use local resources, volunteer labor aned donations of clothing and household items to benefit the entire community. To this end they chose Stillwater Habitat for Humanity and Central Oklahoma Community Action Agency as beneficiaries.
SHfH has used the gifts from Elite Repeat to construct the Elite Repeat house for a family in need at 312 S. Benjamin. The house will be completed and dedicated this summer. Elite Repeat also helped fund the start up efforts for the Habitat ReStore at 510 E. 12th, where building materials can be recycled and resold to further create fundiing to provide safe and decent shelter for people living in poverty housing.
COCAA has used the gifts from Elite Repeat to provide funding for rental assistance to residents who, through circumstances beyond their control, have found themselves in need. Funds have also been used for the renovation of the east wing of the old Washington School site into additional transitional housing units.
SHfH and COCAA wish to express our sincere appreciation to the workers involved in Elite Repeat.
Kathy Dorr, president
SHfH Board of Directors
Larry McCroskey, COCAA Area Coordinator
Payne and Logan counties
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The eighth house to be built by Stillwater Habitat for Humanity will be celebrated at a special dedication this Sunday.
The community, including the many volunteers, donors, and local businesses who made this home a reality, are welcome to attend the ceremony at the house Sunday at 2 p.m. The house is located at 312 S. Benjamin, which is east of Hughes Lumber.
In the event of rain, the dedication will be held at resale shop Elite Repeat, 716 S. Main, in downtown Sillwater.
The house, funded fully by the donations of Elite Repeat, has been designated the "Elite Repeat House." Profits from Elite Repeat benefit Stillwater Habitat for Humanity and Stillwater Community Action.
Tours of the home, built for Kevin and Sandra Rosecrans, will be given. Those attending are encouraged to bring a pound of food to help fill the family's new pantry.
Stillwater Habitat for Humanity will soon begin construction of another home on 18th Street. For information about donating or volunteering, please call the Stillwater Habitat for Humanity office at 377-0403.
The best part of ChristmasHide Article
It was so heartwarming to see the number of generous Stillwater area people who donated wonderful items to the Elite Repeat Resale Shop and also to see those who bought items for those less fortunate.
The recipients of their gifts were not people they knew, but were people in need.
Thanks for giving us the opportunity to witness the better side of human nature in giving gifts to those they may never know.
These caring individuals don't expect to be thanked, but their actions meant so much to the managers and volunteers at Elite Repeat.
Thank you.
Elite Revak, Stillwater
Thanks for ReStore supportHide Article
The Stillwater Habitat for Humanity affiliate recently opened the Habitat ReStore here in Stillwater. The ReStore is a "thrift shop" for new and used building materials and supplies and related household goods.
Profits from the ReStore wil be used to help fund Habitat projects here in the Stillwater area.
Startup funding for the ReStore was provided by generous contributions from Elite Repeat and Stillwater National Bank.
Special thanks to the volunteers at Elite Repeat and to Kevin Fowler and Rex Horning at SNB for their support and for their committment to the Stillwater community.
Ron Buck, Habitat ReStore
Dollhouse donatedHide Article
Stillwater NewsPress
By Laura Wilson Lifestyle Editor
Last summer, Barbara Mintmire found a dollhouse in need of restoratino at Elite Repeat, a Stillwater resale shop that benefits Habitat for Humanity and the Central Oklahoma Community Action Agency.
Mintmire enjoys doing miniature work and had already finished four other dollhouses over the years, but knew her husband didn't want another one in her house
"I saw right away that if I brought it home, I had to guarantee it was going to leave the house again," she said.
So she bought the house, restored it and is now giving it back to Elite Repeat for its silent auction fund-raiser, which begins Monday and continues through Nov. 22.
"I thought it would be a good way to benefit the store," Mintmire said about her project. "I always wanted to help Habitat, but I'm not real good at building houses--not big houses. I thought a dollhouse would be a neat way to benefit Hatibitat."
She spent about four months cleaning, painting, wallpapering, furnishing, and otherwise repairing and beautifying the dollhouse.
"When it's somehting you enjoy, you don't really count the hours," she said.
This dollhouse is her fifth to restore. Her first was a gift from a friend whose niece outgrew it, and then a garage sale find followed.
Her third dollhouse came froma neighbor who was moving and whose daughters were out of college and didn't want it anymore. The neighbor, Mintmire said, described it as "Tara after the Yankees went through."
The dollhouse was in pieces, she said, and had been most recently used by her neighbor's cats as a place to nap.
Mintmire found her fourth dollhouse at a thrift store and gave it to a friend after restoring it.
Mintmire has two daughters, ages 10 and 13, and said she probably uses them as an excuse for her work with dollhouses. She already has a second one from Elite Repeat.
"Maybe it will be ready next Christmas," she said.
Other items in Elite Repeat's silent auction include a decorated OSU Christmas tree, a child's bicycle, a 35mm Pentax camera with accessories, Precious Moments figurines, a quilt, the 17-volume International Library of Piano Music, a decorative bird cage, a Longaberger gingerbread basket from 1990 Christmas Collection and a women's rabbit jacket.
Elite Repeat is located at 716 S. Main.
Habitat for Humanity to be featured on Dedication DayHide Article
Stillwater NewsPress
Dedication Day Speaker Kathy Dorr will tell what the Payne County Habitat for Humanity does and show slides of some homes built in Stillwater. The program will begin at 1:30 p.m. Stept. 6 in Highland Park Methodist Church 524 N. Stallard Street.
Dorr is president of the Habitat for Humanity board. Also, Marie Hesser will do a show and tell of items available in the Elite Repeat Resale Shop serving Stillwater. Recently, that shop donated $5,000 as start-up funds for the new Stillwater Habitat for Humanity ReStore, located at 510 E. 12th Street. Hesser is one of the managers of Elite Repeat.
Payne County Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit Christian housing ministry that works in partnership with people in need to help them build, renovate, and buy their own homes.
Dedication Day, sponsored by Church Women United in Stillwater, unites Protestant, Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and other women in a common worship experience. Women from First Christian Church are planning the worship service.
Child care will be provided at no cost by Church Women United. After the service women from Highland Park Methodist Church will serve refreshments.
Group of Women Open Store for CharityHide Article
The Ponca City News, Monday May 12, 2003-Page 5A
STILLWATER (AP)--There is a good reason the Elite Repeat resale shop can donate so much money to charity.
All of its 65 employees--including the five managers--are volunteers. Nobody at the shop is drawing a salary.
After the rent and bills are paid, the rest of the store's revenue goes to Habitat for Humanity and the Stillwater Community Action Agency.
The store has grossed more than $140,000 in the past year, with about $45,000 going to each of the charities.
A group of women came up with the idea for the shop.
"We were all friends, and we were meeting for lunch regularly and we said, 'Let's do something,'" said Marie Hesser, one of the store managers. "We decided on resale, started looking for a location, chose our charities and chose our name. We did it all by voting."
The store, which will celebrate its first anniversary Thursday, carries a variety of items, including clothing, books, toys and furniture. Almost everything is donated.
Elite's donations have had such an impact that Habitat's newest house in Stillwater has been named the "Elite Repeat House." The cost of the house is close to the $45,000 donated so far.
The money donated to Stillwater Action was used to repair the roof on a wing of its building used for transitional housing.
"Both of them are strong organizations," Hesser said. "They have a good thing going and have a good program set up, but they had no cash flow. This gives them a cash flow."
Elite's donations are expected to make up about half of the funding for Habitat's Stillwater affiliate for the fiscal year ending June 30, treasurer Dale Alspach said.
Hesser said 27 women were involved with forming the business, with five volunteering to take on management positions.
While the success can be credited to dozens of volunteers, many give the highest praise to Hesser, whom Shirley Brassfield called the "guiding force" behind the group.
COCAA receives gift from Elite RepeatHide Article
Stillwater NewsPress Sunday, October 13 2002
The newly-opened Elite Repeat resale shop downtown recently presented $9,200 to Central Oklahoma Community Action Agency toward roof repairs on the building's east wing, which the agency hopes to convert into low-income housing.
"We are thrilled to be able to give this amount to COCAA after just opening May 15 of this year," said Marie Hesser, one of five managers of the non-profit, all-volunteer operation.
"The response from the community has been tremendous," Hesser added. "People have generously donated items for us to sell and have been enthusiastic customers. We're doing exactly what we hoped to do for the community."
Larry McCroskey, COCAA area coordinator for Payne and Logan counties, said the donation goes a long way toward making the new low-income housing a reality by transforming the former Head Start classrooms into two three-bedroom apartments.
"This major donation from Elite Repeat really moves us forward," McCroskey said. "Together with some funds from COCAA's home office in Shawnee and other donations, we hope we'll be able to get a new roof on the east wing before winter sets in."
The Elite Repeat funds are earmarked for COCAA housing programs and for preventing COCAA clients from becoming homeless, McCroskey said.
Elite Repeat was established by managers Sue Baker, Jan Hahn, Vicki Phillips, Elaine Revak, and Hesser to provide an ongoing source of funding for Stillwater's COCAA and Habitat for Humanity organizations.
Including the $9,200 gift, Elite Repeat has given more than $21,000 total to both organizaitons since opening. "We're pleased to know that all of this money goes right back into the community to people who are experiencing difficult times," Hesser said.
All of the volunteers, ranging from college students to octogenarians, donate their time to the non-profit resale shop, which specializes in top-of-the-line clothing as well as books, linens, toys, household items, and jewelry.
Elite Repeat also sells handcrafted items made by women in underdeveloped countries. Ten Thousand Villages and SERRV collect these international items to be sold in the United States and other countries. Sixty percent of each sale of these items goes back to the women who make them and 40 percent stays in Stillwater.
Elite Repeat is located at 716 S. Main and is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call 377-4462.
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