If your new year's resolution is to get your life organized, an unusual Minnesota nonprofit could be of service.
Unbeknown to most messy Minnesotans, there is a National Association of Professional Organizers in our own back yard. In fact, the Minnesota chapter was one of the first in the nation, and is marking its 20th anniversary this year.
What does it say about the state?
"That we need help,'' joked Louise Kurzeka, chapter president.
And that help is often on people's minds in January, she said. Getting organized is usually a top new year's resolution, she said, just behind losing weight and settling finances.
On Saturday, the group is holding a free workshop for people ready to take the leap. It's joining forces with ARC Greater Twin Cities to offer advice for sorting through messes.
It's a win-win situation, said Kurzeka. The public gets free tips from the pros, and ARC gets exposure for its chain of thrift stores that rely on donations. Charity thrift shops, in fact, are some of the chief beneficiaries of the organizing group's work.
But the field of professional organizing has matured far beyond household cleaning, said Kurzeka. It has branched into business work, and launched organizing specialties such as feng shui, ADHD and hoarding.
