[TheThinkTank] full-timers/directors/project coordinators: how's the job treating you?

[Mark Rehder]

On 25-Nov-07, at 2:44 AM, omar wrote:

> it seems the "get organized" vs. "more leftist than thou" dynamic  
> plays out at all levels of many community bike projects. when our  
> ed left in 2001, the 4 full time staff members stepped up to manage  
> our organization collectively. by 2005, 3 of the 4 had left  
> because, bottom line, they couldn't work together, and projects had  
> dropped to the point that we'd atrophied to a single community bike  
> shop. now, realizing that shit flows downhill and if someone's  
> going to clean it up they should be recognized for it,


hehe - thanks Omar.  That's the metaphor I try to avoid, but it's  
accurate.  Physically so for me last week, as I cleaned the slimy,  
oily gunk out of the sump under our wash-up sink.  (yuck...)

> we've developed a hierarchy, people have assumed managerial and  
> coordinator roles, and we're once again getting a lot done. there  
> are still folks who complain that there's too much structure and  
> want to make things more egalitarian - funnily enough though,  
> they're also the ones who rarely step up, have a hard time showing  
> up to work their shifts and don't seem to get much done.


Yes, indeed...

> i love my job. its crazy and stressful some days, constantly  
> challenging, infinitely rewarding and a hell of a lot of fun.
>
> -- 
> omar bhimji
> project manager
> pedal bike depot
> p. 604.708.4992

Mark