TheThinkTank October 2009

thethinktank@lists.bikecollectives.org

42 participants
27 discussions

Digression from the non-male only projects thread.
by veganboyjosh＠gmail.com 29 Oct '09

29 Oct '09

I didn't want to detract from that conversation, so I started a new one. I really am interested in people's feedback. On Wed, Oct 28, 2009 at 9:40 PM, Mark Rehder <mark(a)re-cycles.ca> wrote: > While the tone of this makes it sound like there's some sort of conspiracy > (and maybe there is and no one told me about it), as a male I'd personally > be interested in what you come up with. > > I'll ditto what Mark said. I feel weird asking to be involved, but I am interested in how I--as a male bodied, male identifying person--can help make things more equitable in the spaces I occupy. Of course, the quick and dirty solution is to remove myself. I guess I should make myself ok with that. After some of the discussions I had in Minneapolis at bikebike this year about racial and gender inequality in our organizations, I've thought about what the implications are of me --again, a white male of upper middle class background-- assuming that the bike shop I'm involved with is something that people of other cultures and backgrounds would be interested in, and working towards making the space inclusive and welcoming. * Of course* I want everyone of every culture and economic and educational background, every oppressed class, gender, etc, to feel comfortable and welcome to partake and have access to the things I do. I just wonder if there isn't some sort of cultural bias that sort of goes the other way, and that makes this bikes-are-awesome thing less attractive to the (generalizing here for convenience) non-white, non-male elements of our community. At some point, it just comes down to someone who's not going to come into our shop just not being into bikes, or bike culture, or what we do, no matter what accommodations are made, right? I don't have a background or that much experience talking about this stuff, so I apologize if my word choice offends. I'm really interested in hearing people's thoughts on this. I really REALLY hope it doesn't come across as the white dude saying that other backgrounds/genders/etc aren't welcome. It's not that at all. > In my other life I'm a musician, and we generally have a history of > non-discrimination; you can be male / female / white / black / disabled / > whatever - we don't care as long as you can do the gig. > > Based on that, I've been kind of surprised that our shop has never been > able to recruit an experienced female mechanic. Women are of course > involved with our shop, both as staff and as customers, and I would say at > least half of our bike purchasers and a third of our do-it-yourselfers. > > I guess the lack is due to so few women mechanics in general. And is this > is a cultural thing (usual suspects of "women are less likely to be > mechanically inclined / do not want to get their hands dirty", etc.) or is > it deeper than that? Is there a bias? Is there gender discrimination? I > imagine that there is, though the idealist in me is appalled at that. > > If you can change the status quo I'm all for it! > > Mark > > _______________________________________________ > Thethinktank mailing list > Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org > To unsubscribe, send a blank email to > TheThinkTank-leave(a)bikecollectives.org > To manage your subscription, plase visit: > > http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.… > -- Thanks for supporting Community Cycles, Boulder's first and only non-profit bike shop! Ask me how you can sponsor a Youth Earn-A-Bike student for just $100. www.communitycycles.org

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5 year audit
by Liza Mattana 28 Oct '09

28 Oct '09

Hey everyone, We're a pretty new nonprofit org, just over 1 year. Are there older orgs out there that have done are or are preparing for a 5-year audit from the IRS to maintain their non-profit status? One of our members seems to think we need to do this in the future. I'm not sure what this means, as I can't find any info on this audit. Any info on this is appreciated--thanks! liza -- Liza Mattana president www.pedals2people.org Spokane, WA

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volunteer flyers?
by veganboyjosh＠gmail.com 27 Oct '09

27 Oct '09

Anyone care to share their flyers for getting folks to volunteer? Feel free to send them to me off the list, and I'll post them to the wiki for everyone to share, with an update here when i get them up. Thanks! josh.

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Getting to Toronto Part I: Standard Passport Processing w/o a record
by MoBo Bicycle Co-op 27 Oct '09

27 Oct '09

Toronto is only what, nine or ten months away? That's pretty awesome. This means it's time to apply for your passport. Don't mess around with this as it's pretty freakin' expensive to expedite this stuff. I'll be sending out an email with "What to do if you have a record" in the next week or two, but there's hope, so don't despair. I'll also be putting out an email in conjunction with the Detroit folks before you leave for the conference about border crossing behavior standards, options, and such not. Please read all the way to the end of the email. In the meantime, go apply for a Passport, good for all international travel ($115) or Passport Card, good only for Canada, Mexico, the Carribean and Bermuda ($45). If you are planning on flying to Toronto you MUST get a Passport. A Passport Card will not be accepted for air travel. As of October 26, 2009, routine applications are being processed in 4-6 weeks. The waiting period may go up DRAMATICALLY, so don't wait. Take care of this now, okay team? Use this link to figure out where you can apply: http://iafdb.travel.state.gov/ 1. You need a Form DS-11. This is generally referred to as your “Passport application.” You may get a copy at the office you are applying in person at. Don't sign the form until you are instructed to do so by the person certifying your passport application. Follow this link to fill out a form online if you want to save some time (you must still print it out and bring it in to the passport agency office): http://travel.state.gov/passport/forms/ds11/ds11_842.html <http://travel.state.gov/passport/forms/ds11/ds11_842.html> 2. You need ONE of the following as a “primary evidence of U.S. Citizenship” *Previously issued, undamaged U.S. Passport *Certified birth certificate (no copies—it needs to have an embossed, raised, or impressed seal) *Consular report of birth abroad *Naturalization certificate *Certificate of citizenship 3. If you were born in the states and cannot present primary evidence, you may submit a COMBINATION of the following secondary documents (at least two need to be submitted, and early public records may not constitute the majority of your secondary documents) *Baptismal certificate/record of bris *Hospital birth certificate *Census record *Early school record *Family bible record *Doctor’s record of post-natal care. 4. Present one piece of photo identification in the form of: *Previously issued, undamaged Passport *Naturalization certificate *Valid driver’s license *Current city, state or federal ID *Current military ID 5. Your photo id must be copied on a plain, white, 8.5” x 11” standard paperstock (computer paper), showing the front and back of the ID. Your ID may be enlarged, but it may not be decreased. 6. You need two passport photos. These can be taken at most places with photo-processing, such as a pharmacy. These photos must be: *Identical *In color *2”x2” in size. *Taken within the past 6 months, showing current appearance *Full face, front view, with a plain white or off-white background *Between 1” and 1/38” from the bottom of the chin to the top of head *Taken in normal street attire. 7. The current total fee is $115 for a Passport, $45 for a Passport Card. 10. You need to apply in person if this is your first time applying. You may apply in person at an acceptance facility, passport agency, or consulate. Go to the post-office or county clerk. These are your easiest options. Use the link at the top of this email to find a location nearest you. Ok. So a current Passport is $115. That’s a lot of money. If you aren’t planning on going further than Canada or Mexico, then you have another option: the Passport Card. SCORE! It’s only $45! SCORE! You still have to apply in person and use the DS-11 form. There is a section on the DS-11 specifically for the Passport Card. Make sure you notify the person certifying your application that you want a Passport Card. If you have any further travel plans beyond Canada or Mexico and can afford it I would strongly suggest that you get a standard Passport. Don’t procrastinate on this. It’s just going to bite you in the butt in terms of money and stress. Don't hesitate to shoot an email to me if you have questions. If I can't answer them, I'll find out who can. Here are the State Department’s FAQs for your reading pleasure, by the way: http://www.travel.state.gov/passport/fri/faq/faq_1741.html <http://www.travel.state.gov/passport/fri/faq/faq_1741.html> -- Katie Vogel MoBo Bicycle Co-op a project of The Village Green Foundation 1415 Knowlton Ave Northside Cincinnati, OH

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winter biking workshop?
by veganboyjosh＠gmail.com 26 Oct '09

26 Oct '09

Has anyone ever held a class on winter biking? We're thinking of offering one, and I'm interested in what other people have done. I've checked out icebike.org a little, and done a little internet research. I was about to list the topics we're thinking of covering, but I'm interested what other folks thoguht was important. What were some unexpected responses or questions or things that you hadn't prepared for? Thanks, everyone. josh.

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League of American Bicyclists
by Jason Tanzman 26 Oct '09

26 Oct '09

I, too, was recently certified as a League Cycling Instructor with the League of American Bicyclists. I've found it useful - Sibley Bike Depot (St. Paul, MN) has done a lot of free bike maintenance classes, but we've only recently started thinking more about designing some bike commuting and safe cyclin classes. The League has some useful curriculum and resources - although it's a bit rigid in some of its stances. However it has also been useful in gaining our bike education programs "recognition" - having an LCI somehow grants our program legitimacy, which is kind of BS but it's useful for other people/organizations in the non-profit and government world to take us a bit more seriously. Jason Tanzman -- Sibley Bike Depot Volunteer Coordinator 612-232-2737 (cell) 651-222-2080 (shop) www.sibleybikedepot.org Sibley Bike Depot's mission is to be an open, accessible space to educate and empower people to use bicycles as transportation, helping to build a sustainable environment and community. Volunteer with us to help build a bicycling movement in the Twin Cities!

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Re: [TheThinkTank] Basic safety/maintenance manuals/curriculums
by arik grier 26 Oct '09

26 Oct '09

Hi Erik and others, We have a mechanics lesson plan manual for download at Bikes Not Bombs - hopefully that could be useful to you. Maybe something in the Recycle-A-Bicycle NYC manuals would be useful too. Those are all linked from here: http://www.bikesnotbombs.org/node/454 -Arik On Oct 25, 2009, at 4:06 PM, thethinktank-request(a)bikecollectives.org wrote: From: Clifford McCarten <director(a)communitybikeshop.org> Date: October 24, 2009 4:19:30 PM EDT To: thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org Subject: Re: [TheThinkTank] Basic safety/maintenance manuals/ curriculums (Erik Stockmeier) Reply-To: The Think Tank <thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org> I don't know what everyone's stance on the League of American Bicyclists is, but they do have some pretty decent curriculum for teaching basics: http://www.bikeleague.org/resources/better/index.php I was recently certified in their instructor training course, and they have OODLES of pretty high material (small books, full-colour magaziney things etc) for teaching. I suppose that's what happens when you've been funded for over a century...here's hoping... In any case, their stuff is at least a good starting point to develop your own curriculum and materials, in whatever political framework suits ya! Cheers, Clifford McCarten Co-Director, B!KE: The Peterborough Community Bike Shop 400 Wolfe St, Peterborough ON K9J 2P3 (705) 748-6681 http://www.communitybikeshop.org On 24-Oct-09, at 4:10 PM, thethinktank-request(a)bikecollectives.org wrote: > Send Thethinktank mailing list submissions to > thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank- > bikecollectives.org > > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > thethinktank-request(a)bikecollectives.org > > You can reach the person managing the list at > thethinktank-owner(a)bikecollectives.org > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of Thethinktank digest..." > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. Basic safety/maintenance manuals/curriculums (Erik Stockmeier) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Fri, 23 Oct 2009 17:51:09 -0500 > From: Erik Stockmeier <eriks(a)therecyclery.org> > To: The Think Tank <thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org> > Subject: [TheThinkTank] Basic safety/maintenance manuals/curriculums > Message-ID: > <129f365e0910231551q6b051d2fw6ed339e0f7e29650(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > > Hi all- > > Like many shops, The Recyclery has given away free bicycles with > helmets and > locks as part of the charitable end of our mission for some time. > For a > number of reasons, including several new possible partnerships with > Immigrant and Refugee groups in the Chicago area and the desire to > qualitatively improve some of the long-term outcomes of our > Freecyclery > program (which currently ends with the bicycle/signature exchange), > we are > now considering developing a more thorough manual and 2-4 hour class > curriculum. It would cover basic maintenance questions (patching > tires, > adjusting brakes and derailleurs) as well as bike safety/common sense > (avoiding theft, sharing the road) and would, of course, make clear > that The > Recyclery exists as a place where they can get help if something > does go > wrong. > > However, not wanting to reinvent the wheel, I'm wondering if any > other shops > have already developed a similar curriculum or handbook. If so, > want to > share? > > If not (but you are interested in the idea), would you be > interested in > forming an internet working group to collaborate on such a resource > we could > share? Right now I am working with one of our potential partners > and we are > picturing a graphically-intense book, the text of which could > potentially be > translated by people that work for their organization into a number of > different languages. From there we would recruit some volunteer > graphic > designers or find someone that knows how to work something like > scribus ( > http://www.scribus.net/) to make a nice little booklet (I'm picturing > something that could be reproduced photocopier/zine style or done > up more > flashy) available to all. > > OK. >

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Re: [TheThinkTank] Basic safety/maintenance manuals/curriculums (Erik Stockmeier)
by Clifford McCarten 24 Oct '09

24 Oct '09

I don't know what everyone's stance on the League of American Bicyclists is, but they do have some pretty decent curriculum for teaching basics: http://www.bikeleague.org/resources/better/index.php I was recently certified in their instructor training course, and they have OODLES of pretty high material (small books, full-colour magaziney things etc) for teaching. I suppose that's what happens when you've been funded for over a century...here's hoping... In any case, their stuff is at least a good starting point to develop your own curriculum and materials, in whatever political framework suits ya! Cheers, Clifford McCarten Co-Director, B!KE: The Peterborough Community Bike Shop 400 Wolfe St, Peterborough ON K9J 2P3 (705) 748-6681 http://www.communitybikeshop.org On 24-Oct-09, at 4:10 PM, thethinktank-request(a)bikecollectives.org wrote: > Send Thethinktank mailing list submissions to > thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.… > > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > thethinktank-request(a)bikecollectives.org > > You can reach the person managing the list at > thethinktank-owner(a)bikecollectives.org > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of Thethinktank digest..." > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. Basic safety/maintenance manuals/curriculums (Erik Stockmeier) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Fri, 23 Oct 2009 17:51:09 -0500 > From: Erik Stockmeier <eriks(a)therecyclery.org> > To: The Think Tank <thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org> > Subject: [TheThinkTank] Basic safety/maintenance manuals/curriculums > Message-ID: > <129f365e0910231551q6b051d2fw6ed339e0f7e29650(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > > Hi all- > > Like many shops, The Recyclery has given away free bicycles with > helmets and > locks as part of the charitable end of our mission for some time. > For a > number of reasons, including several new possible partnerships with > Immigrant and Refugee groups in the Chicago area and the desire to > qualitatively improve some of the long-term outcomes of our > Freecyclery > program (which currently ends with the bicycle/signature exchange), > we are > now considering developing a more thorough manual and 2-4 hour class > curriculum. It would cover basic maintenance questions (patching > tires, > adjusting brakes and derailleurs) as well as bike safety/common sense > (avoiding theft, sharing the road) and would, of course, make clear > that The > Recyclery exists as a place where they can get help if something > does go > wrong. > > However, not wanting to reinvent the wheel, I'm wondering if any > other shops > have already developed a similar curriculum or handbook. If so, > want to > share? > > If not (but you are interested in the idea), would you be > interested in > forming an internet working group to collaborate on such a resource > we could > share? Right now I am working with one of our potential partners > and we are > picturing a graphically-intense book, the text of which could > potentially be > translated by people that work for their organization into a number of > different languages. From there we would recruit some volunteer > graphic > designers or find someone that knows how to work something like > scribus ( > http://www.scribus.net/) to make a nice little booklet (I'm picturing > something that could be reproduced photocopier/zine style or done up > more > flashy) available to all. > > OK. >

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Plan B New Orleans added you as a friend on Facebook...
by Facebook 24 Oct '09

24 Oct '09

Hi Steve, Plan B New Orleans added you as a friend on Facebook. We need to confirm that you know Plan B in order for you to be friends on Facebook. Thanks, The Facebook Team To confirm this friend request, follow the link below: http://www.facebook.com/n/?reqs.php&mid=14d4bceG56058d43Gf45b56G2 ======================================= This message was intended for thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org. Want to control which emails you receive from Facebook? Go to: http://www.facebook.com/editaccount.php?notifications=1&mid=14d4bceG56058d4… Facebook's offices are located at 1601 S. California Ave., Palo Alto, CA 94304.

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Today's Bike Talk-LA's Bicycle Plan, Corba's Fat Tire Fest
by bike talk 24 Oct '09

24 Oct '09

Today, on Bike Talk: Bicycle Plan workshop Glenn Bailey, Chair of the Bicycle Advisory Committee of the City of Los Angeles, calls in from the Bicycle Plan Workshop to letus know what's being said and done about the city's plan. See how the last workshop went, here: http://la.streetsblog.org/2009/10/13/bike-working-group-gives-cyclists-a-ch… Fat Tire Fest The largest mountain biking festival in the LA area. The Fat Tire Fest supports CORBA (Concerned Off-Road Bicyclists Association)'s community programs and advocacy. Jeff Klinger and Stephen Messer report from Castaic Lake. http://corbamtb.com <http://corbamtb.com/> http://corbamtb.com/FTF/2009/index.html & u as always, call in, don't be a stranger. killradio studio's number is below. -- please let us know if you want to be taken off this list. Hear Bike Talk! live on www.killradio.org, 10am-noon Saturdays. Call in at (213) 252-0998. Hear the podcast at kpfk.org: http://www.kpfk.org/programs/170-bike-talk.html See what's new with us at www.biketalk.us Follow us at bike_talk_kpfk on twitter.com

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TheThinkTank October 2009