TheThinkTank September 2012

thethinktank@lists.bikecollectives.org

28 participants
21 discussions

Press Release: Bike!Bike! Northeast Scheduled for September 29 in Troy, NY
by Andrew L 20 Sep '12

20 Sep '12

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE COMMUNITY BIKE VOLUNTEERS AND CYCLING ENTHUSIASTS TO CONVERGE AT NORTHEAST REGIONAL “BIKE! BIKE!” GATHERING IN TROY, NY ON SEPTEMBER 29. MORE INFORMATION: http://www.troybikerescue.org CONTACT: 518-573-7947 Troy, NY - On September 29, 2012 representatives from community bike projects across the Northeast US and Canada will be gathering in North Troy for an event called “Bike! Bike! Northeast.” Activities will take place at both Troy Bike Rescue (3280 6th Avenue) and The Sanctuary for Independent Media (3361 6th Avenue). Bike! Bike! Northeast will be a full day of workshops, skillshares, discussions, and networking complete with an afternoon bike ride and an evening of world-class music from San Fransisco’s Rupa and the April Fishes (http://theaprilfishes.com). Conference sessions will cover a wide variety of topics relevant to the DIY biking community, from ‘trash-hacking’, welding, and making recycled jewelry to diagnosing your bike’s mechanical problems by ear, starting your own bicycle delivery co-op, and maintaining a consensus decision-making collective. SCHEDULE OVERVIEW 9am-10am - Registration 10am-12pm - Workshop Sessions 12pm-1pm - Community Lunch 1pm-5pm - Workshop Sessions 5pm-6pm - Bike Ride 6:30 pm - Sanctuary Community Potluck 8pm - Rupa & The April Fishes play live In attendance at Bike Bike! Northeast will be local ‘bike people,’ many of whom congregate and organize around Troy Bike Rescue as well as their colleagues from similar collectives in other cities such as Burlington, Ithaca, Toronto, Cortland, Worcester, Boston, and others. The conference is not necessarily intending to attract local recreational or competitive cyclists, though they are welcome. The activities will more likely appeal to those who ride as a form of resistance to ‘car culture’, and understand bicycling as a lifestyle. Community bike projects aim to build ‘bike culture’ and community through hands-on education. They collect and recycle old unwanted bicycles and make them available to patrons at low or no cost. The ultimate goal is to get more people riding bicycles for transportation. Many of these projects started off, like Troy Bike Rescue, as small back-yard projects in the late 90s or early 2000s and now operate spaces that serve as self-service non-profit shops, and urban classrooms for all things bicycle. Bike!Bike! Northeast is a regional off-shoot of the (Inter)National Bike!Bike! Conference that happens annually - most recently in Vancouver BC in June 2012 (http://bikebike.org). <about:blank> Every year it is organized by a different collective. The first Bike! Bike! was held in New Orleans in 2004, and was attended by about 30 organizers of non-profit/anti-capitalist bike shops around the country. Now, it is an international gathering of around 300 people that has taken place in many cities such as Pittsburgh, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, San Fransisco, and Toronto.

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Re: [TheThinkTank] Interbike
by wormsign＠gmail.com 12 Sep '12

12 Sep '12

Bikerowave folks will be there. Dunno about me personally yet though. Enzo Loconte Board Secretary Bikerowave DIY Bike Collective Reno Bikes <renobikeproject(a)gmail.com> wrote: >Is anyone going to Interbike this year? > >Noah > >-- > >Wed-Fri 11am-6pm >Sat 10am-4pm >541 E. 4th Street. >Reno, NV 89512 >775.323.4488 > >donate via paypal: http://www.renobikeproject.com/index.php/donate/ > >Follow us on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/renobikeproject/ > >Please let us know if you would like to unsubscribe to our email list. > >_______________________________________________ >Thethinktank mailing list >Thethinktank(a)lists.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.…

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Interbike Gathering,
by christopher＠holisticcycles.com 12 Sep '12

12 Sep '12

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Interbike
by Reno Bikes 11 Sep '12

11 Sep '12

Is anyone going to Interbike this year? Noah -- Wed-Fri 11am-6pm Sat 10am-4pm 541 E. 4th Street. Reno, NV 89512 775.323.4488 donate via paypal: http://www.renobikeproject.com/index.php/donate/ Follow us on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/renobikeproject/ Please let us know if you would like to unsubscribe to our email list.

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Bike!Bike! Northeast PLUS Rupa & The April Fishes
by Andrew L 10 Sep '12

10 Sep '12

a gentle nudge to pre-register for BBNE if you intend to come, and some info about the Sanctuary party with live music from Rupa & The April Fishes. Bike!Bike! Northeast SEPTEMBER 29, 2012 10am - 10 pm 3280 6th Avenue in North Troy On Saturday September 29th, there will be a gathering of bicycle activists, organizers, and enthusiasts in Troy. Bike!Bike! Northeast is a day of discussions, skillsharing sessions, and bicycle fun including locals and guests from as far as Pennsylvania, Ohio, Vermont, and Eastern Canada. There will be a *group ride*, *community meals* and *live music* from Rupa and the April Fishes in the evening at The Sanctuary for Independent Media.Meet others interested in building bicycle culture and learn about bicycle maintenance, wheel truing, trash-hacking, yoga for biking, diy bike-welding, and much more.... or YOU propose a workshop! INFORMATION & REGISTRATION AT: www.troybikerescue.org/bikebikene (please sign up in advance if at all possible) -------- Bike!Bike! Northeast includes a night of live music featuring: Rupa and the April Fishes 8pm at The Sanctuary for Independent Media 3361 6th Avenue in North Troy “...musical languages converge from around the world; from punk to indie rock, from reggae to raga to rockabolly, chanson to cumbia, from Malian guitar patterns to mournful duduk melodies. In other times and places musical traditions have met to forge a sound that is more insistence than resistance; this band, this album, belong to that long tradition of rebel music.” -www.theaprilfishes.com -- ------__o ----_`\<,_ ---(_)/ (_) andrew lynn 518-573-7947

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Bicycle Longmont - Launched the Longmont BIke Garage, today!
by Ryan Kragerud 07 Sep '12

07 Sep '12

We are excited to announce we launched our "collective" community-based bike workshop today. We inked the lease and will move into the space in the next few weeks. This has been over 5 years in the making and we've finally done it! Myself along with a few others on our board trolled the Collective's Think Tank for years reading and poring over your advice, recommendations and experiences. I want to extend a wholehearted THANK YOU to all of you who I've met over the past year traveling around the midwest and to all of you who respond to this list. Your wisdom is highly appreciated. When in Longmont look us up! Longmont Bike Garage. Sincerely, Ryan Kragerud, President Bicycle Longmont

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Re: [TheThinkTank] Local bike coalition shut down local bike co-op
by wormsign＠gmail.com 07 Sep '12

07 Sep '12

Hi all, there was a series of productive meetings where we mutually reallized that we have a lot of the same interests and that it was in everyone's best interest to reopen the shop and recognize the cooperative decision making structure of the space. We've received new keys and have opened up a better line of communication between the groups. We are currently working together to create a memorandum of understanding between the both of us (I actually have no experience with these if someone has some constructive input) that we will be working out in the coming week. Enzo Loconte Board Secretary Bikerowave DIY Bike Collective Adams Carroll <adams(a)walkbikenashville.org> wrote: >Go ahead and buy a basic set of tools. You may never earn back the cost of >tools in donations, etc... but you will open up an enormous round of >opportunities. Once you re-establish yourself as a vital community >resource, people will line up to volunteer wrench, promote, or recruit for >your cause. > >Since founding freebikeshop, I've never asked for or received any cash >donations for the repairs that me and my volunteer mechanics have >performed. Regardless, we've put at least 2000 bikes back on the road >around the world in the past three years and the contribution of time, >materials, and promotion that we have received is more than I can tally. >And besides, you can always use your tools to fix yer own damn bike. > >www.freebikeshop.com do it for the bikes > >All the best, > >Adams Carroll >Walk/Bike Nashville <http://www.walkbikenashville.org/> > >*For thirteen years, Walk/Bike Nashville has sought to make active >transportation an option for Nashvillians, no matter where they live or >where they're trying to go.**We want our sidewalks and bikeways to support >active living, commuting options, and recreational opportunities.**Together, >we're building a more walkable, bikeable, livable Nashville.* > > > >On Mon, Sep 3, 2012 at 9:00 PM, Leslie Peteya <lesliepeteya(a)gmail.com>wrote: > >> Hi Enzo, >> About 4 years ago, the Durham Bike Co-op got burned by our fiscal >> sponsor, an umbrella non-profit, >> in a manner similar to what you are describing, as it folded. We lost >> our-then 501c3 status, some of our actual operating capital, our liability >> insurance, a grant that the City had recommended us for, and a few other >> things. We also got smacked shortly after with accusations from a >> disgruntled ex-volunteer about some of our operating policies. >> >> Needless to say it was a rocky time for the co-op and our collective. >> Luckily we had established a bank account, >> had the keys to the place, and had our tools, and were self sustaining >> through our set-up, so we were able to >> pull through. >> >> The best advice I can give to you is to go it alone. Organize yourselves >> into a board of directors or a core collective, >> establish non-profit status, buy your own liability insurance, and >> purchase your own tools. Set firm policies, reach out to the community, and >> if you're the right fit for the community, you'll soon find demand for your >> shop and services >> will exceed supply. >> >> And, not to knock umbrella non-profits, but I've had nothing but bad >> experiences with them, 2 separate times with 2 separate organizations. The >> problem with umbrellas is all the organizations underneath them can get >> screwed if >> the parent non-profit folds or is mismanaged. >> >> Best, >> Leslie >> >> On Sat, Sep 1, 2012 at 10:33 PM, Carolyn Braunius <brauniusc(a)yahoo.com>wrote: >> >>> I'd say don't be afraid to go out on your own. If the tools are the new >>> shops, negotiate getting them from the coalition, and start looking for a >>> new space. If people like your organization you'll be able to grow and >>> stick true to your values, without having to be under an authority you >>> didn't agree to. >>> >>> If the tools aren't able to come back to the collective, let them go and >>> start over the way your collective would like to operate. When Troy Bike >>> Rescue got swinging in Troy again, it was a few stands in a yard and a >>> couple of filing cabinets. Then it moved into a shared shopfront and is now >>> in its own wheelhouse. >>> >>> Give it a shot and see what happens and good luck. As Troy Bike Rescue >>> grew and established its own identity, I think it grew more quickly than we >>> ever thought it would and it was/is really amazing. >>> >>> >>> www.troybikerescue.org >>> >>> "When shall we live if not now?" - M.F.K. Fisher >>> >>> ------------------------------ >>> *From:* Doug Franz <doug(a)coatesvillebikeworks.org> >>> *To:* 'The Think Tank' <thethinktank(a)lists.bikecollectives.org> >>> *Sent:* Saturday, September 1, 2012 9:30 PM >>> *Subject:* Re: [TheThinkTank] Local bike coalition shut down local bike >>> co-op >>> >>> Enzo, this is quite messy, if I may say so. >>> >>> First, I think you said that the grant that funds the bike co-op belongs >>> to the local bike coalition. Therefore, it’s up to the coalition to decide >>> how to distribute the funds, including the terms (within the terms of the >>> grant, of course). If they say the co-op needs to be run by their manager, >>> the co-op can take it or leave it. Many entrepreneurial startups have >>> faced the same demand by venture capitalists. It’s part of business. >>> Money rarely comes without strings. >>> >>> Second, you say you were operating under their charter in order to have >>> non-profit status. Of the many benefits you realized, this is probably the >>> smallest. You were likely promoted through their publications, covered by >>> their liability insurance and given credibility on the street and with >>> grantors and donors because of your affiliation. This last part is >>> especially important. An organization’s reputation is extremely valuable, >>> especially in the nonprofit world. It sounds like the coalition is >>> concerned that the activities of the co-op is damaging their reputation. >>> >>> Okay, now to the messy part. What was the reporting arrangement between >>> the co-op and the coalition? Did the coalition have a member or two on the >>> co-op’s board? On the management committee? How did the co-op keep their >>> most important donor informed? This should have been addressed at the >>> co-op’s creation. >>> >>> Unfortunately, it sounds like the communication from the co-op to the >>> coalition was so poor that the allegations raised by the former volunteer >>> were perceived as credible. Even if they aren’t true, the fact that they >>> are plausible is shocking. People at the coalition are realizing that the >>> co-op was operating more independently than they thought. >>> >>> Okay, so it’s decision time for the co-op. Will they turn their back on >>> their support system and go it alone? That’s the route to go to preserve >>> the co-op’s autonomy, but it may destroy the co-op in the process. They >>> could easily be stigmatized as enemies of the coalition. ‘Enemies’ isn’t >>> the right word, but it’s the best I have. They’ll lose their money, their >>> space, and their affiliation. >>> >>> From what you’ve said, I believe the co-op has no bargaining power here. >>> They should put their ego aside and listen to what the coalition has to >>> say, and do their best to preserve their organization within the new >>> framework. >>> >>> My two cents, for what they’re worth. >>> >>> Doug Franz, President >>> >>> [image: BikeWorks_3_wText] >>> >>> coatesvillebikeworks.org >>> like us on facebook! http://www.facebook.com/CoatesvilleBikeWorks >>> >>> doug(a)coatesvillebikeworks.org >>> 610-383-4349 >>> >>> I respect your right to manage the amount of email you receive. If you >>> want to be removed from this email list, please reply to ONLY ME, with >>> "unsubscribe" in the subject line. >>> >>> *From:* thethinktank-bounces(a)lists.bikecollectives.org [mailto: >>> thethinktank-bounces(a)lists.bikecollectives.org] *On Behalf Of *Vincenzo >>> loco >>> *Sent:* Saturday, September 01, 2012 7:24 PM >>> *To:* The Think Tank >>> *Subject:* [TheThinkTank] Local bike coalition shut down local bike co-op >>> >>> I'd like to some info from those of you whose shop runs under the >>> umbrella of a bike coalition or other advocacy group. How has this effected >>> your ability to operate autonomously as a collective? I'm involved with a >>> fledgling bike coop that was created as a biproduct of a grant that was >>> managed by the local bike coalition. We were operating under their charter >>> so as to have non-profit status. It was many of the volunteer's >>> understanding that the bike coalition was only helping us manage our >>> finances, helping us access grants, and generally helping us get ourselves >>> established in the community. As soon as they heard complaints from a >>> former volunteer they at first told us that they didn't acknowledge our >>> decision making process (full consent) and told us that they wanted us to >>> run under a manager that they hire. More recently (following more >>> complaints and accusations from potentially the same ex-volunteer) they >>> went in and had the locks changed and shut the whole shop down. We will be >>> meeting with them this week and trying to discuss how to get the place back >>> open. Has anyone else been down this road? Have you hit walls because of >>> a hierarchic organisation not having faith in the collective's ability to >>> make decisions? Should we even go ahead with them if it means not having >>> control of the direction or operation of the shop? What could we do to save >>> the shop and our autonomy? >>> -Enzo >>> not speaking on behalf of the bikerowave but another org. >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Thethinktank mailing list >>> Thethinktank(a)lists.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.… >>> >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Thethinktank mailing list >>> Thethinktank(a)lists.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.… >>> >>> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Thethinktank mailing list >> Thethinktank(a)lists.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.… >> >> > >_______________________________________________ >Thethinktank mailing list >Thethinktank(a)lists.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.…

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Local bike coalition shut down local bike co-op
by Vincenzo loco 06 Sep '12

06 Sep '12

I'd like to some info from those of you whose shop runs under the umbrella of a bike coalition or other advocacy group. How has this effected your ability to operate autonomously as a collective? I'm involved with a fledgling bike coop that was created as a biproduct of a grant that was managed by the local bike coalition. We were operating under their charter so as to have non-profit status. It was many of the volunteer's understanding that the bike coalition was only helping us manage our finances, helping us access grants, and generally helping us get ourselves established in the community. As soon as they heard complaints from a former volunteer they at first told us that they didn't acknowledge our decision making process (full consent) and told us that they wanted us to run under a manager that they hire. More recently (following more complaints and accusations from potentially the same ex-volunteer) they went in and had the locks changed and shut the whole shop down. We will be meeting with them this week and trying to discuss how to get the place back open. Has anyone else been down this road? Have you hit walls because of a hierarchic organisation not having faith in the collective's ability to make decisions? Should we even go ahead with them if it means not having control of the direction or operation of the shop? What could we do to save the shop and our autonomy? -Enzo not speaking on behalf of the bikerowave but another org.

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Boise Bicycle Project Hiring a FT Volunteer/Program Coordinator
by Jimmy Hallyburton 06 Sep '12

06 Sep '12

Hey Good people, BBP's Volunteer Coordinator is moving into the Shop Manager position and behold there is now an opening for a Full Time Volunteer/Program Coordinator position. The position is posted locally, but of course we'll open it up to our friends from out of the area. Attached is a full job description and application process. Keep up all the good work out there, and spread the word that there is a life changing position opening up at the Boise Bicycle Project. -- Thanks, Jimmy Hallyburton Executive Director Boise Bicycle Project (208)-429-6520 1027 Lusk St Boise, ID 83702 www.boisebicycleproject.org .……………......…….__o .………………...…….>,\ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~( · ) / ( · ) Join the Boise Bicycle Project's Free Spirit Newsletter list by going to www.boisebicycleproject.org/Newsletter

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Any luck with bike recipient organizations covering u-lock and light expenses?
by Ryan Feller - Suncoast Community Bikes 06 Sep '12

06 Sep '12

Hi all, I and some other folks are starting a bike collective-esque organization here in Southwest Florida. We're working with existing nonprofits to distribute the bikes we collect and refurbish, and it seems that demand for our bikes will far outpace supply. We consider it necessary to include a basic u-lock and lights on every bike we distribute, but we also wish to keep our expenses down, so we can focus more on collecting/distributing bikes and less on selling them as a fundraiser. Even at wholesale cost through J&B (with quantity discounts), it'll cost us around $16 to equip each bike. We would like to test the waters a bit and see if any recipient organizations would be able to cover some or all of these costs. Perhaps it's a stretch, as these organizations are just as cash-strapped as we are, but have any other bike collectives had success with this? Also, is there any cheaper place to find u-locks and lights (perhaps some supplier sells them cheaper or offers super-high-quantity discounts)? Many thanks! -- Ryan Feller Director 5800 Bay Shore Road, Box 275 Sarasota, FL 34243 (954) 232-3790 ryan(a)suncoastcommunitybikes.org *www.suncoastcommunitybikes.org*

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TheThinkTank September 2012