October 2013 - TheThinkTank - lists.bikecollectives.org

Organizing Documents Electronically?
by allison karow 21 Oct '13

21 Oct '13

Hi all, it's been a while since I posted to this list, I'm subscribing from a different email address now but it's me, sunny! from vancouver / OCB, formerly from phoenix / Bike Saviours. I have a question about making the switch from paper to electronic documents. OCB has been around for 20 years, and we have a huge mish mash of different systems for organizing our documents. The main three are: 1) a huge pile of filing cabinets, 2) the hard drive on our computer (which often doesnt match what's on the hard drive of our OTHER computer at our warehouse), and 3) google docs, which does not match what's on either hard drive and has to be constantly updated to reflect our ever-changing policies, lists, minutes, etc. Basically, it's terribly confusing and nobody ever knows where to find anything without asking the one or two people who have been with us the longest. We need to use something that is stable and long-term. I'm thinking google docs might still be the best thing, but I thought I'd fish on here first. What I'm looking for is an online-system that can be synched up with our hard drive (for back-up purposes), which can be accessed from any computer and which can be categorized clearly and easily. I would like there to be a section for every staff member's ongoing to-do lists, a section for meeting minutes to be filed, a section for policy documents, etc. I would also like to have a section for forms (such as conflict or incident reports) that can be filled out as needed and filed online as well. Does anyone currently have a system that they like using for this? Any input is appreciated. sunny

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Donations from Businesses
by Matt VanSlyke 19 Oct '13

19 Oct '13

ThinkTank, I have been trying to research this and I'm not really finding a complete answer. Perhaps some of you have personal experience/knowledge that can help. There is a bike shop in my City that has a stockpile of used bikes in a warehouse and they've expressed some interest in donating them to our community bike shop. Does anyone know specifically what the tax advantages are for the business that donates? I know how it works for individuals but I don't know how it works for a business. Does anyone have epxerience with this? Thanks, Matt -- *Matt VanSlyke* *Utica Bike Rescue* *714 Washington Street, Utica, NY 13502* *315.525.9554* *matt(a)uticabikerescue.org* *www.uticabikerescue.org* *www.facebook.com/uticabikerescue* *Learn. Earn. Ride.*

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Bike!Bike! open discussion of Non-Profit Status
by momoko saunders 18 Oct '13

18 Oct '13

Dear Bike!Bike attendees and community bike project peoples! For 10 years, BB has been an entity without formal structure or organization. In many ways, this is part of what makes BB amazing. At the same time, BB is changing; the bike movement gains momentum; and the members and needs of community bike projects grow and shift. Over the past couple of years, members of the Bike!Bike! community have begun discussing the pros and cons of creating a non-profit entity to better support the mission and logistical feasibility of Bike!Bike! This discussion developed through open conversation during Bike!Bike! itself, and has continued remotely through the Bike!Bike! Working Group, an informal network of individuals committed to continuing this discussion between conferences. The goal of this work is not to graft a structure of authority onto the collective phenomenon of Bike!Bike!; rather, we want to work cooperatively toward developing a simple legal framework and shared toolkit that will make Bike!Bike! easier to attend, host, and replicate. Folks interested in contributing to this work are always encouraged to participate. *** In an effort to be transparent. I suggest we discuss this topic using the open source tool, Loomio.org <https://www.loomio.org/discussions/7933> . It is a software that came out of the occupy movement in New Zealand. It is built to help large groups with consensus discussion and decisions. It does mean another login and website :-( but I think it will be worth it. We will write monthly emails to the Thinktank and BikeBike Facebook page to invite people to review or join the discussion. Other options include google groups or a facebook group. Do other people have suggestions about technological tools that will help facilitate this conversation? What do you all think? -momoko

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We're FLYING Forward over here....
by Matthew VanSlyke 18 Oct '13

18 Oct '13

Helloooooo ThinkTank'ers We are going flat out here in Utica and have made some real progress establishing Utica Bike Rescue....and we're totally pumped! We've got a permanent space, we're taking in donations of parts, bikes, cash, we have a few small contracts in the works to deliver maintenance/commuting/safety workshops on the college campuses here, we've got some grant apps in that we're hoping come through in the next few months and we are going to be surprising some very, very worthy kids and teenagers with "new-to-you" bikes this holiday season. Lots of other behind the scenes stuff is going on too but no one wants to know our EIN number or read our bylaws I'm sure. I want to take a minute to sincerely thank all of you who are on this listserv who have provided advice, resources and even bikes that we've turned around and redistributed (BIG thanks to TBR!!). We have good local resources that have really helped in establishing the organization and shop. But connecting with those of you I met in Long Beach last year and continuing to share ideas has been so, so helpful (another HUGE thank you to former SLC Collective staffer Johnathan Morrison!). I updated our organization info on the Bike!Bike! website 'Organizations' page: https://www.bikebike.org/organizations/UticaBikeRescue_%28Utica%29. Our website will be up and running in the next month or so. For now, please find us and Like us on Facebook -www.facebook.com/UticaBikeRescue Lots more good stuff to come from the heart of upstate!

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Bike Collective Wiki Site
by Ron Kellis 18 Oct '13

18 Oct '13

Is anyone on this list involved with the http://www.bikecollectives.org/wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page ? I'd like to propose the changes below but the member discussion page I posted on isn't generating a response. I hate to just start making a lot of duplicate posts in the blind. I suggest "Maintenance Classes" for patrons be added to Common Activities as it is different than "Mechanical Training." I've posted a draft outline of the VéloCity Bicycle Cooperative basic maintenance class under "Teaching Resources" but that is a sub-topic to "Earn-a-bike." Maintenance Classes for the general public are often offered by coops and on the list there has been some discussion of volunteer mechanical training. To me, a volunteer should know at a minimum what is taught in a basic maintenance class so they do tie together. I think a page for "Volunteer Training" might have value too. And change "Mechanical Training" to "Open Source Mechanic Training" Thanks for considering my suggestions. Ron

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We're FLYING Forward over here....
by Matthew VanSlyke 18 Oct '13

18 Oct '13

Helloooooo ThinkTank'ers: We are going flat out here in Utica and have made some real progress establishing Utica Bike Rescue....and we're totally pumped! We've got a permanent space, we're taking in donations of parts, bikes, cash, we have a few small contracts in the works to deliver maintenance/commuting/safety workshops on the college campuses here, we've got some grant apps in that we're hoping come through in the next few months and we are going to be surprising some very, very worthy kids and teenagers with "new-to-you" bikes this holiday season. Lots of other behind the scenes stuff is going on too but no one wants to know our EIN number or read our bylaws I'm sure. I want to take a minute to sincerely thank all of you who are on this listserv who have provided advice, resources and even bikes that we've turned around and redistributed (BIG thanks to TBR!!). We have good local resources that have really helped in establishing the organization and shop. But connecting with those of you I met in Long Beach last year and continuing to share ideas has been so, so helpful (another HUGE thank you to former SLC Collective staffer Johnathan Morrison!). I updated our organization info on the Bike!Bike! website 'Organizations' page: https://www.bikebike.org/organizations/UticaBikeRescue_%28Utica%29. Our website will be up and running in the next month or so. For now, please find us and Like us on Facebook -www.facebook.com/UticaBikeRescue Lots more good stuff to come from the heart of upstate! -Matt -- *Matt VanSlyke* *Utica Bike Rescue* *714 Washington Street, Utica, NY 13502* *315.525.9554* *matt(a)uticabikerescue.org* *www.uticabikerescue.org* *www.facebook.com/uticabikerescue* *Learn. Earn. Ride.*

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We're FLYING Forward over here....
by Matt VanSlyke 18 Oct '13

18 Oct '13

Helloooooo ThinkTank'ers We are going flat out here in Utica and have made some real progress establishing Utica Bike Rescue....and we're totally pumped! We've got a permanent space, we're taking in donations of parts, bikes, cash, we have a few small contracts in the works to deliver maintenance/commuting/safety workshops on the college campuses here, we've got some grant apps in that we're hoping come through in the next few months and we are going to be surprising some very, very worthy kids and teenagers with "new-to-you" bikes this holiday season. Lots of other behind the scenes stuff is going on too but no one wants to know our EIN number or read our bylaws I'm sure. I want to take a minute to sincerely thank all of you who are on this listserv who have provided advice, resources and even bikes that we've turned around and redistributed (BIG thanks to TBR!!). We have good local resources that have really helped in establishing the organization and shop. But connecting with those of you I met in Long Beach last year and continuing to share ideas has been so, so helpful (another HUGE thank you to former SLC Collective staffer Johnathan Morrison!). I updated our organization info on the Bike!Bike! website 'Organizations' page: https://www.bikebike.org/organizations/UticaBikeRescue_%28Utica%29. Our website will be up and running in the next month or so. For now, please find us and Like us on Facebook - www.facebook.com/UticaBikeRescue Lots more good stuff to come from the heart of upstate! -- *Matt VanSlyke* *Utica Bike Rescue* *714 Washington Street, Utica, NY 13502* *315.525.9554* *matt(a)uticabikerescue.org* *www.uticabikerescue.org* *www.facebook.com/uticabikerescue* *Learn. Earn. Ride.*

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Hand Drawn Diagrams of blown out bike parts
by momoko saunders 17 Oct '13

17 Oct '13

Hi, Can people please send me any PDFs or pictures of the hand drawn diagrams they have in their shops. I've had a lot of people ask me for these. If you don't have a pdf, just snap a photo with your phone! Email the pictures to merely32been(a)photos.flickr.com We can all see the diagrams here http://www.flickr.com/photos/93412361@N07/with/8494632542/ Thanks!! -momoko

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Anti-oppression policies?
by Samuel 17 Oct '13

17 Oct '13

Hi folks, I got our steering committee to agree to developing a written and posted anti-discrimination/anti-oppression policy (thought we had one but turns out not). Now I have to write one. Does anyone have an example from their collective they could share? Thanks Sam, Iowa City Bike Library

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Cycles for Change (St. Paul, MN) Hiring
by Jason Tanzman 16 Oct '13

16 Oct '13

Cycles for Change <http://www.cyclesforchange.org> (C4C) is a non-profit community bike shop working to educate and empower people to use bicycles as transportation. C4C offers a variety of free programs including Open Shop, Women's and Trans Night, Earn-a-Bike, and a Youth Apprenticeship. C4C is hiring a Shop and Programs Director - to learn more and consider applying, view the job description and application instructions here<http://www.minnesotanonprofits.org/job-details?id=72893>. This is a full-time, salaried position offering paid vacation and a health insurance stipend. This position is one of three staff co-Directors who share responsibility and decision-making authority over all shop/organizational operations and program strategy. Feel free to email me with any questions - but consider applying if you're interested in working for a grassroots, growing, community-connected bike non-profit! Women and people of color are strongly encouraged to apply. Jason -- Development and Communications Director 612-232-2737 (cell) 651-222-2080 (shop) www.cyclesforchange.org The mission of Cycles for Change 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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