July 2023 - TheThinkTank - lists.bikecollectives.org

Organization of 'Community' Bike Shops?
by eric clough 10 Jul '23

10 Jul '23

Hello Emory and ThinkTankers - I really appreciate the posting by Emory and I would like to offer a few thoughts. Before I do that, I want to acknowledge, as Luke Box did, the valuable content and work represented here in the ThinkTank. Since the time I founded a small community bike shop in Coos Bay, Or. (2018), I have paid close attention to the content of exchanges here. I have participated in the virtual BikeBike and I look forward to an in-person BikeBike sometime soon. Thank you ThinkTank for all the resource you provide - I find it very valuable. Cheers to all those who have put effort into it over the years. The major urban centers of Oregon (Portland, Salem, Hillsboro, Corvallis, Eugene) all have large and well established 'community' bike shops. Oregon has smaller communities that also have community bike shops. Like Coos Bay and Waldport (others?). I am interested in Emory's posting because in Coos Bay we are finding it difficult to sustain volunteer effort to operate the various programs needed in our community. We don't generate enough revenue (sales & service) to support paid staff and, while we have had some success with grant applications, our experience is that implementing grant programs with all volunteer effort is challenging. We also struggle with basic business admin functions. I definitely appreciate the comment from Geofry Smart about merging of groups can result in loss of values and perhaps other important facets of community-based operation (autonomy for example). However, burnout is hitting our small operation pretty hard these days. We are on an unsustainable volunteer path. In the pacific northwest, there is currently a developing 'umbrella' non-profit organization that is intended to support a consortium of regional community bike shops. I don't know a lot about it at this time but I am interested to learn more. Laura Brooke - thank you for the reference to the Vermont group. I will be reaching out to the "Old Spokes Home" (love the name!) Eric Clough Front Street Community Bike Works Park Your Car - Ride Your Bike!

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4. Question re community bike shops (Emory Shaw)
by Geoffrey Smart 09 Jul '23

09 Jul '23

The community bike shops in Melbourne ,Australia communicate via a WhatsApp group and have met in person a couple of times. The in person meets disappeared over the long covid lockdowns. *Geoff Smart* Chair Back2Bikes M : 0419 345 440 525 Williamstown Rd Port Melbourne 3207 back2bikes.org.au

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Bikes Together in Denver is hiring! Mac is stepping back :)
by Mac Liman 05 Jul '23

05 Jul '23

Hi Bike Collectives, Bikes Together <https://www.bikestogether.org/> in Denver, CO USA is hiring a newly re-worked *Program Manager* position <https://www.bikestogether.org/job-opportunities> to lead our volunteer, recycling and education programming. Please spread the word about this great job! Application deadline July 10th! Also - I will be stepping back from my role as Program Director after many (6? 20?) years! If anyone wants to stay connected with me related to bike!bike!, operations, feminist and anti-racist practice in bike co-ops, or the End Build To Fail Bicycles campaign <https://forms.gle/2prgHq3wFVHWu4Tc6>, I can be reached at my personal email mac(a)chickenwrench.com Seriously would love to see this petition <https://forms.gle/2prgHq3wFVHWu4Tc6> and momentum <https://www.vice.com/en/article/wxdgq9/mechanics-ask-walmart-major-bike-man…> continue! In community, Mac -- * <http://www.bikestogether.org/>* *Mac Liman* Volunteer Director, Bikes Together mac(a)bikestogether.org w. 720-403-8757 c. 720-365-6563 Pronouns: she/her <https://pronouns.org/what-and-why> *I am in the shop Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.

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