- TheThinkTank - lists.bikecollectives.org

Re: [TheThinkTank] Thethinktank Digest, Vol 50, Issue 21
by the flat collective 21 Nov '10

21 Nov '10

Hey, About a month ago, someone asked if anyone had some volunteer "training" material kicking around. I'm finalizing a really sexy, or at least nicely-designed, volunteer handbook at the moment, including anti-oppression and hands off! sections. When it's all done, I'll distribute the .pdf as well as a file with just the text, so that if you just want to work with that you won't have to retype the whole thing. Zinta the flat.mtl. On Tue, Oct 19, 2010 at 3:56 PM, < thethinktank-request(a)lists.bikecollectives.org> wrote: > Send Thethinktank mailing list submissions to > thethinktank(a)lists.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)lists.bikecollectives.org > > You can reach the person managing the list at > thethinktank-owner(a)lists.bikecollectives.org > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of Thethinktank digest..." > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. Re: Volunteer *training* manual request > (Bend's Community BikeShed) > 2. Communication Tactics (Godwin !) > 3. Guide to Buying a Used Bike (Chris DiGiamo) > 4. Re: Communication Tactics (Dugan Meyer) > 5. Re: Communication Tactics (Leslie Peteya) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Tue, 19 Oct 2010 10:18:58 -0700 > From: "Bend's Community BikeShed" <bendsbikeshed(a)gmail.com> > To: The Think Tank <thethinktank(a)lists.bikecollectives.org> > Subject: Re: [TheThinkTank] Volunteer *training* manual request > Message-ID: > <AANLkTi=se-_gXnU3wK9MnTHrJ8DSCzsfCRgk3x-o+NHV(a)mail.gmail.com<se-_gXnU3wK9MnTHrJ8DSCzsfCRgk3x-o%2BNHV(a)mail.gmail.com> > > > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > > Jonathan, > > We've also slowed down for the winter here at Bend's Community BikeShed. > I'm in the process of revamping our volunteer manuals, and I'd love to > chat > with you by phone, let me know when is a good time, mornings are best for > me. > > Sami Fournier > Sustainability Coordinator > Bend's Community BikeShed > Whole Bikes = Whole Communities > www.bendscommunitybikeshed.org > > > On Thu, Oct 14, 2010 at 12:15 PM, Jonathan Morrison < > jonathan(a)slcbikecollective.org> wrote: > > > It is that time of year when it gets cold and a little slower, so we > > are assessing what we did this year that worked as well as what > > didn't, while not forgetting the things that we didn't get a chance to > > try. Luckily there is always next year. So... > > > > Have you quantified your volunteer incubation process in the form of > > documents or some coordinator position that wouldn't mind spending > > some time on the phone with me? It turns out the heat lamps we > > tried were unsuccessful, so we aren't doing that again. In Utah we > > want to solidify the way(s) in which we turn a first timer into a core > > volunteer, and hopefully do it more often. > > > > One thing we DID do, that was great, was steal and modify the Yellow > > Bike Project's volunteer tracking software > > (volunteer.slcbikecollective.org) which has resulted in automatic > > contact lists, community service letters with truly valid hours, the > > ability to keep track of Department of Workforce Services employee > > hours, increase enrollment in our email list, a slightly more formal > > way to keep track of people trading in volunteer hours, and the thing > > we always wanted -- valid statistics. So we will certainly be > > continuing that practice. > > > > Now that we are collecting info more efficiently, we need to work on > > how we use that info effectively as a way to engage volunteers at > > higher levels. > > > > Sincerely, > > > > Jonathan Morrison > > Executive Director > > Salt Lake City Bicycle Collective > > 2312 S. West Temple > > Salt Lake City, UT 84115 > > w: 801-328-2453 > > c: 801-688-0183 > > f: 801-466-3856 > > www.slcbikecollective.org > > > > The mission of the Salt Lake City Bicycle Collective is to promote > > cycling as an effective and sustainable form of transportation and as > > a cornerstone of a cleaner, healthier, and safer society. The Bicycle > > Collective provides refurbished bicycles and educational programs to > > the community, focusing on children and lower income households. > > _______________________________________________ > > 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.… > > > > > > -- >

5 4

Benches and Shop Layouts
by Lee Reis 19 Nov '10

19 Nov '10

Hi everyone, I was wondering if shops could share their bench designs and/or shop layouts - we're moving in January and trying to set ourselves up as best as possible. Specifically, it'd be great if anyone has a copy of your bench design & material list, and in terms of layout we're most interested in bench spacing - see below for an example. What works about your current layout and what doesn't? Our current layout uses a bench that is ~18" deep (from the wall), ~50" from edge of the bench to bike-stand pole, and the length of the clamp (from pole to clamp-edge) is ~18." Our spacing between benches is erratic given our current shop space, but our new space is nice and square-ish. Thanks! -Lee Reis Volunteer Coordinator, Ohio City Bike Co-op 1823 Columbus Road Cleveland, Ohio 44113 (216) 830-2667 www.ohiocitycycles.org

8 7

Fundraiser Ideas
by Christine Hill 18 Nov '10

18 Nov '10

Hello all! I just finished helping Bike Recycle Vermont host their fifth silent auction/bluegrass concert fundraiser. It's something our organization has been doing for five years, and all of the people who worked on it this year agreed that the event was really tired and that we'd prefer to do something that's more accesible to the people we serve and our volunteers and that's more in line with our mission. Anyone out there have some ideas or examples of successful fundraisers that incorporate your volunteers, that involve bikes, yada yada? Any and all suggestions welcome. Thanks! Christine Bike Recycle Vermont Burlington, VT -- *Christine Hill, Americorps*State Bike Recycle Vermont/Local Motion w: 802.264.9687 c: 339.223.0722* Bike Recycle Vermont: www.localmotion.org/brv<http://www.localmotion.org/programs/bikerecycle> Burlington Bicycle Coalition: www.facebook.com/BurlingtonBicycleCoalition *"When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the human race." - H.G. Wells*

3 2

need to unsubscribe/resubscribe
by Mary Bergeron 18 Nov '10

18 Nov '10

hey all, Loving the thinktank, but would like to unsubscribe from this email and pick it back up at mary(a)recycleabike.org Does anyone know how to do that? thanks! -- Mary Bergeron 508-265-2904 mary.bergeron.designs(a)gmail.com

2 1

bike intake form
by Scott Gibson 17 Nov '10

17 Nov '10

Ok, so somehow Free Ride has gotten by 8 years and thousands of EABs without a good bike intake form. Crazy huh. Does anyone have any really detail, well organized ones that can be easily attached and displayed on the bike? Thanks, Scott

2 1

bikebike 2011 date
by allison karow 17 Nov '10

17 Nov '10

Has a date been set for next year's conference? If so , we would like to include it on our Babes of Bike Saviours 2011 calendar which is going to print in the next week or so. Tantalizing promotional photos coming soon...

11 13

Help with fiduciary paper work etc
by mars psymons 15 Nov '10

15 Nov '10

Greetings and namaste, We would like to run our collective under another persons 501c3 they told us that we would need to give them our mission statement etc to set up the paper work. i dont think i should try and reinvent the wheel here and im wondering if someone could send me their paper work that is doing the same sort of thing or a generic version and i could just use that so that i can pass it on. and then we can begin giving tax writeoffs in exchange for bikes from the community. marshall symons fireweeduniversecity.org

3 3

Nonprofit Branding Contest
by Patrick VDT 15 Nov '10

15 Nov '10

http://wildfireapp.com/website/6/contests/67208/entries/new?ogn=website

3 3

non-profit development questions: staff and board roles
by Ben Tsai 11 Nov '10

11 Nov '10

Hello, We are working on creating new and updated policies for our organization and have lots of questions regarding board and staff roles. We would be happy to hear experiences or feedback on any of the following questions if folks have time. 1) Who should be able to vote at board meetings in a consensus based non-profit, where there is a general desire for as much democracy and particapation as functionally possible? This organization is small and there is considerable overlap in the duties of board members and staff. How many staff should have a vote at board meetings(should there be a restriction on how many)? It seems common that non-profit advisers warn about having staff voting in board meetings (many say limit it to one representative max). Does this still hold if the staff are doing planning and research equivalent to a board member? The executive director or staff representatives are sometimes voting members in other nonprofits we have heard of, but ours doesn't currently have those positions. 2) Our organization has teams that operate semi-autonomously. Staff and board members overlap in these too, but the decision making is by all members of the team (not just board members for example). Reversing question #1, are there issues with having board members voting in groups that focus on daily operations? 3) Who should be allowed to edit the operations manual; staff, board, or both? This isn't the bylaws, but what we call the " handbook for board of directors, staff, and volunteers". Should the staff be able to alter it as long as it doesn't go against the bylaws established by the board? If so, what if no one checks on a regular basis? Are there better ways to divide bylaws from an operations manual. 4) Who do staff turn to when they have problems, or are unhappy with their working hours, pay, coworkers, etc. (There is no executive director). 5) How board members volunteering as staff, on project teams and programs maintain objectivity as a legal employer, while working as part of a team. Are there processes in place that help keep authority issues clear? I guess this ties into question 2. 6) Who are staff accountable to for reviews and pay raises and performance issues? thanks for any info, ben and john

3 2

America reCycled hits the road
by Tim Hussin 10 Nov '10

10 Nov '10

Hey everyone, This is Noah Hussin from America reCycled. We're two bicyclists/storytellers crossing the country on bikes we built at the Recyclery, a bike coop in Asheville, NC. As we ride west, we're documenting efforts to rebuild local culture, community, and economy through short film, photography, music, and writing. We've just started the trip, but have a few stories posted. One explores the bike cooperative where we built our bikes. Here is the link to the bike coop story: http://www.americarecycled.org/?p=293 We tried to capture the magic that happens at bicycle cooperatives, and I figured that this email list would be the best place to get honest feedback about how we're doing so far. Don't hesitate to comment and criticize. We really want to get this out to cyclists everywhere, so if you have a few minutes, we'd love you to look at what we're doing. If you like what you see, it'd be great if you'd pass it on to some friends. The website features a map that charts our route, and nodes that correspond to the stories we're telling along the way. We're also looking for places/communities to visit along the trip. It looks like we'll be heading down to New Orleans, then to Austin, and then up toward N. California. If you have any feedback or ideas for us, please shoot us an email at americarecycled(a)gmail.com Thanks a lot -Noah

1 0