- TheThinkTank - lists.bikecollectives.org

Re: [TheThinkTank] Donations from Businesses
by Matt VanSlyke 10 Oct '13

10 Oct '13

Thank you everyone for your valuable insight on this topic. We have 501(c)(3) pending and are working with a fiscal sponsor so donations are deductible. Stephen of BNB raises a good point so we'll provide them with our thank you letter/form and let them decide on the issue of deduction. While contemplating this question and your responses I decided to take advantage of this gorgeous fall day in upstate NY ny taking a ride over to the shop in question. And I'm happy to report that this visit got some results. We are now partnering with them to surprise 15-20 kids with shiny "new-to-you" bikes this holiday season!! The great news for us and the kids we'll surprise. Matt Utica Bike Rescue On Thu, Oct 10, 2013 at 1:50 PM, Stephen Bosco <stephen(a)bikesnotbombs.org>wrote: > Hi Matt, > > Your question got forwarded to me-- > > In my years processing bike donations for BNB, I've had a few bike shops > that seemed to care a lot about getting a tax donation receipt for their > bikes, but from my knowledge of business tax law, I don't think it > matters. Here's why: > > A business has a "cost of goods sold" that they pay for their inventory. > That number gets subtracted (along with other expenses) from their gross > sales in order to arrive at a net profit figure, on which they are taxed. > If they buy bikes (and never successfully sell them), that's automatically > reflected in net profit that doesn't get realized. > > And, on a related note- if the shop is donating bikes that they didn't > buy, (i.e. customers abandoned them at the shop), they can't deduct the > value of those either, because they have "no basis" in the bikes. > > So if I read the question correctly, you want to approach this shop and > regale them with all the benefits of donating these old bikes. > Unfortunately, I don't think a reduction in tax liability is one of them. > > And my disclaimer: I'm not a CPA... if you want to know for 100% sure, > you'll have to check with one of them! > > Stephen > > > -- > Stephen Bosco > Bike Donations Coordinator > > Bikes Not Bombs > 284 Amory St. > Jamaica Plain, MA 02130 > p: 617-522-0222 > f: 617-522-0922 > > On Thu, Oct 10, 2013 at 11:08 AM, Sarah Braker <sarah(a)bikesnotbombs.org>wrote: > >> Thought you might have some knowledge to share on this... >> >> >> ---------- Forwarded message ---------- >> From: Andrew L <breathingplanet(a)gmail.com> >> Date: Thu, Oct 10, 2013 at 12:06 PM >> Subject: Re: [TheThinkTank] Donations from Businesses >> To: The Think Tank <thethinktank(a)lists.bikecollectives.org> >> >> >> not sure.... good question! >> >> we get bikes on occasion from about 3 local shops and they have never >> asked or cared. >> others have never approached us. >> >> Andrew >> TBR >> >> >> On Thu, Oct 10, 2013 at 11:55 AM, Matt VanSlyke <matt(a)uticabikerescue.org >> > wrote: >> >>> 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.* >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> 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.… >>> >>> >> >> >> -- >> ------__o >> ----_`\<,_ >> ---(_)/ (_) >> andrew lynn 518-573-7947 >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> 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.… >> >> >> >> >> -- >> Sarah Braker >> Communications Manager >> Bikes Not Bombs >> 284 Amory St., Jamaica Plain, MA 02130 >> 617-522-0222 ext. 104 >> www.bikesnotbombs.org <http://www.bikesnotbombs.org/youth> >> >> Donate online <http://bikesnotbombs.org/support> to support our work! >> >> Follow us on Facebook <http://www.facebook.com/bikesnotbombs> and Twitter<http://twitter.com/bikesnotbombs> >> ! >> >> >> >> > > -- *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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Adaptive Cycling Equipment
by Amanda Chilson 10 Oct '13

10 Oct '13

We have a variety of adaptive equipment that was donated/given to our local community, it is being stored in a local storage building for free, along our rail trail. In order for it to be used a licensed Physical Therapist has to fit someone to the equipment. It is challenging finding someone to do this as they do not want to be liable. Does anyone have experience in renting out adaptive equipment and are there other avenues to go with so the brand new equipment does not just sit, like it already has been doing for one year? Thank you for your help!!! Amanda Chilson Project Coordinator Mass in Motion Northern Berkshire Community Coalition 61 Main St. Suite 218 North Adams, MA 01247 413-663-7588 Ext. 16 www.nbccoalition.org Nominate someone for a Neighborly<http://nbccoalition.org/?post=fall-neighborly-nominations> !

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Seeking help with volunteer training systems
by Dan Hock 10 Oct '13

10 Oct '13

Hello All, I work at Bike Recycle Vermont<http://www.localmotion.org/programs/bikerecycle/> in Burlington,(you guessed it) Vermont. Our shop structure is all volunteer with the exception of myself. Our program, in short, accepts donated bikes and, with volunteer help, refurbishes them so that they can be sold exclusively to low-income Vermonters. Personally, I have been struggling with training unskilled volunteers that are new to our program. I have many great people coming through the door with great intentions, but limited mechanical aptitude. Our volunteer retention is down because new folks tend to feel helpless and frustrated. In an effort to address this, I am going to start offering structured mechanics training to new volunteers. I am coming to the list with a few questions: - Are there other programs out there that require unskilled volunteers interested in volunteering as mechanics to go through mechanics trainings? If so, shed light on what structure you are using? - If we are investing over 10 hours in each prospective volunteer, is it reasonable to charge participants or ask them to commit a set amount of hours to our program in exchange for the class? If so, how much is fair in either time or money? - Does anyone have any curriculum and/or course materials (diagrams, glossaries, etc) for participants that they would be willing to share? - Are there any lessons to be learned/advice to be given to someone in my position. Thanks in advance for your time! Dan -- Dan Hock Bike Recycle Vermont Program Manager w. 802.264.9687 Bike Recycle Vermont <http://www.localmotion.com/bikerecycle> 664 Riverside Ave. Burlington Learn to ride a bicycle. You will not regret it if you live. ~Mark Twain

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Shop Setup - Taming the Chaos PDF posted on the wiki
by director 10 Oct '13

10 Oct '13

Hey All, It was great to connect with you all at Bike! Bike! in New Orleans this year. I've posted my presentation on the wiki as a big giant pdf 180mb http://www.bikecollectives.org/wiki/index.php?title=Bike!Bike!_2013#Shop_Se… Feel free to write me with any questions or comments you might have. -- Ride On! Rich Points http://communitycycles.org Executive Director (c)303-589-0597 (w)720-565-6019 Community Cycles is Boulder's only bike shop dedicated to bike commuting. Find us on facebook <https://www.facebook.com/CommunityCycles> Subscribe to our monthly e-news <http://eepurl.com/i7SLv>

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Update Wiki With BikeBike! 2013 notes
by momoko saunders 08 Oct '13

08 Oct '13

If you know how to edit the wiki, please add notes to this very basic draft of the workshops held at this years bikebike! http://www.bikecollectives.org/wiki/index.php?title=Bike!Bike!_2013 *If you don't know how, but you have notes on a workshop, pictures, or video, please send me the the info directly to my email - analyst(a)bikefarm.org* * * *If you are eager to help with getting this content up on the wiki, please also email me.* This will be very useful to those who could not make it. Also, it is especially helpful to those who went, who want to relate what they learned to their collectives. Please help out! this is the best way to give back to BikeBike! Thanks! -momoko

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What to Teach When You Only Have 1 Hour...
by Matthew VanSlyke 08 Oct '13

08 Oct '13

Okay Folks, here's the challenge: You've been offered a chance to do a bike related workshop on a college campus. The only direction you have is "we want you to do a bike related workshop on campus. You have 1 hour". So, what do you teach? Basic Bike maintenance? Riding in/as traffic? How to: get yourself to class on time even if you: get a flat, drop the chain, bend the wheel in a pot hole, etc? In your experiences, what has been valuable for adults/college students? The community bike shop is a new concept in our City and we're trying to launch an effort to get students to lease our repurposed bikes. This will be a good "in" for us and a good way to introduce Utica Bike Rescue to the college community. Any thoughts? Thanks a Bunch, Matt VanSlyke Utica Bike Rescue

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Dollar value of Volunteer time at Bike Valet or in general?
by Ryan Kragerud 28 Sep '13

28 Sep '13

We're wrapping up much of our summer programming here in Longmont, CO and I'm trying to determine the "dollar value" of our services. Currently we don't pay our volunteers to do bike parking and we don't charge events for this service either. We struggled to fill many of our bike parking shifts this summer, so, our board will be discussing developing a charge for bike parking and rental of our rack/bike valet in a box program. In order to do so I'm wondering - dear Think Tank members.... What is the per hour value of volunteer time for bike valet/parking at events (or in general) in your area? thx. -- "We all do better when we all do better" - Paul Wellstone

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Bike Infrastructure question - comparable cities??
by Andrew L 27 Sep '13

27 Sep '13

hey ThinkTank, somewhat separate from my work at Troy Bike Rescue, I am part of an appointed citizens committee on alternative transportation (an idea our city is just sort of coming around to). we have 0 bike lanes, few bike racks, and about 11 sharrows (under a year old). our task is primarily research-oriented, and I am searching for comparable cities and hoping the ThinkTank might help me. Do any of you have suggestions of cities with the following characteristics: -population: 50 - 100,000 -small "bike culture" community -sizeable low-income population -investing time/money/energy into bicycles as a way of turning the city around. -demonstrable progress on that front i know they are out there, but most examples are of much bigger cities. I appreciate any suggestions! Thanks!! Andrew

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Hello, Nashville?
by Matthew VanSlyke 27 Sep '13

27 Sep '13

I'm wondering if there is a community bike shop in Nashville. I see Revolution (Memphis) listed as the only shop in TN. Hello, Nashville, do you hear me? If so, please contact me by email off the listserv, for everyone's inbox benefit. Matt VanSlyke Utica Bike Rescue

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Re: [TheThinkTank] Thethinktank Digest, Vol 85, Issue 13
by chris turner 25 Sep '13

25 Sep '13

We're going to bring a pile of stickers for Off the Chain and screen to make shirts at Bike!Bike!. Bring a blank shirt. -chris Off the Chain Bicycle Collective http://offthechainak.org On Wed, Sep 25, 2013 at 12:19 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. Bike! Bike! Shirt Swap (director) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Wed, 25 Sep 2013 12:10:39 -0600 > From: director <director(a)communitycycles.org> > To: The Think Tank <thethinktank(a)lists.bikecollectives.org> > Subject: [TheThinkTank] Bike! Bike! Shirt Swap > Message-ID: > <CAKAQTJ= > NM1fCaqjPZuNUgZFHNzKdBe7+t1wxhTQT-03HM8PwqA(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > > Hey All, > I'm gonna bring a couple Community Cycles medium shirts and would love to > swap them for a medium shirt from your shop. > > Bring it! > > -- > Ride On! > > Rich Points > http://communitycycles.org > Executive Director > (c)303-589-0597 > (w)720-565-6019 > > Community Cycles is Boulder's only bike shop dedicated to bike commuting. > Find us on facebook <https://www.facebook.com/CommunityCycles> > Subscribe to our monthly e-news <http://eepurl.com/i7SLv> >

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