- TheThinkTank - lists.bikecollectives.org

Goodle Apps for Bike Coops
by Justin Morse 06 Dec '10

06 Dec '10

We use the email and the calendar. We have a separate account for our calendar and share the password among our shop coordinators. At our monthly meeting we go around and sign up shifts by creating events with our name. Before the sign-up it looks like our regular open shop calendar, then folks create events on the same day as open shops, only with their name. So a given day will say Open Shop 6-9pm, Justin M, Reda A. Its a free way to organize our coordinator calendar online. We don't really use the documents app much. Justin Morse Third Hand Bicycle Co-op

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Google Apps for bike co-ops?
by Kris Andersen 03 Dec '10

03 Dec '10

Does anybody use Google Apps for their organization? Google Apps (Education Edition) is free for non-profits under 3000 employees. We currently use it to manage email for our domain and host a public calendar for our co-op. (For more info: http://www.google.com/apps/) In addition to the usual Google services (Mail, Calendar, Groups, etc.) Google Apps lets you install third-party apps through their Google Apps Marketplace. https://www.google.com/enterprise/marketplace/ I'm curious if anybody is using any of these? In particular, if there are any that might help with volunteer scheduling or inventory management in a bike co-op? Any info or shared experiences are appreciated. Thanks, Kris | VéloCity Bicycle Cooperative in Alexandria, VA | http://velocitycoop.org/

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Insurance in Canada
by director＠communitybikeshop.org 03 Dec '10

03 Dec '10

Howdy, Anyone have advice on brokers/companies/policies for shops in Canada? It's one area we've been pretty negligent about: we've been operating for 6+ years without it, and our board/funders/users are getting increasingly anxious about it. We've asked around and the best quote we've got is $3800, which can be done, but is definitely on the edge for us with an upcoming year of rising rent costs and grant money drying up. Is there anything cheaper out there? Is there a partnership strategy you've taken up with another org to share the umbrella of insurance? Thanks folks, Clifford McCarten B!KE: The Peterborough Community Bike Shop communitybikeshop.org

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Giving thanks
by Angelo Coletta 28 Nov '10

28 Nov '10

Friends I am thankful for the growth of the Summit Cycling Center. In 2007, it was an idea born at the Peter Maurin Center. In 2008, it became an Ohio Nonprofit Corporation. At Thanksgiving 2009, it was supported by less than 10 members. I was moving my mothballed bike shop equipment into Canal Place. I had help moving, usually one friend at a time. In 2010, we have grown to 45 members and gained many patrons and supporters in the community. We established an elected board in May; and by next year, we should should have 501c3 tax exempt status. Even without the status, we have received some incredible bike donations; and other goods, as well. Hard working members have come in and arranged the store layout; building shelves and a bench. Thank you one and all! Charles Hudkins and I built a bike trailer from re-purposed and re-used materials. We set up a courier contract with S E Blueprint. The trailer has hauled a lot of blueprints since June. This courier service has contributed a significant amount of income to our coffers. With it, we met one facet of our mission statement-to create cycle-based micro-enterprises. Charles was unemployed before he joined SCC in May, now he makes money for himself and SCC as a courier. We hope to expand the courier service in the coming year. We plan to start other micro-enterprises. as well. We are currently working on a multi-modal conveyence. Tyler Goodin contributed a wooden shipping crate. Dave Stoddard donated a pair of utility wheels. We salvaged some EMT and borrowed a hydraulic bender. We bought some steel and lumber. When completed, it will be a sturdy cargo hauler. Its three modes will be 1)pushcart 2)bike trailer 3)front end of a tadpole box trike. It will be used to take scrap metal to the salvage yard, which will put some cash in our coffers. It also will be available for rental for anyone wanting to move a load car-free. We are off on a good start. I thank all of you for what you have contributed as a customer, a member, or a donor. Yet we are not all we can be yet. We have needs and wants; some simple and some not so. We need a few more folding chairs. We need certain key tools for the 1st bench and more basic tools for the member's workbench. If you have any spare tools that you don't need, call and see if they can be used for our members and repair classes. Eventually, we will need 5 sets of tools for repair classes. Any left over lumber, pegboard, metal stock in your garage? We will find a use for it. Have you a wringer washer that you can give? Have you any rags? Any bike parts or accessories? The membership would like SCC to have its own phone and internet service. For the first year, Time Warner requires $1535.00. Will anyone or a group of you pledge that amount?Of course, we will need a phone for that. Does anyone have a phone they can donate? Having these services will very likely increase membership enrollment, sales, and our ability to serve the community. I believe that this increase will cover the cost of these services in the second year. Can anyone give us a leg up? We greatly need a computer that can run accounting and Point of Sale software. Anyone have one less than five years old that they can donate? Call and talk to Charles about it. He can tell you if it will do the job. Advanced Computer Services quoted us $199.00 for one. They are currently out of stock. Anyone willing to pledge for that? I am interested in the Quick Books for Nonprofits program and their Point of Sale program. I would like to get a hand scanner and a receipt printer, too. Any information or help in this area would be appreciated. Since the membership has grown, we need a bigger refrigerator. There will be bigger parties and events next year and we will need a bigger refrigerator to store the goods for those occasions. Can anyone help in this? Last but not least, we desperately need a bigger place. Please keep an eye out for a groundfloor space 3 to 4 thousand sq. ft.. Perhap you know someone that can provide us this space at a very low rent. Please let us know. May the road rise up to meet you; may the wind be always to your back; may the sun shine warm on your face; may your cycle run smooth and swift; may you never get a flat tire; and may God be always be with you on the highways and byways. Happy Holidays Angelo aka Biketrekker

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110 Community Bicycle Organizations
by Jonathan Morrison 27 Nov '10

27 Nov '10

We aren't alone. http://www.bikecollectives.org/wiki/index.php?title=Category:Community_Bicy… -- 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

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automated response
by jay 25 Nov '10

25 Nov '10

I'm currently out of the office. Back Monday 11/29. I'll get back to you when I return. Best, Jay Ferm

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Youth Bike Summit 2011
by Pasqualina Azzarello 24 Nov '10

24 Nov '10

Dear Friends and Colleagues, I am pleased to announce the Youth Bike Summit! Inspired by the National Bike Summit that takes place each year in Washington DC, the Youth Bike Summit will address youth, cycling, education, and advocacy. We are currently seeking speakers, workshop leaders, and moderators for the three day conference. Please see the outline and forms below and feel free to share and distribute as you see fit. And don't forget to save the date! *WHEN: *Friday January 14 - Sunday January 16, 2011 *WHERE:* The New School in New York, NY *DESCRIPTION:* The Youth Bike Summit is a three day gathering geared toward students, educators, and advocates in New York City and in the Northeast United States. The conference aims to bring people from different educational disciplines together to explore, network, and learn how bicycling can be a legitimate and safe form of transportation for today's youth. With this mission in mind, the Youth Bike Summit will offer educational workshops and panel discussions on subjects ranging from how to advocate for bike lanes to basic bike maintenance. It will also provide tools and information on fundraising and best practices for schools that wish to incorporate bikes into the physical fabric of the learning environment.* * *PROGRAM SCHEDULE: ** * - *Friday (6pm-9pm):* Welcome + Registration - *Saturday (9am-6pm):** *The full-day program will consist of Breakfast, Workshop Sessions, a Keynote Lunch, a "Speed Learning" Session, and a Tabling Area for Schools, Organizations, Community Groups, Bike Shops, Sponsors, etc. *Workshop Categories:* Environment, Education, Policy, Management, and DIY (Do-It-Yourself) * Workshop Topics May Include:* How to plan a bike-friendly neighborhood, How to get rid of traffic congestion, Cycling infrastructure, Bicycles as a form of sustainable transportation, Pedal Power and Carbon Footprint/Impact, How is foreign oil and wars related to youth and bicycling?, How to start an Earn-A-Bike program, How to start a Ride Club, How to conduct a Learn to Ride program, Bike Drivers Education, Bike Maintenance 101, Safe Routes to School, Map making as an organizing tool, Social Media, Fundraising, Directors Panel/Best Practices, Youth Entrepreneurship, Social Entrepreneurship, Student Organizing, etc. - *Sunday (10am-1pm): *Interactive brunch with moderated breakout sessions that explore a) cycling issues that youth feel are most important and b) specific ways to be proactive in addressing these issues. *ADMISSION: *$10.00 per person for the three-day event *HISTORY: *In March 2010, Recycle-A-Bicycle attended the National Bike Summit with two high school interns who had completed a comprehensive job training and Earn-A-Bike program at RAB. Both participants learned they loved bicycles and expressed an interest in learning more about how bicycling fits into policy, the environment, social entrepreneurship, and community-building. Traveling to Washington DC for the first time, the 17 year old participants explored the nation's capital on an 8 mile bike tour led by a representative of WABA (Washington Area Bicyclist Association) and met with elected officials. Needless to say, we learned a lot. As we debriefed on the bus ride home, we discussed the importance of engaging youth in the national dialogue of cycling and cycling education. As a result, the idea of the Youth Bike Summit came into being. Both young advocates have been active participants in the planning of the conference thus far. Photos of our trip to DC can be seen here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Recycle-A-Bicycle/62453932286?v=photos&ref=ts…<http://www.facebook.com/pages/Recycle-A-Bicycle/62453932286?v=photos&ref=ts…>and in this video by Streetfilms: http://www.streetfilms.org/voices-from-the-national-bike-summit/ *FOR MORE INFORMATION:* More information can be found on Facebook<http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=168859553137603&num_event_invites=0#%…>and Recycle-A-Bicycle's Website <http://www.recycleabicycle.org/node/441> Have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday and thank you for all the wonderful work you do! I look forward to hearing your ideas! Best regards, Pasqualina -- Pasqualina Azzarello Executive Director Recycle-A-Bicycle Ph: 718-858-2972 Fax: 718-858-6201 http://www.recycleabicycle.org -- Pasqualina Azzarello Executive Director Recycle-A-Bicycle Ph: 718-858-2972 Fax: 718-858-6201 http://www.recycleabicycle.org

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Lubes, choice of and sources.
by Brian 24 Nov '10

24 Nov '10

Hello everybody... Would you please share your thoughts concerning your choice in lubes you use. Specifically: 1) Chain lube. We use Prolink - expensive but good performance. Would like a more "green" solution. 2) General oil-like lube, we use Triflow. It's cheap. For both, we buy bulk and refill the smaller bottles. Could you please share your experiences and strategies? Perhaps some sort of automotive lube instead of triflow? Anybody currently supported directly by a lube company? Brian SLO Bike Kitchen Co-founder www.slobikekitchen.org San Luis Obispo, CA

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NSFWork-Trade BABES OF BIKE SAVIOURS 2011 calendar
by allison karow 23 Nov '10

23 Nov '10

the moment you've all been waiting for!! get em while they're hot (off the presses) http://www.bikesaviours.org/

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Bicycle Works is moving
by Patrick VDT 22 Nov '10

22 Nov '10

St. louis Bicycle Works is moving. For 25 years now we have been located on the same intersection in south St.louis but next spring we will be moving. http://tinyurl.com/24ks3jh If you have been to the shop on a busy night you understand this move was long overdue. We are open five nights a week in order to accommodate the volume of people coming to volunteer. The Earn-A-Bike program now occurs on Saturdays and Wednesdays to allow even more kids to learn. The computer shop has continued to increase the accessibility of its Earn-A-Computer programs and has added a one-on-one mentoring program. A new program called BookWORKS was started this year to help kids improve their writing and reading skills. This growth has taxed our core group of volunteers and the building we currently occupy. The same room serves as a classroom, a boardroom, and a storage area all in the same week. More and better space was need for us to continue to grow and pursue our mission. Over a year ago we started touring buildings in the neighborhood and surrounding areas to see what was possible. This spring we found a perfect building to meet our needs and a generous patron to help make it a reality. The space is large enough to allow for growth, it is located in a residential area, and our new neighbors are enthusiastic about our moving in. This new location will have dedicated classroom spaces, more than double the shop space, new bathrooms, a reception and retail area, and plenty of storage, all built to our specific needs. We are extremely excited and thankful for this opportunity. This good news, however, is tempered by the sadness we feel for leaving one of the most amazing and supportive communities in all of Saint Louis, the Shaw Neighborhood. Shaw has been our home for over twenty years, BWORKS was conceived and flourished here and we are deeply grateful for all the support and encouragement Shaw has given us. We look forward to what the future holds.

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