- TheThinkTank - lists.bikecollectives.org

Slack channel
by Andrew Shooner 05 Nov '15

05 Nov '15

I was getting email from several different shops to discuss software. I want to be able to bring other folks into that conversation when they want to, so I created a general slack team for bike collectives: bikecollectives.slack.com If you want to discuss specific stuff without spamming the email list, let me know and I'll add you. This isn't intended to replace the good discussion on the email list; it's more just for immediate collaboration, etc. -Andy Broke Spoke

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Bike Collectives Wiki Appadmin
by Jonathan Rosenbaum 05 Nov '15

05 Nov '15

Who is the current application administrator for the Wiki? Please contact me. -Jonathan

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Bike-related calls for submissions
by Angel York 01 Nov '15

01 Nov '15

Thought this might interest some of y'all: ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Eleanor Blue <eleanor.blue(a)gmail.com> Date: Sun, Nov 1, 2015 at 12:45 PM Subject: [mcp-community] Calls for Submissions and other Microcosm news To: "mcp-community(a)googlegroups.com" <mcp-community(a)googlegroups.com> Hi Microcosm creators, We've got a couple of calls for submissions open for upcoming anthologies that I want to let you all know about, and also a few ongoing opportunities I want to remind you about. Feel free to share any of this freely! 1. If you want to try your hand at writing science fiction (only two criteria are that it involve bicycles and not be sexist), the deadline for the 4th Bikes in Space collection <http://microcosmpublishing.com/blogifesto/2015/07/call-for-submissions-bike…> was today...but I'm granting extensions through December 1st as needed. Let me know if you're thinking about writing something or want to toss ideas around. 2. If you've got something to say about bicycles and money and class (or even something only very thinly about that topic), I'm looking for reporting, how-tos, personal essays, art, and even fiction for the 2nd annual Journal of Bicycle Feminism <http://microcosmpublishing.com/blogifesto/2015/10/call-for-submissions-jour…>. (The first is out now as Cycletherapy <http://microcosmpublishing.com/catalog/books/6156/>) 3. We are always looking for Music Scene History Series <http://microcosmpublishing.com/blogifesto/2012/12/introducing-the-scene-emp…> proposals (like the 33 1/3 book series, but focused on time + place rather than on a specific album). 4. Our current public call list <http://microcosmpublishing.com/faq#submit-manuscripts> for book submissions is for sewing, cats, dogs, bees, and parenting. 5. We are distributing zines <http://microcosmpublishing.com/faq#will-you-carry-my-zine> again. All of this aside, though, if we've already worked with you we'd love to find a way to keep it going and do future projects together. Get in touch any time to talk over ideas for future work. Oh yeah, and not a call for submissions, but we are Kickstarting all of the books that come out under my Elly Blue Publishing imprint...and the latest one is live! It's our first go at YA fiction—Emily June Street's exciting steampunky sports novel, The Velocipede Races <https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ellyblue/the-velocipede-races>. Check it out and please spread the word to anyone you know who likes this sort of reading. Thanks for doing what you do, Elly -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Microcosm Authors and Artists" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to mcp-community+unsubscribe(a)googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to mcp-community(a)googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/mcp-community/CAP%3De01YWgAcY-rWD_vwpAv5p… <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/mcp-community/CAP%3De01YWgAcY-rWD_vwpAv5p…> . For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.

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CAUTION: parts storage, safety edition.
by Angel York 30 Oct '15

30 Oct '15

>From the minutes at my old bike collective, where they had been using double-wide filing cabinets as parts storage: - Large parts filing cabinet fell suddenly and catastrophically, *no injuries, *single most dangerous thing to happen in shop history, we are very fortunate. - *We CANNOT use double-wide cabinets ever again, *they are too potentially dangerous the way we use them. Beware of storing parts in any kind of drawers that could be top-heavy. After years of working just fine, they could spontaneously come crashing to the floor.

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Community Bike Center at Sports Stadium?
by Jason Tanzman 27 Oct '15

27 Oct '15

Anyone have any experience with a community bike shop or bike center being developed as a part of, or connected to, a sports stadium? St. Paul recently approved - and provided property tax relief (but no direct subsudies) - the development of an 18,000 seat stadium in a mixed residential/commercial area of St. Paul. People are already talking about issues with parking and how to do bike/walk/transit promotion. I can't help but think that this would be a great opportunity to put in a bike center with retail, repair, and classes and programs. But I just haven't seen anything along these lines ever having been tried. Anyone know anything about it? Jason

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Please vote for cargo bicycles
by james bledsoe 26 Oct '15

26 Oct '15

A new project of the Bicycle Kitchen, Re: Ciclos is competing for a grant and the first round is an online voting deal. | | | | | | | | | | | Re:Ciclos a movement by bicycle. A new project of the Bi...Vote Yes, keep me updated on opportunities and news from Goldhirsh Foundation Tweet Copy + About Your Application Organization(s) name(s): Re:Ciclos and Bicycle Kit... | | | | View on myla2050live2015.mak... | Preview by Yahoo | | | | | please follow these links and vote for us thanks jim

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Posting to the Think Tank in English & Spanish // Publicar a Think Tank en Inglés y Español
by Lauren Warbeck 25 Oct '15

25 Oct '15

Hi Yall! An important thing that came up at Bike!Bike! Guadalajara is that it would be useful to post in more languages than English if you have the capacity to do so. Spanish for sure, but also....French? Portugese? ...? Not everyone who uses or wishes to use the Think Tank speaks English, but many Think Tank users speak English and Spanish and/or other languages. More languages = more inclusive! So please, translate your own posts if you can. And nothing is lost by trying your best, either. ----- [ Lo siento...Y pronto usted sabrá por qué ...] Hola a todos! El Bike!Bike! Guadalajara pasó una importante discusión. No todo el que quiere utilizar el Think Tank habla Inglés. Pero personas que utilizan el Think Tank hablan más idiomas aparte del Inglés. Si le es posible, traducir sus mensajes a otros idiomas. Todos podemos simplemente hacer todo lo posible. Más idiomas = más inclusivo! <3 <3 <3 Lauren

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Travel Equity for BikeBike
by erk magosh 17 Oct '15

17 Oct '15

Hey y'all, I have been throwing around ideas about travel equity after our trip to Mexico. For me a citizen of the US it was easy to get down there and was very affordable. I started thinking about why that was, and how it doesn't apply to everybody. Below is some suggestions that I have come up with. Most of these suggestions would really be up to the BikeBike hosts (Detroit in 2016), but the travel fund could be something we could start easily with donations. It is a rough draft and I'm looking for feedback (there has only been 5 minutes of feedback so far). Most of these ideas would take a bit of work, but I think it would be worth it to allow as many people to participate in BikeBike as possible. let me/us know what you think, erk BikeBike Travel Equity: Suggestions to Offset Inequitable Travel Cost and Barriers Summary: In an aim to make BikeBike more inclusive we should help address travel inequities. Travel can be much harder/more expensive depending on what side of some imaginary lines a person was born on or what system they have to live in. We should encourage those with privilege to help those with less. 1. Registration: registration fees should be very malleable. Folx that can pay more should be encouraged to support folx that cannot. a. For some participants the registration fee is very cheap for all the services provided, others it may be a large expense. 2. Travel funds should be created ahead of time to help folx with Visas/other travel expenses. a. Donations or excess registration fees could create these funds. b. Example of need: A Mexican Citizen needs to pay $300 USD just to apply for a visa to the USA. If they do not get approved they do not get the money back. For a US citizen with steady work this might not seem like a huge loss, but that works out to $5,100 MEX, which could be 3 or 4 times a person’s monthly housing cost. 3. 3 meals (and snacks) a day at BikeBike. a. Eatting out is by default expensive, but if you come from a country with an unfavorable currency exchange it is even more so. Even without that exchange, some people don’t have money to blow on a luxury like eating out. b. This creates a bit more work, visiting BikeBikers should be encouraged to help cook and take any other loads off the hosts. c. An alternative may be providing access to the kitchen when meals cannot be provided.

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Re: [TheThinkTank] What do you do with your dirty rags?
by Vernon Huffman 14 Oct '15

14 Oct '15

We take them to a laundromat, but what we want to do is build a rag washer. It starts with a hose from tap to roof, to the bottom of a solar batch water heater, made from an old water heater tank painted black and built into a triangular box with two sides and both ends insulated and reflective and the third side glass. From the top of the water heater an insulated hose runs to an old front loading clothes washer with the motor removed. It is driven by a stationary bike with a belt around the tireless wheel. The washer sits on a pallet over an old bathtub, into which it drains. The tub has been filled with sand topped with wood chips innoculated with oyster mushrooms, which will clean pollutants out of the water. A drip line runs from the drain hole to the nearby fruit and nut trees. That's the dream...

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Old Spokes Home in Burlington, VT is hiring! General Manager (full-time)
by Christine Hill 14 Oct '15

14 Oct '15

Come join us at The Old Spokes Home in Burlington, VT! We are seeking a General Manager for our mid-sized, full-service bike shop. In our 15 years of operation, we’ve become a unique and thriving retail sales and service business with a dedicated staff and community supporting it. Please read more about Old Spokes Home <http://www.oldspokeshome.com> to understand why this is an amazing opportunity for an entrepreneurial retail manager with a passion for bikes! Our ideal candidate possesses a Big Dummy load of bicycle industry know-how. They have experience in sales and service, in managing mechanic and sales staff, and in creating a retail customer experience nonpareil! This is a hands-on position with responsibility for sales, daily financial operations, scheduling, ordering and other requirements typical of a bike shop. We are also looking for someone who will ensure a healthy, cooperative, safe and equitable workplace for staff; maintain our solid reputation in the community; strategically operate the shop to facilitate long-term growth by improving services and growing the customer base while serving our existing clientele. Old Spokes Home is a socially-driven enterprise and gives back to the local community through its educational and social programs at sister shop Bike Recycle Vermont <http://bikerecyclevermont.org/>. While the Old Spokes Home General Manager needs to have a head for numbers and sales, it is equally important that they have a heart for everything that the bicycle represents. The General Manager will actively support the broader social mission and collaborate on these social programs. Be sure to check these programs out at bikerecyclevermont.or <http://www.bikerecyclevermont.org>g. *Requirements* · Knowledge of the bike industry including current advancements and trends · 3+ years in a managerial capacity at a retail and service business · Demonstrated leadership skills · Advanced mechanical abilities and knowledge *Desirable qualities and experience* - Experience with daily operations and the financial requirements of a sales and service retailer - Experience working in a socially responsible business or organization - Reverence for *all *bicycles, especially the recherché (used, vintage, antique, bike packing, fat bikes, etc.) *Hours / Schedule* This is a full time, year round position. However, as with most bike shops in our climate, OSH is very busy in spring/summer, slower in fall/winter. Busy times will most likely require weekend work and being at the store 6 days per week. Promotional events and attendance at trade shows will (very) occasionally require an out-of-town overnighter. *Learn more:* o “New Folks Buy Old Spokes,” Seven Days, Jan. 2015 <http://www.sevendaysvt.com/vermont/new-folks-buy-old-spokes/Content?oid=250…> o “Shop Owner Believes Bikes Change Lives,” Burlington Free Press, Sept. 2014 <http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/money/2014/09/04/shop-owner-bikes-…> o “Glenn Eames’ Old Spokes Home,” Bici AK, June 2014 <http://biciak.blogspot.com/2014/06/glenn-eames-old-spokes-home-in.html> *Old Spokes Home is an equal opportunity employer.* *To apply: **send your resume, cover letter, and at least 3 references to * *christine(a)bikerecyclevt.org* <christine(a)bikerecyclevt.org>*. Applications start being reviewed 10/16 and will be accepted until the position is filled.*

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What do you do with your dirty rags?
by dontito＠videotron.ca 12 Oct '15

12 Oct '15

We’re looking into the disposal problem for oily and greasy rags generated in bike shops. 1. I’d like to get an idea of the amount of this waste generated in different shops as a function of shop activity. 2. Where do your dirty rags go? 3. Some shops use commercial services that supply clean rags and collect and clean them after they’ve been used. If you’re familiar with this kind of service do you know the cost? Do you know what sort of cleaning treatment they use and what happens to that effluent? 4. Anybody found creative ways to detoxify this shop waste? Thanks! Donnie SantroVélo, Montréal

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Re: [TheThinkTank] Thethinktank Digest, Vol 109, Issue 6
by Tegan Moss 12 Oct '15

12 Oct '15

B!KE never pays for rags. If you make it known to your members/users that you accept donations of old clothing/bedding/towels/tooth brushes, thoughtful grateful folks bring them by frequently! Some even pre-rip the rags down to a usable size. Ripping rags is an easy task for even the most-unskilled volunteer (its also pretty satisfying). We throw them all away in weekly garbage pickups, so they end up in a landfill. This seems much more practical than washing them. We create about 1 75L garbage bag full of garbage per week, this includes rags, tubes, broken saddles, broken plastic mounts, etc. I have looked into rag services and they all seem exorbitant and unnecessary. Especially because I do believe that the landfill is a more ecological place for the rags and grease to end up than in our water. Best, Tegan On Sat, Oct 10, 2015 at 4:16 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: Slack channel > (Falls City Community BikeWorks Community BikeWorks) > 2. Re: What do you do with your dirty rags? (Michael Kirk) > 3. Re: What do you do with your dirty rags? (Jonathan Morrison) > 4. Re: What do you do with your dirty rags? (Angel York) > > > ---------- Forwarded message ---------- > From: Falls City Community BikeWorks Community BikeWorks < > fccbikeworks(a)gmail.com> > To: The Think Tank <thethinktank(a)lists.bikecollectives.org> > Cc: > Date: Fri, 9 Oct 2015 16:47:54 -0400 > Subject: Re: [TheThinkTank] Slack channel > > thank you. please add us! > On Oct 9, 2015 10:55 AM, "Andrew Shooner" <ashooner(a)gmail.com> wrote: > >> I was getting email from several different shops to discuss software. I >> want to be able to bring other folks into that conversation when they want >> to, so I created a general slack team for bike collectives: >> >> bikecollectives.slack.com >> >> If you want to discuss specific stuff without spamming the email list, >> let me know and I'll add you. This isn't intended to replace the good >> discussion on the email list; it's more just for immediate collaboration, >> etc. >> >> -Andy >> Broke Spoke >> >> ____________________________________ >> >> The ThinkTank mailing List >> <a href=" >> http://lists.bikecollectives.org/options.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.o…">Unsubscribe >> from this list</a> >> >> >> > > ---------- Forwarded message ---------- > From: Michael Kirk <michael.john.kirk(a)gmail.com> > To: The Think Tank <thethinktank(a)lists.bikecollectives.org> > Cc: > Date: Fri, 9 Oct 2015 14:14:44 -0700 > Subject: Re: [TheThinkTank] What do you do with your dirty rags? > Bicicocina in Los Angeles has been using Ameripride for our rag service > for years. It’s pretty convenient, but at about $35/wk (about $2000/year) > I’d say it’s more cash than it’s worth. The problem is the minimum orders. > We could easily do with once a month service, but they require us to have > once a week service. And frustratingly we were previously told they had a > $50/wk minimum and thus got some rugs, hand towels, and hand soap > delivered. Though more than half the time they “forget” the hand soap. > Somehow in our threatening to fire them, the lowered our minimum to > something like $35/wk and we no longer get the rugs. > > We approached one of our neighboring auto-shops to see if we could > piggy-back on their rag order but they thought it was a dumb idea and that > we should just buy our own. > > In response to this thread, I just looked into Cintas and they also have a > $35/wk minimum, and require at least weekly service. I’m not sure how many > rags that would be. > > My current preference would be to keep a small number of rags, use them > till their super dirty, then toss them. One idea for a rag source was to go > to a goodwill outlet and buy old t-shirt and towels by the pound. Of course > letting your clients know that you are a place that will accept their old > cloth donations could get you part of the way there. This would probably be > the most economical solution, but it does require some institutional energy > to stay on top of rag inventory, and make sure people are being mindful > about using new clean rags and throwing out old ones. > > M > > On Oct 9, 2015, at 12:16 PM, Tom Martin <thomas.martin6(a)pcc.edu> wrote: > > Our volume of repairs and fleet bikes does not make it necessary for a rag > service (which is very important- see previous threads on fires). > We use blue shop towels and put them in our non recyclable landfill bound > waste. > I am not aware of a method to reclaim or separate the grime, metal and > oils from disposable shop towels ( the cotton reinforced paper ones). > Towel or rag services do this I am assuming. What do they do with the > waste water? Do they treat the water? Glean the metal shavings that may be > suspended in the grime? Separate the oil from the dirt? Interesting things > to ponder but I wonder if it is something that is scalable down to a small > shop or household level. > > Tom Martin > ASPCC bike program coordinator > Cascade > Sent on the go. Please excuse brevity and typos. > > On Oct 9, 2015, at 12:10 PM, dontito(a)videotron.ca wrote: > > We’re looking into the disposal problem for oily and greasy rags generated > in bike shops. > 1. I’d like to get an idea of the amount of this waste generated in > different shops as a function of shop activity. > 2. Where do your dirty rags go? > 3. Some shops use commercial services that supply clean rags and > collect and clean them after they’ve been used. If you’re familiar with > this kind of service do you know the cost? Do you know what sort of > cleaning treatment they use and what happens to that effluent? > 4. Anybody found creative ways to detoxify this shop waste? > Thanks! > > Donnie > SantroVélo, Montréal > > ____________________________________ > > The ThinkTank mailing List > <a href=" > http://lists.bikecollectives.org/options.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.o…">Unsubscribe > from this list</a> > > ____________________________________ > > The ThinkTank mailing List > <a href=" > http://lists.bikecollectives.org/options.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.o…">Unsubscribe > from this list</a> > > > > > ---------- Forwarded message ---------- > From: Jonathan Morrison <jonathan(a)bicyclecollective.org> > To: The Think Tank <thethinktank(a)lists.bikecollectives.org> > Cc: > Date: Fri, 9 Oct 2015 16:25:33 -0600 > Subject: Re: [TheThinkTank] What do you do with your dirty rags? > > It really depends on your area's environmental issues. You have to pick > your poison. > > If water pollution is the biggest concern, do not clean them or use a > service that cleans them. If air pollution is the biggest concern, do not > burn them or use a service that burns them. If soil pollution is the > biggest concern, do not throw them away. > > For salt lake city, Utah (a desert climate with inversion issues) I would > rank our importance in this order: > > 1) Air > 2) Water > 3) Soil/Earth > > So we throw them away and they sit at the local dump. If we wanted to go > the extra mile we would bring them to the hazardous waste facility at the > dump for special processing. But without really knowing what that entails > it could be worse. The time required to drive to the dump takes away time > from the activities defined by our mission statement. You also don't want > the fire hazard of a pile of oily rags sitting around. > On Oct 9, 2015 1:10 PM, <dontito(a)videotron.ca> wrote: > >> We’re looking into the disposal problem for oily and greasy rags >> generated in bike shops. >> >> 1. I’d like to get an idea of the amount of this waste generated in >> different shops as a function of shop activity. >> >> 2. Where do your dirty rags go? >> >> 3. Some shops use commercial services that supply clean rags and >> collect and clean them after they’ve been used. If you’re familiar >> with this kind of service do you know the cost? Do you know what sort of >> cleaning treatment they use and what happens to that effluent? >> >> 4. Anybody found creative ways to detoxify this shop waste? >> >> Thanks! >> >> >> >> Donnie >> >> SantroVélo, Montréal >> >> ____________________________________ >> >> The ThinkTank mailing List >> <a href=" >> http://lists.bikecollectives.org/options.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.o…">Unsubscribe >> from this list</a> >> >> >> > > ---------- Forwarded message ---------- > From: Angel York <aniola(a)gmail.com> > To: The Think Tank <thethinktank(a)lists.bikecollectives.org> > Cc: > Date: Fri, 9 Oct 2015 17:04:23 -0700 > Subject: Re: [TheThinkTank] What do you do with your dirty rags? > I like that framework for thinking about how to deal with rags, Jonathan! > > If I understand what you're saying correctly, your collective may be > breaking a law: > > Exempt generators cannot dispose of their hazardous waste in storm drains, > landfills and dumpsters. Federal, state and local laws prohibit these > actions since it may cause environmental and public health problems. The > landfills in Salt Lake County are prohibited from accepting hazardous or > liquid waste. Violators of these laws can face both civil and criminal > penalties. > Fortunately, it looks like there's a program for you! > http://slcohealth.org/programs/waterQualHazWaste/solidHazWaste/householdHaz… > > On Fri, Oct 9, 2015 at 3:25 PM, Jonathan Morrison < > jonathan(a)bicyclecollective.org> wrote: > >> It really depends on your area's environmental issues. You have to pick >> your poison. >> >> If water pollution is the biggest concern, do not clean them or use a >> service that cleans them. If air pollution is the biggest concern, do not >> burn them or use a service that burns them. If soil pollution is the >> biggest concern, do not throw them away. >> >> For salt lake city, Utah (a desert climate with inversion issues) I would >> rank our importance in this order: >> >> 1) Air >> 2) Water >> 3) Soil/Earth >> >> So we throw them away and they sit at the local dump. If we wanted to go >> the extra mile we would bring them to the hazardous waste facility at the >> dump for special processing. But without really knowing what that entails >> it could be worse. The time required to drive to the dump takes away time >> from the activities defined by our mission statement. You also don't want >> the fire hazard of a pile of oily rags sitting around. >> On Oct 9, 2015 1:10 PM, <dontito(a)videotron.ca> wrote: >> >>> We’re looking into the disposal problem for oily and greasy rags >>> generated in bike shops. >>> >>> 1. I’d like to get an idea of the amount of this waste generated in >>> different shops as a function of shop activity. >>> >>> 2. Where do your dirty rags go? >>> >>> 3. Some shops use commercial services that supply clean rags and >>> collect and clean them after they’ve been used. If you’re familiar >>> with this kind of service do you know the cost? Do you know what sort of >>> cleaning treatment they use and what happens to that effluent? >>> >>> 4. Anybody found creative ways to detoxify this shop waste? >>> >>> Thanks! >>> >>> >>> >>> Donnie >>> >>> SantroVélo, Montréal >>> >>> ____________________________________ >>> >>> The ThinkTank mailing List >>> <a href=" >>> http://lists.bikecollectives.org/options.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.o…">Unsubscribe >>> from this list</a> >>> >>> >>> >> ____________________________________ >> >> The ThinkTank mailing List >> <a href=" >> http://lists.bikecollectives.org/options.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.o…">Unsubscribe >> from this list</a> >> >> >> > > _______________________________________________ > Thethinktank mailing list > Thethinktank(a)lists.bikecollectives.org > > http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.… > > -- -- B!KE: The Peterborough Community Bike Shop 336 Rubidge St, Peterborough ON (705) 775-7227 communitybikeshop.org

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Review of databases for a community bike center
by sheldon mains 11 Oct '15

11 Oct '15

A couple months ago I asked this email list for suggestions on databases to consider fo Cycles for Change in St. Paul and MInneapolis. I promised to provide a summary of the results. We ended up looking at almost 20 databases. In some cases this was just a review of the information available on-line. In some cases it included a call to the developer or talking with a current user (or both). We narrowed the large list down to four who we sent a Request for Information to. This was pretty detailed -- about 5 pages long. We then had formal demonstrations and discussions with two finalists. Keep in mind that the information in the list below is only our opinion. This opinion may be totally wrong. If anything looks interesting to you, PLEASE contact the company or organization directly. Also keep in mind that there are a variety of other databases out there designed for small community organizations. This is NOT a comprehensive list. Finally, keep in mind that the needs of one community bike center will likely be very different from every other community bike center. Cycles for Change has about 15 staff and includes Open Shop, Volunteer Night, Women Transgender, Femm Open Shop, Earn-a-Bike, Community Rides, Youth Apprentice Program, Youth Earn-a-Bike, Community Partners Bike Library, a Equity Council and a variety of one-evening to four-week classes. Also, Cycles for Change has no staff or volunteer technology manager/director/coordinator/help. ........................... *Databases considered for Cycles for Change* *Requirements summary:* An integrated database to: Track and report on volunteers, participants and donors; Manage single-day and multi-day classes; Manage the Community Partners Bike Library; Manage individual fundraising. Cycles for Change has no computer/network/database technical staff. *Considered:* · *CitySoft:* Seems to concentrate on donor management and fundraising activities. Appears more difficult to set-up · *Civic CRM:* Requires an internal techie who is comfortable coding (see also PowerBase below) · *ClientTrack* (via MACC CommonWealth): High-end Human Service organization client management system. Not communications management. Not Donor Management. Limited Volunteer Management. · *Community Bike Shop DB:* Volunteers and members only; community built/open source. Good at what it is designed to do. May need a person (on staff or volunteer or consultant) with basic database design skills to manage. · *EveryAction:* Similar to PowerBuilder (below) but with less functionality and more expensive. · *FreeHub: *Volunteers and members only; community built/open source. Good at what it is designed to do. May need a person (on staff or volunteer or consultant) with basic database design skills to manage. · *Frontstream* (was Giftworks): Online version is more expensive than other options. Mainly donor management. · *Little Green Light.* Reporting function seems quite limited. Aimed at very small organizations. Very basic system. No extras. · *MemberClicks: *Member and event only. Price equal to systems that do more. · *Raisers' Edge:* Way too expensive. Mainly fundraising. More complex FR than we need. · *NationBuilder *(used by Minneapolis Bicycle Coalition): Low cost. Designed originally as a political campaign database, expanded to the advocacy market. Very good donor and member management. Activity and event functions very limited. Social media integration is good. Volunteer management not included. · *Results Plus:* A comprehensive donor management database. Does not seem to have other functionality that C4C needs. Considered more research on this one. · *Trailblaizer:* Nonprofit product built on their political campaign base system. Seems to concentrate on political campaigns. Does not seem to include anything other than membership and donations. · *Wild Apricot:* Member and event only-- plus website. Price equal to others that do more. *Four “semi-finalists":* · *PowerBase *(Progressive Technology Project): Implantation of CivicCRM for community organizing. Ability to track and manage events and volunteers. Comprehensive CRM system. Hosting and tech support provided (for a fee) by Progressive Technology Project. Good and reasonable cost tech support. Allows tracking relationships of individuals to other organizations (needed for CPBL). This was one of the two finalists considered. · *SalesForce:* Very expensive set-up (realistically, set-up consulting starts at $8,000 to $10,000), needs internal tech staff or continuing consulting relationship. However, found a consultant who has implemented SalesForce for a community bike center. Consultant was sent a Request for Information. · *Salsa:* Integrated system with strong Donor Management and Client Relationship Management capabilities. Was sent a Request for Information. · *theDataBank:* Integrated system with strong Donor Management and Client Relationship Management capabilities. Appears to do almost everything C4C needs (volunteer management, event management, connecting individuals to organizational partners). This was one of two finalists. sheldon .............. Sheldon Mains Consultant for random stuff for Cycles for Change www.SpokesConnect.org www.fb.com/SpokesConnect Minneapolis, MN 612/618-7149 Three ways to donate to SPOKES: 1. Volunteer. 2. Donate repairable used bikes. 3. Financial donations always welcome. Check www.SpokesConnect.org for details.

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I'm on the edge of my seat
by Angel York 08 Oct '15

08 Oct '15

How was bike! bike!?

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ADA for outdoor shop
by Mark Friis 03 Oct '15

03 Oct '15

We are about to open our 4th Co op and having a difficulty with the City of Riverside, Ca. We are dropping a container for storage of our tools and materials along with a place to store donations. It is being placed next to a community garden along a multi use path, the Santa Ana River Trail. We will conduct all business outside and share the container with the garden, storage of garden tools. Now the city wants the container to be ADA compliant which we don't have a real issue with but for some reason this is throwing in delay after delay. They want an architect to design plans for the whole area to be compliant along with garden. Has anyone run into such a problem or do I take this as a passive way of saying we don't want a Co op even though WE asked you for one. Mark Friis Inland Empire Biking Alliance PO Box 9266 Redlands, CA 92375 909-800-4322 iebafriis(a)gmail.com www.iebike.org

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bikebikeZINEZINE @ BikeBikeGDL!
by Josh Bisker 27 Sep '15

27 Sep '15

Hola compadres! We left Bike!Bike!Columbus feeling excited about a lot of new projects and collaborations, including bikebikeZINEZINE: a web-based, de-centralized, co-operative communications tool that would fill some important gaps in how we currently communicate between our shops and cities, not to mention how we communicate as a community to the world beyond our borders. bikebikeZINEZINE would function, to put it most simply, as a news feed that aggregated, edited, and rebroadcasted news from our de-centralized projects and geographies. Here are the main things that this was proposed to accomplish: - Sharing and amplifying news, ideas, and wisdom! - Lowering the barrier for finding out what's happening in other collectives! - Strengthening our community over distance & between conferences! - "Mainstreaming” our content for people outside our network! - Reinforcing how we're part of a greater movement! - Keeping ourselves motivated and exciting other people! At Bike!Bike! in GDL we have the chance to start things off for real and get this project rolling as a collective effort. I’m adding a workshop for us to master what we need to know to make the wheels of bikebikeZINEZINE begin to turn. Get psyched! Turn out! Roll deep! More to come soon. Deepest love, Josh

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Fire Safety Reminder
by Angel York 26 Sep '15

26 Sep '15

I have volunteered mostly at two bike collectives. They have both had fires. One was a spontaneous rag fire that put the entire shop out of commission for an entire summer (good thing they had just done an inventory; insurance needed that information), and the other was apparently a fire in the metal recycling. Keep a serious eye on potential flammables! Angel York

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Bike!Bike! workshops printed program deadline.
by Ollin 26 Sep '15

26 Sep '15

Hello! We're frantic and super excited in Guadalajara preparing for your arrival. Just to ask everyone who's planning to come and host a workshop to please register it before or on sunday september the 27th at 6pm central time so that it makes it to the printed program. You know the drill: www.bikebike.org If you have any questions on how to do it please contact Godwin at admin(a)bikebike.org Here's a public google calendar that we'll keep updated on events and venues anyways (Starting sunday night): https://www.google.com/calendar/embed?src=cTI4anNvcDBpaGlwOGswaXJuY3NxZ2FrO… Can't wait for october 1! Ollin and the Rila Libre team. [image: Inline image 1]

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Has anyone used ourimpact.net for fundraising?
by Jonathan Morrison 25 Sep '15

25 Sep '15

I was at a Drupal meetup and someone mentioned this fundraising tool? https://www.ourimpact.net Demo: https://www.ourimpact.net/deck/uwnu/6 I guess the thing I like about it was the transparent commitment that donors get, as opposed to just sending money their into a black hole, albeit a good intentioned one. -- Sincerely, Jonathan Morrison

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members and sign up database software
by Jesse Cooper 23 Sep '15

23 Sep '15

Hey Folks! So at Our Community Bikes in Vancouver, we're thinking it's time to set up a proper sign in / sign out system, combined with a membership and volunteer database. Ideally we would like to know what software is out there that can track people coming in and using our space, a simple laptop or desktop kiosk where folks can type in info, and it would enter our database. Also to serve as a database that members can register into, and again wherein volunteers can sign up, and log their hours, and tasks accomplished. sooo.. any ideas? Jesse Cooper

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Re: [TheThinkTank] members and sign up database software
by Jonathan Morrison 23 Sep '15

23 Sep '15

Andrew, do you have a github.com link to the code? > ---------- Forwarded message --------- > From: Andrew Shooner <ashooner(a)gmail.com> > Date: Tue, Sep 22, 2015 at 11:20 AM > Subject: Re: [TheThinkTank] members and sign up database software > To: The Think Tank <thethinktank(a)lists.bikecollectives.org> > > > Hey Jesse, > > Since I responded originally, we've launched our node-based app (more > specifically Meteor.js), and have been using it this season with few > problems. Now that Meteor 1.2 is out, I'm going to be rewriting it to use > React.js, and add a few additional features. > > Providing ongoing support always needs to be considered, so I'm thinking > of following Freehub's model with the next version and providing a hosted > version of the app. It would be *much *better if there were more than 1 > dev on the project, so if anyone has an interest in Meteor, please get in > touch! Depending on 1 random internet guy to keep your shop system running > seems like a bad idea... > > I can probably set up a demo if folks are interested in playing with the > current version. > > *Current Features* > > *Records* > -Visitor records including name, waiver acceptance, and equity credit. > - Timelogs (sign-in / sign-out) which can be volunteering (generates an > equity credit transaction), stand time (generates a cash or equity debit > transaction), or other activities that don't generate transactions > - Transactions (either equity or cash). Cash transactions just create a > notification so the cashier knows how much to charge in our Square > (technically, there is a way to hand it off straight to Square, but we want > to keep Square's reporting for now). Equity transactions add or subtract > from the visitor's balance. > > *Login / Logout Kiosk* > A screen that visitors use to sign in and out, and say what they're doing > in the shop. Also replaces our paper registration/waiver. > > *Shop Dashboard* > For the front desk worker. Shows who is volunteering, who is on stand > time, etc. Also shows today's recent sign-outs. Provides access to create > equity transactions (e.g. purchasing parts on equity), notices about cash > transactions to run, as well as access to browse all people, timelogs, or > transactions. > > > *New Features (for the next version)* > > *Bikes* > For bikes in our workflow. This will help us track which bikes aren't > selling or getting fixed, and let customers browse bikes without needing to > make it to our limited open shop hours. It will also give us some nice > metrics on how well we're processing bikes. > > *Shifts* > Schedule shifts, and link all timelogs to the shift in which they occur. > This will let us set which activities are permitted depending on the kind > of shift (e.g. self-signin volunteering only on volunteer night; free > stand-time on women's night, etc). This will automatically generate a shift > report that we put together manually right now (volunteers, attendance, > etc). > > *Inventory* > Put our parts prices into the system to make adding up a equity purchase > easier, as well as give us a full picture of what parts are in highest > demand (right now we only know which parts are purchased with $ through > Square). > > *Nice-to-haves* > - Better reporting, for things like volunteer retention and recruitment. I > want to get a notice when someone volunteers for the first time, or hits a > certain milestone of volunteering. > - Purchase requests: stuff we need to buy, either for a specific bike, or > just general consumables. > - Print-outs for bikes (holds, purchase waivers, evaluations, etc). > > > > > On Mon, Sep 21, 2015 at 10:09 PM, Jesse Cooper <jessecooper0(a)gmail.com> > wrote: > >> Hey Folks! >> >> It's been a couple of years since I first asked about a database / >> software for sign ins and stuff. >> >> Has there been any progress on this front for any shops out there yet? >> We are interested in Freehub but we need for people to be able to sign >> out to accurately track hours, something which Freehub doesn't do. >> >> Can anyone give us (our community bikes) leads on applications that can >> allow sign ins / outs, and take info like name, email, whether or not they >> want to be emailed, dates, exporting data sheets, distinguish between staff >> / volunteer / member or other categories we deem we need, etc? >> >> Or is anyone able to make a "Freehub" that has in addition to everything >> a sign out option? >> >> help? >> >> Jesse >> >> >> >> On Thu, Nov 7, 2013 at 11:09 AM, Jesse Cooper <jessecooper0(a)gmail.com> >> wrote: >> >>> >>> Hey Folks! >>> >>> So at Our Community Bikes in Vancouver, we're thinking it's time to set >>> up a proper sign in / sign out system, combined with a membership and >>> volunteer database. >>> >>> Ideally we would like to know what software is out there that can track >>> people coming in and using our space, a simple laptop or desktop kiosk >>> where folks can type in info, and it would enter our database. >>> >>> Also to serve as a database that members can register into, and again >>> wherein volunteers can sign up, and log their hours, and tasks accomplished. >>> >>> sooo.. any ideas? >>> >>> Jesse Cooper >>> >> >> >> ____________________________________ >> >> The ThinkTank mailing List >> <a href=" >> http://lists.bikecollectives.org/options.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.o…">Unsubscribe >> from this list</a> >> >> >> > ____________________________________ > > The ThinkTank mailing List > <a href=" > http://lists.bikecollectives.org/options.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.o…">Unsubscribe > from this list</a> > > -- Sincerely, Jonathan Morrison Board of Directors 801-688-0183 cell

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Rides to Bike Bike
by Steve Querengesser 18 Sep '15

18 Sep '15

Hi! I'm looking for a shared ride to Guadalajara for BikeBike, is anyone else from the west coast heading down? I am from Haida Gwaii Bike RePsych in Northern BC, Canada. I could meet up in Oregon or California. I'm also wondering if the ride to the coast after the conference is still happening! ...getting stoked :) Steve

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Away on Vacation
by director＠communitybike.net 14 Sep '15

14 Sep '15

Hi,   I will be away from the CBC starting August 14th and returning on  September 14th.   Contact Andrew Burnell for programming and volunteering questions (programs(a)communitybike.net) or Carol Meader for resource development and communications questions (development(a)communitybike.net).    The CBC phone number is 282-9700 and our website is www.communitybike.net.   Take care, Andy    

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Des Moines Bicycle Collective hiring shop manager
by Jeremy Lewis 04 Sep '15

04 Sep '15

*Position Summary* The Des Moines Bicycle Collective seeks a qualified and enthusiastic community bike shop manager. This person will assume a key role in guiding the Des Moines Bicycle Collective in the fulfillment of its mission and vision. This includes managing daily shop operations and finances, ensuring outstanding customer service, managing and developing staff and volunteers, and promoting our community bike shop’s development and growth. *Primary Responsibilities* *1. Manage daily community bike shop operations (50%)* - Oversee the scheduling of work (repair, maintenance, walk-in, and bike building) - Supervise paid and volunteer mechanics - Oversee the ordering of supplies, parts and equipment - Oversee the procurement and processing of bicycle donations - Oversee the pricing of bikes, parts and accessories - Ensure a clean and organized work environment in the shop - Safeguarding the assets of the organization - Maintaining proper levels of inventory for the earn-a-bike and bike giveaway programs - Ensuring the point of sale system is accurate and proper inventory of supplies, tools and restored bikes are available - Maintain the shop as a safe place by setting a high standard of behavior for employees and volunteers *2. Recondition/overhaul used bicycles of all types and conditions for resale and giveaway (30%)* - Assess bike for damage and/or wear; determine a course of action according to parts availability and cost - Repair bike to yield a safe, fully functional and clean product *3. Help oversee the fiscal operations and monitor the financial health of the community bike shop (10%)* - Developing annual shop budget, sales goals, and resource allocations - Monitor revenue and expenses according to budget - Train and supervise shop staff in maintaining detailed and accurate records - Ensure that cash drawer deposits reconcile with point of sale reports - Help guide shop business strategy, growth & development *4. Help oversee shop staff management and development (10%)* - Recruit, hire and schedule shop staff - Participate in staff, leadership team, shop and board meetings - Train, motivate, supervise and evaluate shop staff *Des Moines Bicycle Collective* The Des Moines Bicycle Collective champions stronger communities, vibrant neighborhoods and healthy individuals by encouraging active transportation choices. In addition to offering the region’s only nonprofit “do-it-together” community bike shop, the Des Moines Bicycle Collective exists to provide countless opportunities for education, empowerment and social change through bicycle restoration, charitable bicycle donations, event planning, education programs, bike valet and bike sharing. *To apply* Please submit your resume to jen(a)dsmbikecollective.org referencing the job title in the subject line. http://dsmbikecollective.org/were-hiring/ Jeremy Jeremy Lewis Executive Director 515.710.6697 *Des Moines Bicycle Collective <http://www.dsmbikecollective.org/>* *Changing Greater Des Moines two wheels at a time*

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Comprehensive Database for community bike center-- any expereinces
by sheldon mains 02 Sep '15

02 Sep '15

We're (Cycles for Change in St. Paul, MN ---www.CyclesForChange.org) is starting a search for a comprehensive database for all of our programs and activities. We want something that: Tracks participants, donors and volunteers over all programs (Earn-a-Bike, Community Partners Bike Libary, Learn-to-Ride, Open Shop, Youth Apprenticeship, Volunteer Night, Community Rides, Equity Council, Infrastructure Advocacy) Automates event sign-up for classes and events Manages multiple email newsletters Tracks participation levels (e.g. how often someone comes to open shop or if they attended all 4 classes in a four week course) Tracks all communications with all participants, volunteers and donors Comprehensive demographic information Customizable reports Anyone with any suggestions? We're looking at something that is on the web (we have three locations). We are looking for something that does not require a techie to manage. Specifically, we've heard there is a community bike center that has created a bike center implementation of SalesForce thanks much sheldon .............. Sheldon Mains Cycles for Change www.SpokesConnect.org www.CyclesForChange.org Minneapolis, MN 612/618-7149 Three ways to donate to SPOKES: 1. Volunteer. 2. Donate repairable used bikes. 3. Financial donations always welcome. Check www.SpokesConnect.org for details.

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