- TheThinkTank - lists.bikecollectives.org

Re: [TheThinkTank] Waivers - English and French
by scott＠gknightride.org 18 Oct '12

18 Oct '12

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Re: [TheThinkTank] Waivers - English and French
by scott＠gknightride.org 18 Oct '12

18 Oct '12

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Re: [TheThinkTank] New community cycleworks need top tips!
by summitcyclingcenter＠yahoo.com 17 Oct '12

17 Oct '12

Good point. We have a "NO BUY" policy too Sent from my HTC EVO Design™ 4G from Boost Mobile ----- Reply message ----- From: "Affordable Bikes Re-Cyclery" <affordablebikesrecyclery(a)gmail.com> To: "The Think Tank" <thethinktank(a)lists.bikecollectives.org> Subject: [TheThinkTank] New community cycleworks need top tips! Date: Wed, Oct 17, 2012 09:29 Our (new, similar) project is located in a low-income neighborhood. We opened in the late summer -- so, after the heavy sales season -- but we find that we receive far more requests from people for us to buy bikes from them than for them to buy bikes from us. We could go broke buying bikes. This has fortified our "no buying bikes" policy, toward which we were already leaning. It also keeps us from strengthening the stolen bikes business, and protects us from the ire of stolen bikes victims. On Wed, Oct 17, 2012 at 7:24 AM, Stewart Vanns <stewartvanns(a)gmail.com> wrote: Hi, We are in the process of setting up a community cycle project in south east London, Uk. I just wondered if you guys & gals could pop down 3 top tips you learnt in your set up phase to help us avoid the common pitfalls. We are planning to build a not for profit enterprise, with a 5 year business plan, focusing on recycling donated bikes, repairing bikes and doing this with young people and young adults. The bikes will be given to trainees or sold very cheaply to local residents of low income. We also plan to do outreach work at local schools to educate children in basic cycle maintenance. We have funding, a venue and a steady flow of interested people. Thanks in advance, Stewart Burgess community cycleworks. _______________________________________________ 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.…

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Re: [TheThinkTank] Bicycle Donation Fee?
by summitcyclingcenter＠yahoo.com 17 Oct '12

17 Oct '12

Right on. Use; re-use; re-purpose; last resort, recycle. Sent from my HTC EVO Design™ 4G from Boost Mobile ----- Reply message ----- From: "Dylan Thies" <dylan.thies(a)lostorienteerer.net> To: "The Think Tank" <thethinktank(a)lists.bikecollectives.org> Subject: [TheThinkTank] Bicycle Donation Fee? Date: Tue, Oct 16, 2012 12:44 At Troy Bike Rescue we take what ever comes in. We stripp what we can reuse from the bikes and use the bikes as teaching tools for new volunteers and people looking to earn a bike. Then with scraps and trashed bikes we have a symbiotic relationship with some scrappers in the area, we give them scrap they give us bikes instead of scrapping them. On 16 October 2012 12:38, wormsign(a)gmail.com <wormsign(a)gmail.com> wrote: How about getting some business cards for a metal scrapper and handing it to the person giving the donation if it's not usable for you. Our shop kinda takes everything, some parts go to a local artist, some to a local freak bike gang, and the rest is picked up regularly by a guy with a truck who makes a living on scrap metal. Enzo Michael Young <michael(a)westtownbikes.org> wrote: >We talk to the person about the donation. If its scrap maybe there is >someone in your area that will recycle the metal. > >Michael Young >West Town Bikes >Chicago > >_______________________________________________ >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.… _______________________________________________ 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.… -- Dylan Thies Come on I dare you Derive me crazy Don't be charitable because you need to bebut because you want to be

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Bicycle Donation Fee?
by Andrew Burnell 17 Oct '12

17 Oct '12

Hi All, We have been inundated with bicycle donations lately and looking for some guidance: Does your shop require/ask that a cash donation be made with each bicycle donation? We have never asked for cash donations on top of bike donations, but we’ve noticed that often times people are using us as a city dump instead of a shop. On another note, here are links to our volunteer blog and SlideShare account. I hope they are of assistance to your respected programs. Feel free to comment or make recommendations… http://communitybicyclecenter.blogspot.com/ http://www.slideshare.net/cbcad2010/documents Andrew Andrew Burnell, Volunteer and Program Director Community Bicycle Center Shop: 284 Hill Street, Biddeford, ME 04005 Mail: P.O. Box 783, Biddeford, ME 04005 207-282-9700 (shop) <http://www.communitybike.net> www.communitybike.net

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Re: [TheThinkTank] Bicycle Donation Fee?
by wormsign＠gmail.com 16 Oct '12

16 Oct '12

How about getting some business cards for a metal scrapper and handing it to the person giving the donation if it's not usable for you. Our shop kinda takes everything, some parts go to a local artist, some to a local freak bike gang, and the rest is picked up regularly by a guy with a truck who makes a living on scrap metal. Enzo Michael Young <michael(a)westtownbikes.org> wrote: >We talk to the person about the donation. If its scrap maybe there is >someone in your area that will recycle the metal. > >Michael Young >West Town Bikes >Chicago > >_______________________________________________ >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.…

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Waivers - English and French
by La Bikery 16 Oct '12

16 Oct '12

> > Hey Spokes, > > We are having our grand opening Tweed Ride this coming Saturday and are looking for waviers in English and French or a short 4km ride. Does anyone haev something like this they would like to share? Amanda > > > _______________________________________________ > > *Coopérative La Bikery Co-operative * > *Centre de vélo communautaire /Community Bicycle Centre* *120 boul. Assomption blvd, Moncton NB* * * *Jeudis: 15 h à 20 h/**Thursdays 3pm-8pm* *Samedis 11 h à 16 h/**Saturdays 11am-4pm* *www.facebook.com/labikery* * *

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Bike baths/showers/washing
by Carl Voss 11 Oct '12

11 Oct '12

In Des Moines, we're pretty excited about moving from our current space (about 1,500 sq ft) to new leased space being built for us--a comfy 3,500 sq ft. I suspect in coming weeks, I'll fire off a few questions requesting ideas about bike storage, wrench stations, and retail/display space. One immediate question regarding plumbing requires our attention in the next week: How we will wash/spray down grungy bikes. (We offer this as a service for members and first step in refurbishing bikes.) We currently have a bike bath, a custom sheet-metal tank measuring about 18 inches wide by 60 inches long. We're thinking about getting rid of the bike bath and switching to a bike shower area. Plumber needs to know what we're thinking So, what works well in your community bike project? Any photos and measurements to share? Thanks for your help! Carl Voss, chair Des Moines Bicycle Collective, Central Iowa's only nonprofit bike shop. carlvoss(a)mac.com Mobile: 515-210-0237 Become a member today for $40. Use our secure donation form.

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bikecollectives.org WEB PAGE DOWN
by Tegan Moss 10 Oct '12

10 Oct '12

Visiting bikecollectives.org prompts a Joomla Installation page. I dont know who the web admin is at this point, but something is definately up... -- -- B!KE: The Peterborough Community Bike Shop 336 Rubidge St, Peterborough ON (705) 775-7227 communitybikeshop.org

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hey matt!!!!
by Brian Drayton 06 Oct '12

06 Oct '12

Brian from Spokes! <https://sites.google.com/a/richmondspokes.org/about/valet> [image: Richmond SPOKESHOP Bike Lounge]<http://spokeshopanniversary-eorg.eventbrite.com/> *SPOKESHOP Bike Lounge First Year Anniversary <http://spokeshopanniversary-eorg.eventbrite.com/> Celebration <http://spokeshopanniversary-eorg.eventbrite.com/>* ╰ღ╮⊰✿⊱ §‽⥁✂Ḝ$ ⊰✿⊱╭ღ╯ <http://spokeshopanniversary-eorg.eventbrite.com/> 10/20/12 5PM - 2AM Richmond | View map <http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Richmond+CA+94801&hl=en> It's been a Spoketacular year. Richmond SPOKESHOP BIke Lounge 1st Anniversary Saturday, October 20, 2012 5:00-8:00 PM... Attend <http://spokeshopanniversary-eorg.eventbrite.com/> Brian Drayton Executive Director SPOKES National , Richmond 322 Harbour Way #5 Richmond, Ca 94801 brian(a)richmondspokes.org Google voice (510) 545-2243 http://www.richmondspokes.org FaceBook: http://www.facebook.com/richmond.spokes Join our mailing list and get a subscription to our monthly news letter (SPOKE ~N~WORD ) *http://tinyurl.com/sp0ke-n-w0rd* ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Why re-invent the wheel ...when you can tighten the spokes? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~* *

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HI
by John Boyer 05 Oct '12

05 Oct '12

please look in to this http://www.business7newspa.net/work/?finance=29059

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Community Bike Shop in Knoxville, TN?
by Matt Warndorf 05 Oct '12

05 Oct '12

Hello All, Is there a community bike shop in Knoxville, TN? I am from Worcester Earn-A-Bike in MA and I will be heading down to Knoxville in November for a conference and would like to stop in and check out another shop. Also, while I'm down there I will be in need of a loaner bike to get to and from the convention center. I am willing to pay a small fee for the loaner bike if anyone is able to help me out. Thanks! Best, Matt - warndom(a)gmail.com

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Grant Opportunity
by Jonathan Morrison 27 Sep '12

27 Sep '12

http://befearless.casefoundation.org/finding-fearless/submission Sincerely, Jonathan Morrison Executive Director Bicycle Collective 2312 S. West Temple Salt Lake City, UT 84115 w: 801-328-2453 c: 801-688-0183 f: 801-466-3856 www.bicyclecollective.org The mission of the 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 Collective provides refurbished bicycles and educational programs to the community, focusing on children and lower income households.

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Developer's BikeBike!
by momoko saunders 27 Sep '12

27 Sep '12

Hi all, I've been playing around with the idea of a developer's BikeBike! This would be a time for the tech savvy of the bike collective world to get together to discuss and *actively work on* some of the tech issues that many community bike projects face. Specifically, we would look at HUB, the open source software that SF bike kitchen built. Some would be working on the BikeBike website. We could discuss point of sale options, or make suggestions of projects to work on. I'm sure some of us have personal endeavors that we could use a hand on, or an extra brain or two. I've got a location and time in mind, but I'd like to see the level of interest before I start making proposals. Once I have an email list of interested parties, I'll start narrowing down on what exactly will happen at this bikebike and how it will be organized. If there is any interest in this, Please email me back (off list). Please include info about your current geography, your computer skills, and any projects you are currently working on for community bike projects. Cheers, -Momoko

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good city relations
by Ann Altstatt 25 Sep '12

25 Sep '12

Hello All, This is a question for those of you who's projects have a good relationship with your local government. What does that look like? How did this relationship develop? What kind of support or recognition do you receive from your city? Thanks y'all! Ann the Santa Cruz Bike Church

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Community Cycles Volunteer Handbook
by Rich Points 25 Sep '12

25 Sep '12

Hey All, We just posted our volunteer handbook on the Wiki. http://www.bikecollectives.org/wiki/index.php?title=Community_Cycles_-_Volu… 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.

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Invitation to our Sportswear Manufacturing Factory during Canton Fair Period from 15 Oct 2012 to 4 Nov 2012
by Sportswear Production 24 Sep '12

24 Sep '12

Dear Madam / Sir, How are you? We would like to take this opportunity to introduce our factory and hope can establish mutual working cooperation with you in near future. Our main products are : - cool-dry / quick-dry / sun protection sportswear for different purposes - technical clothing / sportswear / promotional-textile / promotional- clothing - crew-neck shirts / polo shirts / v-neck shirts / sweatshirts / fleece wear - shorts / trousers / windbreakers / tracksuits / softshell jackets / technical uniform / workwear - and other sport garments with water-resistant / wind-resistant / breathable functions Our products are qualified to following standards : - Fabric quality passes the ISO Standards for colourfastness and Azo-free. - Workmanship quality passes the AQL 2.5 Standard certified by SGS. - Print and dye stuff are AZO, PVC and formaldehyde free. We can make counter samples with your design logo by : - labelling / embroidery / flocking - printing ( including screen printing / sublimation printing / head transfer printing / discharge printing / ... ) Also we can send you our e-catalogues with our latest textile product information regularly. Our advantages are strong in fast delivery and flexible in order quantity. ( We keep running production fabrics in 200 different qualities with existing stock colours; can meet fast production lead-time and smaller order quantity. ) For the transportation, we can provide you Door-to-Door Courier Delivery at specially low discount rate. Since we have special contract with different courier companies ( DHL / UPS / FedEx ), we can provide you a good courier charge rate up to 50% discount. It would be economical and convenient for small and urgent orders. For shipment by seafreight and airfreight. we can also make the landing and customs clearance / declaration for you. The Canton Fair would start from 15 Oct 2012 to 4 Nov 2012. Our factory is very close to the Canton Fair Exhibition Centre. By car, it is only 15 minutes' distance. And we can pick you up from the Canton Fair Exhibition Centre to our factory by our company car. If you have chance to come to Guangzhou, we would like to invite you to our factory with different facilities / departments. We can arrange hotel accommodation and transportation pick-up for you. For your visiting, we also can prepare samples and fabric information for you. Please advise us what kinds of textile products you are interested in. Looking foward to hearing your further inquiry. Thanks for you kind attention. Best regards, Ms. PingPing Huang Email: toptextile(a)21cn.com top_tex(a)sina.com t_wear(a)126.com H. M Top-Tex Sportswear Manufacturing Factory H.M Building , Rui Bao Er She Industrial Zone, Hai Zhu Qu, Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province, China Postal Code : 510288 Tel: (86) 18028063405 / (86)18922192570, Fax: (86) 20.8402 8410 ----- No virus found in this message. This is a good e-mail. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2012.0.2221 / Virus Database: 2441/5288 - Release Date: 09/23/12

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Please Critique Our Org's Flyer and Share Yours!
by Ryan Feller - Suncoast Community Bikes 21 Sep '12

21 Sep '12

Hello all, We are a brand new bicycle-related nonprofit here in southwest Florida. We are currently working on flyers, a simple brochure, and some other promotional materials. Attached is a draft of our collection drive flyer, which we hope to have printed in 8.5x11" and 12x18" sizes. Please let us know what you think! We would love to see what kinds of flyers, posters, brochures, business cards, and other promo materials your organizations have come up with! Which images and messages seem to work best? Where do you distribute them? Many thanks! -- Ryan Feller Director 5800 Bay Shore Road, Box 275 Sarasota, FL 34243 (941) 894-4333 ryan(a)suncoastcommunitybikes.org *www.suncoastcommunitybikes.org*

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Press Release: Bike!Bike! Northeast Scheduled for September 29 in Troy, NY
by Andrew L 20 Sep '12

20 Sep '12

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE COMMUNITY BIKE VOLUNTEERS AND CYCLING ENTHUSIASTS TO CONVERGE AT NORTHEAST REGIONAL “BIKE! BIKE!” GATHERING IN TROY, NY ON SEPTEMBER 29. MORE INFORMATION: http://www.troybikerescue.org CONTACT: 518-573-7947 Troy, NY - On September 29, 2012 representatives from community bike projects across the Northeast US and Canada will be gathering in North Troy for an event called “Bike! Bike! Northeast.” Activities will take place at both Troy Bike Rescue (3280 6th Avenue) and The Sanctuary for Independent Media (3361 6th Avenue). Bike! Bike! Northeast will be a full day of workshops, skillshares, discussions, and networking complete with an afternoon bike ride and an evening of world-class music from San Fransisco’s Rupa and the April Fishes (http://theaprilfishes.com). Conference sessions will cover a wide variety of topics relevant to the DIY biking community, from ‘trash-hacking’, welding, and making recycled jewelry to diagnosing your bike’s mechanical problems by ear, starting your own bicycle delivery co-op, and maintaining a consensus decision-making collective. SCHEDULE OVERVIEW 9am-10am - Registration 10am-12pm - Workshop Sessions 12pm-1pm - Community Lunch 1pm-5pm - Workshop Sessions 5pm-6pm - Bike Ride 6:30 pm - Sanctuary Community Potluck 8pm - Rupa & The April Fishes play live In attendance at Bike Bike! Northeast will be local ‘bike people,’ many of whom congregate and organize around Troy Bike Rescue as well as their colleagues from similar collectives in other cities such as Burlington, Ithaca, Toronto, Cortland, Worcester, Boston, and others. The conference is not necessarily intending to attract local recreational or competitive cyclists, though they are welcome. The activities will more likely appeal to those who ride as a form of resistance to ‘car culture’, and understand bicycling as a lifestyle. Community bike projects aim to build ‘bike culture’ and community through hands-on education. They collect and recycle old unwanted bicycles and make them available to patrons at low or no cost. The ultimate goal is to get more people riding bicycles for transportation. Many of these projects started off, like Troy Bike Rescue, as small back-yard projects in the late 90s or early 2000s and now operate spaces that serve as self-service non-profit shops, and urban classrooms for all things bicycle. Bike!Bike! Northeast is a regional off-shoot of the (Inter)National Bike!Bike! Conference that happens annually - most recently in Vancouver BC in June 2012 (http://bikebike.org). <about:blank> Every year it is organized by a different collective. The first Bike! Bike! was held in New Orleans in 2004, and was attended by about 30 organizers of non-profit/anti-capitalist bike shops around the country. Now, it is an international gathering of around 300 people that has taken place in many cities such as Pittsburgh, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, San Fransisco, and Toronto.

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Re: [TheThinkTank] Interbike
by wormsign＠gmail.com 12 Sep '12

12 Sep '12

Bikerowave folks will be there. Dunno about me personally yet though. Enzo Loconte Board Secretary Bikerowave DIY Bike Collective Reno Bikes <renobikeproject(a)gmail.com> wrote: >Is anyone going to Interbike this year? > >Noah > >-- > >Wed-Fri 11am-6pm >Sat 10am-4pm >541 E. 4th Street. >Reno, NV 89512 >775.323.4488 > >donate via paypal: http://www.renobikeproject.com/index.php/donate/ > >Follow us on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/renobikeproject/ > >Please let us know if you would like to unsubscribe to our email list. > >_______________________________________________ >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.…

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Interbike Gathering,
by christopher＠holisticcycles.com 12 Sep '12

12 Sep '12

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Interbike
by Reno Bikes 11 Sep '12

11 Sep '12

Is anyone going to Interbike this year? Noah -- Wed-Fri 11am-6pm Sat 10am-4pm 541 E. 4th Street. Reno, NV 89512 775.323.4488 donate via paypal: http://www.renobikeproject.com/index.php/donate/ Follow us on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/renobikeproject/ Please let us know if you would like to unsubscribe to our email list.

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Bike!Bike! Northeast PLUS Rupa & The April Fishes
by Andrew L 10 Sep '12

10 Sep '12

a gentle nudge to pre-register for BBNE if you intend to come, and some info about the Sanctuary party with live music from Rupa & The April Fishes. Bike!Bike! Northeast SEPTEMBER 29, 2012 10am - 10 pm 3280 6th Avenue in North Troy On Saturday September 29th, there will be a gathering of bicycle activists, organizers, and enthusiasts in Troy. Bike!Bike! Northeast is a day of discussions, skillsharing sessions, and bicycle fun including locals and guests from as far as Pennsylvania, Ohio, Vermont, and Eastern Canada. There will be a *group ride*, *community meals* and *live music* from Rupa and the April Fishes in the evening at The Sanctuary for Independent Media.Meet others interested in building bicycle culture and learn about bicycle maintenance, wheel truing, trash-hacking, yoga for biking, diy bike-welding, and much more.... or YOU propose a workshop! INFORMATION & REGISTRATION AT: www.troybikerescue.org/bikebikene (please sign up in advance if at all possible) -------- Bike!Bike! Northeast includes a night of live music featuring: Rupa and the April Fishes 8pm at The Sanctuary for Independent Media 3361 6th Avenue in North Troy “...musical languages converge from around the world; from punk to indie rock, from reggae to raga to rockabolly, chanson to cumbia, from Malian guitar patterns to mournful duduk melodies. In other times and places musical traditions have met to forge a sound that is more insistence than resistance; this band, this album, belong to that long tradition of rebel music.” -www.theaprilfishes.com -- ------__o ----_`\<,_ ---(_)/ (_) andrew lynn 518-573-7947

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Bicycle Longmont - Launched the Longmont BIke Garage, today!
by Ryan Kragerud 07 Sep '12

07 Sep '12

We are excited to announce we launched our "collective" community-based bike workshop today. We inked the lease and will move into the space in the next few weeks. This has been over 5 years in the making and we've finally done it! Myself along with a few others on our board trolled the Collective's Think Tank for years reading and poring over your advice, recommendations and experiences. I want to extend a wholehearted THANK YOU to all of you who I've met over the past year traveling around the midwest and to all of you who respond to this list. Your wisdom is highly appreciated. When in Longmont look us up! Longmont Bike Garage. Sincerely, Ryan Kragerud, President Bicycle Longmont

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Re: [TheThinkTank] Local bike coalition shut down local bike co-op
by wormsign＠gmail.com 07 Sep '12

07 Sep '12

Hi all, there was a series of productive meetings where we mutually reallized that we have a lot of the same interests and that it was in everyone's best interest to reopen the shop and recognize the cooperative decision making structure of the space. We've received new keys and have opened up a better line of communication between the groups. We are currently working together to create a memorandum of understanding between the both of us (I actually have no experience with these if someone has some constructive input) that we will be working out in the coming week. Enzo Loconte Board Secretary Bikerowave DIY Bike Collective Adams Carroll <adams(a)walkbikenashville.org> wrote: >Go ahead and buy a basic set of tools. You may never earn back the cost of >tools in donations, etc... but you will open up an enormous round of >opportunities. Once you re-establish yourself as a vital community >resource, people will line up to volunteer wrench, promote, or recruit for >your cause. > >Since founding freebikeshop, I've never asked for or received any cash >donations for the repairs that me and my volunteer mechanics have >performed. Regardless, we've put at least 2000 bikes back on the road >around the world in the past three years and the contribution of time, >materials, and promotion that we have received is more than I can tally. >And besides, you can always use your tools to fix yer own damn bike. > >www.freebikeshop.com do it for the bikes > >All the best, > >Adams Carroll >Walk/Bike Nashville <http://www.walkbikenashville.org/> > >*For thirteen years, Walk/Bike Nashville has sought to make active >transportation an option for Nashvillians, no matter where they live or >where they're trying to go.**We want our sidewalks and bikeways to support >active living, commuting options, and recreational opportunities.**Together, >we're building a more walkable, bikeable, livable Nashville.* > > > >On Mon, Sep 3, 2012 at 9:00 PM, Leslie Peteya <lesliepeteya(a)gmail.com>wrote: > >> Hi Enzo, >> About 4 years ago, the Durham Bike Co-op got burned by our fiscal >> sponsor, an umbrella non-profit, >> in a manner similar to what you are describing, as it folded. We lost >> our-then 501c3 status, some of our actual operating capital, our liability >> insurance, a grant that the City had recommended us for, and a few other >> things. We also got smacked shortly after with accusations from a >> disgruntled ex-volunteer about some of our operating policies. >> >> Needless to say it was a rocky time for the co-op and our collective. >> Luckily we had established a bank account, >> had the keys to the place, and had our tools, and were self sustaining >> through our set-up, so we were able to >> pull through. >> >> The best advice I can give to you is to go it alone. Organize yourselves >> into a board of directors or a core collective, >> establish non-profit status, buy your own liability insurance, and >> purchase your own tools. Set firm policies, reach out to the community, and >> if you're the right fit for the community, you'll soon find demand for your >> shop and services >> will exceed supply. >> >> And, not to knock umbrella non-profits, but I've had nothing but bad >> experiences with them, 2 separate times with 2 separate organizations. The >> problem with umbrellas is all the organizations underneath them can get >> screwed if >> the parent non-profit folds or is mismanaged. >> >> Best, >> Leslie >> >> On Sat, Sep 1, 2012 at 10:33 PM, Carolyn Braunius <brauniusc(a)yahoo.com>wrote: >> >>> I'd say don't be afraid to go out on your own. If the tools are the new >>> shops, negotiate getting them from the coalition, and start looking for a >>> new space. If people like your organization you'll be able to grow and >>> stick true to your values, without having to be under an authority you >>> didn't agree to. >>> >>> If the tools aren't able to come back to the collective, let them go and >>> start over the way your collective would like to operate. When Troy Bike >>> Rescue got swinging in Troy again, it was a few stands in a yard and a >>> couple of filing cabinets. Then it moved into a shared shopfront and is now >>> in its own wheelhouse. >>> >>> Give it a shot and see what happens and good luck. As Troy Bike Rescue >>> grew and established its own identity, I think it grew more quickly than we >>> ever thought it would and it was/is really amazing. >>> >>> >>> www.troybikerescue.org >>> >>> "When shall we live if not now?" - M.F.K. Fisher >>> >>> ------------------------------ >>> *From:* Doug Franz <doug(a)coatesvillebikeworks.org> >>> *To:* 'The Think Tank' <thethinktank(a)lists.bikecollectives.org> >>> *Sent:* Saturday, September 1, 2012 9:30 PM >>> *Subject:* Re: [TheThinkTank] Local bike coalition shut down local bike >>> co-op >>> >>> Enzo, this is quite messy, if I may say so. >>> >>> First, I think you said that the grant that funds the bike co-op belongs >>> to the local bike coalition. Therefore, it’s up to the coalition to decide >>> how to distribute the funds, including the terms (within the terms of the >>> grant, of course). If they say the co-op needs to be run by their manager, >>> the co-op can take it or leave it. Many entrepreneurial startups have >>> faced the same demand by venture capitalists. It’s part of business. >>> Money rarely comes without strings. >>> >>> Second, you say you were operating under their charter in order to have >>> non-profit status. Of the many benefits you realized, this is probably the >>> smallest. You were likely promoted through their publications, covered by >>> their liability insurance and given credibility on the street and with >>> grantors and donors because of your affiliation. This last part is >>> especially important. An organization’s reputation is extremely valuable, >>> especially in the nonprofit world. It sounds like the coalition is >>> concerned that the activities of the co-op is damaging their reputation. >>> >>> Okay, now to the messy part. What was the reporting arrangement between >>> the co-op and the coalition? Did the coalition have a member or two on the >>> co-op’s board? On the management committee? How did the co-op keep their >>> most important donor informed? This should have been addressed at the >>> co-op’s creation. >>> >>> Unfortunately, it sounds like the communication from the co-op to the >>> coalition was so poor that the allegations raised by the former volunteer >>> were perceived as credible. Even if they aren’t true, the fact that they >>> are plausible is shocking. People at the coalition are realizing that the >>> co-op was operating more independently than they thought. >>> >>> Okay, so it’s decision time for the co-op. Will they turn their back on >>> their support system and go it alone? That’s the route to go to preserve >>> the co-op’s autonomy, but it may destroy the co-op in the process. They >>> could easily be stigmatized as enemies of the coalition. ‘Enemies’ isn’t >>> the right word, but it’s the best I have. They’ll lose their money, their >>> space, and their affiliation. >>> >>> From what you’ve said, I believe the co-op has no bargaining power here. >>> They should put their ego aside and listen to what the coalition has to >>> say, and do their best to preserve their organization within the new >>> framework. >>> >>> My two cents, for what they’re worth. >>> >>> Doug Franz, President >>> >>> [image: BikeWorks_3_wText] >>> >>> coatesvillebikeworks.org >>> like us on facebook! http://www.facebook.com/CoatesvilleBikeWorks >>> >>> doug(a)coatesvillebikeworks.org >>> 610-383-4349 >>> >>> I respect your right to manage the amount of email you receive. If you >>> want to be removed from this email list, please reply to ONLY ME, with >>> "unsubscribe" in the subject line. >>> >>> *From:* thethinktank-bounces(a)lists.bikecollectives.org [mailto: >>> thethinktank-bounces(a)lists.bikecollectives.org] *On Behalf Of *Vincenzo >>> loco >>> *Sent:* Saturday, September 01, 2012 7:24 PM >>> *To:* The Think Tank >>> *Subject:* [TheThinkTank] Local bike coalition shut down local bike co-op >>> >>> I'd like to some info from those of you whose shop runs under the >>> umbrella of a bike coalition or other advocacy group. How has this effected >>> your ability to operate autonomously as a collective? I'm involved with a >>> fledgling bike coop that was created as a biproduct of a grant that was >>> managed by the local bike coalition. We were operating under their charter >>> so as to have non-profit status. It was many of the volunteer's >>> understanding that the bike coalition was only helping us manage our >>> finances, helping us access grants, and generally helping us get ourselves >>> established in the community. As soon as they heard complaints from a >>> former volunteer they at first told us that they didn't acknowledge our >>> decision making process (full consent) and told us that they wanted us to >>> run under a manager that they hire. More recently (following more >>> complaints and accusations from potentially the same ex-volunteer) they >>> went in and had the locks changed and shut the whole shop down. We will be >>> meeting with them this week and trying to discuss how to get the place back >>> open. Has anyone else been down this road? Have you hit walls because of >>> a hierarchic organisation not having faith in the collective's ability to >>> make decisions? Should we even go ahead with them if it means not having >>> control of the direction or operation of the shop? What could we do to save >>> the shop and our autonomy? >>> -Enzo >>> not speaking on behalf of the bikerowave but another org. >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> 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.… >>> >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> 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.… >>> >>> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> 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.… >> >> > >_______________________________________________ >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.…

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