- TheThinkTank - lists.bikecollectives.org

Re: [TheThinkTank] volunteer coordination advice
by Joshua Goran 24 Feb '15

24 Feb '15

We do a weekly new volunteer orientation. Details are here: http://tinyurl.com/lywkttz Unless you have very high new volunteer volume, I'd personally recommend once or twice a month to get more folks in the orientations and to maximize the time your staff or experienced volunteers spend training new people. We've been doing weekly orientations for a long time but sometimes only have 1-2 new people per week, which is inefficient and sometimes awkward, and sometimes no one new at all which wastes our time waiting around. On the other hand, we sometimes have ~10+ people, and more than that can get unruly. *----------Joshua GoranAdministrator, Ohio City Bicycle Co-op* 1840 Columbus Rd Cleveland, Ohio 44113 216 830 2667 OhioCityCycles.org ____________________________________ The ThinkTank mailing List <a href="http://lists.bikecollectives.org/options.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.o…">Unsubscribe from this list</a>

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$$$
by Falls City Community BikeWorks Community BikeWorks 24 Feb '15

24 Feb '15

Hi all, Have any of you had success with charging for maintenance classes (on-site or hosting) for private groups? We're looking at that as a potential revenue stream, but don't know what that would look like and would love some feedback <http://www.bicyclingforlouisville.org/#fccb> Thanks Bella ____________________________________ The ThinkTank mailing List <a href="http://lists.bikecollectives.org/options.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.o…">Unsubscribe from this list</a>

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Re: [TheThinkTank] $$$
by Bob Giordano 24 Feb '15

24 Feb '15

We've had success: We have a sliding scale: zero for groups with no money, $25/hr for small groups with small budgets, $45/hr for workshop at a school or community location, $65/hr for a large non-profit or business. We include one staff, 1-3 volunteers, tools and supplies. Examples of 'workshops': we are the 'fixit' station at a school bike rodeo, we help fix bikes at an apartment building, provide oil and air at a University event, etc Actual hands on bike fixing help seems to be much more in demand than a more general maintenance class, yet those work too for donations, $5 a class or set fee for series of classes. -- Bob Giordano, Free Cycles Missoula Falls City Community BikeWorks Community BikeWorks wrote: Have any of you had success with charging for maintenance classes (on-site or hosting) for private groups? We're looking at that as a potential revenue stream, but don't know what that would look like and would love some feedback ____________________________________ The ThinkTank mailing List <a href="http://lists.bikecollectives.org/options.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.o…">Unsubscribe from this list</a>

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volunteer coordination advice
by Laura Biren 24 Feb '15

24 Feb '15

Hi y'all, It has been so wonderful being a part of The Think Tank. Super helpful advice from everyone. I have a volunteer coordination question here: We're trying to figure out how to become more sustainable in the bike shop area and how to coordinate our volunteers better. We've now got a volunteer questionnaire asking volunteers what their skills are, and what they hope to learn while volunteering for us. We want to try and get more people committed to working in the shop but we can't "hire" people because we don't have the funds to pay anyone else. We also want to get people on the same page before they start working in the shop and I am wondering - what is the best way to do that? Once a month orientation? Once a week offering classes/tutorials? What has worked for you in your beginning stages? Right now there is a lot of pressure on our shop manager, and so we want to try and spread out this pressure, without scaring away potential volunteers. Thank you! -- Laura Biren Outreach Intern at BF Community Bike Project bfbike.org 617 939 4330 ____________________________________ The ThinkTank mailing List <a href="http://lists.bikecollectives.org/options.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.o…">Unsubscribe from this list</a>

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Bike!Bike! Guadalajara
by Tigre Bici 19 Feb '15

19 Feb '15

Hey y'all We are wondering if there is anyone that wants to pedal to next B!B! Most likeley we are going to pedal from Monterrey to Guadalajara, will take us around 5-7 days If you want to join in, let us know. *** Hola banda! Queremls saber si alguien tiene pensado/quiere pedalear a B!B! Nosotrxs estamos pensando irnos en bici desde Monterrey a Guadalajara tardando entee 5-7 dias. Si se quieren unir, avisen! Que siga el pedal! R. ____________________________________ The ThinkTank mailing List <a href="http://lists.bikecollectives.org/options.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.o…">Unsubscribe from this list</a>

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You're Invited! Bike! Bike! Southeast March 26-29
by Kat Volzer 19 Feb '15

19 Feb '15

Dear Bike Co-op Friends, Sopo Bicycle Cooperative (located in Atlanta, GA Grant Park area) is happy to invite you to the *2015 Bike! Bike! Southeast Conference*. The conference will be held *March 26-29*. Registration is a suggested donation of $25 (cash or check when you check-in) and includes almost everything you need for the weekend including meals and snacks. Registrants will be paired with home-share hosts according to preferences (vegan friendly, LGBT friendly, cycling ability comfort level, and other common interests). If you’re coming from out of town and need a loaner bike, we will have plenty of those too. All proceeds of the registration donation go to Sopo Bicycle Co-op and BBSE expenses. *What’s on tap for this year? *We’re still planning the details, but so far we have plenty of sessions and plenty of fun scheduled, including an all-Atlanta Critical Mass Friday night and a chili cook-off complete with music and libations Saturday. *Want to present a session?* We would love for you to share your thoughts, ideas, and successes of your shops. *Please mark your calendars for March 26-29* and plan on visiting us in Hotlanta for what is going to be an awesome good time. To register, please visit our website at http://bikebikese.org/. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please feel free to respond to this thread! Sincerely, Kat Volzer Sopo Bicycle Cooperative 586 Woodward Ave SE Atlanta, GA 30312 www.sopobikes.org ____________________________________ The ThinkTank mailing List <a href="http://lists.bikecollectives.org/options.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.o…">Unsubscribe from this list</a>

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Re: [TheThinkTank] Database suggestions
by Sam Haraldson 15 Feb '15

15 Feb '15

> > ...organize our infrastructure by putting everything we can into a > database (volunteer information, inventory, bike donations, events, > individual donations, memberships, etc). We've been looking into CiviCRM, > and getting an external host for that, but before we commit to anything I > am hoping to hear any feedback/comments anyone might have on what systems > you are using?? Thank you! > Lauren, What is your current system? Are you tracking on paper, in a spreadsheet, something else, possibly not at all? We have operated out of a simple shared spreadsheet (Google Docs) since 2009 and have found it to work acceptably and are only now 5+ years later thinking about getting more serious about that side of our operations. I am a firm believer of getting a system dialed in using as simple a method as possible and then figuring out how to map that onto a true software solution rather than finding a software first and trying to make it work for your needs. Best of luck in sorting out your needs. Cheers, Sam Bozeman, MT -- http://bozemanbikekitchen.org ____________________________________ The ThinkTank mailing List <a href="http://lists.bikecollectives.org/options.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.o…">Unsubscribe from this list</a>

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Outcomes & Outputs
by Justin Smith 15 Feb '15

15 Feb '15

We'd really appreciate any data, information, stories and so forth on the impact, outcomes and outputs of other bike cooperatives, collectives, earn-a-bike and youth education/repair programs, especially with regard to the medium and long-term (please indicate the period of time since medium and long-term is open to interpretation). Many thanks, -- Justin Smith Bike Erie www.bikeerie.org [1] (814) 580-9108 Follow us on Facebook [2] & Twitter [3]! Links: ------ [1] http://www.bikeerie.org/ [2] http://box809.bluehost.com/facebook.com/BikeErie [3] http://box809.bluehost.com/twitter.com/BikeErie ____________________________________ The ThinkTank mailing List <a href="http://lists.bikecollectives.org/options.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.o…">Unsubscribe from this list</a>

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Database suggestions
by Laura Biren 13 Feb '15

13 Feb '15

Hi all, I am interning at a volunteer-run non-profit called the Community Bike Project in Bellows Falls, VT. We've been around about a year and a half now and have been quite successful! We're excited for what the future holds but one thing we are trying to do now is organize our infrastructure by putting everything we can into a database (volunteer information, inventory, bike donations, events, individual donations, memberships, etc). We've been looking into CiviCRM, and getting an external host for that, but before we commit to anything I am hoping to hear any feedback/comments anyone might have on what systems you are using?? Thank you! -- Laura Biren bfbike.org 617 939 4330 ____________________________________ The ThinkTank mailing List <a href="http://lists.bikecollectives.org/options.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.o…">Unsubscribe from this list</a>

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Corvallis Bicycle Collective is Hiring a Part Time Shop Manager
by Corvallis Bike Collective 13 Feb '15

13 Feb '15

Hey there Think-Tankers, Long time reader, first time poster. It's a great resource you have here. We just want you to know, for those of you in the Pacific Northwest, who want to come out this way, or who know someone here who would make a good fit, the *Corvallis (Oregon) Bicycle Collective is hiring a part time "Shop Czar."* The Shop Czar position is a combination of teaching, mechanics, volunteer management, and shop organization. To learn more about the details of this position and our organization, please visit our website. <http://www.corvallisbikes.org/were-hiring.html> --Bobby Mauger, Treasurer *Corvallis Bicycle Collective* www.CorvallisBikes.org <http://www.corvallisbikes.org/> Twitter @cvoBikes <http://twitter.com/cvobikes> *Hours & Directions to Our Shop <http://www.corvallisbikes.org/location--hours.html>* *(541) 224-6885* ____________________________________ The ThinkTank mailing List <a href="http://lists.bikecollectives.org/options.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.o…">Unsubscribe from this list</a>

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