- TheThinkTank - lists.bikecollectives.org

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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Local bike coalition shut down local bike co-op
by Vincenzo loco 06 Sep '12

06 Sep '12

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.

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Boise Bicycle Project Hiring a FT Volunteer/Program Coordinator
by Jimmy Hallyburton 06 Sep '12

06 Sep '12

Hey Good people, BBP's Volunteer Coordinator is moving into the Shop Manager position and behold there is now an opening for a Full Time Volunteer/Program Coordinator position. The position is posted locally, but of course we'll open it up to our friends from out of the area. Attached is a full job description and application process. Keep up all the good work out there, and spread the word that there is a life changing position opening up at the Boise Bicycle Project. -- Thanks, Jimmy Hallyburton Executive Director Boise Bicycle Project (208)-429-6520 1027 Lusk St Boise, ID 83702 www.boisebicycleproject.org .……………......…….__o .………………...…….>,\ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~( · ) / ( · ) Join the Boise Bicycle Project's Free Spirit Newsletter list by going to www.boisebicycleproject.org/Newsletter

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Any luck with bike recipient organizations covering u-lock and light expenses?
by Ryan Feller - Suncoast Community Bikes 06 Sep '12

06 Sep '12

Hi all, I and some other folks are starting a bike collective-esque organization here in Southwest Florida. We're working with existing nonprofits to distribute the bikes we collect and refurbish, and it seems that demand for our bikes will far outpace supply. We consider it necessary to include a basic u-lock and lights on every bike we distribute, but we also wish to keep our expenses down, so we can focus more on collecting/distributing bikes and less on selling them as a fundraiser. Even at wholesale cost through J&B (with quantity discounts), it'll cost us around $16 to equip each bike. We would like to test the waters a bit and see if any recipient organizations would be able to cover some or all of these costs. Perhaps it's a stretch, as these organizations are just as cash-strapped as we are, but have any other bike collectives had success with this? Also, is there any cheaper place to find u-locks and lights (perhaps some supplier sells them cheaper or offers super-high-quantity discounts)? Many thanks! -- Ryan Feller Director 5800 Bay Shore Road, Box 275 Sarasota, FL 34243 (954) 232-3790 ryan(a)suncoastcommunitybikes.org *www.suncoastcommunitybikes.org*

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Re: [TheThinkTank] Any luck with bike recipient organizations covering u-lock and light expenses?
by summitcyclingcenter＠yahoo.com 04 Sep '12

04 Sep '12

Shop BIG LOTS or another closeout Store. I have seen u locks for $8.00 that retail for $30. Sent from my HTC EVO Design™ 4G from Boost Mobile ----- Reply message ----- From: "Dylan Thies" <dylan.thies(a)lostorienteerer.net> To: "The Think Tank" <thethinktank(a)lists.bikecollectives.org> Subject: [TheThinkTank] Any luck with bike recipient organizations covering u-lock and light expenses? Date: Tue, Sep 4, 2012 9:41 am It depends on how active the crime is in your area, if it is like NYC wear the thieves are wheeling around plasma cutters than my solution is not for you. That being said you can buy chain by the foot at most hardware stores and if you buy in bulk it gets cheaper by the foot, and simple padlocks don't costs that much money 5$? I think at home depot i got chain 20 ft of chain at 1.20$ a foot and 10 padlocks for ~5$ a lock totaling around 75$ which could be ten chains and locks at 2 ft for a price of 7.50$. all prices are USD hope that could be a solution for you On 1 September 2012 12:15, Ryan Feller - Suncoast Community Bikes <ryan(a)suncoastcommunitybikes.org> wrote: Hi all, I and some other folks are starting a bike collective-esque organization here in Southwest Florida. We're working with existing nonprofits to distribute the bikes we collect and refurbish, and it seems that demand for our bikes will far outpace supply. We consider it necessary to include a basic u-lock and lights on every bike we distribute, but we also wish to keep our expenses down, so we can focus more on collecting/distributing bikes and less on selling them as a fundraiser. Even at wholesale cost through J&B (with quantity discounts), it'll cost us around $16 to equip each bike. We would like to test the waters a bit and see if any recipient organizations would be able to cover some or all of these costs. Perhaps it's a stretch, as these organizations are just as cash-strapped as we are, but have any other bike collectives had success with this? Also, is there any cheaper place to find u-locks and lights (perhaps some supplier sells them cheaper or offers super-high-quantity discounts)? Many thanks! -- Ryan Feller Director 5800 Bay Shore Road, Box 275 Sarasota, FL 34243 (954) 232-3790 ryan(a)suncoastcommunitybikes.org www.suncoastcommunitybikes.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.… -- 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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bbne updated site
by Andrew L 29 Aug '12

29 Aug '12

hi all, we are finally getting some confirmations and registrations for Bike!Bike!NE. thanks to those who have registered! there is some more info up here, as of now: http://troybikerescue.org/bikebikene just a heads up to the thinktank! over & out. -- ------__o ----_`\<,_ ---(_)/ (_) andrew lynn 518-573-7947

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Re: [TheThinkTank] at-risk youth starting a community bike shop?
by GMelton909＠earthlink.net 26 Aug '12

26 Aug '12

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at-risk youth starting a community bike shop?
by Allyson Lowery 22 Aug '12

22 Aug '12

Hi there, I work with at-risk youth in a rural northern community and yesterday as I was tossing my sea foam green toilet at the dump I saw at least 6 bikes. I have been looking for something to engage some of my kids and I started thinking about bike-cycling/community shops etc. I feel that this is a really worthwhile project I just have no idea how to go about starting off - so I am looking for support - I am going to check the lists and see what advice is there, then I am going to start networking within my community. Any words of wisdom would be appreciated! Allyson Lowery , MS Ed Child and Youth Care Program Mackenzie Counselling Services PO Box 790 Mackenzie, BC V0J 2C0 tel: 250.997.6595 xt 226 fax: 250.997.3903 email: allyson.lowery(a)mackenziecounselling.ca

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Free Product for Your Shop, Courtesy of Planet Bike
by Mike Samuelson 22 Aug '12

22 Aug '12

Hi Think Tank, The Alliance for Biking and Walking is excited to partner with Planet Bike to donate extra Planet Bike gear to community bike shops across the continent! Planet Bike has some refurbished product inventory that they need to clear to make room in their warehouse. With their commitment to advocacy, they are excited to offer these refurbished products free of charge. Attached is the catalog of gear available through this offer. Per Planet Bike¹s request, to be eligible to receive donations your organization must have a relatively up to date website, submit a brief description of your youth earn-a-bike program and commit to pass these items on free of charge to kids (18 years old or younger) who are active in your program. (Your EAB program need not be exclusively youth oriented, but it must have a robust youth contingent.) Orders received first will get first priority. Unfortunately, we may not be able to fill all requests due to limited quantities. If you are interested, please complete the attached order form by filling in the "Quantity Requested" column and email the form back to me by Monday, August 27th. In addition, please include a brief description of your earn-a-bike program and acknowledge that you will give away any donated product that you receive from Planet Bike through this offer. I¹m happy to answer any basic questions you have or pass more detailed questions along to Jay Ferm, Advocacy Director at Planet Bike. Best, Mike Mike Samuelson Member Services and Open Streets Coordinator Alliance for Biking & Walking P.O. Box 65150 Washington, DC 20035 Phone: 202-449-9692 x 7 Mike(a)PeoplePoweredMovement.org <mailto:Mike@PeoplePoweredMovement.org> Follow the Open Streets Project <http://openstreetsproject.org/> on Twitter <https://twitter.com/#%21/Open_Streets> and like us on Facebook <http://www.facebook.com/OpenStreetsProject> to stay up to date with the latest on open streets!

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Hiring: Exec Dir for Sopo Bike Coop in Atl, Ga
by tito ＠ sopo bike co-op 20 Aug '12

20 Aug '12

Aug 20, 2012 – Sopo is looking to hire a Full time Executive Director. Job descriptions are in the body of this message. Individuals who are interested should email their resume plus cover letter, as well as any inquiries, to tito(a)sopobikes.org. Applications are due on August 24th for the Executive Director position. Sopo Bicycle Cooperative is now located in Grant Park at 586 Woodward Avenue SE, Atlanta, GA 30312. *Sopo Bicycle Cooperative is a 501(c)3 nonprofit bicycle repair workshop. Sopo's* *mission is to create equitable access to bicycling by providing affordable bicycle* *maintenance services and education. All donations to Sopo are tax deductible. The shop* *is located at 586 Woodward Avenue SE, Atlanta, GA 30312. Operating hours are* *Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday nightsfrom 7 pm until 10 pm and Saturday and* *Sunday afternoons from 2 pm until 5 pm. Visit **www.sopobikes.org **for more information.* * * *Job Description* Title: Executive Director Status: Full-Time Salary: $28,000 (+ stipend for benefits) The Executive Director is the Chief Executive Officer of Sopo Bicycle Cooperative. The Executive Director reports to the Board of Directors, and is responsible for the organization's consistent achievement of its mission and financial objectives. Sopo’s Executive Director’s responsibilities are as follows: Serve as the public face of the organization along with Board members; attend local community meetings, participate in local bike politics, represent organization at regional and national conferences; Work with the staff, Finance Committee, and the board in preparing a budget; see that the organization operates within budget guidelines; Be responsible for developing and maintaining sound financial practices ; Assure that the organization effectively implements its long-range strategy which achieves its mission, and toward which it makes consistent and timely progress; Develop and implement fundraising regime; engage funds providers and sustain beneficial partnerships, organize fundraising events; submit grants; ensure that adequate funds are available to permit the organization to carry out its work (in coordination w/Board); Maintain program oversight; provide support for Volunteer Coordinator, ensure programs are sustainable by providing organizational support for Programs; Provide leadership in program development; explore means to better provide equitable, practical and affordable [bicycle repair and education] services; Demonstrate continuity of community engagement through internal and external communication; participate in monthly meetings; keep Board informed on a timely basis of all information relevant to the governance of Sopo; publicize events and programs; Provide organizational stability by maintaining official records and documents, and ensure compliance with federal, state and local regulations; create bi-annual reports for Board; Jointly, with the president and secretary of the board of directors, conduct official correspondence of the organization, and jointly, with designated officers, execute legal documents; Maintain a climate in the Shop and at Sopo events that attracts, keeps, and motivates a diverse crew of top quality staff and volunteers (shared with Volunteer Coordinator); and See that an effective shop management team, with appropriate provision for succession, is in place (shared with Volunteer Coordinator). Required skills and experience: Basic bicycle maintenance skills, 2 years of significant volunteer experience at Sopo or another local focused nonprofit service based organization, excellent communication skills, social media skills, intermediate computer skills, experience in conflict resolution, experience in personnel management, budgeting skills, fundraising experience, grant writing experience and a deep commitment to Sopo's values. Bilingual Spanish/English is a plus. tito sands @ SOPO Bikes 1270 Caroline St NE Ste D120-392 Atlanta, GA 30307 cell. 678.907.3892 www.sopobikes.org Our mission is to create equitable access to cycling by providing affordable bicycle maintenance, services and education.

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cctv
by Andrew L 16 Aug '12

16 Aug '12

hi all, does anyone use inexpensive versions of cctv? thoughts? just curious. we are discussing. andrew tbr -- ------__o ----_`\<,_ ---(_)/ (_) andrew lynn 518-573-7947

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Re: [TheThinkTank] Interbike
by summitcyclingcenter＠yahoo.com 15 Aug '12

15 Aug '12

I am not golng. No one to run things while I am gone. Angelo Sent from my HTC EVO Design™ 4G from Boost Mobile ----- Reply message ----- From: "Reno Bikes" <renobikeproject(a)gmail.com> To: "The Think Tank" <thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org> Subject: [TheThinkTank] Interbike Date: Tue, Aug 14, 2012 5:12 pm 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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Database
by Sharon Lynn-Weese Northumberland Family Respite 15 Aug '12

15 Aug '12

Hello; We are starting a new Cycling Transitions shop and I would be interested in any information you could share in regards to setting up a database to track data for statistic purposes; such as # of members, # of members using shop per week/month male/female, etc. Was thinking 'Access' database type system. Any suggestions? Thank you, Sharon PS...I'm sending this request via my email at work, however; I prefer to use my personal email: sl.weese(a)hotmail.com Sharon Lynn-Weese Administration - Northumberland Family Respite Services CHAP Coordinator - respiteservices.com 72 Walton Street Port Hope, On L1A 1N3 Telephone: 905 885-6671 Ext. #223 Fax: 905 885-9758 Email: sweese(a)northumberlandfamilyrespite.ca Find us on Facebook : http://www.facebook.com/pages/respiteservicescom/169731519721774

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Re: [TheThinkTank] Interested in developing group insurance plan?
by wormsign＠gmail.com 15 Aug '12

15 Aug '12

Hi mike, I would also suggest approaching CAN because they have experience with volunteer organizations and DIY shops already. A lot of other insurers seemed to have difficulty understanding what we needed. I'm really excited to see that this is moving along. Enzo Loconte Board Secretary Bikerowave DIY Bike Collective Mike Samuelson <mike(a)peoplepoweredmovement.org> wrote: >Hi Think Tank, >It's really exciting to see this conversation happening, as creating a group >insurance plan is something that the Alliance for Biking & Walking has been >looking into since BikeBike, based on several conversations that I had in >Vancouver. > >We have had some really good conversations with McKay Insurance, who were >actually already looking into creating a group rate when we contacted them, >and will be reaching out to a couple other companies in the coming weeks. >McKay should be sharing their plan in the next couple days, which I will >post on the Think Tank for everyone to look over and give their thoughts. > >Looking forward to continuing this discussion. > >Best, >Mike > > >Mike Samuelson >Member Services and Open Streets Coordinator >Alliance for Biking & Walking > >P.O. Box 65150 >Washington, DC 20035 > >Phone: 202-449-9692 x 7 >Mike(a)PeoplePoweredMovement.org <mailto:Mike@PeoplePoweredMovement.org> > > >Follow the Open Streets Project <http://openstreetsproject.org/> on Twitter ><https://twitter.com/#%21/Open_Streets> and like us on Facebook ><http://www.facebook.com/OpenStreetsProject> to stay up to date with the >latest on open streets! > >From: Mark Friis <tenbears1(a)verizon.net> >Reply-To: The Think Tank <thethinktank(a)lists.bikecollectives.org> >Date: Tue, 14 Aug 2012 15:01:37 -0700 >To: 'The Think Tank' <thethinktank(a)lists.bikecollectives.org> >Subject: Re: [TheThinkTank] Interested in developing group insurance plan? > >You pay $3000 a year? Wow, that¹s steep. I am working with other insurances >to see what I come up with. > > >From: thethinktank-bounces(a)lists.bikecollectives.org >[mailto:thethinktank-bounces@lists.bikecollectives.org] On Behalf Of Reno >Bikes >Sent: Tuesday, August 14, 2012 2:49 PM >To: The Think Tank >Subject: Re: [TheThinkTank] Interested in developing group insurance plan? > > >Just an FYI, > > >We are insured through this company, which is a non-profit insurance >company. the rate was relatively cheap and you get access to some cool >resources. I think their minimum policy was around 3k, but not sure about >that. > > > >http://www.insurancefornonprofits.org/ > > > >Hope this helps, > >Noah > >On Tue, Aug 14, 2012 at 2:40 PM, Joshua Muir <muirjoshua(a)gmail.com> wrote: >I think the motivation to organize an insurance pool is a great idea- thanks >for posting info to the wiki. > >josh > >On Tue, Aug 14, 2012 at 12:59 PM, Jameel Alsalam <jalsalam(a)gmail.com> wrote: >> >> Hello ThinkTank, >> >> >> >> Earlier this year I helped the organization I volunteer with, The Bike House >> (thebikehouse.org <http://thebikehouse.org> ) to search for general liability >> insurance. The motivation was the offer of a free space, but we needed to have >> insurance. At the time, we were an unincorporated group, no 501c3 status, >> small budget, no employees, etc. I did a bunch of searching. The League of >> American Bicyclists said that their program is really just for bike ride clubs >> and advocacy groups, not for co-ops. A lot of the insurance options only work >> if you are 501c3, which we were not. While we eventually found insurance that >> works for us (for now anyway), the experience led me to believe that there is >> a gap in insurance options for small/newish community bike repair groups. >> >> >> >> To address this gap, I would like to work with the League of American >> Bicyclists or other national group to come up with a plan that would work for >> community bike repair groups. They are going to want to know that there are >> interested groups out there. So I am throwing this out there - would you or >> your group be interested in helping to shape a plan and possibly purchasing it >> in the future if it met your requirements? >> >> >> >> There are a lot of possible variables - groups with space or without space, >> groups with employees or without, groups that work with kids or don't, groups >> that just do teaching and repairs/groups that also do rides or other >> activities. I may send out a survey later if there is significant interest to >> start to get a sense of what requirements are most common. >> >> >> >> (Also: I just updated/expanded the insurance article on the bike collectives >> wiki <http://www.bikecollectives.org/wiki/index.php?title=Insurance> with new >> info from our search. I hope you all like it) >> >> >> >> best, >> Jameel >> >> -- >> Jameel Alsalam >> (510) 717-9637 <tel:%28510%29%20717-9637> >> jalsalam(a)gmail.com >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> 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.… > > > >-- >Joshua Muir >muirjoshua(a)gmail.com > >Frances Cycles <http://www.francescycles.com/> >Handbuilt cycling framesets >Touring, Track, Road,Cross, and Cargo > >203 Cedar St Santa Cruz, CA (831) 469-3369 <tel:%28831%29%20469-3369> > > > >The Bicycle Church Collective <http://bikechurch.santacruzhub.org/> > >Community Self-Service Cycle Repair >3pm to 7pm everyday except Sunday >703 Pacific Ave (enter on Spruce St) >Santa Cruz, CA 95060 >(831) 425-2453 <tel:%28831%29%20425-2453> > > >_______________________________________________ >Thethinktank mailing list >Thethinktank(a)lists.bikecollectives.org >To unsubscribe, send a blank email to TheThinkTank-leave(a)bikecollectives.org >To manage your subscription, plase visit: >http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.o >rg > > > >-- > >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.o >rg > > >_______________________________________________ >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] Interested in developing group insurance plan?
by wormsign＠gmail.com 15 Aug '12

15 Aug '12

Bikerowave also uses CAN for insurance, I had mentioned the importance of providing collective access to insurance at the meeting with the alliance for biking and walking at bike bike. I hope something comes of this as there are several unincorporated bike collectives in the Los Angeles area that would benefit. The alliance wants a way to help the coop community so I think approaching them would be a good start. Enzo Loconte Board Secretary Bikerowave DIY Bike Collective Ken <kjleibold(a)frontier.com> wrote: >The Martin Bike Co-op and Repair in Martin, TN would be interested in what >you find out. > >Thanks. > > > >Ken Leibold, CEO, Chief Everything Officer > > > >From: thethinktank-bounces(a)lists.bikecollectives.org >[mailto:thethinktank-bounces@lists.bikecollectives.org] On Behalf Of Yellow >Bike Program >Sent: Tuesday, August 14, 2012 7:01 PM >To: 'The Think Tank' >Subject: Re: [TheThinkTank] Interested in developing group insurance plan? > > > > > >The Yellow Bike Program and Reconditioned Bikes for Kids, Inc. of Rapid >City, SD would be interested in what you find out. Thank you. > > > >Dale Bishop > > > >-----Original Message----- >From: thethinktank-bounces(a)lists.bikecollectives.org >[mailto:thethinktank-bounces@lists.bikecollectives.org] On Behalf Of Eric >Montgomery >Sent: Tuesday, August 14, 2012 2:58 PM >To: The Think Tank >Subject: Re: [TheThinkTank] Interested in developing group insurance plan? > >www.brockvillebikeministry.com is very interested >Eric Montgomery >Executive Director > >On Aug 14, 2012 2:39 PM, "Thomas Labenski" <labenskit(a)gmail.com> wrote: > >Count me in!! > >Tom L. > >Two dogs bike recycle > > > >On Tue, Aug 14, 2012 at 3:59 PM, Jameel Alsalam <jalsalam(a)gmail.com> wrote: > >Hello ThinkTank, > > > >Earlier this year I helped the organization I volunteer with, The Bike House >(thebikehouse.org) to search for general liability insurance. The motivation >was the offer of a free space, but we needed to have insurance. At the time, >we were an unincorporated group, no 501c3 status, small budget, no >employees, etc. I did a bunch of searching. The League of American >Bicyclists said that their program is really just for bike ride clubs and >advocacy groups, not for co-ops. A lot of the insurance options only work if >you are 501c3, which we were not. While we eventually found insurance that >works for us (for now anyway), the experience led me to believe that there >is a gap in insurance options for small/newish community bike repair groups. > > > >To address this gap, I would like to work with the League of American >Bicyclists or other national group to come up with a plan that would work >for community bike repair groups. They are going to want to know that there >are interested groups out there. So I am throwing this out there - would you >or your group be interested in helping to shape a plan and possibly >purchasing it in the future if it met your requirements? > > > >There are a lot of possible variables - groups with space or without space, >groups with employees or without, groups that work with kids or don't, >groups that just do teaching and repairs/groups that also do rides or other >activities. I may send out a survey later if there is significant interest >to start to get a sense of what requirements are most common. > > > >(Also: I just updated/expanded the insurance article on the bike collectives >wiki <http://www.bikecollectives.org/wiki/index.php?title=Insurance> with >new info from our search. I hope you all like it) > > > >best, >Jameel > > > > >-- >Jameel Alsalam >(510) 717-9637 <tel:%28510%29%20717-9637> >jalsalam(a)gmail.com > > >_______________________________________________ >Thethinktank mailing list >Thethinktank(a)lists.bikecollectives.org >To unsubscribe, send a blank email to TheThinkTank-leave(a)bikecollectives.org >To manage your subscription, plase visit: >http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.o >rg > > > > >_______________________________________________ >Thethinktank mailing list >Thethinktank(a)lists.bikecollectives.org >To unsubscribe, send a blank email to TheThinkTank-leave(a)bikecollectives.org >To manage your subscription, plase visit: >http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.o >rg > > >_______________________________________________ >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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Interested in developing group insurance plan?
by Jameel Alsalam 15 Aug '12

15 Aug '12

Hello ThinkTank, Earlier this year I helped the organization I volunteer with, The Bike House (thebikehouse.org) to search for general liability insurance. The motivation was the offer of a free space, but we needed to have insurance. At the time, we were an unincorporated group, no 501c3 status, small budget, no employees, etc. I did a bunch of searching. The League of American Bicyclists said that their program is really just for bike ride clubs and advocacy groups, not for co-ops. A lot of the insurance options only work if you are 501c3, which we were not. While we eventually found insurance that works for us (for now anyway), the experience led me to believe that there is a gap in insurance options for small/newish community bike repair groups. To address this gap, I would like to work with the League of American Bicyclists or other national group to come up with a plan that would work for community bike repair groups. They are going to want to know that there are interested groups out there. So I am throwing this out there - would you or your group be interested in helping to shape a plan and possibly purchasing it in the future if it met your requirements? There are a lot of possible variables - groups with space or without space, groups with employees or without, groups that work with kids or don't, groups that just do teaching and repairs/groups that also do rides or other activities. I may send out a survey later if there is significant interest to start to get a sense of what requirements are most common. (Also: I just updated/expanded the insurance article on the bike collectives wiki<http://www.bikecollectives.org/wiki/index.php?title=Insurance>with new info from our search. I hope you all like it) best, Jameel -- Jameel Alsalam (510) 717-9637 jalsalam(a)gmail.com

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Building an Ecat nuclear reactor from bike parts for home heating and cooking
by Brown, Henry, DoIT 14 Aug '12

14 Aug '12

My son is an engineering student. He is interested in building a NI/Hydrogen reactor from steel bike parts. His goal is to create a kit that could be used to build power systems from bikes in the third world. Could you suggest bike parts that could withstand 1200 C ? Ecat Ni/Hydrogen reactor http://ecat.org http://energycatalyzer3.com/news/leaked-test-data-indicates-hot-ecat-operat… He saw this steam bike design. It gives you an idea of what he would like to build. http://flashbackfab.com/pages/steam01.html World Bicycle Relief is a group donating bikes to underdeveloped countries. http://worldbicyclerelief.org For millions, of the worlds poor people, this may allow girls to go to school. Girls collect firewood and leave school. Ecat would replace firewood and prevent deforestation. http://worldbicyclerelief.org/programs/education If girls go to school their children will enable job opportunities. Basic Blender Bike: Have students load blender freeware on PC and import file to bike file to blender. http://blender.org http://e2-productions.com/repository/modules/PDdownloads/singlefile.php?cid… Ecat is built with steel pipe and is assembled with minimal welding. http://ecatbuilder.com/builders/bhlowe/parts-list Could bike designers build a bike, for the developing world, that integrated an Ecat reactor into their design? Simulating a bike frame in http://Blender.org<http://blender.org/> (see further info below) http://mostly3d.wordpress.com/2011/09/29/blender-3d-bicycle-modeling-tutori… <http://www.blendswap.com/3D-models/misc-objects/bicycle-2/>http://www.blendswap.com/3D-models/misc-objects/bicycle-2/ http://www.blendswap.com/3D-models/vehicles/bicycle-low-poly/ http://www.blendswap.com/3D-models/vehicles/vtt-rockrider-8-1-bike/ Could this model be used to build a bike frame and modify it into an Ecat reactor? I am interested in simulating an Ecat reactor made from bike parts. Does you use any graphic software for parts? In an underdeveloped country could an Ecat be configured from steel bike parts? This cartoon will give you some information on the reactor design. (press right arrow key to move from frame to frame) http://scratch.mit.edu/projects/GeneMachine/1791470 Ecat is built with steel pipe and is assembled with minimal welding. http://ecatbuilder.com/builders/bhlowe/parts-list Could a bike mechanic build a reactor from spare bike parts? Could a bike frame itself, integrate a reactor, that can be turned on at night for heating and cooking? Off in the morning to ride the bike to work. The reactor would then be less likely to get stolen and allow the owner to travel with fuel on board. A small nuclear reactor E-cat could change energy used in the world. A 5kWh hot water heater and house baseboard system will be avail in 2013. http://leonardo-ecat.com/fp/Products/5kW_Heater/index.html http://ecat.org It could heat homes at a fraction of today’s costs for oil and gas. It could decentralize electric power by using a stirling engine to produce electricity in the home. I was a Peace Corps Volunteer working on renewable energy and water in Jamiaca, WI in the 1970's. I worked at PNM managing the power grid. I saw deforestation by firewood collection in Haiti. Henry Brown hbrown(a)sisna.com<mailto:hbrown@sisna.com> 505 795-3680

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Bike!Bike! Northeast Registration
by Andrew L 13 Aug '12

13 Aug '12

Hi Thinktank, If you havent seen past notes, we are planning Bike!Bike! Northeast Weekend for September 28-30. There will be meetups, workshops, rides, live music, great locally grown food, and more. We are inviting people to come either Friday night (for Critical Mass), or Saturday AM, and stay through Sunday afternoon. Please take a few moments and check some boxes on our simple registration form, so that we know to keep in touch with you. http://troybikerescue.org/bikebikene ALSO, Please fwd this link to people in the northeast in order to spread the word! Thanks the TBR BBNE team -- ------__o ----_`\<,_ ---(_)/ (_) andrew lynn 518-573-7947

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Phoenix Bikes Hiring Shop Mgr/Lead Mechanic
by Phoenix Bikes 13 Aug '12

13 Aug '12

Phoenix Bikes, the Arlington, Va.-based youth and community bicycling nonprofit, is hiring a Bike Shop Manager / Lead Mechanic to start work in our community bike shop in September 2012. *Job Overview* In addition to mentoring youth mechanics, the Shop Manager/Lead Mechanic will guide the process by which we take in repairs and refurbish bikes for sale, write up repair tickets, schedule the work, and assign each repair to various mechanics within the shop. A full job description is here: http://www.phoenixbikes.org/jobs/shop-manager. Applicants should email a resume, cover letter, and contact information for three references to henry(a)phoenixbikes.org. Henry Dunbar Executive Director Phoenix Bikes

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Recycle-A-Bicycle is Hiring!
by Pasqualina Azzarello 10 Aug '12

10 Aug '12

Hi Everyone, Recycle-A-Bicycle is hiring! We are looking for a full-time Head Mechanic to work at our storefront in Brooklyn, NY. Please feel free to help spread the word! Website: http://www.recycleabicycle.org/featured/were-hiring Craigslist: http://newyork.craigslist.org/brk/trd/3197358889.html Recycle-A-Bicycle is a not-for-profit bicycle shop that refurbishes bicycles to sell and offers full-service repairs. Located in NYC, we have youth job training and environmental education programs for teenagers teaching them bicycle mechanics, job skills, and environmental stewardship. We are looking for someone who is interested in working with us to get all types of riders and bikes on the road. We are interested in working with someone who is passionate about bicycles and about sharing that passion with others. The Head Mechanic position involves all aspects of bicycle repair, from ensuring that customers receive appropriate estimates to ensuring all mechanic work in the shop is done properly and in a timely manner. Head Mechanic is responsible for overseeing part-time and full-time mechanics. Ability and desire to teach others is a must. Head Mechanic will work with the Shop Manager to ensure that the bike shop runs smoothly. Requirements and responsibilities for this position are: Significant experience as a mechanic in a bike shop with references; Ability to manage bicycle repair schedule; Ability to oversee other mechanics; Ability to educate interns, as needed; Proficient in bicycle overhaul techniques; Knowledge of older bicycles, cup and cone bearing systems, and 3 speed hubs; Knowledge of bicycle styles and sizing to assist customers; Ability to diagnose repairs, estimate cost and turnaround time, and inspect bikes for safety; Correct use of advanced tools; Use of Point of Sale system (computerized cash register); Previous experience with inventory management is a plus; Highly organized; Excellent communication skills; Ability to help customers and represent organization in a professional manner. Start date: As soon as possible Pay rate: Commensurate with experience Women and minority bike mechanics encouraged to apply Health benefits available *To apply, please send an email that includes your contact info, background info, and resume to: susan(a)recycleabicycle.org* Website: http://www.recycleabicycle.org/ Craigslist: http://newyork.craigslist.org/brk/trd/3197358889.html Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Recycle-A-Bicycle/62453932286 -- Pasqualina Azzarello Executive Director Recycle-A-Bicycle Ph: 718-858-2972 Fax: 718-858-6201 http://www.recycleabicycle.org Follow us on Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/pages/Recycle-A-Bicycle/62453932286> Follow us on Twitter <https://twitter.com/#%21/RAB_NYC>

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Game Changer?
by mfen651＠aol.com 02 Aug '12

02 Aug '12

Thank you all for allowing me yet one more entry onto the Bike Collectives: The Think Tank. What follows are two articles that many of you I am sure have seen, and a few of you may not have. I found it very interesting on many levels. The first level is one of a philosophical nature: Will this in fact revolutionize the bicycle world? Even more importantly, does it hold the possiblity of revolutionizing the global world of transport? On a more macro basis, does it have positive implications for what bicycle cooperative are doing now, and if so, what are they? A practical, reliable, fully serviceable $90 to $100 brand new bicycle certainly creates possibilities, but what exactly are they? So enough of my thought clouds. Here are the articles: Cycle on the Recycled: A $9 Cardboard Bike Set to Enter Production in Israel Julie Ma August 2, 2012 • 12:30 pm PDT The last time your purchased something made entirely from cardboard, chances are it was a box to pack up your belongings. While the sturdy material is perfect for moving your stuff, an inventor from Israel has figured out a way to make cardboard move you. Using nine dollars worth of materials, bicycle enthusiast Izhar Gafni has created a fully functioning, water-resistant bicycle, made, from seat to spokes, entirely of recycled cardboard. The technology makes the environmentalist's choice mode of transportation even a bit greener and easier on the wallet. The all cardboard bike is shockingly durable: it can carry riders who weigh up to 485 pounds. A layer of coating atop the cardboard shields the bike from the elements and gives the finished product the look and feel of lightweight plastic. While the cost to make the bicycle ranges from nine to twelve dollars, the manufacturer expects to sell the vehicle for sixty to ninety dollars depending on the optional addition of an electric motor. “It's going to be a game-changer in the bike world,” says Giora Kariv, an Israeli artist and a longtime friend of Gafni's who made a documentary about the project. “Like Henry Ford who made the car available to anybody, this bike is going to be cheap and available to any child in the world, including children in Africa who walk dozens of miles to school everyday.” According to Kariv's documentary, Gafni's cardboard bicycle was inspired by news that an inventor had succesfully built a cardboard canoe. Gafni's bike design was initially deemed "impossible" by three engineers, but over the course of three years, Gafni proved triumphant. He has since made four different prototypes and even created a training bike for youth using origami techniques to mold and strengthen the material. Gafni's next steps involve establishing a company to produce and distribute his cardboard creation to the world market. He's currently working with investors to have the product ready for mass-production and worldwide distribution by next year. <iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/37584656?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="400" height="300" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe> The CARDBOARD BICYCLE PROJECT The Cardboard Bicycle Project is a new, revolutionary and green concept that produces bicycles which are made of durable recycled cardboard. ERB is an active partner who manages all the business and financial aspects. The first commercial model of bicycles is designed for large companies as a vehicle for the employees and to large cities as a cheap, light-weight vehicle and parallel to it the electric model is being developed. The Cardboard Bicycle can withstand water and humidity, coated with a strong layer of brown and white material, making the finished product look like it is made of hard lightweight plastic and can carry riders weighing up to 220 kilograms. The cost to make the bicycle is around $9-$12 and the manufacturer expects that the cost to the consumer would be around $60-$90 depending on what parts they choose to add on. ERB leads the world wide business activity of Cardboard Bicycle in Israel and abroad. Q&A's: What was the biggest challenge in working with cardboard? The biggest challenge of the cardboard bikes development was to learn and develop a whole new know how and SWOT in regards to the Cardboard material. What did you learn from the experience? What start up nation learned: Nothing is impossible! Is it patented? All know how, working and production techniques are closed within multi claims IP. How far along is the development of the product? The development started 3 years ago, since there was no know how in regards to the Cardboard material, first 2 years were devoted to learn the properties and behavior from all aspects of engineering tools, strength calculation and analysis, and establishment of the IP that protects all this know how. Do you have a manufacturing and marketing plan already in place? We did not put together any marketing plan since we understand that this task will have to be planned with our strategic partner that we look for now. We know for sure that designing the shield with the Logo of a city, company or any entity we will gather with, will bring his power of marketing and PR that will help market the product. We have other products in our future pipeline as wheel chairs, baby carriage and more. Does the company currently have any assets? The real asset of the company is the unique know how and IP which includes all aspects of strengths and weaknesses calculations of the raw material, fire and waterproof techniques and the ability to produce almost any product such as furniture's, wheel chairs etc'. When will the company get toythe point where it is manufacturing? The Company now raises $750K that will bring the company after one year of operations to a full and detailed manufacturing plans for the first 2 platforms. The commercial bikes for companies and cities (BOM – $10, 9 KG), and the kids bike (BOM - $3, 1.5 KG). These models will be almost 100% recycled materials and will have the options of adding an electric motor. At this stage we have only the prototype for the commercial bikes as shown on the video (serial production for the adult bikes with or without the electric motor). I look forward to the conversation this might start. Thank you for your time and thoughtful consideration of these possibilities. Matt

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Re: [TheThinkTank] Thethinktank Digest, Vol 72, Issue 3
by Laurie Hanselmann 01 Aug '12

01 Aug '12

At the Bike Depot in Denver we have a recycling service that employs developmentally disabled adults that picks up all our recycling (the city does not do this for free for businesses). We set up a deal where give them both our tires and our metal recycling, so we all break even (pretty much) and don't have to pay anything. We give our tubes to Green Guru, and they give us used tire liners they are donated. We have a good thing going on now, but it has taken years to finally find a solution for tires. The recycling places around here charge the same for a bike tire as a car tire! On Wed, Aug 1, 2012 at 12:04 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: Tires (Chris Chan) > 2. Re: Tires (Mark Rehder) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Wed, 1 Aug 2012 11:50:11 -0600 > From: Chris Chan <chris.chan(a)edmontonbikes.ca> > To: The Think Tank <thethinktank(a)lists.bikecollectives.org> > Subject: Re: [TheThinkTank] Tires > Message-ID: > < > CABvfKSr7Jx5sDC4CgCaP0+UFN90kNwMgJX2-umaws-9dCStSGA(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > > In Alberta, the Alberta Recycling Management Authority takes tubes and > tires for rubber recycling. So we have tire recycling cages located at both > of our shops. (Part of the reason they're able to offer the service is > because of us: the retail bike shops don't throw out nearly as many tires > as us.) > > For details about how they do it (if you want to get tire recycling in your > own region), contact them. > > > http://www.albertarecycling.ca/BasicContent.aspx?id=1864&ekmensel=a681a8bf_… > > > On Wed, Aug 1, 2012 at 11:35 AM, Godwin ! <goodgodwin(a)hotmail.com> wrote: > > > ok. > > > > <http://thegodwin.ca/cantire.jpg> > > > > > > Also, I think this place actually makes money off of tube recycling: > > http://www.greengurugear.com/recycling.html > > > > > > .g > > > > > > ------------------------------ > > From: veganboyjosh(a)gmail.com > > Date: Wed, 1 Aug 2012 13:05:38 -0400 > > > > To: thethinktank(a)lists.bikecollectives.org > > Subject: Re: [TheThinkTank] Tires > > > > if anyone ever figures out some way to make money collecting bicycle > > tires, one of you Canadian shops should print up some bicycle tire money. > > > > > > > > On Wed, Aug 1, 2012 at 1:01 PM, Godwin ! <goodgodwin(a)hotmail.com> wrote: > > > > For those in Canada, MEC will (or at least used to) take tires to > > recycle. I've heard that REI and even Costco have a similar program in > some > > communities in the US. > > > > .g > > > > > > ------------------------------ > > Date: Wed, 1 Aug 2012 10:54:42 -0600 > > From: gzuphoesdown(a)gmail.com > > To: thethinktank(a)lists.bikecollectives.org > > Subject: Re: [TheThinkTank] Tires > > > > > > You can burn them to heat your home in winter. They burn a long time. > > > > > > On Wed, Aug 1, 2012 at 10:52 AM, Ann Altstatt <annaltstatt(a)gmail.com > >wrote: > > > > Our local dump used to accept them in the rubber recycling-- now it's car > > tires only! We have a build up, as well. . . trying to figure out a new > > plan. > > ann > > c/o SC Bike Church > > > > On Tue, Jul 31, 2012 at 10:34 PM, mnativeone(a)gmail.com < > > mnativeone(a)gmail.com> wrote: > > > > Try Les Swabb Tire dealer. > > > > Most Tire dealers Recycle them Free. > > > > Mike > > > > Bike Partners > > Olympia , WA > > > > > > > > > > *-------Original Message-------* > > > > *From:* Andrew L <breathingplanet(a)gmail.com> > > *Date:* 7/30/2012 6:02:35 PM > > *To:* The Think Tank <thethinktank(a)lists.bikecollectives.org> > > *Subject:* [TheThinkTank] Tires > > > > hey all! > > > > i know this has been a thread some time ago, but i would like some > > sounding off on what folks are doing to dispose of OR upcycle spent > tires. > > > > we have a build up!! > > > > thanks for the help in advance! > > > > Andrew > > Troy Bike Rescue > > Troy, NY > > > > -- > > ------__o > > ----_`\<,_ > > ---(_)/ (_) > > andrew lynn 518-573-7947 > > > > > > > > > > ------------------------------ > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Thethinktank mailing list > > Thethinktank(a)lists.bikecollectives.org > > To unsubscribe, send a blank email to > > TheThinkTank-leave(a)bikecollectives.org > > To manage your subscription, plase visit: > > > > > http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.… > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > 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.… > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ 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.… > > > > > > > -- > Christopher Chan > *Executive Director* > Edmonton Bicycle Commuters' Society > 10047 80 Ave (entrance in rear lane) > Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T6E 1T4 > edmontonbikes.ca > *w:* (780) 433-2453 || *c:* (780) 700-5564 >

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Insurance
by Thomas Labenski 01 Aug '12

01 Aug '12

Hi, I'm in the process of starting up (information gathering stage) what does everyone do about liability insurance for volunteers and bikes that have been repaired? Thanks Tom L.

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Tires
by Andrew L 01 Aug '12

01 Aug '12

hey all! i know this has been a thread some time ago, but i would like some sounding off on what folks are doing to dispose of OR upcycle spent tires. we have a build up!! thanks for the help in advance! Andrew Troy Bike Rescue Troy, NY -- ------__o ----_`\<,_ ---(_)/ (_) andrew lynn 518-573-7947

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northeast - who wants/needs surplus bikes?
by Andrew L 30 Jul '12

30 Jul '12

hi Think tank, we at Troy Bike Rescue are reaching out to see if any other collectives in the northeast need bikes. we are currently taking in way more bikes than we can put out, and are bursting at the seams. our pile has been pretty well culled so there is little to no 'junk', just very usable bikes in need of repairs. we would be looking for someone to come with a trailer or moving truck and take anywhere from 10-100 bikes, depending on your need. please help by spreading the word, and be in touch by emailing me or calling the collective number at 518-FAT4TBR -- ps. dont forget! Bike!Bike! Northeast :: Troy, NY :: September 29 & 30 Andrew TBR Troy, NY -- ------__o ----_`\<,_ ---(_)/ (_) andrew lynn 518-573-7947

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Kids Programming
by MoBo Bicycle Co-op 25 Jul '12

25 Jul '12

Dear Collective Genius: MoBo runs a Kids Day program in the summer and we wanted to know how a few other co-ops ran similiar programs. Our program works like this: We are an all volunteer run program but we have a paid coordinator who runs Kids Day. It's one day a week and kids must have a parent sign a waiver form. We will work with kids to fix up their own bikes and we have an earn-a-bike program for kids who need a bike. Kids are asked to work with our gardens program to work in the gardens, including weeding, turning compost, picking fruit, planting, learning how to build an oven using solar energy--things like that. However, we have a couple questions that we are wondering if the Collective Genius could help us with. They are: 1) Our program has exploded in this, our fifth year. We normally have 15 kids a day at kids day. This year,we 've been having over 40 or 50 on site. And because we are volunteer run, we do not have enough volunteers to watch all the kids or get bikes out to every kid who wants one. Has anyone ran a program with this many kids before? The amount of kids has also lead to lots of fighting and arguing with mechanics and, sadly, bike theft. How has, or would, your organization handle this situation? We do have activities for kids to do while they wait. For example, this year two science teachers come down and do experiements with the kids and we try to get some of them to go to the Patch a Tube station to learn how to patch their own tires. 2) How do you keep your kids activties going year around? We would like to keep this going as clearly there is a huge demand that has built up over the years and through our marketing program. Most of our kids are from our neighborhood so having something like this year around gives them options for safe and fun places to be. 3) How do you encourage bike safety? Helmets are uncool with our set and although we distribute them, we find them discarded later. Because we are located in a high traffic area where many accidents do occur, we would love to encourage kids to wear helmets. Whew that's a lot! Thank you for listening and for any advice or input! Ellie Nava-Jones and Judi LoPresti Getting Kids on Bikes Enthusiasts -- MoBo Bicycle Cooperative a project of The Village Green Foundation 1415 Knowlton St. Cincinnati, OH www.mobobicyclecoop.org

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Please help if you can.
by Plan B 24 Jul '12

24 Jul '12

Okay y'all, here's the deal. http://outdoors.maker.good.is/projects/bikeproject We're in the running for a $5,000 vote based grant. If we get it, we're giving away 100 re-cycled bikes along with lights, patch kits, and a basic maintenance class. We're teaming up with our local advocacy group ( www.bikeasy.org )for the selection process to make sure it goes to the needy and underserved of New Orleans. We have been fluctuating between #1 and #4 out of 115 entries. The grant is supposed to be for "Social justice in the outdoors". Not to shit talk, but currently in first place is "The Epitome Project", which is noble, BUT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE OUTDOORS. I really don't mind if the garden project or the rock climbing project win, but the fact that project to fund musicians on the other side of the planet is in a dead heat with projects that do work with much larger local impact (and actually fit the grant competition category) is a little bothersome. Could you vote for us (or whoever you think will do the most good with the money?) The easiest way is with facebook. Doing it with email is fine too, but you have to confirm your vote afterwards. Here's the link again. http://outdoors.maker.good.is/projects/bikeproject Their website can be a little sluggish at times. Please be patient. Also, if you could spread the word, I'd really, really love y'all for it! Just cut and paste on your Facebook platform! See you at BikeBikeX in New Orleans 2013!!!!!!!! Thanks so much for reading this!!!! <http://outdoors.maker.good.is/projects/bikeproject> -- Victor Pizarro Project Organizer Plan B, The New Orleans Community Bike Project

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Bike Valet/Bike Parking services hourly rates?
by Ryan Kragerud 18 Jul '12

18 Jul '12

Bicycle Longmont jumped into the Bike Valet service field in 2010. Last year it really took off and this year is no exception. We are currently being asked to provide this service (previously for free) at many special events. We currently offer this service for free at Longmont's Farmers' Market where we park upwards to 175 bikes every saturday between 7am & 1pm. We don't have the volunteer capacity to handle all the events that are requesting our highly successful service. Also since providing the service it appears bike parking is becoming a "communitywide value". At any rate, like you, we're a cash strapped 501c3 and wondered who of the ThinkTank are charging for this service and what are your rates? Afterall it takes time and money to do good in the neighborhood! BTW we'd continue providing the Farmers' Market for free but would require anyone wanting to work a special event to have prior experience volunteering with our Farmers' Market, first. Thanks, Ryan Kragerud - President Bicycle Longmont

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Re: [TheThinkTank] Shop software
by christopher＠holisticcycles.com 16 Jul '12

16 Jul '12

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The true test of society is how well it treats its prisoners and old people.
by Jonathan Morrison 13 Jul '12

13 Jul '12

"By pedaling the prison's stationary bikes, the inmates charge a battery that's used to power 10 street lamps along the town's riverside promenade. For every three eight-hour days they spend on the bikes, [they] get one day shaved off their sentences." http://news.yahoo.com/inmates-brazilian-jail-cycle-freedom-165006870.html Sincerely, Jonathan Morrison c: 801-688-0183

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Two Job Openings @ Sopo Bike Coop!
by tito ＠ sopo bike co-op 05 Jul '12

05 Jul '12

Contact: Tito Sands 678.907.3892 tito(a)sopobikes.org July 5, 2012 – Sopo is looking to hire a Part time Volunteer Coordinator and a Full time Executive Director. Job descriptions are in the body of this message. Individuals who are interested should email their resume plus cover letter, as well as any inquiries, to tito(a)sopobikes.org. Applications are due on July 27th for the Volunteer Coordinator position and on August 24th for the Executive Director position. Sopo Bicycle Cooperative is now located in Grant Park at 586 Woodward Avenue SE, Atlanta, GA 30312. Sopo Bicycle Cooperative is a 501(c)3 nonprofit bicycle repair workshop. Sopo's mission is to create equitable access to bicycling by providing affordable bicycle maintenance services and education. All donations to Sopo are tax deductible. The shop is located at 586 Woodward Avenue SE, Atlanta, GA 30312. Operating hours are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights from 7 pm until 10 pm and Saturday and Sunday afternoons from 2 pm until 5 pm. Visit www.sopobikes.org for more information. Title: Status: Salary: The Program Coordinator of Sopo Bicycle Cooperative reports to the Board of Directors, and is responsible for the organization's consistent functioning of its shop and various educational, outreach, and bicycle repair activities conducted throughout the year. The volunteer coordinator’s responsibilities are as follows: Develops and implements methods for coordination and retention of volunteers; Ensures all programs are fully staffed with volunteers: Open Shop Hours, Volunteer Coordinator Part-Time [(average 20-25 hours/week)] $14,000 Summer Youth program, Bike There!, Charity Bikes, Bike 101 classes; Schedules and advertises Bike 101 classes and other classes; Recruits and screens volunteers for appropriate role placement; Identifies key volunteer roles and places volunteers in these roles; Identifies strong volunteers for shop manager role and other roles; Organizes and facilitates monthly new volunteer orientations; Creates and maintains relative volunteer signage and documents; Provides leadership in volunteer opportunity development; Bikes 201; Volunteer Orientation 2.0; Publicizes volunteer needs for special events; Organizes and supervises volunteers for special events (i.e., Artbikes, BHBP); Ensures that expenditures are within budget guidelines (created by board) and reflect sound financial practices; Manages and resolves conflicts as needed; Removes problem visitors as appropriate and consistent with Sopo policies and principles; Maintains regular and timely communication with volunteers, Board and the Executive Director; Maintains volunteer sign-in book, volunteer newsletter, volunteer information data base (contact, skills, commitment, etc.); Develops and hosts volunteer appreciation activities; Maintains a climate in the Shop and at Sopo events that attracts, keeps, and motivates a diverse crew of top quality staff and volunteers (shared with ED); and Sees that an effective shop management team, with appropriate provision for succession, is in place (shared with ED). Required skills and experience: Bicycle maintenance skills, 2 years of significant volunteer experience at Sopo, excellent communication skills, experience in conflict resolution, experience in personnel management, and a deep commitment to Sopo's values. Bilingual Spanish/English is a plus. Title: Status: Salary: The Executive Director is the Chief Executive Officer of Sopo Bicycle Cooperative. The Executive Director reports to the Board of Directors, and is responsible for the organization's consistent achievement of its mission and financial objectives. Sopo’s Executive Director’s responsibilities are as follows: Serve as the public face of the organization along with Board members; attend local community meetings, participate in local bike politics, represent organization at regional and national conferences; Work with the staff, Finance Committee, and the board in preparing a budget; see Executive Director Full-Time $28,000 (+ stipend for benefits) that the organization operates within budget guidelines; Be responsible for developing and maintaining sound financial practices ; Assure that the organization effectively implements its long-range strategy which achieves its mission, and toward which it makes consistent and timely progress; Develop and implement fundraising regime; engage funds providers and sustain beneficial partnerships, organize fundraising events; submit grants; ensure that adequate funds are available to permit the organization to carry out its work (in coordination w/ Board); Maintain program oversight; provide support for Volunteer Coordinator, ensure programs are sustainable by providing organizational support for Programs; Provide leadership in program development; explore means to better provide equitable, practical and affordable [bicycle repair and education] services; Demonstrate continuity of community engagement through internal and external communication; participate in monthly meetings; keep Board informed on a timely basis of all information relevant to the governance of Sopo; publicize events and programs; Provide organizational stability by maintaining official records and documents, and ensure compliance with federal, state and local regulations; create bi-annual reports for Board; Jointly, with the president and secretary of the board of directors, conduct official correspondence of the organization, and jointly, with designated officers, execute legal documents; Maintain a climate in the Shop and at Sopo events that attracts, keeps, and motivates a diverse crew of top quality staff and volunteers (shared with Volunteer Coordinator); and See that an effective shop management team, with appropriate provision for succession, is in place (shared with Volunteer Coordinator). Required skills and experience: Basic bicycle maintenance skills, 2 years of significant volunteer experience at Sopo or another local focused nonprofit service based organization, excellent communication skills, social media skills, intermediate computer skills, experience in conflict resolution, experience in personnel management, budgeting skills, fundraising experience, grant writing experience and a deep commitment to Sopo's values. Bilingual Spanish/English is a plus. END tito @ SOPO Bikes 1270 Caroline St NE Ste D120-392 Atlanta, GA 30307 cell. 678.907.3892 www.sopobikes.org Our mission is to create equitable access to cycling by providing affordable bicycle maintenance, services and education.

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Re: [TheThinkTank] Shop software
by Godwin ! 05 Jul '12

05 Jul '12

I’ve also had reservations about going with a web-based system but in the end I think it’s the most adaptable solution. I’m not worrying about hardware integration for now, I’m pretty sure anything is possible but I think that would be far down the list of requirements for most shops that need free software. It will be open source and modular, so there won’t be a single point person for the entire system, I’ll do my best to set up a good environment for users to interact with the developers and for developers to provide documentation. This is a bit of an experiment but I have far more faith in open and crowd sourcing technologies than I do having a long term individual or group in charge (including myself). Thanks! .g From: Jonathan Morrison Sent: Monday, July 02, 2012 3:49:13 PM To: The Think Tank Subject: Re: [TheThinkTank] Shop software Godwin, Will it be able to swipe credit card? Interface with a cash drawer? Or scan a UPC? My concern with any web-based system is that you don't have access to the necessary lower level hardware of a useful POS system. Also, how much will you be charging for tech support, or what level of on-going support can users expect? Or will use be at your own risk with no implied support? Name Suggestion: PIF - Pedaling/Paying It Forward Sincerely, Jonathan Morrison c: 801-688-0183 On Mon, Jul 2, 2012 at 2:33 PM, Ryan Sharpe <sharpe(a)sacbikekitchen.org> wrote: At the risk of being too family-unfriendly, gratuitously offensive to Godwin's herculean task, and over-aware of the cobbled-together nature of some of our various operations, I'd be tickled if it were named "That POS". --Ryan S. On Mon, Jul 2, 2012 at 1:13 PM, summitcyclingcenter(a)yahoo.com <summitcyclingcenter(a)yahoo.com> wrote: I Appreciate what you are doing. Name-I suggest Velocomp POS. Sent from my HTC EVO Design™ 4G from Boost Mobile ----- Reply message ----- From: "Godwin !" <goodgodwin(a)hotmail.com> To: "The Think Tank" <thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org> Subject: [TheThinkTank] Shop software Date: Sun, Jul 1, 2012 6:50 pm Trying to squeeze in the extra time this week to open up to developers soon but first: Non-technical Nominate a name! Right now the code name I'm using is 'Samara' after the fruit that a maple tree produces but I'd like to hear better ideas if anyone has them (and maybe get some sort of consensus) Will my shop / organization be able to use it? Yes. The intention is to make everything completely customizable so that it can work with the way your organization does, although I'm not going to promote it over any of the other options It will be web-based and (if required) compatible with Wordpress, Joomla, and Drupal and eventually hopefully IPad and Android. Setting it up to work offline will also be possible. What will it do? The focus at the beginning is to create a point of sale system, after that I'd like to implement other features from news feeds to keep everyone informed to budget planning and audit modules (everything will be optional) Whatever else you can dream of and find someone to help build Why are you doing this? To create a common tool that will work for everyone's needs, so that we can combine our efforts where we can and diverge when we need to Because I like software development and especially interesting projects Not to overshadow other people's efforts such as freehub When will it be ready? No clue. I've made a number of promises in the past but I realized that I really need to stop making them, we all know what volunteering is like Don't wait for it if you need something now, there's lots of other tools out there and if you eventually want to switch we may be able to work together to get that done. Check out: http://erply.com/, http://www.merchantos.com/, and of course https://github.com/asalant/freehub/wiki/ How to get involved GIVE IT A NAME! - It's likely that your shop name will be more prominent (if this name is even visible at all) but it would be nice to have something to call it when downloading or when talking amongst ourselves Design a logo - You might want to wait for the name Otherwise wait for my next email (but don't hold your breath), I'll be setting up a development environment so that people can jump on as they can. We'll be more in need of experienced PHP developers in the beginning stages to round out the framework, less experienced developers can hop on in the later stages to build modules and themes. Feel free to send questions or feedback (critical or otherwise) directly to me if you'd like, .godwin _______________________________________________ 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.… -- Sacramento Bicycle Kitchen http://sacbikekitchen.org/ 1915 I Street, Midtown Sacramento Open Tu 6-9p, We 6-9p, Th 6-9p, Fr 10a-2p (kids 6-8p), Sa 12-4p _______________________________________________ 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] Thethinktank Digest, Vol 71, Issue 3
by Jenna Johns-Yu 03 Jul '12

03 Jul '12

Recycle-A-Bike, Providence, uses a system to track volunteer contact info, time volunteering in the shop, points, cash flow and program info. We designed it from file maker. We would be happy to make a copy of the file for anyone who is interested in using it in their community shop. You would need to purchase filemaker. It is backed up with carbonite so if our computer crashes we can resave it into the system. It isn't connected with any credit card machine.

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Re: [TheThinkTank] Shop software
by summitcyclingcenter＠yahoo.com 02 Jul '12

02 Jul '12

I Appreciate what you are doing. Name-I suggest Velocomp POS. Sent from my HTC EVO Design™ 4G from Boost Mobile ----- Reply message ----- From: "Godwin !" <goodgodwin(a)hotmail.com> To: "The Think Tank" <thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org> Subject: [TheThinkTank] Shop software Date: Sun, Jul 1, 2012 6:50 pm Trying to squeeze in the extra time this week to open up to developers soon but first: Non-technicalNominate a name!Right now the code name I'm using is 'Samara' after the fruit that a maple tree produces but I'd like to hear better ideas if anyone has them (and maybe get some sort of consensus)Will my shop / organization be able to use it?Yes. The intention is to make everything completely customizable so that it can work with the way your organization does, although I'm not going to promote it over any of the other options It will be web-based and (if required) compatible with Wordpress, Joomla, and Drupal and eventually hopefully IPad and Android. Setting it up to work offline will also be possible.What will it do?The focus at the beginning is to create a point of sale system, after that I'd like to implement other features from news feeds to keep everyone informed to budget planning and audit modules (everything will be optional)Whatever else you can dream of and find someone to help buildWhy are you doing this?To create a common tool that will work for everyone's needs, so that we can combine our efforts where we can and diverge when we need toBecause I like software development and especially interesting projectsNot to overshadow other people's efforts such as freehubWhen will it be ready?No clue. I've made a number of promises in the past but I realized that I really need to stop making them, we all know what volunteering is likeDon't wait for it if you need something now, there's lots of other tools out there and if you eventually want to switch we may be able to work together to get that done.Check out: http://erply.com/, http://www.merchantos.com/, and of course https://github.com/asalant/freehub/wiki/ How to get involved GIVE IT A NAME! - It's likely that your shop name will be more prominent (if this name is even visible at all) but it would be nice to have something to call it when downloading or when talking amongst ourselvesDesign a logo - You might want to wait for the name Otherwise wait for my next email (but don't hold your breath), I'll be setting up a development environment so that people can jump on as they can. We'll be more in need of experienced PHP developers in the beginning stages to round out the framework, less experienced developers can hop on in the later stages to build modules and themes. Feel free to send questions or feedback (critical or otherwise) directly to me if you'd like,.godwin

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Re: [TheThinkTank] Shop software
by Godwin ! 02 Jul '12

02 Jul '12

I think this is hilarious and I’m not offended, however I would personally lean towards not calling it a point of sale system since it should be able to act as more of an overall management tool for organizations that want it, but I will not stand in the way of the crowd if we start leaning towards that direction for names. .g From: Ryan Sharpe Sent: Monday, July 02, 2012 2:33:54 PM To: The Think Tank Subject: Re: [TheThinkTank] Shop software At the risk of being too family-unfriendly, gratuitously offensive to Godwin's herculean task, and over-aware of the cobbled-together nature of some of our various operations, I'd be tickled if it were named "That POS". --Ryan S. On Mon, Jul 2, 2012 at 1:13 PM, summitcyclingcenter(a)yahoo.com <summitcyclingcenter(a)yahoo.com> wrote: I Appreciate what you are doing. Name-I suggest Velocomp POS. Sent from my HTC EVO Design™ 4G from Boost Mobile ----- Reply message ----- From: "Godwin !" <goodgodwin(a)hotmail.com> To: "The Think Tank" <thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org> Subject: [TheThinkTank] Shop software Date: Sun, Jul 1, 2012 6:50 pm Trying to squeeze in the extra time this week to open up to developers soon but first: Non-technical Nominate a name! Right now the code name I'm using is 'Samara' after the fruit that a maple tree produces but I'd like to hear better ideas if anyone has them (and maybe get some sort of consensus) Will my shop / organization be able to use it? Yes. The intention is to make everything completely customizable so that it can work with the way your organization does, although I'm not going to promote it over any of the other options It will be web-based and (if required) compatible with Wordpress, Joomla, and Drupal and eventually hopefully IPad and Android. Setting it up to work offline will also be possible. What will it do? The focus at the beginning is to create a point of sale system, after that I'd like to implement other features from news feeds to keep everyone informed to budget planning and audit modules (everything will be optional) Whatever else you can dream of and find someone to help build Why are you doing this? To create a common tool that will work for everyone's needs, so that we can combine our efforts where we can and diverge when we need to Because I like software development and especially interesting projects Not to overshadow other people's efforts such as freehub When will it be ready? No clue. I've made a number of promises in the past but I realized that I really need to stop making them, we all know what volunteering is like Don't wait for it if you need something now, there's lots of other tools out there and if you eventually want to switch we may be able to work together to get that done. Check out: http://erply.com/, http://www.merchantos.com/, and of course https://github.com/asalant/freehub/wiki/ How to get involved GIVE IT A NAME! - It's likely that your shop name will be more prominent (if this name is even visible at all) but it would be nice to have something to call it when downloading or when talking amongst ourselves Design a logo - You might want to wait for the name Otherwise wait for my next email (but don't hold your breath), I'll be setting up a development environment so that people can jump on as they can. We'll be more in need of experienced PHP developers in the beginning stages to round out the framework, less experienced developers can hop on in the later stages to build modules and themes. Feel free to send questions or feedback (critical or otherwise) directly to me if you'd like, .godwin _______________________________________________ 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.… -- Sacramento Bicycle Kitchen http://sacbikekitchen.org/ 1915 I Street, Midtown Sacramento Open Tu 6-9p, We 6-9p, Th 6-9p, Fr 10a-2p (kids 6-8p), Sa 12-4p

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Shop software
by Godwin ! 01 Jul '12

01 Jul '12

Trying to squeeze in the extra time this week to open up to developers soon but first: Non-technicalNominate a name!Right now the code name I'm using is 'Samara' after the fruit that a maple tree produces but I'd like to hear better ideas if anyone has them (and maybe get some sort of consensus)Will my shop / organization be able to use it?Yes. The intention is to make everything completely customizable so that it can work with the way your organization does, although I'm not going to promote it over any of the other options It will be web-based and (if required) compatible with Wordpress, Joomla, and Drupal and eventually hopefully IPad and Android. Setting it up to work offline will also be possible.What will it do?The focus at the beginning is to create a point of sale system, after that I'd like to implement other features from news feeds to keep everyone informed to budget planning and audit modules (everything will be optional)Whatever else you can dream of and find someone to help buildWhy are you doing this?To create a common tool that will work for everyone's needs, so that we can combine our efforts where we can and diverge when we need toBecause I like software development and especially interesting projectsNot to overshadow other people's efforts such as freehubWhen will it be ready?No clue. I've made a number of promises in the past but I realized that I really need to stop making them, we all know what volunteering is likeDon't wait for it if you need something now, there's lots of other tools out there and if you eventually want to switch we may be able to work together to get that done.Check out: http://erply.com/, http://www.merchantos.com/, and of course https://github.com/asalant/freehub/wiki/ How to get involved GIVE IT A NAME! - It's likely that your shop name will be more prominent (if this name is even visible at all) but it would be nice to have something to call it when downloading or when talking amongst ourselvesDesign a logo - You might want to wait for the name Otherwise wait for my next email (but don't hold your breath), I'll be setting up a development environment so that people can jump on as they can. We'll be more in need of experienced PHP developers in the beginning stages to round out the framework, less experienced developers can hop on in the later stages to build modules and themes. Feel free to send questions or feedback (critical or otherwise) directly to me if you'd like,.godwin

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Woman with 2 years experience seeking work in non-profit bike shop
by Christine Hill 28 Jun '12

28 Jun '12

Hi all! My name is Christine Hill, and in August I'll wrap up two years of Americorps service at Bike Recycle Vermont<http://www.localmotion.org/programs/bikerecycle/>, a non-profit bike shop in Burlington, Vermont that accepts donated bikes, refurbishes them, and provides them to low-income Vermonters. I've learned so much as the assistant manager of our shop in the past two years and I've continuously drawn energy and inspiration from the work we do here. After 5 years in Vermont, I'm looking for a change in scenery but would love to work in a similar setting. My job responsibilities at Bike Recycle Vermont run the gamut of small, non-profit bike shop management: bike repair and maintenance, volunteer recruitment and management, long-term project planning, event planning, project management, communications and marketing, safety education, program development, running an Earn-A-Bike program, hosting Women and Trans nights, hosting Community Shop Nights, organizing bike rides, and more. My resume and references are available upon request. Just wanted to put the feelers out there. If you know your organization will be hiring in the fall or winter, shoot me a line, I'd love to chat with you! Take care, Christine Hill christine(a)localmotion.org (339)223-0722

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Bike ambassador program
by Neil Walker 25 Jun '12

25 Jun '12

We are about to launch our Bike Ambassador program for Youth. I am looking for "best practices" , Advice or suggestion for the program. I had the pleasure of seeing the program in action in Minnesota. Any and all with experience, please contribute through the collective or send an email to neil(a)atlantabike.org. Neil Walker Bicycle Education League Certified Instructor #2935 678.200.2182 Join today to support Atlanta's voice for better biking. www.atlantabike.org Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

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Re: [TheThinkTank] 'Youth Mechanics' analytical thinking skills program
by christopher＠holisticcycles.com 25 Jun '12

25 Jun '12

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Re: [TheThinkTank] (Physically) small bike shops/spaces?
by christopher＠holisticcycles.com 22 Jun '12

22 Jun '12

3 2