- TheThinkTank - lists.bikecollectives.org

IRS Questions
by Kelly Martin 04 Mar '11

04 Mar '11

We are looking for any bike co-ops that have tax-exempt status as a public charity under Section 501(c)(3) of the tax code. Basically, we have run into a question as to whether and to what extent we may make retail sales of bikes, bike parts and accessories as part of our regular operations without (i) paying income tax (as unrelated business taxable income) and (ii) otherwise affecting our tax-exempt status. Does your co-op sell bikes, bike parts and/or accessories directly to the public without those sales being part of your educational program? In addition, are there any co-ops out there who are associated or operated in tandem with a for-profit business. This would be structured so that the for-profit business supports the not-for-profit entity. Finally, we are assuming that most co-ops with tax-exempt status received their charitable status for education purposes. Are there any co-ops out there which have received tax-exempt status on another basis? The Bicycle Kitchen is a 501c3 nonprofit under the educational category. Thank you! Kelly Martin, Operations Facilitator The Bicycle Kitchen/La Bicicocina 706 N. Heliotrope Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90029 W 323.NOCARRO | M 213.210.5631 kelly(a)bicyclekitchen.com | www.bicyclekitchen.com http://www.bicicocina.blogspot.com

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Subscribe
by Ron Kellis 01 Mar '11

01 Mar '11

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Free Ride is searching to hire an outreach clerk for youth programming
by William Wedler 19 Feb '11

19 Feb '11

Hey everyone, A part-time position has been created at Free Ride in Pittsburgh and we are searching to hire somebody to fill the role. The position will take care of administrative tasks related to the youth summer programs, allowing instructors to focus on teaching and strengthening our ability to work with outside groups. Please see the attached PDF for more details. (Also on the blog post: http://freeridepgh.org/2011/02/18/hiring-outreach-clerk-for-summer-2011/) Thanks, Will

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BiciBici regional conference!!! Yaaayyy!!!
by Sarah McCullough 16 Feb '11

16 Feb '11

Attention all West Coasters and whoever wants to visit the fair town of Davis, California! The Davis Bike Collective will be hosting BiciBici, a regional version of Bike!Bike! Saturday and Sunday, April 2-3! In Davis, California, famous for making the first bike lanes in the U.S. and for being a super bike-friendly town. To register and for more information go to http://davisbikecollective.org/bicibici-2011. We have lots of fun stuff planned, including workshops, delicious meals, bike dashes, good music, and bike fixin. Plus a private tour of the U.S. Bicycling Hall of Fame and Museum, recently relocated to Davis. Ever wanted to see a 100 year old bike? Yeah, we got some. The first BiciBici was hosted last year at the Bike Church in Santa Cruz and we had such a good time, we decided to host it this year. So let us know if you are coming and we'll arrange housing and food and all that fun stuff. Want to lead a workshop? Great! Want to help cook a meal? Or see a dog riding a bicycle? Come to BiciBici! We're also planning a pre-conference bike tour up from the Bay area. Register today! Spokemistress Sarah of the Davis Bike Collective

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injuries in shop
by tito ＠ sopo bike co-op 16 Feb '11

16 Feb '11

we recently faced the issue of one of our core volunteers getting injured in the shop. when the time came to decide about a trip to the hospital it became apparent that the person did not have insurance and could not afford the trip. have other shops faced this situation? do you (the shop) pay for or help pay for medical expenses. the trip would have run anywhere form $300 to $1000. is there a limit that folks have decided on? is it a process of reimbursement? do any shops have insurance that cover such things? any input would be much appreciated. tito @ SOPO Bikes 1270 Caroline St NE Ste D120-392 Atlanta, GA 30307 cell. 678.907.3892 work. 404.635.6367 www.sopobikes.org Our mission is to create equitable access to cycling by providing affordable bicycle maintenance, services and education. On Mon, Feb 14, 2011 at 4:41 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: bike valet question (Angel York) > 2. bike valet question (CAT Director) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Sun, 13 Feb 2011 23:38:01 -0800 > From: Angel York <aniola(a)gmail.com> > To: The Think Tank <thethinktank(a)lists.bikecollectives.org> > Subject: Re: [TheThinkTank] bike valet question > Message-ID: > <AANLkTikz7u8NZVC1+-=WDdCvOSQ00FR5GYd2cs7Vx075(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > > By SC, do you mean Santa Cruz? Are you the fellow I used to cover for so > you could go get vegetables sometimes? I'm glad they're paying you now! > > Here in Davis, bike valet parking happens, but rarely. The campus has some > lightweight racks and the city has some heavy-duty racks, and they lend 'em > out. Both the Davis Bike Collective and Davis Bicycles! have borrowed > them, > but it's kind of an ordeal so they only come out for big occasions. > > I think of Bike Valet Parking as a way to get folks aware of various bike > organizations. > > Angel York > I hail from the Davis (California) Bike Collective > > On Tue, Feb 8, 2011 at 12:21 PM, kyle mckinley <bicirider(a)gmail.com> > wrote: > > > hi, all, > > It's been a while since I posted to this list (though I lurk now and > then), > > and I missed seeing everyone at the last bike!bike!, but I have a quick > > favor to ask: > > > > I'm helping write an article about bike valet services (bike parking at > > events that draw too many bikes to simply lock up) and it occurred to me > > that there are probably lots of folks/ projects doing this as a form of > > outreach that I don't know about. > > > > Here in SC it is most reliable at the farmer's market (where I currently > > get paid to do it -- oogle bikes, chat w/ cyclists, eat veges; pretty > rad). > > I know that the San Francisco Bike Coalition does a lot of this on an > > event-to-event basis. > > > > Other places that you know about? Particularly successful instances? > Anyone > > combining parking with wrenching? > > > > Reply on or off list. > > > > warmly, > > kyle > > > > -- > > If an Easyrider rides easy, then a bicirider rides bici > > > > _______________________________________________ > > 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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Press Coverage: Bike Collective Network
by Jonathan Morrison 15 Feb '11

15 Feb '11

[12.01.10] Bicycle Times (www.bicycletimes.org), Issue 08, Page 18 "Wheel News: Advocacy at Interbike" by Adam Newman "Most of the coverage from Interbike each year is about new companies and new products, but it's not all about the bling. There are seminars to help dealers improve their business, appearances by industry VIPs (this year the keynote address was given by U.S. Representative and Congressional Bike Caucus founder Earl Blumenauer of Oregon) and, of course, representatives from cycling advocacy groups. Here are few of the advocacy organizations at the show that we looked into, and why you should too." Adventure Cycling Association Advocacy Advance Alliance for Biking and Walking Alliance for Walking and Biking Bike Collective Network "A network of community bike shops and programs, the Network allows small entrepreneurs to share and find resources to help them grow. A free Wiki page includes a Bike Collective Starter Kit that walks you through the functional and legal steps to founding your own co-operative. It even includes a full shop manual for helping to answer difficult technical or mechanical questions. www.bikecollectives.org" Bikes Belong Foundation One Street Rails to Trails Conservancy

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We HeArt Bikes Artist Workshops
by reno bikes 14 Feb '11

14 Feb '11

Reno Bike Project and AACT are proud to offer 4 art workshops for anyone who wants to create art from bicycles. Using A.A.C.T.’s state of the art metal workshop and their well trained staff, as well as Reno Bike Projects own creative staff and volunteers we are offering an opportunity to come cut, weld, bend and construct bicycle art. Classes are available to anyone ages 16 older. (younger than 16 must be accompanied by parent) All participants must complete a 30-minute safety class before being allowed to use the workshop, which will be included in the course. For some more cool ideas look here http://www.flickr.com/photos/tlsphoto/sets/72157622846551195/with/417286176… What: We HeArt Bikes Art Workshops Who: Anyone Dates: March 5, 12, 19, 26 Time: 10am-2pm Location: Academy for Arts, Careers and Technology (AACT) 380 Edison Way Reno, NV 89502 Cost: $35/per session – Please pay ahead of time at http://www.renobikeproject.com/index.php/donate/ http://flic.kr/p/9f67Mz http://flic.kr/p/8XJz1f -- www.renobikeproject.com Wed-Sat 11-5 (winter hours) 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 valet question
by kyle mckinley 14 Feb '11

14 Feb '11

hi, all, It's been a while since I posted to this list (though I lurk now and then), and I missed seeing everyone at the last bike!bike!, but I have a quick favor to ask: I'm helping write an article about bike valet services (bike parking at events that draw too many bikes to simply lock up) and it occurred to me that there are probably lots of folks/ projects doing this as a form of outreach that I don't know about. Here in SC it is most reliable at the farmer's market (where I currently get paid to do it -- oogle bikes, chat w/ cyclists, eat veges; pretty rad). I know that the San Francisco Bike Coalition does a lot of this on an event-to-event basis. Other places that you know about? Particularly successful instances? Anyone combining parking with wrenching? Reply on or off list. warmly, kyle -- If an Easyrider rides easy, then a bicirider rides bici

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automated response
by jay 12 Feb '11

12 Feb '11

I'm out of the office Friday 2/11/11, back Monday 2/14. I'll get back to you when I return. Best, Jay Ferm

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Competitive analysis?
by Godwin ! 11 Feb '11

11 Feb '11

So, I have been tasked to perform a competitive analysis of similar organizations by an economist in our group. I'm realizing now that a genuine competitive analysis is probably not exactly what we need but a general survey on many of our shops may be useful to all of us. Since we are gearing up to lobby our university to support a DIY bike shop on campus again, our goal is to see what other similar organizations offer and what it takes to run them so that we can bargain reasonably. This data might also be useful for a number of other reasons to any bike collective. I have put up a draft of a survey, please take a look. (I put this together pretty quickly, the ordering is probably not the best) I am by no means an economist, so some of the terminology could probably be improved, same goes for US specific information. I would eventually like to offer up the data in such a way that any sensitive information could be untied from the organization information to keep information confidential, but I'm not sure of any other way than to simply query me after it is complete, I can also provide a relevant breakdown afterwards. I'm not sure if people would find giving information about income and expenditures too confidential even in that scenario. If it interests you, I would like to hear back about a few things:If you think I'm wasting my timeIf you have any suggested amendments, improvements or additions of any questions or extraction of irrelevant or far too confidential questionsSuggestions for a host other than google forms Thanks everyone,.godwin of the Bike Root

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