At the Bike Farm we're actually struggling to find volunteer mechanics for our meager 2-hour every other week W&T night. We want to have that night so bad but can't get an experienced mechanic to commit to it.
How have y'all managed to find folks to staff those nights? Did you have to recruit or did they approach you?
On Thu, Apr 2, 2009 at 6:12 AM, Kathleen Banville kathleenmachine@gmail.com wrote:
also people who are asking "why should there be a women and trans only space, excluding men?" should ask themselves these questions before putting the responsibility on the people using that space/time to explain. think of how many times we are asked to explain this. yes discussion is very important, but the conversation can happen between boys only or a mix of genders or anyone really. i feel, as a woman who uses women & trans only time at bike shops, that we are asked the same questions over and over. the answers are out there, please be an ally and do some research before expecting us to have the hour and a half discussion with you.
thanks Josh for scanning the zine and sharing it! it was Bike Bike! last year that gave Bike Pirates the final push to put women and trans only hours into effect and we just extended our hours from 4 to 6 hours every week. we have definitely increased the scope of new participants and created some much needed dialogue around oppression. we have now founded an anti-oppression committee, are drafting a policy around this, and planning a volunteer retreat in order to have workshops on important issues other than the bike mechanic side of our group. looking forward to sharing the results with everyone at Bike Bike! this year.
peace, kathleen bike pirates/ community bicycle network toronto canada