Another idea, which just might be too crazy to attempt.
I'm part of our local Slow Food chapter. (slowfoodusa.org) vs local chapter (slowfoodgainesville.org) Slow Food's national organization has all of its legal paperwork straight, and nonprofit status. As a chapter, we only had to apply for our own Federal Employment Identification number (EIN), no crazy paperwork. No long wait from the IRS about nonprofit status. We were immediately up and running.
You can see where i'm headed with this, and this might be crazy...
The idea would be to make bikecollectives.org Its own organization, and allow small groups to apply to be chapters, (or not.) This could potentially make it a lot easier for start up collectives/co-ops. To ask for help from there local governments, police departments, to get the word out...
but then again, this would take an intense amount of effort, and one hell of a BOD. And more than that impeccable organization skills. The more I write, the less likely this seems possible.
Anyways, I'm all for working out some organization on a large scale.
Ex: Last night I received a call about a gentleman who lives in south florida, and runs a nonprofit bike shop, where he takes bikes and fixes them up for kids, (and the local Guatemalan population that is very short and rides kids bicycles.) He can't get rid of adult bikes, no one wants them. If he can he sells them for $10 to at least be able to buy a few tubes for the kids bikes.
(We do not currently have an overstock of bicycles)
Where he lives in South Florida it is impossible to cycle as a method of transportation. The cities are made up of 8-lane highways between neighborhoods, and things are so spaced out. Currently he has three warehouses of adult bicycles (quite a few in very good condition) that he is paying rent on. He is also about to acquire a warehouse space that has 2500 bicycles in it. After talking to one of our members, he is interested in selling/donating them to us.
Next step for me, work out details of how much money/effort is required to purchase/transport the large quantity of bicycles. And a system for distributing them to the collectives nearest us, provided they are interested. (st.Augustine, jacksonville, orlando, tallahasse, maybe savannah?)
vyki
On Sun, May 11, 2008 at 4:14 PM, Vyki Englert vyki.englert@thekickstand.org wrote:
We (Kickstand) contacted Park tools directly, and they offered us a sponsorship price list. We do not yet have nonprofit status, so this was great for us after often being turned down for not having 501(c)(3). Every one seems to want/need the tax write-off. The prices we have through Park are considerably better than wholesale.
Each time we order we have to contact Park again and ask permission to use the price list, and then order within a certain time frame. They explained this is to prove that we are serious, and are not going to abuse the privilege.
vyki
On Sun, May 11, 2008 at 2:54 PM, Mark Rehder mark@re-cycles.ca wrote:
On 11-May-08, at 8:01 AM, bike against wrote:
(snip)
- WE ARE THE ULTIMATE TESTERS -That's for sure! Last year, when I was putting in a tool request to MEC, I asked for one of the pricier Topeak floor pumps. MEC now carries the Filzer brand of gear (since Park no longer sells to them) and they asked us to try the cheaper Filzer pump because "if any can test a bike product it's your shop!". And they're right!
And that pump has actually held up quite well, except for the handle coming off (it was just glued on) and a bit of electrical tape wrapped in various ways solved that problem. I've just ordered another one, as well as a replacement head and hose to keep one of our older no-Filzer pumps functioning.
I also ordered four of the 2-notch Suntour freewheel removers, because we know that's an item that dies on a regular basis.
Mark
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