On 28-Dec-09, at 10:01 AM, Ainsley Naylor wrote:
Hey all, Really I just want to see the subject change, so I'd like to see
folks throw out some ideas of wishes, dreams, plans and schemes
they are hoping for in the new year. We at Pirates have a few - it
always seems hard to implement drastic changes, so the new year
seems a good excuse.
That's usually a good sign that your org. is growing. We've gone
through our changes since we begabn in '97, and will keep doing so to
meet the needs of both our collective and the community we serve.
Here's some things on our list: Changing our locks. there have been a number of key-holders who
have come and gone, and we never changed the locks when we first
moved into our building. Better security and a better system of
designating key-holders is a top priority.
At our previous shop everyone had a key. But then the shop got
broken into, and so the lock had to be changed, 15 new keys made and
also distributed - all quite tedious. Also, if a staffer ever went
missing we would have had to change the lock and keys as well. So at
or current shop we installed a pass/fob system. Wave the fob at the
sensor and the door unlocks. This also allowed us to put a switch at
the desk that turns the electric latch on and off. So when coming in
the door will close and lock behind you and you can get set up, then
at opening time flip the switch and let the crowd in. At closing the
switch goes on, and folks can easily leave but not come back in
unless we let them.
Each fob is numbered and a record kept of who has what number. If
there is ever a problem with someone then we can lock that fob out
and not have to change the entire set-up. It cost about $1200 to
install, and we have not had to cancel any fobs, but it has been a
very handy feature (even if for just entering while carrying
something - easy to wave a fob than fuss with key).
Tracking sales. right now all of our cash just goes into the
donation box, and not all new parts are *necessarily* paid for in
full. We need to ensure we charge for all new items as well as
(gulp) starting to charge all applicable taxes and track these sales!
We started charging prices fairly early on, and kept track with a
basic accounting ledger. In our first year or two (before I joined)
every purchase was by donation, but then folks were offering $25 for
a fully-overhauled touring bikes, and that was not going to keep our
doors open for very long.
Our new bookkeeper this past year has been kicking our butts and has
created a tracking speadsheet for us and in general our whole system
is gong to be run much tighter.
Do our taxes for the first time!!!
Volunteer training. Right now we just have an orientation to
introduce people to the space. We would like to have some basic
training, including some anti-o/sensitivity and some way of
designating who is a volunteer and who is a participant in the space.
We've been around for 12 years and don't even have an
orientation. :P Folks come in and we put them to work. But we do
have an orientation for the Shop Assistants who help the Head
Mechanics run each shift.
For general volunteers we did begin a series this year called "Basics
Night" on the first Monday of each month, where specific subjects are
dealt with in detail (see: http://www.re-cycles.ca/basicsnight.html )
Any suggestions or input on the best way to implement any of these
changes would be most appreciated. What are your goals for the new
year?
Ainsley and The Pirates.
Our biggest goal is to move - AGAIN! (Last move was only two years
ago.)
Our landlord, who owns most of the block, found out that we had
outgrown our current space and would have to relocate, and offered us
his building to our immediate north (to rent, not buy). The best
part is he would let us move in time for this year's busy season, and
we'd not have to wait until next Fall to look for a place and be
ready for 2011.
We hope to have a lease signed this week, and then have to see the
space again to take measurements and photographs so that we start
sorting out what will go where. The exciting part for us is that
this place is much bigger, has higher ceilings, and the main workroom
also has a roll-up door! :)
Good luck on sorting out your growing pains. We all go through them,
and everything tends to feel a bit better after each growth spurt.
Mark Rehder - General Manager re-Cycles Bicycle Co-op http://re-cycles.ca