Yes, Nicholas: But putting an educational mantle on this, it has been one of the Covid lessons: we don't need to bend over backwards for people just because they are 'customers" (as was practice when I worked in the LBS).  We should attend to the mission, and ask more questions about their needs (i.e. a bike for transportation or health, vs their third, sweet, 70's road bike project) before declaring the task a priority.

Another: most of the messes in the parts room are caused by "shoppers" (evidenced by the lack of messes concurrent with the lack of shoppers).

Before I start rattling these off, I'll do the responsible listserve thing and start a new thread for us all to share these "Covid Lessons"....
Jim Sheehan
Executive Director
Ohio City Bicycle Co-op
1840 Columbus Rd
Cleveland, Ohio 44113
216 830 2667
OhioCityCycles.org



On Wed, Aug 12, 2020 at 12:07 AM Cyclista Nicholas <cyclista@inventati.org> wrote:
Jim,

I hear you on the American Pickers reference. We're getting that too.
Most are accommodating, but any way you slice it, tensions are high and
management is a constant challenge.

~cyclista Nicholas


On 2020-08-10 15:14, Jim Sheehan wrote:
> We decided (largely on evidence from that great article
> <https://www.erinbromage.com/post/the-risks-know-them-avoid-them>) to
> conduct all public business in fresh air, and strictly limit and
> control
> volunteers working in our shop.  So most of our interactions happen
> outdoors in a large parkinglot we use for test rides.  We are very
> lucky to
> have a shipping dock with big roll doors opening onto that lot, with
> another large door to the indoor space that we were able to make a
> small
> transaction window in.  So repair assessments are done on the dock,
> sales are completed through the window, and we have no browsing, public
> shop-use, or drop-in volunteering.
>
> We have had few conflicts, mostly from regular browsers frustrated by
> not
> being able to play American Pickers with our salvaged parts and as-is
> bikes.
>
> Two staff are working in shop, one taking bikes home to refurbish, and
> less
> than a dozen key volunteers doing repairs and refurbs. We all wear
> masks
> ALL the time in the shop, and encourage others to remind us when we
> lapse.
> Those two of us MUST remain healthy or the co-op would be in trouble,
> so we
> take this issue seriously, and communicate that often.
>
> Jim Sheehan
> Executive Director
> Ohio City Bicycle Co-op
> 1840 Columbus Rd
> Cleveland, Ohio 44113
> 216 830 2667
> OhioCityCycles.org
> jim@ohiocitycycles.org
>
>
>
> On Mon, Aug 10, 2020 at 7:35 AM Cyclista Nicholas
> <cyclista@inventati.org>
> wrote:
>
>> We're seeing this as well, but it's easier for us to move forward
>> since
>> we aren't a collective. I simply made a plan based on CDC and local
>> health department guidelines (and that one really good article by Erin
>> Bromage).
>>
>> We are functioning right now, but it's almost exclusively due to my
>> personal effort. I'm more or less running the place alone with a few
>> new
>> and fairly green volunteers.
>>
>> All our older, more experienced volunteers stopped showing up and only
>> two have responded to any emails or posts I've put out. One of the
>> responses was highly critical of my approach to opening, the other
>> expressed interest in showing up but never did. It's highly unusual
>> for
>> us for there to be such extreme radio silence after putting out calls
>> for help or getting organized.
>>
>> Without hearing more in detail from our volunteers, I can't form a
>> clear
>> picture as to why they've gone, but I don't think it's fantastical to
>> assume it's a combination of being overwhelmed and being cautious.
>> There
>> was one other volunteer who indicated in person that they needed to
>> wait
>> a bit before they felt safe. Though we're in NY and are doing better
>> than many states wrt recovery and management, our state infection
>> rates
>> hover steadily around 1%, and locally we're seeing a rise as students
>> return, people's patience wears down, and travelers from far more
>> infected states arrive and fail to quarantine.
>>
>> I have my own take on what's reasonable, what's safe, and what's
>> absurd,
>> but all in all I can't blame anyone for how they're reacting to such
>> an
>> extreme and unprecedented situation. So, while everybody sorts their
>> sh*t out, I'm just hoping I can hold on long enough here for the
>> cavalry
>> to arrive. Se far the line's holding. It's as busy a Summer as we've
>> ever had, if not more.
>>
>> ~cyclista Nicholas
>>
>>
>> On 2020-08-10 06:18, Aaron Shaw wrote:
>> > Hey all,
>> >
>> > My name is Aaron. I volunteer at the Davis Bike Church in Davis, CA.
>> >
>> > I was wondering if there are any other collectives experiencing
>> > intensely
>> > conflicting views on how to respond to the pandemic. I am looking for
>> > suggestions on how to present a safe new operating model so that those
>> > who
>> > are more at risk can agree to the shop being open (in some capacity).
>> >
>> > My experience is that there is a spectrum of approaches to operating
>> > under
>> > COVID and it is difficult to find a middle ground where a consensus can
>> > be
>> > made among collective members. It’s true, people’s lives are at risk.
>> > But
>> > also there are needs in the community that can outweigh the risk
>> > associated
>> > with (safe) operation. It just depends on how you look at it. The
>> > stakes
>> > are definitely high and it is a touchy, if not politicized topic.
>> >
>> > I would love to hear other people’s experiences, and if they are stuck
>> > like
>> > us or if they have figured out a new operating model that works for
>> > them.
>> > Also interested to hear about what it took, from a people/core member
>> > perspective, to get to the other side of the COVID lockdown.
>> >
>> > Thanks a ton.
>> > Aaron
>> >
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