The following is Third Hand Bike's policy (ps. i think i pirated part of this language from another bike coop so...thanks) :
 

Member/Volunteer Guidelines
The efforts of the Third Hand Bicycle Co-op are carried out by an all volunteer staff. Volunteers provide the valuable labor necessary to keep the Co-op running while earning Co-op credit. Volunteering is a great way to get involved with the Co-op's mission and learn valuable skills.   The Co-op asks that you schedule your volunteer hours and use that time for designated Co-op tasks, not for personal projects. 

If your membership is a "4 Hour Volunteer Membership", the first 4 hours of volunteer time will be applied towards your Third Hand Bicycle Co-op Membership.   Otherwise, the Membership Donation for the 2007 season is just $25.00.   As a member, you not only receive valuable member benefits, but may also contribute to the future direction of the organization by receiving voting rights in the annual election of the group's Board of Directors and the ability to participate in decision-making meetings.

Co-op Credit
For every hour volunteered at the Third Hand Bicycle Co-op you receive 7 (this is like cash but for tax purposes we keep the literature vague)  Co-op credits. The credit earned can be applied towards up to 75% (this discount is applied after the membership discount) of a Third Hand purchase including bikes, parts, stand time, and workshops but excludes membership costs. For example, a member purchasing a $100.00 bike would apply the 10% discount and then use 9 volunteer hours to pay for 75% of the cost.   Their out of pocket cost for the bike would be $22.50.

 

The member is responsible for signing in and out of shifts in order for Coop Credit tracking.  

 

Coop Credit zeros out at the beginning of a new season.

 
We have adjusted it over time and discussed changing the amount from 7 to 5 credits but the membership had objections and for decent reason's such as a person's dedication to the bike coop ought to be at least worth minimum wage.  Also some of our dedicated and financially struggling volunteers really need the 7 credits an hour.
 
As for cherry picking, it happens occasionally but not to the detriment of the Co-op.  We foster a culture of service to the community so that we have very little problem with it.  And truthfully if someone who volunteers 10 hours every week falls in love with a sweet bike and wants to use their coop credit to purchase up to 75% of it then by all means, go right ahead. 
 
Also we say up to 75% to cover the costs incurred keeping the lights on and such. 
 
Hope that helps.
 
Maggie
Third Hand Bicycle Cooperative
 
 
 


 
On 9/24/07, veganboyjosh@gmail.com <veganboyjosh@gmail.com> wrote:
hi everyone,

josh from community cycles in boulder, co here.

we discussed with many of you at bike bike, and have brought the idea home, that we could offer some sort of work-for-parts deal. right now, we're thinking of some sort of "after you voliunteer 6 hours per week, any hours you work count towards your shop credit at $x/hr"  set up. i believe some of you have similar programs.

what kind of systems do you all have with regards to this? what kind of problems have arisen? solutions?

i believe someone before mentioned cherrypicking. what we're thinking is that once volunteers have reached a set number of hours per week, they become eligible to work for shop credit (most likely not new parts). at that point, they choose a part/parts/bike/bikes they would like to earn, and then begin working towards that with hours spent in the shop, working on other shop/organizational needs. (volunteers couldn't get credit for working on a bike they're going to take home with shop credit earned working on...you get the idea.) obviously some sort of "if you choose a part, work towards it, and then we don't see you in two weeks" policy would need to be in place, but that's not hard to keep track of.

thanks for your help, and i'm sure i'm not the only one to see bikebike emails popping up already!!!

josh/community cycles



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