We in MPLS are considering charging (on a sliding fee scale) between 0 - $100 dollars for our 4 week Earn A bike class.
Typically, once students complete the bike, they receive a new helmet, new set of good blinky bike lights and can volunteer to earn a basic U lock. Also, we often use some new parts or Earn A Bikes like tubes, brake pads, cables and housing and in some cases tires (when we don't have a used one of the proper size in adequate condition). We also have 2 or more paid staff leading the class. So we want to cover some portion of those costs so that we can continue to provide the program...
Also, we are finding that there are folks interested in building/ earning a bike that maybe could afford to buy one or to pay the amount listed above or more for a four week, twelve hour class. We don't necessarily want to tell these folks they are not eligibile for the class or create a separate build a bike class for non-low income students. We have a goal of building community and want to bring people together from different backgrounds and of different income levels etc. Our classes are one place this can happen.
We will work things out for anyone who couldn't afford this by reducing the fee, allowing folks to volunteer rather than paying etc.
We do have a volunteer program where folks can earn shop credit for parts and frames.
Any thoughts or suggestions about using sliding fee scales or amounts that other programs/shops charge for build a bike or Earn a Bike classes?
Much appreciated!
BRRR, it's cold here.
Andrew
It seems to me that if folks are paying to get themselves a bike, it's no longer "Earn a Bike", but "Buy a Bike". We run an Earn a Bike program. We don't charge anything. People have to put in 10 hours of shop work for us before they can work on their own bike. If you're going to charge for it, I would change the name to "Build a Bike" and then set a sliding scale. That way, there's no confusion... "Am I earning this bike by working for you & getting a bike, or am I paying for a class & getting a bike?" (Disclaimer: We have no paid staff. All the bikes folks can earn here are donated by the community.) I definitely wouldn't separate folks into paid and non-paying groups. No need for classism in the classes.
That's just my two cents.
Stay warm!
B. J. Green Treasurer, Lincoln Bike Kitchen Lincoln, Nebraska
Date: Fri, 6 Dec 2013 11:56:35 -0600 From: andrew@spokesconnect.org To: Thethinktank@lists.bikecollectives.org Subject: [TheThinkTank] Charging for Earn A Bike?
We in MPLS are considering charging (on a sliding fee scale) between 0 - $100 dollars for our 4 week Earn A bike class.
Typically, once students complete the bike, they receive a new helmet, new set of good blinky bike lights and can volunteer to earn a basic U lock. Also, we often use some new parts or Earn A Bikes like tubes, brake pads, cables and housing and in some cases tires (when we don't have a used one of the proper size in adequate condition). We also have 2 or more paid staff leading the class. So we want to cover some portion of those costs so that we can continue to provide the program...
Also, we are finding that there are folks interested in building/ earning a bike that maybe could afford to buy one or to pay the amount listed above or more for a four week, twelve hour class. We don't necessarily want to tell these folks they are not eligibile for the class or create a separate build a bike class for non-low income students. We have a goal of building community and want to bring people together from different backgrounds and of different income levels etc. Our classes are one place this can happen.
We will work things out for anyone who couldn't afford this by reducing the fee, allowing folks to volunteer rather than paying etc.
We do have a volunteer program where folks can earn shop credit for parts and frames.
Any thoughts or suggestions about using sliding fee scales or amounts that other programs/shops charge for build a bike or Earn a Bike classes?
Much appreciated!
BRRR, it's cold here.
Andrew
Andrew Magill Lead Trainer/Mechanic SPOKES Bike Walk Connect 1915 E. 22nd Street MPLS, MN 55406 andrew@spokesconnect.org
612-206-3028 spokesconnect.org facebook.com/SpokesConnect You can donate to SPOKES or SNG any time. Just Visit http://givemn.razoo.com/story/Seward-Neighborhood-Group
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thanks for these views. at our shop we have a 'Learn & Earn' program where participants have part classes and part volunteer work for a total of six hours before building or repairing a bike. the program worked great this past season, in terms of getting bikes out there and giving people skills, but we dont have a collective policy about how to deal with the 'suggested donation' for a Learn & Earn bike. Sometimes there is a donation asked, and sometimes there isn't. We're all-volunteer as well, and get by on donations, so I think its important to give people the opportunity to support you, even if they can't afford to or choose not to. i like the $0-100 suggested donation. we've gotten folks who might otherwise have come to the shop to buy a used bike, hear about Learn & Earn and choose to do the classes and still donate for the bike. so i am not sure its on or the other.
Andrew Lynn Troy Bike Rescue
On Fri, Dec 6, 2013 at 2:55 PM, greenbean246 Green <greenbean246@hotmail.com
wrote:
It seems to me that if folks are paying to get themselves a bike, it's no longer "Earn a Bike", but "Buy a Bike". We run an Earn a Bike program. We don't charge anything. People have to put in 10 hours of shop work for us before they can work on their own bike. If you're going to charge for it, I would change the name to "Build a Bike" and then set a sliding scale. That way, there's no confusion... "Am I earning this bike by working for you & getting a bike, or am I paying for a class & getting a bike?" (Disclaimer: We have no paid staff. All the bikes folks can earn here are donated by the community.) I definitely wouldn't separate folks into paid and non-paying groups. No need for classism in the classes.
That's just my two cents.
Stay warm!
B. J. Green Treasurer, Lincoln Bike Kitchen Lincoln, Nebraska
Date: Fri, 6 Dec 2013 11:56:35 -0600 From: andrew@spokesconnect.org To: Thethinktank@lists.bikecollectives.org
Subject: [TheThinkTank] Charging for Earn A Bike?
We in MPLS are considering charging (on a sliding fee scale) between 0 - $100 dollars for our 4 week Earn A bike class.
Typically, once students complete the bike, they receive a new helmet, new set of good blinky bike lights and can volunteer to earn a basic U lock. Also, we often use some new parts or Earn A Bikes like tubes, brake pads, cables and housing and in some cases tires (when we don't have a used one of the proper size in adequate condition). We also have 2 or more paid staff leading the class. So we want to cover some portion of those costs so that we can continue to provide the program...
Also, we are finding that there are folks interested in building/ earning a bike that maybe could afford to buy one or to pay the amount listed above or more for a four week, twelve hour class. We don't necessarily want to tell these folks they are not eligibile for the class or create a separate build a bike class for non-low income students. We have a goal of building community and want to bring people together from different backgrounds and of different income levels etc. Our classes are one place this can happen.
We will work things out for anyone who couldn't afford this by reducing the fee, allowing folks to volunteer rather than paying etc.
We do have a volunteer program where folks can earn shop credit for parts and frames.
Any thoughts or suggestions about using sliding fee scales or amounts that other programs/shops charge for build a bike or Earn a Bike classes?
Much appreciated!
BRRR, it's cold here.
Andrew
-- Andrew Magill Lead Trainer/Mechanic *SPOKES Bike Walk Connect* 1915 E. 22nd Street MPLS, MN 55406
*andrew@spokesconnect.org andrew@spokesconnect.org 612-206-3028 <612-206-3028>*
*spokesconnect.org http://spokesconnect.org/facebook.com/SpokesConnect http://facebook.com/SpokesConnect* You can donate to SPOKES or SNG any time. Just Visit http://givemn.razoo.com/story/Seward-Neighborhood-Group
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For a long time, I personally struggled with being comfortable asking for a donation from someone who was earning or had previously earned a bike. I found it weird and akward.
Then I hit upon a way that was completely within my comfort zone and didnt feel creepy or sleazy.
As the person was finishing up their bike, about to take it away out into the world as their new ride, I would say, "it costs us about $100 to provide this bike for you. Would you like to make a donation to help offset this cost?"
9 times out of 10 the person gave me something right then and there.
Knowing what it costs our organization--in new parts, volunteer and/or paid staff time, rent for actual shop space, tools, the processing/collecting/harvesting of potential actual bicycles, etc--and being able to explain where that $100 per bike goes REALLY helped me be at ease with asking participants for a donation.
It also felt good to be making the process more transparent to our clients and staff.
On Friday, December 6, 2013, Andrew L wrote:
thanks for these views. at our shop we have a 'Learn & Earn' program where participants have part classes and part volunteer work for a total of six hours before building or repairing a bike. the program worked great this past season, in terms of getting bikes out there and giving people skills, but we dont have a collective policy about how to deal with the 'suggested donation' for a Learn & Earn bike. Sometimes there is a donation asked, and sometimes there isn't. We're all-volunteer as well, and get by on donations, so I think its important to give people the opportunity to support you, even if they can't afford to or choose not to. i like the $0-100 suggested donation. we've gotten folks who might otherwise have come to the shop to buy a used bike, hear about Learn & Earn and choose to do the classes and still donate for the bike. so i am not sure its on or the other.
Andrew Lynn Troy Bike Rescue
On Fri, Dec 6, 2013 at 2:55 PM, greenbean246 Green < greenbean246@hotmail.com> wrote:
It seems to me that if folks are paying to get themselves a bike, it's no longer "Earn a Bike", but "Buy a Bike". We run an Earn a Bike program. We don't charge anything. People have to put in 10 hours of shop work for us before they can work on their own bike. If you're going to charge for it, I would change the name to "Build a Bike" and then set a sliding scale. That way, there's no confusion... "Am I earning this bike by working for you & getting a bike, or am I paying for a class & getting a bike?" (Disclaimer: We have no paid staff. All the bikes folks can earn here are donated by the community.) I definitely wouldn't separate folks into paid and non-paying groups. No need for classism in the classes.
That's just my two cents.
Stay warm!
B. J. Green Treasurer, Lincoln Bike Kitchen Lincoln, Nebraska
Date: Fri, 6 Dec 2013 11:56:35 -0600 From: andrew@spokesconnect.org To: Thethinktank@lists.bikecollectives.org
Subject: [TheThinkTank] Charging for Earn A Bike?
We in MPLS are considering charging (on a sliding fee scale) between 0 - $100 dollars for our 4 week Earn A bike class.
Typically, once students complete the bike, they receive a new helmet, new set of good blinky bike lights and can volunteer to earn a basic U lock. Also, we often use some new parts or Earn A Bikes like tubes, brake pads, cables and housing and in some cases tires (when we don't have a used one of the proper size in adequate condition). We also have 2 or more paid staff leading the class. So we want to cover some portion of those costs so that we can continue to provide the program...
Also, we are finding that there are folks interested in building/ earning a bike that maybe could afford to buy one or to pay the amount listed above or more for a four week, twelve hour class. We don't necessarily want to tell these folks they are not eligibile for the class or create a separate build a bike class for non-low income students. We have a goal of building community and want to bring people together from different backgrounds and of different income levels etc. Our classes are one place this can happen.
We will work things out for anyone who couldn't afford this by reducing the fee, allowing folks to volunteer rather than paying etc.
We do have a volunteer program where folks can earn shop credit for parts and frames.
Any thoughts or suggestions about using sliding fee scales or amounts that other programs/shops charge for build a bike or Earn a Bike classes?
Much appreciated!
BRRR, it's cold here.
Andrew
-- Andrew Magill Lead Trainer/Mechanic *SPOKES Bike Walk Connect* 1915 E. 22nd Street MPLS, MN 55406
*andrew@spokesconnect.org 612-206-3028*
*spokesconnect.org http://spokesconnect.org/facebook.com/SpokesConnect http://facebook.com/SpokesConnect* You can donate to SPOKES or SNG any time. Just Visit http://givemn.razoo.com/story/Seward-Neighborhood-Group
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-- ------__o ----_`<,_ ---(_)/ (_) andrew lynn 518-573-7947
Thanks for the suggestions y'all!
On Sun, Dec 8, 2013 at 10:50 AM, veganboyjosh@gmail.com wrote:
For a long time, I personally struggled with being comfortable asking for a donation from someone who was earning or had previously earned a bike. I found it weird and akward.
Then I hit upon a way that was completely within my comfort zone and didnt feel creepy or sleazy.
As the person was finishing up their bike, about to take it away out into the world as their new ride, I would say, "it costs us about $100 to provide this bike for you. Would you like to make a donation to help offset this cost?"
9 times out of 10 the person gave me something right then and there.
Knowing what it costs our organization--in new parts, volunteer and/or paid staff time, rent for actual shop space, tools, the processing/collecting/harvesting of potential actual bicycles, etc--and being able to explain where that $100 per bike goes REALLY helped me be at ease with asking participants for a donation.
It also felt good to be making the process more transparent to our clients and staff.
On Friday, December 6, 2013, Andrew L wrote:
thanks for these views. at our shop we have a 'Learn & Earn' program where participants have part classes and part volunteer work for a total of six hours before building or repairing a bike. the program worked great this past season, in terms of getting bikes out there and giving people skills, but we dont have a collective policy about how to deal with the 'suggested donation' for a Learn & Earn bike. Sometimes there is a donation asked, and sometimes there isn't. We're all-volunteer as well, and get by on donations, so I think its important to give people the opportunity to support you, even if they can't afford to or choose not to. i like the $0-100 suggested donation. we've gotten folks who might otherwise have come to the shop to buy a used bike, hear about Learn & Earn and choose to do the classes and still donate for the bike. so i am not sure its on or the other.
Andrew Lynn Troy Bike Rescue
On Fri, Dec 6, 2013 at 2:55 PM, greenbean246 Green < greenbean246@hotmail.com> wrote:
It seems to me that if folks are paying to get themselves a bike, it's no longer "Earn a Bike", but "Buy a Bike". We run an Earn a Bike program. We don't charge anything. People have to put in 10 hours of shop work for us before they can work on their own bike. If you're going to charge for it, I would change the name to "Build a Bike" and then set a sliding scale. That way, there's no confusion... "Am I earning this bike by working for you & getting a bike, or am I paying for a class & getting a bike?" (Disclaimer: We have no paid staff. All the bikes folks can earn here are donated by the community.) I definitely wouldn't separate folks into paid and non-paying groups. No need for classism in the classes.
That's just my two cents.
Stay warm!
B. J. Green Treasurer, Lincoln Bike Kitchen Lincoln, Nebraska
Date: Fri, 6 Dec 2013 11:56:35 -0600 From: andrew@spokesconnect.org To: Thethinktank@lists.bikecollectives.org
Subject: [TheThinkTank] Charging for Earn A Bike?
We in MPLS are considering charging (on a sliding fee scale) between 0 - $100 dollars for our 4 week Earn A bike class.
Typically, once students complete the bike, they receive a new helmet, new set of good blinky bike lights and can volunteer to earn a basic U lock. Also, we often use some new parts or Earn A Bikes like tubes, brake pads, cables and housing and in some cases tires (when we don't have a used one of the proper size in adequate condition). We also have 2 or more paid staff leading the class. So we want to cover some portion of those costs so that we can continue to provide the program...
Also, we are finding that there are folks interested in building/ earning a bike that maybe could afford to buy one or to pay the amount listed above or more for a four week, twelve hour class. We don't necessarily want to tell these folks they are not eligibile for the class or create a separate build a bike class for non-low income students. We have a goal of building community and want to bring people together from different backgrounds and of different income levels etc. Our classes are one place this can happen.
We will work things out for anyone who couldn't afford this by reducing the fee, allowing folks to volunteer rather than paying etc.
We do have a volunteer program where folks can earn shop credit for parts and frames.
Any thoughts or suggestions about using sliding fee scales or amounts that other programs/shops charge for build a bike or Earn a Bike classes?
Much appreciated!
BRRR, it's cold here.
Andrew
-- Andrew Magill Lead Trainer/Mechanic *SPOKES Bike Walk Connect* 1915 E. 22nd Street MPLS, MN 55406
*andrew@spokesconnect.org 612-206-3028*
*spokesconnect.org http://spokesconnect.org/facebook.com/SpokesConnect http://facebook.com/SpokesConnect* You can donate to SPOKES or SNG any time. Just Visit http://givemn.razoo.com/story/Seward-Neighborhood-Group
_______________________________________________ Thethinktank mailing list Thethinktank@lists.bikecollectives.org To unsubscribe, send a blank email to TheThinkTank-leave@bikecollectives.org To manage your subscription, plase visit: http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.o...
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-- ------__o ----_`<,_ ---(_)/ (_) andrew lynn 518-573-7947
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greenbean246 Green -
veganboyjosh＠gmail.com