Dear bike enthusiasts, Hello from Portland, OR. I may have already contacted some of you, but decided this was a better route to go. My name is Ariel or RaRa. I'm hoping to start a bike mechanic collective here in Portland, as we don't yet have an affordable space for the public to go to work on bikes and learn from experienced mechanics for free. I've come up with 6 questions that would help me on my way to actualizing this idea. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for your interest in this project.
Questions for Bike projects:
- How did your project begin? (tell me as much or little about what
was involved to get you started…. From idea to actualization) 2. What was the process of filing for a 501c3 and if you're using an umbrella organization, how did you find them? 3. Do you have a lawyer, or lawyer friends that might give me some legal advice pro-bono? 4. Where did you get your funding? 5. How did you enlist volunteers and keep them? 6. What do you wish you had known going into this process ahead of time?
Is everyone getting 2 copies of each email on this list? If so who do we talk to about fixing it?
Peace Rich Community Cycles Boulder
Bike Bikers, Community Cycles is hosting a Bicycle Shorts Film Festival on Friday September 7th at the outdoor cinema. We have some films lined up but could use a few more. If you have something you'd like to submit please send a DVD copy by August 25th to:
Community Cycles Attn: Gary 2805 Wilderness Pl Ste 1000 Boulder, CO 80301
If you submit a film please send a brief description via email.
Peace Rich
Rich Points wrote:
Is everyone getting 2 copies of each email on this list? If so who do we talk to about fixing it?
Peace Rich Community Cycles Boulder _______________________________________________ Thethinktank mailing list Thethinktank@lists.bikecollectives.org http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.o...
Hi, Graham from the bike dump in Winnipeg here. Were in canada so things might be a little different from the states.
How did your project begin? (tell me as much or little about what was
involved to get you started…. From idea to actualization)
A group of interested people with bikes and tools got together and
rented a space.
What was the process of filing for a 501c3 and if you're using an
umbrella organization, how did you find them?
We're mostly unofficial and haven't done any of that forms stuff.
We've looked at becomming legally incorporated and possibly non-profit,
but the benefits just are few over our current operating model.
Do you have a lawyer, or lawyer friends that might give me some legal
advice pro-bono?
Nope.
Where did you get your funding?
Other than a startup grant from a credit union, we do nicely without
any grants or outside funding of any sort. We pay expenses from
donations and the sale of a few used bicycles. Keeping expenses low
helps. Our annual budget is much less then $10K. Budget implies it is
planned though.
How did you enlist volunteers and keep them?
Still working on that. One of our largest challenges.
What do you wish you had known going into this process ahead of time?
You have to make it up as you go.
Graham
Ariel raymon wrote:
Dear bike enthusiasts, Hello from Portland, OR. I may have already contacted some of you, but decided this was a better route to go. My name is Ariel or RaRa. I'm hoping to start a bike mechanic collective here in Portland, as we don't yet have an affordable space for the public to go to work on bikes and learn from experienced mechanics for free. I've come up with 6 questions that would help me on my way to actualizing this idea. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for your interest in this project.
Questions for Bike projects:
Thethinktank mailing list Thethinktank@lists.bikecollectives.org http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.o...
Hi, Ariel.
We talked about all of these things at Bike!Bike! last weekend. You pretty much listed out the workshops in your questions. Hopefully people will post notes up soon.
In the meantime, you can find a lot of this information on the bike collective wiki. A good place to start would be with the Bike Collective Starter Kithttp://www.bikecollectives.org/wiki/index.php?title=Bike_Collective_Starter_Kit .
Here are some short answers from Sopo:
- We had an open meeting about creating a co-op. A billion people came, so
we had to do it. Lawyer and accountant friends and family members helped us file as a nonprofit and as a 501(c)3. All of our paperwork for that is on the wiki. We kept having meetings, and the group was whittled down to the few that actually wanted to be organizers, and the rest of the folks came back when we had a shop for them to use. The shop was in the house for a long time. Then met the right people, built relationships, attempted to be slick with our homemade brochures, fixed bikes at neighborhood festivals, and eventually got hooked up with a space. Ultimately, it was a local afterschool program that put the pressure on the property owner to rent the space to us because they wanted us in the neighborhood. 2 and 3. See above. 4. Suggested donations for shop use, benefit parties, and alley cats. For special programs, I write proposals and tell people they need to give us money. It usually works. It helps that we have a great relationship with our city council person and the local business association, as well as a few community development corporations. 5. Oh boy. 6. I almost want to say nothing. The ignorance and arrogance of youth carried us pretty far! : ) There was a workshop on this that I didn't go to.. Stay tuned for notes.
-rachael
On 8/16/07, Ariel raymon bikefarm@gmail.com wrote:
Dear bike enthusiasts, Hello from Portland, OR. I may have already contacted some of you, but decided this was a better route to go. My name is Ariel or RaRa. I'm hoping to start a bike mechanic collective here in Portland, as we don't yet have an affordable space for the public to go to work on bikes and learn from experienced mechanics for free. I've come up with 6 questions that would help me on my way to actualizing this idea. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for your interest in this project.
Questions for Bike projects:
- How did your project begin? (tell me as much or little about what
was involved to get you started…. From idea to actualization) 2. What was the process of filing for a 501c3 and if you're using an umbrella organization, how did you find them? 3. Do you have a lawyer, or lawyer friends that might give me some legal advice pro-bono? 4. Where did you get your funding? 5. How did you enlist volunteers and keep them? 6. What do you wish you had known going into this process ahead of time?
Thethinktank mailing list Thethinktank@lists.bikecollectives.org
http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.o...
hi ariel, just to let you know, there is already a bike collective that has free workshops certain nights of the week open to anyone to work on any project with experienced mechanics to guide you. North Portland Bike Works, on Mississippi. not to say don't do your own thing, but it's a hell of a lot of work if there's already resources you may not know about!
On 8/16/07, Ariel raymon bikefarm@gmail.com wrote:
Dear bike enthusiasts, Hello from Portland, OR. I may have already contacted some of you, but decided this was a better route to go. My name is Ariel or RaRa. I'm hoping to start a bike mechanic collective here in Portland, as we don't yet have an affordable space for the public to go to work on bikes and learn from experienced mechanics for free. I've come up with 6 questions that would help me on my way to actualizing this idea. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for your interest in this project.
Questions for Bike projects:
- How did your project begin? (tell me as much or little about what
was involved to get you started…. From idea to actualization) 2. What was the process of filing for a 501c3 and if you're using an umbrella organization, how did you find them? 3. Do you have a lawyer, or lawyer friends that might give me some legal advice pro-bono? 4. Where did you get your funding? 5. How did you enlist volunteers and keep them? 6. What do you wish you had known going into this process ahead of time?
Thethinktank mailing list Thethinktank@lists.bikecollectives.org
http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.o...
Bike Bikers, Community Cycles is hosting a Bicycle Shorts Film Festival on Friday September 7th at the outdoor cinema. We have some films lined up but could use a few more. If you have something you'd like to submit please send a DVD copy by August 25th to:
Community Cycles Attn: Gary 2805 Wilderness Pl Ste 1000 Boulder, CO 80301
If you submit a film please send a brief description via email to gary@communitycycles.org mailto:gary@communitycycles.org.
Peace Rich
Its true.. I've been to women and trans night many times.. unfortuantely its difficult to get anything done at a shop only open in this way once a week for 3 hours.... sadly, its the only one who even does this... The bike coop repair collective rents space for 10 an hour.. but offers no help... thus, we need this project... and I'm pretty determined.. thanks though...
Rachel, I've found a lawyer 1st step!... he explained to me that I should get copies of the exempion forms filled out by similar projects so that we can look at its wording, because the main point is to prove you' re not using the nonprofit status to make more money by writing things off on taxes.. Would you send me a link to them so that I can print them out. I don't really know what the wiki is. .... is it attached to the bikecollective website? know of any other collectives who also have their own 501c3s and excemption forms? thanks for all the resources.... are u located in Atlanta by any chance? I think my friend Abigail might ahve reffered me to you. cool Ariel
The Bike Collective Network's wiki is a growing resource that needs some organizing (though it is searchable). This might help http://www.bikecollectives.org/wiki/index.php?title=IRS_Form_1023
On 8/16/07, Ariel raymon bikefarm@gmail.com wrote:
Rachel, I've found a lawyer 1st step!... he explained to me that I should get copies of the exempion forms filled out by similar projects so that we can look at its wording, because the main point is to prove you' re not using the nonprofit status to make more money by writing things off on taxes.. Would you send me a link to them so that I can print them out. I don't really know what the wiki is. .... is it attached to the bikecollective website? know of any other collectives who also have their own 501c3s and excemption forms? thanks for all the resources.... are u located in Atlanta by any chance? I think my friend Abigail might ahve reffered me to you. cool Ariel
Thethinktank mailing list Thethinktank@lists.bikecollectives.org http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.o...
Ariel,
Questions for Bike projects:
- How did your project begin? (tell me as much or little about what
was involved to get you started . From idea to actualization)
3 brainstormed. 20 had a party. soon after, we called 1 reporter. then 1 news story led to 300 bikes in front yard in 2 days. over 10 years, project grew organically to current free community bicycle shop, checkout bikes, annual festival, free classes, sus trans institute.
- What was the process of filing for a 501c3 and if you're using an
umbrella organization, how did you find them?
picked up form and started writing. used umbrella, but cumbersome and they took 10%. do your own thing.
- Do you have a lawyer, or lawyer friends that might give me some
legal advice pro-bono?
we've got one who helps us out when needed. email me off-list and I can help or seek his help.
- Where did you get your funding?
a donation jar in the shop (20-100$ a day), raffles, parties, 200 letters sent out a year, couple small grants.
- How did you enlist volunteers and keep them?
with a free and open shop, they come to us constantly. we have 2 levels: one is informal- stop by and help others whenever you can during open shop hours. the other is more formal- come take a shop shift once a week, or teach a class once a week. 12 of us have keys to the shop. i think that is important- a small group has benefits and responsibilities. and we spread the benefits and responsibilities out from the core group to the community at large.
- What do you wish you had known going into this process ahead of
time?
i'm sort of thankful i knew nothing, as to leave all possibilities open. as already posted, do what feels right as you go. it can be tough, and the urge to move towards a money model will be strong at times. i'm not saying charging for stand time is bad- what a great service!- but for missoula for now the 'payoff' in creating positive energy around bike culture by helping everyone without regards to money is large. and, ironically, the money flows in just when we need it.
i want to add 2 things regarding money and the 'free' model: one concern is that you will not be able to operate, because there may be rent, tools, a vol coordinator to pay, etc... as I said, money flows when needed.
I'm more interested in the 2nd concern that pops up now and then: do people value something that is free??? well, do you value a gift? aren't the best things free? air, love, a good conversation, riding your bike?
here is one way we have bridged that second concern: we require 2 hours vol time and the taking of a 'bikewell' class for someone to get a free bike to build/tune up. stand time, parts, and loaner bikes have no requirements, but most people pitch in something to that donation jar.
talking about these 2 issues with your core group, and the larger community is healthy. i'd welcome thoughts from this list.
lastly- Ariel, your set-up may be really simple and easy if the main focus is people teaching people and not getting bikes out to people. it helps to have a parts room though- so many good bike parts are going to waste/recycled, when it can make someone's broken bike go again if you just organize the parts into labeled containers. hope this helps.
Hi there Ariel-
Psyched to here of your shop ambitions in portland. I think securing
a place is the hardest thing- funds for rent and an initial tool
investment - if you can get that in a place like portland, everything
else is inspiring people power and have some amount of bureaucratic
tenacity. I think I tend to oversimplify, but really, it's easy.
there are a thousand approaches.
Here, we had founded the hub between Pedaler's Express, Bike to Work,
People Power!, and the SC County Cycling Club, We identified a tool
collective as a long-term goal, and after the first attempt by an
outside party failed (he wouldn't share his tools), skip and i sold 6
lifetime memberships to the peed collective ($600) and raised another
$800 or so from the community at large (wrote about 50 letters) and
the hub gave us free rent for our first year and then we paid 100,
then 200, then 400, and now $1200/mo for roughly 1100 sq ft of indoor
space.
sounds like other folks might be a more reliable resource for
articles of incorporation, although i like to think I could walk down
there and dig them up. Hope you're well and good luck.
Here at the Bike Church we have discussed ways of supporting other
project start-up (especially in locales deficient in such resources).
I know we offer wholesale priveledges for community shop collective
start-ups, and have discussed other options for financial support
inconclusively.
josh
On Aug 16, 2007, at 12:34 PM, Ariel raymon wrote:
Dear bike enthusiasts, Hello from Portland, OR. I may have already contacted some of you,
but decided this was a better route to go. My name is Ariel or
RaRa. I'm hoping to start a bike mechanic collective here in
Portland, as we don't yet have an affordable space for the public
to go to work on bikes and learn from experienced mechanics for
free. I've come up with 6 questions that would help me on my way to
actualizing this idea. Any input would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks for your interest in this project. Questions for Bike projects:How did your project begin? (tell me as much or little about what
was involved to get you started…. From idea to actualization) What was the process of filing for a 501c3 and if you're using an
umbrella organization, how did you find them? Do you have a lawyer, or lawyer friends that might give me some
legal advice pro-bono? Where did you get your funding? How did you enlist volunteers and keep them? What do you wish you had known going into this process ahead of time?
Thethinktank mailing list Thethinktank@lists.bikecollectives.org http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank- bikecollectives.org
Joshua Muir joshua@santacruzhub.org
Frances Cycles -- francescycles.com Handbuilt cycling framesets Touring, Track, Road,Cross, and cycletrucks for hauling any distance
The Bicycle Church Collective Community Self-Service Cycle Repair 3pm to 7pm everyday except Sunday 703 Pacific Ave (enter on Spruce St) Santa Cruz, CA 95060 (831) 425-2453
I was looking around on the wiki and noticed that there has been some vandalism or link insertion example: http://www.bikecollectives.org/wiki/index.php?title=Salt_Lake_City_Bicycle_C...
I've had this happen to wiki's before if they don't require login to edit. I think that Wikipedia solves this problem by having a large number of people watching the site making sure that vandalismis deleted. I doubt that we have the time to keep the wiki clean of automated bots inserting links.
Any suggestions to solve the problem? I think that it would be good if anyone could browse the wiki without login but to edit pages requires a login.
Nathan (Austin Yellow Bike)
On 8/17/07, Jay Varner jay@sopobikes.org wrote:
The Bike Collective Network's wiki is a growing resource that needs some organizing (though it is searchable). This might help http://www.bikecollectives.org/wiki/index.php?title=IRS_Form_1023
On 8/16/07, Ariel raymon bikefarm@gmail.com wrote:
Rachel, I've found a lawyer 1st step!... he explained to me that I should get
copies
of the exempion forms filled out by similar projects so that we can look
at
its wording, because the main point is to prove you' re not using the nonprofit status to make more money by writing things
off
on taxes.. Would you send me a link to them so that I can print them
out. I
don't really know what the wiki is. .... is it attached to the bikecollective website? know of any other collectives who also have
their
own 501c3s and excemption forms? thanks for all the resources.... are u located in Atlanta by any chance? I think my friend Abigail might ahve reffered me to you. cool Ariel
Thethinktank mailing list Thethinktank@lists.bikecollectives.org
http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.o...
Thethinktank mailing list Thethinktank@lists.bikecollectives.org
http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.o...
participants (9)
-
Ariel raymon -
Bob Giordano -
Graham Stewart -
Jay Varner -
joshua -
rachael spiewak -
Rich Points -
Urban Bike Project of Wilmington, Inc. -
yellow bike