Hi folks Just as an add-on to what Steve from Santa Cruz had to say about El Machete; This past winter I went down to San Cris after replying to El Machete's request for help and donations over the thinktank list. I donated tools, stayed and helped out for a little over a month. Steve is right in that it wasn't what I expected; mostly international travellers, based out of a collective punk house, pretty disorganized. Very few bikes/parts worth salvaging from the scrapyards and no international bike donations established makes for difficult builds/repairs. But in Machete's defense, it was a very new project and none of the collective members had prior community bike shop experience (but were inspired to take this project on after bike touring canada/US and seeing our wonderful network of community bike shops). Machete may be lacking in some long term vision, organization, and quiet places to sleep, but they are trying their best, hopefully learning from their mistakes and were the talk of the town over the winter. I think their main downfall was too few people tried to do far too much, which is a common fault that many of us share. So feel free to go visit them and lend a hand. They could use your help! But don't go expecting an established project or a chill place to sleep. In solidarity,
Hello.
If I may. This conversation makes me uncomfortable. Why are you (not
just you, Geoff, general You, or specifically Steve) talking about a
Mexican co-op without engaging a Mexican voice that represents this co-
op on this listserve? It feels patronizing and frankly, kind of
racist. Leave the people who are making that space happen to figure
out their own space. If the Mexicans who are involved have a problem
with the "international" travellers, I am sure they can handle it.
Or, why not invite them to take part in this conversation or a
conversation in person at Bike!Bike!? If they need your "help" I'm
sure they would ask.
I realize I may be opening a big can of worms for a larger dialogue
that I don't think is best served by an email thread on a listserve
and unfortunately, I won't be at Bike!Bike! this year to continue, but
I don't want to talk about a co-op in Mexico or any other co-op unless
it's with the people running it everyday.
This is my own personal opinion and in no way represents the Cooks of
the Bicycle Kitchen.
Respectfully,
Kelly Martin
On May 11, 2012, at 1:52 PM, Geoff Heath wrote:
Hi folks Just as an add-on to what Steve from Santa Cruz had to say about El
Machete; This past winter I went down to San Cris after replying to El Machete's request for help and donations over the thinktank list. I donated tools, stayed and helped out for a little over a month. Steve is right in that it wasn't what I expected; mostly international travellers, based out of a collective punk house, pretty disorganized. Very few bikes/parts worth salvaging from the scrapyards and no international bike donations established makes for difficult builds/repairs. But in Machete's defense, it was a very new project and none of the collective members had prior community bike shop experience (but were inspired to take this project on after bike touring canada/US and seeing our wonderful network of community bike shops). Machete may be lacking in some long term vision, organization, and quiet places to sleep, but they are trying their best, hopefully learning from their mistakes and were the talk of the town over the winter. I think their main downfall was too few people tried to do far too much, which is a common fault that many of us share. So feel free to go visit them and lend a hand. They could use your help! But don't go expecting an established project or a chill place to sleep. In solidarity, -- Geoff Heath, Mechanical Director The Winnipeg Repair Education N' Cycling Hub 1057 Logan Ave. Winnipeg, MB R3E 3N8 www.TheWrench.ca _______________________________________________ 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...
Hello,
We are writing our bylaws and seeking to define age minimums for volunteer members of our organization. Our structure is going to distinguish between voting and non-voting members, based on hours volunteered. We have our minds made up pretty well that the minimum age for voting members should be 16, with perhaps a provision where exceptions can be made by volunteer vote. We are less certain about defining the minimum age for non-voting members, who may attend volunteer meetings (which are held on weeknights) but not vote, and would typically volunteer alongside people who are mostly 25-45 years old.
Anyone under 18 needs the signature of a parent or guardian to volunteer.
Perhaps relevant is that we are still operating on a mobile basis - setting up in regular locations outdoors.
I think keeping that minimum at 14 would avoid any issue with labor laws, but perhaps 16 would be better. What age limits, if any, do you employ, and why?
Thank you,
Paul The Bicycle Tree P.O. Box 11293 Santa Ana, CA 92711 http://www.thebicycletree.org info@thebicycletree.org
Youth under 16 must be accompanied by an adult, at all times. We ask they bring their own adult. We might have all kindsa stuff at the shop, but babysitters are not something we have in stock.
We do have a youth earn-a-bike program separate from our open shop. Youth 10-16 can participate without an adult, but their parent must sign a waiver.
We chose this age range b/c we find it's when kids are (usually) ready to take part, pay attention, learn. They are capable of using the tools safely or with little guidance and generally don't run around the shop using the tools as toys. We do occasionally get younger kids who start out super engaged, but their kids and have shorter attention spans. It turns into a situation where we end up babysitting or investing lotsa time in keeping them engaged, focused, on task.
It's great to work with younger kids if you have the staff, the programs and structure, but when it's super busy and already stretched a little thin, it's too much work to make sure that kids 10 and under safe and outta everyone's hair.
Wanda - Community Cycles, Boulder, Colorado
Wanda Pelegrina Caldas
Community Cycles, Boulder's only non-profit bike shop, serves all your bike commuting needs.
Use our secure online donation form to become a member, today.
Thanks!!
From: paul@thebicycletree.org To: thethinktank@lists.bikecollectives.org Date: Sun, 13 May 2012 15:41:55 -0700 Subject: [TheThinkTank] Minimum age for volunteer members
Hello,
We are writing our bylaws and seeking to define age minimums for volunteer members of our organization. Our structure is going to distinguish between voting and non-voting members, based on hours volunteered. We have our minds made up pretty well that the minimum age for voting members should be 16, with perhaps a provision where exceptions can be made by volunteer vote. We are less certain about defining the minimum age for non-voting members, who may attend volunteer meetings (which are held on weeknights) but not vote, and would typically volunteer alongside people who are mostly 25-45 years old.
Anyone under 18 needs the signature of a parent or guardian to volunteer.
Perhaps relevant is that we are still operating on a mobile basis - setting up in regular locations outdoors.
I think keeping that minimum at 14 would avoid any issue with labor laws, but perhaps 16 would be better. What age limits, if any, do you employ, and why?
Thank you,
Paul The Bicycle Tree P.O. Box 11293 Santa Ana, CA 92711 http://www.thebicycletree.org info@thebicycletree.org
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...
Our volunteers for regular shop hours must be 16 or over, unless they have a parental waiver and the mechanic on duty is willing to take responsibility and find a mentor for the child. We are an open shop based co-op so our members work on bikes with a variety of tools, sometimes without the supervision of a mechanic so we don't want anything to happen to a kid. Like Wanda said, having staff being able and willing to take responsibility makes a difference to ensure the child's safety.
However, we do run a kids day program and because of the way that program is run, we let kids volunteer as young as 8, mostly working the front desk. During Kids Day, all a kid needs is a parental waiver and no child is allowed to work on a bike without a mechanic.
Ellie Nava-Jones MoBo Bicycle Co-op
On Sun, May 13, 2012 at 7:06 PM, Wanda Pelegrina Caldas < wanda@communitycycles.org> wrote:
Youth under 16 must be accompanied by an adult, at all times. We ask they bring their own adult. We might have all kindsa stuff at the shop, but babysitters are not something we have in stock.
We do have a youth earn-a-bike program separate from our open shop. Youth 10-16 can participate without an adult, but their parent must sign a waiver.
We chose this age range b/c we find it's when kids are (usually) ready to take part, pay attention, learn. They are capable of using the tools safely or with little guidance and generally don't run around the shop using the tools as toys. We do occasionally get younger kids who start out super engaged, but their kids and have shorter attention spans. It turns into a situation where we end up babysitting or investing lotsa time in keeping them engaged, focused, on task.
It's great to work with younger kids if you have the staff, the programs and structure, but when it's super busy and already stretched a little thin, it's too much work to make sure that kids 10 and under safe and outta everyone's hair.
Wanda - Community Cycles, Boulder, Colorado
*Wanda Pelegrina Caldas* Community Cycles http://communitycycles.org/, Boulder's only non-profit bike shop, serves all your bike commuting needs. Use our secure online donation formhttps://communitycycles.org/index.php?option=com_dtdonate&task=authorizenet&Itemid=166to become a member, today. Thanks!!
From: paul@thebicycletree.org To: thethinktank@lists.bikecollectives.org Date: Sun, 13 May 2012 15:41:55 -0700 Subject: [TheThinkTank] Minimum age for volunteer members
Hello,
We are writing our bylaws and seeking to define age minimums for volunteer members of our organization. Our structure is going to distinguish between voting and non-voting members, based on hours volunteered. We have our minds made up pretty well that the minimum age for voting members should be 16, with perhaps a provision where exceptions can be made by volunteer vote. We are less certain about defining the minimum age for non-voting members, who may attend volunteer meetings (which are held on weeknights) but not vote, and would typically volunteer alongside people who are mostly 25-45 years old.
Anyone under 18 needs the signature of a parent or guardian to volunteer.
Perhaps relevant is that we are still operating on a mobile basis - setting up in regular locations outdoors.
I think keeping that minimum at 14 would avoid any issue with labor laws, but perhaps 16 would be better. What age limits, if any, do you employ, and why?
Thank you,
Paul The Bicycle Tree P.O. Box 11293 Santa Ana, CA 92711 http://www.thebicycletree.org info@thebicycletree.org
_______________________________________________ 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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Your insurance provider usually answers that question for you.
Sincerely,
Jonathan Morrison Executive Director Bicycle Collective 2312 S. West Temple Salt Lake City, UT 84115 w: 801-328-2453 c: 801-688-0183 f: 801-466-3856 www.bicyclecollective.org
The mission of the Bicycle Collective is to promote cycling as an effective and sustainable form of transportation and as a cornerstone of a cleaner, healthier, and safer society. The Collective provides refurbished bicycles and educational programs to the community, focusing on children and lower income households.
On Tue, May 15, 2012 at 1:20 PM, MoBo Bicycle Co-op < mobobicyclecoop@gmail.com> wrote:
Our volunteers for regular shop hours must be 16 or over, unless they have a parental waiver and the mechanic on duty is willing to take responsibility and find a mentor for the child. We are an open shop based co-op so our members work on bikes with a variety of tools, sometimes without the supervision of a mechanic so we don't want anything to happen to a kid. Like Wanda said, having staff being able and willing to take responsibility makes a difference to ensure the child's safety.
However, we do run a kids day program and because of the way that program is run, we let kids volunteer as young as 8, mostly working the front desk. During Kids Day, all a kid needs is a parental waiver and no child is allowed to work on a bike without a mechanic.
Ellie Nava-Jones MoBo Bicycle Co-op
On Sun, May 13, 2012 at 7:06 PM, Wanda Pelegrina Caldas < wanda@communitycycles.org> wrote:
Youth under 16 must be accompanied by an adult, at all times. We ask they bring their own adult. We might have all kindsa stuff at the shop, but babysitters are not something we have in stock.
We do have a youth earn-a-bike program separate from our open shop. Youth 10-16 can participate without an adult, but their parent must sign a waiver.
We chose this age range b/c we find it's when kids are (usually) ready to take part, pay attention, learn. They are capable of using the tools safely or with little guidance and generally don't run around the shop using the tools as toys. We do occasionally get younger kids who start out super engaged, but their kids and have shorter attention spans. It turns into a situation where we end up babysitting or investing lotsa time in keeping them engaged, focused, on task.
It's great to work with younger kids if you have the staff, the programs and structure, but when it's super busy and already stretched a little thin, it's too much work to make sure that kids 10 and under safe and outta everyone's hair.
Wanda - Community Cycles, Boulder, Colorado
*Wanda Pelegrina Caldas* Community Cycles http://communitycycles.org/, Boulder's only non-profit bike shop, serves all your bike commuting needs. Use our secure online donation formhttps://communitycycles.org/index.php?option=com_dtdonate&task=authorizenet&Itemid=166to become a member, today. Thanks!!
From: paul@thebicycletree.org To: thethinktank@lists.bikecollectives.org Date: Sun, 13 May 2012 15:41:55 -0700 Subject: [TheThinkTank] Minimum age for volunteer members
Hello,
We are writing our bylaws and seeking to define age minimums for volunteer members of our organization. Our structure is going to distinguish between voting and non-voting members, based on hours volunteered. We have our minds made up pretty well that the minimum age for voting members should be 16, with perhaps a provision where exceptions can be made by volunteer vote. We are less certain about defining the minimum age for non-voting members, who may attend volunteer meetings (which are held on weeknights) but not vote, and would typically volunteer alongside people who are mostly 25-45 years old.
Anyone under 18 needs the signature of a parent or guardian to volunteer.
Perhaps relevant is that we are still operating on a mobile basis - setting up in regular locations outdoors.
I think keeping that minimum at 14 would avoid any issue with labor laws, but perhaps 16 would be better. What age limits, if any, do you employ, and why?
Thank you,
Paul The Bicycle Tree P.O. Box 11293 Santa Ana, CA 92711 http://www.thebicycletree.org info@thebicycletree.org
_______________________________________________ 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...
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...
-- MoBo Bicycle Cooperative a project of The Village Green Foundation 1415 Knowlton St. Cincinnati, OH www.mobobicyclecoop.org
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We have a similar policy to the MoBo bicycle Co-op. 16 and younger must be accompanied by an adult for the same reasons listed below. Also, if someone is around to mentor the youth for that session, then they can stay. It also depends on who is staffing and their judgement.
(I'm really interested in learning more about kids day. Ellie, could you share more with me about what that looks like and how you get youth to participate?)
Although i just found this old policy sign that we have, that may be outdated:
Free Ride Youth Access Policy Free Ride offers youth programs through other organizations. Open Shop, Volunteer Night, and Classes require a level of maturity to operate smoothly for all users, and unfortunately are generally not designed for young people. It is a working shop and respectful, safe behavior that follows the Code of Conduct is important. Free Ride enforces a strict Youth Access Policy for ALL users under the age of 18, due to several instances over the years of shop policies being violated by unsupervised young people. If you are 18*21, you need an ID with your age on it to be allowed adult access to Free Ride. A Staffer may ask for proof of age of any Shop user. Youth under the age of 18 must also do the following: ● Your first time in the shop, you must have a permission slip completed by your parent or guardian. When you turn in the signed permission slip, a staffer will have a brief conversation with the guardian (either on the phone or in person, no voicemail allowed) before permitting you access to the shop. ● You must always be with a guardian 21 or older to enter Free Ride. Your guardian must remain with you at all times while using the shop. Guardians will be held responsible for the behavior of the youth they accompany. ● With a staffer's help, you must log 3 hours in your member log FIRST, before earning a bike or parts from Free Ride. Your youth membership log will be stored with your permission slip in the Youth Membership binder. ● Be aware that staffers may make note of your behavior on your log. Respectful behavior earns you more privileges at Free Ride!
Andrea Free Ride Bicycle Project Pittsburgh, pa
From: MoBo Bicycle Co-op mobobicyclecoop@gmail.com To: The Think Tank thethinktank@lists.bikecollectives.org Sent: Tuesday, May 15, 2012 3:20 PM Subject: Re: [TheThinkTank] Minimum age for volunteer members
Our volunteers for regular shop hours must be 16 or over, unless they have a parental waiver and the mechanic on duty is willing to take responsibility and find a mentor for the child. We are an open shop based co-op so our members work on bikes with a variety of tools, sometimes without the supervision of a mechanic so we don't want anything to happen to a kid. Like Wanda said, having staff being able and willing to take responsibility makes a difference to ensure the child's safety. However, we do run a kids day program and because of the way that program is run, we let kids volunteer as young as 8, mostly working the front desk. During Kids Day, all a kid needs is a parental waiver and no child is allowed to work on a bike without a mechanic. Ellie Nava-Jones MoBo Bicycle Co-op
On Sun, May 13, 2012 at 7:06 PM, Wanda Pelegrina Caldas wanda@communitycycles.org wrote:
Youth under 16 must be accompanied by an adult, at all times. We ask they bring their own adult. We might have all kindsa stuff at the shop, but babysitters are not something we have in stock.
We do have a youth earn-a-bike program separate from our open shop. Youth 10-16 can participate without an adult, but their parent must sign a waiver.
We chose this age range b/c we find it's when kids are (usually) ready to take part, pay attention, learn. They are capable of using the tools safely or with little guidance and generally don't run around the shop using the tools as toys. We do occasionally get younger kids who start out super engaged, but their kids and have shorter attention spans. It turns into a situation where we end up babysitting or investing lotsa time in keeping them engaged, focused, on task.
It's great to work with younger kids if you have the staff, the programs and structure, but when it's super busy and already stretched a little thin, it's too much work to make sure that kids 10 and under safe and outta everyone's hair.
Wanda - Community Cycles, Boulder, Colorado
Wanda Pelegrina Caldas Community Cycles, Boulder's only non-profit bike shop, serves all your bike commuting needs. Use our secure online donation form to become a member, today. Thanks!!
From: paul@thebicycletree.org To: thethinktank@lists.bikecollectives.org Date: Sun, 13 May 2012 15:41:55 -0700 Subject: [TheThinkTank] Minimum age for volunteer members
Hello,
We are writing our bylaws and seeking to define age minimums for volunteer members of our organization. Our structure is going to distinguish between voting and non-voting members, based on hours volunteered. We have our minds made up pretty well that the minimum age for voting members should be 16, with perhaps a provision where exceptions can be made by volunteer vote. We are less certain about defining the minimum age for non-voting members, who may attend volunteer meetings (which are held on weeknights) but not vote, and would typically volunteer alongside people who are mostly 25-45 years old.
Anyone under 18 needs the signature of a parent or guardian to volunteer.
Perhaps relevant is that we are still operating on a mobile basis - setting up in regular locations outdoors.
I think keeping that minimum at 14 would avoid any issue with labor laws, but perhaps 16 would be better. What age limits, if any, do you employ, and why?
Thank you,
Paul The Bicycle Tree P.O. Box 11293 Santa Ana, CA 92711 http://www.thebicycletree.org info@thebicycletree.org
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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participants (7)
-
Andrea Chiotti -
Geoff Heath -
Jonathan Morrison -
Kelly Marie Martin -
MoBo Bicycle Co-op -
Paul Nagel -
Wanda Pelegrina Caldas