Non-collective Members opening the shop.
We have recently been approached by, for no better descriptor,
hipsters, asking if they could have a "fixed gear/SS" day on a day
when we are not open. They are interested in doing tune-ups and
modifications on their own bikes and are somewhat competent and
autonomous mechanics. We don't really have any collective members that
are willing or able to staff another shift beyond what we are already
open. We know some of these folks pretty well on a personal, outside
of the shop level, but not too many have been active volunteers.
Basically we trust some of them and would like to make the shop
available to them but am not sure as to how to do it equitably. We
have opened the shop to special groups before (at-risk youth groups,
etc) but always staffed by a willing and able collective member. Do
any shops make exceptions for folks like this? How do you make sure
that things are getting paid for, tools being used properly, random
folks stopping by being respected, etc. without having a collective
member in the place? Any problems from shops that have done this?
Thanks,
Andrew
FM Community Bicycle Workshop
Make them members, expand your capacity.
R
plan_9@riseup.net wrote:
We have recently been approached by, for no better descriptor, hipsters, asking if they could have a "fixed gear/SS" day on a day when we are not open. They are interested in doing tune-ups and modifications on their own bikes and are somewhat competent and autonomous mechanics. We don't really have any collective members that are willing or able to staff another shift beyond what we are already open. We know some of these folks pretty well on a personal, outside of the shop level, but not too many have been active volunteers. Basically we trust some of them and would like to make the shop available to them but am not sure as to how to do it equitably. We have opened the shop to special groups before (at-risk youth groups, etc) but always staffed by a willing and able collective member. Do any shops make exceptions for folks like this? How do you make sure that things are getting paid for, tools being used properly, random folks stopping by being respected, etc. without having a collective member in the place? Any problems from shops that have done this? Thanks, Andrew FM Community Bicycle Workshop
Thethinktank mailing list Thethinktank@bikecollectives.org http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.o...
There's something there for you and something there for them, so find the middle ground. As Rich said, you have a chance at new collective members. If you have nights available, by all means, give them a night. They are interested in the shop time, so I bet you can get them to meet your conditions - like keeping shop clean - greeting people who stop by - opening their sessions to drop-ins, etc. Could be a great win-win.
Wilbur Ince Sibley Bike Depot Saint Paul, MN
plan_9@riseup.net wrote:
We have recently been approached by, for no better descriptor, hipsters, asking if they could have a "fixed gear/SS" day on a day when we are not open. They are interested in doing tune-ups and modifications on their own bikes and are somewhat competent and autonomous mechanics. We don't really have any collective members that are willing or able to staff another shift beyond what we are already open. We know some of these folks pretty well on a personal, outside of the shop level, but not too many have been active volunteers. Basically we trust some of them and would like to make the shop available to them but am not sure as to how to do it equitably. We have opened the shop to special groups before (at-risk youth groups, etc) but always staffed by a willing and able collective member. Do any shops make exceptions for folks like this? How do you make sure that things are getting paid for, tools being used properly, random folks stopping by being respected, etc. without having a collective member in the place? Any problems from shops that have done this? Thanks, Andrew FM Community Bicycle Workshop
Thethinktank mailing list Thethinktank@bikecollectives.org http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.o...
"There's something there for you and something there for them, "
is a quote that struck me, because i think this is a way of thinking that we aspire to modify - the "us" and "them" mentality. we at austin yellow bike have fallen into this way of thinking often, and i think it's helpful to take a step back and realize that, at least in our case, the collective performs a community service, and those who benefit from this service should be brought into the fold.
ideally, everyone who uses our community bike shop on a regular basis volunteers time equal to what they use; this creates a sense of shared mission and cooperation that is all too often lacking in our society.
so, i strongly recommend that any "hipsters" who want to have the opportunity to open a special shop night for themselves should be required to become collective members themselves, and receive whatever training anyone else in the collective receives to run a shop.
jennifer schaffer
On Wed, Jul 9, 2008 at 11:08 AM, Wilbur Ince Wilbur@wilbur.us wrote:
There's something there for you and something there for them, so find the middle ground. As Rich said, you have a chance at new collective members. If you have nights available, by all means, give them a night. They are interested in the shop time, so I bet you can get them to meet your conditions - like keeping shop clean - greeting people who stop by - opening their sessions to drop-ins, etc. Could be a great win-win.
Wilbur Ince Sibley Bike Depot Saint Paul, MN
plan_9@riseup.net wrote:
We have recently been approached by, for no better descriptor, hipsters, asking if they could have a "fixed gear/SS" day on a day when we are not open. They are interested in doing tune-ups and modifications on their own bikes and are somewhat competent and autonomous mechanics. We don't really have any collective members that are willing or able to staff another shift beyond what we are already open. We know some of these folks pretty well on a personal, outside of the shop level, but not too many have been active volunteers. Basically we trust some of them and would like to make the shop available to them but am not sure as to how to do it equitably. We have opened the shop to special groups before (at-risk youth groups, etc) but always staffed by a willing and able collective member. Do any shops make exceptions for folks like this? How do you make sure that things are getting paid for, tools being used properly, random folks stopping by being respected, etc. without having a collective member in the place? Any problems from shops that have done this? Thanks, Andrew FM Community Bicycle Workshop
Thethinktank mailing list Thethinktank@bikecollectives.org
http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.o...
Thethinktank mailing list Thethinktank@bikecollectives.org
http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.o...
I think this could be a good thing. it could expand your membership
base, and your hours if you play it right. I would ask them to become
active members, and have them commit to having a regular shift. Also I
wouldn't want them turning away folks who want to work on geared
bikes. It's fine to focus on fixed gears for their shift, but it
reflects poorly on your organization if they are alienating folks who
don't have the kind of bikes they prefer.
On Jul 9, 2008, at 11:51 AM, plan_9@riseup.net wrote:
We have recently been approached by, for no better descriptor,
hipsters, asking if they could have a "fixed gear/SS" day on a day
when we are not open. They are interested in doing tune-ups and
modifications on their own bikes and are somewhat competent and
autonomous mechanics. We don't really have any collective members
that are willing or able to staff another shift beyond what we are
already open. We know some of these folks pretty well on a personal,
outside of the shop level, but not too many have been active
volunteers. Basically we trust some of them and would like to make
the shop available to them but am not sure as to how to do it
equitably. We have opened the shop to special groups before (at-risk
youth groups, etc) but always staffed by a willing and able
collective member. Do any shops make exceptions for folks like this?
How do you make sure that things are getting paid for, tools being
used properly, random folks stopping by being respected, etc.
without having a collective member in the place? Any problems from
shops that have done this? Thanks, Andrew FM Community Bicycle Workshop
Thethinktank mailing list Thethinktank@bikecollectives.org http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.o...
participants (5)
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Matt -
plan_9＠riseup.net -
Rich Points -
Wilbur Ince -
yellow bike