«

»

Meeting minutes January 14th

Free Ride Meeting Minutes 1-14-09
MAIN TOPICS
Disclaimer: If I left anything out, please feel free to update and revise. This is not a binding document.
  • Split Earn A Bike (EAB)
Proposed: Have certain nights be designated for either EAB or Mechanic class OR 1/2 night be designated for mechanic class and 1/2 night work on EAB project
Supporting points: Increase interest in EAB, shift responsibility to the EAB participant, provide flexibility and relief for staffers
Tangential Point: Perhaps hold a Mechanics course once a month for the duration of open shop for EAB participants.
  • Limit EAB Projects
Proposed: Determine a number of projects that can be occupying space at any one time. Create a wait list for interested participants. Once a project is completed then those on the wait list are notified.
Supporting points: Institute a notification system via computer database, have a more concrete record of participants and their progress. Reduces confusion of projects, stress on staff/volunteers, controls bike tagging, and open shop space.
  • Incentives for Staff/Volunteers
Proposed: Provide a break and supply snacks. Designate a number of bike stands for non-EAB visitors that would like to fix their bikes; perhaps placing a time limit on stand use after a mechanic assessment is made.
Supporting points: QVP credit for hours volunteered or worked by staff; provide monetary compensation
Tangential points: Not enough money to compensate all staff; changes the climate of work if it is valued monetarily.
  • Retention of “lazy” staffers
Proposed: Mini educational sessions for new staff; cultivate a less ”club-like” working environment.
Supporting points: Example of a mini session would be packing a hub as a group where individuals problem solve together.
  • Free Ride as Bike Co-op
Proposed: Set membership requirement where visitors pay a fee or volunteer/commit ‘x’ amount of time towards the co-op; instituting tiers of access.
Supporting points: In fairness, ask to give back.
Tangential point: Creation of a “healthy” hierarchy to replace an unhealthy one.
  • ‘Monday’ Night Drop In Mechanics Class (Schedule not set)
Proposed: Designated night that is an extension of the adult mechanics class where volunteers etc. can drop in and take a mechanics course.
Supporting points: There is a main instructor with ‘apprentices’ that facilitate the course. Provides meaningful volunteer hours and extends educational opportunites to all visitors.
Tangential points: Schedule needs restructuring still, night is undetermined at this point, but Monday is proposed.
  • Free Ride Computer Database
Proposed: Develop or install software that tracks EAB projects, volunteers, staff hours, tasks that need completed etc.
Supporting points: Can work from a basic spreadsheet at first and expand over time. Define what it is we want from the software and design it accordingly. Database entry provides useful tasks for volunteers.
Tangential point: Refer to other bike co-ops and collectives for recommendations about software.
  • Free Ride Classroom
Proposed: Designate a space in the shop for a classroom where materials and course content is readily available for instructors and students.
Supporting points: Reduces prep time and stress on instructors. Provides a learning space that is consistent for learners
Tangential points: Space is a commodity in the shop; create a portable classroom i.e. on a cart
BRAINSTORM SESSION
DIVIDED BY TOPIC
EAB=Earn A Bike
  • Create a checklist for EAB projects that has a bike diagram where problem parts can be circled
  • Assess EAB problems in the proposed split EAB night
  • Extract EAB from open shop

Retention/Incentive

  • Reward/Incentive system: once a month party/dinner
  • Make staff time more enjoyable by changing the structure of open shop but shifting responsibility to Free Ride users
  • Time Out Box for staffers
  • Group Bike Rides scheduled and posted
  • Open shop nights for committed volunteers that have logged a set amount of time
  • Rotate staff jobs throughout the shift

Administrative/Communication

  • Update WIKI, mailing list, blog, crabgrass
  • Create messageboard that is accessible through website
  • Inquire about BIKE PGH link to messageboard
  • Consolidate issues: How do we modify schedule, increase educational opps. and provide volunteer incentives in a single solution?
  • Provide avenues to meet up with knowlegable teachers to fix specific bike problems

Project management/Issue Resolution

  • Create task based committes to solve issues.
  • Integrate education with volunteerism and reinforce participant feeder programs
  • Seperate education from open shop and have work time only on designated days
  • Institute Co-op model for open shop which requires active management and provides perks
MEETING WRAP UP
Concluding remarks: Proposal and agreement of break out groups, time worries, encouragment, call for preparedness of proposals for next weeks meeting.
Time logged for meeting: approx. 3 hrs. and 15 minutes.

Tags:

Leave a Reply

Follow comments on this post via RSS.