Join the Collective

Jill on a tall bike during BikeBike!2009 at The Grease Pit, Minneapolis

Jill on a tall bike during BikeBike!2009 at The Grease Pit, Minneapolis

Levels of Membership

People can be involved with Free Ride at three levels: non-members, members and council members. This is intended to encourage people to take ownership in Free Ride, by providing an accessible way to give back in return for concrete benefits. As an individual contributes more, more benefits become open to them.

The table below summarizes the different levels of membership and lists requirements and some of the main benefits of each level.

Non-member:

  • $2 fee per visit per bike to use open shop
  • Pay standard fee (cash) for new parts and classes (cash or volunteer equivalent).

Benefits

Responsibilities per quarter

Member

  • Free use of the shop!
  • Discount on new parts.
  • You’re part of an awesome community.

  • Work or pay, combination equivalent to 4 hours at $8 / hour.

-or-

  • Complete the Earn-A-Bike program.

Collective Council

  • Vote in council meetings on decisions that affect Free Ride.
  • Free use of used parts.
  • Maximum discount for new parts.
  • Eligible for paid positions within Free Ride.
  • Eligible for key access.

  • Membership.
  • Work 12 additional hours (that’s 16 total!) per quarter.
  • Participate at 2 council or subcommittee meetings per quarter.

Members commit to volunteer four hours every three months (quarter). Many hands will make lighter the work of keeping Free Ride rolling smoothly, and build a larger, stronger community. You may pay cash for all or part of the membership requirement, at $8 per hour, but we encourage you to volunteer instead! It’s more fun, anyway.

Collective Council is the group of members that make Free Ride’s major decisions. It is made up of Members who demonstrate a significant commitment to the organization. Decisions are made through a consensus process. Council Meetings are held once a month, usually on the second Sunday at 1 pm. Location and agenda are posted in the shop and on the wiki, https://we.riseup.net/freeride_council. Please come to learn more and offer your ideas; everyone is welcome.  Read also the Collective Bylaws

How to become a Member:

Come to Open Shop and ask the Greeter at the entrance to become a member. You are immediately given access to the benefits of membership. To keep your membership, you must complete your volunteer hours within one month of joining. When a new quarter starts (three months after you join), you again have one month to meet the membership requirement in order to keep your membership current. If a membership lapses, it is immediately renewed upon completion of the membership requirement.

How to join the Collective Council:

Any member who volunteers 16 hours per quarter and comes to two meetings earns membership in the collective council.

Give more, get more: Each member, including Council members, is responsible for maintaining a log of their volunteer hours and dates that they attend meetings. Credit earned through volunteering may be redeemed for used parts, class entry fees, Earn-A-Bike or other benefits. Make sure to keep a log of credits you redeem!

Free Ride Committees

There are several smaller groups that work on specific aspects of running Free Ride, and carry out the projects that make Free Ride such a great part of the local community.