Bill Sell <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: This
argument -- just what I "need" The world is rotten enough
without getting in the heads of bicyclists.
I need perspective. I hope I can ask a few questions that give me
just that. I believe I've been a BFW member about 5 years or so.
Stuff I don't know, but have a feeling are important in this election.
When was BFW founded?
Debated...but probably around 1989. Got 501(c)(3) in 1995
What years experienced the fastest growth?
>From 1995 to 2002 under Jeanne Hoffman, it grew from $20,000 budget to
$200,000 budget and from 200 members to 2,000 (handy numbers, huh...how they're
all 2's...Jeanne did that on purpose). I (Dar) started August 2002. Things
grew steadily 2002-2005. Peak year the budget was
something like $350,000 I think...I've forgotten the exact number...that was
2005. In 2006 there was a significant and unexpected down turn in income...I
don't know the final number on income...but it was a big loss for the year.
Expenses were level with 2005.
The 990 for 2006 has not yet been published online (probably not submitted
yet). It is public data, though. The 990s for past years are all
online...though you might have to have a login to view them.
So the weird thing was that 2005 was the best year ever and 2006 had a loss.
It didn't become apparent that was going to happen until about mid-2006 and
then some big contracts were delayed and then it was too late to fix.
On balance...if you take finances from 1995 through 2006 and add them all
together, BFW made more money than it lost over that period I believe, though.
How large is the staff?
Currently there is 5 full time staff as far as I know (one of those might be
part time)...perhaps a couple of part timers too
At peak there were about 7.5 FTE and, and with 2007's contracts, it was on
track to grow...if the "grant/contract flow" problem hadn't of happened in 2006.
How many members today?
In January there was about 2,800 members...growth in a given year was about an
average net 400 members...so they are probably pushing 3,000 by now.
What is the annual budget for operations?
See above...no idea what it is this year...they were awarded a couple of big
contracts for 2007...so the bottom line probably looks pretty good for 2007.
If the timing had been a little different on just one of those, 2006 probably
would have been fine too.
When did the staff recently experience a high growth rate, or was it gradual?
There was one (or less) staff until around 1997-1998...then 2-3 until 2002,
when it started to increase more quickly (starting when Chuck Strawser was
hired in October 2001) to that peak of 7.5 FTE in 2005. People were always
added 1 or 2 at a time though...there was never any huge jump. BFW has always
run very lean.
OPINION
What in your opinion is the most significant BFW success in the past 5 years?
Ironically, it is possibly that funding in the state budget may be
restored..still pending, of course. Beyond that...just raising the profile of
bicycling...building a voice for bicyclists so that media calls BFW when
something happens instead of refusing to return BFW's phone calls. Having
bicyclists become a constituency that have an effect on what DOT or DNR or
police or other establishments do or say. Building the seat at the table. And
having the ability to activate well-informed members statewide to grassroots
action.
Uh...like the membership is doing now.
What conflict resolution is built into the BFW -- Whether for staff
or members.... If your answer is "none" then: what kind of conflict
resolution would you like to see?
None. It is a good question. I think lack of communication is the whole ball
of wax. If people would just talk to each other, then we could call it a day.
For those of us who are not part of the current argument, and maybe
find the exploding accusations troubling, it would greatly help if we
were allowed to focus in on the larger picture. From that point
onward we might have some questions about current discussions.
If any of this information is private to the BFW, I would receive it
discretely as a member.
thanks
Bill Sell
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^.
"Let us put our minds together, and see what life we will make for
our children." ---Tatanka-Iyotanka (Sitting Bull) --- Hunkpapa Lakota chief
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