On 9/12/2011 10:59 AM, Amanda White wrote:
Hello India and Friends,
Thank you so much for the great ideas, India. I agree that it was an
excellent question.
My answer to this question during the meeting was that the Greater
Madison Bicycling Advisory Council is set up for exactly the reasons you
outline. I'd like to take this opportunity to share with all of you
about what this growing group is accomplishing.
The Advisory Council was created under the umbrella of the Bike Fed and
is made up of representatives from various local bicycling interests
such as the bicycling industry, bicycling advocacy, business groups, and
bicycle clubs. The mission of the Council is to "convene local bicycle
enthusiasts, civic leaders, and business leaders, to create and
implement bicycling priorities to move bicycling forward in a unified
effort."
*Members of the Council include:*
Greg Hyer, President of Bombay Bicycle Club
Renee Callaway, President of Capital Velo Club
Sparky Watts, Downtown Madison Inc.
Larry Nelson, retired City of Madison Engineer
Brian Munson, Vandewalle & Associates
Jamie Patrick, Greater Madison Convention and Visitors Bureau
Krista Flanagan, Centurion Cycling
India Viola, We Are All Mechanics
Chuck Strawser, UW Transportation Services
Ellen Johnson, Pacific Cycle
Heather Fortune, Saris Cycling Group
Krista Rettig, Trek Bicycle Corporation
Jay Ferm, Planet Bike
Brian Conger, Madison B-Cycle
A primary purpose of the Bike Council is to foster better communication
among the various groups that support bicycling in Madison. By uniting
together and strengthening our ability to work together, we can make a
much larger impact. The Advisory Council has been meeting once a month
for about 1 year. Now that that Council is up and running and beginning
to gain traction, I will begin posting minutes from these Council
meetings to bikies and other list serves so that other bicycle
supporters can better understand and participate in the issues the
Council addressing.
We are also planning a Bike Fed membership meeting for mid-October and I
will provide more information about the Advisory Council at this meeting.
I would love to have 1 representative from each club join our Advisory
Council. Please let me know if your club would like to get involved.
India, I like your idea of a Club Coalition and would enjoy the
opportunity to support it. Perhaps the Bike Club Coalition could be set
up as an arm of the Advisory Council? This way, the members of the
Coalition could be closely tapped into local bike advocacy work. As a
member of the Council, perhaps you could lead this effort? Greg and
Renee might be interested too. The Bike Fed and the Advisory Council
really have the finger on the pulse in terms of local advocacy and
opportunities to get involved in moving bicycling forward. Great idea on
MACSAC... if Kiera is interested, it would be effective to partner with
MACSAC on this effort too.
Thanks to everyone for all the great bicycle support you give. Please
keep me posted on how I can help support the great ideas on a Club
Coalition generated here.
I think the Council has and should have a separate focus than the group
India envisions. In fact, a member of the Council from every club
(what, 12...20 clubs?) would be a recipe for disaster for the Council,
constantly entangling it in club membership, recruitment, management,
and event issues that are the proper topics for a coalition of bike
clubs. Let the Council and the Coalition pursue their different but
slightly overlapping goals in a mutually supportive way.
A membership fee for clubs (e.g., $1/member/year) could support some
small organizational costs like incorporation and hiring a lawyer or
other representative to work with the HMOs in town like India suggested.
Perhaps the Bike Fed could support Web hosting for the group. It
would be a terrific vehicle for newcomers to the Madison area to get
involved in the bicycle "club scene".
Regards,
Steve Arnold, Fitchburg Alder, District 4, Seat 7
2530 Targhee Street, Fitchburg, Wisconsin 53711-5491
Telephone +1 608 278 7700 · Facsimile +1 608 278 7701
[email protected] · http://Arnold.US
Become a supporter: like http://facebook.com/ArnoldforAlder.
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