This week we’re highlighting 5 different Bike SLO County programs and efforts that need your support. Our 2017 Annual Fundraising Campaign concludes on Friday June 16th and we still have a long way to go to reach our fundraising goal of $30,000.
Day 4: Women’s Program
In 2016 Bike SLO County received a request to host a weekly Women’s Night in our Bike Kitchen. Although we didn’t have the capacity to staff Women’s Night, we worked with a team of dedicated volunteers who cared enough to donate their time and energy to take Women’s Night @ Bike Kitchen from a great idea to an even better reality.
Fast forward to 2017. In response to a continuing need, Bike SLO County created a part-time staff position to coordinate and run Women’s Night, hiring Women’s Night superstar volunteer Audrey Surprenant. In April Audrey and a team of 3 Women’s Night volunteer mechanics wrenched at two different stops on this year’s Eroica California, the first women to ever provide mechanical assistance at any Eroica ride.
The successes of Women’s Night led to the creation of our new Women’s Program. In July Audrey will take over running the Bike Kitchen from departing Operations Director Tyler Jamieson (farewell Tyler!) and move ahead with our Women’s Program, working to build a strong, safe caring community for women who bike.
Please support our Women’s Program – your one time donation of $100 or more will significantly help the Women’s Program grow and reach more SLO County women. Donations of any amount a greatly appreciated as we strive to reach our goal to raise $30,000 by Friday, June 16th.
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The City of San Luis Obispo has announced that the Draft Downtown Concept Plan is available for review. After 13 months of work by staff, consultants, the public, and the Council-appointed Creative Vision Team (CVT), the Draft Downtown Concept Plan lays out a long-range vision for the downtown; it includes both an illustrative diagram and a supplemental narrative that together provide the story to help guide the achievement of the community’s long-range vision for the downtown.
A public workshop is being held this Saturday, February 4, to review key components of the Draft Plan. Workshop participants will have a first-hand opportunity to provide feedback to help shape the future of downtown. Wants to see more bike infrastructure downtown? Show up and speak up!
Following the workshop, the public will be invited to provide additional input through Open City Hall on the city’s website, and at a series of advisory committee and other meetings. Council action is scheduled for August 2017.
Workshop Details:
Date: Saturday, February 4th, 2017
Time: 1:00-4:00 pm
Location: City/County Library Community Room, 995 Palm St
Drop in at your convenience
See a presentation from the project team at 1:15 or 2:45
Review key components of the draft Downtown Concept Plan
Or contact project manager Rebecca Gershow: rgershow@gmail.com, or 805.781.7011
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Thursdays at Bike Kitchen are getting busy busy BUSY! Earlier this year we added Women’s Night @ Bike Kitchen on Thursday evenings from 6 – 8:30 pm, and this week we’re thrilled to announce that the Bike Kitchen hours are expanding again.
Starting today we’ll be open for all on Thursdays from Noon – 5 pm. That means more time to fix your bike (or more time to learn how to fix your bike), more time to come in and see what gently used bikes we have in stock and yes, more time to volunteer with Bike SLO County. We’re always on the lookout for passionate volunteers – you don’t need to be a skilled mechanic to help. (Learn more about volunteering here.)
Bike Kitchen will be closed November 24 – 27 for the Thanksgiving weekend and closed Dec 25 – January 1 for the Holiday Break.
The Bike Kitchen is a program of Bike SLO County. We have all the parts, tools and knowledge you need to fix your bicycle! We can help you build a bike from the ground up, fix that junker you found at a garage sale, or simply teach you how to tune up your bicycle. We serve all types of people, and are committed to creating a safe space for everyone. We have provided guided instruction to over 8,000 people since opening our doors in 2010. Looking to buy a gently used, ready to ride bicycle? We sell all kinds of bicycles! Come in and see us! Have a bike you’d like to donate? Your generous gifts help the Bike Kitchen thrive and give even more people the chance to experience SLO County by bike. Thank you!
Like Bikes? Join us! It’s free! Click here to join and we’ll keep you informed about all things bike in SLO County: JOIN
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Last Friday we held the 6th Annual Red Davis Celebration, Bike SLO County’s yearly gala to honor meant to honor the example, the spirit, the dedication and the hard work of Red Davis and everyone else who strives to make SLO County an even better place for bikes.
Food and drinks were provided to the happy bike community crowd, and before the awards were presented Red Davis himself spoke about the history of the so many individuals who have helped make Bike SLO County over the years.
Every year it is difficult to choose the award winners – there are so many creative and energetic folks doing great work for bikes. Congratulations to all of our 2016 Red Davis Award Winners!
2016 Business of the Year:
SLO Sail and Canvas
2016 Board Member of the Year:
Chris McBride
2016 Advocate of the Year:
Dave Abrecht
2016 Public Professional of the Year:
Jeff Brubaker
2016 Volunteer of the Year*:
Kylie Mendonca
2016 Volunteer of the Year*:
Audrey Surprenant
*This year we had not one but two Volunteers of the Year. Woo-hoo!
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Calling all volunteers! The San Luis Obispo Bicycle Club’s Lighthouse Century takes place this year on Saturday, September 24th and Bike SLO County staff and volunteers will be at the Donati Family Vineyards Rest Stop in Templeton from 7 – 11:30 A.M. to help make sure riders get the snacks and beverages they need. Proceeds from the Lighthouse Century benefit Bike SLO County and other local cycling organizations as well as programs and the communities and groups that support the San Luis Obispo Bicycle Club’s rides.
Photo by Roger Heathcote
Want to lend a hand? We’re looking for volunteers who can:
Assist with setup (serving and decorations) and cleanup
Lift 5-gallon water bottles, and pour the contents
Slice and dice some foods, merely set out others
Array foods for riders
Stir drink mix in 5-gallon coolers
Mingle with participants
Be creative!
Have fun!
Our awesome Volunteers each receive a free Lighthouse Century short sleeve T-Shirt, as well as the option to participate in the Pre-Ride and to attend the Volunteer Banquet. We had a blast in 2015 and we’re hoping that this year is even better.
When: Saturday September 24th, 7 – 11:30 AM
Where: Donati Winery Rest Stop, 2720 Oak View Rd.,Templeton, CA 93465 (map)
For the question “Please enter your preferred Job or your Organization (CCCMB, CPARC, Wheelmen, Bike SLO County) if you are volunteering as part of the organization team” simply enter Bike SLO County so they’ll know you are with us.
Want to car pool? We’ll have transportation from SLO to Templeton and back. Email steve@bikeslocounty.org to reserve a space.
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Like cider? We’re excited to announce that on October 22nd, The Hard Core Cider Tour is coming to El Chorro Regional Park and Bike SLO County will benefit from every ticket sold. If you like bikes and cider, this is a win – win! You’ll get to taste some of the best ciders around and contribute to the future of better paths and safer streets throughout SLO County.
The Hard Core Cider Tour’s mission is to celebrate the revival of craft hard cider making. The tour began in 2015 with stops in Santa Cruz and Pasadena and the 2016 tour adds a stop in San Luis Obispo. SLO County is currently experiencing a cider revival of its own. Local cider producers include Reef Points Hard Cider, Jean Marie Cidery, Bristols Cider, Tin City Cider Co and See Canyon Hard Cider Co.
In addition to the cider producers mentioned above, the tour will include cider from other parts of California, Washington state and from as far away as Herefordshire, England.
Food will be available from two tasty food trucks, Cubanissimo and The Pairing Knife. To make the Festival even better there will be live music, with performances by Bear Market Riot and Medicine Hat.
While car parking will be available for $5.00, our Bike Valet will be on hand to park your bicycle for free!
Tickets are $40 and include unlimited 2 ounce tastings (please imbibe responsibly) and a signature keepsake mason jar. All ticket sales to the Hard Core Cider Tour benefit Bike SLO County, but some ticket sales benefit us more than others. Here’s how it works:
Tickets that are sold in the Bike Kitchen give us the highest benefit (50% of ticket price).
Tickets sold online also benefit us (12.5% of ticket price), but not as much as the tickets we sell ourselves.
To purchase tickets at the Bike Kitchen: Come by Friday, Saturday or Sunday between the hours of Noon – 5 PM. We’re located at 860 Pacific St, San Luis Obispo, 93401 (map).
Want to purchase a ticket from us but those hours aren’t ideal? Call Steve at 547-2055 and we’ll do what we can to work with your schedule.
Bike SLO County offers our deepest sympathy to the family of Bridget Dawson of San Luis Obispo, whose inspired life was tragically taken July 14, 2016 by a motorist who drifted onto a wide shoulder where Bridget was enjoying one of her many passions – bicycling. Our sadness is profound because Bike SLO County stands for safety through education of both bicyclists and motorists and by supporting more and safer roadways for all.
Bridget, 58, and her husband, Scott, moved to San Luis Obispo two years ago when Scott accepted the position of dean of Cal Poly’s Orfalea College of Business. They lived and raised their family in Portland, Ore., for 29 years before arriving in San Luis Obispo. Bridget made many friends and became a respected and much-loved member of the bicycling and triathlon community during her short time here.
Bridget was a role model and world-class athlete who ran track and cross country at Iowa State University and discovered triathlons in 1984. She was a professional triathlete during the years of the Bud Light Olympic series in the late 1980s. After taking a break to raise children Whitney and Conor, Bridget again became a serious competitor in 2012 and to her surprise Bridget won her age group and became the world champion for the Olympic distance triathlon that same year. She won her age group in the United States for Olympic distance in 2015 and competed at world championships many times. She also won her age group for U.S. Duathlon Championships from 2013 to 2016. She planned to do her first Ironman next year, with a goal to race in Kona, Hawaii, where she would have competed as a 60-year-old. Her friends frequently described her “gentle determination.”
Bridget was born Nov. 3, 1957 in Sigourney, Iowa. In addition to Scott, Whitney and Conor, she is survived by her mother, Joyce, and three younger brothers, Terry, Cole and Shawn.
Bridget’s family has created the Bridget Inspires Scholarship Fund to support young women in triathlon and other athletic endeavors. The goal of this endowment is to extend Bridget’s inspiration beyond her achievements and coaching. She raced with grace, confidence, strength and a quiet fierceness that made her a champion in the sport as well as a mentor and friend to the entire community. Her drive and vitality will live through the young women who will be supported from this fund to pursue their athletic goals.
A remembrance for Bridget will be held Monday, Aug. 8 at the World Forestry Center, 4022 SW Canyon Road, Portland, Ore. 97221
For more about Bridget’s life and the Bridget Inspires Scholarship Fund, please go to Bridgetinspires.org.
For more than 15 years, Bike SLO County (formerly the San Luis Obispo County Bicycle Coalition) has been advocating for bicycling throughout San Luis Obispo County. Our advocacy efforts have been instrumental in creating safer roads and paths and connecting our cities and communities. In addition, Bike SLO County provides bicycle education programming that spans all ages — from elementary to adults, operates a Bike Kitchen, and provides Bike Valet for county farmers’ markets and county events. Bike SLO County is supported by full-time staff, a dedicated board, and community volunteers. For more information, please visit: http://bikeslocounty.org/.
Mission: Bike SLO County inspires, educates, advocates and works to build a safe, healthy and connected community through bicycling.
Vision: Bicycling is safe, viable and popular for everyday transportation and recreation throughout San Luis Obispo County.
Purpose: To connect San Luis Obispo County through bicycling, sustaining the health of our community and supporting the Central Coast environment.
Executive Director Responsibilities
The Executive Director (ED), with the Board of Directors, is responsible for implementing the strategic plan of the organization. The ED works with staff, board members, community partners, volunteers, government agencies, and an active membership to keep our plan current and responsive to community needs and opportunities. The ED is responsible for managing a $1/4 million budget and for successful fundraising through cultivating individual donor and business partner relationships. The ED manages, develops, and empowers a staff of ~4 people to conduct effective bicycle advocacy, educational programs and activities such as the Bike Kitchen and Bike Valet. The ED connects and engages with our diverse members, and work to expand our membership base to better reflect all San Luis Obispo County bike riders, including underserved groups and communities. The ED is the primary public face of the organization, speaking to media, government agencies, and at public functions. Weekend and evening work will be required at times to attend board meetings, fundraising events, member programs, etc.
Ideal Experience and Capabilities
At least three to five years’ experience managing people, including a demonstrated ability to hire, develop, and lead talented and committed staff.
Success leading advocacy work in areas such as sustainability, transportation, urban planning, land use, social justice, public health or a related field. Experience with bicycle advocacy is a plus.
A strong history of effective fundraising, including individual, business, government and foundations.
A deep commitment to Bike SLO County’s mission of improving quality of life through safe cycling.
Experience working in a membership organization.
Expertise facilitating participatory decision-making in an advocacy organization whose members hold diverse views.
Skilled at building coalitions.
Demonstrated ability to prioritize organizational efforts given input from a broad range of stakeholders and multiple competing interests.
Ability to communicate effectively to a variety of audiences and to maintain composure in challenging situations.
Strong experience representing organizations with the media and with the public at large.
Strong financial, organizational, management and program design and implementation skills, preferably with a nonprofit organization.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
A bachelor’s degree or commensurate experience.
Additional requirements include California Driver’s License and ability to lift 40 pounds.
Compensation
Salary based upon experience.
How to Apply
Email a cover letter and resume to edsearch@bikeslocounty.org. Your cover letter should specifically address the experience and capabilities identified above. Please include “Executive Director – YOUR NAME” in the subject line, and please mention how you found out about the position. Inquiries may made by contacting the Executive Board at: executive@bikeslocounty.org.
Preferred Deadline for Applications: September 1, 2016. Applications received after September 1 will be reviewed, but priority will be given to applications received prior to that time.
Equal Opportunity Employment Bike SLO County is an equal opportunity employer.
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SLO County is currently experiencing a cider revival of its own. Local cider producers include Reef Points Hard Cider, Jean Marie Cidery, Bristols Cider, Tin City Cider Co and See Canyon Hard Cider Co.
