BNB Mega Update
Written by Boston Biker on Oct 10From the email
——————————-
36-hour Giving Common Challenge going on now! Help Bikes Not Bombs win $25,000!
Bikes Not Bombs is excited to announce that we are participating in a 36-hour challenge, from 8am today until 8pm tomorrow, hosted by the Giving Common, a new initiative of the Boston Foundation. To celebrate the launch of the Giving Common website, they are giving out over $150,000 in prizes to Massachusetts-based nonprofit organizations!
Bikes Not Bombs is fortunate to have such a large network of grassroots supporters. With your help, we have a real shot at winning the grand prize for the most unique donations during the 36-hour period – $25,000!. Second place gets $12,000 and third place gets $10,000. BNB is a small organization that is making a big difference every day. To us, $25,000 would be transformational!
Now is the time to show your support for Bikes Not Bombs and make a gift! Each gift must be $25 or more and each person can only donate to BNB one time. All donations must be made online through BNB’s page on the Giving Common website by 5pm tomorrow!
Make your gift, spread the word on facebook and twitter, and check the leaderboard throughout the event to see how BNB is doing! Here is the link to Bikes Not Bombs’ direct page – please share it far and wide!
If you have any questions about the Giving Common Challenge, please contact Allie Hunter, Director of Fundraising & Events, at 617-522-0222 x106 or [email protected]. Thank you!!
On Sunday October 14th, Bikes Not Bombs will load a 40′ shipping container of bikes and bike parts to CESTA in El Salvador. We need volunteer help to make it happen.
CESTA (El Salvadoran Center for Appropriate Technology) is an environmental advocacy organization that focuses on issues of environmental justice, sustainable transportation, appropriate technology and campaigns to stop climate change. CESTA runs a bicycle mechanics training center for young people, runs various Eco-Centers demonstrating and training people in the use of sustainable and appropriate technology, organizes a movement of Victims of Climate Change and contributes a critical voice to the international discourse on the social and environmental impacts of global warming. CESTA is the El Salvadoran branch of the international organization Friends of the Earth.
Bikes Not Bombs began supporting CESTA’s work in 2000, and our most recent shipment to this partner was sent one year ago. Help BNB load bikes to support the work of CESTA!
TIME: Sunday October 14th from 10am to 5pm. Drop in for an hour or stay all day!
PLACE: The BNB warehouse at 10 Harvard Street in Dorchester
DETAILS: Breakfast and lunch will be provided. Equal Exchange coffee is generously donated by City Feed & Supply!
Please RSVP to attend this container loading.
October 15 – November 15, 2012
Bikes Not Bombs is currently enrolling applicants for the our second Fall 2012 session of the Earn-A-Bike Program. In this program you’ll choose a bike in the beginning and learn the skills to not only build it up, but maintain it as well. At the end of the program, once the bike is built, it is yours to take home! Additionally, we go on bike adventures to explore some of the fascinating places Boston has to offer, and look into various environmental awareness topics.
Applications are available online. There are a limited number of spots available. Applicants are chosen based on application date, and the applicant’s availability and willingness to commit. To qualify for enrollment, BOTH the application (filled out) and payment (cash, check, money order, or fee waiver) need to be submitted. If you are not accepted into the program for any reason, you will be notified and your program fee will be returned.
If you have any questions please contact Elijah Evans, Director of Youth Programs, at 617-522-0222 x101 or email [email protected]
Also, graduates from the first fall EAB session will be showing off their new bikes at a graduation celebration featuring a “bike fashion show” on October 11 at 6:00 pm at the BNB Hub. Please join us to learn more about the program and meet our youth instructors!
Our Fall clearance sale is still in full swing. We have select new Bianchi, Surly and Linus bikes marked down 20%. This makes the Linus Roadster Classic currently one of our most affordable new bikes priced at $400, a deal for a stylish, upright city single speed!
We have many new models of bikes in stock. Come check out the Linus Dutchi 3 – a very upright and elegant bike based off of classic Dutch bikes. We’re currently stocking two sizes: a 43cm with 26″ wheels as well as a 45cm with 700c wheels. We also now have the Roadster 8 and Mixte 8. These are our first 8-speed internal gear city bikes, and they are similar to the 3 speed versions but are much more versatile with the extra gearing. We currently have two sizes of the Roadster and one size of the Mixte in stock to test ride.
From Bianchi we now also have our first Women’s-specific road bike, the Via Nirone 7 Dama Sora in classic Bianchi Celeste. This bike comes in 44, 46, 50 and 53 cm frames so we have a lot of options for both small and medium sized folks. We also have the 2013 Bianchi Volpe’s in stock. This year some of the components have been upgraded and the color changed to a nice subtle slate blue.
Lights! We’ve seen a huge improvement in low cost USB lights. Without batteries you can keep your lights at full brightness easier (since you can charge them as frequently as needed), save money on batteries, and they can also be smaller and brighter. Currently we have individual front and rear USB lights in the $20 range as well as a $40 front and rear set. We also have some brighter options to consider and of course still have a good selection of battery powered lights.
Still open 7 days a week and most repairs able to be scheduled for the next day!
Dear friends, supporters, and community members,
I am writing to announce that I will be leaving my position as the Director of Fundraising & Events at Bikes Not Bombs.
I have recently accepted a position at Hyde Square Task Force, managing their communications and individual giving programs. I look forward to this new opportunity for personal and professional growth, but I will greatly miss working at Bikes Not Bombs.
For the past two and a half years, I have very much enjoyed being a part of the BNB team, working alongside our wonderful staff, volunteers, young people, partners, and supporters. I feel lucky to have had the chance to get to know so many of you and I sincerely appreciate your contributions to BNB. Each of you is part of what makes Bikes Not Bombs so special.
I know that Bikes Not Bombs will continue to do amazing work and I am excited to stay involved as a volunteer.
I will remain on the BNB staff until the end of October and you can contact me at [email protected] and 617-522-0222 x106 until that time. Afterwards, please contact Jodi Sugerman-Brozan, our Executive Director, at [email protected] or 617-522-0222 x105 with any questions related to fundraising or events.
Again, I’d like to extend my deepest thanks for supporting Bikes Not Bombs’ work. Please don’t hesitate to be in touch if you have any questions.
With gratitude,
The Bikes Not Bombs community thanks Allie for all of dedication to and passion for our work. With her leadership and your help, BNB has raised more resources from our Phone-A-Thon, Direct Mail and Bike-A-Thon over the last 2 1/2 years than ever before. While she will be missed, the systems she has put in place to support donors will be her legacy to BNB. We will begin a hiring process next month. If you have experience leading individual giving programs and are interested in the position, email [email protected]to receive the job description when it is ready.
Do you love Bikes Not Bombs and want to help raise money to support BNB’s work in Boston and overseas? Then we want you to volunteer for Phone-A-Thon!
We need about 30 amazing volunteers to call BNB donors to inform them of the great things going on at BNB and ask them to make a year-end donation. We’re hoping to raise $35,000 this year and we need your help to get there! Every caller makes a difference!
We have 10 calling sessions scheduled between November 20th and December 22nd. Volunteers can sign up for one or more sessions. All sessions will be held at the Brewery Complex in Jamaica Plain, either at the BNB Hub or at the Institute for Policy Studies, Building L. Snacks will be provided and you’ll earn volunteer credits for your time.
Fill out a brief online form to sign up to volunteer!
If you have any questions, please contact Kenny Simms or Jodi Sugerman-Brozan at 617-522-0222. Thank you!!
A bike drive is an event, often organized by a volunteer, to collect bicycles for Bikes Not Bombs. Large drives will sometime bring in over 200 bikes! These drives help us extend our network of bike collection beyond our two locations in Jamaica Plain. If you have a bike to donate, you can always bring it to Jamaica Plain, but if you live further away, then hopefully you’ll be able to find a bike drive that is closer.
Some upcoming drives:
Westford, MA on Sat, Oct 13th
Concord, MA on Sat, Oct 13th
Shirley, MA on Sat, Oct 20th
Arlington, MA on Sat, Nov 17th
Full info on these and more bike drives online.
Want to help bring Bikes Not Bombs’ bike collection to your town? We’d love to have your help to organize a bike drive!
Join BNB for a presentation and report-back from our latest international project working with Village Health Workers in post-conflict Northern Uganda! The event will be Thursday November 8th at 7pm, at the BNB Hub.
Presenters will be:
- Omar Bhimji, the BNB Fieldworker who lived for 8 months in Amuru, Northern Uganda, to develop this project on the ground. Omar will discuss his experience as a BNB fieldworker in Uganda, will describe the activities he engaged to develop this project and will highlight the Village Health Workers currently driving this project forward.
- Miguel Gothers-Reyes, BNB Bike Shop Mechanic who visited Amuru for 2 months to prototype and assess the viability of bicycle ambulances in this project.
- David Branigan, BNB International Programs Director, will provide current project updates and BNB’s plans for ongoing project development to support post-conflict renewal in Northern Uganda.
In December 2011, BNB loaded and shipped our first container of bikes, parts and tools to the Village Health Workers of Amuru, Northern Uganda. According to Omar,“On Wednesday, April 25th, after 5 months at sea, in freight yards and on the road, the container containing all of the bicycles, spare parts and tools needed for Bikes Not Bombs project in Amuru, Uganda arrived at it’s final destination: Lacor Health Centre III Amuru… As 16 volunteers excitedly formed a line, we opened the doors and were confronted by a wall of bikes. I clambered up it’s face, found a chink in the wall and, after checking my hand hold and footing, heaved: the first kid’s bike popped out of the container and was lowered into the waiting hands of an eager volunteer… Over the next 3 hours more than 400 bikes, 120 pairs of crutches and countless parts were removed from the container…”
Since that container arrived, Omar worked with the health workers to set-up a professional bicycle repair workshop in Amuru, lay the foundations for 7 village-based repair workstations, train Village Health Workers in basic and advanced mechanics and build their capacity to collectively manage the project going forward, with the help of Odoch Mark the current Project Coordinator. Come to the event to find out more!
Want to learn more about BNB’s work? Want to meet members of the BNB staff and youth programs alumni? Want to make a delicious smoothie on our pedal-powered blender? Join us for an Everyday Revolutions Tour!
October 13th at 1:00 pm
Read more info on tours.
Also you can see BNB’s programs first hand at a youth program graduation! Graduates from the first fall EAB session will be showing off their new bikes at a celebration featuring a “bike fashion show” on October 11 at 6:00 pm at the BNB Hub. Please join us to learn more about the program and meet our youth instructors.
Wednesday, October 24th at 8am
At the Space with a Soul Loft
281 Summer Street, 7th floor Boston, MA 02210
Bikes Not Bombs’ second annual Building Momentum Breakfast is only 2 weeks away! The Building Momentum Breakfast is designed to raise critical financial support for Bikes Not Bombs and spread the word about our innovative work using donated bicycles as a tool for self-empowerment and community transformation. The event will feature breakfast donated by Ula Café, coffee donated by Barrington Coffee, inspiring stories from individuals who have been impacted by our work, a short video, and more! While attendees will be asked to consider making a donation to support Bikes Not Bombs, there is no obligation to give!
If you’d like to join us at the event, please email Allie Hunter, Director of Fundraising & Events, at [email protected].
Save the date! Bike-A-Thon 2013 to be Sunday June 2nd
First time riders, long-term supporters, volunteers, and curious community members alike are welcomed to take part in the fun rides, fanfare, celebration and community-building of Bikes Not Bombs’ biggest event and fundraiser of the year, the Bike-A-Thon! In 2013 we look to have our greatest rides yet, so don’t miss out. Put Sunday, June 2nd in your calendar today! Also, don’t forget to hold June 23rd as a rain date just in case. We’ll be coming out with more details as we get closer to the event, but you can be sure that we’ll have:
Fully-supported rides for all skill levels!
Delicious food and a post-ride celebration for riders!
Brand new BNB t-shirts for all participants!
Great prizes for top fundraisers!
See more info and photos from the 2012 Bike-A-Thon!
October 18th, November 1st, and future dates tba
Tool Time is a time for BNB youth programs graduates, members, and volunteers to come through and use our Hub mechanics space for working on your own bike. To attend a session, please rsvp to Jeremy ([email protected]; 617-522-0222 x109) with at least 24 hours notice so we can make sure we have enough space.
See more info and upcoming Tool Time datesonline.
Finola Joyce is the September Youth Employee of the Month. In her first month as an Earn-A-Bike instructor, Finola has proven to be a great addition to the team. She takes initiative, is always on time, and is supportive to her peers. Finola has pushed herself to be less shy and reserved, and as a result has become someone that the rest of the Youth Instructors have fun with, and rely on. Congrats to Finola!
Friday, October 12, 2012
Doors open at 7pm, films start at approximately 8pm
At the historic Regent Theatre, 7 Medford Street, Arlington Center, MA
Join us for a bike-themed night out! The 8th annual Boston Bike Film Festival, a benefit for MassBike and Bikes Not Bombs, will be at Regent Theatre (new location!) in Arlington. Films range from the hilarious “The Man Who Lived on His Bike,” to a feature on Georgena Terry, the barrier-breaking polio survivor behind Terry Bicycles, to an inspiring film about BNB’s partners at Ability Bikes in Ghana. The event will also have live music from Slow Boat Home, door prizes, snacks from Redbones, and beer and wine available for purchase.
Save the date and tell your friends!
You can purchase tickets online for only $15. Tickets at the door will be $20. More informational is available on the Boston Bike Film Festival website.
Hope to see you there!
The JP Open Studios Group Show & Silent Auction at BNB was a big success! We had 564 people come through our space for the event and raised over $1,000 to support our work! Thank you to everyone that stopped by, bid on a piece, and helped make this event so successful and fun! We also want to acknowledge and thank the amazing artists that donated their bicycle-inspired artwork for the auction: Andrea Kulish, Cassandra Mueller, David Branigan, Elizabeth Redlich, Michele Martin, Miguel Gothers-Reyes, Monica Brookman, Shannon Grant, Susan Redlich, Vera Hunter, and Wayne Chinnock.
Artists and art-lovers alike—keep an eye out for Bikes Not Bombs’ Group Show & Silent Auction during JP Open Studios next fall!
Add to Reddit. Posted in advocacy | No Comments »
