Bikes Not Bombs December Update

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Give the Gift of Bikes Not Bombs Donating to Bikes Not Bombs in honor of someone you love is a meaningful way to celebrate the holidays and show your support for Bikes Not Bombs!  With every gift, you will receive an email receipt including a link to a holiday card for you to download, print, and mail to your recipient, as well as a holiday card for you to send by email if you wish. Give a gift BNB membership by making a donation of of $35 or more ($50 or more for a family membership) and your recipient will receive discounts at local bike shops and the opportunity to come to Tool Time at the Hub, where they can use BNB’s tools and stands to work on their bike. Click here to make donation to BNB as a holiday gift.

BNB depends on our network of donors to help us ship and refurbish bikes, create meaningful partnerships with international communities, and work to give young people a pathway to success.

If you have already made a donation during the Phone-A-Thon or replied to our recent mailing, we would like to express our most sincere thanks and appreciation for your support. If you have not already made a gift this season, please consider making one online today or mail a check to us at 284 Amory Street, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130.

Collecting money from riders on Bike-A-Thon morning. Organizing this event is an important part of the Director of Fundraising & Events’ role. And riders, save the date for Bike-A-Thon 2013 on June 2nd! Photo by: Wayne Chinnock

Bikes Not Bombs seeks to hire a dynamic, creative, and highly organized professional to manage the organization’s fundraising efforts, major donor strategies, oversee events, and serve as an enthusiastic ambassador of BNB’s mission. Strong relationship cultivation and management of donors and volunteers is key to success in this role. The position requires both an ability to think strategically about the “big picture” and execute plans with strong attention to detail. The Director of Fundraising & Events will work on a team including the Communications Manager, Information and Technology Manager and Development Associate and reports to the Executive Director. If you are interested, check out the job description here. Cover letter and resumes are due December 24th.

December 1st 2012, Bikes Not Bombs loaded our 50,000th bike for international shipment. An outstanding crew of volunteers attended to help load the shipment which is headed to our partner, Ability Bikes Cooperative, in Ghana. Amidst excitement and celebration, Bikes Not Bombs’ founder Carl Kurz loaded the 50,000th bike, and spoke about the beginnings of Bikes Not Bombs and its steady growth over the past 28 years. Carl stated that Bikes Not Bombs not only celebrates the 50,000th bike, but all the work, volunteerism and leadership that brought the organization to this point and that drives us toward new milestones. Bikes Not Bombs’ practical and concrete work with the bicycle is continuing to further peace and justice in the world today, in which our name and mission are ever relevant.

For those of you who don’t have a chance to see our Youth Programs in action, here are some of the highlights from 2012:

• BNB graduated more than 100 young people from our Earn-A-Bike and Girls In Action programs.
• We employed more than 40 graduates of our Youth Programs as instructors, five of whom are also now enrolled in our Vocational Education Program, which starts this month.
• Thanks to the hard work of Kenny Simms, BNB saw its Alumni Services Program grow in unprecedented ways. From the annual Halloween Scavenger Hunt, to new events like trips to Sky Zone and Pumpkin Carving, BNB now offers an array of programs to keep young people engaged even after they have graduated from a program here.
• In March of 2012, five BNB Youth Employees helped launch Chain Reaction, a youth-run, mobile bike shop. Through a partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston, Chain Reaction sold affordable bikes, and offered repairs, to cyclists in neighborhoods without bike shops. The program is set to re-launch in April, 2013 at the Yawkey Club of Roxbury.
• Over the summer, BNB ran two additional programs. STRIVE, an Earn-A-Bike program in partnership with Boston Public Schools, and On My Way, On My Bike, an introductory cycling program. The latter took place at Camp Harbor View, and BNB Youth Employees taught 43 campers how to ride bikes, while working with a total of 400 young people.

These are just some of the highlights of these dynamic programs. If you’d like more information on BNB’s Youth Programs, or would like to get involved, please email Elijah Evans, Director of Youth Programs, at [email protected]

Our Winter Overhaul special is off to a great start! If you’re interested in getting your bike riding like new for spring or if you’re interested in giving your bike a complete makeover (new seat, handlebars, wheels or more) stop by and we can go over your options with you.

Thursday December 13th from 8-9pm we’ll be offering a free clinic on Bike Commuting through the winter in Boston. The clinic will cover bike accessories to consider, different clothing options, and winter specific maintenance issues. Clinics start promptly at 8pm and may be cancelled due to low attendance–please show up on time.

One of our favorite new products this fall has been the Serfas USB Light Combo. It’s bright, USB rechargeable (so you’re not putting batteries in the landfill) and most importantly-at $40-very affordable. The mount is also integrated into the light so it’s easy to switch between bikes.

We also have many items here at the shop that can make great gifts for any cyclist or non-cyclist on your list. If you’re not local (or your gift recipient isn’t) we can send Bikes Not Bombs T-shirts, Jerseys and Gift Certificates domestically and internationally. Gift Certificates can be done in any amount and can be picked up at the shop. They’re a great option if you’re not sure of the specific model, size or even product that would be the best fit. Stop by to check out bells, lights, cycling caps and reflective gear starting at around $10. We can also special order items usually within a couple days (but make sure to check early if you need it for the holidays).

Please note that we will be closed December 24th through January 3rd reopening to normal winter hours on January 4th. Happy holidays and stay warm and safe.

If you have skills, we have building projects!

We need a crew of carpenters and assistants to make some structural changes in the Bikes Not Bombs office and workspace storage areas. If you have skills in carpentry, sheetrock, or painting, and could contribute some time in January or February, get in touch! There are a number of projects so you can take on something larger or smaller, and potentially work in a team with others. We can also potentially use building material donations of plywood, wood suitable for desktops and shelves, sheetrock tape and joint compound, caulk, 4×4 posts, 2x4s, 6s, or 10s, a heavy door with a window in it, and other supplies. Contact Arik at [email protected] or 617-522-0222 x100.

Is your office getting rid of chairs? Bikes Not Bombs might want them! The Bikes Not Bombs Hub is in need of some new chairs for our staff and volunteers. If your office is redecorating or ordering new chairs anytime soon, let us know what you have and we can see if it is a fit for BNB. Rolling chairs, stacking chairs, or folding metal chairs might all be useful. Contact Kwame Bidi at [email protected] for more information.

Jesus Soto is BNB’s Youth Employee of the Month. Since graduating from Earn-A-Bike last month, Jesus has made a seamless transition to the Youth Employment Program. His positive attitude, never-fading smile, and willingness to do anything are just some of his awesome qualities. He also attended BNB’s Strategic Planning retreat, made calls for the Phone-A-Thon, and is enrolled in Vocational Education. His commitment to BNB is clear, and he’s only been working a few weeks. Congrats to Jesus!

The next Tool Time will be December 13th. See more information and future dates online

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 Arik ([email protected]; 617-522-0222 x100) with at least 24 hours notice so we can make sure we have enough space.

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