Volume 1, Issue 1 November 28, 2005 |
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In This Issue:
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WELCOME! Sue Sue Knaup, Executive Director |
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COMPLETE THE STREETS CAMPAIGN UPDATE We posted
our campaign map a few months ago showing the 14 states that are
currently reaping the benefits of complete streets policies: http://www.thunderheadalliance.org/completestreets.htm
. This campaign has a goal of winning policies through Thunderhead
member organizations in the remaining 36 states by the year 2008,
including 10 new state-level policies, in order to leverage a federal
policy in the reauthorization of our federal transportation law,
SAFETEA-LU. We have been working with many of you through our on-call
support system, executive coaching and Trainings to develop complete
streets policy campaigns and, if our campaign strategy team is correct,
we’ll be posting our first exciting additions to the map by next
spring!
In the coming months we’ll be ramping up our efforts to tackle the toughest campaigns in the states with the toughest political climates so that we will have the full three years to ensure success in these states. If you feel you need our help please email Dave Snyder, Director of Program Development dave@livablecity.org and let him know. 50 by 2008 – sing it loud, sing it proud! |
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THERE IS BIG MONEY IN SAFETEA-LU IMPLEMENTATION The Thunderhead Alliance is the only national organization equipped to leverage full implementation of bicycle and pedestrian funding in SAFETEA—LU in all states. Thanks to you, the leaders of our member organizations, we have experts in 47 states who we can work with to win this funding for your projects, for your policies and even for your organization! And we’ve already been working with new org leaders in MT, ND and DE. There has been much ado about the $4.5 billion in the law that specify bicycle and pedestrian projects and programs. But Thunderhead isn’t stopping there. Yes, we are going to put major energy into ensuring these $4.5 billion are well spent. But we’ve also got our eager eyes set on another $70 billion in the law that could improve the bicycling and walking environment. We are working with our America Bikes coalition partners to tap their talents that range from mastering of particular programs within the law to invaluable partner relationships. In the coming months we’ll be bringing you materials adapted specifically for your needs from innovations of other Thunderhead organizations and from our partners’ efforts. We also look forward to working with all of you on your unique strategies for your states and localities through our on-call support system, our Complete the Streets Campaign and at our Trainings and Retreat. Remember: None of this funding is guaranteed to improve bicycling and walking! It’s going to take all Thunderhead member organizations working with us and our America Bikes coalition partners to not only ensure those $4.5 billion are well spent, but that the other $70 billion improves, rather than destroys, the bicycling and walking environment. |
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THUNDERHEAD TRAININGS AND RETREAT In 2005, four Thunderhead Trainings (in Washington, D.C.; Portland, OR; Decatur, GA; and San Francisco, CA) guided 144 bicycle and pedestrian advocacy leaders through our powerful campaign development curriculum. Organizations sent their executive directors, super volunteers and/or board members. These campaign plans will gain access to bridges, develop complete streets policies, implement visionary master plans, and complete scores of streets! For 2006, Thunderhead will build on this success with our first Training in Washington, D.C. May 9-11 to include Hill visits as a follow up to the Summit. We are still accepting bids for our July and October Training slots. Imagine hosting a team of leaders from your region and across North America to help get your message to your politicians, your citizens, and your media, raising money and memberships for your organization in the process! Hosting a Thunderhead Training is a great opportunity to develop these skills. If your organization thrills at the challenge of the hosting details--connecting us with the food service and location and some homestays for out-of-town leaders -- we could bring the training to you! Check the Thunderhead Trainings page for details: www.thunderheadalliance.org And don’t forget the Thunderhead Retreat, Sept. 2-5 near Madison, Wisconsin. This is our flagship, biennial event and is for leaders of Thunderhead member organizations only. NOTE: The Thunderhead Retreat is entirely different from Thunderhead Trainings. If you and your fellow org leaders are looking for the comprehensive campaign and org development process we deliver at our Trainings, you won’t find it here! So do both! Inspired by the boundless opportunities in SAFETEA-LU implementation, our Retreat theme this year is “Getting the Money.” We will also include roundtables for creative and comprehensive fundraising successes. The Retreat location, just 40 miles from Madison is easily accessed and is within bicycling distance of the ProWalk/ProBike conference that starts in Madison on the evening of Sept. 5. Lots more info to come, as we get closer. |
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ORG TIP: YEARS END IS THE TIME FOR SPECIAL ASKS! Could you use an extra few thousand dollars to improve bicycling and walking in your community? Of course the answer is ‘yes’ so give your members the chance to help! While many of your members and potential members on your prospect list will say, “no, thanks,” happy to support you with their annual dues, some really want to support you more, and it’s a disservice not to give them the chance to donate during this “season of giving.” An annual appeal takes work, but it can pay off big time. Just a vibrant letter that pops with your org’s 2005 accomplishments and clearly states your need will do it. Besides the letter, include only a self-addressed (not stamped!) return envelope and reply form (some remit envelopes do both). Don’t add brochures or other materials that will distract from your letter. To increase the likelihood of recipients opening the envelop, gather a team of volunteers for a hand addressing party including personal notes on the top of the letters to the ones they know (pizza will help get them there). To learn all the ins and outs of year-end appeals, find the link to The Nonprofit Membership Toolkit on the members' side of our web site. Besides its comprehensive membership development guidance, it includes sample letters, remit envelopes, list development and details on bulk mailing. For just one great example of a year-end appeal letter, please email David Hoffman, Director of Member Resources david@bike-pgh.org and he can send it to you as an attachment. CUT AND PASTE FOR YOUR NEWSLETTER: TIME TO GET LIT! This month's offering is from Dave Schlabowske, former Milwaukee Program Director for the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin, now the City of Milwaukee’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator. How to Get Lit Up Over the Holidays and Ride Your Bike Hold on a minute, just because I hail from the state that sanctified the Brandy Old Fashioned Sweet, I’m not talking about going for a joy ride after one too many of Granma Oma’s egg-nogs. So put down that glass of holiday cheer and think fer a minute about how to see and be seen now that daylight savings is over. ‘Cuz this time a year most motorists don’t “watch out” for nuthin’ except the closest parking spot to the door at Wal-Mart, let alone some fool on a bike in the cold and at night fer goodness sake. Now Officer Friendly may only require that you sport a white front headlight and rear reflector. And while that might be enough to make your bike legal and keep hockey mom from confusing you for a speed hump, it ain’t as safe a bet as the Colts covering the spread, aina hey. So do yourself a favor, and ask whichever poor schmuck who thought he’d make it rich opening a bike shop in your corner of Whoville to pimp your ride. I guarantee it ain’t gonna set you back more than a couple weeks’ winnings on your office penny pool for a good quality front light and rear tail light. And before you get your nose so bright Rudolph, you might want to get some retro-reflective clothing too. That don’t mean you gotta run out to the St. Vincent DePaul store and pick up some Carol Burnett cast off. It means you get a vest or jacket or something with some sort of reflective coating on it. You may think yer neighbor Mel’s Christmas yard light display that sucks more power than most African countries use in a year is politically incorrect, but when it comes to riding a bike safely at night, you can’t be too lit up. Thank you Dave! We are so glad to know you’ve kept your vivid edge even in your new role as a bureaucrat. Maybe we should keep that low… |
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This monthly Thunderhead Alliance Weather Report is for the leaders of our member organizations and our supporters. The Thunderhead Alliance, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, is the only coalition of state and local bicycle and pedestrian advocacy organizations working in unison to break down the barriers to safe bicycling and walking in North American communities. Find more info at: www.thunderheadalliance.org |