Volume 2, Issue 3 March 31, 2006 |
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In This Issue:
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THUNDERHEAD’S GUIDE TO COMPLETE STREETS CAMPAIGNS POSTED This second edition builds on our first, adding much deeper analysis of current policies and implementation. We also fully upgraded the campaign and communications chapters to reflect our progress in these areas since the publication of the first edition. Final publication is expected to be available in the Thunderhead members’ web resources library and at all major on-line booksellers by summer 2006; ISBN: 0-595-39318-7. |
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SIGN UP TO USE THUNDERHEAD’S NEW DC OFFICE Thunderhead
is back in Washington, DC! We hooked up with Preferred Offices for this
sweet deal that gets us shared office space, a receptionist to answer
calls and a home base for our work in DC. That includes all of you!
Thunderhead’s voice to Congress is through the leaders of our member
organizations and with this DC office we hope to make your trips much
easier. We need your help to win a federal complete streets policy so
the more your members of Congress see you in their offices, the more
influence our collective voice will have - for a federal complete
streets policy, for more funding to bicycle and pedestrian
improvements, for comprehensive bike/ped data collection, and more.
To sign up for an office or conference room, make sure your Thunderhead membership is current, then email your needed times to Sue Knaup, ED: sue@thunderheadalliance.org. This is on a first come, first served basis, so sign up early to ensure a spot. And check this: Preferred Offices just committed to Full Sponsorship of our DC Thunderhead Training May 9-11! Their major sponsorship of the Washington Area Bicyclist Association’s (WABA) Bike to Work Day, was a major reason for choosing them. Now they are directly supporting Thunderhead! Visit: http://www.preferredoffices.com. Our location is the Mills Building at 1700 Pennsylvania – nice neighborhood. |
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THUNDERHEAD TRAINING WASHINGTON, DC MAY 9-11 This Training is coming up quick, so make sure to register before the discount deadline on April 9th. This Training has a special bonus at no extra charge: coordinated Hill visits to help you and your fellow org leaders follow up on your Summit and local district meetings. And you can join us for a tour of our DC office (above). Come as a team from your organization and receive deep discounts. You’ll work with org leaders from across the country as you craft your unique campaign for your own communities and strengthen your org. Find all the info and registration form here: http://www.thunderheadalliance.org/trainings.htm. |
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BIKES BELONG SUPPORTS THUNDERHEAD’S BENCHMARKING PROJECT We received this fantastic news first thing at the Summit from the Bikes Belong Coalition’s Executive Director, Tim Blumenthal. After many inspiring talks over the past few years on ways to partner, the Bikes Belong Board chose our Benchmarking Project as the most critical of our programs due to the blaring deficiency of bicycling data. While they and the bike industry can address data for the industry, this partnership brings them our proven expertise in analysis of government data and dissemination of the product. We expect their $10,000 contribution to help leverage the remainder of the $150,000 needed for our next Benchmarking Report to include uniform, government endorsed data from all 50 states on bicycling, walking, health and underserved populations. This Benchmarking Report is vital to our efforts to improve on the reauthorization of SAFETEA-LU as it will take the snapshot of our communities before SAFETEA-LU programs and our new complete streets policies have taken hold. Biennial reports to follow will then show the progress of these programs and policies as well as areas falling short of expectations. For more info on Thunderhead’s Benchmarking Project visit: http://www.thunderheadalliance.org/benchmarking.htm and to learn more about Bikes Belong visit: www.bikesbelong.org. |
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MEMBER NEWS: BUILDING STRONG RELATIONSHIPS WITH DECISION MAKERS Barry Zalph, Executive Director of Bicycling for Louisville (http://www.bicyclingforlouisville.org) says he's just lucky. But it isn't luck that accounts for Barry’s strong relationships with his local officials. Barry’s advice for how to build these relationships reveal some talent and includes tips that Thunderhead leaders can use. Luck or not, Barry helped to put together (at the mayor's request) a Bicycle Summit last year in Louisville that drew nearly 200 participants. Barry offers some advice to leaders of other Thunderhead organizations, "When you want to build a relationship with your local officials, find something to praise. Many times local officials only hear from people who are unhappy, so telling them that you noticed something positive that they did will really stick." Barry adds, "When you meet with an official, give them an opportunity to tell you what they know; people appreciate having their expertise appreciated." Responding with your own observations and ideas makes the conversation mutually beneficial. Additionally, Barry says that he is up front with people regarding what he does and doesn't know. "People appreciate knowing that you're being honest with them." "I know my strengths and weaknesses," mused Zalph when asked what to do if these skills don't come naturally. "I'm really good at talking to mid-level professionals; I spent four years in local government before starting Bicycling for Louisville. I need to learn how to talk to top-level folks - CEOs, the mayor, city council, and such.” Several members of his board sit on various advisory panels and help Bicycling for Louisville build these relationships. Finally, make sure that your constituency is as well informed as possible before they contact their local officials! Communicate through your emails, newsletters, websites, (and blogs!) your organization's position on whatever issue may be at hand. "Bicycling has a growing constituency. Our mayor knows this; it helps to make [the mayor’s pro-bicycle agenda] politically tenable." There are lots of Thunderhead member organizations helping to build strong relationships with local officials. Of recent note, check out what Jeff Rosenblum's organization Livable Streets Alliance (http://www.livablestreets.info) has recently been up to: here. Thunderhead welcomes news items from our member organizations based on each month’s theme. Please send your suggested item (maximum 300 words) to: david@thunderheadalliance.org. We will publish the most inspiring story and list the web links of other contributors within that month’s theme. Next month's theme is: Use of crash data to improve streets. |
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ORG TIP: BLOGS FOR COMMUNICATING WITH YOUR MEMBERS Blog - a contraction of "web log" - an online journal or newsletter that is frequently updated, and intended for public consumption. ...And the next big thing in communicating with your membership! Blogs have taken off in the last couple of years, and organizations are increasingly using them to communicate with their constituencies. Blogs can be very rapidly updated through a very user-friendly web interface - often times it is just like writing an email - anyone can maintain a blog; meaning that you don't have to have special tech skills or have a dedicated techie to keep your organization's blog up and running! Several Thunderhead member organizations have already started using blogs. Here are a couple of good examples:
Blogger - http://www.blogger.com WordPress - http://wordpress.com Blogstream - http://www.blogstream.com theBlog.net - http://www.theblog.net BlogSource - http://www.blogsource.com For a list of Top 10 Design Mistakes for Blogs, visit: http://www.useit.com/alertbox/weblogs.html CUT AND PASTE FOR YOUR NEWSLETTER: REACHING OUT TO *EVERY* CYCLIST Bicycling Magazine "Gets It" -- Opens Readers' Eyes! As a member of [[YOUR ORG HERE]], you know that we advocate on behalf of all bicyclists -- whether you ride just for fun, just for transportation, just because that's all you want to do or because that's all you can afford to do. We are trying to build complete streets to serve everyone, but sometimes the mainstream bicycling press seems only to care about bicycling if you ride $1,000+ machines and wear the latest gear. Bicycling Magazine published an article in the December 2005 issue on those millions of Americans they call "the invisible cyclists," the mostly poor group of people who represent a small portion of bicycle industry profits but in fact represent the largest group of everyday cyclists. The magazine calls on industry to develop sub-$100 commuter bikes, to improve upon the fancy looking but substandard "mountain bikes" available cheaply at big box stores. It also calls on cycle advocates to open their eyes, because, in fact, nobody is an invisible bicyclist. [[YOUR ORG HERE]] encourages you to do your part to reach out to all cyclists. Talk to your fellow cyclists, tell them about [[YOUR ORG HERE]] and invite them to join, or give them a gift membership. Our movement is strongest when we see, and include, every cyclist, regardless of race or class. |
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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 |