Volume 3, Issue 6 _______ June 2007 |
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In This Issue:
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WELCOME JEREMY GRANDSTAFF - MEMBER RESOURCES MANAGER He is currently a practicing Organization Development and Information Technology consultant with his own consulting firm, which he and his partner founded in 2002. He will now ease away from his duties at the firm to focus his time on providing the leaders of our member organizations with the resources and networking you need to lift your organizations to the next level. Jeremy is also actively involved as either a Board member or volunteer with 14 non-profits in the blind, transit, gay, social equity and political communities in and around Columbus, Ohio where he lives with his guide dog, Gomer. His unique perspective as a blind person brings a list of assets not only from his deep involvement with non-profits for the blind, but his personal experience from the highest level of pedestrian expectations, including access to transit. “I am excited to capitalize on my work and life experience developing resources for Thunderhead organizations to thrive,” said Jeremy. “The possibilities are endless and I’m anxious to get started.” Those of you attending our Louisville Thunderhead Training—July 13-15—will have the chance to meet and work with Jeremy there. (If you haven’t registered yet, make sure to get your form and fee in right away! http://www.thunderheadalliance.org/trainings.htm ). Otherwise, please connect with Jeremy via email at Jeremy “at” thunderheadalliance.org or via phone at (614) 626-4230. You will soon find his contact information posted on our Contacts page. Welcome Jeremy! EUROPEAN CYCLISTS' FEDERATION JOINS THUNDERHEAD ALLIANCE At this year’s AGM, ECF leaders made their involvement in Thunderhead official and have become our first international supporting member. This means that Thunderhead member organizations will have direct access from Thunderhead’s web site to ECF member organizations throughout Europe, opening the communication channels for sharing ideas and inspiration as we work to increase North American bicycling and walking mode share numbers to match the most progressive European cities. You can connect up with them right away: www.ecf.com . Welcome ECF! |
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PENNSYLVANIA PASSES FIRST NEW STATE-LEVEL COMPLETE STREETS POLICY Washington, D.C. -
June 28, 2007 - Thunderhead Alliance member organization, the Bicycle
Coalition of Greater Philadelphia
(BCGP), has won the first new state-level policy for completing
their streets since 2004 when Thunderhead launched its National
Complete the Streets Campaign. Working closely with the
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), leaders of
BCGP offered their expert guidance on needed improvements to
current policies. With these changes, PennDOT's new policy
requires the use of a state of the art bicycle and pedestrian
accommodations checklist for transportation projects. Otherwise, high
level PennDOT authorities must take responsibility.
"While this is not a typical complete streets policy, this policy will have a major impact for bicycling and walking in Pennsylvania," said Hans van Naerssen, President of BCGP. "We initiated and formally requested it in November 2005. It only took 18 months to become statewide policy, a very positive reflection on the cultural changes occurring within PennDOT and elsewhere. We are proud to put the first new state-level teeth into Thunderhead's National Complete the Streets Campaign." "The leaders at BCGP did a terrific job on their campaign," said Dominic J. Liberatore, Complete Streets Campaign Coordinator for the Thunderhead Alliance. "This law strikes a courageous blow at the ailing paradigm of our current transportation system which does not accommodate the more than 30% of Americans who cannot drive. Pennsylvania has become a model for other states who are striving for statewide policies as part of our national campaign." Thunderhead's National Complete the Streets Campaign has a goal of passing local or state-level complete streets policies in all 50 states by the end of 2008 in order to leverage a national complete streets policy as part of the next Federal Transportation Reauthorization Bill. Learn more about the national campaign by visiting: http://www.thunderheadalliance.org/completestreets.htm For more information, please contact Dominic J. Liberatore, Complete Streets Campaign Coordinator 614-204-4628 or Dominic “at” thunderheadalliance.org |
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COMPLETE STREETS CORNER: ENHANCE YOUR LIST! by Dominic Liberatore, Complete Streets Campaign Coordinator List Enhancement gives organizations the ability to impact public policy with ease. Imagine sorting your database according to congressional, state senate, and house districts. Imagine knowing whether or not your members are registered to vote and if so, how often they vote. No longer will you struggle with random "spray and pray" fundraising requests. Your participation in the project will make your organization a much more effective fundraising/public policy impacting machine. Here are a few things you need to know: * It helps to have your data in excel format with separate columns for first name, last name street address, phone and email. * Once you engage, you should get your list updated once a year. Otherwise, the voter file match becomes outdated. Participation in the List Enhancement project will also add your organization's voice to the Thunderhead Alliance National Complete the Streets Campaign! The more voices we have the greater chance we have for winning a federal complete streets policy. Cost: This depends on the size of your database and the number of member organizations that participate. Deadline: Email your confirmation to me right away to ensure you can get your data turned into www.progressivevictory.com by their deadline of July 25, 2007. You will receive your enhanced list back after Labor Day. I am here to answer any questions that you may have. Please feel free to contact me at Dominic “at” thunderheadalliance.org or call (614)-204-4628 |
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MEMBER NEWS: BENCHMARKING PROJECT IS PROVIDING PLENTY We’re wrapping up the full draft of the report and it is revealing some mighty sensational accomplishments by our member organizations. We look forward to offering of few of these teaser stories in the next Weather Report as you await the publication of the full report in September. |
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MORE MEMBER NEWS BTA - Oregon Passes Vulnerable Roadway Users Protection The Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA) celebrated the passing of Vulnerable Roadway Users Protection this month. While Evan Manvel, Executive Director or BTA, notes the bill is, "not as strong as we originally drafted," he also says, "it's a good step.". According to Manvel, "The bill increases the penalty for offense of careless driving if commission of offense contributed to serious physical injury or death of a vulnerable user of the public roadway." A June 21st article in The Oregonian interviewed BTA's Scott Bricker. "Bricker said the vulnerable user bill is designed to bridge a gap in Oregon law between careless driving, a traffic infraction that carries a maximum $300 fine, and reckless driving, a criminal offense that can include jail time but can be difficult to prove." For the complete Oregonian article click here. Thunderhead Organizations Are Hiring! Our member organizations are hiring! Check out all of the fantastic job opportunities on the Thunderhead Jobs page. If your organization is hiring, be sure to let us know! We'll list your job posting. Simply send an email to: jobs "at" thunderheadalliance.org. We want your news! Thunderhead wants to publish your good news! Our coalition is our members and your peers want to hear about your success and innovations. Have you had a recent success? A winning campaign? A creative event? Has your organization used innovative methods for attracting members or earning media attention? We want to know about it! Send your news items to Jeremy "at" thunderheadalliance.org. |
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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. |