Volume 3, Issue 9 ___September 2007 |
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In This Issue:
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MESSAGE TO THUNDERHEAD'S MEMBERS, SUPPORTERS, AND ALLIES FROM NOAH BUDNICK, CHAIR, THUNDERHEAD ALLIANCE Hopefully, many of you have read last week's announcement that Thunderhead is looking to hire an executive director to continue our strong work and to carry our Alliance's voice to the fore of national discussions to improve and increase biking and walking. With increased public and political attention to climate change, clean air, public health, aging and the built environment, this is an exciting time to capitalize on our movement's growing strength, join with allies and win change. Thunderhead's transition means challenges and opportunities, so let's keep in communication. The board and staff are here for you! Like always, staff are available to help you with organizational needs and to connect you with colleagues across North America. What's more, the board wants to know how Thunderhead can grow. What are we doing well? What could improve? How can we better help you advocate on the local level and how can we help you make your voice heard in Washington? For those interested, our executive director job posting is below. We're looking for candidates who will meet all of Thunderhead's diverse needs. If there's something missing from the posting, something you think we should emphasize or someone you think could lead us, please let me know! All the best, Noah S. Budnick Chair, Thunderhead Alliance Deputy Director, Transportation Alternatives BENCHMARKING REPORT GIVES ADVOCATES' CASE A BOOST Many Thunderhead organizations have already issued local press releases using data from the Benchmarking Report. Check out these three models from Thunderhead members: Some Thunderhead organizations are highlighting the report on their websites, and inviting their members and supporters to explore the facts. Check out what these organizations have done: The blogs are buzzing about the report as is the traditional media, citing report findings. Check out how the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition and the East Bay Bicycle Coalition used data from the Benchmarking Report for a recent story with salon.com. If you have yet to take advantage of the data Thunderhead's Benchmarking Report has for you, check it out online here. And if these inspiring samples from Thunderhead members aren't enough, check out our press release template at the link above and feel free to contact us to discuss how you can put the report to use for you. For questions and to request specific data or files from the report contact kristen "at" thunderheadalliance.org. |
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SMART GROWTH CONFERENCE UNITES DIVERSE PARTNERS Interested in
broadening your partnerships beyond traditional partners for bicycle
and pedestrian advocacy? Then consider attending the 2008
New Partners for Smart Growth Conference. The conference, scheduled for
February 7-9, 2008 in Washington, D.C., is considered to be the
"premier" smart growth conference held each year. The variety of
participants and speakers this conference draws provides a unique
opportunity for Thunderhead organizations to cultivate new
relationships with traditional and non-traditional
partners. It also promises to be a great educational
experience.
According to the conference's website, "We expect this to be our largest ever, surpassing the tremendous success of the recent 2007 New Partners for Smart Growth Conference in Los Angeles which boasted over 1500 participants, 300 speakers, and 96 sessions over three full days." The event is expected to draw a multidisciplinary audience of local elected officials, city and county staff, landscape architects, developers and builders, planners, transportation professionals and traffic engineers, public health professionals, architects, bankers, crime prevention professionals, realtors, urban designers, parks and recreation professionals, environmentalists, advocates for older adults and youth, bicycle and pedestrian advocates, advocates for social equity and affordable housing, labor representatives, and all others committed to building safer, healthier, and more livable communities everywhere. To learn more about the New Partners for Smart Growth Conference, visit their website at www.newpartners.org. |
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COMPLETE STREETS CORNER: COMPLETELY DAVIS by Dominic Liberatore, Interim Executive Director/Complete Streets Campaign Coordinator This month's complete streets venture takes us to the California Bicycle Coalition (CBC)'s 2007 Walk/Bike Conference in Davis, California. With an invitation to speak from the CBC I headed west for my third trip to California for 2007. Davis is one of the most bicycle and pedestrian friendly communities in the country. Awarded platinum level Bicycle Friendly Community status by the League of American Bicyclists, it was the perfect place for the CBC to host the conference. Davis is so friendly to bicyclists and pedestrians that motorists at times will stop for you even before you step into the crosswalk! While Davis is a wonderful place to spend some time, the city does face challenges. More people are moving in and in some cases they do not bike and walk as much as individuals who have lived in the city longer. This has caused a drop in the bicycle/pedestrian mode share and is very noticeable when the local university is not in session. Fortunately, a group of individuals are working to rectify the mode-split issue and have started a new advocacy organization, Davis Bicycles. I had the pleasure of spending some time with Ted Buehler and friends from Davis Bicycles and was able to share some advice from Thunderhead's toolbox of best practices. It is with great pleasure that I offer a complete streets tip of the hat to our friends at the CBC and Davis Bicycles. Thanks to CBC for inviting me to speak at the conference and to Ted at Davis Bicycles for offering me a glimpse into bicycle advocacy in the bicycle capital of the United States. For complete streets campaign advice contact me at dominic “at” thunderheadalliance.org or call (614)-204-4628. |
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THUNDERHEAD ALLIANCE SEEKS NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Thunderhead's Board of Directors announced last week that it is in search of an executive director to lead this growing and dynamic organization. The Board of Directors' aim is to elevate the stature of our alliance and of its individual member groups on all levels—local, state and federal. Thunderhead will remain a resource to create and support local advocates, and, by better uniting our members' voices around local issues that resonate everywhere, the board aims to strengthen the call for biking and walking in capitol cities from coast to coast, raise its importance and form diverse coalitions to win increased funding and stronger policies from Washington DC that will promote and increase bicycling and walking. The Thunderhead Alliance Board is seeking an executive director to lead the organization who possesses a strong commitment to Thunderhead's mission and goals, will work with staff to empower local advocates, build coalitions and partnerships, employ diverse advocacy approaches and techniques on the federal level, increase federal funding for biking and walking and raise significant funds to achieve these goals. The new director will work with the board and staff to ensure that Thunderhead is a go-to resource for members, funders, partners and all advocates, that it becomes a stronger network of allies working to help each other solve common problems and that this Alliance is an influential opinion-shaper among national partners, leaders, decision makers and the public. Please check the Thunderhead Alliance website for more information. Application information is also available online. If you have any questions about the position or the transition, please contact: Noah Budnick, board chair, at noah "at" transalt.org |
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MORE MEMBER NEWS Three Foot Passing Rule Becomes Law -- League of Illinois Bicyclists Illinois Senate Bill 80, proposed by the League of Illinois Bicyclists (LIB), was signed into law on August 16! The new law: requires motorists to leave a minimum of three feet when passing a bike, allows cyclists to "take the lane" where right turns are authorized , and allows the option of a right arm hand signal when turning right. To learn more about this win for LIB, and what they are doing to educate their community on the bill, visit:http://www.bikelib.org/. SFBC Family Day Engages Next Generation Cyclists and Parents in Day of Fun On September 8, the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition (SFBC) hosted Family Day 2007. According to the SFBC the event created an opportunity for "Kids (and their parents!) [to] have an incredible, pedal-able day in Golden Gate Park! More than a dozen youth learned to ride without training wheels, and many many more families were inspired to gear up and bike safe in San Francisco." Kristen Steele of Thunderhead Alliance saw the event first hand. "The SFBC's Family Day is a model for other organizations looking for ways to engage parents and kids. The parade of parents and children on bicycles in the park was inspiring. The SFBC even had coloring sheets and other fun activities for kids." To learn more about this event, visit http://www.sfbike.org/?family_day. Bicycle Coalition of Maine Promotes Pedal Power to Cut Carbon Dioxide Emissions at Fair Augusta, Maine – Bicyclists saved more than 7,000 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions by pedaling to the Common Ground Country Fair in Unity last weekend. The Bicycle Coalition of Maine (BCM) provided "park & pedal" valet bike parking for 456 bicyclists - or more than twice as many as the number who rode in 2006. During this year’s three-day event, cyclists saved nearly 9,500 miles of automobile travel by biking to the fairgrounds. There, they received a warm, enthusiastic welcome from BCM volunteers, a safe and convenient place to leave their bikes and a discount on fair tickets. 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. Upcoming Events at Thunderhead Alliance October 3, 2007 (Wednesday): Developing Successful Partnerships Mutual Aid Conference Call - more here November 7, 2007 (Wednesday): Membership Development and Retention Mutual Aid Conference Call - more here December 5, 2007 (Wednesday): Fundraising Strategies Mutual Aid Conference Call - more here 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. |