Take the 2 Mile Challenge with the Alliance
Help us by riding your bike -- each trip you take brings us $1 closer to our goal of 10,000 trips for the month of October. You can even download the free Bike Brain app to keep track of your progress throughout the month. Thanks to Clif Bar for designating the Alliance as the October beneficiary of the 2 Mile Challenge, and thanks for riding your bike to support the Alliance! |
Alliance Leadership Retreat Recap
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Photo by Tom Wald
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"The Alliance Leadership Retreat was the most energizing, fruitful three days I've spent all year," said Erin O'Melinn, Executive Director of HUB.
For three full days aboard the Queen Mary in Long Beach, advocacy leaders from across North America embarked on a voyage of personal and professional development together as they gathered to exchange ideas and learn from one another.
With 116 leaders from 36 states and provinces energizing the Alliance's Leadership Retreat, it wasn't only the largest. "This was one of the best Leadership Retreats ever!" said Jeff Miller, President/CEO of the Alliance. "Jeremy, the Alliance Staff, and all the leaders and partners who shared their wisdom, experience, and creativity, really expanded the knowledge of everyone at the Retreat."
Thank you to all of those who were able to attend and for seizing the opportunity to connect with your peers from other organizations. If you weren't able to come to this year's retreat, there will still be plenty of resources and highlights shared on the Alliance website in the weeks ahead. You can also commit to join us at the 2014 Alliance Leadership Retreat.
"At the Alliance Leadership Retreat, I realized how much stronger we are when we stand together and share our knowledge and experience," said Janine Rood of Chico Velo Cycling Club.
Alliance staff and workshop leaders will be providing summaries and resources for each of the retreat tracks, from membership and communication to leadership and fundraising, on the People Powered Blog in the weeks to come.
Special thanks to our 2012 Leadership Retreat Sponsors: SRAM, Planet Bike, Bikes Belong, VBT, Primal Wear, CamelBak, Trek, Giant, Kaiser Permanente, the League of American Bicyclists, cdmCyclist, America Walks and Cascade Bicycle Club
Alliance member organizations also attended the Pro Walk/Pro Bike conference and the National Women's Bicycling Summit, a great step in addressing the gender gap in bicycling.
Although the Leadership Retreat only happens once every two years, the Alliance is currently planning a national training in 2013 - Details to come! |
Navigating MAP-21
 This month, the new transportation law MAP-21 takes effect. Are you doing everything you can to take advantage of the eligible funding sources for biking and walking projects?
There is already a campaign in your state working to get the most out of the new law. If you want to get involved, email your state lead. They are informed about the most up-to-date information, your state's unique circumstances, the advocacy campaign priorities and how you can plug in.
Additionally, check out the resources at AdvocacyAdvance.org/MAP21, including recordings of the four Navigating MAP-21 webinars hosted by Advocacy Advance.
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Apply to Host an Advocacy Advance Training
 The Advocacy Advance team will be presenting Action 2020 Workshops in Rochester, N.Y. on October 17 and in New Orleans, La. on November 2.
Register for these free workshops, and you'll learn how to leverage under-utilized and often untapped federal funding sources to improve state, local and regional biking and walking infrastructure and programs.
If you can't make it to New Orleans or Rochester, apply to host a Navigating MAP-21 Workshop in 2013 to bring together advocates, elected officials and local agency staff in your community. With an emphasis on MAP-21, these workshops (previously called Action 2020 Workshops) will discuss the changes, opportunities and challenges brought to states and communities as the new federal transportation law takes effect. Download and complete the application form and submit it to info@AdvocacyAdvance.org by October 26, 2012. For more information, visit AdvocacyAdvance.org/trainings.
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Advocacy Advance Grants
Bike Delaware finished its one-year Capacity Building Grant with great success as the organization won an unprecedented level of funding for active transportation in the state budget through the Walkable, Bikeable Delaware campaign.
Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition also completed its 2011-12 Capacity Building Grant, which supported outreach and education initiatives for Spanish-speaking members of the community.
Though the application deadline for 2012 Capacity Building Grants has passed, Advocacy Advance offers Rapid Response Grants to help advocacy organizations leverage support for urgent biking and walking campaigns. Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota recently finished up a Rapid Response Grant to win a statewide Safe Routes to School program.
We still have $22,000 available this year for Rapid Response Grants, and applications are accepted on a rolling basis. For more information and to apply, visit AdvocacyAdvance.org/grants.
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| Winning Campaigns Training Comes to KC |  This month from October 19-21, BikeWalkKC will host this year's final Winning Campaigns Training in Kansas City.
There's still room for you to join the training and plan campaigns to get 2013 off to a great start for your organization. Register today!
At our proven Alliance Winning Campaigns Training, you'll work through all the steps to plan a campaign and win it. Whether you want to push your city to adopt and implement a complete streets policy, win more bike parking in your downtown or pursue any other campaign to improve active transportation in your community, Winning Campaigns Trainings will guide you through the planning process. Register for the training today! |
Upcoming Webinar and Mutual Aid Calls
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Our Mutual Aid conference calls are a great forum to gain insight from your Alliance peers on the specific issues and topics that are important to your organization. All calls begin at 2 p.m. Eastern and run for one hour.
This month:
Give your membership program the strong foundation you need to propel your membership program to the next level with membership building blocks: engagement, retention and recruitment. Learn about the membership building blocks, and how to put the basic systems necessary in place to have the robust, engaged membership base of your dreams.
Nonprofit Membership Development Consultant Kate McCarthy will share her experience and strategies to build your organization's membership.
The Alliance is teaming up with APBP to host a free webinar on Open Streets. The webinar is taking place on October 10th at 3 PM ET, and will also feature organizers from Open Streets initiatives in Chicago and Somerville, MA. Join us and learn about best practices that can provide further guidance for your open streets.
Whether you're just getting ready to hire that first executive director or already have a few full time staff at your organization, smart staffing decisions will help run your organization, support your programs and grow your membership. Join us to discuss startup staffing as well as the next steps for growing organizations.
Panelists
Pete Stidman, Boston Cyclists Union
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November calls:
- November 7: Activating Members as Volunteers and Donors
- November 14: Responding to Crisis as an Organization
What would you like to discuss on a Mutual Aid call? Does your organization have expertise to share with peer organizations and others participating in the movement? Contact Jake@PeoplePoweredMovement.org with your ideas!
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| Take the 2012 Membership Survey
We truly appreciate your membership in and support of the Alliance in 2012. Currently, we're planning our new resources, programming, and training opportunities for 2013 - and we need your input.
As a member or supporter of our People Powered Movement, we would like your feedback on how we're doing, what we can do better and what you'd like to see from the Alliance in 2013.
Please take a moment to complete our membership survey.
The survey only takes about 15 minutes. You do not need to be associated with an Alliance member organization to take the survey, and we welcome more than one person from each organization taking the survey, as this gives us perspectives on different areas in which we can provide assistance.
Please provide your feedback by completing the survey by October 31, and improve the Alliance's ability to help you grow biking and walking in 2013 and beyond.
Click here to take the 2012 Membership Survey, and thanks in advance for your important and critical feedback.
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| Thank You, Jeremy!
 For over five years, Jeremy Grandstaff has coached, facilitated, and trained state and local advocates in hundreds of communities across North America.
Jeremy is leaving the Alliance today. As the Member Services Director, Jeremy played the lead role in core Alliance programs that have grown and benefited nearly every state and local organization.
"Jeremy's contagious enthusiasm and passion for making our communities better places to walk and bike has been a driving force within the Alliance," says Jeffrey Miller, President/CEO of the Alliance. Miller adds, "This has resulted in stronger biking and walking organizations leading better campaigns and focusing their resources to bring about real results. I know hundreds of leaders across the continent join me in thanking Jeremy for his commitment and skills."
While at the Alliance, Jeremy helped grow membership to just over 200 organizations (70% growth), increased coaching, tripled trainings, and developed the strategic planning program.
"Indeed many of us are not only grateful for his commitment and energy but are inspired by Jeremy." shares Miller. "We wish him the very best."
We encourage you to share your appreciation by emailing Jeremy at jwg@sgendeavors.com.
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| Alliance Seeking Benchmarking Project Manager
The Alliance is currently accepting applications for a Benchmarking Project Manager to coordinate a team of national advisors and reviewers, manage a part-time program assistant, collect and organize national and local data, and write and design the 2014 and future Benchmarking Reports.
For information on the Benchmarking Project, visit PeoplePoweredMovement.org/Benchmarking.
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until October 4, 2012.
See the Alliance Job Board for more information and to apply.
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Improving Messaging around Walking:
California WALKS has released Messaging for Walkability, a new publication to help walking advocates present arguments to promote walking, across topics such as public health and social connection to youth and walking in rural communities. Additionally, WalkBoston has several pamphlets and publications available on their website. Read more on the People Powered Blog.
Steps toward a More Walkable Tucson:
Coasters Promote Awareness in Indianapolis:
Indianapolis' INDYCOG has partnered with a local brewery to help promote bicycle awareness and safe driving and riding. As part of their Riders in the Know campaign, INDYCOG and Sun King Brewery are producing and distributing 20,000 coasters with tips for drivers and bicyclists throughout this fall and winter. The messages focus on the six most common causes of collisions between automobiles and bicyclists.
Read more here.
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