Cyclng orgs don't get no respect...

... a certain local charity that will remain nameless because it's really a national one, but this is our branch, consulted with us about doing a fundraising ride. We explained how weather is key so lots of people don't sign up 'til day of... but that fewer people means less food, which is the main expense.
Peachy. fine. That is not a problem.
Oh, except that *after* we spent hours at meetings, promoting, doing maps, cue sheets - all the stuff you do to make a ride happen - well, we didn't have enough advance regs so, it's canceled. Um, no, we weren't consulted (I'd have done an "insurance donation") - last night we were told it was all going to come to gether and happen. This afternoon a brief email "thank you very much, we'll still include you in our recognition" OH, and yes, we are all "making it happen."
I was compelled to say that gosh, I could have been actually working on any of a number of other projects (and would have been).

Lesson learned: be wary of doing cycling events with non-cycling charities...

Sorry that this joint fundraising event didn't happen. :( That's alot of time and effort invested..probably involving several volunteers for planning.

Yes, absolutely non-cycling non-profit organizations don't necessarily understand the differences in base requirements to organize a fundraising cycling event. Or any large scale cycling event.

What a partner organization must understand that huge cycling fundraising ride, actually require at least paid staff member(s) to plan and manage the whole project (and volunteers) from start to finish. Am thinking of Cancer Society, Multiple Sclerosis, etc.

Vancouver Cherry Blossom Slow Food Slow Bike Ride Event, which attracted several thousand riders on a beautiful sunny spring Saturday this year, with key cafe and bakery owners along the route highlighted on self-guided map.. was a joint partnership event between the Slow Food organization and the local cycling advocacy organization here. The latter has contract, part-time paid staff...which only happened in the last few years.

It was alot of planning which clearly Slow Food must have done tremendous partnership work with local businesses, they even had mini tent stations with little market-like stands of local-made honey, etc. On the cycling side was the insurance, registration details, signage that was posted along the route, etc.

It was not intended to be a fundraiser, more to raise awareness on sustainable economy (local food retailers, restaurants, market producers) and sustainable transportation, ie. cycling.

In all honesty, there are still many locals who are not aware of cycling organizations. What was most interesting is that the local cycling advocacy organization did get some rare anonymous donations for obviously wealthy individuals who just simply wanted to give to a worthwhile cause. I bet there are people who do want to give money to nonprofit organizations but they just haven't figured out what is their personal passion (because they might have spent too much time being a workaholic :D).