Starting a bike/ped advocacy group

[PscyclePath]

Mel:

Two wonderful resources (for me, at least) have been the League, and the Alliance for Biking & Walking (http://www.peoplepoweredmovement.org). Both have some great resources on how to start up advocacy projects & campaigns; the Alliance has a lot of resources on their web site about the mundane things about starting up a group, such as putting together a board of directors, getting incorporated, raising funds, and filing for non-profit status.

I think you're starting off on the right path though... by putting together a vision of what the group needs to do, and then build your structure around that vision. Great idea, and great job so far!

If there's anything we can do to help, just holler...

Tom
Bicycle Advocacy of Central Arkansas

[Irulan]

HI Mel,

I founded a bike advocacy group, non profit, about 5 years ago. Although our focus is different, some of what I/we went through may be beneficial for you to consider.

You've got some great advice above, but mine comes from a different angle, which is more the personal level of involvement. The following is about building a community organization, versus a personal organization

-Build a team right from the start. You will put a lot into this, and burn out is inevitable.

-Delegate. Micro management will accelerate your burnout, and piss people off.

-Be open minded to other versions of the vision. Keep the principle of what you are doing above what you personally think you should happen.

-If someone has an idea, they should have the freedom to fly with it. You never know what great things may come from someone else that you never thought of.

Your vision may morph as other get involved, but that should be OK as long as the PRINCIPLE is maintained. When the organization is about what you want and what you think should happen, it becomes nothing without you. Building a team is about finding others that are as passionate as you are, so that when you do burn out, there are others waiting in the wings to step in and take over ( this is where I failed).

good luck