This week we hosted our first ever virtual Member’s Meeting, with about 50 attendees! While we hope that it’s the only time we have to do this event virtually, we are incredibly grateful to everyone who was able to participate, and we hope it was as joyous as a Zoom meeting could be.

If you weren’t there, we revealed our Annual Report and the 2021 BBP Experience Spoke Card, and broke out into groups to discuss the following topics: Advocacy involvement, Volunteering and COVID-19, Board Recruitment, and 20,000 Miles Ridden by BBP Staff and Board.

Read through each group recap below!

Advocacy Involvement

The advocacy breakout group talked about what educational resources BBP can create to share what we and our partners are working on. There was also an idea on having an “Advocacy Starter Guide” on BBP’s website that could act as a one-stop hub for interested folks, and a place we can all point our friends to!

There was strong interest in hosting rides to public meetings once they are in person again, and an interest in an advocacy-themed ride.

Two things to look out for:

1. A page on BBP’s website dedicated to helping you get involved with advocacy efforts. Toolkits, resources, and more!

2. A social ride/meet ‘n’ greet with our nonprofit partners!

- Nina

Volunteering and COVID-19

We couldn’t be more excited to roll out volunteer opportunities in 2021 that will allow for any and  everyone who is interested to be involved. We are also working to ensure the health and safety of our staff and volunteers through instituting rigorous Covid precautions.

Volunteer shifts that are right around the corner: 

Bike Deliveries: 

After a successful MLK Day of Service, we’d like to keep our volunteer bike deliveries going. With teens and adults still in need of transportation, we’ll need your help getting the bikes out.  

Intermediate Mechanic Mondays:

We need mechanics to help us wrench on kids, teens, and a few adult bikes. We just ask that if you sign up for one of these shifts that you feel completely comfortable working on bikes with little to no assistance. 

Coming this Spring: 

Mobile Bike Repair: 

Join the BBP staff and several other volunteers as we ride our mobile repair cargo bike to schools, apartments, and community centers around town to provide free kid’s bike repair and educational opportunities. Did we mention that this is probably the most fun program BBP has?

Kids Bike and Safety Hour: 

Starting in April we’ll be holding a monthly kids BASH. At each BASH we will give bikes and safety accessories to youth and teens in our community and conduct a safe riding class with them at the same time. To make each BASH a success we will need at least 6-8 volunteers helping out. 

Stay tuned for more details on virtual orientations and sign ups for both of these events on our website. 

- Maureen

20,000 Miles

Team BBP (composed of our staff and board) set a goal to ride 20,000 miles this year, and I'm so inspired! Of course, riding this year is less about the specific mileage we hit as it is about what we experience while we ride. It's about the people we ride with, the places we ride to, and the joy and accomplishment we feel while on the road, path, or trail. Jimmy and I wanted to dedicate time at the Annual Impact Meeting to hear what's inspiring others to ride.

Richard shared that his goal is to commute by bike every single day, and he also wants to replicate an endurance social ride like the Ladd's 500 in Portland. Camille wants to inspire her roommates to ride more and log some serious miles on her unicycle.

To keep us motivated every pedal stroke of the way, we've created a community team on Love to Ride. This is a simple and fun tool for tracking all of your miles. Our community team is called Ride On Boise! I'm really hoping you'll sign up to ride along with us in 2021.

Our BBP Spoke Card is another great tool to incentivize your rides. The next Spoke Card activity is our annual Valentine's Day ride, Bikin' for Lovin'. Saturday, February 13th - details coming very soon!

-Emily

Board Recruitment:

We are looking for more board members! If you are interested you can contact our president: bridgetlaye@gmail.com for more information.

WHAT’S INVOLVED IN BEING A BOARD MEMBER?

• Work

  • Attend Board Meetings (6 yearly)

  • Actively participate on at least one Board committee (current committees: Executive, Finance, Governance & Sustainability)

  • Participate in Board Retreats and key BBP events

  • Serve as an ambassador for BBP’s mission

  • Minimum time commitment: 4 hours monthly

  • Minimum term: 2 years (terms end in January); may be renewed twice

• Wealth

  • Maintain membership in BBP

  • Donate an amount meaningful to you

  • Encourage others to support BBP and to become a member

• Wisdom

  • Understand, support, and advocate for the BBP mission

  • Build community through relationships with staff, volunteers, and supporters

• You don’t need to be a bike fanatic or mechanic!

• We seek diverse skills and knowledge, especially legal, HR, non-profit operations, fund raising, and community organizing

Finally, our 2020 Annual Report is live! We are excited to announce that this year's physical report is in the form of trading cards.

2020 could've been a year full of challenges, but with the help from our volunteers, members, supporters, YOU!, it was a year of opportunities and records. You can view the annual report digitally through the button below, or swing by the shop and get a physical copy, along with this year's BBP Experience Spoke Card!

As always, we thank you for continuing to ride with BBP, and we can’t wait to see what 2021 will bring us. We hope for hope, rides, and some returning sense of normalcy. Thank you for believing in BBP!