Just because I haven't been documenting my non-profit experiences on here does not mean they haven't been occurring, by the way. I have been as involved as ever, and want to share the level of involvement I have experienced at the Topeka Community Cycle Project -- since I have now been a part of it for just over two years.
For those who are not familiar with TCCP, here is a brief description and a link to the website:
TCCP Website
TCCP Facebook Page
The Topeka Community Cycle Project is an organization dedicated to:
- Promoting self-reliance, sustainability, and healthful living in Topeka.
- Recycling, repurposing, and distribution of bicycles.
_____________________________________________________________________________
When I started volunteering at TCCP back in 2012, I had very limited knowledge of bicycles. I wandered around and watched the mechanics work their magic and pretended to be helpful. It didn't take me long to realize that I actually preferred facilitating people and helping get more organizational tasks accomplished.
Kid's bikes are given to children that are 12 years old or younger. Something I would help with was sizing these children with a bike, and having another volunteer make sure it was in working order before we sent anyone home with it.
It is rewarding to give young people bicycles, because I knew this could be the beginning of a healthy enjoyable childhood. It reminds me of the beginning of my bicycling experience, growing up with my dad riding with me every weekend.
I helped out at the shop for a year before I was invited to become a part of the Operations Committee, a group that meets once a month to schedule who will be opening shop and discuss shop matters. This was fall 2013. For another school year, I helped out as a "second," the second in command to the shop opener.
It wasn't until May 2014 that I opened the shop on my own. Since then, I have taken a few turns each month to go in and open the shop, monitoring activity on open shop days. I still don't know everything (or even close to everything) about shop activity or bicycles, but that isn't a problem. I am there to make sure that the shop rules are followed and that everything runs smoothly. I often have another volunteer as a second; they help log volunteer hours and greeting people at the front of the shop. There are rarely days when another operations committee member is not present for open shop with me.
Other random events take place at the shop on days there isn't open shop. One example is a demonstration over the summer called "Lights, Brights, and Reflective Shennanigans". This was an event held in the evening to show the public different types of bike lights and gear to be visible at nighttime. I sent out a press release and made an event on the TCCP Facebook page for it as well.
Over the summer, I was asked to chair the Events Committee in preparation for the upcoming 5th Annual Flat Tire fundraiser. More recently, I have become the person in charge of the event. This event is more-or-less a party to celebrate the shop and its volunteers. It usually consists of a band or two, a bar, and cyclists. There are always specially-designed Flat Tire t-shirts that are screen-printed at the event.
In addition to Events Committee, I have been invited to serve as Secretary on the Executive Board and will take minutes at the board meetings for the remainder of 2014. I enjoy learning more about the upkeep and behind-the-scenes information that I did not have access to before when I was only a part of the operations committee.
The past year has really been quite a change with my involvement here. Sometimes I still feel unprepared or even unqualified to participate in the ways I have, but I do enjoy learning how it works as I go. There are numerous other privileges, new friends made, rides taken, and skills learned that have also made my experience at TCCP over the past two years special. I anticipate spending the rest of my time in Topeka involved with the shop in some way.
No comments:
Post a Comment