To take advantage of our numbers, we need more than just our members’ dues—we need your “do’s”, as well. GEARs is calling for your time and talents to help us do more than we’ve ever done before! We’ve created lots of new volunteer opportunities. Below are just a few of the projects in which in which you can join other bicyclists in making GEARs more effective:
Rides Committee:
If you meet someone who wants to go on a bike ride, could you invite them to join a GEARs ride—and feel confident that no matter what speed they ride, they’d have a good experience and want to come back? Join the Rides Committee to develop a ride schedule with ride leaders who will help make GEARs rides more friendly, challenging, and fun for everyone who wants to ride a bike.
Newsletter:
Do you write as well as you ride? Or do you have ideas for interesting articles, photos or cartoons for this newsletter? The newsletter editor needs a few people to write, solicit or plagiarize content for our newsletter, and help get it out to members.
Bike Rewards:
Bicycling offers many rewards, including the discounts local businesses offer GEARs members. By working to expand this program, you can create savings for people who shop by bike, while also supporting local businesses that reward bicycling.
Touring:
Should GEARs offer a multi-day ride? Where should it go? Supported, or carrying your own gear? Camping, or staying in hotels? Join other members in exploring the possibility of a GEARs tour.
Booth Fairies:
GEARs periodically has a booth at events ranging from the Willamette Valley Music Festival to the Jamboree. Our “Booth Fairies” could update GEARs’ display with photos, brochures, maps, freebies, etc. to help showcase our club to the community and attract members and supporters.
Bike Parking:
GEARs has already vastly improved bicycle parking at the Lane County Fairgrounds, Market of Choice and the Lane County Courthouse. What other sites need better bike parking? We’ve found that a few determined bicyclists can work with businesses and public officials to make these places more bike friendly.
Diversion Program:
Create and oversee a program in which bicyclists who receive traffic citations can attend a Bicycle Education class in lieu of paying fines. This will involve consultation/negotiation with Eugene Police Department, representatives of the Court system, LAB instructors, to develop the program.
Education:
Prepare a PowerPoint presentation suitable for a short presentation to businesses/organizations interested in promoting bicycle transportation. Use the PowerPoint to make presentations as requested, and solicit opportunities to talk about bicycling and GEARs.
GEARs General Meetings:
Plan monthly General Meetings that offer a variety of bike-related programs for GEARs members and the greater community. Recruit and communicate with presenters, publicize the meetings, ensure that all necessary audio- visual equipment is ready to use, welcome attendees to meeting and ensure that meeting proceeds smoothly.
GEARs Rides on the Web:
Check the each ride listed on the GEARs Ride List for accuracy of mileage and fix broken links to maps/cue sheets. Monitor periodically to fix any errors, add rides. Consider developing a system for helping people look up a ride (by distance, direction, name, etc.)
There are many more possibilities:
A Hospitality/ Special Events Committee, and of course, the Blackberry bRamble. Or if there’s something else that you’re interested in, we can find a few more people who share your interest, and make it happen. Summer offers better bicycling, but winter is perfect for making bicycling better.
Volunteer to help GEARs. You’ll help us build a bicycling community, and in the process, you’ll make better friends of those people you already see pedaling down the road. To volunteer, contact our Volunteer Coordinator Sue Wolling at sue@eugenegears.org or 541-345-2110.