Washtenaw Bicycling and Walking Coalition

March 14, 2000 Meeting Minutes

The Washtenaw Bicycling and Walking Coalition (WBWC) meeting was held at the Ecology Center offices in Ann Arbor and began at 7:00pm. Those attending included Rebecca Kanner (Ecology Center), Jane Kent (Ann Arbor Bicycle Coordinator), Lu Chaney (AABTS), Ken Clark, Kris Talley and Bob Krzewinski.

The first order of business was a discussion on formalizing the WBWC, such as establishing a non-profit status under state and federal law. Ken Clark volunteered to check with the New Center on non-profit status and Bob Krzewinski would check with the League of Michigan Bicyclists. On the matter of a Constitution and By-Laws, Jane Kent would review such documents from other bike advocacy groups and report back to the WBWC at a future meeting.

Membership procedures and dues were discussed next, with a general consensus that individual memberships would cost $10/year, $25 for organizations/businesses as well as higher optional amounts for groups that wished to donate additional funds. Bob Krzewinski would review membership forms from other bicycle groups and create a draft WBWC membership form for review at a future meeting.

A logo was discussed for the WBWC, to be used on stationary, brochures and a web page with the item to be researched and discussed at the next meeting. Committee structure was reviewed next with a general consensus that at first there should be Finance, Communications and Projects Committees/Chairs as well as a Steering Committee for overall guidance and direction for the WBWC.

Moving on to communications, Ken Clark volunteered to set up a WBWC web page using an address of www.wbwc.org. A newsletter was briefly discussed with thoughts given to a quarterly publication in the future. On the subject of publicity, there was a consensus to slowly move into such an area with a first major step being to publicly "announce" the WBWC through media releases in May, National Bike Month. Bob Krzewinski would write up a draft press release/op-ed letter for the next meeting. Rebecca Kanner would also discuss with the Ann Arbor News a potential monthly bike column as well as having a program on Community Television.

On goal actions, the group decided to have a general bike safety/information booth at the April 16^th Earth Day Festival at Leslie Science Center with Bob Krzewinski coordinating. On other goals, Jane Kent was asked to give a brief report at the next meeting on the status of a North Main to Huron River Drive bike path and Bob Krzewinski would contact Annette Dentel asking her to give a brief report on the status of a Huron River bike path system.

Minutes of the January 24^th meeting were then reviewed, and after a review a motion was made to approve them by Jane Kent, seconded by Ken Clark. The next meeting was set for April 6^th, 7pm at the Ecology Center with the meeting ending at 8:15pm.