Over the years the Missouri Bicycle Federation has facillitated huge improvements across the state, and even in neighboring states where we share bi-state regions like in KC and St. Louis. But when dealing with state laws, departments of transportations, etc. it is critical that Kansas bicyclists be represented in Topeka by other Kansans.

There have been some attempts in the past to form a Kansas Bicycle Federation, and there is another opportunity coming up on Thursday. MBF Executive Director Brent Hugh is leading a presentation and organizational meeting at the Kansas Trails Summit in Lawrence. Keep reading to find out how you can help form a state-wide advocacy group to help represent the interests of Kansas bicyclists.

[Kansas statewide bicycling/walking/running/trails advocacy organization planned–please spread the word widely through 31 Oct 2007]

Kansas bicyclists, walkers, runners, hikers, and trails advocates,

3:15-5:00PM on Thursday, October 18th I am doing a session on “Starting a statewide advocacy organization” at the Kansas Trails Summit in Lawrence.

I want to turn this into a practical, hands-on session that will actually get the much-needed Kansas statewide bicycling/walking/running/trails advocacy organization started and off the ground.

It would be very, very helpful to have as many people as possible there in person from key Kansas groups: bicycle clubs, trails groups, walking, running, and hiking clubs, bicycle shops, hiking and outdoors stores, etc.

Immediately after the formal session all interested parties will meet to discuss and put together the organizational structure that will then build the Kansas bicycling/walking/trails advocacy organization over the following 12 months.

Proposed/tentative outline of activities

* 1st organizational meeting Oct 18th

* Create an organizing board of 12 individuals representing key organizations and interests in KS

* Over the next year, organizing board meets 6 times in various locations across the state:
1-4PM the first Sunday of these months: Dec, Feb, Apr, Jun, Aug, Oct

* Over the next 12 months the board gets all organization details finalized:
Name, incorporation, 501c3, bank accounts, bylaws, vision, goals, website, etc.

* Membership meeting, vote of approval of the preliminary work, official establishment of the organization in 12 months at the next KS Trails Summit

If you know bike clubs, trails organizations, etc., who should be represented in this effort, please help spread the word.

The KS Trails Summit is Oct 18-19 in the Holiday Inn Holidome Regency Meeting Rooms in Lawrence. Full Trails Summit info/schedule here:

http://www.kansascounties.org/documents/Other/KDHE%20Summit%20Brochure.pdf

Hope to see you there Oct 18th. If you can’t make it but would like to participate as one of the 12 organizing board members or just as an interested individual, please email or call me.

Session outline & my bio are below.

–Brent
Dr. Brent D. Hugh
Executive Director
Missouri Bicycle Federation
816-695-6736
director@mobikefed.org

Building a statewide bicycle advocacy group
Presenter Brent Hugh will talk about his experience in leading the Missouri Bicycle Federation from a group with a $500 annual budget and 24 members to a $50,000 annual budget and over 1000 members active in the past 18 months. How do you develop capacity, communicate with board members, supporters, public officials, and the general public, learn to become effective advocates, and develop grass roots, political, and financial support?

The emphasis will be on the practical: Can we create a well organized, effective, financially stable statewide bicycle/pedestrian/trails advocacy organization in Kansas over the next 12 months?

Dr. Brent D. Hugh has two bachelor’s degrees and three graduate degrees in the fields of mathematics and music performance from Brigham Young University, Utah State University, and the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music. He has been webmaster, president, and now Executive Director of the Missouri Bicycle Federation. He lives in Raytown, Missouri, with his wife, Jan, where he puts about 5,000 miles per year on his fleet of three recumbent bicycles. His main ride is to pre-school and back each day with his 11-year old son Jonathan and twin 4-year old pre-schools, Naomi and Amanda, in tow.
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