1. The Function of the Free Ride! Recycle-a-Bike Project
1. Free Ride began as a self-initiated effort of numerous volunteers, focusing on the assembly, distribution, and repair of bicycles for free use by the citizens of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Free Ride will continue to operate a community bike shop, teach bicycle mechanics, and act as a local bicycle advocacy group.
2. The corporation is organized exclusively for charitable, religious, and/or educational or scientific purposes, including, for such purposes, the making of distributions to organization, that qualify as exempt organizations under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code.

1. The Structure of the Free Ride Collective

1. Structure of the Free Ride Bike Project is comprised of a large supporter base, part of which through particular levels of participation will serve as a Collective Council, which is the decision-making body of the group. The Collective Council will choose a number of Coordinators to ensure day-to-day operations and to act on the intent of the collective.
2. Supporters
1. Anyone who contributes to Free Ride in any way is a supporter. Contributions: time, money, or other donations.
3. Collective Council

The Collective Council is the self-initiating and open body of supporters who contribute 24 hours of work during each season. As the Collective Council is charged with defining and implementing the goals of the Free Ride Bike Project, the initiators of these Words recognize that the donation of effort and work is more highly valued than money or material goods, and confers a stronger role in the collective decisions.

1. It is the responsibility of the individual members of the Collective Council to accurately and honestly reflect and promote the collective intent and goals of Free Ride.
2. Membership in the Collective Council
1. “Work” as used above is defined as any effort performed to the direct benefit of Free Ride, performed with appropriate communication with Coordinators.
2. “Twenty four hours” as used above is defined as 24 noncontiguous hours of actual work as defined above.
3. “Season” as used above is defined as the three-month periods marked by the winter and summer solstices and spring and fall equinoxes.
4. Membership on the Collective Council is conferred once the 24 hours are completed and for the following season.
5. Collective Council membership is based on volunteer hours donated to Free Ride. It is the volunteers’ responsibility to record hours worked in the appropriate logs, which are kept by the coordinators.
6. Volunteers are encouraged to maintain membership in the Collective Council by donating 24 hours of work each season and attend at least one (1) general meeting per season. If a Collective Council member donates less than 24 hours during one season, that member must complete eight hours in the new season to reinstate membership during that season.
7. Membership in the Collective Council is an earned privilege, which may be revoked for just cause. Revocation of membership in the Collective Council requires a majority vote at two consecutive Collective Council meetings. A revoked membership may be reinstated by a majority vote at two consecutive Collective Council meetings.
3. Collective Council Functions

The Collective Council discusses and evaluates evolving situations with the input of the Representative Council, the Coordinators, and the community, and reaches consensus on decided actions

1. Meetings of the Collective Council
1. Meetings of the Collective Council will be on the first Saturday of each month. Special meetings may be called by the Coordinators as necessary. It is the responsibility of the members to confirm times and locations of the Collective Council meetings.
2. Notification of all meetings will be posted on the Free Ride information board and disseminated to the Collective Council membership as quickly and thoroughly as possible.
3. Meeting times, locations, and agendas will be drafted by the Scribe based on input form the Collective Council membership and other concerned parties. All meeting agendas will include an “Open Agenda” period. Collective Council members are encouraged to submit items in advance of any meetings though may submit items at meetings during the “Open Agenda” period.
4. Collective Council meetings will be open to the community at large.
5. Input during Collective Council meetings will be handled by a “stack,” an on-going list of speakers interested in voicing an opinion on issues relevant to the topic at hand. Anybody present at the meeting may move to “close the stack,” i.e. limiting the speakers to those already recorded as “on the stack.”
6. Except as outlined below, decisions are reached by the Collective Council via the method of consensus, as defined as a process of discussion, compromise, and unanimous agreement. Only Collective Council members have the ability to block consensus. Issues or decisions may be tabled should agreement not be reached.
7. The Collective Council chooses the members of the Coordinators from among the Collective Council members by a majority vote of the members in attendance. To remove a Coordinator requires a majority vote of at least 50% at two consecutive Collective Council meetings.
8. Nominations will be accepted two weeks prior to election.
9. The Coordinators do not have the authority to act on decisions which are contrary to the will of the Collective Council.
1. The Coordinators

The Coordinators are the body elected from the Collective Council, acting on the intent of the Collective Council to visualize and synthesize the future collective vision into day-to-day objectives. The functions of the coordinators are:

1. The positions on the Coordinators are as follows:

__Outreach/Inreach Coordinator__ – Position term is one year

1. Initiate and maintain contact with other organizations.
2. Facilitate any inter-group involvement, both projects in other states and other local community groups.
3. Work in concert with the Media Coordinator to ensure accuracy of outgoing information, i.e. review press releases, flyers, pamphlets, etc.
4. Facilitate internal communications by disseminating information to coordinators in a timely and regular fashion.
5. Maintain workshop readiness by communicating with Workshop Coordinators about supply needs.

__Scribe__ – Position term is seasonal

1. Maintain and disseminate a historical record of meetings, etc.
2. Organize meeting time, location, and agenda
3. Take minutes (or delegate responsibility for such) at each meeting.
4. Post minutes monthly.
5. Organize a file containing old minutes, election results Words amendments etc. for easy access to volunteers.

__Workshop Coordinator__ – Position term is 6 months

1. Organize bike repair station.
2. Diagnose and label incoming repairs for the ease of Workshop Coordinators.
3. Keep track and inventory of tools and supplies
4. Order parts, tools, and necessary supplies and maintain communication with Treasurer
5. Maintain a “special order” system

__Email, Phone, and Media Coordinator__-position term is six months

1. Record and deliver messages to Coordinators
2. Update voicemail message according to current activities
3. Maintain and answer email to the Free Ride general info address
4. Compose and disseminate media releases.
5. Maintain necessary contacts with media outlets.
6. Work in concert with the Outreach/Inreach Coordinator to ensure accuracy of outgoing information, i.e. review press releases, flyers, pamphlets, etc.

__Volunteer Coordinator-__Position term is six months

1. Maintain a system of keeping track of bikes and bicycle inventory
2. Keep bikes in shop organized and neat in a way that all users can understand.
3. Keep track of project and Earn-a-Bikes and call people when they have not returned for two weeks.
4. Maintain the staffing calendar, both online and in the shop, making sure that all shifts are sufficiently covered
5. Take responsibility for organizing “Special Work Days and/or Projects”
6. Maintain communication and understanding of organizational techniques with other Coordinators

__General Coordinator__ – Position term is seasonal and self motivated and may be several people, including those with another position.

1. Open and close workshops.
2. Turn on and off the lights and air compressor.
3. Maintain orderly workshops, keep workbenches and tables clear of debris, sweep floor, and encourage volunteers to clean up.
4. Put out trash.
5. Keep lists of items in short supply for Repair Coordinator.
6. Attend Coordinators meetings/workshops.
7. Sort recent donations.
8. Know and be able to run the shop and answer customer questions.
9. Sell bikes

__Treasurer__ – Position term is two years

1. Maintain a system of recording Free Ride funds.
2. Disburse funds judicially.
3. Report monthly on expenditures and income.
4. Maintain files which are available to the community.
5. Take care of monthly or yearly bills, forms, and rent
6. Stay in communication with the accountant

__Program Coordinator-__Position term is one year unless it is a paid staff position

1. Organize the programs of Free Ride
2. Make sure all necessary copies and forms are made and accessible
3. Maintain records of programs, recycled bikes, volunteers, and volunteer hours
4. Obtain necessary volunteers to aid in the projects.

1. Coordinators will be chosen from the Collective Council.
2. The Coordinators maintain communication on a monthly basis. Meetings will be announced to the Collective Council.
3. Coordinator meetings will be open to the community at large.
4. Notification of meeting times and location will be posted on the Free Ride information board.
5. All meeting agendas will include an “Open Agenda” period. Coordinator members are encouraged to submit items in advance of any meetings though may submit items at meetings during the “Open Agenda” period.
6. Input into Coordinator meetings will be by informal discussion, except in circumstances when a “stack” will facilitate more organized discussion.
7. Decisions are reached by the Coordinators via a method of consensus, as defined as a process of discussion, compromise, and unanimous agreement. Only Coordinator members have the ability to block consensus. Issues or decisions may be tabled should agreement not be reached.
8. Coordinator members may petition the Collective Council for leave of absence from duties. Leaves of absence may extend to the equivalent of one month per year without jeopardizing Representative Council status..

1. Changing the Free Ride Recycle-a-Bike Project Words
1. These Words may be changed
1. Consensus of the Collective Council is necessary to add to the Words, but if consensus is not reached after two consecutive monthly meetings, an 80% majority of the Collective Council members present at the third meeting must vote to change the Words.
2. To remove items from these Words, the Collective Council must reach consensus at a monthly or specially called meeting. If consensus is not reached after two consecutive monthly meetings, an 80% majority of the Collective Council members present at the third meeting must vote to change the Words.