Albany Strollers & Rollers General Meeting Notes 7/16/2024 (Virtual)
attendees: Ken McCroskey, Sherie Reineman, Julia Gonsman, Ian MacLeod, Amy Smolens, Carrie Schulman, Harry Chomsky, Estrella Sainburg, Bryan Marten, Nick Pilch, Preston Jordan
Agenda items:
- 20th anniversary celebration – Estrella
slide show & presentation
– goals: Celebrate AS&R’s 20 years plus California Clean Air Day (latter supposing grant awarded)
timing for grant –
- funding notification date mid-late August
- funding – September
Date is September 29: event 11am, space rental 10am. food/drinks, recognition of founders etc
Estrella covered activities and how these activities will be covered.
Leads needed for Possible Musicians and Recap/vision boards. [Note: Bryan M has volunteered as Lead for Musician sourcing]. Estrella has (or will) change permissions for planning doc so volunteers can add name to leader role spots.
Promotion – we voted and agreed to promote this event at Solano Stroll; Estrella noted will send an evite: dietary restrictions, no alcohol, promote 20th/CAD. Space rental is for 75 person capacity, however we will target 100 participants (100 people attending is requirement of grant) as people will tend to come & go at different times
Branding and Event Giveaway:
Banner designed (Ken) highlights 20th Anniversary of AS&R and also California Clean Air Day. Ken had envisioned the current design of 1/2 of the banner calling out California Clean Air Day (CAD) could be deleted should we not receive CAD microgrant funding; several of us (Sherie, Nick, Ian, Preston???) proposed leaving CAD in the design regardless of whether we receive grant. Actual Clean Air Day is not on Sept 29 but within a week of the actual Oct 2 CAD date, as required by the terms of the grant application and our event can celebrate both AS&R 20th Anniversary and CAD.
Event giveaway: bike bell (2 possible bell designs/manufacturers);
Discussion –
Option A (larger size; Ken prefers design as it highlights the logo – possibly easier logo application and logo visibility; Carrie likes “trill” sound, thinks possibly more identifiable to pedestrians); 200-bell for $500, 500-bell for $2500
Option B (Dontgethit.com – smaller size and thumb-press on the “ding” mechanism much easier to use for kids; bell’s ring tone/volume somewhat adjustable by touch, and rider can “ding” multiple times quickly; both Sherie & Amy noted Option A is more cost-effective at 500-bell/$1000, and that AS&R has standing relationship with company, which produced reflective bands; additionally, Amy pledged to store inventory of the minimum 500 unit order at her house).
Vote:
2 in favor of Option A (Ken, Carrie)
5 in favor of Option B (Sherie, Amy, Preston, Nick & Ian)
subsequently declared no consensus in favor of option B bell (dontgethit), suggestion was made to let ACOC decide. *That wasn’t agreed upon. Discussion was cut short to move meeting forward. As noted, vote was 5-2 in favor of Option B, smaller, child-friendly bell. If anyone disagrees with that we should discuss further before ordering.
Free Bike Tunes: Amy confirmed her talk w/ BikeMobile at today’s library event – Sept 29 is on their calendar. Amy notes if it turns out they can’t confirm for the Sept 29th event date, she will ask Street Level Cycles.
Event Bike Ride: Preston – planning a slightly longer ride to Ocean View Park from Terrace Park routing along both the Gilman and Buchanan Bike Bridges
Estrella to cover link to presentation.
- Sidewalk Tax Renewal Measure
Preston highlighted timing beneficial over waiting until 2026 – for continuity of the program; up for renewal now adds features (grinding for minor repairs, includes multi-use paths) added into funding; adds in citywide sidewalk quantitative survey
10-yr renewal, in line with next property tax bill
AS&R endorsement of measure; discussion of how to proceed. Rather than simple in-meeting vote, Sherie noted despite the group’s general consensus to endorse, preferred we extend opportunity for input to our membership; after some discussion amongst those present, Ken & Preston to proceed with note to Discussion list noting at meeting the consensus is that AS&R plans to endorse, asking for input, providing deadline
- Jackson St Sidewalk Project
Ken proposes, August 8, 7pm for next meeting. Harry out of town, unavailable. Amy may have MLS Tournament game or travel (dates not set yet.) Preston supports that AS&R endorse contribution up to $2700. Group consensus approved. Amy asked what odds of Rotary sponsoring project?
Ken – Unknown although it could be much smaller share of the cost but include in-kind bookeeping for the project.
Albany Education Fund is set up for specific projects. Ken clarified that Rotary members who oppose partnership on this project are also Albany Community Foundation (ACF) members, so ACF is unlikely here.
Carrie – Ocean View PTA excited about the project & willing to share cost. Ken will continue to pursue Rotary. Build date of Sept 14th.
