Volunteer Handbook

Introduction

This handbook is the draft of the volunteer handbook for the Sacramento Bicycle Kitchen. It is a work in progress.

Mission

Sacramento Bicycle Kitchen is a community-centered bike shop run by volunteers with the focus of providing low-cost, alternative transportation for Sacramentans. By providing affordable bicycles and classes, we promote cycling as transportation and bring empowerment to members by enabling self-sufficiency through knowledge of bicycle maintenance.

Organization

Sacramento Bicycle Kitchen is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. There are many benefits to being a non-profit. Donations to a non-profit are tax deductible. The articles of incorporation are available here (FIXME).

Website

The website is located at sacbikekitchen.org. It is used for announcements and organization/administrative purposes. Any volunteer can create an account and contribute content to the website as long as it is relevant to our organization and abides by our philosophy.

Philosophy

This section outlines our philosophy as an organization. We hope that these ideas extend to everyone involved with SBK but at the very least they are guidelines on how we think and act as a group.

Diversity

Sacramento is one of the most diverse communities in the nation. SBK is an organization that is committed to creating an environment that is free from bigotry and hate. Discrimination will not be tolerated and we try hard to maintain an open and safe environment for all. If you encounter someone that goes against this policy please bring it to one of the core volunteer’s attention.

Ethics

Everyone at the SBK is a volunteer, but that doesn’t mean we are a bunch of amateurs. Volunteers are expected to abide by all laws and ordinances while at the shop or at a SBK event. Discounts will only be given according to the rules in this handbook. No exceptions.

Commitment Levels

This section outlines the different commitment levels of the various people involved the the SBK.

Member

A member is anyone that has ever visited the shop and paid for a day, monthly, or yearly membership. This commitment level does not require any volunteering time.

Volunteer

Anyone that volunteers in the shop or elsewhere in the organization. This is a person that occasionally volunteers but isn’t interested in putting in a lot of time into running the shop or organization.

Core Volunteer

Volunteers that meet certain minimum requirements. Only core volunteers may hold defined positions in the organization. These folks can vote to fill the non-profit positions.

Non-Profit Positions

One requirement of being a non-profit is to have defined positions (President, Treasurer, and Secretary) and board members. For the purposes of our group this is a mere technicality and all core members are treated equally. There will be periodic elections that are open to core volunteers to fill these positions.

Roles and Responsibilities

The following is a mostly complete list of roles at the SBK. People often fill many roles and many roles are often filled by many people. None of us can do it all so we try to break things up in logical places.

Mechanic/Cook

• Work a regular shift every week, or take on a non-shop duty (selling online, breakdown, etc) and work one shift per month
• Take a class before volunteering, after volunteering for a few months, sign up to teach a class
• Open/close the shop. Including setup and cleanup
• Work with other volunteers to create a friendly, helpful environment for patrons
• Give regular input to the shop manager and the core volunteers

Shop Manager

• Work at least three shifts a month
• Attend core meetings
• Make sure that the shop has all supplies needed to run effectively
• Make sure that volunteers and patrons are working within the guidelines of the shop (working safely, patrons doing their own work, being friendly, etc)
• Teach one volunteer training or maintenance class per month
• Correspond with other volunteers to make sure they are completing duties

Clerk/Greeter

• Log volunteers/customers working on bikes
• Greet
• Pump tires, basic maintenance
• Attend Volunteer orientation

Accountant

• Bookkeeping
• Taxes
• Compliance

Web Developer

• Maintain the website
• Enable collaboration amongst volunteers
• Maintain accounts and privacy of the volunteers/members
• Work with volunteers and board members to update content on the website weekly

Art/Media/Marketing

Attend SBK events and come to the shop during open hours and take pictures and video
• Upload and share pictures on Flickr and youtube
• Update often
• Assist in logo/flyer/t-shirt design

Event Coordinator

• Coordinate at least three events per quarter including movie nights, volunteer appreciation nights, or fund raising events
• Update online calendar weekly with SBK shifts and events
• Coordinate with other organizations to keep our calendar full of cycling events, not just SBK events.

Construction/Space Manager

• Help build out the space
• Make sure all space is being utilized efficiently
• Construct shelving, counters, and other fixtures to improve shop operations

Donations Crew

Boxes with donations from local shops must be picked up weekly. There may be more than one person collecting the donations, but these volunteers must coordinate their schedules and report to the shop manager that the task is being completed weekly.

Breakdown Crew

Come in once a week when the shop is closed and spend 3 hours breaking down bikes. This will be done by several people, so not everyone will need to show up every week, but volunteers on the breakdown crew must report to the shop manager weekly.

Build Crew

Build bike from donations? It sounds like this is going away?

Grant Writer

• Apply for at least 4 funding opportunities per year
• Attend core meetings with new funding sources and updates when appropriate

Kids Coordinator

Do outreach with kids in the surrounding communities. If you’re interested in kids, after school programs, kids classes, etc. this is perfect. The kids coordinator must schedule at least three kids events (classes, day in the shop, bike giveaway, etc.) per quarter. This coordinator will work with events coordinator and volunteer coordinator and will attend core meetings to report status on events.

Shop Operations

Cost Sheet

Calendar

Procedures

Opening

Closing

Events

Donations

Waste

Safety

Emergency

References

Here are a few references that were used in creating this handbook.

• Davis Bike Church Handbook
• Santa Cruz Bike Church Handbook
• (SF) Bike Kitchen Wiki