Newsletter Archive
Email Newsletter 10/19/99
From pvweb$NO$SPAM$@massbike.org Thu Oct 21 18:42:09 1999
Date: Tue, 19 Oct 1999 15:59:01 -0400 (EDT)
From: "James D. Lowenthal" <pvweb$NO$SPAM$@massbike.org>
To: Undisclosed recipients: ;
Bcc: Pioneer Valley MassBike
Subject: more upcoming events
Dear PV MassBikers,
Three important upcoming events have come to my attention since the last
mailing -- something for everyone:
* PV Rail Trail advocacy organizational meeting Fri 10/22
* PV Bike Week 2000 Advisory Committee Mon 10/25? Thu 10/28?
* Clean Water Action environmental conference Sat 11/13
1) Pioneer Valley Pedestrian/Bicyclist Trail Advocates Network
======================
When: Friday, Oct. 22, 1999 from 1:00 - 3:00
Where: 2nd Floor Auditorium, West Springfield Town Hall, 26 Central St.,
West Springfield
Why: $30M worth of planned bicycle and pedestrian trail projects in the
Pioneer Valley are stalled
What: This session is designed to provide trail advocates with basic
information on making democracy work -- how to advocate for your
interests with your elected officials and government agencies
Cost: $5
Contact: Craig Della Penna, Rails-to-Trails New England Rep.,
413-789-7154, rtccraig@transact.org
Sponsored by the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy
See flyer attached (power-point format) and email from Catherine Ratte
below.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Tue, 12 Oct 1999 08:23:38 -0400
From: Catherine Ratte <cratte@k12s.phast.umass.edu>
To: "'James D. Lowenthal'" <pvweb$NO$SPAM$@massbike.org>
Subject: RE: MB/PV October e-news
Hi James-can you please share the attached flyer with folks at the
meeting. Thanks-we have planned an advocacy day for Friday, October 22
from 1-3 at the West Springfield Town Hall-2nd floor auditorium. It's the
follow-up to your members enthusiastic support for advocating for trails.
I hope a lot of MassBike members will be able to attend. We had to
schedule it on a week-day as that is when Legislators have office hours.
We scheduled it on Friday hoping that people who work might be able to
take a few hours off on a Friday afternoon?? Thanks -Catherine
---------- End of forwarded message ----------
2) PV Bike Week 2000 Advisory Committee
===================
Bike-to-Work 2000 promises to be one of the coming year's biggest bicycle
advocacy efforts ever in the Pioneer Valley. Catherine Ratte of the PV
Planning Commission wrote a successful grant for $98,000 in federal funds
to support publicity (flyers, posters, TV/radio ads), new bike racks and
lockers, and educational events to guarantee that the week (3rd week in
May) will make a big splash, and probably carry over to following years.
MassBike/Pioneer Valley has promised to support Bike-to-Work 2000 with
volunteer hours, and now is the time to start making good on that promise.
Catherine has started to organize an Advisory Committee and needs
MassBikers to help out; first meeting in Northampton next Mon 10/25? Thu
10/28? See her email below, and email her directly if you can help out.
This is an excellent opportunity to get involved, see how local government
and advocacy work, and participate in a tangible, high-profile, positive
and fun project.
On Wed, 13 Oct 1999, Catherine Ratte wrote:
> Date: Wed, 13 Oct 1999 09:00:58 -0400
> From: Catherine Ratte <cratte@k12s.phast.umass.edu>
> To: "'James D. Lowenthal'" <pvweb$NO$SPAM$@massbike.org>
> Subject: RE: MB/PV October e-news
>
> James: I will fax it. It is in Powerpoint. You
> should receive an invitation in the mail today also. Thanks for
> spreading the word. Could you also please ask people to call me if
> they want to serve on the Advisory Committee for our regional Bike
> Commute project. This will be a year-long effort to increase the
> number of people who bike commute in the Valley. It's the TDM
> project I have been talking about forever! It looks like we will
> actually be able to start work this month. I am looking at holding
> the first meeting of the Advisory Committee in October-maybe the
> 25th or the 28th-at a place to be determined in Northampton. The
> meeting will be during the day-but if there is enough interest on
> the part of people who have other jobs-I am happy to organize an
> evening Advisory committee. Thanks again for helping me to get
> bicyclists involved in this project. Are you able to attend a
> meeting on either the 25th or the 28th? I was thinking of a morning
> meeting-from 9-11. -Catherine
3) Clean Water Action's Environmental Conference Sat 11/13
================
When: Saturday, 13 November 1999 (Pre-register by Nov. 1)
Time: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
What: Western Massachusetts Environmental Organizing Conference
Where: Mt. Holyoke College, S. Hadley
Cost: $12 in advance, $15 day of conference
Contact: Clean Water Action, 413-584-9830
This one-day conference is designed as a networking opportunity for
any group working on environmental issues in Western Mass. There will
be an opportunity for MassBike to share with everyone else the status
of our various bicycle projects in the Valley and to learn what other
people are up to in such areas as Clean Energy, Air Quality, and Toxic
Waste, and to hear invited speakers share advice on dealing with the
press, diversifying activist coalitions, being effective at public
hearings, etc. The idea is to build coalitions and develop contacts
instead of re-inventing the wheel.
See Jami's email below, and call Clean Water Action for more info or to
request a brochure/registration form.
On Wed, 13 Oct 1999, Jami Fisher wrote:
>
> Date: Wed, 13 Oct 1999 01:47:46 -0400
> From: Jami Fisher <jami.fisher@the-spa.com>
> To: "James D. Lowenthal" <pvweb$NO$SPAM$@massbike.org>
> Cc: BethAnn Albro <bethann.cmind@crocker.com>
> Subject: Clean Water Action conference at Mt Holyoke
>
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>
> I will not be at the meeting tonight. But I did want to put the word out
> about this conference at Mt. Holyoke. BethAnn said she would drop the
> flyers in your mailbox in the morning or bring them to the meeting.
>
> This looks like a great oppurtunity for MassBikers to increase their
> advocacy skills. Last year they had about 150 people attend and their goal
> is 200 this year. The day includes speakers, workshops, lunch (vegetarian),
> and time to socialize and network. There will be about 15 workshops (see
> list in flyers) to choose from of which people can attend one in the morning
> and one in the afternoon. They promise to be useful and interactive and
> will be run by experienced advocates and professionals. One workshop leader
> that comes to mind is from Westfield Community Action (?) who successfully
> defeated construction of a power plant that was destined for a location not
> right for Westfield or the environment. We are also invited to set up a
> table with our materials which we won't have to tend to during the
> workshops.
>
> If people are interested we could plan to ride over with a trailer and
> materials, carpool, or take the five college bus. If someone wants to
> organize that's great. Or have people call or email me.
>
> Jami
>