30 October - Make a Difference Day

Good evening,
Today we were assisted by 7 United Way volunteers (and 1 from Tau Beta Pi) in kicking off the Christmas Toy Drive effort.  Volunteers helped sort and move bikes (35 counted so far) and clean/ inspect/ repair 16 of them.  Special thanks to all who showed up, and Brandy (along with an anonymous assistant) who dropped off the lunches.  This week we'll be turning on the gas heat, starting the Fall Bike Collection, having a retreat at the Black Bear (Tuesday 6pm) and teaching a class at MTEC on Thurday morning. Call if you can volunteer to help or attend any of the events.
This past weekend, right above the shop there was a Cyclocross race going on.  Read here if you want to learn more:   http://www.wvucycling.com/ (more pictures on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/bstephens?v=photos)

This Thursday nite at 8:30pm there's a great mountain biking flick at the Hollywood theater:  http://www.raceacrossthesky.com/  It tells the story of the annual Leadville 100 race, and the woman who won it this year.

Publish Post

27 Oct - Today's events

It's been a few weeks since I've updated the blog.  These are a few pictures from our Grand Opening Party on Oct 22 where Jim Savarino provided entertainment for a small but enthusiastic crowd.  Due to media coverage since then our donations volunteering levels are picking up again and we've been accomplishing a lot.  Come and be a part of it.  Here's what else is going on.

On Sunday Channel 12 WBOY-TV just aired a great story about us , highlighting how our bikes help Bartlett House residents find homes of their own.   The good news is that the residents who were interviewed have been taking good advantage of their bikes to find work and other supportive opportunities.  The bad news is that the person who was scheduled to show up didn't make it because he went on a drinking binge and his bike was stolen.  I know this has happened before, I'd like to find a way we could keep it from happening again.  Any ideas?


This week the statewide Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) conference is happening in Morgantown.  After today's sessions there was a bike ride around town to show local successes and challenges for bike transportation.  Since the ride ended early there was time to tour Positive Spin before the picnic dinner.  A surprising number of conference attendees bike, several commute by bike and one rode the unicycle and tallbike in our shop.  At the picnic afterward (in Marilla Park) I got to know some of the attendees a little better (their kids too).

These events are coming up in the coming weeks:
Friday Oct 30 - Bike Board education committee meeting (I'll be attending to suggest ways to put youth bike education in the next Transportation Enhancements grant application)
Saturday Oct 31 - Make a Difference Day - We'll have 25 volunteers available to do work we need done around the place from noon to 4pm.  I could use some additional (experienced) volunteers to help supervise this group.  Please call the shop if you can help out.
Saturday Nov 13 - Our Fall Bike Drive starts next week and we hope to start getting bikes donated in large quantities again.  We've arranged with Mon County Solid Waste to collect bikes at the Football game against Cincinnati.  They'll have volunteers rounding up bikes at the parking lots, but we'll need help at the shop to process them when they're brought in.  Please consider helping out.

Oct 20 - Grand Opening Party this Friday

 

UPDATE:  Live music will be provided by local folk singer Jim Savarino from 6-8pm.  See samples of his music at his website:  http://www.jimsavarino.com/

Good afternoon,

It's been 5 years since we started helping Morgantown citizens go places under their own power and along with the fact that we're in a new location it seems like a good time for a celebration.  If you can help with setup, publicity, music or anything else please call the shop.  If not, please print the poster and put it up at your favorite hangouts.  Either way come join us on Friday for the celebration.

23 Sep - Time for a party: Oct 9, 1-7pm at Marilla Park

Positive Spin has now been in business for 5 years, this is a big milestone for us.  Five years ago at this time Hurricane Katrina had just hit and we started to collect and repair bikes for relief aid.  We sent 50 bikes on a truck with other relief supplies, and John Lozier and I drove to "Plan B" in New Orleans French Quarter to unload and repair bikes for local residents and relief workers.  Upon our return to Morgantown we were given enough workspace and bikes to continue recycling locally, and decided to include sustainable transportation in our mission with a goal of reducing vehicle miles travelled by 80% in the Morgantown area before 2040.  This seems like a good time to invite our volunteers, past and present, to a party to christen our new location and show our appreciation for all the help we've received.and plan for our continued growth.  We need volunteers to help with this though.  If you can help with planning, publicizing, recruiting or anything else please call the shop or email volunteers@positivespin.org.
Thanks!

Update - Oct 6:  We've booked the Jenny Wilson Jazz Trio to play for the afternoon.  I've scheduled a planning meeting for tonite from 5-7pm at the Marilla shop.  If we don't have adequate interest or help the party will be postponed.

6 Sep - Big move is complete!

Thanks to help from volunteers (and their trucks) we got everything moved out of the warehouse Saturday and into the Marilla location.  A few things remain at the old shop, where I will continue to keep the office until we get phone and internet in Marilla.  Thanks to Candace, Dave, Colin, Sandy (and grandkids), Jen, John, Ken, Bill, Tiger Joe, Dan and anyone I might have missed.  We sold our first bike - a bright red Specialized Rockhopper to a new student who will be using it for transportation around campus.  More pictures and details coming soon.

3 Sep - Now Open, still moving

Good morning,
After 2 days of operation in our new location we've served 4 customers and had help from about a half-dozen volunteers.  There's still much to do though and we can use your help.  The picture above is our first customer, Julie Bossart, who came by to drop of a bike for donation.  We're having a workday tomorrow from 10am-5pm, meet at the Marilla store to get an assignment.  Much of the work will be moving, sorting, building and repairing bikes.  This won't happen without your help, so if you're staying in town for Labor Day and want to get away from game craziness we're just what you're looking for.  Call the shop to let us know when you're coming and we can have work ready for you.
Thanks,
Nick

1 Sep - Opening Day

Good evening,
Tomorrow will be our first day doing business at our new location in Marilla Park.  The address is 801 E Brockway, Morgantown.  To get there go down the road that goes past the skate park until it ends and drive through the gate.  Hours will be Wed 1-7pm, Th-Sat 1-5pm.  Come visit, hang out, help out or just ride around on the indoor riding course.  See you there.  We will be announcing a Grand Opening celebration date soon.
Nick

30 Aug - Almost ready

 Good morning,
We got a good start on the move this weekend, but we never got a truck to move the big things and only about 8 people showed up to help.  We've got everything at the new place that we need to open for business on Wednesday, but some of it still has to be setup.  If you can help please call and we'll arrange a time. Here's the work that remains to be done.
Inside jobs  
Rent or Borrow a big truck
Get boxes from recycling center
Pack and move stuff from warehouse (includes a large display cabinet)
Dismantle fixtures at old shopshop(wheel/tire racks, remove slotwall)
Pack and move stuff from shop (includes large parts shelves, tables part cart)
Setup toolboards/worktables along W wall of SE room
Outside Work
Rake and sweep paved areas and parking lot
Clear and remove brush around building
Check that culvert is clear to drain free
Clean gutters


A big THANKS!! to everyone who showed up - Chauncy, Jen, Bill, Kenny, Daniel, The Wiles Hill family (forgot names), John and anyone I forgot to mention.

28 Aug - Update

Good morning,
Due to mechanical problems with the truck we had planned to use we were unable to do much of the work we had planned for last nite.  It doesn't look like the truck will be working today either, and with Marilla Park closed for the Sprint, Splash and Spin we wouldn't be able to get a vehicle in to the building anyway so we'll spend today doing the cleanup.  Here's the updated task plan.  We hope you can volunteer to help.   Call 304-276-0213 if you have any other questions.
Thanks,

Saturday - arrive 10am, Marilla Park
Park in upper lot, walk to our building

Clear out debris, load into dumpster or truck
Collect misc lumber and stack in one place
Sweep all areas, mop all areas, dry out standing water

Saturday - Outside activities
Rake and sweep paved areas and parking lot
Clear and remove brush around building
Check that culvert is clear to drain free

Sunday
Rent or Borrow a big truck
Get boxes from recycling center
Pack and move stuff from warehouse (includes a large display cabinet)
Dismantle fixtures at shop(wheel/tire racks, remove slotwall)
Pack and move stuff from shop (includes large parts shelves, tables part cart)
Move/setup all showroom bikes and displays into SE room
Move part shelves into middle of SE room to form partition
Setup toolboards/worktables along W wall of SE room
Open for business

Thanks!  We're looking forward to working with you, making this a fun and worthwhile new phase for sustainable transportation in Morgantown.

27 Aug - The Move is on, Starting Tonite

Good evening, 
Last minute change of plans - same schedule, different venue. We found the Sabreton School too leaky, but BOPARC has graciously offered us the old Habitat ReStore location in Marilla Park a few blocks away in Sabreton.  This will be a great location, right next to the trail and lots of other traffic.  

Update:  On Thursday morning Marc Wise gave myself and Bill Jones a walk-through of the building.  Everything looks great for a weekend move, although since  the Sprint, Splash and Spin will be going on Saturday we want to do all the heavy moving on Friday nite (after the kids' race) so we can just work onsite Saturday and won't need to have vehicles coming and going.  We'll need volunteers at both times, we'd appreciate it if you can bring things like hammers, drills/screwdrivers, pushbrooms, mops, rakes, pruning shears and saws as needed for the work to be done (label your personal tools clearly).  Here are the other details:

Friday - arrive 7pm, warehouse
Get boxes from recycling center
Pack and move stuff from warehouse (includes a large display cabinet)
Dismantle fixtures at shop(wheel/tire racks, remove slotwall)
Pack and move stuff from shop (includes large parts shelves, tables part cart)

Saturday - arrive 10am, Marilla Park
Park in upper lot, walk to our building
Clear out debris, load into dumpster or truck
Collect misc lumber and stack in one place
Sweep all areas, mop all areas, dry out standing water
Move/setup all showroom bikes and displays into SE room
Move part shelves into middle of SE room to form partition
Setup toolboards/worktables along W wall of SE room
Open for business

Saturday - Outside activities
Rake and sweep paved areas and parking lot
Clear and remove brush around building
Check that culvert is clear to drain freely

Thanks!  We're looking forward to working with you, making this a fun and worthwhile new phase for sustainable transportation in Morgantown.
Nick