Americorps position at a bike cooperative in central IL

Hey folks,

If you know anyone who is interested in getting away from the city for a year and get some bike cooperative/non-profit experience, here's an Americorp position that's open.  It's 2.5 hours south of Chicago (with daily Amtraks to and from Chicago) in a low-cost of living, laid back "micro-urban" setting of Urbana-Champaign with a friendly and burgeoning bike scene.  The deadline is coming up soon but shoot them an email if you interested and need a little time to get materials together.  Here it is

Job Description: Bike Project Volunteer Coordinator 
Through theServe Illinois State AmeriCorps Program
About The Bike Project(www.thebikeproject.org):

The Bike Project is not a bike shop in the traditional sense.  The Bike Project was conceived 
to serve those that are looking for inexpensive, low maintenance, and environmentally 
friendly transportation -and don't mind getting their hands dirty in the process.  The Bike 
Project provides a cooperatively sharedspaceand resourcesfor working on bicycles, 
learning from skilled volunteer mechanics, and sharing knowledge about bicycle 
commuting and bicycle safety.

The Bike Project takes in used bicycles as donations from the University of Illinois, the 
cities of Urbana and Champaign, local landlords, and individual donors. Some of the 
bicycles are fixed up by volunteers and sold as ready to go bikes.  Some of the bicycles are 
parted out and provide used parts to fix other bikes.  A sizable group of used bikes is 
available to members and can be purchased as Build-a-Bikes.  A Build-a-Bike is when a 
member fixes up a bike using the tools at the co-op and available used parts.  The cost of a 
Build-a-Bike is approximately half that of what a "ready to go" bike is sold for, which is the 
least expensive way to obtain a usable bicycle in Urbana-Champaign.  The Bike Project 
currently has more than 150 members and hundreds of visitors per year.

Job Summary:
The Bike Project seeks an AmeriCorps member to serve as a Volunteer Coordinatorwho 
will complete tasks and organize activities that allow the Bike Project to serve more 
community members and generate more interest in volunteering with the Bike Project.
This includes working with current volunteer staffers, assisting new Bike Project members 
in getting acquainted with the shop, cultivate new volunteer staffer involvement, teach and 
training new volunteer staffers, as well as arrange and take part in events related to bicycle 
maintenance and safety. 

Duties and Responsibilities:
-Develop and maintain membership database to manage past and current Bike Project 
memberships.
-Develop a volunteer management system and regularly update the wiki page to 
coordinate and publish volunteer scheduled hours.  
-Creating and sending out monthly newsletters and reminders for various events
-Solicit and coordinate volunteers for special events. This involves email and direct 
communication with volunteers to encourage and keep up with volunteer involvement.  -Teach and help organize training sessions to transition interested volunteers into 
volunteer staffers. Acquaint them with the shop, rules, and familiarize them with other 
staffers. 
-Teaching all new and existing staff to use the Bike Project’swiki page (an interactive 
website), the membership database,and multiple Bike Project email groups.
-Improve the shop’s overall organization system and point of sale process for bikes, tools, 
and parts.
-Participate in community outreach events related to bike advocacy and safety as 
determined by the Bike Project Steering Committee and the AmeriCorps member’s Mentor. 
-Maintain documents, such as themembership flyer, membership form, wiki page, and 
membership database so that new members stay up-to-date with basic safety information
and co-op rules and etiquette.
-Staff hours at the co-op designated for Open hours and Members-only DIY hours 
(seasonal). 
-Represent the Bike Project at periodic events and monthly meetings, such as IMC Steering, 
Quad Day, etc. 
-Complete AmeriCorps duties required by the program, such as staffing the IMC desk (the 
building in which the Bike Project is located), completing various service projects with 
other AmeriCorps members, and attending regular meetings concerning the group.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Needed:
-Minimum of GED or High School degree required
-Ability to work well with other volunteers and the public, including children.
-Ability to promote the mission of the Bike Project with large and small groups, through 
oral presentations and print materials.
-Creative problem solving skills.
-Willingness to learn new skills –mechanical, social, and professional.
-Ability to establish reasonable priorities, work independently, and proceed with 
objectives without supervision.
-Basic bicycle maintenance skills and familiarity with bicycle terminology is a plus, but is 
not necessarily required.  

Special Requirements:
-Willing to work on a flexible schedule, with evening hours and weekends. 
-Loves bikes.

To Apply:
Submit a resume andcover letter to thebikeproject@gmail.com (email) by Wed, Sept 1st
2010 AND complete an application online through http://www.americorps.gov/
AmeriCorps Service Terms:

As an AmeriCorps member, this position requires a one-year contract from Sept of 
2010 to July 31st of 2011.  The program offers astipend of $11,400 living allowance in 
addition to health benefits and an education award.  For more information,visit: 

A more in-depth job position description is located here:  http://thebikeproject.org/files/2010_tbp_americorp_job_descript.pdf

Hope you're doing well and thanks for all the cool work you do.

Best,
Vincent

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