in this issue

NORTH EAST CYCLES
ACME BICYCLE SHOP
EVERGLADES BICYCLE CLUB
MORE CLUB SUCCESS STORIES
HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS
WALK SCORE
STORY OF STUFF
PADDLE FLORIDA
THUNDERHEAD ALLIANCE SEEKS ED
AND THEN SOME


NORTH EAST CYCLES AND PLANET BIKE CONTRIBUTION
Ken Fong, president and "head dish washer" at North East Cycles, Inc. in St. Petersburg, contacted FBA recently to report that as a result of winning Planet Bike's annual Interbike ping pong tournament, our association will be the lucky recipient of a $3,000 donation on behalf of North East Cycles by Planet Bike. Ken's decision to channel his donation to FBA was based in part by recommendations from several St. Petersburg Bicycle Club affiliates and our active role in bicycle advocacy. BIG THANKS to Ken, North East Cycles and Planet Bike for their generosity. You can thank Ken and Planet Bike by patronizing North East Cycles located at 1115 4th Street North, St. Petersburg, 33701, 727-898-2453, and by purchasing Planet Bike products.

ACME BICYCLE SHOP CONTINUES TO SUPPORT ADVOCACY & EDUCATION
I had a conversation with Mike Moody, the CEO of Clear Channel Radio here in Charlotte County and he asked me to email some PSA's to him and he would air them. I have only found one pre-recorded 30-second PSA from the League of American Bicyclists. Do you know of any others or specific Florida ones? Thanks.

Earl Lang, Owner
Acme Bicycle Shop
Punta Gorda and Port Charlotte, FL
www.acmebicycleshop.com

FBA's Group Riding DVD features eight 30-second PSA's intertwined with narrative that can be viewed as individual PSA's or one 15-minute program. It also features six 30-second radio PSA's with the following titles:

Cycling and the Law
Keep Traffic Flowing
Public Perception
Pacelines
Take the Lane
Multi-Use Trails

Copies are available for television and radio broadcast by contacting FBA.

David Henderson, FBA Secretary
Bicycle/Pedestrian Coordinator, Miami-Dade County MPO

EVERGLADES BICYCLE CLUB AT WORK
John Voss, President of the Everglades Bicycle Club, is proud to report many things his club is doing this holiday season. Last Sunday, December 9, the club presented their Annual Toy Ride to benefit St. Stephens Church's toy drive. Participants were requested to donate a minimum of $10 or an unwrapped toy. EBC matched the donations. Another charity the club supports is the Voices For Children Foundation, a local charity whose mission is to raise funds to ensure that every abused or neglected child in Miami-Dade County has a court-appointed Guardian Ad Litem volunteer and that financial assistance and other resources are available for their accompanying health, educational and social needs. This year, they are trying to donate 500 bicycles to the kids who are ageing out of the foster care system. These 18 year old young adults often face many challenges, the least of which are transportation, recreation and exercise issues that can be addressed by new bicycles. Bunchy Gertner (AnnieGee77@aol.com) the director at the Voices For Children Foundation who is in charge of this great cause, contacted the club recently to let them know that 200 bicycles would be arriving this week. Help was needed to get them built in time to give to the kids for Xmas. The Everglades Bicycle Club did not let Bunchy down since not only did the club benefit the organization with their largest donation of $4,000, but also helped to build 200 bikes. is supporting this great cause with our biggest donation (four thousand dollars) ever, but we need your help to build 200 bikes.

Merry Christmas to all,
John Voss, President, EBC
jvoss@jvossman.com

MORE CLUB SUCCESS STORIES
The Naples Pathways Coalitionhas partnered with the Naples Police Department Bicycle Patrol Officers to make some positive changes in our community. Together we have held safety fairs, increased awareness of cyclists rights and responsibilities on the road, put lights on bikes for people in need who commute to work after dark, and more. Naples PD has also paved the way for an excellent bicycle safety video to be shown ten times per week on our local government access cable channel. These officers are passionate about what they are doing and it shows. I know they are seeking grants to be able to do more than the small budget they have allows. Naples Pathways Coalition would greatly appreciate any support that the Florida Bicycle Association can give to further their efforts.

Thanks, and we're looking forward to seeing you at the Pedaling for Pathways Bicycle Brunch next month (January 27, 2008).

Michelle Avola
Administrator
Naples Pathways Coaltion, Inc.

HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS
Having trouble coming up with gift ideas this holiday season? FBA memberships and Share the Road license plate gift certificates are good ideas. Both can be acquired via our website. Just click on the appropriate link. Your FBA membership gift recipient will receive a one-year membership, a subscription to the Messenger newsletter, invitation to receive the electronic FBA newsletter, action alerts plus bicycle safety materials. You will get the satisfaction of knowing you are doing your part to spread the word for bicycle safety education and advocacy.

WALK SCORE YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD
This fascinating website, www.walkscore.com, calculates a "Walk Score" for any address you input. It's a "mash-up" with Google Map. So what is Walk Score? It helps homebuyers, renters, and real estate agents find houses and apartments in great neighborhoods. Walk Score shows you a map of what's nearby and calculates a Walk Score for any property. Buying or renting a house in a walkable neighborhood is good for your health and good for the environment.

Ken Sides, PE
Clearwater, FL

THE STORY OF STUFF
All I want for Christmas is for my friends to watch this video, http://www.storyofstuff.com/, that my colleague developed based on a presentation she's been giving for years. Annie Leonard's presentation might do for sustainable consumption problems what Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth" has done for climate change. Enjoy this super fantastic and eye opening story with you, plus, pass it along to others if you enjoyed it.

Kimberly Ogren, AICP
Program Director
Funders' Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities
Coral Gables, FL

BIKE FLORIDA "TRAIL LINK" 2008: MARCH 30-APRIL 4
Bike Florida "Trail Link" 2008 is a linear ride starting in beautiful Clearwater and ending at enchanting Fanning Springs. We will use rural roads to link together the trails of Florida's Gulf Coast including the Pinellas Trail, Suncoast Parkway Trail, Withlacoochee Trail, Withlacoochee Bay Trail, and Nature Coast Trail. We will leave cars and cares behind as we pack bikes and luggage on trucks in Fanning Springs (Sunday, March 30), then board buses for Clearwater's Ross Norton Park. (Note: No cars can be left in Clearwater for the week because there are no return buses and there is no secured week-long parking in Clearwater). From there the run begins as we tour Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Tarpon Springs, Inverness, Dunnellon and Fanning Springs. For more information, visit www.bikeflorida.org.

PADDLE FLORIDA: MARCH 20-27, 2008
Get Down on the Suwannee River and Go with the Flow! Come join the fun on the inaugural Paddle Florida covering 123 miles of the scenic Suwannee River Wilderness Trail. The seven-day paddlefest launches from the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park and finishes at beautiful Manatee Springs State Park. As many as 300 paddlers will be going with the flow averaging 18 miles per day and camping on the banks of Florida's beautiful Suwannee River. Paddle Florida is held in cooperation with the Florida Park Service and the Suwannee River Water Management District. Experience a week of camaraderie and the thrill of paddling a Florida gem. For more information, visit www.paddleflorida.org.

THUNDERHEAD ALLIANCE SEEKS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
The Thunderhead Alliance seeks an Executive Director. The Thunderhead Alliance is the national coalition of state and local bicycle and pedestrian advocacy organizations working to break down the barriers to safe bicycling and walking in North American communities. We bring leaders of our member organizations together to Help each other grow their organizations and become more effective.

As of July 2007 we have 128 member organizations in 49 states and one Canadian province. Member organizations' cumulative budgets top $15 million. They employ more than 194 full-time staff and boast a combined membership of more than 97,000. Members range from beginning groups only months old with a few dedicated volunteers to larger organizations with many years of accomplishments, dedicated staff and thousands of members.

Definition and Purpose: Under the general supervision of the Board of Directors, the Executive Director is a full-time position responsible for the overall operation, initiatives, programs, financials and contractual and governmental relationships for the Thunderhead Alliance.

For details regarding Educational and Qualifying Experience, Skills, and Credentials, Duties and Responsibilities, Assessment, and Salary, please contact board member Leah Shahum, via email at leah@sfbike.org with subject line Thunderhead Alliance search.

AND THEN SOME

"Friends and good manners will carry you where money won't go."
-Margaret Walker

"Flaming enthusiasm, backed by horse sense and persistence, is the
quality that most frequently makes for success." -Dale Carnegie

"Never let the fear of striking out get in your way." -Babe Ruth

"It is easier to go down a hill than up, but the view is from the top."
-Arnold Bennett

"What you don't see with your eyes, don't witness with your mouth."
-Jewish proverb

"No one is as deaf as the man who will not listen." -Jewish proverb

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