Handbook

Membership

1.1 Membership Policies

• $40-80 Membership includes:
  • access to shop and tools during open hours
  • 30% discount on used parts

 76.21.40.159 07:35, 28 July 2008 (UTC)news to me

• • priority enrollment for classes and discounts on classes

 76.21.40.159 07:35, 28 July 2008 (UTC)this does not appear to be operational either

• $30 "Digging Rights"
  • Must be a member
  • Includes any parts you can find to build one bike, kept track of with a 'punch sheet'

 76.21.40.159 07:35, 28 July 2008 (UTC)punch sheets are deprecated, i guess?

• • No guarantee that the BK has all the necessary or desired parts

Mechanics

Becoming a mechanic

Anyone can come in and work as a mechanic at the bike kitchen as long as they have a basic knowledge of bike repair and a willingness to teach people. You don't have to be an ace mechanic, but you do have to know what you can do and what you can't. A general guideline is that you should feel comfortable building a bike from parts at the bike kitchen.

Within a month of putting on an apron or regularly giving advice, all mechanics should attend a mechanic's orientation. After attending the orientation, the mechanic will be 'shadowed' by a head mechanic (someone responsible for running a shift) while helping one customer. The head mechanic will then designate the person a 'mechanic' or advise the person what they need to work on.

We have new mechanics orientations on the first tuesday of every month at 7:00. The orientation covers:

• a tour of the bike kitchen
  • location of parts and frames
  • how the eab program works
  • prices for parts and membership
• how to help people at the bike kitchen
  • teach people, don't do the work
  • be sure to give estimates of time
  • let people know other options
  • if you don't know how to do something, ask another mechanic
• sign in table and program
• mechanic priveleges and responsibilities

Staying a mechanic

Once designated a mechanic, you are welcome to come and put on an apron and help people whenever you wish. If you want to be able to order parts through wholesale catalogs, take parts for personal use, or vote at meetings, you need to volunteer for a specific 2 hour shift once per week (e.g. saturdays: 12-2)

Mechanic benefits

Once you attend an orientation and volunteer for 4 shifts as a mechanic or a greeter or manages a critical task (website, membership, finance, etc):

• order parts at cost +15% from wholesale catalogs for personal use
• take used parts at no cost for your own personal use
• vote at mechanic's meetings

People who volunteer regularly may run a shift (see Open Hours) and become keyholders. Anyone with a key is welcome to use the shop during times when the bike kitchen is closed, and may open the shop for 'random' open hours.

Anyone who volunteers an average of 12 hours/month can vote at meetings.