3.9.08
Blackout celebration.
This was a little event I had foreseen to get a lot of trouble for. When the black and whites showed up we were on the sidewalk and they asked why we were there and they just left when we explained it was a party.The pics are from the party in the middle of a busy intersection. All cars that came by had to go right and go around the block. We had a party for 15 mins there and kept on going on the sidewalk afterwards with no problems. Way to go Toronto. I enjoyed it..
2.9.08
Open forum 1 (2)
Open Forums as I saw them.
I was the secretary for the first.. So here goes.
Open forum 1 Toronto 2008
Intro by Andy D our revered and beloved president.
Andy explained how this circus is run. Basically and in short it is a flat structure, so everyone has as much say-so as any of their fellow members. If you choose the other option in the voting procedure, other than to vote yes or no, which is to block, it comes with a obligation to have an alternative to the suggestion you block.
Stefan explained that IFBMA (international federation of bike messenger associations) is incorporated under Swiss law, because there is no taxes for international federations. (ex: IOC,UCI and IFBMA) therefore to comply with Swiss law we have constituted a council.
And then I revealed the exciting agenda:
Website
Rulebook
Global alliance for ecomobility
CMWC2009
CMWC2010
Open floor
Website:
Jacobs has a plan, but no graphics. ( He was at the second Open forum elected to head up the IT group for us all.)
Andy Z: Go ahead and do it.
Jacobs: Content?
Ho: We could make a thread on it on the message board.
Stefan: We should keep it in line with the work Joel Metz has done.
Andy Z: We could do it wrong rather than wait for a perfect world to emerge.
Q: To migrate the messengers.org to a new format, and maybe an IT group.( Jacobs was at the second Open forum elected to head up the IT group for us all.)
Andy Z suggested to make schwag to support the IT.
Rulebook:
After lots of argumentation everyone agreed on making an event guide line.
Q: Is everyone ok with the council making an edit on this? (All were at the second Open forum)
Global alliance for ecomobility:
Andy D: It is a NGO that lobbies for city development that it is less car dependent and more focused on alternative modes of transport. Represents all sorts of messengers: foot- , rollerblading- , and bikemessengers. Members also includes amateur cycling organisations, governmental organisations. Advocates for passenging or car pooling.
The council opted to join for networking purposes, and we have agreed to be advisors, and to have a chair on the committee. We can at all times get up and leave if we feel compromised by the alliance.
Andy Z: It all sounds good, but can back fire if we just let random messengers speak on everyones behalf.
CMWC2009
Yosh: Last months race was good. We are ready for next year. Less experience with large events in Japan - but Tokyo is ready. Jacobs had a few questions and all was good.
CMWC2010
No bids at this meeting.
At the second meeting however Panajachel, Guatemala was selected, the bid was presented by Nadir Olivet and the race captain will be Andy Zalan.
There was a few shoutouts:
ECMC
NACCC
Cross dress for red cross
Earth hour
Now 3 of those sounds pretty standard events .. What do I know..
Peace out.
/m
I was the secretary for the first.. So here goes.
Open forum 1 Toronto 2008
Intro by Andy D our revered and beloved president.
Andy explained how this circus is run. Basically and in short it is a flat structure, so everyone has as much say-so as any of their fellow members. If you choose the other option in the voting procedure, other than to vote yes or no, which is to block, it comes with a obligation to have an alternative to the suggestion you block.
Stefan explained that IFBMA (international federation of bike messenger associations) is incorporated under Swiss law, because there is no taxes for international federations. (ex: IOC,UCI and IFBMA) therefore to comply with Swiss law we have constituted a council.
And then I revealed the exciting agenda:
Website
Rulebook
Global alliance for ecomobility
CMWC2009
CMWC2010
Open floor
Website:
Jacobs has a plan, but no graphics. ( He was at the second Open forum elected to head up the IT group for us all.)
Andy Z: Go ahead and do it.
Jacobs: Content?
Ho: We could make a thread on it on the message board.
Stefan: We should keep it in line with the work Joel Metz has done.
Andy Z: We could do it wrong rather than wait for a perfect world to emerge.
Q: To migrate the messengers.org to a new format, and maybe an IT group.( Jacobs was at the second Open forum elected to head up the IT group for us all.)
Andy Z suggested to make schwag to support the IT.
Rulebook:
After lots of argumentation everyone agreed on making an event guide line.
Q: Is everyone ok with the council making an edit on this? (All were at the second Open forum)
Global alliance for ecomobility:
Andy D: It is a NGO that lobbies for city development that it is less car dependent and more focused on alternative modes of transport. Represents all sorts of messengers: foot- , rollerblading- , and bikemessengers. Members also includes amateur cycling organisations, governmental organisations. Advocates for passenging or car pooling.
The council opted to join for networking purposes, and we have agreed to be advisors, and to have a chair on the committee. We can at all times get up and leave if we feel compromised by the alliance.
Andy Z: It all sounds good, but can back fire if we just let random messengers speak on everyones behalf.
CMWC2009
Yosh: Last months race was good. We are ready for next year. Less experience with large events in Japan - but Tokyo is ready. Jacobs had a few questions and all was good.
CMWC2010
No bids at this meeting.
At the second meeting however Panajachel, Guatemala was selected, the bid was presented by Nadir Olivet and the race captain will be Andy Zalan.
There was a few shoutouts:
ECMC
NACCC
Cross dress for red cross
Earth hour
Now 3 of those sounds pretty standard events .. What do I know..
Peace out.
/m
Tobma meeting and election
Meeting in August for Tobma.
August 21st
Welcome to all.
Present was:
Marli, Jeremy, Givago, Charlie, Bennet, Rich, Brian, Mark, Martin, Smitty, Graham.
Secretary: Martin
Speakers adjudisisarory/chairman: Mark
The meeting Had quite a short agenda.
Accept of the minutes from last meeting and the agenda for today.
Nominations to the steering committee/voting
Ideas for what Tobma should be
Open floor
The minutes for the last meting was accepted. So was the agenda.
http://www.new.facebook.com/topic.php?topic=5350&post=22791&uid=20038712099#post22791
Martin added a comment made by Tif - Why not have a veteran on the steering committee? My answer was: We are trying to make a club for working messengers that might be able to grow into a union. Veterans are welcome at meetings and in any capacity cooperating with Tobma, but should not have voting rights and should not be on the steering committee of said group. This is of course up to the new steering committee to agree upon and put in the by laws.
So we went on to nominations:
These 6 wanted to be on board:
Brian
Marli
Rich
Mark
Bennet
Givago
Rich did not get voted in.
So the new steering committee is:
Brian
Marli
Mark
Bennet
Givago
They will constitute themselves so there will be a president, accountant, secretary and 2 ordinary members.
The last 2 items of the agenda merged into:
An idea by givago was kicked around a messenger store of sorts in the core, even a vending machine with tire tube and lube on sale. Mark had an idea for a contact.
Mark have the laminator and the stapler.
One had an idea to make spokecards for all maybe with a slight difference for the steering committee members.
We can raise funds and awareness with:
Patches, Stickers, tshirts, sweatshirts, caps.
We basically need branding.
We need to keep up the work with the Guidebook for rookies.
Maybe make a seminar on winter.
Work place hazards.
What to do if you get in an accident.
Is there a tax rebate on less cycling oriented gear/clothing?
You can claim 30% of your own phone and claim your work space at home.
There is a owners club, maybe we should make contact to cooperate.
Rate transparency to the messengers so you can figure out what you make.
Rich pointed to a fact that we according to the law we are not to undercut the postal service. and we don´t if all our cheap calls are 47 grams or less. I think we need 3 volunteers from different companies to carry a scale for a month. Maybe what we find is an item for Market place on CBC.
We need to focus on the cheapest rates to make a reasonable living out of our job.
How else can we get attention? Strike?
We need to make a www page. Maybe a board.
We need to lobby with the city to make the city move more stuff by bike instead of cars.
Tif made a pledge to head up a ´zine for Toronto messengers.
And all should go to Velosocial on the first Monday of each month.
http://www.new.facebook.com/event.php?eid=44920354936&ref=ts
August 21st
Welcome to all.
Present was:
Marli, Jeremy, Givago, Charlie, Bennet, Rich, Brian, Mark, Martin, Smitty, Graham.
Secretary: Martin
Speakers adjudisisarory/chairman: Mark
The meeting Had quite a short agenda.
Accept of the minutes from last meeting and the agenda for today.
Nominations to the steering committee/voting
Ideas for what Tobma should be
Open floor
The minutes for the last meting was accepted. So was the agenda.
http://www.new.facebook.com/topic.php?topic=5350&post=22791&uid=20038712099#post22791
Martin added a comment made by Tif - Why not have a veteran on the steering committee? My answer was: We are trying to make a club for working messengers that might be able to grow into a union. Veterans are welcome at meetings and in any capacity cooperating with Tobma, but should not have voting rights and should not be on the steering committee of said group. This is of course up to the new steering committee to agree upon and put in the by laws.
So we went on to nominations:
These 6 wanted to be on board:
Brian
Marli
Rich
Mark
Bennet
Givago
Rich did not get voted in.
So the new steering committee is:
Brian
Marli
Mark
Bennet
Givago
They will constitute themselves so there will be a president, accountant, secretary and 2 ordinary members.
The last 2 items of the agenda merged into:
An idea by givago was kicked around a messenger store of sorts in the core, even a vending machine with tire tube and lube on sale. Mark had an idea for a contact.
Mark have the laminator and the stapler.
One had an idea to make spokecards for all maybe with a slight difference for the steering committee members.
We can raise funds and awareness with:
Patches, Stickers, tshirts, sweatshirts, caps.
We basically need branding.
We need to keep up the work with the Guidebook for rookies.
Maybe make a seminar on winter.
Work place hazards.
What to do if you get in an accident.
Is there a tax rebate on less cycling oriented gear/clothing?
You can claim 30% of your own phone and claim your work space at home.
There is a owners club, maybe we should make contact to cooperate.
Rate transparency to the messengers so you can figure out what you make.
Rich pointed to a fact that we according to the law we are not to undercut the postal service. and we don´t if all our cheap calls are 47 grams or less. I think we need 3 volunteers from different companies to carry a scale for a month. Maybe what we find is an item for Market place on CBC.
We need to focus on the cheapest rates to make a reasonable living out of our job.
How else can we get attention? Strike?
We need to make a www page. Maybe a board.
We need to lobby with the city to make the city move more stuff by bike instead of cars.
Tif made a pledge to head up a ´zine for Toronto messengers.
And all should go to Velosocial on the first Monday of each month.
http://www.new.facebook.com/event.php?eid=44920354936&ref=ts
24.8.08
Working day Alley cat 2008 Toronto
MANIFEST:
Introduction: Welcome to the 2008 daytime workin’ alley cat challenge:
Read all the rules before you start. Certain challenges can only be completed during certain parts of the day. Remember to keep an eye on your due times... Cheating is always encouraged since it will only hurt your chances of winning. No aspect of this race is mandatory. Do as much as you want. You can win the event without completing even a portion of the challenges. Have fun, keep the rubber side down.
1. Style. All the greats have it. Merckx. Pantani. Cipollini. You. You ride your bike all fucking day. Most people have to join gyms to look this good naked. FLAUNT IT BABY! You can get away with wearing day-glow electric blue lycra skin suit covered in brown tiger stripes... So are you wearing it?
IF YOU ARE WEARING (LYCRA/BIKE GEAR): Shorts = 10 pts Jersey = 10pts Arm/Leg Warmers, Socks, Gloves, Cap, Shoes, Skull Cap, etc... 5pts each Is it any color other than black? That's worth double points Did you shave your legs? That another 10 points
2. Writing Implement. It's time to start your day. Dispatch is paging you a rack of work and you need to jot it all down on your manifest to get it straight in your head. You reach for your pen. Hm. Not there. Better go to your next pick and try to "borrow" one from the receptionist. She offers you a fine sparkly chunk of metal writing tool engraved with the corporate logo. She answers the phone. Might as well catch the elevator when she's busy.
Pens with a client's corporate logo are worth 10 points each. The nicer the pen, the nicer the points.
3. Crosswords. After a mad dash of scheduled runs there doesn't seem to be anything to do. Your leg is shaking from your sixth cup of coffee and not a single run in the last hour. Better kill some time by doing the crossword puzzle.
To qualify for points the puzzle must be completed & attached to the rest of the page, w/today's date
The New York Times = 15pts Others = 5pts
It's another 5pts if 2 or more are done.
4. Flat Tire. It's 10am and your day is just starting to pick up. A rush here, a round trip there. Dispatches drops a downtown multiple on you. Great! Money! (Sort Of)! You hop on your bike PFFFFF! Flat on yr front. That money is getting cold, gotta fix this flat, and quick! (see Martin at Jet fuel between 1615 and 1715)
Time Trial Event - we clock your time, points are awarded for the fastest times:
1st = 35pts 4th = 20pts 7th = 5pts 2nd = 30pts 5th = 15pts 8th + up = 1pt 3rd = 25pts 6th = 10pts
It'll cost you 5 pts to use our tools, tubes, or patch kits (as available)
5. Kickin' It with the Client. You got that flat fixed, had your victory celebration and now your ready to get things movin' on the road. Your next job is at the office with the cute receptionist (mailroom clerk, secretary, etc...). You've been kicking your game for months and they've bought it. Maybe you should ask them out for a drink? Maybe you can ask them for their underpants?
Every piece of undergarment from a receptionist is worth 35pts. You'll need his/her phone number too, so we can call and confirm that you didn't get anything from your girlfriend, boyfriend, mom, dad, or closet. It'll be your job to return it to, so that phone number will be helpful for your game.
If he/she shows up at 165 Bathurst to pick them up at the end of the race (between 1730 and 1800) that's worth double points.
6. Kitty Kat. All this working and fixing and flirting is making you hungry. You want to eat lunch so bad, but your dispatcher is being a jerk and sending you all over creation. Better finish these last few up real quick so you can get to eating something. All food receipts are worth 2 points. You can have them back after they are counted.
7. Stupid Bonus Points. These can be completed anytime of the day A> What colour is the stage acces door at 909 Lakeshore The Molson amphitheater?
B> Show Off When you pass me or Mark H during the day. (5pts)
C> Get me stoned (5pts)
8. Beer Drinking. You day is winding to a close, it's August, so by now it's probably raining. A flat tire, a jerky dispatcher, shitty tags mean one thing: it's time for a motherfuckin' beer. (Bathurst 165 Between 1730 and 1830)
We buy your first round, after that your on your own. 5pts a beer. Remember to show us how many you drink, so we can keep count of your points.
9. Draw A Picture that demonstrates how cool you are (5pts).
10.The caring sharing points: At Bathurst 165 you can bring food for the food bank - They want:
-pasta and rice
-canned meats and fish
-dry and canned soup and stew
-flour
-cereal
-peanut butter
-canned/ powdered milk
-fruit juice
-pasta sauce
-beans and legumes
-infant formula and baby food
Any item is worth 20 points.
All manifests are due at Bathurst 165, app 201 buzz 0420 at 1730. Prizes at 1900.Winner takes most cash prize. Some may win other fabulatory even if they do not win. Others will receive nothing but fond memories for years to come.
Thanks to Joshua Whitesnake NYC.
10 people paid the 5 $ entry.
1 Tif
2 Heather
3 Bobby
There were 4 pairs of underwear and 2 owners braved it to come and pick them up. However the area where the top 2 pulled away even though bobby had 2 thongs was in the pens and the food. Good strategies by all - special mention to Bennet who brought a Bolo like instrument and played it while riding with me to the park to get me stoned - best joint of the day..
The pic is the food we got together for the food bank. Im on my way to get it off..
Thanks to all for competing and having fun and not wrecking my house at the party that grinded to a halt at 3am.. ZZZzzzz
15.8.08
27.7.08
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