Volunteers keep MoBo rolling!

MoBo is a cooperative.  Everything we do, and are, is contributed by our members on a volunteer basis.  And we sure do a lot of awesome things…but we could use some more help!

We believe that everyone has gifts and talents to contribute, and that our co-op, like our neighborhoods, become better when folks get involved and share those gifts. Remember: MoBo is a cooperative, which means we all have an equal share in making it thrive. There are many ways YOU can get involved!

Co-op Night (Tuesdays 6-9pm)

Tuesday nights at MoBo are Co-op Night. This means instead of working on personal projects, members will be there each week from 6-9pm doing all the other stuff necessary to keep this place running smoove. It’s one of the best times to check out the co-op, plug yourself in, and give back to the little co-op that gives you so much.

Looking to volunteer? How about meet some other members? This is the night for you! From organized volunteer work parties to simple shop upkeep, from committee meetings to community events, and from unstructured socializing to free-form volunteer madness, it happens on Co-op Night. It’s a great opportunity to come learn more about MoBo and get involved with your cooperative! Perfect for newcomers, oldtimers, and everyone in between who understands that MoBo is more than a service.

Also, join us the second Tuesday of every month at 7pm for MoBo FORUM, our once-a-month community meeting and potluck. Designed like a funkier neighborhood council meeting, this is the best time to check out what’s going on with the co-op, learn about specific volunteer opportunities and upcoming events, and socialize with the family.

Special Volunteer Needs:

YOU Can Be a Shop Coordinator!

Do you love the vibe at the shop but don’t feel the desire to twirl wrenches? We’re looking for friendly members to work the front desk as Shop Coordinators. This is great opportunity to better learn how things work and help keep Open Shop running smooth. We’ll show you how to process memberships, explain how the co-op works to guests and new members, and keep the mechanics in line (har har).

You don’t have to be a MoBo veteran to fill this role. In fact, volunteering as a Shop Coordinator has been for many folks the easiest way to get a feel for how MoBo works, and there are always plenty of people around to show you the ropes! Let us know if you’re interested.

Keep Women’s Open Shop Going Strong!

We’re passionate about our Women’s Open Shop program, which now occurs twice each month on the 1st Saturday and the 3rd Thursday. MoBo member Kat Smith is our primary organizer, but the program happens because of everyone who participates. If you’re female and you believe in the importance of Women’s Open Shop at MoBo as much as we do, please consider becoming a regular at this twice-a-month open shop! You don’t need to be an expert mechanic, a veteran MoBo member, or devote lots of time- you just need to be passionate about making bicycling and our cooperative accessible to fellow women in our community!  E-mail mobobicyclecoop@gmail.com or let a Shop Coordinator know if you’re interested or have further questions!

We’re Looking For a Mechanic to Lead a Basic Skills Workshop

We’d really like to bring back a super-successful monthly program we used to offer, a Basics Workshop. If you’ve got mechanic skills and are interested in offering an informal monthly (or less frequent) workshop to members of the community, we’d love to talk! Even if you’re only interested in a one-time event, you can make a difference by teaching other riders some basic skills. Please let us know if you might be interested!

Volunteer for the Kids’ Day Program During the Summer!

Our Kids’ Day program happens throughout each summer. We’re always in need of volunteers for a variety of duties to make this fun and constructive for our young ones!

Besides volunteer mechanics, we’re looking for people excited to organize games and activities for the kids who are waiting in line. In the past we’ve had arts activities, hula contests, a visit from a goat, storytelling… use your imagination and share your assets! If you’ve got an idea or know someone who might, let us know! We can also use volunteers to simply help keep things running smoothly: people to sign-in kids, talk about MoBo, assist the mechanics, etc. E-mail us at mobobicyclecoop@gmail.com if you’re interested!

Completing the Big Move

An incredible amount of volunteer work has gone into moving the shop into the Village Green building, and though we’re now operating out of the new space, we still have loose ends to tie up. Specifically, we’re looking to finish the organization and storage of parts in the basement. It isn’t difficult work, and the Shop Coordinator can guide you, but we need a hand. The next time you’re at the shop, why not pitch in for a half hour before you get to work?

Community Space and Office Design and Furnishing

One of the best things about moving our shop into the new building is that we now have separate community and office spaces. The walls have been painted, a couple pieces of furniture have been acquired, but that’s about it. We need help making these rooms comfortable and functional! How do you envision a welcoming space shared by MoBo members and Village Green gardeners?

We’re Looking for Volunteer(s) to Table for MoBo at the Northside Farmers Market on Wednesdays

It would be super helpful to have a MoBo member at the Farmers Market each week (4-7:30pm at Hoffner Park) to tell people about the co-op and upcoming special events. We’d provide everything you need, and you don’t have to volunteer every week or for the whole duration of the market.

This is a great opportunity to help build our connections in the neighborhood, meet new people, and enjoy the market!

Contact MoBo by email at mobobicyclecoop@gmail.com if you’re interested in this opportunity to help!

Thank You’s

Tool room organized!
Let’s face it, beauty and ease of use fell victim to our rush to get all our tools into the new tool room this winter. And we’ve been lacking a clear inventory guide for our tool buckets and aprons for some time forever. For MoBo volunteers and professional librarians Michael and Debbie, it was just too much, and the pair put their organizational urges in service of the co-op to clean, organize, and inventory our entire collection of tools. You two are awesome!

Computer has been donated!
We needed a laptop in good condition in order to manage our new membership database at the shop. Our old computer had unfortunately passed on, and we are now using a lovely recycled laptop donated by one of our awesome volunteers!  Thanks, Kelby!

Committee Work

MoBo operates with a committee structure to organize our work. If you’re interested in getting involved, take a look at the committee descriptions as a guide for how to fit your assets into the co-op !  Committee meetings are announced at the FORUM, on the shop calendar, here on the website, and on Facebook. You can also e-mail mobobicyclecoop@gmail.com or talk to the Shop Coordinator or Volunteer Mechanic for more info.

• Shop Committee – maintaining and organizing the shop, stocking and quality control of part, setting shop policies, overseeing the training of MoBo mechanics, having fun meetings
• PR Committee -  maintaining the website and Facebook page, writing the newsletter, marketing/advertising, graphic design, outreach to other community groups
• Advocacy Committee – advocating for good bike policies and cooperative decision-making in the wider community
• Volunteer Committee - coordinating volunteer work with all MoBo committees, planning volunteer orientations and policies
• Admin Committee – keeping our finances in order, maintaining records of money, budgeting, facilitating organizational issues
• Outreach Committee – bringing what we do to more people; working on events and educational activities, workshops