Board members sought for Carson City's Muscle Powered
Submitted by Carson Now Reader on Wed, 12/13/2023 - 8:25am
Event Date:
February 5, 2024 (All day) Muscle Powered is beginning to recruit new board members to serve on the board for a volunteer 2-year term of service. We meet 6 times a year for 2 hours with occasional meetings on weekends for planning meetings. To join the board, you must be a current Muscle Powered member.
Why Join?
25 years ago, Muscle Powered was founded to improve pedestrian-friendly mobility in Carson City. To foster a culture of non-motorized transportation and recreation within a community, advocacy is essential. Muscle Powered has made it our mission and vision to ensure Carson City is a safe community for pedestrians and bicyclists. We strive to create an equitable Carson City, by providing easy access to trails, bike lanes, and multi-use paths for everyone within the community to enjoy. Over the past 25 years, Muscle Powered has collaborated with a multitude of partners to provide:
— Over 15 miles of multi-use path (paved)
— Over 40 miles of bike lanes
— Over 50 miles of double track
— And over 75 miles of single track!
Muscle Powered is a nationally and internationally recognized organization, receiving recognition for sustainable trail building, community connectivity, and education and outreach. The organization, driven by passionate volunteers, is your voice within the community to advocate for the benefits of trails as an important recreational option, a safe alternative to motorized transportation, and the economic benefits of bike tourist.
Board Positions Available
Secretary (Board Position): This position has been vacant for quite some time. This is a vital role on our board and we would like to have all of our officer positions filled. This position records meeting minuets, puts together and sends out meeting notices and compiles the agenda. They also locate meetings spots for the board to meet.
Communications Position (Board Position): We are looking for an individual who enjoys working on websites, creating posts for social media (Facebook and Instagram), compiling a quarterly newsletter and even attend conferences for outreach purposes. This position would greatly increase our online presence and engage our membership base. This position would also have to learn Wild Apricot, which is our membership platform. This position could also run social media campaigns.
Membership Coordination Position (Board Position): This is another critical role that we need filled! Our members are the reason why we exists! We are looking for someone who wants to get our membership more engaged in who we are and fun ways to get us together more often. This position would also work on memberships in Wild Apricot, adding new members and managing our current members. We have accomplished a lot for our community and our current membership numbers show a disconnect in understanding the impact and services we provide.
May Bike Month Planning (Board Position): This is a month that we really want to grow and really engage our community in more. In 2024, we are scaling down and focusing on ramping up several of our key events. Next year we will be focusing on the Tour of Carson, West Side Cruise + Bike Party in addition to one or two other ideas. May Bike month is just celebrating our love of bikes! This position can also be expanded to an Event Coordinator position. We would like to host other events related to our mission and vision throughout the year.
Safe Routes to School Liaison (Board Position): We are very fortunate to have Scott Bohemier as the Western Nevada Safe Routes to School Coordinator at Public Works! In 2024, we are looking to host two Read for Riding Events and one Bike Rodeo Event. Ride for Reading events deliver books to elementary age students and we stress the importance of bike safety and exercise. The Bike Rodeo is an event we started in 2023 and we would like to see it continue to grow. We are partnering closely with the Mayor on these events and other local representatives.
We have also been working with Scott on a strategic plan on how to move Carson City from Bronze to Silver accreditation from the League of American Bicyclists. We have been Bronze for a long time and we would now like to see more momentum from our community and leaders to get us to Silver.
Community/Membership Engagement Opportunities
Commission/Advisory Board Representation: Muscle Powered has consistently served on a variety of non-motorized transportation advisory boards, representing our voice and helping shift/shape local or state policy. We are currently seeking individuals who are interested on sitting on the following advisory committees.
RTC (Regional Transportation Commission) – Carson City
State bicycle and pedestrian advisory bard
Carson City Public Works Stakeholders Committee
OSAC (Open Space Advisory Committee) – Carson City
Individuals who are interested in serving on advisory boards are not obligated to join the Muscle Powered board. We would ask that individuals who represent us on different boards provide a report to the board of topics that are relevant to our mission and vision and provide any action steps that the board needs to follow through on.
Email Chelsea at ckincheloe@musclepowered.org if you are interested in a board position or sitting on a advisory committee.
