Welcome! You may have stumbled across this blog for one of several reasons:
- You’re a student in PPPM 280 at the U of O and, like myself, have been asked to start a blogish-like account relating your mastery of the nonprofit world as taught by the magnificent Bob Choquette and the astute Sarah Collins.
- You googled “The Rusty Spoke” in search of the Phoenix based community bicycle collective (not affiliated).
- You’re restoring a vintage bike and seek the use of “Introduction to the Nonprofit Sector” to de-rustify them spokes.
All poorly constructed humor aside, the purpose of this blog is to explore the adventure we’ve come to know as the nonprofit sector through the lens of a cycling advocate. I will attempt to bridge the divide between bike culture, transportation planning and the nonprofit phenomena. I’ve tried to craft a certain voice for these writings in such that I hope to walk the fine line between informative and informal, sophisticated and smarmy, genius and... well, you get the point.
Next item on the list- “Who am I?”
Tough question. I often find myself asking the same thing. Although, perhaps on a more philosophical level, of course. For the sake of brevity I’ll cover the basics:
-Planning, Public Policy and Management undergad. Check
-Nonprofit minor. Check.
-Mondo Bike Dork. Yup.
-Preference of hi-fives and hugs to handshakes. Yarp?
-Favorite ninja turtle? Michelangelo, of course!
I’ve also been involved in several projects, ranging from a GIS analysis of campus bike thefts to the development of an action plan to engage cyclists and activate bike culture within Lane County.
I plan utilizing my background, including ninja turtle references, to become a project manager for an organization that implements bike culture and active transportation infrastructure in areas otherwise devoid of such resources. Whoot.
What I do expect of you? Not a whole lot. But, it’d be nice if you would toss a comment or two my way. Please feel free to share what reactions, ideas, or resources you think would help foster an enlightening exchange of blogaliciousness.
Allow me to rewind a bit for ya. You may inquire, “Nonprofit phenomena?”, see above, “What’s this guy talking about?” Well, for those of you not in the know. The nonprofit sector has been building momentum for some time now and continues to do so, despite the current economic downturn. Presently, there are over 1.5 million non-profits registered in the States (as per 501(c) forms). Of those, nearly two-thirds are public charities or private foundations. In fact, depending on where you get your data, the nonprofit sector accounts for roughly five percent of our GDP, totaling $1.6 trillion in revenue and $3.4 trillion in assets. Paid employment from nonprofit organizations number 13 million-ish in addition to 5-ish million full-time volunteers. Do the math. Totaling nearly 20 million workers, nothing short of amazing. Not convinced yet. Between 1995 and 2005 the number of nonprofit organizations registered with the IRS increased by nearly 27 percent- 501(c)(3)’s alone grew by 50 percent!
With any luck, this vomitorium of data hasn’t scared you away. Hopefully, you’re asking the question “What does all this mean?” Or, better yet, you think you know what it means and you’d like to leave a brilliant comment for me ignore erhm… ruminate on.
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Well, for me, it represents opportunity. And, I’ll just let it sit there ‘til next week.
-michael
This is a geat inaugural post, Michael. You've done an especially great job of blending the presentation of your reaction to course material with an authentic reflection of you. Dig it. Let's talk bikes some time in the near future. Do you know Price Armstrong (PPPM grad student)? If you don't, you need it. (5/5)
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