Greetings to our members, citizens of Raleigh, and all people who ride bikes. It is that time of year again — elections for the new Oaks & Spokes board of Directors are upon us! For 2019 we have six open positions and ten individuals running for them! following individuals are running for the 2018 Oaks and Spokes Board of Directors.
To summarize, we have six open board positions:
- External Coordinator
- Membership Coordinator
- Administrative Coordinator
- Advocacy Coordinator
- (2) At Large Coordinators
Please take some time to review the following candidate statements prior to voting at the Annual Membership Party — to be held from 6-8PM at Imurj (300 S. McDowell St.) on January the 17th.
Dan Boehl (Administrative Coordinator)
Dan Boehl is running for an At-Large board position with a focus on improving the O&S website, refining the branding, segmenting and expanding the email list, cataloging the digital assets, and working on ways to automate advocacy through the Oaks & Spokes communications channels while focusing on grant opportunities and funding through community and business partnerships. As an at At-Large board member, Dan would like to work as the connector that combines advocacy with O&S branding while expanding the O&S reputation in a way that can strengthen the membership base.
Pierre Tong (Administrative Coordinator)
I have been in Raleigh for a little over 4 years and I’ve been a member of the advocacy committee with Oaks & Spokes for the last year. I’ve been active in the last year with efforts to connect with and educate city council members about the need for better bicycling infrastructure here in Raleigh. I would love to continue to be a part of advancing the bicycle culture here in Raleigh over the next few years!
Sara Ellis (Administrative or At Large Coordinator)
I’m a bit of a nomad, I’ve lived all over the country and made moves to places where I didn’t know a soul upon arrival, but I’ve been a bike commuter since I was 18 and that has always helped me find a home in my new city. I chose to submit my application for the Oaks and Spokes Board because I was pretty involved with the cycling advocacy community in Atlanta (where I recently moved from), I regularly volunteered with our advocacy group and it was through those events that I really felt like a part of the city. If I get the opportunity to serve on the board, I would love to see Oaks and Spokes setup bike valet at some of Raleigh’s public events like street and music festivals. The impact bike valet had in Atlanta was amazing – not only did it encourage folks to bike, but it gave those who are already invested in biking an accessible way to support and meet other cyclists and keep growing the community.
Esly Nunez (At Large Coordinator)
I love riding bikes. I want to continue to make bike riding safe and fun for current and future riders.
Jay Graham (At Large or Advocacy Coordinator)
Chris Martins (Advocacy Coordinator)
Chris moved to Raleigh in 2016 to start a job as an NC State professor. She has been living car-free in Pittsburgh previously; learned to drive when I moved to Raleigh but still bike commute to work most days of the week and sometimes join longer social/recreational rides to relax. I am passionate about social justice, inclusive community building, and making cycling in Raleigh an approachable, safe, and liberating experience for everyone.
Matt Brockmeier ( Advocacy Coordinator)
Being a lifelong “car guy” some people are surprised to learn I’m also an avid cyclist, but I wasn’t always so enlightened. I actually didn’t even own a bike when I moved to Chicago in 2006. This was pre-Uber, so I relied on public transportation and cabs to get to class (and a few bars). When I moved to DC in 2011 I saw a lot more people on bikes, both for exercise and transportation, so I bought a used 1986 Cannondale SR400 with friction shifters. I owe a lot to that bike, which got me to work and got me back in shape. I upgraded to a modern carbon fiber Cannondale Supersix when I moved to Denver and got more serious about road cycling, and have logged thousands of happy miles on that bike. Cycling has made me healthier and more connected to my community. Being new to Raleigh, I’d like to help other people realize that there’s plenty of room in our busy lives for different modes of transportation.
Jonathon Powell (Membership Coordinator)
I appreciate everything that Oaks & Spokes does to make the community a better place for cyclists, and want to help however I can. I feel my strong technical background and passion for improving Oaks & Spokes will help me be an effective membership coordinator, so I thought I should throw my hat in the ring.
Cody Stokes (External Coordinator)
I’m very excited to be running for a new board position that will enable me to continue adding value to the organization. I truly believe in Oaks & Spokes’ mission and our members to drive impactful, positive change in our community. I’m looking forward to all the amazing things we can accomplish in the coming years.
Notes on the positions being filled:
Administrative Coordinator: The Administrative Coordinator shall be
responsible for keeping the records of the Corporation, taking minutes and
attendance at all meetings, organizing and sending notice of Board meetings, and
arranging for meeting space. This officer may alternatively be referred to as
Secretary.
Advocacy Coordinator. Shall be responsible for organizing the engagement of the board and membership around priority issues, and for building relationships and developing partnerships with other organizations.
At-large Coordinator: Is actively involved in one or more of the committees; represents and promotes the organization; and commits time and resources to advancing the mission of the organization.
Membership Coordinator: The Membership Coordinator shall be responsible
for keeping the list of Members, communicating with the membership,
developing impact statistics, for organizing and sending notice of all General
Meetings and the Annual Meeting. Should the External Coordinator be absent
from a board meeting, the Membership Coordinator will assume responsibilities
of facilitation. This officer may alternatively be referred to as VicePresident.
External Coordinator: The External Coordinator shall serve as the
spokesperson of the Corporation, is responsible for setting and facilitating board
meetings, for raising funds, upkeep of social media accounts, and promoting the
Corporation. This officer may alternatively be referred to as President.