Brick by Brick: Building Bicycle Travel

I write to you from the intact half of our building. Adventure Cycling Association has 32 employees, two work study students, and a myriad of people who are constantly visiting our headquarters -- just lounging and enjoying ice cream or seeking help and information. Currently all of that is happening in a mere two-thirds of the space that we used to occupy. Why, you might ask, do we have people working in storage closets, hallways, and among stacks of boxes that store everything from copies of the March Adventure Cyclist to our new favorite product, the Da Brim?

Adventure Cycling is growing! Half of our old building here in Missoula, Montana, is off limits to staff and visitors as builders work tirelessly to remove the old asbestos insulation, bring the energy efficiency up to the standards of the day, and most importantly -- add another 1, 400 square feet in the form of a brand-new second story. With the addition, our offices will reach 6,600 square feet, making more room for people and programs. We hope to add an additional 10 to 14 staff members over time.

Now before we start accepting applications, we have to first complete our building project. This is a big undertaking for any nonprofit, but we know that in the long run the extra space will mean we can provide new and improved services for our members and the cycling community as a whole. This is the point where you come in (no, not as the newest member of our cartography staff, not yet anyhow). We are offering our dedicated and supportive members an opportunity to become a part of the future of Adventure Cycling?s headquarters. If you donate today, your name can be featured on our new building for the entirety of our organization?s life here.

Wouldn't it be fun to show your children/grandchildren/parents/friends your name on the wall of this bicycle mecca when you cycle through Adventure Cycling?s headquarters on your ride across America? We anticipate greeting thousands of cyclists this summer and each and every one of them can pose for a photo next to their name on our donor wall. Consider making a gift to our building in exchange for an indelible mark on the wall of our future home.

I look forward to seeing you all this summer. Don?t forget to put July 6th on your calendars -- the day of our building open house block party. Thanks all, and keep on pedaling!


Photo by Greg Siple.

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ALEX CAMPBELL is the development assistant for Adventure Cycling Association.

Source: http://blog.adventurecycling.org/2012/03/brick-by-brick-building-bicycle-travel.html

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