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Project Updates

  2. Weekly Update - Bicycle Donations, wheel stripping, etc.

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center
    Collection and Donation of Abandoned Bicycles

    All, Definitely getting busier! Got a sale in just as we were closing up on Friday. Two more bikes were waiting on the outside rack when I got in this morning. I passed the manager of Champaign Cycle on my ride in and he said they’ve got a couple bikes for us as well.  We’re pretty close to capacity on bikes here at the shop. But I guess it’s a good problem to have considering the business model.

    Last week we stripped 30 wheels out of the back of the shop. Still too crowded for my liking but definitely more manageable. We have about a dozen stripped frames ready for the scrapper as well, with another five or to be stripped this week. The front “sales floor” is opening up nicely, though, thanks to the sales we’ve made thus far.
    I also interviewed a potential new hire last week.

    Anecdote: Over the weekend I saw a woman riding her bike almost get hit twice in one intersection. She was crossing Lincoln and just inched her way through the intersection and both lanes of traffic had to stop short for her. It was a scary and clear reminder that we still have a ways to go on infrastructure and education on campus.

    Numbers:
    Visitors: 70
    Sales: $1,157.10
    Memberships: 4 for $120
    Bike (refurb): 5 for $830
    Tire/tubes: 6 for $26

    Thanks!

    - jake

  3. Fix-a-Flat classes were done

    Associated Project(s): 
    Student Sustainability Committee (SSC)
    Mechanics Classes at the Campus Bike Center

    The Campus Bike Center held Fix-a-flat classes every week on Fridays from March 29, 2019 (from 11 am - 12 pm) till the end of semester (May 3, 2019).

    Description for the Fix-a-Flat class:
    “Tired of getting flat tires on your bike? Come to this 1 hour informational hands-on class to learn how to solve one of the most common bicycle repair problems! We’ll cover the basics of removing a wheel and tire, replacing the tube, and reinstalling the wheel on the bicycle. All tools and parts will be provided.”

  4. Weekly Updates for Zero Waste

    Associated Project(s): 
    Achieve Zero Waste

    Hi Pete and Shawn—

    Morgan attended the Greenovation Award presentation. Kimberly-Clark gives the award in recognition of waste diverted from the landfill through the Right Cycle program. The award was presented to Serenity Desmond of Noyes Lab on May 28. Morgan talked with Sara Portillo (the K-C representative) and a VWR representative and heard suggestions for increasing sustainability in labs. We’ll recontact in the fall, when the Green Labs Committee starts meeting.

    Best regards,

    Marya Ryan

  7. Weekly Update - Bike Donations, Wheel Collecion, CCB, etc.

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center
    Collection and Donation of Abandoned Bicycles

    All, Last week was slow. Still in a lull before Summer II begins. We got three donations over the weekend here. Mostly junk but better than being abandoned somewhere. On Thursday I collected 5 bikes from the Parking warehouse.
    Last week Theo collected about 20 wheels out of the back of the shop that aren’t worth keeping. We’ll scrap those this week. I got in touch with FAA (Fine & Applied Arts) to see if they’ve got any interest in some of our throwaway junk for art/sculpture projects and that sort of thing. They said they’d pass the info along.

    Jeff, from CCB, stopped by and will likely be taking the kids bikes off our hands that we’ve accumulated. That’ll clear up some space. We lent out the big trailer for the University Y to use at Dump & Run next door at the Stock Pavilion to great success and will probably do it again this week. It was nice to see someone else use it!
    This week I’ve got an interview with a student worker today. Other than that, business as usual.

    Numbers:

    Visitors: 51
    Sales: $236.60
    Memberships: 3 for $90
    Tire/tube: 15 for $101

     

    Jake Benjamin

  10. Weekly Update - Collection of Abandoned Bikes

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center
    Collection and Donation of Abandoned Bicycles

    All, Last week was on the slow side. We got busy in fits and starts. This week will likely be the same. I was out of the shop for most of Tuesday afternoon, so the students covered for me. No troubles there.

    We concluded our Bike Abandonment Program last week, as well. We collected 15 bikes total that were either donated at the Bike Rodeo, during open hours, or left after hours on the rack outside. Having the rack outside was super helpful, not only to collect bikes during off hours, but as additional storage during open shop time. Long term, having a donation drop off system in place for after-hours would be beneficial.

    This week I’ll dig into the pile of student-checked bike builds. I’ve got space for about 5 more bikes and then I’ll have to look at rearranging again. We can technically cram more bikes in the spaces we’ve got allotted for Sale Bikes but I’ve noticed it makes it a lot more difficult for people to try them out and thus, they don’t get sold. Limits of the space, I suppose. Of course, all the bikes will probably sell in the end.
    I’ll also coordinate with Parking about picking up some bikes they’ve got for us.


    Numbers:
    Visitors: 73
    Sales: $509.43

    Memberships: 10 for $300
    Bikes (refurb) 3 for $410
    Tire/tube: 18 for $117

     

    Jacob Benjamin
    Manager, Campus Bike Center

  11. Weekly Updates for Zero Waste

    Associated Project(s): 
    Achieve Zero Waste

    Hi Pete and Shawn--

    Zero waste activities for this past week were that I

    • Drafted a scope change request to SSC to extend the funding period for the Zero Waste Coordination Project through July 31, 2020.
    • Drafted the Spring 2019 Semesterly Report to SSC for the Zero Waste Coordination Project.
    • Sent both drafts to Morgan for her review.
    • Read through the final versions of the Spring 2019 PWR Recommendations.

    Best regards,

    Marya Ryan

  12. Dump and Run Update (Email Chain)

    Associated Project(s): 
    Dump and Run

    The following email chain details the arrangement of a meeting at the Stock Pavilion for Mike Doyle to give Alma Sealine, Morgan White, and Lowa Mwilambwe a tour to give them the sense of the operations at that time.

    The images referenced in the emails are attached below.

    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    From: Varney, Peter W

    Sent: Thursday, May 16, 2019 5:36 PM

    To: White, Morgan

    Cc: Attalla, Mohamed Mahmoud

    Subject: FW: Dump & Run

     

    Thanks Morgan – any specific names or quotes I can use and submit to CRC along with the names of the F&S staff (driver and laborer) involved?

     

    Thank you,

    Pete

     

    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    From: White, Morgan

    Sent: Thursday, May 16, 2019 5:14 PM

    To: Attalla, Mohamed Mahmoud; Varney, Peter W

    Subject: FW: Dump & Run

    Hello Mohamed and Pete,

    The YMCA sent the attached photos showing some of the items collected from the students moving out, with Housing

    and F&S support this month. They are very grateful and I also heard from some of the YMCA’s folks how very helpful the

    F&S staff were, in particular.

    I will be attending a check-in meeting tomorrow morning, and I believe Chancellor Jones asked Lowa to lead the

    discussions over the next few months to provide campus assistance to this effort in the future. Lowa will include me in

    those discussions, and I am very pleased that we are moving in that direction to support this great waste-reduction

    effort!

    Thanks,

    Morgan

    ===============================

    Ms. Morgan White

    F&S Associate Director for Sustainability

    University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

     

    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    From: Mike Doyle

    Sent: Monday, May 13, 2019 4:45 PM

    To: Sealine, Alma R

    Cc: Mwilambwe, Lowa; White, Morgan <mbwhite@illinois.edu>; Marc Alexander; Joe Vitosky; Kasey Umland

    Subject: Re: Dump & Run2

     

    Friday at 9 AM works. I will be there and most likely Marc.

    We will have loaded and packed a weeks worth of stuff so I thought I would share a few photos with you.

    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

     

    On Mon, May 13, 2019 at 2:17 PM Sealine, Alma R wrote:

     

    I’m out on vacation but can make 9am work as I’m driving out of town...

    Alma R. Sealine

    Executive Director of University Housing

     

    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    From: Mwilambwe, Lowa

    Sent: Monday, May 13, 2019 2:11 PM

    To: Mike Doyle; Sealine, Alma R; White, Morgan

    Cc: Marc Alexander; Joe Vitosky; Kasey Umland

    Subject: Re: Dump & Run

     

    Are you available at 9:00 a.m. on Friday?

     

    -Lowa Mwilambwe

    Associate Vice Chancellor for Auxiliary, Health & Wellbeing

    Student Affairs

    University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

     

    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    From: Mike Doyle

    Date: Monday, May 13, 2019 at 9:12 AM

    To: "Sealine, Alma R", Lowa Mwilambwe, "White,

    Morgan"

    Cc: Marc Alexander, Joe Vitosky, Kasey Umland

    Subject: Dump & Run

     

    Alma, Morgan and Lowa,

     

    I just wantedd to invite you to stop by the stock pavilion on Pennslvania sometime this week between 9 AM

    and 4 PM. We finish up collections this week and have already starting loading items on the semi trailers. So

    far I think this has been a great improvement this year and the staffs from F&S as well as Housing have been

    very helpful.

    A 5-10 minute tour will give you a sense of the operations at this point and I believe be very helpful in future

    discussions about what is involved in this program. If you let us knowwhen you will stop by Mar or I can try

    to be there to give you a uick tour but if that doesn't work, you can just stop by when it is convenient.

    Thanks,

    Mike

    --

    Michael Doyle

    Executive Director

    University YMCA

    Attached Files: 

  13. Weekly Update

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    All, Shortened week for myself as I was out of town Thursday and Friday. The student staff operated hours in my absence. No incidents or troubles. Their chief issues were related to the Shop Builds, so that’s a win-win.
    This week I have the Student Employment Symposium on Tuesday that conflicts with hours so I will again have students cover. I’ll be back in time to close up shop. I also have a potential new hire coming in to volunteer this week and sort of try the job out for a bit.

    Thanks to Todd for grabbing scrap and whoever delivered new spoke wrenches, as they were sorely needed.
     

    Numbers:

    Visitors: 97

    Sales:  $751.30
    Bike (refurb): 1 for $150
    Bike (B-a-B): 1 for $125
    Memberships: 6 for $180
    Tire/tubes: 17 for $152

     

    Thanks!

    Jake Benjamin
    Campus Bike Center Manager

  15. Final Update

    Associated Project(s): 
    Water Audit / Inventory

    Good Evening All,

    There was a short hiatus of meetings as the semester was coming to an end due to conflict of schedules but we were able to meet today. Even though we did not meet I was still finishing and touching up the items we planned last meeting. I was able to finalize the water audit program and it is attached. I then came up with some water sustainability goals the University of Illinois should pursue. Lastly I was able to water a page on why water scarcity is an important issue that we as a university should took more interest in even though it may seem we have no issues here. The Mahomet aquifer is the body of water most of central Illinois uses and each area has a limit of usage before it starts depleting. Once it starts to deplete there some irreversible consequences. The aquifer’s head has already lowered by 50 feet since 1950 and with the growing demand from the university this issue should not be looked past. This combined with the data collection and analysis excel files will mark the end of my time working on this project.

    It has been a pleasure working on this water inventory ICAP goal and helping out other areas of the campus more to more water sustainable practices. The past semester has been a great learning experience for me and cannot wait to see how the school continues to progress towards a more sustainable future. Thank you for keeping up with my progress! Austin Jung signing off.

    Best Regards,

    Austin Jung

    Attached Files: 

  16. Weekly Update - Bike to Work Day, Bike Rodeo, etc.

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center
    Collection and Donation of Abandoned Bicycles
    C-U Bike to Work Day
    Mechanics Classes at the Campus Bike Center

    All, What a week! Last week (and weekend) was a TBP meeting, Bike To Work Day, the Bike Rodeo, and picking up donations from the Community Bike Sale. Lots of extracurricular activity! All of the events went well but not amazingly well. Attendance was on the low side for BTWD and BR but the weather is a major culprit there.

    Since 2pm on Friday we’ve gotten (rough count) 20 bike donations, so we’re pretty inundated right now. With bad weather in the forecast and the busyness of finals for most students, we’ll be able to process the donations this week—hopefully.

    Last Friday was the last Fix-a-Flat class and we had our first attendee! Maria and Jacob taught the course well and the gentleman seemed happy to have come. Also on Friday the student staff hosted an impromptu Friday ride of sorts for one of our graduating staffers. This upcoming Friday will be the last official one for the season.

    I’ll be out of town Thursday and Friday so Chris will open and run the shop in my absence.

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 73
    Sales: $750.20
    Bikes (refurb): 2 for $295
    Memberships: 7 for $210
    Tire/tubes: 9 for $64

     

    Thanks!

    • Jake Benjamin
      Campus Bike Center Manager

  19. Re-Fashioned Fashion Show

    Associated Project(s): 
    Decrease Wasteful Practices through Behavior Change

    School of Art + Design 2019 Re-Fashioned Fashion Show

    The 13th annual Illinois fashion show will be presented on Saturday, May 4, from 7-7:30 p.m. in the lobby of Temple Hoyne Buell Hall, 611 Lorado Taft Drive, Champaign. Students from ArtS 299 Fashion Design will be presenting their one-of-a-kind ensembles. Wearable works of art walk the runway, combining sustainability and creativity.

    Audra Weinstein . Art and Design, School of

  20. LYBR award event

    Associated Project(s): 
    Lock Your Bike Right (LYBR)

    The first ever Lock Your Bike Right event was held during the month of April 2019, where we asked students to send images/videos of themselves locking their bicycles properly to a bike rack.

    We could not promote the event properly, and therefore, did not have many entrants. However, we selected 5 winners, and asked them to collect their awards from our table inside the Illini Union's Courtyard Cafe on May 1, 2019.

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