Since our last e-letter in September, a lot has happened! We partnered successfully with Montana Healthy Communities on an online mini-summit, we have been participating in a MDOT/legislative working group on shared use path funding and possible legislation, we did a candidate survey, we held a virtual board retreat, and we are now organizing a great ride event in July. We were successful in securing CARES Act funding for both adaptability and ongoing operations.
We have also brought on board Bonnie Fedchock as our Interim Executive Director. Bonnie and Doug Habermann will share Executive Director duties for the next six months, with Doug continuing to focus on programs, policy, the legislative session and Bike Walk Helena activities. Bonnie has jumped into the administrative and development side of things, as well as getting up to speed with our board and starting to learn of our many partners, challenges and our critical advocacy work.
We will be moving to a virtual office, with Bonnie living in Bozeman and Kris Bergman and Doug continuing to work in Helena. Kris already had gone to a home office situation, Doug will as well although we are looking for a small, inexpensive office option in Helena. please contact Doug at doug@bikewalkmontana.org if you have any options for that. We will continue to have educational materials available by request and will maintain our Pop Up Project trailer for any Montana communities that could use them to do a temporary traffic calming installation.
We are reducing our costs, to allow us to fund more advocacy efforts and continue to get our marquee programs such as Walking School Buses, Trails RX and Bike Rodeos on line with resources any one or community can take advantage of. We are maintaining our local, statewide and national contacts and continuing to be your voice for walking, rolling and bicycling.
Please consider making an end of the year donation to help carry us into and through 2021, supporting our many efforts. You can do so at our website.
You can contact Bonnie or Doug. We are glad to hear from you if you have any suggestions or questions!