Wis. BikeFed has a great gala but needs more members
For the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin, the $60,000 take at its gala last week is twice the amount raised for the nonprofit advocacy orgnization at the event last year.
A big chunk of that was singlehandedly contributed by Jeff Frehner, CEO of Madison-based Pacific Cycles. He bid $10,000 to win a second-hand suitcase autographed by gala guest Phil Liggett, “the voice” of the Tour de France. For the details, read Tom Held’s “Off The Couch” report.
The BikeFed’s courting of corporate contributors, including the Saris Cycling Group which hosted the gala, has been controversial among some members – so much so it has prompted write-in campaigns for seats on the board. Mike Ivey of The Capital Times recently wrote a balanced piece on the insurgency and debate.
The bulk of the BikeFed’s funding is still said to come from membership dues, but that just points out how important it is for the organization to grow its 2,700-member list. Many, many more bicyclists than that benefit from the group’s lobbying for bike lanes and trails and safety programs.
So if you’re not yet a BikeFed member, become one today.
– Joel Patenaude