Meet member-volunteer Nancy Botkin, a member since 1994 who has dedicated many hours of volunteer work to help your San Francisco Bicycle Coalition grow. She’s volunteering with us again at Winterfest this year, and we’d love to have you join her.
SF Bicycle Coalition: Do you remember why you first became a member?
Nancy: I remember the very first time I was in a bike shop and saw a Tubular Times – I guess it was in the early ‘90s. It was kind of an emotional event. I can still see the display rack, and the old black and white newsletter. I had been biking to school or work my whole life alone and suddenly I realized there were all these other people doing the same thing.
It wasn’t until I met another person biking on Caltrain (back in the day when you needed some sort of pass and they allowed only two or three bikes per car) who invited me to join this event called Bike to Work Day that I really became a member and got involved. I think it might have been the second or third Bike to Work Day ever. I suppose that’s a typical progression to membership for a lot of people. I just did it a long, long time ago!
What interested you in volunteering with us for the first time?
A friend told me how much fun Volunteer Night was. I went and I was hooked. It was great to meet so many like-minded people. It actually changed my life. I’d never been active in a group before. A few years later, all my friends were people who bike, and then I ended up working at the SF Bicycle Coalition from 2000 to 2003.
What’s your favorite volunteer experience with the SF Bicycle Coalition?
Is it weird to say my favorite volunteer experience was actually organizing other volunteers? I really enjoyed running Volunteer Night when I worked for the SF Bicycle Coalition. So after I left I kept making up my own volunteer activities and recruiting other volunteers to join me. Everything from organizing cultural rides for the SF Bicycle Coalition to making bike-related crafts to sell at Winterfest.
What do you love about Winterfest and what keeps you coming back?
It’s kind of like a reunion every time I go. I like to volunteer at the door so I can see people as they arrive.
Volunteer like Nancy. Winterfest is coming on Sunday, Dec. 4, and we need you to help us throw our annual member party, art show and bike auction.
