Subject:	WV Cycling Symposium in Charleston, WV - April 17 - 18
Date:	Fri, 27 Feb 2009 21:11:36 -0500
From:	Kim Broughton <kimberlyjoshi@gmail.com>
To:	fgmeindl@verizon.net

February 2009

WV Cycling Symposium - April 17 - 18, 2009
Charleston, WV

The League of American Bicyclist, Thunderhead Alliance and a steering committee of volunteers representing different areas and different interests in cycling in West Virginia have finalized the agenda for the Cycling Symposium being held April 17th and 18th in Charleston, WV. Invitations to speakers have been sent and we are putting the final touches on the details.

Registration will open by March 8th! We wanted to share the agenda while we are waiting for speakers to confirm. We also wanted to invite you to recommend speakers for the break out sessions if you know of someone you think would be stellar!

We are honored that Thunderhead Alliance has joined the cause and are grateful for the support of everyone who is making this possible!

Here is a sneak peak...

Friday April 17
Plenary & Dinner
6:00-9:30pm

•    Welcome and introductions, West Virginia Cycling Foundation President – Dave Pray
•    Introduction to the League, BFC & BFS programs, Andy Clarke – LAB Executive Director
•    West Virginia DOT’s role commitment to bicycling
•    Importance of eco-tourism to West Virginia and bicycling potential role
•    Dinner & Drinks

Saturday April 18
9:00am-2:00pm

9:00-10:00am

Continental breakfast

• State of the State(‘s bicycling) , Kimberly Broughton - Steering committee coordinator

• Phenomenal success stories at the state level

• Organizing Winning Campaigns/Grassroots efforts for bicycling, Jeff Miller – Thunderhead Alliance Executive Director

10:00-10:45 am - Break-out sessions – presentations on specific topics by presenters in each. See below for details.

10:45 – 11:00 am Break

11:00 am - 12:00pm - Small group break outs within breakout sessions

Goal of these group break outs is to:

1. Identify a champion for the topic who is willing to lead and organize the next step after the symposium
2. Identify the next action item towards the progression of the topic with help of presenters from the session. This is a time for WV attendees to share their projects so that the presenters can best help define the best next step!

12:15-1:00pm - Working lunch, Forming next steps – Jeff Miller picking up from his previous presentation.

1:00-:1:45pm - Wrap-up

2:00pm - Group Ride to the Capital and back. Pedestrian parade from the Capitol to the bikers and back. Bigger ride after this for those interested.

Breakout Sessions

Creating Better On-road bicycling through mountain biking’s success: How does West Virginia turn the successes of mountain biking into more bike friendly communities, policies and collaborative work between groups?

Confirmed speaker:

Jeff Peel, League of American Bicyclists

JR Petsko, WV Mountain Bike Association Executive Director

Building relationships with state legislators and state DOT for better policies and legislations and the role of citizens input and advocacy: Learning from South Carolina’s example and Thunderhead’s Winning Campaign strategy.

Confirmed speakers:

Jeff Miller, Thunderhead

Andy Clarke, LAB

Economic Impact of Bicycling: promoting bike trails and tours to have impact the economy.

Education, Safe Routes to Schools and youth programs

Confirmed speaker:

Bill Nesper, LAB

Looking for more information
Check out the website and sign up for the mailing list

Did you know that the WV Cycling Foundation has been kind enough to let us use their resources to organize this event, to include the use of their email management facilities and website? They are the organizers of the Cheat Mountain Challenge Century rides at Snowshoe Mountain, WV. It is from the proceeds of this event that they have been able to support these types of activities. Registration in that event has a direct impact on the quality of cycling programs in West Virginia. If you would like to join the mailing list of folks interested in progressing cycling in West Virginia, visit our sign-up page here.

Sponsors and Friends

Are you interested in being a bigger part of the event? We are accepting sponsors and have many exciting opportunities. Send me an email if you would like to know more. You can reach me, Kim Broughton, by emailing me at kimberlyjoshi@gmail.com. I look forward to hearing from you.

Many thanks to the sponsor and friends who are making this possible.

Friends: Gail Pitchford, Mike Loughney