As you can see, the website is coming along very nicely thanks to a lot of hard work by Denver Steiner. Keep checking back as we hope to add more information continually.

Fairly soon we will want to begin the fundraising initiative for AMIGOs. I hope to have a press release out as soon as possible and also an avenue listed on the website to direct funds. Begin talking to your churches and friends to let them know what we are doing.

Tim Showalter will be overseeing the bike technician role and will be available via email (tim@bikemovement.org) to answer questions regarding what kind of bike to bring and will help with repairs en route. We will also be posting a sort of training schedule on the site to encourage everyone to get out riding and prepare for the journey.

Dave will be in Harrisonburg, VA this weekend for EMU’s graduation. If anyone wants to get a hold of him, just call his cell: 215-285-4253.

Let’s get the word out and gather a group of committed participants. This project’s integrity will build as we become a larger and more diverse group.

This site is a work in progress. Stay posted and email info@bikemovement.org with ideas or questions.

[from Denver Steiner]

I think you want to go with a two word title, and something simple, short, and easy to spell, so that its easy to pass on as a website (and then maybe you have a tag line that explains a bit more). And I was trying to think of using two words to describe movement and conversation. So bikemovements.com may be redundant, but I list it anyway. Maybe something new will jump out at you� I threw in a few menno references. Are we making that Mennonite connection, or trying to make it broader?

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We had around 10 people at the meeting in Harrisonburg on Wednesday and determined that the primary need for our planning is to get a website up by the end of next week (4.14.06) and to spread the word quickly and widely.

Matt Styer & David Troyer will be working on the site style and construction, Kurt Rosenburger and Neil Richer will be beginning the route/schedule planning, and Alicia Horst and I will be doing some the of the writing for purpose/vision, logistics and overall coherence of the project.

We should purchase our web domain soon, which means we need to figure out a name for the project. THINK CREATIVELY using some of the keywords: (movement, conversation, communication, bike/bicycle, etc…) Reading through various documents on this blog might also help spark some thoughts. Send ideas or suggestions to me by email (dplandis@gmail.com) or post them to this blog.

MWC Youth Committee Sets $100,000 Goal for Paraguay Gathering

Pasadena, California (USA) - The Mennonite World Conference’s (MWC) global youth committee, AMIGOS, concluded its meetings here with a commitment to raise $100,000 (US). The money will help Mennonite, Brethren in Christ and Anabaptist-related young people from all over the world to attend the Global Youth Summit (GYS) in 2009. The GYS will be held in conjunction with the next MWC world assembly in Paraguay.

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For those of you in Harrisonburg on Wednesday, a group is going to meet at the Hair House at 11:15-11:30 to talk about this idea and do some planning.

Anyone is welcome, and feel free to come a little later if you have to - Some of us will probably be there for a little while…

It should be a good time to brainstorm out some details and get other people involved… invite anyone you think might be interested.

See you then.