About Cascade Bicycle Club: Board of Directors

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Cast Your Annual Membership Vote
VOTING DEADLINE: OCTOBER 13

Ballots may be mailed to P.O. Box 15165, Seattle, WA 98115 or dropped off at the office at 7400 Sand Point Way, Bldg. 138, Seattle, WA. If you need a ballot and cannot download the PDF version below, please call the office (206.522.3222) and one will be mailed to you. Candidate information can be found below.

Cascade is growing – now more than 11,000 members strong. We are diversifying our rides, our events, and our commute and education programs. We have expanded our partnership network and are now more influential in affecting positive change for the cycling community than ever before.

As we expand our daily rides and events to provide great cycling experiences to a wider variety of cyclists; as we develop our business networks to increase bike commuting; and as we solidify our reputation as a go-to organization for ensuring the rights of cyclists and improving our transportation infrastructure, it is even more incumbent upon us to ensure that the right people are governing this great organization.

To this end, the member approved by-law allowing the Club’s Board of Directors to appoint new board members to serve one year terms has been a remarkable success. Last year eight such appointments were made and it has been a pleasure to work with all of them.

Fortunately for us, all eight appointees decided to stand for election by the Club’s membership this October. If elected, each would serve a full three-year board term. I encourage you to read their biographies below and to vote for those who you think will best serve your organization. You can either mail a ballot back to us or drop it off at the annual membership meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 6:30 - 7:30 at the downtown Seattle REI.

2009 Ballot

Nominees for the 2010 Board of Directors:

Emiko Atherton

Hello, my name is Emiko Atherton and I am asking for your support in voting for me to serve as one of your Board of Directors.

I am a passionate cyclist and inspired by the work and the mission of CBC. In particular, I am excited about the potential for CBC to create cycling education and advocacy programs in traditionally underserved communities. I want to continue my service on the Cascade board so that I can advocate initiatives like Cascade’s Major Taylor program, which bring the love of bikes to kids in areas often not touched by cycling. As an avid commuter, I also want to continue to promote programs that make it possible for people throughout the greater Seattle area to safely commute to work.

Born and raised in Seattle, my interests in advocacy, social justice, and the environment have led me to work with many organizations that are committed to building healthy and livable communities. Currently, I serve as King County Councilmember Julia Patterson’s policy and communications advisor. I have also worked for the City of Seattle, the League of Conservation Voters, the Washington Conservation Voters, and the YWCA. My work includes experience with policy analysis, advocacy, communications, strategic planning, fundraising, event management, and grants management. I have also served on the boards of Seattle Works and Friends of Seattle.

This last June, I graduated from the Daniel J. Evans School of Public Affairs at the University of Washington with a Masters of Public Administration and I hold a Bachelor of Arts from The Evergreen State College.

Thank you for your support!

Michael Lazarus

Biking has been a major mode of transportation for me since I was a teenager. I’ve been a regular bike commuter everywhere I’ve lived for the past 25 years, East Coast, Bay Area, France, and, for the last 10 years in Seattle. I also enjoy brisk weekend rides, an occasional Club ride, touring or just getting around town with my family.

In the months since I was invited to join the Board in early 2009, I’ve come to better appreciate the Club’s long history and unique contributions to biking in greater Seattle and beyond. With our highly talented staff and director and passionate membership, the Club has accomplished great things: shaping regional bike plans, expanding bike trails, attracting and educating new riders, all while maintaining a core of fun and well-run events. And we are poised to do far more. Making biking in the region even safer and more convenient through education, commute programs and local and state advocacy efforts. Getting more kids on bikes, on safe routes to school or through extracurricular programs, like Major Taylor, that can bring greater diversity to the bike community. Reshaping Seattle into the most bike-centric city in the US, ultimately competing with European cities like Copenhagen where over half of all trips are made by bike.

I am committed to helping the club achieve these goals. As senior scientist with Stockholm Environment Institute, I bring 25 years of experience in the non-profit world, creating and managing research programs to address the challenges of climate change and energy security. I’ve helped to grow the US office of SEI from 9 to 25 staff since our inception three years ago. I bring management and fund raising skills to the Board, and in addition to continuing to contribute to the club’s strategic planning efforts, will work to create new opportunities for the Club to be part of regional and national energy and climate, and transportation initiatives.

I would be honored to continue to serve the Club in the years to come.

Jim Oswald

I have been an avid bicyclist since my youth, and am a regular bike commuter from Broadview to Pioneer Square. Although I enjoy distance rides, my primary focus is on making bicycling commuting safer and more practical, including everything from more bike lanes and paths to convincing less physically fit folks to try electric bikes.

I am a lawyer with my own office, and I have devoted most of my professional life to representing working people and organizations that advance their interests. That history influences my work with the club in two ways. First, I try to keep lines of communication open between the club and labor organizations, exploring areas of mutual interest, and assuring that areas of disagreement are kept in perspective. Second, I try to use my experience dealing with workplace issues to help the club operate better in its dealings with staff.

My second area of professional interest as a lawyer is campaign finance. I advise groups in the overall progressive coalition as they support candidates and take positions on ballot measures. As a Board Member for CBC I have a special interest in the Club’s political work in support of both recreational biking and commuting.

I am honored to have served on the Board in 2009, and hope that I will have the opportunity to continue for the next three years.

Mary Schroeder

I have been a member of the Cascade Bicycle Club Board for 1 year, and a general member for four years. I currently serve on the Finance Committee.

I've been a bicycle commuter for eight years. For several of those years I've been a Commute Challenge team captain. I started cycling to work as a way to exercise and came to love not only the fun and exercise but the financial and environmental benefits as well. Bike commuting is a win on so many levels, personally and for the community. When I was invited to join the board last year I was pleased to become part of an organization that does so much to advocate for bike commuters and works to improve conditions and options that will make it possible for growing numbers of people to see the same benefits.

My day job is Director of Operations for the Nature Conservancy of Washington. There is a natural connection between the missions of the two organizations. CBC's work in the community is key to achieving our joint goals of sustainability. I have an MBA and years of experience in financial management. I hope to be able to bring that expertise to the CBC board.

I would appreciate your vote to allow me to continue to serve on the Board.

Dave White

I first experienced the joy of bicycling at age 7, and the thrill has never left. I have been a bike commuter and recreational rider for many years, and have grown to appreciate cycling as an important part of life. I have come to see it as a way of life, one of those activities that reinforces many things I treasure--health, community, environment--and the simple joy of life.

I see the Cascade Bicycle Club as much more than a “club” but an advocate and catalyst for bicycling as a sport but also an integral part of our society’s lifestyle. I think the organization is poised to make a difference in so many ways: increasing bicycling and bicyclists by working to expand trails and make roads more bike friendly; introducing people of all backgrounds and ages to bicycling; and educating people on the safe and legal riding. I see a continued need for the club to advocate—and partner with other organizations to advocate--for policies and laws that enhance bicycling and protect bicyclists. And I see the club continuing to make a difference in people’s lives, being fun--providing great rides and events for people and riders of all types. The tent is getting bigger, and there is a lot of room under it.

My career has focused on environmental policy, economics, and finance, including finance manager for King County Parks. I’ve learned the business of local government, and the practical skills of managing the finances of an organization. I’ve come to appreciate the connection between our individual choices – such as transportation choices—on the important environmental and health issues of our time. I’ve also learned the details of and challenges of managing a regional trail system, and impact that Cascade Bicycling Club can have on local and statewide issues.

I have been a board member for 1 year, and my appreciation for the organization has grown since that time. We are becoming a force to be reckoned with -- our organization is strong and I would like to make it stronger. I really think that bicycling is catching on, becoming more “mainstream”. But there remains a lot of opportunity and need for bicycling to grow a lot further. Cascade is uniquely positioned to make that happen, with its track record, staff, and membership. If elected, I would look to contribute my financial and policy knowledge, enthusiasm, and commitment to the cause.

I would appreciate the opportunity to continue to serve on the board of the Cascade Bicycle club.

Peter Morgan

At the age of 18, I took my first bike trip – I have been an avid cyclist ever since. In college, my bike was my sole mode of transportation, as well as a form of recreation.

I have been a regular cycle commuter for years - in Honolulu, Denver, and Seattle, and have much to say about the physical environment. I am the survivor of two bicycle/car accidents and several serious accidents caused by road hazards as well as “operator error”. These experiences have given me a great appreciation of how important cycle commuting can be, but also the barriers to safety that keep many from adopting it as their primary form of transportation.

I am passionate about creating a vision of urban living that, through better land use and transportation planning, creates an environment friendly to non-motorized travelers.

I am equally passionate about the health and welfare of our community and work professionally as the Executive Vice President responsible for clinical operations at Group Health. As a health care executive, I’m interested in the clearly demonstrated link between physical activity and health, and the part that cycle commuting can play in improving health. I want to use my position on the Cascade Board to encourage other large Seattle-area employers to support cycle commuting with the goal of having Seattle be the #1 cycling city in the country.

I grew up in rural Hawaii, married a native Seattleite, and have lived in Seattle for 27 years. I have raised two children who are avid cyclists. I have completed solo cycle trips through Europe (1973) and from Seattle to Boston (2001). Along the way I have done a number of other trips and plan to continue cycling as long as my body will let me.

Tim Hennings

The more I learn about Cascade Bicycle Club, the more impressed I am with the organization. When I joined the CBC board last January, I was already very appreciative of Cascade’s events and daily rides. They’re great because they help motivate thousands of people to get out on bikes and have fun doing it. But since joining the board, what I have become most excited by is Cascade’s extraordinary range and depth of advocacy, education, and other outreach programs. I’m convinced that if scaled up, these programs have the potential to dramatically enhance the character of our region by making cycling a safer, more practical, and more fun experience for all of us.

In order to expand these terrific programs and our impact on the region, we need to grow CBC’s membership. Doing so will increase revenue from dues, grow our donor base, increase sponsorship opportunities, and increase our political strength. But how can this be done? Today our primary recruitment vehicle for CBC membership is events. However, that vehicle is nearly maxed out -- we can’t grow those events very much beyond where they already are. Therefore we must reach out to all cyclists in the region. We should encourage them to join CBC because by doing so, they are helping to support great programs that make cycling safer and more practical for them and their families.

I believe that the most essential first step towards membership growth is to enhance CBC’s presence on the web and leverage that presence as a recruitment tool. I am leading this initiative as my primary role on the CBC board. I have been in the software industry for more than 25 years. I am the founder and president of Object Publishing Software, a web services company that specializes in automated publishing solutions and management of product databases for many large companies throughout North America. I have also been an enthusiastic cyclist all my life. My favorite activity is to go on long weekend rides with friends and family. I especially like exploring hilly back roads, such as in the San Juans or the foothills of the Cascades. The High Pass Challenge is my favorite CBC ride. I also ride occasionally with the Seattle Randonneurs.

It would be a privilege to continue serving on the board to help launch the vision of a new Cascade.org, grow CBC’s membership and donor base, and encourage greater numbers of cyclists in the beautiful Northwest!

Patricia Chase

When I'm on a bicycle I feel a sense of freedom, and I feel more like a kid than when I am in a car. That's enough of a reason for me to want to be on the Cascade board and help to make bicycling a better, more enjoyable and safer experience in Seattle. Through my company, International Sustainable Solutions, I also am very knowledgeable about the importance of bicycling infrastructure to make people feel safer and increase ridership particularly with regard to commuting. In Seattle, I use a pedal assist electric bike, which is allowing me to commute as I get older and don't want to face the hills without a little help. I will be a strong advocate for the following:

1) Getting Cascade and the City of Seattle to realize that its leadership role as a progressive city means it has a responsibility to the rest of the country to develop excellent, safe bicycling infrastructure as a model that can be emulated;

2) Encouraging Cascade to work with other transportation organizations to advocate that the City of Seattle, in planning, prioritizes pedestrians, bicycling, freight, and public transportation over passenger car use. A small example of this is that bicyclists get a green light to cross busy intersections before cars do.

3) Encourage Cascade to recognize pedal assist electric bikes (not the moped-like electric bikes, which don't require pedaling) as an important part of encouraging commuting in hilly Seattle. This would require changing some verbiage in our mission.

4) Encourage Cascade to make direct contact with the Obama administration to provide bicycling guidance at the national level.

I will also be an active member during the upcoming strategic planning process.

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