Pawstruck
Pawstruck (paw-struck) adjective: an immediate intense affection for a cat or dog.
noun: 1. a pet publication; 2. an animal welfare fundraising event; 3. an animal-related advertising campaign.
Jen and I found this affectionate cat climbing around our house. We were immediately pawstruck. We fed her for a few nights, considering pet adoption.
Our neighbor Kirsten suggested posting a Found Pet notice on the West Seattle Blog. Within a day, the cat and her owner were joyfully reunited.
So, I purchased the domain, www.PawStruck.com in memory of our favorite temporary guest. I’m not certain where I’ll find a home for this one yet, but I’m sure it’ll be love at first bite.
Cyclist of the Month: Julian Davies
Age: 37
Occupation: Pediatrician, University of Washington Medical Center
Hometown: North Carolina
Residence: Ballard
Wheels: MADSEN cargo bike, Dutch Azor Transport, Specialized Globe Live 02
Ditch your trailer. That is Julian’s advice to parents who want to ride with young children. You may wonder what type of Kool-Aid Julian is drinking, but you have to listen to a guy who can transport four kids on a bicycle.
Julian loves biking with his three-year old daughter, Drew, upfront — instead of in a tow-behind trailer. “We have some of our best conversations up there, and she gets to see more than my backside. It is much more enjoyable than listening to her cry or complain in a trailer.”
Solutions besides trailers do work. Like the Bike-Tutor from the U.K. that mounts on the top tube. Or the Bobike Mini, which mounts on the stem, for children aged 9 months to 3 years. Julian recommends both products as superior child carriers, but is also partial to cargo bikes like xtracycles, Dutch bakfietsen (“box bikes”), and MADSEN “precious cargo bikes.”
Julian has also installed bench and bucket car seats, complete with five-point buckle system, onto his MADSEN cargo bike. “Heavy? Are you calling my bike fat? I prefer strong-boned. She’s as heavy as she needs to be.”
NOTE: Julian points out that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that infants not ride on adult bikes until one year of age, when they can safely wear a helmet and have adequate neck and trunk control.
That said, how long did he wait? 7 weeks, with an infant car seat in a trailer, and then his custom MADSEN infant seat with head/neck support.
Julian started commuting on a RANS Rocket recumbent during med school at the University of California, San Francisco; during his residency at Seattle Children’s Hospital, fatigue turned Julian into a fair weather commuter. Today, he commutes year-round on a Dutch bike or Globe city bike daily between Ballard and the U. District. The UW Medical Center provides an indoor bike cage and showers – although Julian prefers the endless supply of baby wipes at his pediatric clinic.
The family appreciates the convenience of step-through frames, available on many cargo and commuter bikes. This feature means Julian, 5’9”, can share the MADSEN and Globe with his wife Kim, 5’2.”
Julian is also a fan of “ridiculous bike lights.” His favorites are Rock The Bike’s Down Low Glow and MonkeyLectric’s spinning Monkey lights – a 32 full color LED-ensemble for your spokes. Stylish and safe, given how many car-bike collisions are broadsides.
Diagnosed with Obsessive-Cycling Disorder, Julian started a blog called www.TotCycle.com where families with similar conditions can share information. You can find a wealth of information on TotCycle.com, including the next monthly Kidical Mass – a fun, safe, easy-going family bike ride for kids of all ages.
Julian joined Cascade Bicycle Club to support its education work in schools, and its advocacy work. Julian worked with Sustainable Ballard and Friends of the Burke-Gilman on a rally for the Missing Link. He has also attended a Ride Leader Certification session and hopes to lead tot rides for the Club in the future.
What’s the largest haul Julian has accomplished on any of his cargo bikes? He humbly claims that carrying a 6’ Christmas tree from St. Alphonsus Parish was just an obligatory bike blog photo op. “The MADSEN is an epic grocery getter. My largest run to-date is $211 worth of Trader Joe’s.” I don’t ask if that weighs more or less than four kids in the bucket seat of a MADSEN.
If you are interested in family cargo biking, Julian recommends Aaron’s Bicycle Repair in West Seattle and Dutch Bike Seattle in Ballard, as well as Clever Cycles in Portland.
Julian looks forward to coordinating a Fiets of Family Cycling (fiets is Dutch for bike) next year, based on the French constructeur races. “We’ll hold silly cycling contests — like the dropped toy, the diaper change, synchronized signals, fancy dismounts, and ‘I’ll pull this bike right over’ sibling fights.”
The next Cascade Ride Leader Training is scheduled for March.
Scott Marlow was marketing director for Cascade Bicycle Club from 2001-2005. The Club record-holder for the shortest commute (under six seconds), Marlow works from his home office in West Seattle. Nominate a cyclist of the month.
Cyclist of the Month: Allyson Welsh
Occupation: Software Consultant
Hometown: New York City
Residence: Kirkland
Wheels: Davidson Titanium
Let me tell ya, in 1990s Manhattan, it was too dangerous to ride a bike and too expensive to drive a car.
So moving to bike-friendly Seattle ten years ago was a blessing for Allyson Welsh.
When she was eight years old, Allyson broke her ankle in a bike crash. That is her most memorable bicycling moment. For decades after the accident, Allyson did not ride.
Today, Allyson is a ride leader and vice-chair of the rides committee for the largest bicycle club in the country. In January, she’ll replace Albert Meerscheidt as the rides committee chair, coordinating efforts for 160 Club ride leaders.
In 1996, while working as a trainer and software lead at Sealand, Allyson relocated from New York City to Charlotte, North Carolina – where the friendly flats inspired her to start biking to control weight. At only 5’2″, she found her fit in a Trek WSB (the company’s first Women Specific Bikes line) with 650C tires.
Two years later she got married and moved to Seattle after her new husband Dave accepted a position with Amazon.com.
“I’d never ridden a hill. My only challenge had been riding against the wind to Myrtle Beach. I was scared riding downhill from the Burke-Gilman Trail to Magnuson Park.” The 124th to Willows grade was even scarier. Allyson also had to overcome the coastal climate change, buying all new gear so that she could ride year-round. And, she soon realized the comfort difference between titanium and aluminum.
Gregg’s Cycles suggested that she join the Cascade Bicycle Club. She loves the camaraderie of the Club, as well as the appreciation that she receives from the riders for her volunteering. She also appreciates Jim Eanes of the Seattle Bike Club for his patience and advice when she first started cycling in the Pacific Northwest.
Allyson volunteers for almost every Cascade event. She enjoys meeting new people at packet stuffing parties. Some weeks, you can find her at the Club almost every day.
Allyson thinks of herself as a spokesperson for leisure cyclists – her rides bridge the gap between the leisure and more popular steady pace group. She sits on the Cascade Training Series (CTS) subcommittee, where she leads the Red Group rides at a 10-12 mph leisurely pace, preparing riders for their first century, often the Seattle To Portland or RSVP.
Allyson also leads the popular Redhook Lake Sammamish Loop and the Brewpub Ride Series. “There’s nothing like a good beer after a ride to quench your thirst.” Her monthly leisure rides attract 15-35 Club members who are interested in socializing, as well as exercising. The Brewpub Series tours different microbreweries.
“As a ride leader, one of your most difficult tasks is keeping the pace of a ride to the posted limit.” Allyson explains two reasons for this problem. First, ride leaders get so much stronger over the course of a season that by the end of summer, they don’t realize their own strength. The second reason: riders showing up for rides that are too easy for them. “This group wants to be at the front of the pack, instead of pushing themselves to ride at a pace that would be challenging for them.”
Allyson looks forward to recruiting more ride leaders interested in leisure rides. She also hopes to help lead a multi-day tour someday.
The next Cascade Ride Leader Training is scheduled for March. The Cascade Training Series also begins in March.
Scott Marlow was marketing director for Cascade Bicycle Club from 2001-2005. The Club record-holder for the shortest commute (under six seconds), Marlow works from his home office in West Seattle.
Nominate a cyclist of the month!
It All Happens Here
CSS/XHTML Web Development: Scott Marlow
Copywriting: Rita Cipalla, Scott Marlow
Graphic Design: Joan Van den Berg
My latest project for the City of Federal Way: a new site for its premier recreation facility, hosted at a new URL: ItAllHappensHere.org, the Community Center’s tagline.
The Rent section features a virtual-360 degree slideshow of the banquet facilities. Since the site launch, Susan Leddon, rental coordinator, reported that rental inquiries from the website increased from zero to 4-5 per week. Staff can update the site through an open source Content Management System.
The new site complements all new marketing collateral – including coupons, direct mail postcards, rack cards, and facility schedules – created by our team since March.
“You have consistently gone above and beyond on every aspect of this project. I know I speak for everyone when I say we appreciate you more than we can express. The website is fantastic/wonderful/cool/gorgeous/eye-popping/practical/logical, and, did I mention fantastic? I’m excited for the launch.“
Linda Elliott Farmer, Communications & Government Affairs Manager
City of Federal Way
“It’s been a fantastic experience working with such a great team. Personally, I enjoyed our “team” meetings the most. I think it’s important for you to know how easy it is to work with you on this project. I always felt like we could share our true feelings about every element along the way. Thank you all for your patience, persistence, and professionalism.”
Doug Nelson, Supervisor
Federal Way Community Center
Cyclists of the Month: Kristin & Isabel Jamerson
Age: 51 and 13
Occupation: volunteer
Hometown: Mercer Island
Wheels: Klein rain bike, Seven Axiom, Cannondale tandem
Kristin Jamerson’s idea of a Northwest lifestyle is admirable, even enviable, to anyone interested in positive social change.
Weekdays, you may find Kristin cycling across the I-90 bridge to volunteer for The Bush School or the Olympic Sculpture Park where she’s a docent. Once a week, she volunteers for the Christian Science Church. Plus, each month, Kristin participates in a community activity with her daughter, Isabel. Together, they support causes like the Ronald McDonald House and the YWCA. This fall they’ll plant trees for the Mountains To Sound Greenway.
June through August, Isabel contributes to the Mercer Island Summer Volunteer Program (SVP), coordinated by Parks & Recreation. SVP community activities include working with the elderly, disabled, homeless, animals, the environment, and community events.
Participants complete a minimum of four projects during the summer, and can choose from up to eight projects available each week. This summer, Isabel removed invasive ivy and blackberries, and supported regional youth programs.
Fifteen years ago, Kristin persuaded her husband to move from Florida back to her Pacific Northwest roots, to reclaim her exemplary lifestyle and to enjoy a more temperate climate.
She joined Cascade Bicycle Club to support the Club’s advocacy and youth education efforts, like the new Major Taylor youth program. She enjoyed reading the Cyclist of the Month profiles (started by Denise Chan). Kristin also used the Classic Hill Climbs column (by Steve Evans and Lee Stevens, 2004-2007) to create self-guided training rides.
Since joining the Club, Kristin has ridden Chilly Hilly, RSVP, STP, and the Ride Around Washington. Passing through the Okanogan and five mountain passes during RAW remains Kristin’s most memorable cycling moments. She has completed several Cycle Oregon’s and the Redmond Cycling Club’s RAMROD, but she prefers the smaller 200-rider RAW.
Isabel used to play soccer and swim. Then, in the summer of 2007, she finished the 12-mile bike relay of the Escape From The Rock triathlon on Mercer Island. By 2009, Isabel had finished the same triathlon solo. Today, Isabel prefers nothing better than bicycling while sporting fun socks. “You can bike whenever you want, and you can go places, and see more scenery.” The family is trying to find a way to transport Isabel’s heavy backpack, so that she can ride to and from The Bush School.
Kristin’s latest long-distance ride wasn’t just for fun. Kristin and Isabel raised $5,850 from 53 donors for The Climate Ride, an event that combined Kristin’s passion for cycling and climate issues. The five-day tour raised funds for three environmental charities: Clean Air-Cool Planet, Focus the Nation, and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy.
The Jamersons rode from New York City through New Jersey Amish country to Washington, DC – where 190 Climate Riders rallied at the Capitol Building to raise awareness for climate issues. During the ride, they were interviewed by Josh Dorfman, star of The Lazy Environmentalist on the Sundance Channel. They also shared dinner with Colin Bevan – No Impact Man.
The mother-daughter team also learned how to ride their new tandem bicycle – improving their cornering and hill climbing abilities through better driver-stoker synchronicity.
Kristin recognizes the importance of trail networks in solving civic, environmental, and transportation issues. During the Climate Ride, the Denmark Ambassador to the US reported that 45% of Copenhagen citizens bicycle commute.
She donates to Cascade because she wants the Burke-Gilman Trail completed through Ballard. “Advocacy is needed to make cycling more accessible.”
Kristin looks forward to the day Isabel can fill her favorite pair of Sidi shoes. And, if she’s anything like her mother, Isabel will walk her talk too.
For more information about the Mercer Island Summer Volunteer Program, contact Joan, SVP Coordinator, at 275-7756 or joan.jankowski@mercergov.org.
The next Climate Ride is May 15 – 19, 2010 in California. Visit ClimateRide.org for more details.
Scott Marlow was marketing director for Cascade Bicycle Club from 2001-2005. The Club record-holder for the shortest commute (under six seconds), Marlow works from his home office in West Seattle.
Nominate a cyclist of the month!
How To Lower Your Website Design & Maintenance Costs
Hiring a graphic designer to code your website is like hiring a painter to build your car.
Below are 16 ways to save money on your website design or redesign project.
- Consider a free or affordable template-based website
This is the cheapest and often fastest way to get your company online. You’ll look like the masses. And you won’t differentiate yourself (particularly important for commodity products and services). WordPress offers 1 theme for every 6,000 sites. - Determine the look and feel you want before meeting with a designer
Share examples of websites (and other graphic design) that you like to convey to your designer what you want. This reduces the time required for design concept and design production. - Be your own project manager
If you are technically proficient and well-organized — you can hire your own web design team: copywriter, graphic designer, illustrator, photographer, and/or web developer. Just like being a general contractor, you’ll know exactly what you are paying for, and save money by not paying someone else to manage the project. - Think small
Generally, smaller web design agencies and independent creative freelancers are less expensive than large web development firms, which pay more overhead. Small web teams are usually more agile, more responsive, and have less bureacracy. - Tell your designer you want a CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) website
CSS websites can save you money in the long-term by reducing maintenance time and future redesign costs. Not all CSS websites are created equal — hand-coded sites require less HTML code and are more flexible when you want to make site edits. Note: CSS websites can potentially cost more upfront. - Ask for fewer design comps
Design mockups, or “comps” to designers, take an extraordinary amount of creative time to develop. Limit your comps to one or two— you’ll save your designer some time and yourself some money. Also, with a CSS-based website, you can often make small design edits, like color changes, during or after production. - Avoid image-based navigation systems
Image-based navigation systems can take 4x as much time to create and maintain as CSS-based text navigation. Graphic designers love images because they can control fonts. But you’ll learn to hate images when your designer explains it’ll cost hundreds of dollars to update your navigation because dozens of images must be Photoshopped. - Do you really need a Content Management System (CMS)?
If you don’t edit your content frequently (think weekly), and your site is under 50 pages, a CMS may cost you more money and time than it is worth. - Ask your web developer to use free open-source software and scripts
Avoid proprietary technologies that lock you into monthly or annual contracts, with possible expensive upgrades. [once, I paid for a site built in Cold Fusion. Later, I learned Cold Fusion developers cost $125 per hour and the necessary upgrade for a Cold Fusion dedicated server would cost thousands of dollars. Never again.] - Don’t ring that bell
Unless you are in the entertainment business, your site should not entertain. Most Flash, animated, and other in-your-face visuals are simply expensive gimmicks that distract your audience from the information they seek. It’s reported that as many as 25% of visitors will immediately leave any site that loads a Flash introduction. - KISS — Keep It Simple, Stupid
Usability studies show that web visitors miss subtle design elements — a hallmark of traditional graphic designers with heavy print production experience. Simple layouts simplify coding, as well as maintenance – lowering your costs. - Listen to alternatives
Do you really need that slick 360 degree virtual tour that cost your realtor $2,500? Perhaps a semi-custom slideshow of static images would work for under $500. Small stylistic differences are not always trivial — subtle design elements can cost hundreds of dollars to implement. - Check credentials
If your designer does not know how to create a layered Photoshop file, then RUN AWAY, quickly. Your web development time will most likely increase without the appropriate production art. Likewise, ask for three references and check examples of prior web-specific work. - Do not edit edits
The beauty of the web is its dynamic nature — the ability to change content after production. Don’t pay for edits prior to site launch. Work on getting your site visible fast and edit post-launch. - Take your shot
Acquire your own website photos. Custom photography is expensive. Although stock photos can be affordable, your own photos are more authentic and they only cost you your time. - Learn to share
Shared web hosting at companies like CrystalTech.com can be purchased for as little as $6 per month — a fraction of the cost to host your own site or pay to host a custom CMS on a dedicated web server. And, remember, nonprofits can receive up to 50% off hosting fees through many vendors.
Download this checklist as a PDF
I develop sensible hand-coded CSS websites, custom WordPress blogs and WordPress-powered websites for small businesses and nonprofits. Contact me to discuss your next online marketing project.