We need leaders who have not internalized the notion that cars are the norm and cyclists should be happy for any scrap they get. I hope the BTA gets back to fighting effectively for things like our fair share of transportation funding, the Idaho stop law, and stiff prosecution for drivers who injure and kill people through carelessness.

(And I hope Bricker finds the right job for him -- whatever the reason, firing a long-time loyal employee in a bad economy is kind of a jerk move.)

Clear as mud, eh?

Your basic point is sound, however. It's very rare for an ED to go to a lower staff position, and uncommon for a Director (i.e. board member) to become a staff person at the same nonprofit.

are (#22) - If you are a BTA member, I believe the BTA is required to allow you to see the Bylaws. In any case, any member of the public can request to see the Form 1023 that the BTA filled out to become a 501(c)(3) by filling out a Form 4506-A and sending it to the IRS. The Form 1023 is the form every nonprofit files to be recognized by the IRS, and as part of the submission MUST contain a copy of the organization's Bylaws. The BTA also filed a form RF-C with the State of Oregon which also required a copy of the bylaws, you can also try contacting the Oregon Department of Justice, Corporation Division (which has an office in downtown Portland) to request a copy of that submittal.

The IRS form to request a 1023 can be found here:
http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f4506a.pdf

Peter Smith (#26) - Firing shouldn't be condoned? Well, that's your opinion, and I respectfully disagree. Sometimes people don't fit the organization. Sometimes the organization's resources can be used more effectively under other leadership. (I'm not saying either is the case here) In fact, if either of those cases are true, the IRS practically mandates that the board fires the ED, or in the case of staff under the ED, makes that recommendation to the ED. Directors have an obligation to ensure they are managing a public charity effectively and dutifully - they are REQUIRED to by state and federal law.

There's a lot more I could comment on in your post - judging by its tone, I'd guess you've never served on the board of a nonprofit. Read some of the laws, and your state's guide to serving as a board member, and your perspective on some of this may change.

Seth (#29) - While I believe that the BTA should make the board meeting minutes publicly available (and maybe they do - I don't know their current policy), their board meetings should not be open, and the stories of the last couple days are evidence why - they'd never get any work done at the meetings while trying to deal with well-meaning (and not so well-meaning) people making points, interrupting, etc. Beyond a certain membership size and influence, it's impossible to make the meetings public. Civil institutions like city councils and county commissions can do it, because they have police to arrest those who refuse to be orderly. For a nonprofit, it's simply not practical.

As for point #2 - WashCo BTC isn't "BTA" because it would imply BTA endorsement. If you have dozens of chapters (or even just 6), then the focus of the organization becomes managing all the chapters, and not in getting the work done.

One could be the BTA as we know it. The middle-of-the-road, never ruffle feathers, non-advocate (c)(3) organization. There is definitely a role for an organization like this. Bricker's skill set was tailor made for this role.

The other could be a lean, mean (c)(4) machine. A street-walking cheetah with a heart full of napalm, to quote Iggy Pop. This is what the NRA does in parts of the country where they are relevant, e.g. rural Virginia, not Portland. It's all political and legal pressure all the time.

The alternative to two distinct organizations is the Oregon Wild model: one brand with two legal entities, the (c)(3) educational non-profit and the (c)(4) political machine.

Portland needs a local advocacy group. Oregon needs a statewide advocacy group. BTA is trying to be both, a Jack of all trades, master of none.

Solution:

1) BTA breaks up into two organizations:

One organization is a local advocacy group, focused solely on bicycle advocacy in the Portland area.

The other organization is a statewide advocacy group, structured as a confederacy of local advocacy groups, including the Portland advocacy group. The focus of the statewide organization would be statewide bicycle advocacy in Salem, as directed by the local advocacy groups.

2) A Bicycle PAC is formed to support pro-bicycle candidates and legislation.