Board/Leadership News
Hello to all members of the League! It has been my pleasure to serve, and I am now on my third term of three years and going strong.
The League’s Board of Directors serves a critical role in guiding the organization to a sustainable and vibrant future. The following candidates are up for election for member-elected Board positions.
Are you ready to vote! The election for new members of the Board of Directors of the League of American Bicyclists is now open. I encourage all members to read the bios of the candidates, and cast your vote for 6 candidates.
For the past few months I have been Vice Chair of the Board and, under the leadership of Karen Jenkins, our Chair, it has been a very productive time for the whole board. My passion for cycling and for the League’s long history has kept me energized and grateful for the amazing work we do. I have a strong focus on education and for our Smart Cycling program in particular.
Are you ready to serve on the Board of Directors of the League of American Bicyclists? Then consider running to be elected by the membership. Service on the Board of the League is an excellent way to have a long-term impact on the organization and the active transportation movement at the national level.
On behalf of the board of directors and our 20,000 dues-paying members, I am pleased to announce the appointment of Alex Doty as the new executive director of the League of American Bicyclists.
After 12 years as President of the League of American Bicyclists, Andy Clarke has informed the organization’s Board of Directors that he is stepping down from his position to pursue other opportunities. “It’s the right time for me to move on and allow fresh ideas and new leadership to take the League forward,” Clarke said. In a letter to the League board, Clarke said: “I have enjoyed the immense privilege of leading the League of American Bicyclists as its President. During that time, the organization has indeed led the movement to create a more bicycle-friendly America, and I am proud of the many accomplishments we’ve seen in our programs during my tenure.”
The League’s Board of Directors last week appointed Sam Adams and Harry Brull to fill two vacancies. Sam Adams is the former Mayor of Portland, Oregon. Now the director of WRI’s U.S. Climate Initiative, Adams leads WRI’s efforts to analyze and develop new policies and support coalitions that will encourage the U.S.’s transition to a strong, low-carbon economy.
The League’s Board of Directors this week appointed Ken Podziba, President and CEO of Bike New York, to join its ranks. “I’m honored and humbled to be joining the board of an organization with such a rich history and bright future,” Podziba said. “League members around the nation have fought long and hard for bike-friendly policies and infrastructure, and the fruits of their labor are being passed into law and painted on the streets at an unprecedented rate. At Bike New York, we’re passionate about empowering a new generation of cyclists to take advantage of the bike-friendly America that the League has been building over the past 135 years. Education and advocacy are the wheels that will keep this movement rolling, and I’m thrilled to be coming along for the ride.”
Sometimes organizational change is barely seen; subtle tweaks to existing programs or processes. At other times, organizations must embrace more dramatic shifts in approach, in velocity, in culture, signaling important changes to all who are affected by the organization and its mission. In 2013, when we embarked on our strategic planning process, we were clear about our vision and the wide-spread benefits of bicycling — but needed to define a strong, clear leadership role for the League. Since 1880, the League has been the leader in bicycling advocacy. To meet our mission, we know it’s time for us to take bold steps — and help to shift the paradigm of the bicycle movement itself.