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For statewide organizations, outreach can be a stretch. It tough to extend programming to the entire population, to recruit new members or wage campaigns in distant or dispersed communities. With the help of a $12,500 Advocacy Advance grant from the Alliance for Biking & Walking last spring, the Bicycle Alliance of Washington is finding ways to navigate this difficult terrain with its Hub & Spoke program.

“It can be challenging to maintain a statewide presence in a state that is over 70,000 square miles and is divided by a mountain range,” says Louise McGrody, the BAW’s outreach and communications staffer. “The Hub & Spoke tour has been an excellent vehicle for regional outreach. The events are social by design, held at pubs and restaurants, so attendees have an opportunity to network with each other and with us.”

Each gathering is part discussion, part presentation. And timing is key. Hub & Spoke events coincide with meetings of the Transportation Improvement Board, an independent state agency that distributes and manages street construction and maintenance grants to 320 cities and urban counties throughout Washington State. So the goal isn’t just to recruit new members. Hub & Spoke aims to galvanize residents to draw down some of those TIB state dollars to benefit cyclists and pedestrians in their local communities.

“We spend time reviewing our legislative and program priorities, feature a couple of local efforts, and explain the purpose of the Transportation Improvement Board and highlight what funding this entity has for biking and walking projects,” Louise says of the events. “Every Hub & Spoke event has also been attended by a state Department of Transportation staffer. The floor is then opened to attendees ask questions and tell us what’s on their minds.”

The two-pronged approach is hitting the mark. In 2010, Hub & Spoke visited Wenatchee, Vancouver, Walla Walla and Everett and averaged 35 attendees per event. Cyclists seem to appreciate the Alliance’s willingness to court potential members on their home turf and enjoy getting educated on the issues in a laid-back setting.

“Feedback to Hub & Spoke has been extremely positive,” Louise says. “Attendees are appreciative that the Bicycle Alliance is visiting various communities around Washington State and they have found the discussions informative and helpful.”

Next stop in 2011? The Hub & Spoke tour will travel to Olympia on January 27. Stay tuned to the BAW blog for more updates.