Schedule

SCCC adopted Cecil Ashburn as part of the City of Huntsville Operation Green Team program in 2000. Since the club has also participated in many other clean our city programs in the past, adopting a road section is aligned with the club’s historic civil values. We adopted a one-mile section to prove we have the civic generosity to give back. To prove we don’t just speak to beef but we also speak to volunteer. Since the organization name is posted on signs at the beginning and ending of a section, the club effort provides a constant, visible, and cheap source of public recognition. We have a visible relationship with city officials for whom beautification is important.

Why Cecil Ashburn?

Cecil Ashburn is a city designated bike route and it is THE best cycling, most scenic east/west crossing in the county. SCCC members and other cyclists in Madison County worked hard to have this be the first local road smooth paved with 8-foot wide shoulders. This was not a given but a multi lettered, multi argued, multi head banging exercise for 2 years. Those shoulders are something this club won for itself and the county. We caused the Mayor and our council members to repeatedly go to the state DOT and get the job done. It is a beautiful stretch of road that is a pleasure to ride and provides the safest access between the western and eastern sides of Madison County. It's a good place for this club to take a public stand.... and look around. We earned the view and the climb.

What commitments does the Adopt A Mile program require?

We agree to 'keep it clean' for a year - whatever that means to us as a club. Trucks do not use this road. This road doesn't have parking spots so we've been spared the loads of romantic night toys and glass bottles that other spots regularly get. So, the trash seems to be stuff that is flying outta pickups and fast food junk flying outta windows. We pick up 10-15 trash bags each session. In addition, the Huntsville Land Trust has acquired the property and parking lot at the top of the pass, so we now have partners with similar outdoor values.

What is our project structure?

Each year January through mid March, the club officers approve the process of formulating a new annual project. That entails reviewing results from the previous year, consider club member willingness to renew the project for another year, design a new structure, and enroll participants. Before we, the club and its officers, sign up for the job, we require a list of volunteers who select in advance one or more sessions to work. For 2010 we need 36 pledges, 12 pledges for each of three pickup sessions. We also need three session leaders. All volunteer slots must be spoken for before it becomes an official club project. Once that happens, the Huntsville Operation Green Team and the Huntsville Land Trust are notified that we are active for the current year.

What are the participant roles in the club project?

The club has a project manager (or point of contact), session leaders, and participants. The project manager annually selects dates, writes articles, creates a participant spreadsheet, and signup sheet for the project plus report on progress to club, city, and club officers. Works with each participant to select dates, sends reminders, reports results, and records alternative actions if participant becomes unable to play with us. Enrolls and trains other session leaders. Arrange city delivery and pickup of supplies and pickup of trash. The session leader brings supplies to the site, dispenses supplies and instructions to each participant during the session. The session leader takes photographs of the group and the haul, assesses the work and reports results to club officers and project manager. This report (and photos) is published in the club newsletter and the club website for the following month.

What does a participant agree to do?

January through mid March a participant selects one or more sessions that are desirable to work. No need to be shy. Throw your dart on the board. As the session date becomes near, if that time no longer works, say so straight out. If schedule conflict shows up, we’ll figure out how to work around them.

Show up for 2 hours of pickup session OR work on your own for 2 hours anytime during the week prior to a session. Wear long sleeve clothes and sturdy shoes. Bring water if hot temperatures. There may be some scrambling over the rock slopes. At least one person is needed to carry bags of trash to the top of the gap and pile it up. What works well is having 8 people plus two others. Park and meet at the top of the gap. Starting at the top of the gap, 4 people work each way from the top. It seems to work well to have a scrambler that's comfortable covering the rocks. It works to stay until both sides (of the gap and road) are done. If very many people leave early or when 'their side is done' a couple of people risk being left with a boatload more work. Whenever possible, support the group until it is clear that group needs are satisfied.

Please contact me; the project manager, if you think you could do one or more sessions sometime this year. (883-9982 or mjholdere(at)knology.net). I will initiate contact with the folks that signed up and discuss with each person what dates work for them.

One last thing. It frequently happens that participation in these volunteer activities is well supported in the beginning and then wanes until the champion (often the project manager) tires of carrying the load. Therefore, the design of this project requires individual members to make an agreement up front and has the implicit agreement that if/when it becomes a struggle to enroll participants then the project manager is done and the project is also done. By consciously reviewing and renewing annually, the club official and members ACTIVELY decide what will and won’t be done over a reasonable time period. For 10 years, this seems to be working well and I deeply appreciate all the club members that have made this work.