Different Spokes Cycling Club
We started out as an informal group of bike enthusiasts in the late
1980’s, but we adopted a more organized structure with an elected
board, written bylaws and membership dues as our ranks grew through the
1990’s. In 2002 we incorporated as a non-profit. Today we have about
100 members, a third of whom are women.
Our website replaced our monthly paper newsletter in April 2005 and
this innovation has facilitated communication greatly. At any hour of
any day members can post/access bike rides and social events on our calendar, discuss club activities on our message board, and share photos.
Volunteerism is the basis of Different Spokes. Everyone—from ride
leaders to social coordinators to board members—gives her/his time and
effort without pay. The membership dues we collect go solely toward the
maintenance and upgrade of our website and to fund social events, such
as potlucks and parties.
Since 1995 we have been affiliated with Team Seattle, Seattle’s gay
sports network and it is through Team Seattle that Spokesters have
participated in Northwest Gay/Lesbian Summer Sports Festivals and the
Gay Games. We are proud that our members have competed in and won
medals at Gay Games V (1998-Amsterdam) and Gay Games VI (2002-Sydney).
Chicago hosted Gay Games VII in 2006.
Seattle, Washington 98102-1142 United States
The Seattle LGBT Community Center mission is to provide opportunities and tools for LGBT individuals, organizations and communities that ensure their voices can be heard, included and affirmed; to be a place to engage, organize and effect change.
