Originally published at: http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2003/feb/04/cornerbank_leader_forming/

Lawrence Central Rotary invites local and regional artists to submit new creative designs for its community bike rack initiative. Lawrence Central Rotary’s community bike rack initiative has resulted in the construction and placement of four bike racks in the Lawrence area. The fifth bike rack will be placed in front of Van Go Inc., 715 New Jersey, Lawrence, KS. LiveWell Lawrence, a Douglas County Community Foundation initiative that is focused on improving everyday environments to make it easier for people to get more physically active, has joined Lawrence Central Rotary in funding this bike rack. The selected bike rack will become the property of Van Go Inc. We encourage anyone to submit a proposal. BE CREATIVE!

Specifications for Design:

• The bike rack must be able to withstand severe outdoor weather in cold and hot temperatures and should be low maintenance with excellent sustainability. It should also be made of non-abrasive materials that can be easily maintained and does not scratch or damage bicycle frames with a durable finish that does not sustain damage from bicycles or locks.
• The bicycle rack must accommodate at least 8 bicycles.
• Artists/designers should approach the project as a permanent installation to be installed into a concrete surface, with a minimum 10 year life expectancy.
• The selected entry will be exclusive to the Lawrence Central Rotary’s Bike Rack Project.
• All work must be safe for pedestrians and bicyclists of all ages with no pinch points, sharp edges, or corners.
• The work should be of an appropriate height and design so that it will not create a hazard for visually impaired or physically challenged pedestrians. A bicycle should not have to be lifted off the ground to access and be secured to the rack. The artwork must allow for part of the bicycle frame as well as at least one wheel to be secured to the rack.
• Refer to the attached photo for bike rack location. 
• The design must be compatible with commonly used U-locks.
• Artists/designers are encouraged to review the bicycle parking guidelines created by the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals. More information can be found at http://www.apbp.org/resource/resmgr/publications/bicycle_parking_guidelines.pdf

Review Criteria:

• Creativity of design – visually noticeable, artistically designed, and unique.
• Durability of design
• Environmentally friendly design
• Easy maintenance

How to Apply: Only electronic submissions accepted. 

• A one-page statement with your name, contact information, and a brief written description of your project which includes:
•  a description of your concept
• the materials to be used and assembly
• the capacity of the bike rack
• a brief statement of your experience in creating a work of art or fabricating materials
• Sketch of proposed bicycle rack, in color, and with explanatory notes and dimensions
• Budget
• Resume with current contact information
• 3 to 5 clearly labeled digital images of previous work relevant to this project with corresponding, numbered list of same works with title, media, dimensions, project budget, and brief description of the work.
• Three professional references with contact information, including email and telephone number(s).

Project timeline:

• Proposal submission deadline: March 1, 2012
• Notification of selection: March 7, 2012
• Bike rack delivery to site: April 18, 2012
• Proposed installation timeframe: April 19-27, 2012
• Bike rack unveiling: Mid-May, 2012 

Colonel LaGrange is a retired army officer who commanded Fort Riley during Desert Storm. He served for 28 years including multiple tours in Viet Nam and Laos. He has a passion for helping children in difficult places. He has been in leper colonies, refugee camps, orphanages and children’s hospitals around the world. He firmly believes that education is an essential ingredient in bringing about the stability and order that we seek. He firmly believes that helping children learn properly and gaining their trust helps the society that they are part of mature and move toward order. 

He has formed “Help us Learn . . . Give us Hope” whos mission provides school supplies to Big Red One (Fort Riley) soldiers for children in conflict areas of Afganistan and Iraq.

• Based on a successful effort in Viet Nam 40 years ago, the corporation has multiple objectives: 
• Supports Iraqi and Afghan school aged children by providing basic school supplies and sponsorship. Their education is the greatest hope for their future and the stability we seek. 
• Enables soldiers to win hearts and minds by focusing on children. Good will builds through direct distribution and relationship building. 
• Directly engages US citizens in the process of assisting children and our soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. You can make a difference while helping our country achieve its objectives in Iraq and Afghanistan. 
• Builds on a similar Viet Nam experience. Focusing on children has a profound effect. 

Endorsed by the Governor of Kansas, all 50 National Guard armories state wide have been opened as collection points and a statewide marketing campaign is underway. 

The vision is to provide each child with a back pack filled with basic supplies and to provide the teachers of the schools with sufficient basic stock to sustain them for a period. The items included are: Back packs or book bags, pencils, sharpeners, erasers and pens, paper ( notebooks, reams of paper, writing pads), crayons, coloring books, construction paper, scissors, rulers, calculators, chalk and blackboard erasers, tape, staplers, small toys that fit in a back pack (beanie babies, stuffed animals, cars, Frisbees, jump ropes, chess, checkers, soccer balls), tooth brushes and tooth paste. 

For more information or to contribute to “Help us Learn . . . Give us Hope” visit their website at:  http://www.helpuslearngiveushope.org/

• Expanding the RideLawrence.com
• The Lawrence Community Bike Ride scheduled for this summer
• A new bike rack design competition and installation for VanGo's facility
• Our Shelterbox fundraising drive

It's exciting to help people both locally and globally and we'd like you to be a part of it!

We meet Wednesday's at noon at the Eldridge hotel in downtown Lawrence.  

For more info on our club Download our two page brochure, just click on the picture in the right margin.

You can also go to our "Reasons to Join Rotary" Page. 

The Journal World's Chad Lawhorn spoke to LCR Nov 30th and talked about being a

reporter in Lawrence since 1992 and the changes he's seen discussing everything from the South Lawrence Trafficway (one of his first stories) to the happenings at City Hall.