In time for the release of his new book "Tribes", author Seth Godin
managed led people to finish a book written together, on-line, by his tribe of followers. The work is called The Tribes Casebook.
Watch Seth Godin's blog for the announcement.
What makes this so special to me and my few special readers is this: The book contains numerous tribal stories. Two of which I submitted. Yaay!
This makes me not an author but at least a co-author - only months after I realized authoring is part of my calling. If you read this, chances are authoring and blogging is your calling, too. If you dreamed of starting a blog, what holds you back? Now is as good a time as any.
Here is one sneak preview case study.
The Tribes Casebook page 22 [flickr photo only in this on-line version]
The Ride of Silence
by CoCreatr
(yours truly)
Every year, on the 3rd Wednesday in May, cyclists worldwide join in a silent slow-paced ride in honor of those who have been injured or killed while cycling on public roadways.
This has been happening since 2003. Led by Chris Phelan, it’s a mass demonstration with a purpose - beyond state, national, or cultural boundaries - to raise awareness of cyclists’ legal right to the road and motorists’ legal obligation to share the road.
The tribe is tied together by common elements of tragic history. They share the will to improve conditions, and join in by demonstrating their mission at the same place, same time and with same means of transportation every year.
This is beyond bumper sticker marketing. Armbands are strongly encouraged. Black for everyone (solidarity in mourning lost cyclists). Red for those who have been injured by motorists. It’s a somber and moving example of a tribe going slow, setting an example, sharing its story and growing in numbers – going, virally, slowly and peacefully.
In the words of Chris Phelan, from his blog post Let the Silence Roar:
‘And there is the meat of it, the power of what we do when we take part in the R of S; getting as many people on bikes as possible, at the same time that have the same voice, communicating through peaceful assembly.
With over 200 locations in the US alone, it is becoming harder and harder for the motoring public to ignore us.
And that’s the point. When news reports show more than the customary 3-4 cyclists the local community is used to seeing on the road and report that there [are] over 300 locations WORLD WIDE going on the same day, it is the hope and faith the our society will sit up and take notice, not only of those riding, but also those either no longer able, or those no longer with us to ride because a motorist-on-cyclist accident.
Nationally, this is akin to our Memorial Day, but without the bar-b-que sales. It’s important to us that all the locations ride at the same time to make the above points. Fractured with events at several times during the month, or worse, year, is not in any of our best interests. The event loses its focus, and intent.
Our event is held on the 3rd Wednesday of May. Every calendar has that date. (For 2009, it will be May 20. Mark your calendar now.)
I can appreciate people wanting to simplify their calendar. But,...it’s not about convenience. We have this one hour the entire year to show the public our strength in numbers, what we look like when we actually get together, those older, slower, faster, or leaner, with mountain bikes, racing bikes, kid bikes, etc. We have had 3,000 here in Dallas at the Ride Of Silence. That gets news coverage.
And, just in case the powers that be are concerned this is about profits or money, this event is also the largest free volunteer run event without cash flow, no budget. And that’s world wide.’
That’s a tribe.
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