Jessica Bullen Memorial Fund

A crash is no accident. No one else has to die. Click here to contribute to the Jessica Bullen Memorial Fund. Our friends at Quann Community Garden are creating a memorial for Jess. Click here for more information. Funds that the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin collects in memory of Jessica Bullen, a bicycle advocate who was killed in a crash with a motor vehicle, will be applied towards a motorist education program. Thank you to everyone who has generously donated in Jessica's memory so that we can work to prevent other needless deaths. Also visit StreetShare.org for similiar programs throughout the state or our Ghost Bikes page for more information on sharing the road and preventing crashes. Update 8/23/2006: BFW is sorry to report that the Tracy Sorum trial ended in a deadlocked jury (see http://www.madison.com/wsj/mad/top/index.php?ntid=89418&ntpid=2). The Dane County prosecutors declined the opportunity to retry the case. Mr. Sorum's driver's license has been revoked for a period of one year. Mr. Sorum's record includes the following violations prior to the crash with Jessica Bullen: 2002 Operating while suspended; 2002 Operating w/o carrying a license;2002 Operating while intoxicated (2nd offense); 1999 Failure to notify police of an accident Hit and Run - property adjacent to highway; 1999 Driving too fast for conditions; 1999 Speeding on freeway (20-24 MPH); 1998 Hit and Run - unattended vehicle Failure to notify police of accident; 1998 Operate w/o valid license; 1996 Operation w/o required lamps lighted; 1996 Speeding in 55 MPH zone (20-24 MPH); 1995 Speeding violations; Non-traffic 1997 - Disorderly Conduct; Non-traffic 1997 - Possession of THC Possess drug paraphernalia; Non-traffic 1996 - Underage Person Possess/Consume Alcohol Tracy Sorum, 30, of McFarland, charged with homicide by negligent driving for the June 30, 2005, death of Jessica Bullen, 29, of Madison, will not be punished severely. Sorum's attorney,Stephen Eisenberg, was quoted in the Wisconsin State Journal as saying, " I don't think these cases should be crimes." He was also quoted in the June16th issue of Madison's Isthmus paper in an article titled "Killers on the Road: Is Dane County too quick to prosecute inattentive driving?" as saying, "It's called an accident the last time I checked. The law says you have to apply ordinary care, not absolute care. So what? We're going to charge crimininally each time there's a death?" A car can be a deadly weapon when used irresponsibly...whether the cause of the irresponsible behavior is alcohol consumption or innattentiveness. The Bicycle Federation is outraged that, one year after losing one of our finest bicycle advocates as a result of Mr. Sorum's inattentive driving, inattentive driving resulting in death could possibly be considered a trivial matter. No, Mr. Eisenberg, it is NOT an accident. It is a crash. An accident can not be prevented (like a lightning strike). A crash is totally and completely preventable. No one has to die when riding their bicycle on the road. The reason that people die in this manner is that someone, either the driver of the motor vehicle or the driver of the bicycle, has done something careless or illegal. When a human being loses their life due to the carelessness of others, it matters. A crash is no accident. More media coverage of the Sorum case is at http://bicyclefederationwisconsin.blogspot.com/2006/06/recent-ghost-bikesjessica-bullen-media.html

Jessica Bullen died Sunday, July 3, 2005, from injuries sustained in a bicycle crash. She was surrounded by those who loved her. Jessica was 29 years old and accomplished a great deal in her short life. She grew up in Dexter Mich., lived in Chicago and traveled extensively before settling in Madison. She graduated with honors from Earlham College in 1998 and finished her graduate work in the Urban and Regional Planning Department at the University of Wisconsin this spring. In recognition of her contributions to the department, Jessica received the Outstanding Student of the Year award from the Urban Planning faculty. Jessica's thoughtful and caring nature was apparent in her relationships with her friends and family as well as in her professional activities. She delighted those close to her with her youthful exuberance, playfulness and curiosity about the world around her. She poured her unlimited energy into local activities, such as the Quann community garden, promotion of public transportation and bicycle use. In her free time Jessica enjoyed riding her bicycle, cooking, photography, and exploring the outdoors. Jessica will be remembered by her partner, Michael Fay; her father, William; her mother, Shirley; her sister, Laura; her grandmother, Elsie Bullen-Klepper; and many other friends and family members. In lieu of flowers, Jessica's family asks that you make Wisconsin a better place to bike by giving a donation in Jessica's memory to The Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin (608) 251-4456 or www.bfw.org/about/giving.php. We miss you Jess.

You can make a donation in the memory of Jessica Bullen by mailing or dropping off a check to (please note in the memo line that it is for Jessica Bullen Memorial Fund):
Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin
106 E. Doty Street #400
P.O. Box 1224
Madison, WI 53701-1224

Or with your credit card by calling 608-251-4456.

You can make a contribution on-line through Community Shares at www.communityshares.com/donate.
Please make a note that your donation is for the Jessica Bullen Memorial Fund
...or here to learn more about their organization.

BFW is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and all contributions to are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. BFW accepts the following outright gifts: Cash, checks, or credit card contributions Matching gifts (ask your employer if they will match your contribution) Stock and mutual fund contributions Products and supplies BFW is always in need of general operating funds, but if you have a special interest in funding a special project

Membership
Not a member of BFW yet? Contact us at 608-251-4456 or download the form below, mail it in and join today! A Basic Annual membership is $25. Lifetime memberships are $1,000. There are many levels available.
Click here to get a BFW membership application...

If you wish to join on-line with a credit card, please go through Community Shares' online giving program, you must note that your contribution is meant for membership.

The BFW Endowment
In 2003 BFW established an endowment fund through the Madison Community Foundation. BFW will grow this endowment for a period of years and eventually will use the interest income to cover any annual shortfalls in operating expenses or to fund special projects that would not otherwise be possible. The principle amount of the endowment (the contributions that you make) will remain in perpetuity as a means of generating investment income. The endowment will ensure the long term financial health and survival of BFW. Contributing to the endowment is easy:
Checks: Checks can be made out to and mailed directly to:
Madison Community Foundation
P.O. Box 5010 Madison, WI 53705-0010
Please write “BFW Fund” in the notes on the check
Credit Cards, Direct Withdrawals, and Stock Contributions: Contact Madison Community Foundation at 608-232-1763 to arrange for a credit card contribution, direct withdrawals from your bank account, or a transfer of stock.
The Madison Community Foundation will provide you with receipts for your tax records.

Lifetime Giving
The Madison Community Foundation is also able to set up charitable gift annuities. These annuities provide interest income to the donor during their life, with the balance of the annuity transferring to BFW when the donor passes away. Gift annuities are a wonderful way to provide retirement income for yourself while ensuring that you continue to have an impact on the quality of bicycling in Wisconsin even after your death. Call Madison Community Foundation for details at 608-232-1763.

Bequests and Estate Gifts
Consider making a bequest to BFW in your will. Your lawyer can walk you through this process and BFW is happy to discuss options. If you choose to include BFW in your will or estate plan, we should be named as: The Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin Educational Foundation, Inc. Our federal tax id number is 39-1686663.

The Golden Spokes
All lifetime members, all endowment contributors at the $1,000 level and above, all gift annuity donors, and all bequest donors join the Golden Spokes. The Golden Spokes is our way of recognizing your extraordinary contribution to the Bicycle Federation. Golden Spokes Benefits include: -Monthly insider newsletter, HubBub
-Special publications including the BFW annual report
-Invitations to special BFW events
To learn more about The Golden Spokes, or to be added to the membership list if you have already named BFW in your estate plan, please contact us.