| President's Message - October 2002
 Once again, just like all the other years, the year is winding down. As I write this it’s a full moon tonight. It’s always been in my opinion that to set your mind to doing a new venture of any kind, it’s good to go off and sit by the beach and think about what you want to accomplish. The moon being kind of a strong geological force of nature on all things on this planet, especially the ocean, thinking under its influence can only make you stronger, right? Well, that’s what I think. Yeah it’s kind of dreamer logic, but in some personal instances, it has worked. So to paraphrase, "Use the moon Luke."
Even though the year and race season are drawing to a close, our work, the club’s work, is not done. So much to do and so little time! Why are these days shorter? Oh yeah I forgot, that moon and earth axis and rotational stuff. Anyway, we need people to come forward and step up to be officers. Somehow after every Saturday and Sunday ride, people forget that they can talk to any officer about this stuff and what the various jobs entail, at Polly’s. And they can also throw their hat into the ring! Elsewhere in the newsletter I will include a section that will help to define just what the officer duties are. Bottom line though kids, we need you to come forward here! NOW!
Another facet to the end of the year is getting the next year’s sponsors all dialed in. We have proposals! We will be sending them to our existing sponsors and some new friends that we hope will join our merry band, but we can always use more! Please! Perhaps you have a friend, or a friend of a friend, that might be interested in putting their extra cash dollars into a non-profit cycling organization that just happens to do good things in the community and race. Then becoming a sponsor of Velo Allegro is the solution to all their extra dollar problems.
And along that same line of thought, we gotta start knocking people up for 2003 club dues! The jersey order will be placed with Voler in early November and we will have mid-December delivery. There will be no changes/increases to dues or clothing prices! Our follow-on order must be in by mid-January for us to get it in mid-March, so don’t delay. Get your money and application in by the club party or sooner. And speaking of the club party…
Of course what is the end of the year without the annual Velo Allegro awards party, officer installation and feeding frenzy? Mark your calendar for November 9th and let the fun begin! If you want to be part of any of the committees like food, entertainment, awards, decorations, whatever, sign up! We have sign up sheets at Polly’s and you can always call or email any of the officers if you want to be part of it. It is always a great time!
In case you hadn’t heard also, this helmet safety program that Pat Henry and Jenn Stevens have started to present at various Long Beach elementary schools is being greeted by school administrators as a blessing! First off, the kids just absolutely dig the whole presentation! Then we get to give free helmets to kids that write an essay and/or draw a picture about helmet safety! And just maybe in this whole process, save a life or three. It is such a cool thing and I am so very proud of our club being involved in such great work. I really believe that if the USCF had every club in their ring of incompetence do something like this every year, instead of put on a race, they would have passed USA Swimming and AYSO in kid participation years ago. There wouldn’t be just 9 juniors showing up at a race, there would be 90! I hope that next year all club members can find the time to participate in this program. The groundwork is being dug and foundation is being laid. Become a part of it now and help build this into a grand success for our community, for our club and for our sport.
Okay, so your mission here is clear. Sit by the ocean under a full moon and make up you mind to be involved in the club administration, the club sponsors, the club party, the club community service, just focus on your bike club and act locally, think globally, and all will be right with the world.
-Buzz.
PS. I must give major league thank you to Eric Russell from Clif for the Clif Shot stickers. The kids LOVED them!
-posted 10 October 2002 |
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Be Careful in Turnbull Canyon!
As you know and have at least heard, this helmet safety program in the Long Beach Elementary Schools has really proven to be quite the popular gig. I think Jenn and Pat have at least 5 more schools to do their "melon" show and we have at least 2 more schools to do helmet fittings. As far as this white boy is concerned, this is something that hopefully the club will continue for many years to come.
This program is premised on a racing season that runs from the beginning of February to the end of August. If you follow this for the next few months, you will be ready to begin racing in February and have your first period of really good form about six to eight weeks later. If you want to race earlier or later you could adjust the program up or back. Call Neil (a small amount of consultation is free for all club members) if you have questions. Here is a rough outline of the months to come.
