Message From the President – WCBC Annual Banquet

Annual Banquet and Business Meeting

The WCBC Annual Banquet and Business Meeting was held Saturday, February 24th.  It was a well-attended meeting that featured a presentation by Laura Wilburn of the Urban Bike Project.

The event, held at a new venue this year got off to a start at 5:30 with hors d’horves, drinks, and conversation as everyone arrived.  There was a montage of  Club photographs being projected onto the wall as the crowd filtered in and gathered before the food was served at 6:30.  Emily Ciancio, Social Chair pulled together a lot of great food and beverage this year (thanks go out to Emily!).  The Club provided the entrees of Penne pasta, baked ziti, meatballs, chicken tenders and roast beef au jus coupled with a chopped antipasto salad.  As has been tradition, members brought other salads and pre-dinner snacks so no one went home hungry.  The Club also provided beer, wine, soda and bottled water for those in attendance.  The Club left the desserts to the members and boy did they come through with cake and cookies to end the night with some sweets.

Awards and Recognition

Service Awards were presented to eight members this year who provided noteworthy service to the Club over the past year.  The award recipients were…

• Carol Bassett
• Mike Bassett
• Jim Broscious
• Bill Ebbott
• Danny Fisher
• Charlie Johnston
• Gail Robillard
• Kevin Tumey

Distinguished Service Awards were presented to three members who have contributed to the ongoing success of the Club over the past year in a significant way.  The Annual Honorees were…

• Joe Bockrath
• Mike Kealey
• Dianne Leipold

Charlie Johnston was also honored with the Ray Villec Award of Perseverance presented by Wally Hertler.  For those that have attended prior Annual Banquets you know the premise for Wally’s awards and all were entertained during his presentation.  (Unfortunately Charlie couldn’t make the meeting, but his awards will be passed onto him)

Executive Committee, Donations and the Speaker

A slate of officers for the Club’s Executive Committee was presented.  The proposed Executive Committee members were each introduced and stood to be recognized.  After the introductions the members in attendance voted in the Executive Committee as presented.  See a prior posting on the website for more information about the Executive Committee.

It was noted that our four events were very successful this past year, in part because of the favorable weather.  Since we were successful we were able to make monetary donations to cycling related non-profits, this year donating about $14,000 to fifteen organizations and causes.  For those that supported our events, the organizations and causes thank you!

Laura Wilburn, Executive Director for the Urban Bike Project, shared a lot of great information about the UBP.  She shared some of the history of the organization, its goals and objectives, some of its success stories with young cyclists and the organizations vision for the future.  Briefly the UBP makes bikes available to those that can benefit from but cannot afford them.  If you have any bikes or bike parts that you don’t know what to do with, the UBP does so consider donating them to a great cause.  And for those that have free time and want to do something that gives back to the cycling community, consider volunteering some time to the UBP.  It’s a good way to fill that gap between the last fall ride and the first spring ride.  Check out their website (http://www.urbanbikeproject.com/) for more information or reach out to Laura at wilburn.laura@gmail.com.  

More awards and a Special Announcement

Ride Leader awards were presented with a list of the top ten ride leaders (by ride count) and those receiving awards for leading a minimum of eight rides.  Thirty-seven of our Ride Leaders received awards this year.

Debbie Huff received awards for her participation in the Historical Markers contest.  Debbie visited 60 markers between the beginning of April and July, 43 in New Castle County and 17 in Kent County.  She received two gift cards to local bike shops for visiting the most Markers in the two counties.  The Club plans to have more contests in the coming year, so stay tuned.

The Trek store (former Bike Line) on Concord Pike is offering to put on a WCBC VIP Night.  The store will be closed to the public and open only to Club members.  There will be special discounts on everything in the store, including bikes.  There will be food, beverages and door prizes.  Look for postings on the website, Listserve and social media with more details about the special night in April.

The meeting came to a close around 9:00 with thanks going out to Emily and her crew of volunteers for putting on such a nice event, the Executive Committee for another successful year, the Ride Leaders and Event Volunteers, and for all of our members for making this a friendly Club to be involved with.

I hope to see more members at next year’s event.  Those that attended had a good time and were planning to return in a year.

I am looking forward to seeing everyone out and about in the coming months.

JW Haupt
WCBC President