MEMORANDUM
TO: Board of Directors
FROM: Jonathan P. Matthews, Committee Member
DATE: April 26, 2005
SUBJECT: 1st Annual Ride for the Kids Summary Report
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What started as a desire for me about 2 years ago became a reality. With a lot
of help the event was a huge success.
I want to give thanks to our sponsors - Frontera Concepts and Southwest Research
Center Federal Credit Union for their financial support and use of the facility
the day of the event. Also, to Carlos Garza of Cycle Gear who donated the use of
a motorcycle trailer, Mark Mathias who pulled the trailer and was our chase
vehicle, James Langford who was our guide to how to arrange the parking of the
bikes and a road captain, Milton James and David Moczygemba as our other two
road captains, and to the many other volunteers who gave up their morning to
come and be a part of getting everything set up and then breaking and putting
everything away. I want to give a "special thank you" to Karen Savickas-Mathias,
Sonya Smith and Cathy Wilson who worked hard all day even serving drinks,
delivering meals to the bikers, helping with the door prize drawings, and clean
up after the event was over. These three people made this 1st Annual Ride for
the Kids a wonderful experience for me as they took such a burden off my
shoulders and did a great job of taking care of all the important things that
needed to be done. I want to say "great job" to Ernest Cortez and Garibay Jr.
who provided the free music. Finally, to Tony Banuelos who took the wonderful
pictures of the bikers....thank you Tony! (You can view pictures and order the
ones you like by visiting our website at www.swrcfcu.com , just click on the
MORE button next to the Credit Unions 4 Kids motorcycle shirt logo.)
The ride took place on Sunday, April 10, 2005 starting the event at the
Southwest Research Center Federal Credit Union 7215 Culebra road office
location. The volunteers arrived around 8:45 a.m. to prepare the parking lot,
put up banners, balloons, tables, displays etc. before the bikers began arriving
at 10:00 a.m.
We had five vendors set up to provide information about their services and give
away some of their products - Alamo Cycle Plex, Cavender Toyota, Frontera
Concepts, Southwest Research Center Federal Credit Union and Red Bull.
We had 12 walk up riders register, 48 pre-registered riders show up, 18
volunteer helpers for the event and 11 pre-registered riders as no shows for a
total of 60 rider/passengers who road in the event. The total raised with the
sponsor donations, registration fees, sell of shirts and sell of door prize
chances brought in $3,173.00 less the expense of the food $490.00 and the cost
of the shirts at $1,669.36 and cost of a gas can + gas at $6.55 showed the event
a net profit of $1,007.09.
The 125 mile ride took us from 7215 Culebra Road out 410 South to Hwy 90 West to
Castroville, turning North on 471 up to 1283 West through Medina Lake area on to
Pipe Creek turning onto Hwy 16 to Bandera then turning onto 173 going Northwest
to Kerrville on to Hwy 16 to I-H 10 taking a much needed break on I-H 10 at the
rest stop. At the rest stop is where we found out about a biker down (John
Speck). A Bandera Sheriff and EMS were on the spot in no time. Mark Mathias
(chase vehicle), James Langford (road captain), Jeff Smith (biker) stopped to
render aid and trailer the bike. John Speck was checked out by the EMS unit and
taken to Methodist Hospital for precautionary follow up. He walked away from the
bike with a sore knee and hurt ribs. Also at the rest stop we had one biker pull
over, turned out they just needed to put their tank on reserve and go on to
Comfort to the next gas station. Cathy Walker provided water and snacks at the
rest stop. From there we pulled out again to ride on into Boerne taking the exit
537 going through down town Boerne's main street. The coolest part for me of the
ride was the police escorts. SAPD provided two motorcycle cops to help us leave
the Credit Union parking and get onto 410, Castroville police helped us through
the light until we turned onto 471, Bandera Sheriff and Bandera police provide
escort services from Medina Lake area all the way through Bandera until we
turned on to 173 heading toward Kerrville. When we arrived in Boerne three units
guided us through the seven lights on main street with their lights going and
they would sound their sirens as we drove through town, now that was cool!!! We
arrived at the Back Porch Restaurant around 2:50 p.m. and enjoyed a good meal
and great music and gave away the over 60 door prizes. It was a blast and
several riders already were asking about next year.
I have 88 extra shirts in a variety of sizes. The tellers will be selling them
while they last. Only $10.00 each, just visit any teller at either office
locations and have a part of this 1st Annual Ride for the Kids memorabilia.