Officers Needed!!!

TCBC needs new officers on the Board.  Ed Nordquist, Vice-President, has served as Acting President for two years.  Vicki Patten has been Secretary for three years and Treasurer for two years before that.  John Ittner has been Treasurer for three years and also covers several other positions. (see Contact page.)
A complete Board is necessary to keep the club running effectively and to maintain our corporate charter.  Without the Articles of Incorporation, the club would be unable to obtain insurance for our rides and other events.  Also, there would be no club treasury.
Call (6271195) or email Ed Nordquist and get your name on the ballot.  Elections will be held in December. [archived 12-27-08]
SHUT UP AND PEDAL!
That's the title of the blog created by a family of four from Walla Walla, Washington, who recently completed an eleven-week tour across the country, ending in Portland, Maine. Watch out, their fun attitude and enthusiasm are contagious! http://www.shut-up-and-pedal.blogspot.com [archived 12-11-08]
CRITICAL MESS
Unfortunately, with more bikes and motorized vehicles sharing the road, there also seems to be a growing number of bicyclist-driver altercations taking place. For examples, read this Seattle Times article and the one following it from Newsweek.  But, as the rock band War wondered in their 1975 hit song (a question Smash Mouth re-asked more than twenty years later), "Why Can't We Be Friends?" The Bikehugger thinks he has a possible antidote to help iron out some of this growing strife.
(reprinted from Bike Bits, by Adventure Cycling Association, and inspired by a message from Rob Witcraft) [archived 11-18-08]
Cycling Workshops Scheduled

At the September 25 club meeting, new TCBC members Annie Cowan and Derek Slife announced their campaign to provide basic to advanced bicycling workshops for new to intermediate cyclists.  The workshops will be low-cost.  For details on signing up, see the Attendees page, or to assist with this project, see this page. [archived 10-23-08]
One Million Bicycles or The Revolution Will Not Be Motorized

Bicycling advocate, speaker, writer, and self-identified nutjob Joe "Metal Cowboy" Kurmaskie has launched a movement some call the Woodstock equivalent of cycling.  The idea is to get a million more people on bikes by 8-9-09, the date of Million-Bike rallies nationwide.  Check www.onemillionbicycles.org or www.metalcowboy.com for more details.  [Archived 10-15-08]
TCBC is a Friend of Badger Mountain
The Board of the Tri-City Bicycle Club agreed to donate $500.00 for adjacent lands purchase to the Friends of Badger Mountain.  This will enhance our riding pleasure by increasing the number of outdoor destinations reachable by bicycle, as well as help preserve some of the open character of our region. See http://www.friendsofbadger.org/adjacentlands.html.   [Archived 10-15-08]
Cooper's Corner Completed

Cooper's Corner opened on July 10.  See the article on the Bicycle Alliance web page.   [Archived 10-15-08]
Are You Weighed Down by the "SR" Factor?

See this article by Gordon Black, Executive Director of the Bicycle Alliance of Washington. [Archived 10-1-08]
Walla Walla Tour a hot Success

George Kyriazis and Jane Sereda, the Ittners, and the Nordquists pedalled an overnight tour to Walla Walla on July 19-20.  Highlights of this trip were dinner at the Destinations Grill in the restored train depot, plus 3 winery tours.

The Teapot Dome Tour was also successful.  Three other couples; Vicki & Tom Patten, Sue & Dave Gerkensmeyer, and Kathleen & Ed Nordquist, joined Ellie & John Ittner for the tour.  We ate our way to Toppenish with a breakfast launch at Shadow Mountain Grill, lunch at the Blue Goose, and ice Cream at Dairy Fair.

After breakfast at the Best Western Toppenish Inn, the group headed for the Teapot Dome Oil Company station, an historical landmark in Zillah.  Lunch at Snipes Mountain Brewing, then dodging a fire near Whitstran, and finally home.  [Archived 8-6-08]
New Members Rise to the Challenge

Two very important positions have been assumed by new TCBC members.  Lora Bannan is now the Newsletter Editor.  She has been a TCBC member since July, 2007.  Aaron Allen took on the Ride Coordinator job, which Ed Nordquist has performed for several years.  Aaron joined  two years ago.
[Archived 6-18-08]
TCBC In the News

The April 19 edition of the Tri-City Herald featured an article by Laura Zaichkin, "Tri-Citians just want to ride their bicycles".  The article told about the experiences of TCBC members Carol Henifin and John Ittner.  It also mentioned and quoted Damion Miller, a League Cycling Instructor and future TCBC member.  The story touted the benefits of cycling and the advantages of a sound cycling training program for both safety and on-the-road self-sufficiency.
[Archived 6-4-08]
GhostBikes

At the March 27 TCBC Board meeting, the board approved initiating a Ghostbike program in the Tri-Cities area.  Kathleen Nordquist will chair this effort.  A "Ghost Bike" is a bicycle that is painted all white and posted at a location where a cyclist has been hit or killed by a motorist.

See the GhostBike website for more information.  One difference in our program:  TCBC will be open and above-board with this project, meaning that we will have permission from the victim's family and local jurisdictions before placing a GhostBike memorial.  [Archived 5-15-08]
HELP!!! - Paperwork Missing!

For some reason unknown to your clueless Treasurer, membership Chairman, and Webmaster, about half of the membership renewals received lately have been in the form of a lone check.

Please ensure that you send in a renewal or membership form with your annual dues.  The club needs to ensure that addresses are current.  Most important, our insurance carrier requires that we have a current waiver & release signed by each member.  [Archived 4-18-08]
TCBC Still has some Legs

Eighteen members, prospective new members, and guests showed up at Applebee's on February 28 to chow down on local restaurant fare and discuss what to do with the seeming lack of interest in keeping TCBC alive.  Eighteen is a record number, a meeting attendance figure not seen for over five years.  Maybe the secret is food.  Ya think?

Some ideas for tours were thrown on the table, and Mary Kay and Jim Britton announced their new southern U.S. Tour beginning this Spring.  Another local tour was proposed for the Memorial Day weekend.  Not quite planned, it will be the First Annual Teapot Dome Tour, from the Tri-Cities to Zillah, with a photo stop at the Teapot Dome Oil Co. Vintage gas station on the Yakima Valley Highway.  [Archived 3-27-08.]
TCBC Needs You!!!

The old year is out and the new year finds the Club without a Vice-President, without a Newsletter Editor, and sans Ride Coordinator.  The Secretary would also like some relief, having done that job for the past two years after several years as Treasurer.  Please step up and help keep TCBC running.

Call Ed Nordquist at 6271195 or 531-8118 and get on the ballot.

A February meeting, including FOOD, is planned for Thursday, February 28, at 6:30.  The meeting will take place in the Applebee's banquet room on Columbia Center Blvd..  We need to have a substantial turnout to have a legitimate election and to ensure that there is enough interest in what TCBC does to keep it going.  Participation in the past 2-3 years has dwindled to the point that the Club may cease to exist.  Not a good way to start 2008.  [Archived March 9, 2008]
IEC

The Inland Empire Century has been turned over to the Kiwanis Clubs of Columbia and Tri-Cities Industry.  A joint committee has been formed, including both TCBC members and Kiwanians.  Registration for the event is already active.

The IEC is scheduled for May 8, 2008.  TCBC and Kiwanis members will be on hand at the March 8-9 Bike Expo in Seattle to promote the event.  TCBC should receive about $600 for our assistance to the Kiwanis clubs.  This amount will help with club expenses and will remain below the threshold of 35% outside receipts, which is the limit for maintaining non-profit status.

IEC proceeds will continue to benefit LAB, BAW, Adventure Cycling, and Safe Kids.
[Archived Jan. 2008]