Contributing to the Success of Other Organizations
Using funds raised mainly by the annual Great Pumpkin Metric, the EBC gives back to the community to support bicycling in the community and the state of Indiana. We have also donated special-needs bicycles to the Evansville-Vanderburgh School Corporation and to individuals through our Special Needs program.
The EBC Supports the Local Cycling Community
Cycling is very important to our members and we work to further the causes of cyclists in our area. We participate in many events throughout the year, including health fairs and town meetings.
Our Great Pumpkin Metric (GPM) is our main annual fundraiser. Those funds are then donated to The League of American Bicyclists, the Indiana Bicycle Coalition, local charities, and individuals or organizations needing special-needs bicycles.
Reminder to club members: You get club miles for volunteering for an official EBC event. These events are usually on the same day as a club ride, so you get the longest number of miles available that day, excluding centuries. So, if there was an event on a Saturday morning in the summer, and the ride was at Dogtown that day, you would get 43 miles for volunteering. "Official" events are listed in the newsletter or via mass email prior to the event and there will be a coordinator for the event that you should call in advance to reserve your spot.
2008 was a busy year for the club and we appreciate the opportunity to help out.
12/2008
I recently met with Nancy Tibbett, the new director for the Indiana Bicycle Coalition, and spent two hours talking about what our club does for the community. I feel fortunate to belong to such a great club. According to her, we do much more than most clubs in the regards of bicycle safety and community awareness. I'm very proud of all of you. It looks like Nancy is reaching out to all the clubs in Indiana to look at how the IBC can help with problems cyclists face in all areas of the state. She is working on education, public awareness and safety issues. She will be an asset to all the members of IBC.
--Darlene Wefel, EBC President
2008 EBC Advocacy
January
Evansville Live it Up Expo
On Saturday, January 12, the Evansville Bicycle Club manned a booth at the Evansville Live It Up Expo at The Centre. The floor had over fifty exhibitors which covered a wide array of groups. Everything from running and roller derby teams to fitness and health centers were represented.
At our booth, we talked to many people interested in the group, whether it be for ride information or general bicycle safety on the roads. Those who passed by were treated to a number of free items, including coloring books, “Share the Road” bandanas and bike safety pamphlets.
While talking to their guests, Rusty Yeager, Darlene Wefel, and Linda Clemmer got in a few miles riding on their trainers. Luckily, this was not an EBC sponsored ride because neither were wearing their helmets!
The day was a great opportunity for the EBC to show the members of the community how we can benefit them.
Rusty Yeager talks about the EBC with an attendee.
Linda Clemmer rides a
bike on a trainer.
March
Patchwork Central - $1,000 Donation
On March 13, 2008, during our March club meeting, Jill and John from Patchwork Central were in attendance and told the club members about their fantastic bicycle program. They teach children how to maintain, repair, and refurbish their bicycles. Also, they give bikes to adults in need of a means of transportation, with a limit of one per person. Last year, they gave over 100 bicycles away and with each bike they gave the owner a bicycle lock. After hearing about their wonderful project the club donated $1,000 to Patchwork Central for their bicycle program. Patchwork Central is looking for volunteers to help them with this program.
City Council Meeting - Press Release about Evansville Bikeways - Bikeway Map
On March 17, a large group of club members attended the Evansville Metropolitan Planning Organization presentation at the City Council meeting. The planning organization presentation was directed at changing part of Lincoln Avenue from a four lane street to a three lane (2 fourteen foot lanes and a middle 10 foot turning lane,) this would allow enough room for cyclists to use this street for riding/commuting and give a walkers more distance between sidewalks and passing automobiles. This was a great show of support from the cycling community to make Evansville a bicycle friendly community. It’s a start in the right direction. The future looks a little brighter for cyclists in Evansville and the surrounding community.
April
IMBA Trail Building
The International Mountain Bike Association and the Hoosier Mountain Bike Association Trail Building Seminar at Harmonie State Park on April 19 was well attended. Approximately thirty people spent the day learning about trail building techniques on how to build a sustainable trail. After several hours in the classroom, the sky cleared and we headed out to the trail site to practice what we learned under the close supervision of IMBA and HMBA's leaders/trainers. About twenty volunteers and IDNR employees spent three hours working on the trail. Unfortunately, it started to rain again and we called it a day.
Sunday proved to be a much nicer day with warmer temperatures and sunny skies. Volunteers continued to build trails and learn new skills on how to take site readings and plan the trail layout. Ron Pendley is the driving force behind the trail building. All I can say is "WOW!" These trails are going to be awesome and I want to thank Mike Hufhand, President, and Paul Arlinghaus, Vice President, of the Hoosier Mountain Bike Association for getting IMBA to have this clinic in New Harmonie State Park and working to get some trails build in our area, and all their hard work. To volunteer or find out more contact Ron, or visit his web site www.ronpendley.com
EBC Members head towards an area where a path will be made.
EBC members use their classroom training
to start building a trail.
A portion of the finished trail.
June
T. J. Maxx Bicycle Safety
This young girl enjoys some shade before turning.
A new bike helmet is fitted for an attendee.
Cindy Jones with two boys showing off their bikes and new helmets.
Some crazy guy (Dan Krueger) in a back brace teaches hand signals on the bike course.
July
Ivy Tech Safe Schools & Healthy Students Bike Safety
July 9 - For the second straight year, members of the EBC assisted in the presentation of forty eight brand new bicycles to the most deserving participants in the Ivy Tech Safe Schools & Healthy Students Bike Safety program. The program is sponsored by Ivy Tech in cooperation with the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation. The program is coordinated by Dave Schutte and EVSC school board member, Chris Kiefer. This large contingent of EBC volunteers was quite satisfying for a weekday afternoon. Dan Armstrong, Diane Bies, Linda Clemmer, Gary Gardner, Paul Jensen, Dan and Leandra Krueger, Cindy and Corey Jones and Randy Silke all attended. During a scheduled snack time, the members introduced themselves and discussed anything about bikes with the kids. Paul Jensen spoke about the purpose of the club, how it feels to own a new bike and a video presentation and brief discussion of bicycle safety. The bicycles were awarded to students in six school districts. Presentations were made by Police Chief Brad Hill, Sheriff Eric Williams and EVSC Superintendent of Schools, Vincent Bertram. The winners were determined by their respective counselors who rate the attendance, attitude plus the behavior of each participant during his/her participation in the program. A total of eighty-eight bicycles were awarded this year with the other forty being distributed at their on site location at an earlier date. There were approximately 240 boys and girls in attendance. Each bike included a lock and HELMET. After the bikes were awarded, the new owners wheeled their bikes to a room where the EBC members helped size the bikes, fit the helmets and answer questions about hanging gears, braking and general rules of the road. The faces, expressions, and exuberance of joy of the winners was something that will be remembered by each EBC member present.
Mike Harney - $500 Donation
Darlene Wefel had the privilege of meeting Mike Harney to present him with a check in the amount of $500 to help him pay for his handbike. This young man is an example of determination and an inspiration to all the people he has come in contact with. At the young age of 19 he had an accident while changing a flat on his automobile. The jack slipped and Michael was left paralyzed. He has set goals to work towards and we're positive he will accomplish them.
Letter from Mike Harney
Dear Evansville Bicycle Club,
I want to thank you very much for your assistance in purchasing my Freedom Ryder FRH-1 handcycle. This handcycle has given me the opportunity and ability to start riding again for the enjoyment of bicycling and the much needed exercise. It has also given me the chance to bring my mother-in-law back to cycling after several years off the bicycle, I hope to work on my wife next. My mother-in-law and I try to make it a couple times a week to the Heritage Hills High School parking lot to ride a few miles. While most of my riding plans are for leisure rides, I do have hopes of riding in the BikeMS.org ride later this fall in Carmel, Indiana and then if that goes well, the Great Metric Pumpkin in October. I have a long term goal of completing the RAIN Ride in either 2009 or 2010.
Thank you,
Mike Harney
Mike Harney riding his handcycle.
August
St. Mary's/Kohl's Children's Health & Safety Day on August 23 was the 3rd annual event and the Evansville Bicycle Club was there to support our community. The location for this year's event was moved to Kohl's on the West side of Evansville. Because of the location change we did not have room for a bicycle rodeo course, but that did not hamper our efforts to help improve cycling safety for children. Instead this change allowed our members more time to fit approximately 300 helmets, explain to parents how to adjust and fit their children's helmet, pass out lots of bicycle safety information, and talk to parents. It was a fantastic day for the 15 club members to share their knowledge and enthusiasm of cycling with the community.
Bob Messick and Paul Jensen fitting helmets.
September
Jake's Day - Article from Evansville Courier & Press
One of the highlights of September included Jake's Day at the
Evansville Gun Club. This was the 5th anniversary for Jake's Day and the second
year that our club was invited to do bicycle safety education. One hundred
children, ages 6–14, joined in a day of fun and education. 
Kevin Pendley and his
son, Nicholas, joined me in helping these children to learn about riding safely and
how to protect themselves against road hazards. The activities for the day
included archery, exploring the great outdoors, turkey calling, fishing, bicycle
safety, turkey heritage, wilderness survival, air rifle shooting, trap shooting, self
defense, games, clowns, and a picnic. All the children had a great time. Many of
the adults watched our video, and asked many questions about cycling. It was
a great day for everyone.
Kids watching the safety video
October
2008 GPM Sponsors
Our 27th annual Great Pumpkin Metric was a great success. 841 riders turned out for a beautiful day. The weather couldn't have been more perfect. The theme this year was "Outer Space." Each rest stop had decorations and costumes based on something from space. Highway 41 Bluegrass band played at the 4-H Center for the returning riders who were also treated to our spaghetti dinner and chili. The EBC thanks our sponsors and all the riders who attended and would like to remind you that our community activities and donations throughout the year are funded by the GPM.
Read a personal account from the guy who rode the GPM on a unicycle!
November
St. Paul's UCC Health and Safety Fair
On November 2, Rusty Yeager and Darlene Wefel spent a few hours at St. Paul's U.C.C. Helping Ashley Conkling and Jennah Canter with their Senior Project for graduation at Reitz High School. The two young ladies organized a health fair. Approximately 125 people attended the fair with 15 booths from local organizations such as the American Red Cross, the Dental Hygiene School from USI, Diabetics Association, American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, Pro Rehab and many more.
First Christian Church Health and Safety Fair
On November 8, Dan Krueger and his
crew represented the EBC at First Christian Church in Newburgh for
their first Health and Safety Fair. Dan's Competition donated
door prizes for both events. We had helmets, bells and water
bottles to give away. The next time you stop in Dan's
Competition, thank Derek Funk for their support of cycling and
the EBC.