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.
A 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.
