Momentum

These are exciting times, truly.  My public pledge (blog post July 29, “Let’s Organize and Ride Together) to join bicycle clubs who are FBA member clubs has been more fun and exciting than I thought possible.  To date, I have joined or have membership applications in the mail for 14 bicycle clubs, clubs from across the state that include (in no particular order):

Capital City Cyclists, Boca Raton Bicycle Club, North Florida Bicycle Club, Gainesville Cycling Club, Everglades Bicycle Club, Caloosa Riders Bicycle Club, Peace River Riders Bicycle Club, Sanibel Bicycle Club, Sarasota Manatee Bicycle Club, Polk Area Bicycling Association, Emerald Coast Cyclists, Florida Freewheelers, Coastal Cruisers Bicycle Club and Panthers Tandem Club.  I’m not sure how one joins MoXXie Bike Club, but considering the club rides are near where I live, I intend to attend a club ride and ask.

As far as being a member of all the above listed clubs, I find it somewhat reassuring that no matter where I travel in the state, I have fellow club members I can hook up with; stoker or not, right Panthers?  Seriously, it’s a GREAT feeling to be a member of these clubs and I appreciate each and every FBA member club  for supporting our organization.  The pledge, by the way, still holds –  if your bicycle club becomes a member club of the Florida Bicycle Association, I will join the club.  Am I your next member?

Next on my To Do List is Bicycle Shop members.  A shop mailing is in the works and soon, FBA Bicycle Shop “full members” will have in their possession a FBA decal and framed certificate to let you, their most valued customer, know that they support the FBA and the work FBA does for cyclists in Florida.  Would you shop anywhere else?

This week, and my excuse for not posting this blog on Tuesday, I had the pleasure of making a few appearances.  First, I attended the City of Lakeland Commissioners meeting and read into public record the announcement for Polk Area Bicycling Association being our 2013 Bicycle Club of the Year Award winner.  Next, I attended the City of Tallahassee Commissioners meeting and was actually on the agenda to present Chief Michael DeLeo our 2013 Law Enforcement Agency of the Year Award.

Presenting the award to Chief DeLeo was a special honor, but the main event of the meeting was the City of Tallahassee Salute to Veterans and Purple Heart Heroes.   Vice Commander John Haynes and Mayor John Marks presided over the ceremony,

which included the singing of the National Anthem by Fred Lee of Bethel AME Church, a rendition as heartwarming and beautiful as the ceremony itself.

Congratulations to Tallahassee, the first capital Purple Heart City in the United States!