The Cross Canada Cycle Tour Society January, 2019 Volume 36, Issue #1
President’s Report John Pringle
Sweet and Sour
As noted at the Annual General Meeting it was so pleasant to be amongst Club members (In the main, the audience of about 50 were from the brand new Victoria Chapter, which had just voted in favour of their new constitution, linking the Chapter to the CCCTS Board [national body]). A group of like-minded folk who enjoy travel by bicycle; not only in performing daily pursuits such as shopping and meeting friends for coffee, but for annual vacations as well (For example fifteen or so adventurous members will be departing in February for a tour of Yunnan Province, China, under the guidance of Max McClanahan. Exciting!) And as we age, many are purchasing electrically-assisted e-bikes to continue our two-wheeled odysseys (In fact rumour has it the Club will be hosting an e-bike hub & spoke in 2019!). Many are buying electric cars as well. We are “green”. We are consummate recyclers because it is the right thing to do.
The madness that surrounds us is beyond comprehension: South of the border levelling of the Appalachia’s is occurring to attain more coal; the ripping apart of democratic institutions such as the Environmental Protection Agency to permit logging and oil drilling in ecological reserves; the separating of babes from refugee mothers; and worst of all, the promotion of dogma that “man” can’t influence climate. Woe is us.
Most of us are grandparents. We worry for our grandchildren.
But getting back to bicycles and wise and green decision making – somebody once stated that “In Utopia there will be bicycle tracks.”
An appeal was made at the AGM to sit back and enjoy the next couple hours as we celebrate the bicycle, and learn what it takes to run a Club of ~600 members stretching from the Comox Valley to the Ottawa Valley. The proceedings went well. But a cloud on the horizon was pointed out at the meeting – succession planning. It came to light at the Board meeting immediately following the AGM. Despite our progressive moves: We introduced board meetings to teleconferencing to allow wider geographic representation; Our modern website is fully-up-and-running; again to enhance communications and participation; We have four solid chapters with Fraser Valley joining a few days following Victoria (Each has an elected local governing body with more democracy in the Club than ever before). But, succession planning loomed for the national Board, and we failed to take it seriously. December 2018 was to mark my last month as President. However, retirement didn’t happen. There was no one to take over. Board members offered to share the President’s workload. But you don’t share such a position. And besides, it is against the constitution. I will stay on, but only after offering up an ultimatum to the Board: A Vice President by June’s end, who will be President by December. Plans are underway. We are loaded with responsible members who are up to the task. Stay posted.
Past President is vacant as well. Allan Buium bid farewell after 17 or so years of exemplary service. And Ed Fudge, our excellent Director of Chapters and VP, did the same. Age and years of service take its toll. All three of us will soon be octogenarians.
We have an excellent Board. The Club is in good hands. No need to worry. But do consider getting involved. We have a Member-at-Large position for new Board members. You have a year to choose a role of your choice.
A Happy New Year to all members.
With kindest regards. John
Upcoming Tours
Upcoming Hub & Spoke
Welcome New Members
| Pam | Hoeschle | Kelowna | BC |
| Susan | Coley | Tacoma | WA |
| Christine | Libera | Langley | BC |
| Carmen | Dyck | Kelowna | BC |
| Gail | Ross | S. Surrey | BC |
| Irene | Fritschi Nelin | Vancouver | BC |
| Jane | Saxton | Nanaimo | BC |
| Brian | Isberg | Victoria | BC |
| Crystal | Bedard | Wanchai, Hong Kong | NA |
Orlando firefighters build dozens of bikes for kids in need — and to reward 7-year-old for quick thinking in emergency
Tess Sheets 12/18/2018. Orlando Sentinel
© Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel/TNS From left, Fire Chief Roderick Williams and Orlando City Commissioner Patty Sheehan present an award and a new bicycle to Xavier, who called 911 and saved his mother’s life. Orlando firefighters helped assemble nearly 90 bikes that will be donated to children in the Reeves Terrace neighborhood, on Tuesday, December 18, 2018. The “bike build” event was part of the 17th annual Wheels for Kids program Sheehan started in 2002.
Xavier Ellis’ jaw dropped when Orlando Fire Chief Roderick Williams wheeled out the black and red Mongoose bicycle. Pegs were mounted on the back wheel and a shiny blue helmet hung from the handlebar.
“A new bicycle,” the wide-eyed 7-year-old said. “Now I can donate my old bike.”
Xavier was gifted the new wheels Tuesday, while about a dozen Orlando firefighters were building bikes for kids in the Reeves Terrace neighborhood as part of the annual Wheels for Kids drive.
Xavier doesn’t live in the Orlando Housing Authority neighborhood on Bumby Avenue, but firefighters invited him to their downtown station during the event for what he thought was a tour of the facility.
Instead, they revealed one of the newly built bikes was for him.
The gift was an award for his actions Nov. 27, when he called 911 and calmly reported his mother was “on the floor unresponsive,” and then that she was seizing. The 911 dispatcher told Xavier paramedics were on the way and asked the boy to monitor when his mom wakes up.
“Mom, are you there?” Xavier is heard saying in audio released by OFD. “Mom, help is on the way.”
The 7-year-old was able to tell dispatchers his full address, including his apartment number, and that his mother suffers from a medical condition. Williams said that helped save her life.
“Young kids are actually… the best callers,” said Danette Jameson, assistant communications manager for OFD. “They follow instructions. They do not understand the gravity of the situation, so they’re usually a lot calmer and they’re easier to get the information out of that we need.”
Xavier credited his great-grandparents for his quick thinking.
“I was taught by the best,” he said.
Paul Meinholz said he taught his great-grandson to call 911 during an emergency when he was about 2 years old. He also memorized his mom’s and great-grandparents’ phone numbers. Xavier acts less like a second-grader and more like a 27-year-old man, Paul Meinholz said – smart and “with all the ethics I wish every kid would have.”
While Xavier took his new wheels for a spin around the garage, firefighters continued bolting bikes together, occasionally dropping the wrenches and bike parts when dispatched to a 911 call.
By the end of the day, the agency planned to put together nearly 90 bikes, which will be handed out Friday at Howard Middle School. More than 1,100 have been donated since 2002, when City Commissioner Patty Sheehan started the Wheels for Kids program after the Reeves Terrace neighborhood lost a busing system to take kids to school.
The goal is to help kids make the one-mile-plus commute from Reeves Terrace to Howard Middle School on East Robinson Street – but, as a few firefighters said Tuesday, a new bike can also open a world of possibilities for a kid.
“It gives you that freedom,” said Daniel Fleming, a retired district chief who returned to the station to help.
He remembered writing to Santa Claus in first grade, asking for a red Stingray. And when he saw it on Christmas morning, “it was awesome,” he said.
“I just want another child to get to experience what I did,” Fleming said.
Editor’s Note
This is my last issue as Newsbrief editor. I have been your editor since May 2006. 
Back then it was a much more onerous job but with the content management of WordPress it allows users without programming knowledge to create, edit, and publish web content.
I have enjoyed bringing you the Newsbrief every month but it is time for some one else to get the experience. Your new editor will be Alex Laird and I am confident he will do a stellar job.