Volume 46, Issue #7, July 1, 2014 
Contents
president
President's Message
By Will Benedict

Insurance

For 2014, Bob Tuman, the club's Insurance Coordinator, reevaluated our insurance and found that the best source for our general membership insurance was through The League of American Bicyclists Insurance Program administered by the American Specialty Insurance & Risk Services, Inc.. An overview of the program can be seen by downloading the brochure at http://www.amerspec.com/lab/brochure.pdf .

 

LAB's insurance program is a good fit with our needs by an organization that understands bicycle clubs and advocacy organizations. Now that we have had some time to learn about our new insurance, I would like to communicate some key features that impact our general club rides. Note that our two century rides are insured as individual events separate from our club's general liability insurance.

 

Ride Location

Past insurance required that club rides be within 100 miles of our home base for them to be covered by the insurance. Our new insurance does not have this limitation. For example, if a club ride were organized to go to Sacramento to ride the American River Bike Trail, it would now be covered under our current insurance.

 

Visitors

Our current insurance covers visitors during their "First Ride" with the club. To ride with us more than one time a rider must become a member. Having riders that are not members repeatedly join our rides means that they are not insured and we are increasing our liability. Our insurer recommends that we do not allow anyone that is not a club member or first time visitor to be on our rides.

 

It is important that we welcome first time riders and let them know they are covered during their first ride and if they want to ride with us again they must join the club. It means that we should make sure that we take the time to talk with our first time visitors, inform them about the benefits of being a club member and direct them to our website for further information. Invite them to join and come back.

general-minutes
General Meeting Minutes

San Luis Obispo Bicycle Club General Meeting Minutes

Pavilion on the Lake 

Atascadero, CA

Thursday, June 5, 2014, 6:00 PM

Craig Armstrong, Secretary

 

The business meeting began at approximately 6:55 PM following the potluck dinner.

 

The minutes for the May general meeting were approved (MSC:Havas/Cohon).

 

President Benedict thanked Bob Isenberg and Joan Petersen for serving as greeters and Kathy Cohon for providing refreshments.

 

Chris Broome reported that year-to-date donations were approximately $55,000 and that club assets totaled approximately $175,000.

 

President Benedict reminded members that the July general meeting will be on July 10th.

 

President Benedict reported that as of June 5 the Lighthouse was within 80 riders of selling out.

 

Ann Smith announced the first annual SLOBC photo contest; contest information will be included in the club newsletter.

 

Brad Opstad gave an overview of the upcoming Indulgence Ride and requested members to send him an email if they were interested in participating in the ride.

 

Three members of the Cal Poly amateur radio club thanked the club for its donation and support.

 

The Slabtown Rollers were recognized for their efforts in successfully spearheading the campaign to have Caltrans modify the chip seal coating applied to Highway 1.

 

Dave Abrecht presented the 2014 Bob Garing Award to Will Benedict for his numerous contributions and efforts on behalf of the club over the years.

 

The meeting concluded with a spirited conga line style rain dance by the attendees.

board-minutes
Board Meeting Minutes

San Luis Obispo Bicycle Club Board Meeting Minutes

Air Pollution Control District Auditorium

3433 Roberto Court, San Luis Obispo CA

Tuesday, June 3, 2014, 5:00 PM

Craig Armstrong, Secretary

Board members present:  Will Benedict, Ann Smith, Craig Armstrong, Chris Broome, Mike Balster, Brad Opstad, Monica Robinson, Dave Abrecht, Martin Howell, Kathleen McHugh, Ken Price, and Donald Thomas. Ride captains present: Gary Havas.

 

Visitors present: Bob Tuman, Samantha Pruitt

 

Samantha Pruitt from Get off the Couch Potato Sports Productions gave a brief overview of the events her firm produces (SLO Marathon, SLO Gran Fondo, etc.). She suggested that SLOBC and her firm could work together to have a bigger voice in the community and noted the importance of emphasizing the economic benefits generated by our century rides when dealing with local government agencies.  

 

The minutes of the April 29, 2014 meeting were approved (MSC: Balster/Price).

 

Bob Tuman gave an overview of the club's insurance coverage and responded to questions from the board regarding the extent of our coverage and the retention of waivers signed by riders. He noted that the cost of liability coverage has been rising and recommended maintaining our current coverage through the League of American Bicyclists. He advised that our liability policy only covers guest riders for one club ride; if the rider shows up for a subsequent ride without having joined SLOBC, neither he nor the club would be covered under the policy.

 

Chris Broome reported that club assets totaled $175,000 and reviewed the financial results of the Wildflower Century.

 

President Benedict reviewed a proposed change to the club's policy regarding volunteers for our century rides. The purpose of the change is expand the pool of potential volunteers to include younger volunteers who could fill some of the more physically demanding volunteer positions such as truck loader. Following discussion, the following change to Policy 5.4 was approved (MSC:McHugh/Price):

 

 

5.4 Volunteer positions for the century rides may be filled by SLOBC members and members of groups that SLOBC supports and partners with (e.g., SLO County Bike Coalition, Cal Poly Amateur Radio Club, CCCMB, Cal Poly Wheelmen, and Estero Radio Club). Non-members will be eligible for the same benefits as SLOBC member volunteers.

 

 

Don Thomas handed out guidelines for the 1st Annual SLOBC Photo Contest. The contest will be announced at the June potluck and the winners will be announced at the December potluck. Contest guidelines will be published in a club newsletter.

 

Policy 4.1 provides that waivers for century rides be retained 5 years and that waivers for minors be kept until they turn 20. After discussion, the board approved amending the applicable part of the policy as follows (MSC:McHugh/Price):

 

4.1 All century ride waivers will be retained 10 years.

 

Based on feedback from club members, the board tabled the proposal for a board member donation fund. It was noted that all club and board members can currently submit proposals for donations for consideration by the full board.

 

Kathleen McHugh noted that current club policy makes it very expensive for younger club members to bring their families to the volunteer brunches and proposed several options for making the brunches more family friendly. It was agreed to try a modified policy for the 2014 Lighthouse brunch (children under five could attend free and children over 5 would be charged $10) and see if that encourages increased family participation.

 

The board then discussed the club's current policies regarding sponsors for club events and publications and prohibiting exclusive deals with vendors for our century rides. It was noted that it may be possible to develop opportunities which could generate additional revenues for the club and help defray ride expenses or hold down future increases in registration fees.  The consensus was that the subject warranted more discussion and consultation with the membership before any policy change is developed.

 

Dave Abrecht reported that the bike breakfast was a success-there were approximately 200 attendees and the event came in under budget.

 

The meeting adjourned at approximately 6:35 PM.
news
News, Notes & Events

Call For Wildflower Jersey Designs

By Will Benedict, Clothing Coordinator

 

This is the first call for 2015 Wildflower jersey design ideas. All concepts must be completed and received by September 1st

All ideas must be presented in the standard jersey format. For format specifications and assistance in illustrating your idea or putting your idea into the standard format, email me at [email protected].

Family Friendly Volunteer Brunchs
By Kathleen McHugh, Lighthouse Chair

To support young families, the following has been adopted as the brunch attendance policy for children of volunteers.
  • Children 5 and under eat free
  • Children 6 to 15 will cost $10 each
  • Children 16 or 17 may volunteer with their parents to earn a brunch
  • Children 18 and over are invited to volunteer on their own 

The club will pay the difference in price as negotiated with the caterer.

 

It is the responsibility of the volunteer to inform the Brunch Captain of any children that will be attending the brunch.

SLOBC Board Member Donation Fund

By Chris C. Broome, Treasurer

 

Last month I posted an article in the SLO Coaster about an idea for annually allocating a small fund to each Board member so that they could make contributions to causes aligned with the SLOBC mission. 


I asked for membership feedback and we received one email and several verbal comments. None were in favor of the idea.  





The Board discussed it at some length and determined that it did not add any benefit to existing policies and procedures, so the idea has been dropped.  Thank you for your feedback as it keeps us on track and helps the club to grow.  

Thank You from 

Shandon Joint Unified School District  

By John Svinth, School Counselor 

 

Recipients of the SLOBC Scholarship at Shandon High School.

From left to right:  Gary Havas, Scolarship RecipientsRaymundo Lara Alvarado, Brandon Briseno-Seaver, Ana Zendejas Garibay, Diego Reyes Martinez and Andrea Lopez Rivera

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Thank you for continuing to sponsor the San Luis Obispo Bicycle Club Scholarship at Shandon High School.  We were honored to have Gary Havas return to present the awards with his great warmth and sincerely at our graduation ceremony on June 11.  This year's awards were augmented by those from two past winners who did not meet the post secondary education requirements, which allowed each of this year's five winners to be awarded $950.  As the brief summaries below will show, all of this year's recipients plan to start their post secondary educations at a community college.

  • Andrea Lopez Rivera is the seventh of nice children, with all older siblings graduating from Shandon High with fine marks.  Andrea is our most active senior, with four years in FFA and athletic seasons of four of basketball, three of volleyball, two of cheer, one of softball, and one of boys basketball.  Andrea is also our most awarded graduate, being the Female Army Scholar/Athlete, Marine Corps Distinguished Athlete, Shandon High Athlete of the Year,  Petersen Citizenship Award, and Valedictorian.  She earned 82 hours of service to the community.  Though eligible to attend a four-year university, Andrea will attend Cuesta College before transferring to Merced College, where she will major in ornamental horticulture to pursue her goal of owning a business growing and selling succulent plants. 
  • Brandon Briseno-Seaver will attend Cuesta College to major in automotive technology to pursue a career as an automobile mechanic.  He will be joining his older sister who is continuing her education at Cuesta.  Brandon said he takes great pleasure in working with his hands and being able to see the product of his efforts.  Through past research, Brandon is aware that the demand in California for automobile mechanics will be strong through the end of this decade.
  •  Raymundo Lara Alvarado will attend Cuesta College where he will major in business accounting, and then transfer to a four-year university to pursue his career of being an accountant.  Raymundo said his favorite subject has always been math and that he wants a career that utilizes math.  His school activities include, FFA in grades 9, 10, and 12; class president for grades 10 and 11; basketball for grades 9-11; and baseball for grades 11-12.  Raymundo completed 82 hours of service to his community.  Raymundo was honored as this year's Male Army Scholar-Athlete.
  • Diego Reyes Martinez will attend Cuesta College to major in criminal justice, after which he plans to attend a police officer academy in order to become a law enforcement officer.  Diego states that he wants a career that will allow him to serve and protect the community.  Diego's primary activity in high school was baseball, in which he played in grades 9, 11, and 12; we did not field a baseball team in his tenth grade.  Diego completed 80.5 hours of service to his community.  He was also an excellent student assistant in the high school office.  
  • Ana Zendejas Garibay will attend Bakersfield College to pursue her goal of becoming a nurse.  Ana said that she wants a career that will allow her to help others and which has opportunities for advancement.  Ana was undoubtedly influenced by her older sister who pursued this path to become a nurse.  Ana's activities in high school include student body government in grades 10-12, for which she was class president this year; FFA in grades 10-12; and basketball in grade 12.  Ana completed 80.5 hours of service to her community.

We continue to benefit from the good fortune of your finding and choosing to share with us your generous support for the graduates of our small high school.  It was my pleasure to bring ten students to help set up and take down the lunch in the park for the Wildflower ride.  We are also thankful that a well-timed rain helped some wildflowers appear for the ride.  As always, I will be emailing a picture of the winners along with their names to identify them.  Than you again for riding out this way.

 

Sincerely,

 

John Svinth

School Counselor 

weekly-rides
Changing Weekly Rides
The Ride Calendar provides the full weekly ride schedule.

Flyers (9:00 AM, D3)

Wednesdays

Coordinator: Russ Robinson

Phone: 781-0903

 

Date: July 2
Start: Morro Bay State Park Marina
Leader: Russ Robinson
Phone: 781-0903

Date: July 9
Start: French Park, San Luis Obispo
Leader: Bill Goodger
Phone: 608-770-1448

Date: July 16
Start: Bob Jones Trailhead, Ontario Road
Leader: Steve Vines
Phone: 202-8114

Date: July 23
Start: Food 4 Less, San Luis Obispo
Leader: Norm Smith
Phone: 914-388-7198

Date: July 30
Start Time: 8:00 AM
Start: Santa Margarita Community Park, SM
Leader: Bill Buckalew
Phone: 543-9940

Frequent Feeders (9:00 AM, B2)

Wednesdays

Coordinator: Frank Mullin

Phone: 602-2058

 

Date: July 2
Start: Laguna Lake Park, San Luis Obispo
Destination: Montana de Oro 
Leader: Jeff Kahn
Phone: 559-313-9272

Date: July 9 
Start: Morro Bay State Park Marina
Destination: Old Cayucos Bakery via Canyons
Leader: Dale Sutliff
Phone: 544-4034

Date: July 16
Start: French Park, San Luis Obispo
Destination: Morro Bay 
Leader: Wolf Eisen
Phone:786-4405

Date: July 23
Start: Morro Bay State Park Marina (40 mi)
Alt. Start: Nazarene El Morro, Los Osos, 8:15 (50 mi) 

Alt. Start: Cayucos Pier, 9:15 (30 mil)

Destination: Lynn's, Cambria

Note: Lunch in Cayucos after ride

Leader: Kathleen McHugh

Phone: 528-6686 

 

Date: July 30

Start: Hardie Park, Cayucos
Destination: Linn's, Cambria
Leader: Dave & Debbie Abrecht
Phone: 805-801-9211

SLO Pokes (9:00 AM, A2)

Wednesdays

Coordinator: Sharon Sutliff

Phone: 544-4034

 

Date: July 2
Start: Cloisters Community Park, Morro Bay
Destination: Harmony Cafe
Leader: Val Barboza
Phone: 264-5901

Date: July 9
Start: Nipomo Community Park, Nipomo
Destination: Willow Deli via Mesa
Leader: Gini Stedman
Phone: 473-8287

Date: July 16
Start: Islay Park, San Luis Obispo
Destination: Pismo Honeymoon Cafe
Leader: Dee McKelvie
Phone: 610-1234

Date: July 23
Start: Biddle Park, Arroyo Grande
Destination: Station Grill, Grover Beach
Note: Easy 22 & Moderate 26 mile routes
Leader: Bob Lindquist
Phone: 441-7063

Date: July 30
Start: Islay Park, San Luis Obispo
Destination: Arroyo Grande 
Leader: Randal Husk 
Phone: 408-858-1880

Tortoises (9:00 AM, A1)

Fridays

Coordinators: Stu & Janie Goldenberg

Phone: 544-4720


Date: July 4
No Ride Scheduled

Date: July 11
Start: Meadow Park, San Luis Obispo
Destination: Breaking Bread Bakery via SLO
Leader: Bob Tuman
Phone: 545-5976

Date: July 18
Start: Sinsheimer Park, San Luis Obispo
Destination: Around SLO
Leader: Randal Husk
Phone: 545-5989

Date: July 25
Start: The Mayors Place, Nipomo
Start Time: 8:00 AM if above 90�
Destination: Black Lake Golf Course, Nipomo
Note: Optional lunch at The Mayors Place
Leader: Bob Young
Phone: 489-4755

Wandering With Will

Saturdays (9:00 AM, B2/3)

Coordinator: Will Benedict
Phone: 544-3504
Email[email protected] 

 

Date: July 5
StartFrench Park, San Luis Obispo
RouteHi Mountain
Notes: Lunch After 

Last Tango In Boomtown 
Mondays (9:00 AM, B3)
Coordinator: Brad T. Opstad
Date: July 7
Start: Sebastian's Cafe, San Simeon
Route: Moonrise Kingdom (52.5 mi)

Date: July 14
Start: Los Alamos Park, Los Alamos
Route: The Darjeeling Limited (35.5 mi)

Route: The Grand Budapest Hotel (49.5 mi)

Route: The Royal Tenenbaums (51.5 mi)
ride-coorninatorThe Skinny Tire Culture

By Brad Opstad, Ride Coordinator

 

Indulgence Ride
At the most recent General Meeting (5 June Thursday), I presented the barebones essence of what Indulgence Ride 2014 looks like at this early stage. Afterward, some feedback was given by various Members. If you are interested in what those opening concepts look like, either toward your own potential participation or for Regulars on your respective Rides, send me a note and I'll pass them along as they stand at the current moment. Meantime, more chiseling and honing and finalizing of details will be transpiring. This is an annual event normally scheduled for early Autumn; think "October" at this stage.

 

Ride Que Sheets
I'm becoming increasingly more proficient at generating cue sheets and route maps out of Ride With GPS' website that are utilitarian, functional and concise. It's a snap to print multiple copies and my favorite feature is that the cue side of the printout is conveniently foldable in quarters so that only the most immediate set of directions shows on the handlebar clip for simplified mid-pedal consultation. I'm happy to demonstrate this convenience to any of you that would enjoy its simplicity, so send a note if interested. 

advocateAdvocate's Report

By Dave Abrecht

 

 

Bike Month and Bike Breakfasts
Another successful Bike Month has come to a close.  According to Bike Month organizers, participation in Bike Month activities increased by 50%.  Bike breakfasts are especially popular and averaged 150 participants at each breakfast.  Local organizations and businesses hosted breakfasts and the total number of breakfasts increased significantly over last year. The SLOBC puts on one of the premier breakfasts, featuring breakfast burritos, fruit and homemade baked goods.  We served nearly 200 commuters and students and received rave reviews for our menu. Bike breakfasts allow our club to demonstrate our commitment to cycling for recreation and transportation and is a great opportunity to promote the club and mingle with cyclists of all ages.  Here are some photos from this year's breakfast. 

Another breakfast will be held in conjunction with Ride Share Month in October. I am looking for a club member to step up and chair the October breakfast (date to be determined).  I have created a "How to Organize a Bike Breakfast" guide that will the provide all of the specific information needed to plan and host the breakfast. Any takers?  

Los Osos Valley Road and Highway 101 Interchange Improvements
The City of San Luis Obispo is preparing to begin construction on the improvements to the Los Osos Valley Road and Highway 101 interchange.  The construction will impact travel by all users of LOVR but the city is committed to ensuring that cyclists are not neglected.  A website has been developed that will provide up-to-date information about lane closures/restrictions.  When the project begins, I suggest ride leaders and club members check the website before traveling through the area.  The website is lovr101.org

Toro Creek Bridge on Highway 1
Local Cal-Trans officials have announced that they will be studying three local bridges for widening and improvements.  The Toro Creek bridge on Highway 1 north of Morro Bay is one of the bridges.  While a timetable for the construction and improvements is still being worked out, it appears certain that the bridge widening will include a bike lane.
For all of us who have "taken the lane" and crossed this particular bridge numerous times, this is great news. Stay tuned for more information.

program
Upcoming Program
By Ann Smith

 

July 9, 2014, 7:00 PM, SLO City/County Library, 995 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo

 

Patagonia Hiking

Ann and Bruce Smith will be giving a presentation on their recent hiking trip to Patagonia with Active Adventures.

 

The date, time and location of SLOBC meetings can be found on our Events Calendar webpage. 

SLO Coaster

 

The SLO Coaster is the monthly newsletter of the San Luis Obispo Bicycle Club that is automatically sent to all members. Everyone is welcome to view and subscribe to the digital edition of the SLO Coaster. To subscribe, use the Newsletter Signup Form.

 

All articles, letters, stories of bicycling experiences, appropriate classified ads, artwork etc, are welcome. Each article is the opinion of its author and does not necessarily represent the opinion or endorsement of the

SLOBC or the editor.

Submittal Guidelines

 

All materials are due no later than 8:00 a.m. on the 15th of each month. Nothing will be accepted verbally. The editor reserves the right to edit or reject material.

 

All materials should be emailed to [email protected].

  

Complete submittal guidelines are found at:

  San Luis Obispo Bicycle Club, Inc.

  Website: www.slobc.org        

  Email: [email protected]

  Phone: 805.543.5973 


Copyright � 2014. All Rights Reserved.