07/27/2012
Although many of us are still working at getting things back to normal, I just want to take a few minutes to express my own thoughts about the rally.
There are SO MANY people to thank.
First, a great big thanks to all those that attended our second annual event. We hope you enjoyed your time here in Merritt, made some new friends and took home some great memories. We’re still pretty new at this game, so we appreciate any feedback you can throw at us (the good, the bad and ugly) so we can continue to make improvements. Please send pics, videos, comments, suggestions and beefs to [email protected] or give us a call at the rally office at 250.378.5553.
To all the local and out-of-town businesses that contributed as sponsors. Without your support, this event simply would not be possible.
Thank you to all the downtown businesses that participated and to the returning and new vendors for bringing your business to our community. Our hope is to continue to build a platform for your business to network, create new opportunities and generate sales. We appreciate your involvement with our event in its’ infancy.
To Ashley Gulkiewich and Cherie Spence at the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation. We thank you for the opportunity to help raise funds for such a worthy cause and we hope to continue to increase awareness and donations indirectly through our partners and directly through the GCBR Association.
To Bruce Mann, Circle Square Ranch Children’s Fund. Thank you for coming to the rally again this year and for sharing your story on the progress of the Circle Square Ranch organization across Canada. This cause is close to our family and we’ve heard many testimonials from people (including family members) whose lives have been transformed for the better from attending one of your summer camps.
I am overwhelmingly grateful to each and every one of you who volunteered your time and energy to make this event happen.
To my wife Coral-Ann, who put up with my rantings at home while recovering from yet another surgery.
Dad (Paul) and Maggie, who unselfishly stood behind and supported their son in this venture. Parents like that are few and far between and that makes me very fortunate.
Ashley Fairfield, my sister-in-law, for taking the time to come up from the coast and help out with the ticketing system.
Kerstin and Roland Auer and their kids, Pauline and Marius. Marius – 2 yrs. running as our youngest rock-star volunteer. Pauline, the magician, for helping out wherever needed including presenting awards. Kerstin, thank you so much for lending your marketing expertise and for helping me out directly with all the phone calls and requests.
John Isaac for reminding us of the little things that tends to slip through the cracks and for jumping in wherever needed.
Ginny Prowal, our volunteer coordinator for always smiling and moving forward - even during the let-downs, you managed to keep the schedule full and everybody knows you worked your tail off.
Etelka Gillespie, from serving on the board, to sales, to new leads, liaison with surrounding communities and the list goes on. For all the work you did behind the scenes, you have been an invaluable part of this team!
Tom Hryniuk (Beer God), what can I say Tom. You have been a real trooper and friend. The Hog Trough has made it’s mark and your team was outstanding! Stacey Hunter and Shali “rocked the trough”!
Stuart Emslie – you da man! Again, what an incredible job with the line-up. Three venues, a tighter budget and under all the constraints, you and your team pulled it off without a hitch. To Terry Grey, an icon in the events staging/production, who kept reminding me to sit down and take a breather. Thank you for all your words of wisdom. Thanks Rolie Wood for your constant enthusiasm. Karen Fowlie, what a sweetheart, for all the work you did at Spirit Square and the beautiful performances. Thank you Tammy Weymouth for lending your gifts once again, both on and off the stage.
Marcia and Steve Thomson, like a brother and sister. Thanks for sticking it out with us all through the year.
Reg Wiebe and Colleen Waddell, you guys are awesome! Thanks for filling in for Paddy as he had to be in Vancouver with his dad. And Paddy, thanks for working with us throughout the year. Sorry you couldn’t be here. Our prayers are with you and your family at this time.
David Laird, a man that just get’s things done! Thank you for coordinating the design/construction of the Supermoto track with Heather and the others. Heather from BC Supermoto, the work that has been done by your team to bring the BC Supermoto races to Merritt is phenomenal. Thank you for all your efforts.
Laurie Turmel & Cindy Moyes. I so appreciate working with you guys!! Thank you, thank you for coordinating the street mall vendors again this year. We couldn’t have done it without your contagiously positive attitudes and hard work!
Tom Reynolds and Ruth Knight, thanks for helping us keep things in balance and for your willingness to work into the wee hours.
Bonita Norman, who ran off her feet taking care of the merch booths, the new geo-cache launch among other things.
Tom Edwards, one of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet, who just takes on a task and runs with it. And his wife Sharon Edwards, team leader for registration. Thank you for being so gracious and patient with the last minute adjustments.
Brian Cave and West Law, thanks for all your help with the burn-outs. Course we can’t control the weather and I know you got some great ideas for next time!
Deb and Grover, thanks for helping out with the walking dice run and collecting the toys.
Gary Richardson, great job once again with the show n shine! And to Dave and the rest of the guys from AIM. Thank you so much for your continued support. It is always a pleasure working with you guys.
Thank you Pete Murie from Kamloops Harley Davidson for your continued support and great advice. Good to see you sold a couple new bikes! And thank you Kim and Greg from Gulf & Pacific Equities for the use of the old Saan’s building, a perfect venue for Kamloops HD. What are the chances of making that permanent?!
Travis from Denco Cycle, for filling in last minute when EMS had to cancel due to illness. (didn’t realize you are such a party animal!) Thanks for filling in and contributing to the prizes.
Michelle Urquhart, awesome job on the poker run and thanks for proofing the guide. Looks like we should have had you proofing a few other things…but let’s not talk about that right now!) Steve, thanks for making up the new sandwich boards – they look great and built to last! Mackenzie and Chloe, you two should be so proud of yourselves. Thanks for rallying up the youth crew, for getting the high school kids involved in building the merch huts and for helping out us older folks.
Alice Street, you really need to open up your own bakery! Thanks for feeding us at the office, the team leader meetings and organizing all the food for the crew. World famous biscuits and cookies…can we have another meeting soon? Can’t thank Alice without her husband Alec, movin’ stuff, buildin’ stuff, delivering stuff – you guys have turned out to be everyone’s favorite aunt and uncle!
Big thanks to Caity Grimshire and Sarah Simon for all your help at the office, the banners, the signs and Sarah for welcoming our guests as BC Youth Ambassador. Great job!
Thank you Grant Klassen from Nicola Motorsports for all your support 2 years running. Thanks from bringing Yamaha Canada on board this year. And even though you always say your too busy, you some how always seem to come through.
Len Harris from Mobile Tech – thank you for your friendship and encouragement and taking care of all the technical details.
Rick Groenheyde, for all your help putting the guide together (and thank you Skype, cause that would have been a huge phone bill and a lot less fun).
To all the guys from the Christian Motorcycle Association, Ride for Christ and Gospel Riders. True warriors! If I could count the number of times we found ourselves in some kind of predicament, out of nowhere you guys would show up and help out wherever needed. Thanks for being a part of this event with us.
To the Knights of Columbus, for all of your hard work keeping everyone fed each morning and for your fundraising efforts going straight to the kids. This is what it is and should be all about!
Jacob Schultz for his own fundraising efforts collecting bottles and cans in support of BC Children’s Hospital and an inspiration to all of us.
Danny, Dean and the whole Mothership Mission crew. Thanks for all your help running the rodeo grounds camping and bike games again. Wish I could have been there! I heard Saturday was a blast!
A very special thanks to Tony Castro and his whole team at Security Force Guard Services for providing top-notch security patrol, first aid and ambulance service.
Thanks again to Ken Ross for lending your equipment and services to provide first aid. As always, we hope you made time to have some fun!
Harley Carmen. Big thanks to you and your team for handling all the fencing, chairs, etc. I appreciate your attention to detail and going above and beyond for us in the midst of your busiest season for work. And Kim Vizi-Carmen, as always, you da betz! Thanks again for all your creative input and advice and thanks for the “way-to-go” home-made rubarb pie!
Thank you Claude Lelievre for lending all the Mountainfest chairs and picnic tables!
City Furniture, Das for being such a huge supporter of this event and the sacrifice you have made does not go unnoticed. Thanks also to Sunny and staff for putting up the tent at the food fair.
Harold Kleindienst, from slingin’ pizza to running forklift! Thanks for all your help!
Rob McDonald, for sticking around to the very end. For all of your time and the use of your equipment. You are one of Merritt’s un-sung heroes and I owe you a cold beer!
Thanks to CFDC, without your assistance it would have been a “dry” rally.
Blair Barr and the guys from VSA. Community supporter’s all the way! Thanks again for contributing so much! For hauling the big bikes from Lytton and back, the traffic signs, cones and helping out with the track.
To Tom, Mike and the rest of the guys at Nicola Plumbing for your “over-the-top” support and thanks for putting up the flags again and helping out with the water hook-ups.
Thank you Paul Campbell and Bill Boonstra for getting people safely back to their campsites. And Bill for all your help with the set up also. You look exhausted, man! Hope your getting a good rest after this one.
Peter, Gail and Clara Moyes. I am constantly amazed at how much Peter gives to this town. You name any project that has to do with building a better community and he’s the first one there to back it up! Thanks Peter, Gail and Clara for giving of your time and support on so many different levels.
Ben and the UN NATO Veterans. Words cannot express how deeply honored we are to have you guys on board with us. We love what you stand for and look forward to partnering up again in the near future.
Mayor Susan Roline, Sam Roline, Matt Noble, Daryl Finnigan, Larry Plotnikoff, Dave Tomkinson, Councilors Mike Goetz, Dave Baker and Harry Kroeker and all the City representatives that stepped up to the plate – we thank you.
To the close to 200 volunteers this year, from the kids to high school students to seniors, this was truly a community-wide event and we are so grateful for your time and effort.
We had a blast working with you. *Bear Hugs* We did it!!! THANK YOU!!
Mike Fairfield
Coordinator,
Great Canadian Bike Rally Association
