Give several minutes for animation to load.
The flash animation automatically pauses, use the 'right arrow key' to resume play.

League Director's Dinner Speech

Thanks everyone for coming. Friends, family, housemates, all the new faces – it’s so great to see so many new faces, welcome and thanks. Thanks for bringing spouses and friends. And thanks also for bidding up all the silent auction items.

I really need to thank everyone that made this dinner possible. Dionne who responded to a craigslist ad and has been working hard on this event since April. The Event committee, and especially Andy Hampsten for backing this event with your enthusiasm and efforts. To Cass Gulden of Trek Bicycles for chairing the auction committee-- especially Rebecca, Andrea, Tonia and Sybil. To Austin for his widespread support in all areas. Nadine for helping bring together our program, and our entire Board of Directors. The coaches for all their hard work and for coming here tonite (PLEASE STAND). Our sponsors here tonite, Clif Bar, Creation Engine, WTB, The Pedaler, Galaxy Granola, Fast Freddie Coffee, and Santa Cruz Bicycles. And of course our most important members: the Parents and Athletes of the NorCal HS MTB League (STAND)

At last years dinner I talked about one of the great things that made the League possible. And that is the large, passionate and forward thinking community of bike racers we have here. It's a huge communty but the degrees of separation are very few, and I couldn't ask for a better group of people to work with. Tonite we are here to celebrate five years of hard work, athletic achievement, and many high school kids discovering the joy of cycling.

While we celebrate tonite, I also want to talk about the next five years and ask everyone here to invest in this fast growing organization. {investment story} As scrutinizing potential investors, along with my interns from Redwood High school, I have prepared a business presentation for your enlightenment. Michael . . .

First a quick synopsis of mission:

Establish and maintain safe quality High School Mountain Biking Programs To provide coaching and camaraderie

Develop gracious and respectful athletes To teach skills and discipline

To foster responsible use of trails and the environment

And to promote cycling as a mode of transportation.

How did do we do this on a shoe string budget? We did it for less than 10,000 dollars the first year but things have grown, and in the 2004/2005 season the League operated on an 85,000 budget. You might be interested to see where that money comes from.

33% comes from registration fees at races and camps.
4% comes from Corporate sponsors
5% comes from Individual Donations
23% comes from grants
8% come from the sale of goods
and 26% comes from events like this one tonite.

And where does that money go?

27% goes to outreach
19% Is spent on our race series
21% on camps and coaches conferences
15% on fundraising events
5% on fundraising sales
and just 13% on general administration

League growth is happening in two ways, here we can take a look at the geographic growth over the last five years and projected through 2010. First of all, we are very focused on the the Northern half of our state. There is a concentration of teams in the bay area but also spread all over the region. This fall we have been conducting informational meetings for new teams where there are hot beds of interest.

We also look at the growth of participation. The League has it’s own way of measuring participation for both boys and girls. Our participation figure is the number of races raced – that is one person doing six races is more than one person doing one race, wouldn’t you agree? We look at the participation of both boys and girls. And using an exponential line of regression we have projected the growth into the next five years. Interestingly, you will observe that girls overtake the boys between 2009 and 2010.

What is the value proposition? Well the more the sport grows the more opportunities for all of us. Whether you are a bike shop mechanic, an industry mogul or a retiree who wishes to coach your sport. And the value added is the personal reward that comes with building an organization that serves so many.

How can I become an investor, you ask? Get involved, join your local team for rides to see what coaching is all about,

We have some specific needs: Point keeper and Race Support for our 2006 season, or you could also volunteer for our special events.

What else? Well tonite we are introducing our new Levels of Giving and are inviting you to join the League Peloton.

Anyone who makes a contribution of any size is a Domestique, the hard workers that make everything possible.

For $500 join the Tete de Course, the Leaders of the race.

For $1000 ascend the Hors Categorie, for making a contibution that is over the top.

Or, better yet, for $5000 put on the Maiyo Jorne, the leader’s jersey, a symbol of excellence.

If you are inspired I hope you will speak with myself or any other of board members some time soon.

Thanks again for coming, enjoy the rest of the evening and please join us again.