By Catherine Kitchell

I write this month’s chair column after the annual meeting and the first ExCom meeting (only 11 more of these to go!). I ventured last month that these would go well, and gladly I was right. The food was good; a great slate of Executive Committee members was voted in; people actually attended the meeting; ride leaders were recognized and new volunteers coerced into making obligations they probably now regret.

The annual meeting is one PPTC event for which I always pray for bad weather. The worse the weather, the more likely riders will stay off their bikes for a day to just eat and talk. It was very cold, but I think Dan Lehman counted 17 people who amazingly rode their bikes to the meeting. That’s pretty impressive and has to be a record. (I always pass Patrice Coss on her bike when I drive to the meeting. She’s a total marvel. My excuse for driving? I bring lots of supplies!)

The meeting recognized both new Chair-elect Marc Currie and new member-at-large Steve Wartik for their hard work on the new website, which was previewed at the meeting. I’ve subsequently played with it and, well, it’s pretty cool. Please read Marc’s piece in this issue detailing more about the website.

Kent Peters has agreed to chair the PPTC Century on September 16. Kent is a new PPTC member, from Norway and other exotic locales, and we’re thrilled to have him. He’s already been in contact with past Century chairs and is overwhelmed with the demands, but seems to be taking it all in stride -- a good attitude in a human being trying to organize bikers!

Linda Schwartz has agreed to lead the Lewes, Del. weekend. She’s also done the work to set up the Williamsburg weekend, including contacting the hotel, putting together the food and cue sheets, etc., but would be overjoyed to have someone take it from here. So if you’re interested in the relatively easy part of taking reservations in conjunction with PPTC staffer Sherri Core, let me or Linda know. Linda’s e-mail: lschwartz216@gmail.com.

Dates for other annual events have also been set. We didn’t reserve the community center in Fairlington early enough for a volunteers’ party last fall, so we are combining that event and a ride-leaders’ meeting on April 14. The annual Nokesville picnic will be May 6. More on these events is in this issue or will come soon.

I’ll admit I’ve been pretty lame about riding so far this year, both on weekends and during the week. (Hoping to rent a bike for a day or two in Naples, Fla. next week, though I imagine it won’t be too strenuous a riding adventure.) Generally, however, I love my bike commute. Most mornings, riding the Capital Crescent is fabulous. It’s beautiful and calm, and with any luck I even see a little red fox or a beaver. So I’m a big supporter of WABA’s Bike-to-Work Day, coming up May 18.

PPTC is helping sponsor that event with a $1,000 donation, and our ExCom’s Bill Michie is coordinating our efforts to bring out volunteers to help WABA. Check out WABA (click here). Please remember PPTC is more than a bike club -- we are a public charity and part of our mission is to generally promote biking in the area.