Irving Chapter of AMBUCS partnered with the Veterans Resource Outreach Center in Rowlett, TX to give away two Amtrykes to Veterans affiliated with the Choctaw Nation on March 3.
Gabriel Joseph “The Sarge”, Founder of Ranger Recovery Corps, is a huge supporter of other Native American Combat Warriors and he performed the cleansing and blessing at the Amtryke giveaway. It always an honor to work with our Veterans.
We are so incredibly thankful for our Volunteer Dave Sauvageau! He has worked tirelessly to put 35 Amtrykes together since our first Amtryke in January 2020. He has put in many late nights assembling our Amtrykes. Dave is absolutely amazing! He is always up to the task and assembles our Amtrykes in a timely manner so our riders can put their new wheels into action. One of our biggest obstacles besides our blizzards in Fargo, ND this past month was that we had Amtrykes come in big quantities making it challenging to get assembled and delivered but Dave was up to the task. What happens when the toe pulley bracket and accessories are on backorder? Dave to the rescue. He made his own bracket for the Amtryke along with directing what to purchase for the accessories to make it work. Dave is always willing to problem solve with the members on how to make modifications and adjustments to help make the rider successful. We have done 2 “Build a Bike” sessions with Dave which has been extremely helpful. We appreciate his dedication to Red River Ambucs and our mission to inspire mobility and independence! We have 35 happy riders and more on their way!
Submitted by Kristin Peters
President, Red River Chapter of AMBUCS
Fargo, ND
NOMINATE A VOLUNTEER
Would you like to recognize a volunteer from your chapter? Submit your spotlight nomination along with a photo to Tiffany Albright, Director of Marketing & Communication, at tiffanya@ambucs.org.
Across the US, we have thousands of volunteers and over 150 chapters working to inspire mobility and independence in their communities. Region Directors are our regional liaisons, who serve on our National Board of Directors and help ensure news, needs, and other information flow between our chapters, our national leadership, and the AMBUCS Resource Center staff. They support our Regional Conferences, and help us keep the AMBUCS mission in motion in 100 ways every day.
There are currently 10 AMBUCS regions, and the six largest have appointed Region Directors: Southern, Mid-States, Central, Great Plains, Southwest, and Northeast. Our President-Elect serves as the liaison to the at-large regions: Northern, Northwest, Pacific, and Rocky Mountain.
Read on to get to know more about your current Region Directors!
SOUTHERN REGION DIRECTOR
Donna Carlton-Vish
Email Donna
Region Director Term: 2021-2023
Joined AMBUCS in: 1994
Member of: Emerald Coast, Danville, and Greater Indy Chapters
Favorite AMBCUS memory: I get so much out of watching those we help because they radiate happiness.
Favorite AMBUCS tradition: In Danville Chapter my favorites are the Children’s Christmas Party and the Opening Day of Challenger Baseball. The joy in the eyes of the kids and parents when Santa shows up is beyond words. In Challenger baseball when we have guests and players walk to the pitcher’s mound and a group sings or plays the National Anthem, chills run down my spine.
Goal as Region Director: I hope that chapters throughout my region can get to know each other and work Shoulders Together.
SOUTHWEST REGION DIRECTOR
Dave Hallberg
Email Dave
Region Director Term: 2021-2023
Joined AMBUCS in: 2011
Member of: Grapevine Chapter
Dave’s AMBUCS story: A friend invited me to a social to check out this thing called AMBUCS. During the social, the group presented a precocious little girl with an Amtryke. Hours later, she was still racing that tryke around the room and squealing with every lap. I was HOOKED!
Favorite part about being an Ambuc: Finding unconventional sources of money.
Favorite AMBUCS memory: Our chapter re-engineered a tryke for a young lady named Kayla who had no arms, with a mechanism that allowed her to steer with her head. AWESOME!
Goal as Region Director: To be part of the introduction of the new tryke designs and moving toward a certain portion of the tryke being made in America!
CENTRAL REGION DIRECTOR
Marcia Hammerstrand
Email Marcia
Region Director Term: 2021-2023
Joined AMBUCS in: 2015
Member of: Cornbelt Chapter
Marcia’s AMBUCS Story: After I retired, a fellow AMBUCS member, whom I had worked with, came up to me at a company retirement event, and told me he knew what I needed to do in retirement. He invited me to a meeting, and the rest is history. I have always been someone who went ‘all in’, so a couple years later I was President of our chapter.
Favorite part about being an Ambuc: It is great to see the smiles on recipients’ faces when we help them.
Goal as Region Director: To bring chapters together. There are a couple areas in the region where there are chapters a few miles from each other, and I would like to see them working together to help each other.
MID-STATES REGION DIRECTOR
Al LeMieux
Email Al
Region Director Term: 2022-2024
Joined AMBUCS in: 1981
Member of: Walker Chapter
Al’s AMBUCS Story: Grandville Michigan Chapter of AMBUCS was chartering a new chapter in Walker. A couple of their members stopped in to use my office phone and told me about what Ambucs did. I was involved in my church, but not in the community. Before they left, I sighed up.
Favorite part about being an Ambuc: Helping others and making friendships in the community.
Favorite AMBUCS tradition: Attending National Conference
Goal as Region Director: Try to get in touch with the chapters in my region and reach out with my newsletter.
NORTHEAST REGION DIRECTOR
Robyn Rapp
Email Robyn
Region Director Term: 2022-2024
Joined AMBUCS in: 2012
Member of: West Norriton Chapter
Robyn’s AMBUCS Story: I had a friend who was active in AMBUCS. She had asked me numerous times to join the club at a dinner meeting. I finally made it to one and was hooked the minute I saw a little girl get an Amtryke. She was so happy, and her parents were so grateful. Like so many other Ambucs, I will always remember that moment.
Favorite part about being an Ambuc: The impact we can have on Amtryke recipients and members of our community, as well as the fellowship and inspiration I receive from other Ambucs.
Goal as Region Director: To bring my region back together and increase the number of activities and attendees.
GREAT PLAINS REGION DIRECTOR
Gordon Shaw
Email Gordon
Region Director Term: 2022-2024
Joined AMBUCS in: 2012
Member of: Great Plains Chapter
Gordon’s AMBUCS Story: I had heard about the things that Great Plains Chapter was doing and I watched. When the chapter was involved in the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition project for a disabled US Army veteran, I knew then that I wanted to be part of AMBUCS.
Favorite AMBUCS memory: While building a ramp for someone getting out of the hospital, we noticed a house next door had a piece of plywood on the steps. We went to ask if someone had a wheelchair. Yes. We used extra aluminum parts and built another ramp for Harold and Barbara that day.
Goal as Region Director: “Together We Move Forward”: to recruit, retain, build and communicate.
Thank you Region Directors for all you do!
Region Directors are nominated for two-year terms at Regional Conferences in the spring. To serve as a Region Director, you must be a member for three consecutive years and serve a full term as a chapter president. Are you interested in becoming a Region Director? Speak to your current Region Director or a member of the AMBUCS Resource Center staff!
When I was asked to start a chapter in Kansas City the first team member I thought of was our Treasurer Peggy. I chose Peggy because I wanted someone to handle the chapter money that I had complete confidence in. I’ve known Peggy for over 30 years and she has been a dedicated employee of the Sugar Creek MO Police department for all 30+ years.
Now Peggy could have just handled the chapter money and I would have been thrilled. Yes she has handled the money for 5 or 6 years and there has never been a problem. But no, Peggy had to get physically and personally involved.
One day Peggy came to me and asked if we could do a craft show to make money for the chapter. I knew as is every fall I was too busy. I told her if she would like to do it go ahead.
We’ll go ahead is exactly what she did. Peggy arranged the whole thing from a food truck in the parking lot to getting 20 vendors to give $50 per booth.
Now she’s working on the 2nd annual craft fair. She is planning to have 50 vendors at the next one.
WAY TO GO PEGGY! With members like you, clients continue to get the help they need.
Submitted by Craig Wiser
President, KC Riding Chapter of AMBUCS
Independence, MO
NOMINATE A VOLUNTEER
Would you like to recognize a volunteer from your chapter? Submit your spotlight nomination along with a photo to Tiffany Albright, Director of Marketing & Communication, at tiffanya@ambucs.org.
NorCal Trykers Chapter of National AMBUCS is based in Davis, California. The city of Davis, just west of Sacramento, boasts of being the home of The United States Bicycling Hall of Fame and of having more miles of bike paths per head of population, than any other city in the US.
NorCal Trykers has partnered with the Davis chapter of The International Order of Odd Fellows, The Bike Garage and The Bike Campaign, for the last four years, to hold an annual Zombie Bike Ride. A perfect event for this bicycle-focused community.
It all began when Gill Williams, President of NorCal Trykers, presented to the Odd Fellows and told them about the Amtryke program. They had been thinking of challenging the Guinness Book of Records for the longest Zombie Bike Parade at Halloween. They decided this would be a good fundraiser for NorCal Trykers!! So, an idea was born. The Odd Fellows didn’t make the record books, but the annual Zombie Bike parade was launched. This first parade was in 2019. The following year, due to Covid restrictions, it became The Zombie Bike Ride. There is a 12-mile bike loop in Davis. Participants can join the bike loop at any point, admission is free, and ride as far as they like. There are theater groups, Thriller dance troupes, Zombie sky divers, food trucks, monster mash after party and much more. The profits from sponsorship and individual donations (via posters with a QR code linked to NorCal Trykers) all go to NorCal Trykers. This year they raised $7,600, enabling NorCal Trykers to purchase 8 Amtrykes for local kids.
This year, several NorCal Tryker recipients rode in the parade with their families joining them. Our volunteers accompany the riders with a NorCal Trykers banner to increase awareness of our organization in the community.
The Bike Campaign and Bike Garage are linked nonprofits in Davis. They partner with The Odd Fellows to organize The Zombie Bike Ride. This is a great group of people who support and promote cycling; their main goal is to reduce car trips and increase safe cycling. They accept donations of bikes and upgrade and sell them at low prices to enable more people to “ride more and drive less” At the parade they offer free bike safety checks, helmet checks and basic repairs. They also give away reflectors and bike lights to promote safe cycling. Another great partner for NorCal Trykers!
The largest annual fundraiser for the Ponca City Noon Chapter of AMBUCS is running the concession stand for the annual Motoplayground Race at Ponca City. This year’s event took place October 6-9. The event attracts dozens of riders and thousands of visitors a year, but the best moment for Ponca City Noon is the annual Amtryke Championship Races, held this year on October 8.
Each Amtryke rider is paired up with other volunteer racers, who accompany them as they ride the motocross playground on their trykes. Race teams get into the event by bringing race shirts and other swag for the Amtryke riders. One year all the Amtryke riders got custom motorcycle helmets.
At the end of the race, every Amtryke rider is declared a World Record Holder, to the wild cheers of hundreds of spectators. Five Amtryke riders participated in this year’s event.
The race promoter of Motoplayground was instrumental with starting the annual Amtryke race mini-event several years ago, and the chapter hopes they will continue for many years to come.
“The Amtryke races are awesome for the racers and the crowd. Hearing the roar of the crowd as they raise the hand of each racer and announce that they are a champion, then seeing the look on their faces really is amazing,” said Ponca City Noon Chapter President Kevin Florer. “It is just as emotional as the first time you see someone receive an Amtryke.”
On Saturday, October 29, AMBUCS Resource Center staff and volunteers spent the day at the inaugural Solutions for Independence Race 2 Independence 5K and Adaptive Sports Fair at JDL Fast Track in Winston-Salm, NC.
The sports fair featured adaptive running, adaptive and wheelchair tennis, a demonstration of adaptive paddling, and of course an adaptive cycling station, complete with a practice track. Attendees were able to test ride recreational Amtrykes and other adaptive cycles, all the way up to performance handcycles built for racing and off-roading. People of all abilities were able to participate at every sports station, and to experience some activities for the first time.
The untimed roll, run, and walk event was co-hosted by Ainsley’s Angels of the Triad, a local chapter of a national organization dedicated to ensuring everyone can experience endurance events. Their main race series program pairs runners with riders in adaptive chairs built for road racing. It was phenomenal getting to know another organization doing such great work to promote inclusion.
Event organizers added even more value by offering COVID boosters and health screenings. A food truck serving upscale southern food helped refuel athletes after their 5K. At the end of the day, everyone who participated received a medal and went home tired but inspired.
The Enid AM Too Chapter in Enid, Oklahoma participated in their community’s annual Cherokee Strip Parade on September 18th. Members donned their Enid AM Too shirts for maximum visibility as they rode on a flatbed trailer following a head (a group, for non-Westerners) of long horn steers.
Other members walked the parade route, handing out candy to children along the way. The chapter ran a raffle fundraiser, which was promoted by the parade announcer. They announced the raffle winner at the courthouse gazebo at the close of the parade. The prize was a one-night stay at the Buffalo Point Retreat, located in Waukomis, Oklahoma. The prize was generously donated by their management and has a $1,000 dollar value. The fundraiser netted the chapter approximately $1,500. It is just one of the many ways Enid AM Too is promoting the mission of AMBUCS.
The Grapevine Chapter (Grapevine, TX) held the 36th annual GrapeFest from September 15-18, 2022. This true Texas wine experience includes the largest consumer-voted wine competition in the US, and features multiple entertainment stages, unique artisans, and plentiful food booths along the six blocks of Main Street. Attendance for this year’s 4-day event surpassed 200,000 people.
Grapevine Ambucs have been involved with this event for over 20 years. Currently, five chapter members serve on the GrapeFest steering committee.
The Grapevine Chapter’s Dog Wagon, located in the center of the festival, provides fresh AmBurgers, chili dogs and chili pie. A few Amtrykes are always on display next to the wrapped Amtryke trailer to attract extra attention.
The event recruits other local civic and social groups as paid volunteers to staff gates and beer booths, with all of the revenue going toward local fundraising. In addition to the Dog Wagon, Grapevine Chapter volunteers also manage and staff the Champagne Terrace and a beer booth, and staff four different paid parking lots. Proceeds from GrapeFest are used for historic preservation.
This year, Grapevine Chapter and GrapeFest were featured on the local ABC affiliate WFAA in a live interview with Larry Corder. During the event, Grapevine Chapter recruited two new members and added several potential members to their email list. Cheers to another successful year!
The Red River Chapter of AMBUCS in Fargo, ND held their second annual fundraiser at CycleBar in West Fargo. The event took place on Saturday, September 25 from 2-4pm. It was a windy day, but nothing could keep these Ambucs down!
The bike ride was from 2:15 to 3pm. The 25 riders registered in advance, with a recommended donation of $20 per seat.
Red River also layered on a second fundraiser by partnering with local business Real Good Cookies. They ran a pre-sale cookie fundraiser from September 2-16th, and buyers could choose to pick up their cookies at the CycleBar Fundraiser or have them shipped directly to their homes. The pre-sale was very popular, and 35% of the sales went back to Red River Chapter. The Real Good Cookie van also drive from Grand Forks, ND and sold cookies during the event. Their new Pumpkin Chocolate Cookie was especially popular. Ten percent of on-site sales that day also went to Red River Ambucs.
The chapter had eight members in attendance, and four Amtrykes on display throughout. All-star Red River volunteer Dave put the Amtrykes together. National President Carmela Davis attended and brought a National President visitation patch, and RoughRider Chapter President Kristina Bouley from Bismarck, ND also attended.
The event was the perfect combination of fitness and fun, and altogether raised $1,325.
