Awards Banquet 2024 Highlights
About 100 club members and invited guests enjoyed attending the awards banquet, looking back at the riding year 2024 on the evening of February 6, 2025, at the Monarch Hotel. The buffet dinner featured beef, salmon, risotto, grilled vegetables, green salad, bread rolls, followed by dessert. Adult beverages were available from the no-host bar.
Doug Myers was our master of ceremonies, decked out in an island-themed shirt, light pants, sandals, and a cap with blue parrot feathers. Doug set the mood with his guitar solo featuring two Jimmy Buffet hits replaced with clever PBC lyrics he had composed, such as the line “Wastin’ away in Mileage Creditville.”
Fifty coffee mugs were distributed to all those who rode 2000 or more club miles in 2024. One hundred sixteen members who rode 500 or more miles earned a colorful PBC lapel pin. (Note: If you didn’t make it to the banquet, see Bud Rice on one of his rides to collect your pin.) Forty-one ride leaders earned a nice pair of newly designed PBC cycling socks. Twenty of these ride leaders led 12 or more rides and also received a $25 Starbucks gift card. Twenty-five lifetime cumulative mileage plaques were awarded, including a 300K for Dick Weber and a 270K for Scott Poindexter. ✎
Here are the award winners and edited excerpts from written nominations received in the eight official award categories:
1. Jim Mooney Member of the Year: Ann Morrow
Ann anchors our club, with her conscientious commitment to keep PBC on track. Examine a monthly edition of the Quick Releases and you will find Ann contributing a significant portion of the content. She has a finger on the pulse of our club, reminding everyone of regular and non-recurring happenings. Ann is also a frequent contributor to the Facebook PBC Group, sharing timely and relevant content.
Ann has volunteered for both PBC major events, Pioneer Century® and Seattle to Portland. Ann once again acted as the start and finish line communication hub director at the Pioneer Century®. For STP, she reprised her role as return transportation team leader for Friday and Monday and was the team leader at the information booth over the weekend.
Ann led 42 rides, attended 97 rides and rode 2117 club miles in 2024. Ann selflessly volunteered to be the “tail rider” on many of Bud Rice’s large group rides. In addition to this duty, she continued to lead her “Meet PBC or Back in the Saddle Again” series and also two out-of-town event rides.
It has been ten years since Ann last won this award in 2014 after her first win in 2002. Ann becomes the first three-time winner of this top award in her three decades of service to our club dating back to 1992.
2. Valued Member of the Year: Co-winner Lynn Blanchard
Lynn joined the PBC in 2002. Lynn has been instrumental in keeping the club informed since she assumed the role of Quick Releases editor in the spring of 2019. She has continually enhanced the QR throughout the years. Lynn keeps up to date with club business by attending optional monthly board meetings and contributing to the discussions with her unique perspectives.
Lynn continued to act as captain of the PBC Reach the Beach team for the sixth year for the annual American Lung Association’s fundraiser ride in May. Lynn was a member of the Pioneer Century® planning committee serving as the promotional/marketing coordinator. She designed and ordered custom jerseys for the event, artistic banners for the start/finish, and feather flags for the finish line. Shortly after the Pioneer, Lynn volunteered doing registration at the Gorge Ride. Lynn assumed the vital role of volunteer coordinator for STP with articles describing job duties of team leaders and day-of-event volunteers. Her pleas for volunteers were targeted at particular positions in the months leading up to STP. She tirelessly offered her signup board at the start of rides.
Lynn had regular recurring QR topics including featuring rides on the calendar for the particular QR month and advertising upcoming club tours. She solicited safety articles from the readership in addition to those provided by the designated safety committee. QR bulletins were completed with a selected video or cartoon. Lynn has become a top contributor to the PBC Facebook Group with pertinent bike-related items and club ride pictures.
Lynn led 1 club ride, attended 96 rides, and rode 3066 club miles in 2024.
2. Valued Member of the Year: Co-winner Dave McQuery
Dave joined the PBC in 1999. Dave served on the PBC board as the membership secretary, keeping the membership up to date on its enrollment with timely reports published in each month’s club meeting minutes. Dave truly cares about club members, concerned when they do not renew and communicating with them on a personal level. He instituted a gift club membership option to help new member signups. Even though no longer a standing member of the safety committee, he collaborated on articles including the following: “Bicycle Safety and the Law” Quizzes 1 through 6 for the January through June QR bulletins; “How to Report a Pothole” in the April QR; “Keys to a Safe STP” in the July QR; and “When does STOP mean Stop?” in the November QR. Dave continued in 2024 as the PBC meeting program coordinator, arranging for guest speakers for our general membership meetings.
Dave organized volunteers to help with trail maintenance of the Banks-Vernonia State Trail (BVT). He, along with others, assisted Oregon State Parks personnel with repairing potholes and bridge ramps along the BVT on full-day work excursions throughout the year. Dave kept us informed with monthly progress reports and photos including the installation of the previously located PWTC bike rack in its new spot at the entry of Stub Stewart State Park.
Dave volunteered for our two major events, the Pioneer Century® and STP. Dave marked all the Pioneer courses with spray painted directional symbols over two separate outings. In addition, on the day of the event, he provided SAG support for the riders. For STP, Dave spent four days over the extended weekend, which included installing and retrieving directional route signs between the Longview Bridge and the Portland finish line on Friday and Monday. Sandwiched between these two days were his 12-hour long shifts as bike loading team leader. Dave was once again the co-organizer of the Jim O’Horo Memorial Columbia Gorge Explorer held over the long Memorial Day weekend.
Dave led 20 rides, attended 59 rides, and rode 2246 club miles.
2. Valued Member of the Year: Co-winner Eric Hendricks
Eric has been active in PBC since 2015. He gave his time serving as the STP finish line coordinator in 2022, 2023 and 2024, a role which he filled with dedication, expertise, and grace. He has written step-by-step instructions for his successor and has offered to work with and train the new coordinator during the months of preparation leading up to July.
Eric led 1 club ride, attended 23 rides and rode 851 club miles.
3. Volunteer of the Year: Co-winner Chuck Dorr
Chuck volunteered for four shifts at the STP in 2024: the volunteer booth on Saturday from 12:00 noon until 3:00 PM, and then the bike corral until 6:00 PM. Then, on Sunday, he returned to the volunteer booth from 9:45 AM until 2:15 PM, and after that in baggage until 7:00 PM. He was the only one, other than team leaders, who volunteered for so many hours at the STP.
In 2024, Chuck volunteered to lead 144 rides, attended 287 club rides, and rode 6913 club miles.
3. Volunteer of the Year: Co-winner Kathleen Hellem
Kathleen has been a member since 2012. Kathleen created a monthly Facebook album on the Portland Bicycling Club Page with photos from the Facebook PBC Group and provided a link for the QR in a feature called “Member to Member.” Kathleen managed the PBC library of books and videos, retrieving them from their storage location at the church and displaying them for club members to check out. Kathleen acted as festivities team leader at the Pioneer Century® start/finish line, providing music and cheer as riders departed and returned from their rides. Katheen once again managed STP announcing in her role as team leader over Saturday and Sunday. Kathleen often acted as a sweep rider on group rides.
Kathleen led 1 ride and rode on 37 rides for 972 club miles.
4. Ride Leader of the Year: Co-winner Joel Loh
Joel was not only a wonderful ride leader, but he also planned wonderful routes. His Monday Mixer rides were super fun and adventurous and different each week. The pace wasn’t too fast or too slow and he always kept track of the slowest rider. When the weather was less than desirable, he modified the route but rarely ever canceled. Joel led adventurous rides, and he was a very good communicator, was always upbeat, friendly and enthusiastic. He’s a good example for our whole club.
Joel led 49 rides, participated in 141 rides, and rode 4887 club miles.
4. Ride Leader of the Year: Co-winner Rob Schroeder
Rob’s West Hills Roller Coaster was a sensational ride. Rob always kept track of the slowest rider. He always prioritized safety. If he thought the road conditions were unsafe, he canceled. He also made sure he had a replacement ride leader if he was unable to lead. This allowed people to be able to count on doing this ride every week if the weather allowed.
Rob led 33 rides, attended 35 rides, and rode 1224 club miles.
5. Newt Acker Goodwill Ambassador: Co-winner Dave McQuery
Dave is an excellent ambassador for the club and reached out to people at rides and meetings to engage them in conversation and make them feel welcome. He used the club business cards to ensure a good connection with people and went the extra mile to make sure people felt seen. As membership secretary, he took special care to communicate with new members and to contact members whose memberships lapsed to find out why. Although this was time-consuming, it gave the club helpful data; but most importantly, it provided a friendly, helpful, caring face for PBC.
5. Newt Acker Goodwill Ambassador: Co-winner Maria Sworske
Maria is the most enthusiastic cheerleader for the club. She found new club members on club rides and informed them about all things club related. For example, she helped to enhance the friendly image of PBC by providing info and answering questions about club rides, tours, and events, our website, and Facebook Group. She took the most photos of everyone on all her club rides, not just selfies, and shared her photos with everyone. She was an all-star contributor on our Facebook PBC Group, and not only posted regularly more than anyone else but also “reacted,” answered questions, and commented more often to others’ posts than any other member.
Maria participated in 92 rides and rode 3014 club miles.
5. Newt Acker Goodwill Ambassador: Co-winner Vicky Peters
Vicky was always good for a smile or a laugh at the start of a ride, and would have friendly conversations with fellow riders, new or used. She is the most positive person in the club, always looking at the bright side. When someone complained about the potholes, she pointed out the nice weather and how glad we are to be alive and out in the air and riding. She really, really is a goodwill ambassador, “Ms. Always Looking at the Sunny Side.”
She shared her generous spirit on 150 club rides, the most by a female rider in 2024, and rode 3646 club miles.
6. Comeback Rider of the Year: Co-winner Lynn Blanchard
On September 30 of 2024, Lynn collided with a bollard on an entrance to the Springwater Corridor Trail. She remained conscious but was unable to move, having fractured her pelvis. Her right hip took the primary impact, with her helmet taking the secondary impact. She also suffered scrapes and bruises to her elbow, wrist, and middle finger.
At the date of the crash Lynn had attended 84 club rides for 2612 miles. Lynn was determined to earn a 3000-mile mug and not give up on her 2024 mileage goal, so she cautiously transitioned her return to cycling on a rented e-bike on December 5. Twelve more rides and 454 miles later, Lynn had earned that mug ending up with 3066 club miles for the year.
6. Comeback Rider of the Year: Co-winner John A. Davis
John joined PBC in August 2023. He attended only two club rides for a total of 41 miles that first partial year. On January 28, his first club ride in 2024, he experienced a crash, fracturing his pelvis. Even though he was a fairly new member, he was not discouraged. He came back with style and determination to resume cycling. He returned on Wednesday, April 17.
By the end of 2024, he had participated in 36 club rides and accumulated 869 club miles. John frequently offered to help as sweep and took photos and videos.
6. Comeback Rider of the Year: Co-winner Mark Detrick
On May 31, 2023, Mark crashed after suffering a potentially fatal cardiac rhythm on a PBC Westside ride. The extent of his injuries was broken ribs, broken bones in his face, a dissected carotid artery and a crack in one of his neck bones as well as a concussion and multiple abrasions. In September, he had open heart surgery after the broken bones had sufficiently healed. Mark had been very active up to the crash and still ended 2023 with 50 rides for 2718 club miles, which followed his previous 2022 totals of 88 rides for 4313 club miles.
In his 2024 comeback year, Mark led 11 rides, attended 58 PBC rides for 2790 club miles.
7. Most Improved Rider of the Year: Co-winner Michelle Kirsch
She has gone from being a new member, starting in September 2023, to:
- Riding Monster Cookie Metric Century
- Riding the Reach the Beach Century
- Riding the Pioneer Century®
- Riding the Seattle to Portland in one day
- And stepping up and becoming a ride leader
…all in what was essentially her first year in PBC.
Cycling has become her passion. She was only introduced to it less than two years ago. PBC has become “her people,” and they support her in her goals. She loves cycling!
Michelle led 2 club rides, attended 67 club rides, and rode 2705 club miles in 2024.
7. Most Improved Rider of the Year: Co-winner Gary Lunsford
Although Gary joined the club in 2015, he didn’t ride very much until recently. He rode 961 club miles with 32 rides in 2023 followed by more than double that in 2024 with 3046 club miles on 77 rides including the Pioneer Century® and the STP in two days.
Gary also has served on the PBC board as member at large since July 2023.
7. Most Improved Rider of the Year: Co-winner Ronda McKenzie
Ronda joined the PBC in July of 2023. She was one of three winners of 2023 Most Improved New Rider. She finished 2023 with 56 rides for 1659 club miles with her longest distance being 51 miles.
In 2024, Ronda attended 104 rides, totaling 3507 club miles, including the Pioneer Century®. The cold wet weather does not seem to curb her enthusiasm for riding with the club. Starting in October, she led 8 rides.
7. Most Improved Rider of the Year: Co-winner Martha Muñoz
Martha joined the PBC in April of 2023. She was one of three winners of 2023 Most Improved New Rider. She finished 2023 with 56 rides for 1601 club miles.
Martha attended 81 rides, totaling 2343 club miles, including several metric and full centuries. Inclement weather does not seem to dampen her enthusiasm for riding with the club.
7. Most Improved Rider of the Year: Co-winner Rene Sanders
Rene joined in the spring of 2023 as part of a family membership, but nonetheless she got up and went out on rides on her own. You should understand that prior to joining PBC, Rene was NOT a regular bike rider. Physical issues made riding a regular bicycle uncomfortable or downright painful for her. However, when she found a compatible trike, she really took to it. She now looks forward to riding. Physical health issues still make it difficult for her to ride two days in a row, so she is limited in that respect. But she goes out as much as she possibly can. She started to slow down in the colder weather months but, again, that was more a physical issue due to poor circulation, than it was a lack of desire.
She went on the rides where she could keep up with the group. That meant the slowpoke and intermediate-paced rides. Her trike will not support a brisk or fast ride. She also joined her husband in riding 13 miles to the start of Steve Price’s Wheezers and Geezers ride and then home again. That made it a 46-mile outing for her! When a suitable PBC ride was not available, she would go riding with her husband to Troutdale or Kelley Point.
Rene finished 2024 with 47 rides for 1208 club miles.
8. Most Improved New Rider of the Year: Naurry Kwon
Naurry joined the club in October 2023.
Since then, he has gotten so much stronger! He purchased a new bike and has really challenged himself to ride harder rides and be in the front when pace lining with a group.
Naurry completed the two-day STP and rode on 28 club rides for 1338 club miles.
Other Awards (Written member nominations not necessary)
President’s Choice Award: Co-winner Eric Hendricks (presented by Ann Morrow): As president, I am encouraged to select an award recipient that I, as president, found to be outstanding and of great assistance. Truly, many club members worked in the trenches and helped run the club on a day-by-day basis in 2024. I could not pick just one, but for my first President’s Choice selection (and these are in no particular order) I honed in on someone who is calm, respectful, reasonable, intelligent, and assertive. Our biggest event is Seattle to Portland. Eric Hendricks once again in 2024 served as the coordinator for the finish line, making sure the little details were taken care of: working with others, such as Lynn Blanchard, our volunteer coordinator, regarding staffing; making sure our youthful assistants, the high school heavy lifters, were utilized to the fullest; walking around during the event checking in with volunteers; representing our club to Cascade Bicycle Club as capable and competent in the face of 5,000+ riders heading our way. And while this award is specific to 2024, I have to tell you that although Eric resigned from this position so he could actually ride STP in 2025, he continues to be involved: mentoring our new finish line coordinator, Richard Rosenberg; attending planning meetings to share his insights; and volunteering to inventory road signage to make certain we have what we need and not a lot of duplications – a job probably only he and a very few can perform with any competency. As president, such a volunteer provides a huge sense of relief – no micromanaging needed. He’s got this.
President’s Choice Award: Co-winner Richard Higgins (presented by Ann Morrow): My second President’s Choice Award goes to a club member who sadly no longer lives here in the Portland area. But before he moved to Tennessee to be closer to family, Richard Higgins, 2024 vice president and Pioneer Century® event coordinator, really seemed to hit a volunteer stride that benefited us all. He was a very involved vice president working with fellow board members, giving opinions, leading by example as a ride leader, and participated in 97 rides in nine months with just over 3,000 miles. Richard worked hard on the PIONEER with his casual yet confident demeanor and helped further build our signature ride with the great routes that riders have come to know and love. He also brought in some really innovative ideas, such as involving the local community by arranging for a BBQ fundraiser by high school students to provide hamburgers and hotdogs at the finish line to encourage riders to stay and hang out with us; and overseeing the implementation of the interactive Facebook Pioneer Century® Group so riders have a place to ask questions before the event and post photos after their ride. Richard cleaned out the storage unit, got rid of the huge water drum that was taking up about a quarter of the unit and organized the gear. Probably only Joan Cullen appreciates this to the fullest, as she used to handle that task. But I think we all know that if things are organized, we can find things.
Old Fart Award: Lynn Blanchard (presented by Dave McQuery): 
“Frankly, I kinda hated to part with it. The recipients are in the company of giants in the history of our club. The first two recipients, Paul Roscoe (1987) and Phil Crary (1988), are certainly among my idols. On my first ride with the club, and even before I was a member, those two guys stayed back with me, the newbie, and nursed me through the Two-Bridge Kelley Point Loop. There were others too, and some of them in the room at the banquet. I named a few, but the list was too long to go through the whole thing. Anyway, I was proud to get it. I kind of felt as though I had arrived. So, let’s hear it for the new arrival…Lynn Blanchard!”
Get-A-Life Award: Chuck Dorr (presented by Tom Carter): Awarded to the member who participated in the most club rides in 2024. Chuck attended 287 club rides and has now won this award for eight years in a row.
Best Sweep: Kathy Hellem (custom engraved golden whisk broom presented by Michelle Kirsch): Kathy was very patient with riders. She always stayed with the last rider and never made anyone feel like they were too slow or holding up the group. Instead, she encouraged them. With Kathy, it was always a party and good conversations. Kathy never said no on being the sweep, even when she may not have wanted to on a particular day.
In the Nick of Time: Khaliyah Williams-Rodriguez (plaque with her photo and digital clock presented by Michelle Kirsch): Ha, ha!! Khaliyah always slides into the start of a ride with a couple of minutes to spare – if that… If you’re lucky, you will see Khaliyah show up five minutes before the ride start. When you see her signed up online for a ride, you know she will be rolling in at the last minute, ready to go! She is never late, though – cutting it close, yes, but not late. Ha, ha!!
Click here to see Past Award Recipients.
Corey Eng, Awards Committee Member