August 2004

Gaby Rudderow, Donna Leigh Bliss, and Mary Ann Van Petten at the Country BBQ and Hoedown.

WOW^® Ride-In is Wild and Wonderful in West Virginia

The Women On Wheels® Ride-In was held in beautiful Canaan Valley, West Virginia from July 6 to 8 this year. The Canaan Valley Resort and Conference Center was the host to over 600 women motorcyclists and support members. Several members of the Capitol Cruisers went including Gaby, Mary Ann, Donna, Nina, Lori, Mary, Suzanne, and support member David.

Indoor activities included informative and entertaining seminars on safety, first aid, and self-defense. WOW merchandise was for sale along with cool things from other vendors.

Outdoor activities included numerous back roads to ride-some that were very narrow and steep. The Country BBQ and Hoedown on Wednesday night was especially fun. The food was great and getting the opportunity to talk to women from other chapters was a lot of fun.

The Banquet and Awards event on Thursday evening was a great way to end such a wonderful event. Next year the Ride-In will be in Boise, Idaho. Maybe we’ll see you there.

Donna Leigh Bliss Chapter Director

Cruising with Donna

Let’s put the “fun” in fundraising.
The results of our fundraising survey show members of the Capitol Cruisers have diverse views on fundraising. Fortunately, we were able to find a common ground and decide on a fundraising policy at the meeting on July 13. Here is what we decided.

The Capitol Cruisers will engage in fundraising activities to support two charitable organizations each year. The first is the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. This will be done in June, although left undecided was whether we would contribute through MAWMR, Dick Gelfman Ride Across Maryland, or directly to the Komen foundation.

Second, we will contribute to a local organization that we can develop a personal relationship that can include providing goods and services in addition to money. This will be done the end of the year. This program will be the Latina Victims of Domestic Violence Program in Montgomery County. (Trish has agreed to chair the fundraising campaign for this program this year. See page 4 for some of her excellent ideas). Third, we will primarily raise funds through dedicated fundraising activities and limit selling stuff at meetings and to families and friends. Finally, we can decide to change either of the two organizations at a later time if we wish. Thanks to everyone for all their work in developing this policy.

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