After two years on the Bike Manawatu Board I was surprisingly voted in Bike Manawatu Chairman at our recent AGM replacing Steve Stannard who was standing down after six years on the board.Steve has done and will continue doing great things for this club and cycling in New Zealand.We wish him and his family all the best and thank him for his amazing contribution to the club.
I have quickly learnt the success of Bike Manawatu has been all about the cross section of amazing club members,volunteers and sponsors that support one another, week in week out enjoying this amazing sport of cycling.What ever level you are at as a club member, think about how much more fun it is to be around like minded people from all walks of life riding or volunteering together, talking and sharing experiences.This is often how many of your friendships get started in this great sport.
Statistics recognise cycling is one of the fastest growing sports for people who want to stay fit and build great friendships as a recreational or race rider while taking in stunning New Zealand countryside which the Manawatu has plenty of.
We are wanting to grow our Bike Manawatu’s membership and build a club that we can all be proud of and spend more riding and social time together. As a club member, we ask you to talk to more people about the sport and get them along to experience our club bike rides together.Christine Christie will welcome them to the club and our organised beginners rides. We all have the responsibility to help new cyclist learn cycling protocols and we all must remember the embarrassment of our own first few rides.Not easy were they?
Our recreational membership is growing fast and for those who want to race a bike,a new Bike Manawatu racing events committee have exciting plans ahead. Over many years the Manawatu region has produced cycling superstars from school cycling through to masters riders on the road or track and the club have access to top coaches to help set new benchmarks for those riders.The best of our current crop of young riders are competing internationally for New Zealand this year which we are all proud of and the club support.
The Bike Manawatu board is committed to making all levels of cycling organised,safe and fun for its members and at only $45 (less than a dollar per week)for an annual membership or $80 for a family it is a cheap way to enter this fantastic sport.
The club has an excellent team of Board members;Brendon Hapeta,Austin Smith,Chris Sanson,Mike Groube and the two newly elected board members Rebecca Allan and Peter McCarthy to add further experience to governance. The Bike Manawatu board is made of everyday people with a genuine interest in the sport and are volunteers running a non profit organisation. Each board member is keen and interested he hear about constructive solutions from its members to help make things better for the club.
The Club are well served by club secretary Christine Christie who continues to do an excellent job building our membership and brand. For members who would like to give back to the sport and become a valued member of a Bike Manawatu Sub Committee or volunteer roster, the club are looking for people to help out and join one of the following sub committees;
1) Cycling Events sub Committee – the club run over 50 events per annum.
2) Social Committee – the club have over 220 registered members and are looking for more social events to bring us together more often.
If you are interested please contact Christine Christie. secretary@bikemanawatu.co.nz
Also as a club we have many skill-sets across all of our members.If you have an accounting/financial background,and are happy to assist the club in this area I would welcome your call.
Enjoy your cycling
John van Lienen
John.vanlienen@bayleys.co.nz