Chain of Events
November 15, 2017
Here's your new TBN board
A quick note to introduce the TBN board of directors for the coming year, with both new and familiar faces. These are the people who will be running the club next year, so introduce yourself if you see them on a hike or on a ride. We're sure they would love to meet you and get your feedback.
Pictured from left to right: Ian Rankin (president); Jeannie Lee (overnight trips) Sandra Wong (technology); Peter Middleton (co-treasurer); Wilma Sanson (education); Susan Bishop (social); Donna Van (education); Dan Richards (communications); Robert Scott (secretary). Missing from the picture are Dave Mader (touring), Joey Schwartz (advocacy) and Peggy Kiely (co treasurer), who were all unable to attend the annual meeting. There is a vacancy for a board member responsible for membership and volunteers. Contact Ian at president@tbn.ca if you are interested.
Membership fees going up
After more years than the current Chain of Events staff can remember, fees for TBN membership will rise from January 1 to keep finances stable as costs rise. This means, for example, that the renewal fee for a single member will go up to $40 from $35. "The board is optimistic that the club's finances have been stabilized with the modest $5 membership fee increase, effective January 1, 2018," says president Ian Rankin. Respondents to TBN's 2017 membership survey described TBN as excellent value for money and they were open to higher fees.
Travel with TBN
TBN is offering a series of weekend and multi-day trips next season, and more variety. Here's a selection. Keep a close eye on the overnight trips section of the website for more details.
Wanakita January 12-14
Spend two nights at the comfortable YMCA Camp Wanakita on beautiful Koshlong Lake in the Haliburton Highlands. Friday snacks and five delicious meals are included in the cost of $234 for members and $246 for non-members. Activities include classic skiing on 25km of on-site groomed trails, snowshowing (showshoes provided) and skating on the lake (bring your own skates). There's also tobogganing, and a night ski to a bonfire.
Check the Overnight trips page of the website for details and to register.
Wolf Den February 2-4
There's still one space, for a male, for our Feb 2-4 weekend ski trip to Wolf Den, near the entrance to Algonquin Park. The weekend price of $100 for members and $110 for non members includes accommodation, Friday night food, two pancake breakfasts and supplies for sandwich lunches. Saturday dinner is a potluck. Cross country skiing and snowshoeing are both available.
New York 5 Boro May 3-7
We've already doubled the size of the planned TBN excursion to join the New York City 5 Boro ride, on May 6 next year, and even so the trip may be full by the time this newsletter goes to press. We'll car pool to the New York area and spend four nights in New Jersey, just across the river from Manhattan. The plan includes rides near the city and then the 65-km 5 Boro ride, which takes you along streets and bridges closed for traffic for the once-a-year occasion. Check the website for details, and click here to sign up (or join the waiting list).
The 5 Boro ride started in 1977 with 250 riders. Next year 32,000 riders will join the relaxed-pace ride, with bands and music along the route, plus a big party at the end. Click the link for a short video of the ride.
Please contact Dan Richards if you are want more information.
Kentucky Bluegrass Country May 18-May 28
Enjoy an early start to summer with TBN's 3rd cycling vacation in Kentucky, run by Dinsmore Roach and Marie Ferguson. The trip will offer 10 days of cycling the rolling hills of Kentucky, including an organized weekend with the Blue Grass Cycling Club. We will carpool to Lexington, Kentucky, for the start of the trip, which will cost $799 for members, $850 for non-members. Registration opens on March 1, 2018 for members and March 18 for non-members. Click here for more information.
Contact Jeannie at weekendtrips@tbn.ca if you have any suggestions for a trip or if you wish to lead one. Trip leaders have their fees paid by TBN.
We love our volunteers
TBN plans a volunteer evening in late January for those already volunteering with the club, and for those who want to get involved. We'll have more details in future editions of Chain of Events, but we already know it will also be a chance to recognize this year's top volunteers. The names of these volunteers are officially still under wraps, but TBN detectives note that the cake served at the annual meeting offered tributes to "Patsy and Mick. Avid readers of TBN's Facebook page may also remember that Mary Newman says she was "very surprised and delighted" to be told she had won the president's award for volunteering to conduct the 2017 member survey.
Still space at TBN's splendid spin sessions
We've still got space at TBN's superb indoor cycling training sessions on Wednesday nights at the downtown Adelaide Club, starting on November 22. Master spinning instructor and competitive cyclist Carmen Diges develops these progressive classes carefully and tests riders regularly so that participants can meet their personal goals.
It's a great way to keep your cycling muscles tuned up during the winter, and you'll get a chance to try the Adelaide's new state-of-the-art Stages bikes, with power meter technology.
Classes are from 6:35pm to 7:35pm and the eight-week series costs $90 plus HST. Please register with Lauren at 416-367-9957 x 4309 or lauren@adelaideclub.com.
Cold enough to skate
The skating season is starting, with TBNers invited to join two sessions this month at York Mills Arena, on the southeast corner of York Mills Road and Bayview Avenue. We'll move outdoors once the city's outside rinks open up at the end of this month. Check the website for more details.
Hikes and walks
Our programs of Fall Hikes and City Walks are both going strong -- there were almost 30 TBN city walkers in Toronto's east end last weekend, and 15 TBN hikers in the Rouge National Urban Park. More details on the TBN website.
What's coming up?
Dear readers: Are you interested in a new feature in your Chain of Events which lists some of the key events to look forward to over the next few months? If you have comments, or if you have something to add please email the editor at coe@tbn.ca.
Here's a few events to start the ball rolling.
January: Watch your email for details of TBN's big volunteer appreciation evening.
January/February: TBN ski trips to Wanakita and Wolf Den. Details on the website.
March 2-4: Toronto International Bike Show. TBN will have a booth at the show, and we'll be looking for volunteers to help answer questions from visitors. More details coming early next year in Chain of Events.
May: TBN cycling trips to New York and Kentucky. Details on the website.
June 3: Ride for Heart. It's never too early to start fundraising for this annual event, which gives you a chance to ride your bike along the Gardiner Expressway and the Don Valley Parkway, along with tens of thousands of other riders.
Please note this is the last Chain of Events until mid-December. The editor is going on holiday.
Reminders
Someone to ski with
A friendly reminder that High Park Ski Club's New Members' night at the Raiders E-Sports Centre at 439 St Clair Avenue West on Thursday, November 23. You can meet the HPSC leaders and join a charity raffle -- a $5 ticket gives you the chance to win special prizes as well as a big Grand Prize. Proceeds go to Ontario Track 3 Ski Association, a volunteer charity that helps kids and youth with disabilities to “discover their confidence, develop their talents and achieve their physical potential through the magic of snow sports.”
HPSC offers Alpine and Nordic ski day and overnight trips in Ontario and beyond. Learn more about High Park Ski Club here.
Still riding?
Watch the TBN Forum and the TBN Facebook page for details on unofficial rides and other events. In fact, anyone can organize an unofficial ride; you do not have to be a ride leader. (Note that TBN insurance does not cover unofficial rides.)
Deals and special offers on bike stuff, tours, rides, and so on
TBN partners offer great deals for our members. Discounts are also available at numerous bike stores, special bike tours outside Ontario, charity ride registration, and much more. Please support TBN's great partners.
Remember you must present your valid TBN membership card for a discount at any TBN discount partner.
As always, check the TBN website for details of all the rides and other events that are coming up, and remember to check back a couple of hours before a ride in case it's changed or cancelled because of poor weather, or other factors beyond our control.
Remember to visit the TBN calendar of events to find out more about what's coming up. That little TTC logo below will help alert you to any subway closures.
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