As we look forward to 2014 we are very excited about not only the potential types of programming We feel like we can do but also by the number of kids we have the opportunity to impact.

We feel that Seacoast Velokids has the momentum to go from one elementary school program to four or even five this spring.

It is our ambition to take our Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day event and conduct it in both spring and fall.

We want to add a summer program not only for kids moving to the next level of thee cycling but also a program to teach adults who want to ride with their VeloKids.

We feel we can take our Middle School program from one to three or four schools and even look at a potential first time high school program.

Goals and ambitions are great but it will take not only funding but a lot of hard work. This year we have matured from and organization of one or two dedicated individuals to a steering and organizational committee of ten talented and diverse individuals. Already we have had a very busy two months of planning as a committee.

We are also looking to improve our performance in not only the funds we raise but in how resourcefully we use those funds. For instance in 2014 we plan to not only acquire additional bikes for our school programs but also an enclosed trailer. This trailer will allow us to move the bikes from school to school getting more from out current and future investments and it solves a long term storage problem.

This year we are also planning our first annual fundraising and awareness event. With this event we hope to bring on more sponsors and increase the donations through increased awareness about or programming and community impact.

With our ambitions plans for 2014 there will be new and unforeseen challenges for certain. But just as last year we will meet them with the same enthusiasm and dedication. In short...Bring It On.

Rich

2013 was quite a year. 

In January of 2013 we were still basically just  an idea - granted we had a website, a mission statement and a five year plan - but we hadn't done anything.  By February we were planning our first program and trying to raise funds.  In the last week of March we just about fell apart...

When I say "we" I should qualify that as me the the organization (noting that the organization consisted of me and one other person - Alex) and basically he was fine...so I guess I fell apart.  We didn't have the funds for the first program and were at our go/no-go date for the school.  I went for a bike ride that morning with Dan Houston and Josh Pierce of Papa Wheelies (our LBS) and said that I didn't think we were going to be able to have our May program.  Dan and Josh asked what I needed as we rode that day and then proceeded to address every point. "Use the Shop Van" for transportation; "Tell us what bikes you need - pay us later" and even a promise that I could return what I could not pay for after we used it.  Basically they saved the program in it's earliest stages.  I will always remember that day, and that ride, with Dan and Josh.

In April the money came in - our sponsors in 2013 were fantastic - we paid all the bills.  We held the May program at Dondero Elementary School in Portsmouth and we had 10 happy VeloKids and as an organization we learned a lot.  The program, while small, was a huge success with the school, the parents and most importantly the school.

After our first program we regrouped in June, July and August (I rode the Mt Washington Hill Climb) and set our goals to conduct more programs in the fall. As we looked to expand to additional schools we found the schools were receptive but the two of us (Alex and I) were not going to be able to cover all of them.  We needed more people.  As we recruited more help we did not position them as well as we should and a lot of our planned programs for that fall just never got off the ground - lesson leaned.

In September we did get a program at Portsmouth Middle School with 12 kids and it was a very well received program.  In October we had our biggest success was at our Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day at Stratham Hill Park.  150 kids, bike races, bike rodeo (we didn't even really know what that was before this event), group rides and a VIP appearance by Ted King.  The event was planned in less than 8 weeks for under $500 but was a huge success.

The fall Middle School program wrapped up in November and in December we started top think about 2014...