Ed Betanzos (left) and Jeff Eighmy rest after bundling the October issue of the SaddleBrooke Progress; photo by Bob Lamb. Monthly delivery of the Progress is a service project of the SaddleBrooke CycleMasters. About 5,000 newspapers are received monthly from the printer. Ed coordinates scheduling of delivery people. Jeff separates the papers into bundles by delivery route, which are neighborhood units. Later, 30 persons will arrive here to collect papers for their assigned routes. The delivery people will devote one or two hours each month. For more industrial delivery and shipment requirements, the likes of Dallas trucking companies may be able to provide an invaluable service, ensuring that their clients’ goods get where they need to go.
Bob Lamb
Monthly delivery of the SaddleBrooke Progress is a service project of the SaddleBrooke CycleMasters bicycle club. 5,018 newspapers are received monthly from the printer. In the picture, Ed and Jeff have just handled organization for the deliveries in October. Backup volunteers also take turns at these jobs.
Our partnership with Robson Publishing has a long history. CycleMasters have delivered the progress for 20 years, since January 5, 1997. At that time Dave Weaver was the SaddleBrooke Progress Chairman. Since that time many other volunteers have participated in this project.
Ed is coordinating scheduling of delivery people for this month. Other volunteers will succeed him. Before Ed, Jack Giovenco served as delivery coordinator for five years.
Jeff separates the papers into bundles by delivery route, which include 45 neighborhood units. There are 37 regular deliverers and 25 substitute deliverers.
Later, 45 persons, regulars and subs, will arrive at the distribution center to collect bundles of papers for their assigned routes. The delivery people devote one or two hours each month.
There are 11 current CycleMaster members out of the 50 volunteers that started those deliveries in 1997. They are Norm Beasley, Ted and Gloria Belanger, Margaret Betanzos, Bud and Patsy Chase, Ken Harmon, Fred and Nancy Pepek, Rick Phelps and Bill Yates.
Proceeds from delivering newspapers enable the purchase and presentation of bicycles to students in each of six grades at two elementary schools. The teachers and staff at Mammoth and San Manuel select recipients of the bicycles. Criteria for selection are Hardest Working and Most Improved student in each grade.
CycleMaster Ken Perkins coordinates with Oro Valley Bicycles and the schools. Bikes and helmets are purchased that are the proper size and style for each student.
Thank you, CycleMasters. This is no small operation!