Special thanks goes out to our in-kind sponsors, especially Matt Giraud and Grapheon Design for the compelling visual and thematic inspiration, and Steve Brown and Madison's Grill for keeping everyone happy and well-fed.

The Bison Building made the perfect backdrop for the sold-out crowd of 450+ BTA members, supporters, and volunteers to mix and mingle with elected officials and renowned bicycle advocates.

Guests spent the first part of the evening socializing inside and outside while volunteers at Alice's Bazaar helped sell Golden Tickets and Restaurant Raffle chances, and the Sprockettes rocked a stellar performance in the evening sun.

The Sprockettes. Photo by Katy Cannatelli

Bison Building. Photo by Rachel Meyer

Remmers and BTA Board member Stephen Gomez. Photo by Rachel Meyer

Mayor Sam Adams and Executive Director Rob Sadowsky. Photo by Katy Cannatelli

The formal part of the night kicked off with speeches by Mayor Sam Adams and Board Chair Mary Roberts before Executive Director Rob Sadowsky spoke about his background and about why he's excited to join his new community:

"I came to Portland and to Oregon to join a community that is eager for big bold ideas and is not afraid to tackle the harder projects. In Chicago it was always the low hanging fruit. Well, if you want transportation equity, opportunities for all economic groups and an integrated network, you need to climb higher or simply get out the ladder.

I’m here to tell you that BTA is ready for this challenge."

Rob Sadowsky. Photo by Rachel Meyer

Sadowsky said the BTA will "reach out to existing and new partners to  build a bicycling movement that will meeting the challenges and opportunities arising" and be ready. He made it clear that the BTA's ability to "take the big leaps and climb up to reach the higher fruit" depends on the continued support of our members and community:

"We’ll be looking for leaders and we’ll be looking for financial support. I’ll ask you to contribute in the best way that you can either through volunteering, making phone calls to legislators, or by writing a check to support our work. In return, I expect that you’ll be clear on what your own needs and vision is for our work."

Jonathan Nicholas emceed the fabulous live auction:

Live auction. Photo by Rachel Meyer

The BTA was sincerely honored to recognize Susan Remmers, Al Densmore, and Susan Kubota as our 2010 Alice Award Winners.

Remmers and Rob Sadowsky. Photo by David Lantham Reamer

Al Densmore and family. Photo by Rachel Meyer

Susan Kubota (center) and Sophie Sparling with Rob Sadowsky. Photo by David Lantham Reamer

After a standing ovation for the eponymous former mayor who kicked off the bicycling movement in Portland, Catherine Ciarlo accepted the Bud Clark Lifetime Achievement Award.

Bud Clark, Catherine Ciarlo and Rob Sadowsky. Photo by David Lantham Reamer

Thank you! We'll share images from the Photobooth and more photos from the evening as soon as they're ready.

Alice is lifting off to new horizons this year, so it will be an exciting ride for new and returning passengers. Curious about what's in store for the evening? Here are some of the details:

• Dinner menu by Madison's Grill made with local, in-season ingredients served family-style
• Wine from Velocity Cellars and Grochau Wines
• Beer by Deschutes Brewery and Hopworks Urban Brewery
• Spirits from New Deal Distillery
• Drinks by Stumptown Coffee Roasters , Steven Smith Teamaker, and Hot Lips Soda

And of  course, the chance to be there when we announce the three Alice Award winners from this outstanding list of Oregon's top bicycle advocates.

But that's just the beginning. Check out the FULL live auction catalog and see what's for sale at Alice's Bazaar, including the newest featured item below.

NEW – Jonathan Nicholas Reads Dylan Thomas

Enjoy a buffet dinner for 25 guests, then gather in front of the fireplace as Oregon's most celebrated cycling Welshman reads selections from his favorite prose and poetry.

Jonathan grew up in a coal-mining community just up the valley from where Dylan developed his passion for life's three great Muses: poetry, women, and beer. For more than 20 years, Jonathan's readings of "A Child's Christmas in Wales" have been part of the holiday tradition in Portland. Join him this evening as he digs a little deeper — and discovers a lot more ribaldry — in the astonishing treasure trove that is Thomas' legacy.

Oh as I was young and easy in the mercy of his means
Time held me green and dying
Though I sang in my chains like the sea.

Ride with us and let's soar.

One Ira Ryan semi-custom, all-around road bike frame and fork (your choice of colors) with light tubing & fender braze-ons. His & her outfits from Rapha Continental include a Classic jersey with arm warmers, shorts, cap, gilet, and merino socks.

Donated by:
Ira Ryan
Rapha Continental

Visit the Alice Awards website to preview more live auction items!

Donated by:
Western Spirit Cycling Adventures
Club Ride Apparel
The Powerhouse

Visit the Alice Awards website to preview more live auction items!

Then take the overhaul inside and have CZ Becker restore your old and warn hardwood floors. They’ve been restoring Portland's old houses for over 23 years and will give you a wood floor that is durable, and has a warm natural beauty. With beautifully handcrafted, solid hardwood furniture from the Joinery and reclaimed materials from the Rebuilding Center, your home will look and feel amazing on the inside and out.

Donated by:
Sobella Farms
Barbara Hilty Landscape Design
CZ Becker
The Joinery
Rebuilding Center.

Visit the Alice Awards website to preview more live auction items!

Photo by Food Carts Portland

Parkers Waffles
The People's Pig
Fat Kitty
Brunch Box
BBQ Fusion
Garden State
Built to Grill
The Frying Scotsman
Addy's Sandwiches
Cool Harry's Yogurt Shop
Lickety Split
Ali Baba's

Passports to Portland Food Carts are available exclusively at the Alice Awards and Auction on June 5.

It's not too late to add your business to the list. Interested vendors may contact Kecia Welt by May 22nd.

Cafe Velo
Alma Chocolate
Blue Heron Herbary
Black Sheep Bakery
Sol Pops
Souper Natural
Champoeg Eggs
Ruby Jewel
Tails & Trotters
Zuppa Soups

Passports to the Farmers' Market are available exclusively at the Alice Awards and Auction on June 5.

It's not too late to add your business to the list. Interested vendors may contact Kecia Welt by May 22nd.

Saint Cupcake
Nuvrei
Pearl Bakery
Baker & Spice
Grand Central Bakery
Crema
Random Order
Sweetness
Fleur de Lis
New Cascadia
Lovejoy Bakery
Cupcake Jones

Bikers Love Bakers passports are available exclusively at the Alice Awards and Auction on June 5.

It's not too late to add your business to the list. Interested vendors may contact Kecia Welt by May 22nd.

A quote that's kept near and dear to my hopes for the cycling movement is Margaret Mead’s, reminding me “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” Every time I read that, I grin just a little more, roll my shoulders back, and lean in. You too?

Read on for the current list of the many ways you can volunteer with the BTA and make this year the bikiest ever! We're mobilizing on all these projects and campaigns now!

Click on the links for more info, then get back to us on the webform to let us know how you can help and how we can get in touch!

• Celebrate Oregon's Bike Heroes at the Alice Awards
The annual Alice Awards and Auction on June 5th is the celebration of the year for the bicycling community and the major fundraising event for the BTA. Together, we recognize top bike advocates around Oregon and rally around each other's accomplishments, and build upon the energy and excitement we need to keep mobilizing the cycling community.

To make Alice the best it can be, we need volunteer help with set up, bike parking, check in, check out and wrap-up! 5.20.10 Update: Thanks to a very robust response from our active volunteers all our shifts for Alice are now full! Thanks volunteers! ~M

• Advocate for Cyclists with the Build it Campaign
Portland’s Bike Master Plan can offer tremendous help in supporting the increasing the number of cyclists on the road, but only if we Build It! The Mayor's proposed budget is coming soon but has not yet been finalized, and the debate at city council is right around the corner.

Be a part of the mobilization of political will that it takes to find the strategies and coalitions we need to make this plan come to life. Let’s Build It!

• Come to the Oregon Bike Summit
What’s our vision for the future of cycling throughout Oregon? What traffic safety legislation changes are most important? How will we prioritize the allocation of federal funding? How do we as cyclists balance the urban and rural divide. The Oregon Bike Summit will tackle this and more here in Portland on June 4th.

If you’re ready to help shape the future for cycling and sharpen your skills with workshops that debate the issues and map the power, then the Bike Summit is for you.

• Help Teach the Next Generation to Share the Road
The BTA teaches bike safety education to thousands of 4th, 5th and 6th grade students every year. To do so, we rely on hundreds of volunteer hours to maintain our fleet of bikes and ride along with the students as they navigate their neighborhoods. Our spring teaching season is already underway, wrapping up on June 11th. Fleet maintenance work is ongoing throughout the year.

If you’re good with a wrench, or good helping a new rider gain skill and confidence in the saddle, then the BTA’s Bike Safety Education program can’t wait for you to join us.

• Grow this Movement Member to Member
The joys of cycling: the smiles it brings are all so very personal that it’s just not possible to reduce our love for what we do into just one letter or one brochure. When we talk about cycling to each other – how we love the sound the wind makes in our spokes, how we love to see the looks on others faces as we breeze by, and how we wish so many more could join us on the road, well, that energy is a renewable resource that we should actively invest in.

Our approach to membership relations is undergoing a sea-change to reflect this. We want to minimize our reliance on membership renewal mailings and gear up to support the process of renewal with member to member conversations. We’ll need help to make these calls and be more visible in the community. The tradition of Volunteer Saturday is transforming. The tradition of Volunteer Saturday is transforming. Member Night Mondays are coming, starting in May.

Other fun summer fundraisers for the BTA like BridgePedal and Tour de Fat are already coming in to focus. If you want to help us raise thousands of dollars and entertain thousands of cyclists, we're ready to sign you up!

Any of this sound good to you?

Do you have other ideas for projects and campaigns you'd like to get involved with?

Click here and tell us. Ready. Set. Go!

Featured Item of the Week: Cycle Oregon #1 Wristband

This is your chance to bid on the one and only Cycle Oregon #1 Wristband. Upon arrival in camp you can skip the trip to the baggage truck and forget about looking for your tent stakes, because you'll find your accommodations already set up for you – with your luggage waiting inside. And this magical process repeats itself every day!

The Cycle Oregon Round-Up Ride is a two-state ramble through the canyons, wheat fields, vineyards and forests of northeastern Oregon and southeastern Washington that includes a two-day stop in Pendleton during the 100th anniversary of the Pendleton Round-Up.

Donated by Cycle Oregon