volunteers showcase: group 2

Group 2 of our 2010 volunteers includes numerous happy couples who enjoy aiding riders in a team work fashion and one known for crazy costumes. Read about these fine people and other volunteers below:

Name: Jill Colby
Nickname: Sag 7
How long have you been volunteering for RTR? This will be my 15th year on staff. (I rode for three years before I became a volunteer.)
What roles have you played as a volunteer? My first two years I did baggage (back when we unloaded the trucks ourselves without any community help!). Since then I have been a Sag driver.
What is your favorite RTR memory? After 14 years there are so many I can’t just pick one. But when I think about RTR I usually reminisce about the camaraderie of all the hard-working volunteers and how much fun we have together.
Why do you keeping coming back each year? I keep coming back because of the people I work with. They are wonderful people – hard working, kind and caring, and lots of fun!
What piece of advice would you offer a first-time RTR participant? I would tell them to ride safely and enjoy the tour – it’s always a beautiful route and riding a bike is the best way to see it.
What do you do in your spare time? I like to ride horses and go camping and fishing.
What Colorado towns are your favorite? I love all of Colorado, but some of my favorites are Kremmling, Telluride, Montrose, and Crested Butte.
Names: Jeff and Donna Groves
How long have you been volunteering for RTR? We can’t believe it, but this will be our 12th year.
What roles have you played as a volunteer? Jeff began as an aid truck driver. He enjoyed getting to know all the aid station workers and the early morning riders. He turned the aid truck into a large sag vehicle on multiple occasions when needed. Donna began as an aid station worker and flagger. She enjoyed this time getting to know many of the volunteers. She’s worked as a Sag driver and enjoyed getting to know more of the riders. Most recently both Donna and Jeff have been working as a team on the a.m. sign truck.
What is your favorite RTR memory? Jeff - years I rode with our youngest daughter Kelly - and on our tandem bike! Donna - the first year volunteering, the night before the final day, receiving my first pin.
Why do you keeping coming back each year? We love the people and like all other who live in Colorado, we do not take the time to be in the mountains, we get to see what we've been missing.
What piece of advice would you offer a first-time RTR participant? Sit back and relax, take a deep breath and get ready to work your a** off, ask for help if you need something, but remember to show the colors and have fun.
What do you do in your spare time? Golf and exploring great food on the road.
What Colorado town is your favorite? Rico, Salida, and Montrose.
Name: Dion Shea and Elizabeth Siaba
How long have you been volunteering for RTR? 3 years.
What roles have you played as a volunteer? Aid Station and Marshal.
What is your favorite RTR memory? Too many to list.
Why did you decide to come back this year? Fun - seeing all the parts of Colorado, work with the riders, volunteers and staff.
What piece of advice would you offer a first time RTR participants? Train train train!
What do you do in your spare time? Bike, travel, hike and read.
What Colorado town is your favorite? Boulder.
Name: Roger Schafer
How long have you been volunteering for RTR? 11 years.
What roles have you played as a volunteer? Sag driver, road marshal, aid station, am signs, baggage, hospitality tent and comic relief.
What is your favorite RTR memory? When a female cyclist hailed me (when I was driving sag) to have me help her fix her broken sports bra. Also, again as a sage driver, an exhausted and injured cyclist threw up on me and the nice new sag vehicle.
Why did you decide to come back this year? I come back because I love RTR and meeting really great people.
What piece of advice would you offer a first time RTR participants? Work hard, enjoy the scenery and have fun!
What do you do in your spare time? Ride my bike, swim, take photographs and build models.
What Colorado town is your favorite? Durango.
Name: Sammie Saulsberry
How long have you been volunteering for RTR? 3 years.
What roles have you played as a volunteer? Road Marshal.
What is your favorite RTR memory? Rookie Review. But mor importantly, wearing my jacket to a local football game 1,200 miles from Denver having a person behind me ask where I got an RTR jacket. It was a cyclist who after hearing my "rave review" vowed to do RTR and was a joined the following year!
Why did you decide to come back this year? I feel Denver Post Charities is doing things I believe in! I truly feel that I am an integral part of an organization that is helping others.
What piece of advice would you offer a first time RTR participants? Do your dead level best to be a team member. Reach out to volunteers and cyclists.
What do you do in your spare time? Read, volunteer in other community organizations, attend cultural events, yardwork.
What Colorado town is your favorite? I'm still open for finding it via RTR - currently Leadville is crowding out Denver.
Name: Bonnie Grilly
How long have you been volunteering for RTR? First year!
What are you most excited about as a first time volunteer? offering my help to such a great event!
How did you get involved with Ride The Rockies? Through my husband's work with The Denver Post.
Have you ever done an event like this? No - but have coordinated many events through schools and been on many fundraising boards.
What do you do in your spare time? Read, golf, ski, run/walk (and I do love to eat!).
What Colorado town is your favorite? Smaller towns in the mountains.
Name: Chris Campbell
How long have you been volunteering for RTR? First year.
What are you most excited about as a first time volunteer? Getting outside with a lot of great people and seeing places in Colorado I haven't been to.
How did you get involved with Ride The Rockies? Volunteer Jim Helmer.
Have you ever done an event like this? No, but can't wait to get this event started.
What do you do in your spare time? I like all types of sports and reading.
What Colorado town is your favorite? Boulder.
Name: Mary-Margaret Coates
Nickname: Emma
How long have you been volunteering for RTR? First year!
What are you most excited about as a first time volunteer? Getting to work in the mountains for a week!
How did you get involved with Ride The Rockies? Seemed like a great way to participate a bit.
Have you ever done an event like this? No.
What do you do in your spare time? Volunteer as a naturalist at Roxborough State Park, usher at the Bonfils Theatres, read to children in a Denver Health neighborhood clinic waiting room.
What Colorado town is your favorite? Denver!
Name: Bob and Bev Beehler
Nickname: Bob and Bev, Mom and Dad, Grandma and Grandpa
How long have you been volunteering for RTR? 2010 with be our 10th year.
What roles have you played as a volunteer? We usually work at aid stations but have also done some marshalling.
What is your favorite RTR memory? Worm’s presentations at “family night” for staff members each year.
Why do you keeping coming back each year? We enjoy being part of the excitement the event generates as it moves around the state. Being cyclists ourselves, we enjoy helping, meeting, and associating with other cyclists. Having worked on the event several years now, we have made friends among the event staff that we enjoy seeing and we have fun being part of the unique RTR family.
What piece of advice would you offer a first-time RTR participant? Don’t underestimate the value of conditioning before the event. The better shape you are in at the start of the ride the more you will enjoy it!
What do you do in your spare time? We love to take part in outdoor activities such as cross-country skiing, hiking, backpacking, and biking. We have participated in some organized bike events but also like to bike tour on our own. We love our “new” used VW Eurovan, as it is extending our basecamp travels throughout the US and Canada. Our four grandchildren provide us with great joy and we enjoy spending time with our two sons and their families.
What Colorado town is your favorite? We have been able to find interesting things to see and do in just about all Colorado towns. We enjoy the mountains and have a preference for mountain towns.
Name: Dave Jackson
Nickname: The Hook
How long have you been volunteering for RTR? 20 years.
What roles have you played as a volunteer? I drive the MEET Wagon, I also play baggage boy along with aid station duty and marshalling.
What is your favorite RTR memory? The Big SAG from Estes Park to Granby via I-70.
Why do you keeping coming back each year? Being part of the best bicycle event in the world and to celebrate another year of life.
What piece of advice would you offer a first-time RTR participant? First timers – have fun and be ready to work hard, but it’s worth every minute of pain.
What do you do in your spare time? I make night lights – or as some people call them, entry lights from junk and broken lamps.
What Colorado town is your favorite? Montrose.