volunteers showcase: group 5

Group 5 of our 2010 volunteers includes a previous staff member, the parents of our director, and a lady who received a marriage proposal while on the ride. Read about these wonderful people and their stories below:

Name: Curtis Baker
Why/how did you become involved with RTR? Talking with Tim and Worm, it sounded like lots of fun and a good way to visit new places in Colorado. I think Worm had a hand in getting me picked.
Why did you decide to come back this year? To have fun and to see new places.
What role(s) have you played as a volunteer? Registration, aid station, road marshal, load and unload trucks, and I also made a fruit run with Jack.
What is your favorite RTR memory? The rookie skit and also getting the call to take part in the event.
Name: Beth Bonczek-Stoffel
Why/how did you become involved with RTR? In 1999, I entered the lottery to ride the tour. I was sorely disappointed when I got my rejection letter from Paul. At the time, I was working with Dana Rinderknecht and she said maybe I could volunteer a year, and that would ensure I could ride in the future. Well, 10 years have gone by and I have volunteered many times. I've ridden some of the routes but never the whole thing. Volunteering is just too addictive!
Why did you decide to come back this year? The summer doesn't seem quite the same without a week on the tour. I enjoy seeing Colorado, meeting the cyclists from all over the world, and working side by side with my friends - the amazing RTR volunteer family! I missed last year's ride due to a work conflict. Now, I work for myself, so I don't see any conflicts!
What role(s) have you played as a volunteer? I have worked aid stations, which I love - you get to chat with the riders and from day to day follow their experiences on the ride. I have also marshaled. I seem to lose my voice every time I do that job!
What is your favorite RTR memory? I have to say it was the year I was a Queen. Yes, I was a Queen in 2002. Working with Paul and Amy for the duration of the tour as a Tour Assistant was such an amazing experience. While I was working that year, I met someone who became a good friend and regular RTR participant-David King. It was his first year on the route and he emailed me everyday with questions about everything you could think of - and those you'd never think of - that he might encounter during RTR. I looked forward to his regular messages and must say that we had quite a dialogue going. I was so busy on the tour (that was the year we had fires near Durango and had to reroute), but David and I met and became great friends. Now you'll see him and his lovely wife, Megan, riding the tandem cruiser each year. They, as do many of the riders, bring a smile to me everyday.
What piece of advice would you offer a first-time RTR participant? New Volunteers - roll up your sleeves and expect to work hard and have a blast! New Riders - Have fun, enjoy the beautiful scenery, drink lots of water, and don't overdo it - it's not called RACE the Rockies! Oh yeah, and don't forget to smile and thank the volunteers :-)
What do you do in your spare time? I love to hike throughout Colorado, and even in my spare time on RTR I try to get a hike in. I cycle also and as soon as my husband can get a week off during RTR we'll ride the tour. We are recently hooked on SCUBA diving and our next big adventure is a Dive with the Sharks at the Downtown Denver Aquarium.
What Colorado town is your favorite? On this year's tour probably Leadville. It just feels so historic and you can imagine all our predecessors walking the streets, mining the area, and trying to survive above 10,000 feet!
Name: Sarah Bettinger
Nickname: Sarah with an "H"
How long have you been volunteering for RTR? 16 years.
What roles have you played as a volunteer? Road marshal and aid station.
What is your favorite RTR memory? Getting to know the volunteers and riders. Beautiful areas we have gone and the people in the towns and even the shops in the towns, just visiting etc. The support of the people from birth to death.
Why do you keeping coming back each year? I love it! Yes, it is great to be in the outdoors for a week and keep the riders safe where we can all enjoy the ride.
What piece of advice would you offer a first-time RTR participant? Ask if you are not sure what to do or where you should be. No question is unimportant!
What do you do in your spare time? Reading, travel - especially to see the grandsons. Gardening, watching sports, entertaining and puzzles.
What Colorado town is your favorite? I am like a kid, wherever I am, that is my favorite.
Name: Bob Bettinger
Nickname: Revis
How long have you been volunteering for RTR? 11 years.
What roles have you played as a volunteer? Road marshal, riding marshall.
What is your favorite RTR memory? Being able to see the mountains from one end to the other.
Why do you keeping coming back each year? Being able to spend a week in the most beautiful parts of the world!
What piece of advice would you offer a first-time RTR participant? Enjoy every moment!
What do you do in your spare time? I like to work on classic Mustangs.
What Colorado town is your favorite? Hard to say. Steamboat Springs, Durango, Salida etc.
Name: Veronica Flores-Thomas
How long have you been volunteering for RTR? Five years.
What roles have you played as a volunteer? Aid station and road marshal.
What is your favorite RTR memory? The great particpants(riders) and staff.
Why did you decide to come back this year? I enjoy the people and the staff, also I get a chance to see areas that I normally wouldn't visit in Colorado or New Mexico.
What piece of advice would you offer a first time RTR participants? Each year is a new experience, smile!
What do you do in your spare time? Read and crochet. Volunteer to take elderly to doctor's appointments and grocery shopping. Care and work with elderly at Elder Garden.
What Colorado town is your favorite? All of Colorado, Durango and Eaton where we live.
Name: Jim Thomas
How long have you been volunteering for RTR? Six years.
What roles have you played as a volunteer? Aid marshal.
What is your favorite RTR memory? Watching the finish.
Why did you decide to come back this year? I enjoy seeing other RTR volunteers and seeing all types of bikers.
What piece of advice would you offer a first time RTR participants? Have fun.
What do you do in your spare time? Walk, ride my bike, read, read with grade school children at local schools.
Name: Melissa Soliday
How long have you been volunteering for RTR? 11+ years.
What roles have you played as a volunteer? Marshal, aid, baggage, med driver, info tent, aid station.
What is your favorite RTR memory? Watching riders come in on last day, seeing everyone make it over the Trail.
Why did you decide to come back this year? I love the ride, the people and the scenery...the whole RTR experience is great!
What piece of advice would you offer a first time RTR participants? Train!
What do you do in your spare time? Cycle, read, movies and sports.
What Colorado town is your favorite? Many! I like Durango, Ouray, Boulder...so many.
Name: Michael Sinclair
How long have you been volunteering for RTR? This will be my 7th year... I think?
What roles have you played as a volunteer? Baggage, aid.
What is your favorite RTR memory? Hard to pick just one, there really are so many.
Why did you decide to come back this year? The people, Riders and Staff.
What piece of advice would you offer a first time RTR participants? This is not a race, take your time and enjoy the scenery!
What do you do in your spare time? Just hang out with buddies and tinker with computers.
What Colorado town is your favorite? Durango.
Name: Gloria Siekmeier
How long have you been volunteering for RTR? Seven years.
What roles have you played as a volunteer? Aid station.
What is your favorite RTR memory? As a rider, reaching the summit of Monarch without stopping, then riding down in a lightning and hail storm, and surviving!
Why did you decide to come back this year? The beauty of Colorado - being part of a team - meeting riders, helping the success of RTR.
What piece of advice would you offer a first time RTR participants? We'll take care of you!
What do you do in your spare time? Teach, as a substitute in DPS, take part in family life (4 sons, 13 grandchildren +1 husband).
What Colorado town is your favorite? Steamboat or Salida.
Name: Todd Siefken aka Agent Orange
How long have you been volunteering for RTR? Over 15 years.
What roles have you played as a volunteer? Aid, aid truck, marshal, Agent Orange, Meat Wagon, SAg, Signs, Fruit Truck, Water.
What is your favorite RTR memory? In 2000 I got married and we spent our honeymoon on RTR as Aid Station volunteers. It was called the "Honeymoon Station".
Why did you decide to come back this year? Relationships with people that never die. Always have a lot of fun in the mountains.
What piece of advice would you offer a first time RTR participants? Word hard, play hard, enjoy every second!
What do you do in your spare time? Vending, golf, go to baseball, basketball and hockey games with my family.
What Colorado town is your favorite? Steamboat - awesome golf.
Name: Daniel Candelaria
Why/how did you become involved with RTR? Chandler convinced me to come over from the MS150. We worked together there for a few years.
Why did you decide to come back this year? Chandler makes me.
What role have you played as a volunteers? Last year I worked the Banner Truck.
What is your favorite RTR memory? All of it- the whole experience.
What piece of advice would you offer a first time RTR participants? Be careful!
What do you do in your spare time? I do a lot of volunteer work with various organizations like the MS Society, the City of Aurora, and RTR!
What Colorado town is your favorite? Crested Butte.
Name: Lisa Smith
Why/how did you become involved with RTR? Through my friend Amy Becker.
What do you do in your spare time? Garden, travel, bike, spend as much time as I can outside with my husband Jim!
What Colorado town is your favorite? Durango and Ouray.
Name: Cindy and Don Smith
Nickname(s): It didn't take the "Worm" long to name us "mom" and "dad" since that is how Chandler refers to us. We are so glad he doesn't call us Cynthia and Donald; mom and dad is a lot more personal:-) We are privileged to be mom and dad to RTR.
How long have you been volunteering for RTR? Three years.
Why did you decide to come back this year? We really enjoyed the first year and we feel it is a wonderful event!
What roles have you played as a volunteers? Cindy and I have managed the Post/News Charity tent and Ye Ole Candy Store. We also were ambassadors last year.
What is your favorite RTR memory? Cindy- The start at Durango year 2008, wow! Also, just seeing it all come together and watching riders come into each town knowing the work that went into it from volunteers, communities, and Chandler and staff. We are so proud of his dedication and feel so rewarded to get to be a part of it all! Don- The finish line and closing ceremonies in Breckenridge 2008 celebrating with the riders and my family while busting my buttons over my son's, the director, first ride.
What piece of advice would you offer a first time RTR participants? Stay rested and hydrated, eat nutritiously so you have tons of energy. Then just enjoy! Interact and be positive - like everything there are ups and downs and you have to roll with the punches. Overall the people are amazing - be open and you'll get back way more than you give!
What do you do in your spare time? Don - In my retirement I enjoy traveling, dabbling in the market, remodeling homes, playing at our cabin and helping others. Cindy - Travel, read, remodel with my husband. I love to fish and more importantly spend time with our family.
What Colorado town is your favorite? Glenwood Springs! We also love living in Ft. Collins, and enjoy Steamboat, Breckenridge and Denver.