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Jack's Update #44    January 2004

The Saint Joseph Carondelet Center is located at the very end of 35th Street at Lake Park Avenue, about a mile east of U.S. Comiskey Park. The Center is the home for many teenage gentlemen who don't have a "traditional" home life. 

The Parade Organization has had a special relationship with the Saint Joseph Center and it's residents for several years.  The Parade Organization has helped the Center financially, and each summer, Parade members ride their motorcycles to the Center and stage a Motorcycle Day of rides, games and refreshments for the many young men who reside there.

This week, on January 21, a group of Parade members again visited Saint Joseph's to present some Holiday gifts, and to talk about motorcycles with the youngsters.  Parade VP Bob Cooch told some motorcycle stories, led the discussion, and with the help of some of his fellow members, answered the many questions posed by the very interested group. He then showed everyone The Team Chicago TV Show of the 2003 Parade, which the boys, and adults in attendance, really enjoyed.  The program concluded when everyone received their gifts.  Then the residents individually thanked all the Parade members for coming.

 

 

On a related note, an article in the Saint Joseph Newsletter about the August 2003 Motorcycle Day at the Center, states; "While there are many individuals to thank for this event, we extend special appreciation to Bob "Cooch" Kuczera for all his dedicated efforts. He was honored last year with our "Volunteer of the Year" Award and continues to overwhelm us with his generosity."


The Sturgis Rally Vacation Raffle is in full swing.  You could win 4 nights at the Comfort Inn in Rapid City South Dakota, plus $1000 in cash, and $200 for event tickets.  Second prize is an official Chicago TFT Motorcycle Parade jacket.  The drawing will be held at the McCormick Place Swap Meet on February 22, 2004.  Tickets are $1 each, and the winner need not be present to win.  Sponsored by The Chicago TFT Motorcycle Parade, R&B Promotions, .  Mail orders for ticket requests of at least $10 will be accepted, just contact us at info@ChicagolandTFT.org .

The 2004 Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Raffle also continues.  This year's Grand Prize will be a 2004 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide.  Other prizes will include a $500 leather jacket from Oak Lawn Harley-Davidson, a $200 Oak Lawn Harley-Davidson gift certificate, and 3 Official Chicago TFT Parade jackets.  Tickets are only $5 each and the drawing will be held at Oak Lawn Harley-Davidson on March 13, 2004.  Tickets can be obtained from any Parade Volunteer or send ticket requests to info@ChicagolandTFT.org .  

Both of these raffles provide a portion of the funds that enable us to help many groups, families, and individuals who have special needs. Please support our efforts and participate in these exciting raffles. For more info go to our website at  http://chicagolandtft.org/products.htm .

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Be sure to look for the Chicago TFT Parade Booth at The International Motorcycle Show at the Stephens Center in Rosemont. Stop by and pick up some of those Harley-Davidson motorcycle raffle tickets and Sturgis vacation raffle tickets. The remaining 2003 Parade apparel and other Parade products will also be on sale. The Cycle Show admission is $12 for adults, but some dealers offer discount coupons, and AMA members (bikers, not doctors) get $1 back when they show their AMA cards. That's the International Motorcycle Show at the Stephens Center starting Friday, February 6 from 4pm-9pm, Saturday, February 7 from 9am-9pm, and Sunday, February 8 from 9:30am-5pm.    Click here for more info: http://chi.motorcycleshows.com/imschi/V40/index.cvn?

 

Archived Updates

#43
Dec. 11, 2003

#42
Dec, 2003

#41
Nov., 2003

#40
Nov., 2003

#39
Oct., 2003

#38
Sept., 2003

#37
August, 2003

#36
July, 2003

#35 
June, 2003

#34 
May, 2003

#33 
April, 2003

#32 
Feb., 2003

#31 
Dec, 2002

#30 
Dec., 2002

#29 
Nov, 2002

  
One of the benefits of becoming a TFT Parade Volunteer is to have the opportunity to accompany Santa and his elves when they visit the many hospitals, homes, schools, and centers in the Chicago area.  After all, this is what it's all about.  

It's so touching to see the faces of the children as they are brought to Santa in their wheelchairs, or to watch as Santa comes to visit at their bedside.  This is the real reason why there is a Parade.  

Thanks to everyone who helped Santa make his annual visits, including the toy sorters, planners, drivers, assistants, elves, and of course, Santa himself.

Santa and his elves were very busy at the end of last year, but they still took time to visit with thousands of children at all the following locations.
Misericordia Home
Sertoma Center
Abraham Lincoln Center
Shriner's Hospital
Little Angels Home
Lydia Center
Uhlich Children's Home
Children's Habilitation Center
Bethshan Center
Saint Bernadette
Children's Center
Gladstone School
Lighthouse for the Blind
Infant Welfare Society
East School
North School
Engor School
Uhlich School
Saint Mary's Hospital
Saint Elizabeth's Hospital
Little Maryville
Kinzie School

The 37th Annual Polar Bear Ride is the first motorcycle event of the year, and was held, as usual, on January 1.  The relatively mild weather meant that many more riders participated in the ride this year.  The 2004 ride was dedicated to the memory of Ed Johnson and was led by his widow Marilyn Johnson and their daughter Diane. The two hundred cycles made an impressive, long line through the southern suburbs.  But some citizens were surprised to see the group ride through red lights, and complained to the authorities, but level-headed Coordinator Jack Wheeler soon defused the problem.  Be sure to look for the Polar Bear Ride on "Motorsports Unlimited" starting on Sunday, February 29.

Watch "Motorsports Unlimited" this February to see even more coverage of The 2003 Chicago TFT Parade.  The 2003 Parade was so big, that "Motorsports Unlimited" couldn't show it all in just one show, or even two shows.  This year the TFT Parade will be expanded to THREE great shows. In Chicago, "Motorsports Unlimited" can be seen on Mondays at 7:30PM and Tuesdays at 2:30PM on Channel 19.  In most Chicago Suburbs catch the show on Channel 19 on Sundays at 9PM, Wednesdays at 9PM, and Fridays at 5PM. 
Detailed Schedule


New! New! 2004 --  26th annual Chicagoland TFT  Motorcycle Parade pictures
Please send us links to your TFT Parade pictures page. Here's how! -- Click here


 
A reminder for all TFT Parade Members, the annual Election for the Board of Directors will be held on Friday, January 30. The meeting will begin at 7:30pm at the Stempien VFW located at 47th Street and Tripp Avenue.  All members are encouraged to attend.  As of today, the following members have been nominated, and have accepted the nomination, for the listed positions.
Robert Kuczera is running unopposed for President
Tommy Yarber is running unopposed for Vice-President 
Peggy Estes is running unopposed for Secretary
Pat Quinn is running unopposed for Treasurer 
Lester Fortier is running unopposed for Sergeant at Arms 
Tommy Rotto and Glen Barrera are running for Parade/Tier Coordinator 
Kevin Curth is running unopposed for Northside Coordinator 
Tommy Froehlich is running unopposed for Product Coordinator
Jack Voss is running unopposed for By-Laws Historian

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If you are still looking for TFT Parade Pins, the word on the street is that there may still be some available at Throttle Masters in the city on 3921 South Archer Avenue, 312-247-5211.

 

Anyone who wishes to receive toys for underprivileged children should contact their local church, school, hospital or community aid organization.
 

Chicago area groups that would like to be considered to receive toys to distribute, please notify:
The U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program
 3034 West Foster Avenue, Chicago, 60625. Phone 773-539-7393

For assistance outside the Chicago area, click here for your local Marine Coordinator
http://www.toysfortots.org/2002/index.html

2004 Chicago TFT Motorcycle Parade Organization Schedule... Click here


Attention Website visitors

We appreciate your interest in our Parade and organization, and in order to better serve our members and friends, we now have a TFT E-mail List. This enables us to communicate with each other much faster than we can with either our Newsletter or our Website.

To be notified of the latest Parade updates, and news and activities of our Organization, just E-mail us, and tell us to add your E-address to our E-list.

And while you're connected, please tell us what you think of our Website.

 Click here to contact us.  

The Chicagoland Toys for Tots Motorcycle Parade
P.O. Box 388260   Chicago, Illinois.  60638 
Hotline  773-866-TOYS

 


Jack's BMW

This Chicagoland Toys For Tots Motorcycle Parade Update is a production of
The Chicagoland Toys For Tots Motorcycle Parade Website

http://.ChicagolandTFT.org

Copyright  "The World's Greatest Motorcycle Parade"  2002

 


Jack's Harley

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Chicagoland Toys For Tots
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P.O. Box 388260
Chicago, IL 60638

(773)866.TOYS
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