Chicagoland Toys for Tots Motorcycle Parade - President Bob (Cooch) Kuczera's Column

Thanks to all our Chicagoland Toys for Tots Motorcycle Parade officers and volunteers that made this bitter cold day a safe one throughout the city. From the North side committees to product sale helpers, stationery and riding road blockers, parking and collectible staff, raffle ticket and balloon volunteers. You showed that the warmth comes from the inside on the coldest December 3rd ever recorded in Chicago. Special thanks to all the following organizations that make up our membership: among them the ABATE chapters especially: South Suburban, Chicago, Westgate, and all the CMA and HOG chapters. Thanks to all the volunteers from LAMAS, BTW of Chicago, the Jersey Pine Cruisers, Blue Steel MC, from AVMRA, the Illinois Freedom Run and all the Veterans that assisted us. Thanks to the following motorcycle dealers for their support: Oak Lawn, Illinois, Chi-Town and Zylstra Harley Davidson and the Zone on 63^rd Street. To the following clubs whom provide stationary road blocking on Western avenue: EZ Living Vans, Great Lake Jeep Thing, the Mustang and SUV Clubs. PS: do not forget this weekend is the 8^thannual Great Lake Jeep Thing Toy 4x4 Run. They deliver toys to the Marines via their Jeeps and 4x4 vehicles. So let’s support them this Sunday at the McCormick Place Parking Lot B on Sunday 12/10/06. Line up starts at 10:00AM with an after party at the Inn Joy afterwards. For more information visit their web site at: www.toys4tots@gljt.org. Thanks to all our non-riding members whom commit themselves in aiding us without motorcycles. Thanks to the motorcyclist that only endure our organization. Pre-thanks to our toy committee that now works 24/7 to make sure toys gathered are delivered in time for Christmas Day. Thanks to Lincoln Academy and Robinson High School for providing young adults to aid us on Sunday. Thanks to Stars and Stripes, Central Graphics, Overt Printing, CAN –TV and NES Traffic Safety for supplying us with advertising and safety materials. All the aforementioned men, women and organizations gather every year to assist us and make up part of our team of volunteers known as the: Chicagoland Toys for Tots Motorcycle Parade.

Thanks to the Mayor and the City of Chicago Special Events Department especially, Steve Wagner and his parade staff. Also thanks to OEMC, the Fire Department, and also Streets and Sanitation. Big kudos to all the Chicago Police Districts that assisted us that day with the manpower to assist traffic control at the intersections. Especially Rich Scott and the 8^TH District crew for all the CPD at the 83^rd street departure and to William Woitowich and the 17^TH District for their assistance on the North side by the Marine Reserve center. A big thanks to Jimmy and Darrel at Dan Ryan Woods and their crew from the Cook County Forest Preserve for accommodating all our needs to make the park safe. They made sure the drives were dry and navigable for the bikes .Big thanks to the CTA for working out the logistics to accommodate our motorcade down Western with minimal interferences. Ditto to their CTA North Park Garage on the North side for clearing of buses to accommodate the bikes entering the Reserve Center next door. Thanks to Stuart Coffee, the CMA and the United Steel workers for providing hot beverages and sustenance to warm us both ends. Thank you to all the newspapers, radio and television stations that aid us in our community outreach. Thank you to all the cartage carriers for assisting our deliveries among them: the Teamsters, TRX Inc., LaGrou, and Cart Mart Plus. Thank you to our motorcycling media friends from Motorsports Unlimited (Bill Wildt), Team Chicago (Dan Schmitt), and Open Road Radio’s (Gina Wood).

Lastly thanks to Santa Claus and Elves for making our Parade via their Harley Davidson’s to make children believe that Santa is coming into town on Christmas .He led our 29^th Parade with bags full of toys to aid needy children via the USMC Marines. God Bless all of Chicagoland Biker Bears (aka all Motorcyclist) that rode their motorcycles on the coldest 12/3/06 in Chicago history to make a needy child smile. Thank you to all those pedestrians and businesses supporting the bikers along the route. If we forgot anybody we thank you for whatever you assisted us with on 12/3/06.

Once again, Chicagoland thank you for your support for 29 years, and until next year on the First Sunday in December (12/2/07), we wish you and your families …

A Joyous Holiday Season and a Safe and Prosperous New Year.

Sincerely,

Robert “Cooch” Kuczera

President and all the Volunteers from the Chicagoland Toys for Tots Motorcycle Parade.

PS: If you did not manage to show up that day you can still aid us by purchasing whatever is left from our TFT product. We will be at the Chicago Westfield Mall this weekend on Saturday (12/9) from 9AM –10PM and Sunday (12/10) from 10AM–8 PM. It is located at 95^th and Ridgeland in Chicago Ridge .We will be located outside the Sears Stores inside entrance across from the Play Town area. So stop by and visit with us and you may bring us Toys. We can still use them as our toy count is down due to the low attendance. Throughout the weekend our Biker Bear will be there with his biker buddies Whiplash the Reindeer and Flakey the Snow person. So bring the kids for some picture taking .Our biker baggers also will be assisting at K&B Toys throughout the weekend in the mall.