Ride for World Health - Clubs and Committees

Hello everyone! Renee Nason here, writing from Colorado College where we’re having our first solidarity ride through the Garden of the Gods. The weather is a little rainy and cold but that hasn’t stopped our riders from enjoying an easy Saturday morning stroll on their bikes.

Last night we enjoyed another Friday evening Journal Club sesh, where Ryan Walsh, Diana Ortiz, Sebastian “Sea Bass” Brooke, and I led a discussion about a chapter from the book Infections and Inequalities by Paul Farmer. Simultaneously, we celebrated rider Jeff Jenks’ 30th birthday! You may not know it but excitingly, Paul Farmer is Jeff Jenks’ man crush. Coincidence or destiny? You decide!

So speaking of Journal Club, I thought I’d blog a bit about some of the clubs and committees that have been established during the first couple of weeks of the 2009 Ride for World Health. Here they are in no particular order:

JOURNAL CLUB – This is one of my favorites; it was organized by Leah Bauer, our Education Chair. At the beginning of the ride we got a packet of journal articles, newspaper articles, and book chapters that center on global health issues. Every Friday we meet and discuss one of the readings, as a means for us to continue learning about the subjects that we discuss in our lectures and foster positive changes in our world and healthcare systems. (Sidebar: To my Vancouver Book Club – Hi guys; can we please start up something like this when I get back to town? Awesome, thanks!)

RECYCLING CLUB – This one was born out of a mutual passion for the environment shared by Jeff Jenks and myself. I am the President and have named Jeff as my Vice. The role of Subcomandante is held by Dan Kim. Our missions include encouraging environmentally sound practices, sequestering recyclables from regular trash and placing them in the appropriate receptacles, and reusing materials whenever possible. We rule with an iron fist. Tyrannical Vice President Jenks asserts, “There is no room for democracy in the Recycling Club”. Because of this, we have named the menacing Leah Bauer as our Enforcer. Rumored to be concocting a coup, rebel insurgents of the Recycling Club include Sebastian Brooke and Ryan Walsh, who on at least one occasion have each been seen throwing plastic bottles in the trash. Sleep with one eye open, you two.

COOKING CLUB – Monica Foley, Ellen Acree, and Alissa Gilbert head up this group, obviously because they are fantastic in the kitchen. Some particularly memorable meals have been Spicy Penne Pasta with Chicken or Tofu in Cotopaxi, and Lasagna, Veggie Pasta, Irish Soda Bread, Chess Pie (a southern delicacy!) and Apple Pie in Telluride. Glorious!

PROM COMMITTEE – When in Dolores Colorado, we riders spent the evening at the local high school, where prom was happening in the adjacent gym, so we decided to have our own prom. I was President of the short lived Prom Committee, Clara Ruiz was my Vice, Kami Teal was the consultant (because she actually was prom queen!), and Clare Kelleher was both the Fashion Director and Logistics Coordinator. We voted in the traditional way: The purpose of the initial voting period was to establish the Prom Court, which consisted of the contenders who were in the running to become Prom King and Prom Queen.  By popular vote, the King’s Court included Ryan Walsh (for his famous ranch dressing-peanut butter-tabasco-cheeseits-mac’n’cheese-doritos-jelly-cookies-hummus sandwiches – yes, all those ingredients between two slices of bread!), Ben Meyer (for his beard), Stephen Weinberger (for his dance moves and comedic wit), and Jeff Jenks (for his dance moves and love of Paul Farmer). The Queen’s Court included Clara Ruiz (for her dance moves), Monica Foley (for her fashion sense – a majestic tie-dyed eagle t-shirt, oversized cowboy belt buckle, and skull’n’crossbones bandana are just a few of her gems), Alissa Gilbert (for her cooking and PR skills), and a certain unnamed gentleman rider.

In typical R4WH fashion, we determined King and Queen by holding a dance-off.  Decked out in their most outrageous garb, Ryan and Alissa showed off some boot-scootin’, Jeff and Monica featured some 1960s moves, and Stephen and Clara somehow pulled off an epic-but-fictitious “Pamchenko” throw, inspired by the 1992 figure skating movie The Cutting Edge. Ben Meyer and He-Who-Shant-Be-Named lamed out. The final round of voting took place, and it was decided that the 2009 Ride for World Health Prom King and Queen are…Ryan Walsh and Clara Ruiz! Each winner received a giant chocolate Easter egg as their prize.

PUSH UPS AND SIT UPS CLUB – This club was founded by Ryan Walsh, because he needs to get ready for his upcoming military physical test. He sometimes lames out though, so Ben Meyer is the President and time-keeper of the PU/SU Club. Members do two minutes of push ups and two minutes of sit ups at rest stops that are selected by the President. Other members of this club are Monica Foley, Clare Kelleher, and Jeff Jenks. 

SIT UPS CLUB – This one was founded by riders who want to participate in callisthenic moves during rest stops, but value abdominal muscles over biceps, triceps, and pecs (upper body strength…who needs it?). Participants include myself, and I think maybe Rachel Riopel.

SITTING AROUND CLUB – The S/A Club was created by Stephen Weinberger and his friend, portion rider Darrick May. I guess they basically play video games and take naps.

MUSTARD CLUB – R4WH’s newest, most exclusive group, the Mustard Club was founded by Monica Foley and myself. Just yesterday, at Jeff Jenks’ birthday, riders ordered a variety of appetizers, which they proceeded to douse in ketchup and nacho cheese. In a fleeting moment of fate, Monica and I both reached for the mustard; with a knowing look, we knew our friendship was sealed because of a shared love for this condiment. One of our first acts of office will be to whip out spicy dijon mustard at rest stops. But not everyone can participate! To be part of this club, you need to successfully write a personal statement, complete a MMI-style interview, and be an existing member of one of the calisthenics clubs. 

So there you have it, folks. I hope you enjoyed learning about our clubs and committees as much as we enjoy participating in them; thanks for reading!