11th February 2012
TODAY'S BEST BET
LSR ready for banner year
146 riders, 142 crew participating as ride sets off on new route
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| Lone Star Ride Event Chair Laura Kerr |
The Lone Star Ride Fighting AIDS grossed about $150,000 in 2008, and event chair Laura Kerr said this week that with about 40 more cyclists participating this year, the 2009 Ride is on track to bring in at least as much.
"We have 148 riders signed up and 142 crew members," Kerr said this week. "I think the loosening of the recession had something to do with it. And this year we had a rider recruitment video that really tugged at the heartstrings of a lot of people. Plus, our marketing efforts have been greatly increased this year, and I think that made a big difference."
Proceeds from Lone Star Ride — being held this year Sept. 26-27, with the starting and finish lines both at the American Airlines Training and Conference Center at DFW International Airport — will be divided between Resource Center Dallas, AIDS Outreach Center of Tarrant County and AIDS Services of Dallas.
Overall, Kerr said, "We are having a banner year" considering that this is a time of transition for the event now in its ninth year.
One big change is the route for the two-day, 165-mile event.
In previous years, riders have left on Saturday morning from Dallas, traveling southwest to stay overnight near Glen Rose. On Sunday, the riders would head back north, ending up at the Fort Worth Community Arts Center for closing ceremonies.
This year, Lone Star Ride starts and ends at the American Airlines Training and Conference Center near DFW International Airport. Riders will, over the course of the two days, travel in a large figure 8, with the overnight camp set up at the center.
Kerr said that while organizers have, traditionally, altered the route every few years, the big impetus this year was the generosity of American Airlines.
"The American Airlines Training and Conference Center came on strong this year, wanting to be our host location," Kerr said. "Because of the sponsorship deal they offered us, we couldn’t say no. We change the route every two to three years anyway, and it was time to shake things up and do something different. This is definitely different."
It’s one thing to take a large group of riders — many of them relatively inexperienced — and send them pedaling off into the countryside. It’s another to send them into a much more densely-populated and heavily-traveled urban cityscape, like what seems to surround much of the airport.
But Kerr said that wasn’t as much of an issue as it may appear.
"It had its challenges, but you’d be surprised how quickly you can get out into the country on this route," she said. "Going north, on the first day, by the second pit stop you are out in equestrian country. On day two, its about 30 miles before you hit the country."
Overall, Kerr said, "The route came together rather easily. I think it was karma. We knew we wanted to do lunch around Decatur or Justin, that area, so we got on the Map My Ride Web site and found the routes that cyclists generally use."
The new route also corrects a problem that many people had with the route in previous years: the fact that the overnight stay was so far away. Riders and crewmembers would park at the starting point, ride all day and then end up miles away from their cars at the end of the day. It was quite an inconvenience for those who were only doing one day of the ride and those who needed to spend the night at home for whatever reason.
This new route, at the end of the day, puts people back where they started, Kerr reiterated.
Another big change this year is that Lone Star Ride is, for the first time, it’s own tax-exempt, not-for-profit entity.
"We used to operate under Resource Center Dallas’ 501(c)3 status, but this year we have our very own," Kerr said.
The formula for distributing proceeds to the three beneficiaries has changed slightly this year, too, she added. This year, 100 percent of net proceeds go back to the beneficiaries.
"Once we cover the costs, everything else goes back to the three organizations. The costs we have to pay depends on how much our corporate sponsors give to us and what is donated," Kerr said. "We do everything possible to keep the costs down. We only have one paid employee and one part-time contractor. Everything else is done by volunteers."
With the Ride just a week away, it’s a little late for new riders to sign up. But there’s still plenty of time to sign up as a crewmember.
"We still need people on pit crews, on traffic control, massage therapists, the medical crew, cap crews, dining — if you want to do something, we will put you to work doing something," Kerr said.
Volunteer crewmembers are required only to pay a $50 registration fee, although many collect donations as well, she said.
And people can also come out and cheer the riders along, Kerr continued. Interested people can check the Lone Star Ride Web site to determine the route, or e-mail organizers, and find a pit stop where they can gather to show support.
"We do ask that people not go out just anywhere along the route for safety reasons. But if you want to show your support and cheer the riders on, we have plenty of places you can do that," she said.
Kerr also encouraged people to attend the closing ceremonies, which she said will be "amazing this year." Closing ceremonies will include appearances by the Texas Color Guard and singer/songwriter Hillary Roberts who will perform a song she wrote that was inspired by her own losses to AIDS and her experiences with people participating in Lone Star Ride.
Turtle Creek Chorale will also be on hand to perform during the riderless bike ceremony, a tribute to those who have died of AIDS.
"And if someone is just absolutely, positively sure they can’t participate this year, then they need to start planning to participate in our 10th anniversary ride next year," Kerr said. "Next year will be huge for us."
For more information, to volunteer as a Lone Star Ride Fighting AIDS crewmember or to donate to a rider, a team or the event in general, go online to LoneStarRide.org.
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition September 18, 2009.
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Funny, in my experience, generous donations equates to the ability of a non-profit organization to return MORE money raised to its beneficiaries since they don’t have to pay for whatever the sponsor is providing. I’m glad those running the ride saw the benefit in keeping the costs down and took it. KUDOS!
It’s sad that Dallas City Council chose to cut funds. Good thing that there are events like Lone Star Ride, Black Tie Dinner, Toast To Life, DIFFA, etc. that provide hope to the three service organizations of being able making up a little of the shortfall.
Oh, and might I ask – if you have such a poor opinion of LSR, why would you use the name LSR Rider? You obviously don’t support them so why would you use a moniker that insinuates you participate?
So let me see if I understand this correctly……
LSR raised $150K last year, has received “generous” corporate sponsorship dollars this year and is also taking in proceeds from teams for them to participate, yet earlier this week, there was a big brouhaha about the Dallas City Council cutting funds for the aids programs….
Well, if LSR is taking in all that money itself, where is it all going ?? Obviously not into the program since apparently the City Council didn’t see too much of a valid argument coming from those supporting LSR to reinstate the funding……
And even so, I find it troubling that the LSR event chair will salivate with glee when the airline buys her off with corporate sponsorship dollars (oops, I’m sorry, donates influential corporate lobbying money…….we have to be “politically” correct here)…. I am curious if Ms. Kerr realizes the conflict of interest here.
LSR has accepted sponsorship money from the airline cited above and in turn will split all of its proceeds with the Resource Center of Dallas and other AIDS advocacy groups. There is one major issue here. The last I checked, one of the members of the Resource Center’s Board of directors is the head GLBT sales and marketing person for the same airline who is giving LSR the sponsorship money in the first place !!!
I’m not sure if LSR has a Board of its own and thus has its own ethics policy concerning conflicts of interest, but I think it would behoove you all at LSR to get one…….
And besides, what’s the difference anyway, the Dallas GLBT non-profits are slowly turning into the “airline sell your soul (and everyone else down the river who doesn’t kiss their ass) for a free ticket and sponsorship money” club…..
Maybe I am missing something here, but I can’t understand your argument, LSR Rider. I mean, Lone Star Ride has been raising money for three AIDS service organizations for nine years now. A sponsorship from American Airlines helps cover the costs of staging the event so that a much larger percentage of the money brought in by riders goes directly to the three agencies. The city cutting its AIDS funding has nothing to do with that LSR.
What’s the problem?
Let me see if I get this right.
There is a constant drumbeat from LGBT activists that corporate America needs to do more than just take LGBT consumer dollars. Corporations need to step up and support LGBT charities, events, organizations.
Hometown companies are under particular pressure to give to LGBT causes in cities where they are based.
American Airlines is vigorously involved in supporting a myriad of LGBT groups in North Texas, in fact all across the country.
So now that American is going above and beyond what many DFW corporations do in comparative support, the groups accepting the airline’s philanthropy have sold their soul?
Ridiculous.
I would suggest that the lesson here is not that American should be criticized for doing too much, but that other DFW corporations follow American’s lead and do more.
My father always told me that real leadership is leading by example.
Robert Moore
Publisher
and LSR Rider
@LSR Rider
I’m selling raffle tickets ($20 each) and the winner gets 2 AA tickets good for travel in the US 48, Caribbean, Bahamas, Bermuda and Mexico. Only 500 tickets will be sold and ALL the money goes to Lone Star Ride Fighting AIDS. How many would like to buy?
Its not so surprising why you Tammye and the other commentor are confused by the above comment.
After all, isn’t the airline a major advertising contributor to the Dallas Voice ??? And haven’t most of your articles every week been on LSR ??? So naturally you will not understand a different perspective that might offend your golden funding cronies……..
I do believe and support LSR for its mission of helping those with Aids and those groups who have programs which allow them to accomplish that.
I do however question the means by which corporations infiltrate our community non-profits and lobby our non-profit leaders to exploit the community solely for their own corporate marketing gain, with little regard as to the missions that are being represented (or at least supposed to be represented) by the non-profits.
Make no mistake. These “goodwill” or “effortless philanthropy” sponsorship campaigns are mere fronts for exploitative marketing agendas which only aim is to satisfy the corporate bottom line.
Sadly, a few corporate perks, free airline tickets and some sponsorship dollars (the easy way) seems more appealing these days to non-profit leaders than recruiting the community to raise the money themselves by HARD WORK without corporate donations !!
As stated before, our community leadership is slowly but surely becoming a SELLOUT to corporate America and the conflicts of interest occurring surrounding this are astounding !!
But then again, many of these “leaders” who sit on the boards for the non-profits also are elite corporate “figures” gaining their next promotion while the rest of the community gets kicked to the curb……….
Perhaps if the city council starts to see that we have our own act together in our non-profits then we will be able to make more persuasive arguments concerning more GLBT dollars allocated for the city budget…..
A point to reflect upon when throwing beads this weekend…..
Again, not surprising by your comment Mr. Moore, especially since you don’t have a clue as to the inner workings of the airline you cite, nor do you know the discrimination of GLBT employees which occurs there, despite what the GLBT sales and marketing team and the Director of Workforce Giving and Volunteerism are influencing you to believe……….
I would suggest that you obtain ALL of the facts about that company before submitting an oratory commercial for them and using their CEO’s ideology of “Lead by Example” to support it……..Funny, I don’t necessarily correlate your last name with the company CEOs…..
So go ahead and promote a company which discriminates against our own. Atta boy, perhaps you will get the “corporate ass kisser of the year award this weekend” from the tavern guild, oops… another organization which kisses their ass…
LSR Rider
What a crock of shit.
If you want to do some good to support the mission of these organizations, get your ass on a bike.
Ride all summer training.
Then come out next weekend and do the HARD WORK of riding 168 miles in two days.
Reflect on that . . .
Robert Moore
Publisher
and LSR Rider
Yes Robert, and as I have always suspected, The Dallas Voice is only as professional, competent and fair-minded as its “leadership”.
Thank you for your time.
LSR Rider,
The depth of your bitterness is only matched by the height of your arrogance. …Maybe that was your problem at American Airlines.
LSR Rider, I am a second year participant in LSR. First as a crew member last year and a first time rider this year.
I too find your remarks confusing and short sighted. Although you are obviously frustrated with the way GLBT non profits raise funds through corporate sponsorship, I suggest that you actually do some homework and give an informed opinion.
LSR does have a board and is incorporated within the Texas. If you are interested in how the board and corporation operate, then ask LSR. The records are public. If you want it to change, then get involved beyond riding. Come up with a fund raising campaign that is completely grass roots and void of corporate sponsorship. A daunting task, but are you up for the challenge besides bitching about it in a blog?
Ms. Hinson, a very profound proposal. But since we are here to make “informed opinions” let’s set your idea to realism shall we ??
Yes, I agree that more people should become involved with the non-profits to introduce diverse opinions and change and I would certainly be receptive to doing so. The problem is, how can people provide a different perspective or introduce change when the status quo is clearly one of refusal and rigidity among the non-profit leadership ??? And how about those who can’t even get in the door in the first place to voice their opinions / concerns when they have been blackballed by the clandestine little Dallas GLBT corporate /non-profit cartel ???
Clearly we have seen by some of the responses above (including yours) the rigid, narrow-minded and downright retaliatory nature that is displayed to someone who has a different perspective to air, just because they ruffled a few feathers, bruised some egos or GOD FORBID had offended one of their corporate / non-profit cronies…….
But let’s say for the sake of argument that those obstacles have been overcome and a plan is laid out on the table. Do you think such a plan would ever be received well in these groups with the current gravy train system in place ???
Join me in a little reality here Ms. Hinson. There is no way corporations would allow someone from the community to come in and propose an idea which would cut off their profitible source of advertising, thus affecting their bottom line. I’m not sure if you are familiar with how large, powerful corporations operate to protect their quarterly benchmarks, but many use tactics which are legally questionable and ethically gray and as one corporation mentioned above would say that they use the “at all cost” strategy……..
Additionally, as you so accurately stated Ms. Hinson, non-profits are “Corporations” now and that’s exactly how they run them. With that corporate mentality comes with it corporate status quo behavior and thinking and corporate executive protectionism and none so prevalent than the protection of their bottom line. So do you really think that GLBT non-profits including LSR would cut off the easy street palm greasing, corporate perks, lobbying, corporate connections and protectionism, not to mention a forever stable balance sheet that this system provides ?? Clearly not…. Especially if these same corporate executives sit on those non-profit boards, which we all know many do.
So Ms. Hinson I would encourage you to throw out a proposal of your own which resolves the above issues then I would be more than happy to provide an “informed opinion” and a “daunting task” solution for your review.
And Mr. GaryK and Mr. Cooper, if your contemptuous comments and obvious corporate protectionism are the best that you can do to add to this dialogue, then I truly feel sorry for the quality and plight of today’s GLBT corporate executives……..
“Politics is the art of preventing people from taking part in affairs which properly concern them” – Paul Valery
LSR Rider:
Yes, let’s add some reality to this discussion.
Clearly the first step in your plan is to eliminate corporate giving to community non-profits.
Every AIDS services provider is under financial pressure. Every one.
To eliminate corporate giving to these providers will mean more people living with HIV/AIDS will suffer. Some people will go hungry, lose their access to medication, and go homeless. That is reality.
It does not trouble me that you have an opinion different than mine or that you have a desire to ruffle some feathers. I am in the media business. I’m used to that.
But it distresses me greatly that you are perfectly willing for people living with HIV/AIDS to pay that price as long as you get to grind your axe sharpening some ill conceived notion of corporate Puritanism.
I would welcome the opportunity to personally stand in the door and block that plan.
Robert Moore
Publisher
and LSR Rider
Well Robert, had you taken some time to actually LISTEN and READ my comments to get the gist of what I was trying to say rather than spewing retaliatory comments, then perhaps you wouldn’t be in haste to form such inaccurate and premature conclusions about my opinion.
While I would continue to strongly argue that corporate sponsorships are excessive these days and are hampering grassroots community fundraising and ultimately causing GLBT non-profit leaders to become mere puppet sellouts to corporate America, the fundamental concept of corporate sponsorships is somewhat good (in theory). It is my recollection that the original concept was supposed to yield a Win /Win for EVERYONE.
Enter corporations who don’t do the right thing concerning equality and could truly care less about diverse community issues such as AIDS or anything else. They hire a few marketing and sales analysts to see how much communities can add to their corporate bottom lines and some even go as far as to dangle a promotion carrot and a modest pay increase to people who are in those communities (in our case Gay and lesbian executives) so that they can go out to their individual communities and buy off everyone in it with corporate dollars and pretentious rhetoric about how their company is so inclusive and fair-minded based on THEIR success story (only) and a few covered-up CEI index reports which reflect what both HRC and the corporations want the public to know rather than what actually happens there…….
The result ??? The companies win because they now have established a strong branding foothold and monetary influence within community organizations. The GL executives win because both the GLBT non-profit leaders and the corporate VPs see them as God’s gift to corporate citizenship. The non-profit leaders win because a portion of that money is helping to support their rather handsome paychecks and ensuring that they always have tickets to lavish corporate events and media exposure……….
But who ends up suffering ?? The very people who need it the most and those employees in those companies who are horribly discriminated against…. its a Lose / Lose for them. Many are not seeing those funds in their entirety because too much of it is spent by the corporate / non-profit lobbying and gala circle who could care less about who is in need but more interested in who is going to get their next picture in the Advocate or who will deliver the next keynote address at a posh $200 a plate dinner, most of whom in the community could never afford…… And even so, with all of the conflicts of interests occurring in these circles, no one really knows where the money is actually being channeled…..
So Robert, who speaks for the folks who lose out on this deal ??? Certainly not the non-profit leaders and the corporate executives. They are too busy speaking for their corporations and how THEY are going to get ahead….. And certainly not the GLBT media because by publishing controversial articles about this corruption and those corrupt companies who engage in it, you all would risk losing most of your major advertising dollars at your publications !!
So I say, who is really running our community ??? Clearly not the Dallas GLBT community itself or those in it who desperately need help. Our community is controlled by the wealthy sellout Gay and Lesbian (only) corporate executives and political activists who have the power and influence to buy off those “leaders” in our non-profits…….. The rest of us are getting royally screwed over day by day by these hypocrites who sell us out to this elitist group of executives and their corporations…….
Lastly, folks living with AIDS and GLBT youth aren’t the ONLY ones in our community who need help and more programs. While not attempting to discount those two groups in the least, they are the only ones which seem to get media attention. What about battered women, rape crisis, the GLBT homeless, the hungry, help for those who are out on the street with drugs and prostitution, do you mention them ??? I didn’t think so. Only those in the circle affiliated with corporate palm greasing are mentioned by your paper…….
An ax to grind ??? Maybe, but at least I am in touch with what’s REALLY going on in the community, not sitting behind a desk on Travis St. far away from the reality of Cedar Springs. Steo out of the box once and awhile. You might just learn something from those on the other side of the street…..
By the way, your “blocking the door” proposal just proved what I had mentioned in my previous comment about the prevention “at all cost” of new and diverse ideas by people who just might accomplish something in the community………
Stick to running your corporate / political paper. I wouldn’t be surprised if GLBT corporate executives started self-proclaiming themselves as journalists too and started writing articles. They have control over everything and everyone else in the community these days, so why not our GLBT paper too………
How many corporate perks and awards are you going to receive tomorrow Robert ??
LSR Rider
And so now you have contributed 187 lines of commentary here. Yet not single concrete example of a personal contribution to anything you can attach you name to.
But you “might.” Someday.
Robert Moore
Publisher
LSR Rider
So now anyone who disagrees with you is to be accused of “corporate protectionism”?
You attack organizations and individuals who have been making a positive difference in this community for decades.
You complain and insult (ad nauseam) without offering solutions.
You do it anonymously.
All of this taken together means you can’t be taken seriously. The more you post, the more you discredit yourself.
Mr. Moore, on the other hand, should be commended for being so committed to allowing free speech, no matter how absurd.
I won’t continue to waste my time trying to have a productive debate with two men who contribute nothing tangible to this argument, only defensive blame and mud slinging to protect their corporate /political and media cronies…….
I would encourage both of you to take courses in debate and professional journalism. Perhaps then will you be able to READ comments, correctly interpret their meaning and have a healthy opposing discussion about it ending with a productive outcome.
Funny, I don’t happen to recall seeing either of your names attached to any program or any productive project for our community, so what have you both done ??? ………Just an observation.
LSR Rider:
And still. Just another faceless, anonymous poster with a made-up name masquerading as a crusader. A self-styled Zorro for the internet age.
And still. An empty hero. One that can’t deliver on the bravado.
Perhaps you didn’t get the word. Your series has been canceled due to poor ratings.
Robert Moore
Publisher
LSR Rider:
As the person who is responsible for finding the cash and in-kind sponsorships that are required to make the Lone Star Ride possible, I invite you to give me a call at 214.540.4452.
If you have ideas that you think will increase grassroots support from the community, I am all ears.
From my personal experience as a volunteer with the ride for five years, I have found that the people who can be counted on to volunteer and raise money are few and far between. If you have feasible ideas for getting more people to step up and do the right thing, I’d be more than happy to listen to them.
On the topic of “What has Robert Moore done for productive projects in our community?” I have only this to say.
The generosity, commitment and leadership I have seen Robert exhibit in the brief time I have known him have only been surpassed by his total selflessness and lack of need/demand for any recognition of his kind deeds.
The only guess that I could wager to the question above would be, “more than any of us will ever know.”
Arlen Miller
Rider #99
Lone Star Ride Fighting AIDS
Thank you Arlen.
Glad to know that someone listened with an open mind and is at least willing to hear other points of view.