Well Gang, I'm almost recovered from my sleep deprivation (really, 3:00a.m. Fri. nite w/Brian and Maurice and not earlier the 1:00 the other nites), so now THE NEWS: The 2004 Cirque Charity Auction held at The Cycles de Oro repair area for the benefit of Operation Smile (www.operationsmile.org) raised $4,060.00. WOW!!!! I can't begin to thank all of you who gave ALL of the proceeds of the sale of your items to the benefit of children. There were many of you. I can only begin to thank the other generous folks who donated ALOT of the proceeds. Your all wonderful. More fun was had then those of youse who did not attend can imagine. Thank you especially to all of you who could not attend but sent in donations any way. Chuck Brooks, that means especially you! The Confente bike sold and a VERY GENEROUS donation went to the boys and girls by Nick Z. Congratulations to the buyer; ride the heck out of her! Without the assistance of Johnny Baron (Chief money collector) , Harvey Sachs (Assistant auctioneer), Wayne Bingham (Chief unpacker and assistant to the auctioneers), and David Cooper (who I commandeered to run the 50/50 raffle (that alone raised $175.00)), I would not have been able to pull this off. Oh yea, thanks Dale for the opportunity and the use of the shop. Your much, much more then generous. My only regret is that I can't hang out more with each and every one of youse more. It's like we're all neighbors who only get out of the house for the block party once or twice a year. I really missed The California Contingent this year and look forward to Pasadena and The Velo Rendezvous. I hope that more of youse's can get to Greensboro next year. Lisa say's "Hi". Last years charity auction raised $1,856.00 for The Make a wish Foundation and my hope was to surpass that figure this year. $4,060.00; we blew the goal out of the water! Youse guy's (same faux pas as at The Banquet!) are incredible. As long as there is a Cirque, there will be a charity auction for the benifit of children. I have more ideas to help next years event be even more fun. And I already have my room reserved. Don't miss out, plan now.
Thank You,
John T.Pergolizzi
Brooklyn, New York