Image: BORP logo in black, a stylized drawing of person in a moving wheelchair plus the words BORP adaptive sports and recreation.

In This Issue: Letter from Rick Smith | Revolution Ride 2023 - Rev Wrap | Adaptive Cycling | Adaptive Kayaking | Access Northern California | Fitness | Team Sports | Chris Finn Memorial Poker Slam - Save the Date | Adventures & Outings | BORP Covid-19 Guidelines | Social Media Links | Mission Statement | Office Address

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Turn Out the Lights



Like all REV events, REV 21 was a blast. Most importantly we raised critical funds to support our adaptive sports, recreation, and fitness programs. The REV remains BORP’s largest single source of revenue, and it really does take a village to make it a success. I’m always amazed (and grateful) that the BORP community responds to the call. And please don’t forget to go shopping at the Columbia Employee Store, where you really do get amazing discounts. Bring the attached coupon and BORP will get 10% of your purchase through June 11th.

After an extremely fulfilling 11-year tenure as the Executive Director at BORP, it is bittersweet to be writing my last newsletter entry. It has been an honor and privilege to serve in this capacity and to be part of this terrific organization. More than anything, when I reflect on the impact we've had over the last decade, I am filled with immense pride. I often say “BORP is a game changer,” and I will always be grateful for the opportunity to work here.

As I move on, I am thrilled to welcome Emily, our next Executive Director, into the ED chair. Emily brings a wealth of experience and a deep passion for our mission. I am confident that under her leadership, BORP will thrive. Please join me in giving Emily a warm welcome and extending to her the same support you've graciously given me over the years. 

In closing, I should confess that I am not really leaving because part of my retirement plan involves regular volunteering at BORP. Cheers!

Image: A Photo of Rick standing in front of the mural in the Ed Roberts Campus.

Rev Wrap

The 21st Revolution Ride, Roll & Stroll raised more than $158,000, with 168 people inspiring 1,017 contributions to BORP. That’s amazing!

A few teams and individuals who went above and beyond are deserving of special recognition.. The VeloRaptors collectively raised $23,600, smashing their goal of $15,000. Their ride this year was a memorial ride for former team member Dennis Cathey. The team, headed up by team captain Randy Mellin, had several prodigious fundraisers on it, including one of the top 5, Steven Goldenberg who raised $6,860. Altogether the team inspired 103 contributions to BORP.

Other top fundraisers were: Randy Randleman ($10,250), Rick Smith ($6,9140), and Bonnie Lewkowicz ($5,390). We also want to give a shout out to the 11 people who garnered 20 or more contributions because after all, Outreach is our middle name. They are: Bonnie Lewkowicz (46 contributions), Christopher Rexrode (40), Steve Lau (40), RACE SOTAK (36), Rick Smith (32), Muriel Parentau (30), Grayson Holden (30), Steven Goldenberg (28), Cynthia Noonan (26), Shirley Rexrode (24), Jennifer Doyle (23), and Marissa Shaw (23). A special shout out to the largest team, The RUMBISTAS headed up by team captain Tina Hecht. The RUMBISTAS were our Virtual Rev participants whose 34 members raised more than $10,000!

Don’t forget to use those Columbia coupons before June 11th!

It’s a good deal for you and a good one for BORP! You can show this coupon on you phone to get in.

It’s good for the Richmond Employee Store only, located at 1414 Harbour Way South, Ste 1010, Richmond, CA 94804.

We have an additional offer from Rev Sponsor United Access, as well. See below.

Image: A coupon for Columbia Sportswear Company with four active people taking a selfie in front of a mountain stream; text reads Shop to Support, 10% of your purchase will be donated back to BORP (image of BORP logo). Items are marked with discounted pricing 40-60% below retail prices. Dates May 11 to June 11, valid for you and four guests. What to bring: this invitation and a photo ID. Location & Hours: 1414 Harbour Way South, Ste 1010, Richmond, CA 94804; Monday - Saturday 11:00 AM- 8:00 PM; Sunday 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM

United Access was happy to sponsor the Revolution Ride, Roll & Stroll. We want to help BORP supporters roll a little further with the chance at a free weekend rental of our wheelchair accessible van. Santa Rosa location only, see the flyer for details:

Image: Man in a wheelchair wearing a blue shirt disembarking on a lift from a red van. Logo for United Access at the top of the page. Text reads: Enter to Win. Free wheelchair accessible vehicle rental. Email laura.hagings@UnitedAccess.com by June 15 to enter to win. Asterisked footnote describing rental conditions: Weekend rental that must be redeemed by Jul 31, 2023.

Thanks again to all our great sponsors!

Image: Sponsor banner that reads - Presenting Sponsor with the logo for Sutter Health; and Events Sponsors with the logos for McGuire Hester, Hanger Clinic (empowering human potential), Human Minded, United Access, Clif Bar, Columbia, and Albany Rollers and Strollers.

Adaptive Cycling Center

Adaptive Cycling Center Location and Hours:



80 Bolivar Drive, Berkeley, 94710 (click for map)

Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays | Rain or Shine

9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

By appointment only. Same day appointments welcome. 

Contact cycling@borp.org or 510-848-2930 to ride.

Summer is upon us!

We continue to welcome more riders every week. Be sure to reserve your spot before you come to avoid crowds and waiting. It's smoother rolling as the pot holes have been filled and the mud is gone - yay!. The car access route to the Cycling Center over the summer will continue to vary due to construction. Call before leaving home for up to the minute info on accessibility and parking.

Group ride for ambitious riders Join Jorge

Friday June 16th 11-3pm for the very advanced Yerba Buena/Treasure Island 16 mile loop for experienced cyclists. 

Volunteer opportunities:

• Be a pilot! Have fun while riding a tandem with one of our riders with a visual impairment. Call or email us with your availability.
• The Cycling Center needs a new roof sign! The old giant BORP sign you could see from the highway blew down during the storms. The dimensions are 4' x 12'. Needed are one and a half sheets of new plywood, paint and sealer, the expertise to recreate our logo, expertise to mount to sign frame.

The Return of the San Francisco Free Adaptive Cycling Program BORP is offering adaptive cycling at two alternating locations in partnership with SFMTA and SF Rec and Parks. Reservations Required (details below). 

Dates: Saturdays June 10th through October 28th

Time: 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Locations:

1) Golden Gate Park – 1st & 3rd Saturday of the Month

Behind the Bandshell next to the new, free accessible parking lot and accessible restrooms.

2) The Great Highway at Judah – 2nd & 4th Saturday of the Month

Ride past dunes and ocean views. Arrive on lower Great Highway at the end of Judah Street. Ride on traffic-free upper Great Highway - aka Highway 1. Accessible Muni stop, clean accessible restroom, free street parking.

All bike reservations must be made before 5:00 PM on the Thursday before.

Reservation requests should include: Full Name, Bike Type requested (if known), and Requested date and time of arrival. If you are new to BORP, please fill out our new participant forms online which include:

• Participant Form (Required - click for form)
• Waiver (Required - click for form)
• Media Release (Quite helpful to BORP if you don't mind us using your photo on our website, outreach materials, or a news segment - click for form).

Image: 6 people on recumbent bikes (two in a tandem) leaving from the Cycle Center

Hello Paddlers!

BORP Kayaking is up and running! Our June dates are now waitlist only, but sign ups for July open this week. Dates are still being determined due construction delays

Email kayak@borp.org or leave a message at 510-256-3533 to make a reservation request. Fit Appointments* available at any mutually agreed upon time. Hope to see you on the water!



Future kayak Paddle Days will be added throughout the season, please check the BORP Calendar

*Fit Appointments are an opportunity to see the space and learn about our adaptive solutions. They usually last about a half an hour. They are not required, but strongly recommended if adaptive kayaking is new to you.

Banner Image: Two paddlers at Aquatic Park, with a seagull flying by. Image 1: Two paddlers in a tandem boat smile at the camera while paddling.

Summer Workout Series with Jorge: Fitness for All

The days are longer and sometimes warmer, so we are taking our fitness classes outside! Join Jorge for a fun and inclusive workout, outside in the courtyard of the BORP Cycling Center. We will be using innovative adaptive equipment designed to work for you. These courses are a great way to stay active and socialize outside. All fitness levels are welcome. 



Location: 80 Bolivar Drive, Berkeley, 94710 (click for map)

Dates: Fridays through to October 6th

Time: 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM

Class Fee: Donation Based. No one turned away for lack of funds.

Register here for Jorge's Fitness for All Summer Workout Series.

Archery Clinic Saturday, June 17th 2:00 PM - 4:00PM

After a long hiatus, we are excited to announce the continuation of our archery clinics at Redwood Bowman Archery in Oakland. Learn the fundamentals of archery or expand your skills from Certified Level 2 archery instructors. Nestled amongst the redwoods at Joaquin Miller Park in the Oakland Hills, the archery area lends itself to a lovely day for a picnic and exploration. We provide adaptive equipment.

Clinic size is very limited, so if you are interested please email cynthia@borp.org for more information and to get on the waitlist.

Cost is $20/participant. More dates TBD.

You must provide your own transportation and be able to navigate a few hundred yards of paved steep, uneven terrain. Currently we’re not able to offer assistance, but you are welcome to bring someone to help.

This initiative is part of the BORP SCI Fitness, Recreation, and Sports Program funded by the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation

We have on-going great fitness resources at our Ed Roberts Campus studio!

Get info

Click here for in-person classes or Click here for virtual classes.

Or email cynthia@borp.org with your Fitness Studio questions.

Image 1: Four women with bows in wheelchairs in front of archery targets smiling and laughing.

Physical Therapy for Wheelchair Athletes

Maybe you met Dr. Kjersten Skjold at the REV, she was one of the physical therapists giving massages. Now she's offering BORP athletes a FREE workshop on shoulder health for wheelchair athletes.

• Learn how to mobilize your shoulders in preparation for wheelchair propulsion, maneuvering, and overhead activities
• Learn how posture, positioning and seating impact shoulder health and movement

Saturday June 17th @ 11am - 12pm

Zoom or in person at the Ed Roberts Campus First Floor.

Image: inserted flyer with a photo of a wheelchair basketball athlete in action plus the following text: IRONCLAD SHOULDERS Keep your shoulders out of pain and you in the game A FREE interactive workshop on shoulder health for wheelchair athletes. Learn how to mobilize your shoulders in preparation for wheelchair propulsion maneuvering and overhead activities. Learn how posture, positioning and seating impact shoulder health and movement. Presented by Dr. Kjersten Skjold, DPT, C/NDT, CF-L1, Cert-MMOA. Saturday June 17th @ 11am - 12pm, Zoom or in person at the Ed Roberts Campus First Floor. Followed by a QR Code for sign-ups that links to a sign-up website here.

Congratulation graduates!

Alberto Mezo-Torres, will be attending San Francisco State University this fall. Alberto is grateful for his teachers and BORP staff who have helped support him in his goals. He plans to continue coming to BORP as a youth and encourage other youth with visual impairments to attend rock climbing, cycling, and other recreational and outdoor activities. 

Please share your graduates photos and stories with us on social media. Share it @borp.

Image: Albert Mezo-Torres standing in rad cap and gown after his graduation ceremony

Power Soccer

The power soccer program’s team for the Revolution would like to extend our greatest gratitude for our success in fundraising! By the end of the event, Power Soccer United had raised $3,815.50, which is nearly double our team fundraising goal! Go team!

The Ducks and the Shockers are going to Fort Wayne, Indiana! Both teams are competing in the Presidents Conference Cup, the second out of four rankings battling simultaneously from June 15 to June 18 for the 2023 USPSA MK Battery Conference Cup Championship Series Tournament. Both teams have worked incredibly hard for this moment, and we’re looking forward to the intense competition! The Shockers and the Ducks have gone toe-to-toe throughout the season, and will be cheering each other on as we make our way through the tournament.

You can watch most matches on YouTube on the channel PowerSoccerShop.Com, as they’ll be livestreamed over the weekend and archived after. For gold, glory, and friendship! May the best team win!

Image: flyer with photos of Chris Finn wearing a blue cap and orange and black striped scarf; text reads: Save the date! 9/23/23 for the Chris Finn Memorial Poker Slam!

For all A&O events call or email Lori Gray to confirm your attendance.

lori@borp.org 510-843-4398 - Call only after 10:00 AM

Space is limited at all A&O events. Please be sure to sign up early and, if you find you are unable to attend, let us know as soon as possible so that another interested participant has a chance to join the fun. Email Lori for the complete calendar.

June 19th 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM - Join us for a highly descriptive Fine Arts of San Francisco Museum Zoom (previously scheduled for June 12th).

The Legion of Honor Museum is filled with beautiful art about women, but most of the artists are male. Do you ever wonder, "What are all these women thinking?" Please join docents Shelley Ford and Randee MacDonald as they present four works of art about "Women of the Legion". These are stories of love, duty, honor and betrayal some of which end in mayhem and murder.

Please note the BORP and EB Parks camping trip originally scheduled for June 23 - 25th and the day trip on June 24th to Lake Del Valle has been rescheduled to October 20th to 22nd with the day trip on October 21st. This is due to continued effects of storm damage. East Bay Parks provides: tents, sleeping bags and camping gear and food. Anyone interested in attending or getting more information please call 510-843-4398 after 10 AM or email lori@borp.org. This camping trip will fill up. Register before August 22nd. There will a meeting in September.

June 24th - We will offer a day trip with EB Parks on June 24th to Point Pinole. Limited transportation will be available from Ed Roberts Campus. Join us for a hike out to the pier, bird-watching and maybe some kite flying. Lunch is being provided by EB Parks. $10 program fee for adults. No fee for Oakland Youth and their families. Deadline: June 9th.

There will not be an Adventures and Outings indoor rock climbing on June 25th.

Image 1: a painting titled: Isabella and the Pot of Basil, William Holman Hunt, 1867-68 Brief description: A standing woman in a diaphanous gown rests her head against a shiny pot holding green fronds in an elaborately decorated room.

Reminder: To keep up to date on the latest protocols from BORP around masking, vaccination requirements, and more, please visit borp.org/covid-guidelines. BORP has pandemic-related safety protocols (masking and vaccination requirements) for indoor and outdoor activities, the Adventures & Outings program, and the Adaptive Cycling Center for all individuals aged 5 years and older.

Our Facebook page features what’s happening at BORP, news about adaptive sports, fitness, and recreation, and other issues of interest to the disability community. BORP is also on Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. Follow, like, and subscribe to us across all your social media platforms!

Bay Area Outreach & Recreation Program (BORP) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization working to improve the health, independence and social integration of people with physical disabilities and visual impairments through sports, fitness and recreation programs. www.borp.org 

Image: BORP logo in black, a stylized drawing of person in a moving wheelchair plus the words BORP adaptive sports and recreation