LCUSA Vice President Candidate Proposal
Hello! I’d like to introduce myself and present my candidacy for VP of the LCUSA.
I’ve been a member of the scooter community since 2001, while living in Seattle Washington, starting with a 1974 Vespa Super 150 and as a member of the Vespa Club of Seattle and the Belladonnas SC. Over the 15 years in Seattle, I became invested in the scooter community there, and became the VP of the Vespa Club of Seattle, leading me to help organize Seattle Insanity scooter rallies. As VP, the club grew into the largest membership in its history, with the largest attended rally in 2005. Also a member of the Belladonnas Scooter Club, I planned and led many scooter rides and events during that time. Upon moving to Portland, Oregon, I became part of a large scooter community, helping to plan and execute rallies, including sponsorship donations for the High Rollers Las Vegas rally, Oregon 100 Rally, and local Portland rallies. My first LJ was when a bunch of us traveled to Denver, Colorado in 2006 to attend the rally there. Upon buying a 1966 Lambretta Starstream 125, I helped organize and solicited sponsor donations for the 2011 Portland Lambretta Jamboree as well as the subsequent Lambretta Jamborees. Now I’m riding a 1964 LI 125 Riverside (with a 195 RT top end), and have attended a further five Lambretta Jamborees, really enjoying the community, enthusiasm and passion for all things Lambretta at these events.
I believe in the mission of the LCUSA as an all inclusive community, as members and enthusiasts come from all walks of life, and find a passion and commonality buying, wrenching, and riding these marvelous machines. Raising awareness of two-wheel vehicles, encouraging mechanical abilities, and promoting the community is important to me, as well as promoting scootering to the younger generations. The environmental aspect is a bonus feature as well, as riding reduces road wear, increases space efficiency, and offers greater fuel economy.
As a project manager for large scale construction and right of way projects, being organized and having effective communication has allowed me to organize and complete rallies with fun and successful outcomes. Listening to members and incorporating their ideas is important as well, as LCUSA is a social club, and should be fun for the members while encouraging and supporting scootering activities and membership.
As VP, I’d like to encourage a membership drive directed towards younger members, highlight the ambassador program as part of the membership drive, and help organize and provide support for the Lambretta Jamborees and other club activities and media productions. I’d love to see more member stories and articles to be shared in our club media, as well as fun photos and rally reports. Keeping membership numbers up fills the club’s account, and funds the Lambretta Jamboree parties, as well all the other events and club functions, and supports the club moving into the future.
I’d also like to see an effort to support and help young people to find, buy, repair and maintain their own scooter. This teaches them to apply practical and technical STEM knowledge and skills to repair, service, and maintain all types of vehicles.
Being VP means being an ambassador of LCUSA, presenting our community with respect, integrity, and enthusiasm to other communities and the general public. I look forward to enjoying many more LCUSA activities and Lambretta Jamborees in the future.
Best Regards, Julie Goodrich
LCUSA Portland, Oregon
I’m riding with a bunch of Lambrettas for OktoberSkoot maybe 5 years ago, and the skies absolutely open on us on our way back to Portland, a torrential downpour. Our bellies full of Bavarian fare, it was the wurst [pause for groans]. Plus, that day I’d chosen the “gets wet, stays wet“ variety of riding gear. The first few raindrops land, and before I can be upset about the soaking we’re about to get, Julie steers us all to a covered walkway at an elementary school she’d spotted on the ride out. We get a nice, dry hour underneath that overhang while the rain pours down all around us. Somebody pulls out a speaker and plays good music. That’s who Julie is: capable, thoughtful, diligent, fun. She creates the environment for people to have a good time, even in the face of adversity.
I appreciate her focus on attracting young members and having an open, inclusive theme. We’ve all been around scooter clubs that would rather die than change. On the other hand, I’ve seen young people who have never turned a wrench become competent at working on their bikes because a club mentored them through that process. It’s empowering, and that’s a feeling we all need when we’re young — especially if we’ve been marginalized by abuse or a lack of acceptance at home. Riding Lambrettas is so ridiculously fun, and Julie conveys that through her warmth, enthusiasm, and smile. She’s simply a good person, and I wholeheartedly support her for VP.