One of show business’ most famous lines is “The show must go on.” This saying says to all just how important the show is, and that’s the case as well for the annual Motorcycle Show. What is significant about that is that this show, the only one in the local area, is actually going to happen. Equally significant, and perhaps more importantly, this event is a huge fundraiser for the Wyoming Valley Children’s Association (WVCA). The WVCA is an organization that “specializes in the development of children, age five or younger some of whom have special needs and demonstrate developmental delays and disabilities,” according to its website.
As is true for all nonprofit organizations fundraising is a way to keep programs running and keep the lights on.
“Fundraising makes up 20 percent of WVCA overall operating budget for any fiscal year,” said Craig Lukatch, director of development for WVCA. “WVCA relies on its own fundraising efforts and efforts from others like the Wyoming Valley Motorcycle Club to help us sustain our programs. Let me give you a practical example of why fundraising is important. If WVCA did not fundraise, we could not provide scholarships to children, who are at risk for school failure, children who otherwise would not receive a preschool education before entering kindergarten.”
When asked how the economy has affected WVCA, Lukatch said that while sponsorships are down for many of the organization’s events, “we still have friends in the community who believe in our work. I have a quote framed on my desk which reads ‘In any economy, investing in CHILDREN is the smartest investment any of us can make.’ It is the children that we serve that help our fundraising efforts.”
I asked Dave Hooper, president of the WVMC, how the club got involved with WVCA.
“We found out that they were forced to discontinue two of their fundraisers due to budget and staffing cuts,” he said. “We explained that we would hate to see this show go by the wayside because it is the only motorcycle show that we have in Wyoming Valley.”
The club believed that indeed, this show must go on.
Lukatch said that the show has been held since 1997, and that this is the first year the WVMC will be hosting it.
“Because of the time commitment and unavailable staff, WVCA recently decided to cancel the motorcycle show,” Lukatch said. “When the WVMC came to us and said they wanted to keep the show going because it is the biggest motorcycle show in our area, we could not refuse.”
He’s excited about this year’s show because the WVMC made some small changes to the event that will “make the show even better.” The club called this year’s show The Wyoming Valley Motorcycle and Power Sports Show.
“We did this because some of the motorcycle dealers also sell power sports equipment and will have them at the show anyway,” Hooper said.
Mark Bohn said showgoers will see major brands and models represented, plus custom bike builders, one-of-a-kind models, free biker fashion shows at noon and 2 p.m. by Pocono Mountain Leather, free magic show and balloon animals for the kids, a People’s Choice bike contest with trophies and prizes and more.
Hooper added a bit of information about the People’s Choice Awards,
“The bike show was changed this year to be fairer to the participants,” Hooper said of the People’s Choice contest. “We will offer four classes for competition; Street Stock, Street Custom, Custom Built and Vintage, 30 years or older. … This is a people’s choice bike show, and the entries will be voted on by the customers who attend the show.”
A mere $10 enters your bike. The event will be held Sunday, March 20 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Kingston Armory (280 Market St., Kingston). Admission is $5 per person and includes a show program. Kids 8 and under are free. Parking is free and all events are held indoors, so rain, snow or sun, you can come out and enjoy the motorcycles and help the children of the Wyoming Valley.
For more information or for application forms, visit www.wyomingvalleymotorcycleclub.org, or contact Dan Williams Custom Motorcycles at williamscustommotorcycles@gmail.com or 570.301.7753.
Come out see all the vendors, vote on your favorite bike and help a good cause. You know you don’t miss things until they are gone.
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