Ohio Wheelmen annual Memorabilia Meet in March

[DelombardR]

I have sent this message as an e-mail to selected active Wheelmen in the midwest.
Comments from other Wheelmen are also welcome, either as replies here in the message board or as an e-mail to me at ohiowheelmencapt@gmail.com.


The Ohio Wheelmen have sponsored an annual Memorabilia Meet that was hosted by the Bicycle Museum of America in New Bremen, Ohio for the last ten years. This event was attended and supported by Wheelmen from many Midwest states as well as occasional Wheelmen from Canada and the east coast. Wheelmen members and others brought collections of their memorabilia to show, discuss, and swap as well as each year one or two Wheelmen would give a presentation on an area of their expertise.

The Museum location was somewhat central to Wheelmen residing in Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, and Kentucky as well as not too far from Illinois.

The Museum has informed me that they are no longer able to support the annual Memorabilia Meet. Among the reasons cited included mobility and safe access to the third floor, lack of space on the first floor for the event, and also reduced staffing levels of the museum. In addition, we have experienced constraints on the Meet event timing with access to the theater (across the street), a lunch-time break, and the presentations.

In addition, over the years there has been a decline in the number of Wheelmen bringing memorabilia collections and/or other material to show, discuss, and swap.

So, with these problems, we are faced with several options.
a)   Move the Meet to another venue in or near New Bremen,
b)   Move the Meet to another Ohio venue,
c)   Allow another state Wheelmen group to sponsor the Meet in their area, or
d)   Simply cancel the annual Memorabilia Meet.

Thoughts and comments from you are solicited and welcomed in the very near future. The current Wheelmen Newsletter had an uncertain date and location for the Meet and the next Newsletter may be too late for adequate notice.

So, what are your thoughts about the Memorabilia Meet? I’d like to hear from you.


Richard DeLombard
Ohio Wheelmen Captain

[DelombardR]

I regret to say that for a long list of reasons, the Memorabilia Meet conducted by the Ohio Wheelmen is being CANCELLED for March 2020 and most likely will not be revived in future years.  It was a bit of a unique meet in that the primary function was to exhibit and display and explain collection of Wheelmen-era ephemera ranging from tools to paper goods to cycle accessories and beyond.  We also had one or two leading experts give a presentation about their area of expertise.

This concept of a Meet to share expertise was some of the impetus of having the workshops at the 2018 Oberlin National Meet. There, members shared their area of expertise with an even larger audience.

There was some trading, swapping, buying, and selling that went on, but primarily it was 'all for show'.  We appreciate the Bicycle Museum of America for hosting the Meet all these years. It was a very convenient day for far-away Wheelmen members to also tour the museum collections (and even some back rooms there).

I sure appreciate the efforts put forth by many members who participated in these Meets and a very hearty Thank You to the presenters each year.


Richard DeLombard
Ohio Wheelmen Captain
and overworked-this-time-of-year Membership Chairman

[Paul.Genaro]

That is unfortunate. I never had the chance to attend although was always hopeful that I would one day.
Thanks for your efforts.
-pg