Your connection

to knowledge, resources and networking

By Lindsay Welbers

ALA members completed their volunteer work October 8-10 for Community Challenge Weekend (CCW), and though we value and appreciate all Chapters initiatives, one Chapter stood out by honoring a former ALA president and contributing to a cause that he held close to his heart. The ALA president was David W. Brezina, elected in 1996. He was an avid bicyclist and in September that same year, was in a bicycling accident that left him with paralysis and quadriplegia. Brezina nished his term and went on to work as a trustee for the Foundation of the Association of Legal Administrators (FALA) before his death in 1999.

14

ALA NEWS

O CT O B E R / N O VE MBER 2 0 1 0

delve

Brezina
How ALAs Orange County Chapter honored former ALA President David Brezina for its Community Challenge Weekend event.
OCTOBER/NOVEMBE R 2 0 1 0

Biking for

ALANET.ORG

15

Your connection

to knowledge, resources and networking

Eleven years later, ALAs Orange County Chapter (OC-ALA) members honored his memory by hosting the David Brezina Challenge a 5, 10, 20 or 30 mile bike ride for their CCW activity. To further honor Brezina and his cause, OC-ALA donated funds raised to the Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF), which helps athletes who have been seriously injured to afford equipment that will allow them to bike, run or compete again. He was a very inspiring person and had this amazing spirit, and I see this same thing in the challenged athletes, said OC-ALA President Stacy Morrison, CLM, who got involved with CAF a few years ago. It gives a second life to people who have been involved in tragic accidents.

Not only did OC-ALA choose to honor a former ALA president, but also noteworthy is that the David Brezina Challenge is the rst organized standalone event OC-ALA has facilitated. In the past theyve piggybacked on the work of other organizations like Court Appointed Special Advocates, who work with abused and neglected children whose guardians are in the court systems. The idea for the fundraiser was always something Morrison wanted to do. I was on the board about ve years ago and I told myself then, I see this in my future and get the chance to do this, I want to do this. And after conducting this successful event, she certainly doesnt want the efforts to end. I was hoping this would be contagious. I can only inuence and hope that the next president wants to go even further, Morrison said. OC-ALA donated all proceeds to CAF at a later event, where Chapter members were invited to volunteer. A third

David W. Brezina served as ALA President from 1996-1997. His career in legal administration spanned more than 20 years. In 1996, Brezina was involved in a tragic bicycling accident resulting in paralysis and quadriplegia. Even as he fought this disability, he served his term as President with distinction and vigor. At every ALA Annual Conference, the David W. Brezina Memorial General Session is presented in his honor. At the time of his death in 1999, Brezina was serving as a Trustee of the Foundation of the Association of Legal Administrators (FALA); a memorial fund has since been created in his honor to further the educational and charitable work of FALA.

fundraiser and silent auction are going to be held in December to benet CAF. Beverly Stevenson, CCW Board Chair for the OC-ALA Chapter, said CAF was a worthy cause and the Chapter was excited to honor Brezinas memory at the same time. When somebody loses a limb, insurance companies pay for your basic prosthesis not anything to run or swim and for people who are especially athletic, thats their quality of life. A lot of people cant afford [an athletic prosthesis], she said. Thats why David Brezina was honored. He was an athlete; he went on in a wheelchair. There are a lot of people who like to cycle and it could happen to anyone. Lauren Hinton of CAF said that it is work like OC-ALAs and other volunteer organizations that allows them to help challenged athletes. (CAF) would like to thank Stacy Morrison, CLM, Beverly Stevenson and all the participants and donors who contribute to the success of the bike ride, said Hinton. Funds raised at this family event will enable individuals with physical challenges to live active and full lifestyles. More than 80 cents of every dollar raised by CAF provides funding for adaptive sports equipment, training and competition expenses, programs and events that help physically challenged athletes get off the sidelines and into the game.

The members of OC-ALA arrived to Bill Barber Park in Irvine, California on October 10 and collected donations from the members and their families who arrived for the noncompetitive bike ride. With 150 participants, organizers raised $12,500 for CAF. Riders who selected the longer runs circled Back Bay of Newport Beach. The youngest rider to participate was 1-year-old Carson Taff, riding in a bike trailer.

Andy Bailey, a 72-year-old who is now an amputee because of a runaway truck accident, is a great example of one of CAFs beneciaries who went from tragedy to triumph. He recently spoke at OC-ALAs Chapter meetings. Thanks to the friendships and education Ive gained through CAF and the access to new technology, there is life after amputation, said Bailey. The most rewarding part of competing now is that

16

ALA NEWS

O CT O B E R / N O VE MBER 2 0 1 0

delve

as an athlete I can demonstrate to other disabled people what is possible and inspire them to pursue their goals. At ALA headquarters, were grateful to the many ALA members across the globe who participated in CCW this year, volunteering for myriad valuable causes. CCW encourages ALA Chapters, its members, rms, vendors, relatives and friends to come together to contribute time, energy and resources toward improving the lives of others, said Steve Carasso, ALA Assistant Director of Marketing and CCW Liaison. Over the years, our Chapters efforts have helped

strengthen their communities and have provided support to those most in need. Be sure to check out the next issue of ALA News, where well include photos from all Chapters CCW efforts. For more information, visit www.alanet.org/ccw.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lindsay Welbers is the Associate Editor at ALA headquarters. You can contact her via e-mail at lwelbers@alanet.org.

All photography was provided by Jess Block Photography.

OCTOBER/NOVEMBE R 2 0 1 0

ALANET.ORG

17