The Ride

Promotion of the project’s broad-based message on citizenship, service, and social responsibility in and beyond America kicks into high gear with the National Service Ride, in coordination with the project’s many partners, from September to October 2016, in a clockwise direction around the continental United States, starting and ending in New York's Lower Hudson Valley.

Open to riders to join whenever and as long as they like, the Ride features public information events hosted by partner organizations in locales around the country. Venues include schools, meeting halls, bike dealerships, bookstores, etc. At schools, interactive discussions will take place between Americans who have lived lives of service in all walks of life to tell their stories to younger audiences, showing how service to others benefits everyone including oneself, as well as clear pathways to service learning.

This spring and summer, Colonel (ret.) Holshek has already led numerous presentations, including at his own high school in Washingtonville, NY – with enthusiastic reception!

Service Year, the UN Association, the Alliance for Peacebuilding, GoodWorld, and many partners at local level are providing ideas and pathways for young citizens to community, national, or public service, to join or contribute to the Ride’s partner or other service organizations and initiatives. The Ride also intends to mobilize older citizens to help mentor younger community members and encourage and empower them to take their own journey through service learning. In addition to building a stronger country through stronger communities, this helps pass the baton of generational leadership in a mindful and purposed way.

The Ride is not funded by anyone or anything other than book sales prior to, during, and after the Ride – in keeping with the project's theme of community-basing, crowdsourcing, and bottom-up change. "It’s not so much about power to the people as the power of the people,” Holshek explains.

“This is going to be as big as people want it to be,” he adds. “Perhaps we’ll do it every year – not just because there’s an election this year, but because, as I say in the book, America is in and of itself a journey. We’ll start off in the hundreds, perhaps the thousands, and see how big a dent we can make.”

Upcoming pre-Ride events and Ride itinerary include:

 

Pre-Ride Events:

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• 14 July – Hamburg, NY: "Das Rally" presentation and book signing at 11:30 am in the Fireman's Building of the State Fairgrounds.
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• 16 July – Kingston, NY: Book Signing at Woodstock Harley-Davidson "Tent Event." 1-4 pm.
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• 20 July – Matamoras, PA: Presentation and book signing for Rotary Club International at Two Rivers Grille, 12:00 pm.
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• 26 July – Live with Lorraine on WTBQ's "The Roundtable" at 9:00 am.

 

Planned Ride Itinerary:

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• 3-5 September – Kick-Off Events: Newburgh, NY (Motorcyclepedia Museum, Maroney's Harley-Davidson, Orange County Choppers Cafe) (TBC)
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• 6 September – Woodbury, NY: Monroe-Woodbury High School (TBC)
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• 7 September – Wilmington, DE: Rommel Harley-Davidson (TBC)
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• 8 September – Annapolis, MD: Anne Arundal County High School (TBC)
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• 9-10 – September – Harrisonburg, VA: Harrisonburg High School; Eastern Mennonite University (TBC)
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• 12 September – Greensboro, NC: University of North Carolina Greensboro (TBC); Harley-Davidson of Greensboro (TBC)
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• 13 September – Kennesaw, GA: Kennesaw State University (with UNA-USA); Harley-Davidson of Atlanta (TBC)
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• 14 September – Clarkston, GA: Clarkston Community Center (TRENDSGlobal with UNA-USA)
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• 15-16 September – Gainesville, FL: UN Association Chapter (TBC); Gainesville Harley-Davidson (TBC)
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• 16 September – Orlando, FL: UN Association Chapter (TBC); Orlando Harley-Davidson (TBC)
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• 17 September – Mobile, AL: Mobile Bay Harley-Davidson (TBC)
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• 18 September – New Orleans, LA: Harley-Davidson of New Orleans (TBC)
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• 19 September  – Houston, TX: UN Association Chapter (TBC); Stubbs Harley Davidson / Harley-Davidson of the Woodlands (TBC)
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• 20 September – College Station, TX: Texas A&M University (TBC); Independence Harley-Davidson (TBC)
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• 21 September – Austin, TX: UN Association Chapter / University of Texas (TBC); Cowboy Harley-Davidson (TBC)
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• 22 September – Oklahoma City, OK: UN Association Chapter (TBC); Harley-Davidson dealerships (TBC)
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• 23 September – Amarillo, TX: Barnes & Noble Bookstore, 7-9pm; Tripp's Harley-Davidson (TBC)
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• 24 September – Albuquerque, NM; Bookworks Albuquerque; Duke City Harley-Davidson (TBC)
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• 26 September – Phoenix, AZ: UN Association Chapter / Arizona State University (TBC); Buddy Stubbs Harley-Davidson / Arrowhead Harley-Davidson (TBC)
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• 28-30 September – Pasedena/Los Angeles/Simi Valley, CA: UN Association Southern California Region / University of Southern California / Simi Valley High School (TBC); Skylight Books, Pasadena; Hollywood Harley-Davidson (TBC)
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• 3-4 October – Monterey/San Jose, San Francisco/Oakland/Sacramento, CA: UN Association Northern California Region (TBC); Lane Splitter Harley-Davidson / Oakland Harley-Davidson / Harley-Davidson of Sacramento (TBC)
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• 5 October – Reno, NV: UN Association Chapter (TBC); Reno Harley-Davidson at the Silver Legacy (TBC)
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• 6 October – Elko, NV: Gold Rush Harley-Davidson (TBC)
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• 7-8 October – Salt Lake City, UT: UN Association Chapter (TBC); The King's English Bookshop (TBC); Harley-Davidson of Salt Lake City (TBC)
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• 10-11 October – Boulder-Denver, CO: Boulder Book Store / Tattered Cover Bookstore (TBC); Avalanche Harley-Davidson / Mile High Harley-Davidson (TBC)
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• 12 October – Salina, KS: Harley-Davidson of Salina (TBC)
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• 13 October – Kansas City, MO: UN Association Chapter (TBC); Worth Harley-Davidson (TBC)
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• 14 October – Des Moines, IA: Beaverdale Books; Big Barn Harley-Davidson (TBC)
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• 15-16 October – Chicago, IL: UN Association Chapters (TBC); Illinois Harley-Davidson / Chicago Harley-Davidson (TBC)
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• 17 October – Indianapolis, IN: UN Association Chapter (TBC); Indianapolis Harley-Davidson (TBC)
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• 18 October – Columbus, OH: UN Association Chapter (TBC); Book Loft of German Village, 6-8pm; Centennial Park Harley-Davidson (TBC)
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• 19 October – State College, PA: UN Assocation Chapter / Penn State University (TBC); #1 Cycle Center Harley-Davidson (TBC) 
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• 20 October – Valley Forge – Malvern, PA: Immaculata University (TBC); Valley Forge Harley-Davidson (TBC)
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• 21 October – Spring Valley, NY: Ramapo High School (TBC)
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• 22-23 October – Homecoming Events: Newburgh, NY (Motorcyclepedia Museum, Maroney's Harley-Davidson, Orange County Choppers Cafe) (TBC)
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Note: Changes, venue details, and routes will be posted as they are confirmed.