David Schweidenbach, founder of PEDALS FOR PROGRESS, addressed the club last Thursday, reviewing the organization's history, advancements, and plans for the future. He started Pedals For Progress in 1991 with the goal of helping people who could greatly benefit from owning a bicycle. Pointing out that one half of the world's population walks as their main means of transportation, and is thus limited in their opportunities for employment, he structured his organization to collect bikes from this country, ship and resell the bikes at affordable prices, in third world countries, to those in need. He has improved his logistics plan in order to reduce his expenses as much as possible, but related that higher costs and competition from other charitable groups, several which he helped develop plans,  has led him to recently branch out into including sewing machines in his program. This has allowed for year round operations and has been successful in widening the organization's appeal, involving women's groups whose interest has been sparked by the sewing machine aspect.  In the last year, Pedals For Progress distributed 4000 bikes and 450 sewing machines. 
  The ROTARY CLUB OF NORRISTOWN has participated in the program for the last several years, and once again will hold its annual event at WEST NORRITON DAY, May 21.
 
 
MARK CALL welcomes DAVID to the club.