How does someone become a member of Redford Township Unicycle Club?
      Most of the time, our new members come from our beginning unicycling class, but not always. We have many members who come to us already knowing how to ride, or become interested through a friend, maybe you.  Because we only offer the beginning class once a year, if you miss it you may become a member during other times of the year if you are willing to purchase your own unicycle and learn on your own. The cost to join RTUC is only $5 annually which partially covers the cost of club insurance. RTUC membership also requires a current or yearly membership to the Unicycling Society of America, which will cost $15 for an individual or $20 for a family.  You should receive a membership folder when you join, please let Kathy Susanka know if you need one.

What does being an "active member" mean?
     To be considered an active member of RTUC you must attend an average of one Saturday practice per month (currently 11 total since we don't practice in December) and two money making parades or performances per year. Your RTUC membership fees for the calendar year must be paid up and your USA membership must also be up to date. If, for some reason, you are unable to fulfill the active member attendance requirements for the year and wish to be considered an active member the following year you will be asked to pay the full amount of the insurance cost that the club paid for your expected participation the previous year. This amount will be $10.00 per person per year instead of the original $5.00 per family.

Do I have to attend the practice right before an event to be able to participate?
      Generally, no. If we haven’t seen you for a while and you can suddenly attend a parade, please come. There are sign up sheets that circulate at practice but extra people are always welcome even if you haven’t had a chance to previously commit yourself. If you plan to participate in a performance it is more essential that you attend the preceding practices to learn routines. Watch for e-mail notices about  this or announcements on our web site.

Joining is only $5.00? How does the club make money to support itself?
     The donations we receive from participating in parades and performances pays the rent for our practice facilities, some uniform costs, insurance, refreshments at parades, maintenance and purchase of club owned unicycles and equipment, costuming costs for NAUCC (North American Unicycling Convention and Championships) plus many other things. Your attendance at these events is very important to the existence of our club.

What happens at regular Saturday morning club practices?
      Saturdays practices are a mixture of activities and frequently change from week to week depending upon our upcoming schedule. Activities may include individual skill building, large and small group riding practice, skill building games, unicycle hockey, parade formation practice, performance rehearsals, level testing and riding exhibitions. Practices always include planning meetings and the ever popular snack time.

Are there other practice and/or unicycling opportunities besides Saturday mornings?
      Optional Monday evening practice has been held September to May at the Salvation Army Gym in Dearborn Heights, 26700 Warren, 6:30 to 8 pm.  Gym fees for these unstructured practices are paid by RTUC with proceeds from money making events in which active members have participated.
     Monday practices are open to non-members or non-active members for a small fee: $3.00 per individual, $5.00 per family if more than one member is riding. Monday evenings in the summer are usually park rides or NAUCC (National Convention) practice.
     There is a group of riders who meet on Wednesday nights to play Unicycle Basketball and a group that meets on Sundays or Tuesdays in good weather for Muni, or mountain unicycling (rough terrain). Let us know if you’d like info or check the Web Calendar linked to our Events page.

To participate in club activities: parades and performances, what do I wear?
      New riders and walkers wear the same thing; light blue club t-shirt, white pants, white socks, ALL white shoes and a red baseball cap with embroidered unicycle. This is also the combination worn by everyone for outdoor club performances. The shirts, hats and some hand-me-down white pants can be obtained from our uniform mistress, Carol Ann Matthews. Contact her with your requests. (CarolAnnMatthews(at )yahoo.com). For cold or damp weather you also need a red windbreaker, no hoods, please.
      When a rider obtains enough skill to join the parade formation, a new formation uniform is needed. This consists of a blue and white shirt and blue pants (along with white socks, shoes and red hat). The deposit for this uniform is $20, which is half its cost, and a portion of that may be refunded if the rider returns it in good condition when he or she leaves RTUC.

What does a new rider do during a parade?
      New riders are important to our parade unit. They are the ones that the spectators will identify with most and cheer for as they remount and show new skills learned. These non-formation riders usually ride separately from the formal formation and may do so in small groups (holding hands) or individually or with the occasional help of a walker. Sometimes young riders hula hoop during a parade; a great crowd pleaser.  Often space is tight so new riders must pay close attention not to get in the way of the tall giraffe unicycles or collide with the crowd. See the Parade Protocol page in your membership folder for more information.

What does a walker do during a parade besides the obvious: walking?
      Walkers are essential in every parade to help beginning riders and giraffe riders remount, provide water to riders throughout the parade, carry the club sign and pass out literature about RTUC to parade spectators. Beginning riders who do not feel that they have enough skill or endurance yet to ride in parades may also fulfill their participation requirements by helping this way.

Those blue and silver wheel streamers are nifty, where do I get my own?
      RTUC will provide the streamers for your wheel, we ask that you put them in your wheel before arriving at a parade or performance. We can mail them to you if needed. There is an expense to the club for these so if taking them out between events is important to you, please preserve your streamers for next time.  If you think that they are so cool that you need your own supply, they are usually purchased at Advance Novelty on 6 Mile Rd in Livonia.

Somebody handed me paper Uni-money at practice, what is that for?
     Uni-money is our small way of rewarding you for your participation. It is good for one year from the date of issue and is non-transferable. Because it is a reward for participation, the person who earned it (did the participating) is the only one who may use it. It is good for anything that you might give the club money for: t-shirts, USA dues, patches for your jacket, uniform items, gym fees, etc. Uni-Money from practice (purple or pink) is worth 50 cents each. Uni-money earned at a parade or performance (yellow) is worth $1 each. You may also get reimbursement from our treasurer for other unicycling related expenses such as new equipment or registration fees. See the reimbursement form in your membership folder for details.

I’m really excited about my new passion, unicycling, and would love the world to know. Can I get more unicycling t-shirts and stuff besides the light blue club shirt?
     Each year RTUC has been printing its own t-shirts at least twice. In the spring we print the club uniform shirt and later in the summer we usually print another design developed by our members. You can find some other shirts at unicycle.com if you are too excited to wait.
      We also have a unicycle embroidery design that is available to RTUC members only. You’ve all seen it on our red baseball caps that we wear for parades. You can have this design, black or silver stitching, as well as one that includes our name, stitched onto just about anything, even a garment that you already have; polo shirt, hat, jacket, tote bag, pillow case, socks…… Initial Artistry in Dearborn Heights, Ford Rd just east of Beech Daly is our embroiderer of choice, drop by and see Rufus with your requests. The single unicycle has been around $4 to have stitched and the unicycle with club name, around $6.50. If this location is way out of your way, talk to a member who lives nearby about doing you a favor.
     Blue gym bags are available with RTUC screen printing for $13.00. The are very sturdy and big enough to hold all your uniform items or safety equipment. See Kathy Susanka about purchasing one for yourself.
     Bumper stickers and silicone wrist bands are also available.  See Kathy for these also.

I’d love to ride one of those tall unicycles, can I borrow one?
     RTUC owns several giraffe unicycles, 4, 5 and 6 foot, along with lots of interesting pieces of equipment like the balance beam and some specialty unicycles. If you’d like to borrow one to take home and practice on or with, talk to our equipment manager, Tom Brichford, (t_and_c_brichford (at) juno.com) about bringing it to practice. We do reserve the right to restrict the borrowing of equipment based on riding ability and equipment capacity.

I’ve noticed lots of people in RTUC doing different jobs, how can I help?
     All of RTUC’s officers are volunteers. Some are elected and some have just raised their hands and said, “I’ll do that!” If you’d like to help, there are plenty of opportunities. If you see something that needs doing or a way you think you can contribute, you are more than welcome. Refreshments at practice are a good way to start, talk to Dorothy Plunkett if you like to contribute something.
     Each year, usually in November, we have an annual business meeting and potluck. The annual election of officers as well as reassignment of other positions and jobs takes place at this event.