Quad Party recruits new volunteers

By Helen Davis
Cibola County Bureau

GRANTS — The kick-off dinner and volunteer salute for the 25th Mount Taylor Quadrathlon saw the first wave of new volunteers join old hands at La Ventana Steak House in Grants last night.

Only a month away, the Quad is gathering momentum for the final organizational push after the kick-off. Organizers are looking for younger volunteers to start learning the ropes and maintain the race as those who have been working the race for nearly 25 years think about retiring.

Michael Caplan, the first race director and one of the founders, attended the dinner only to be invited to help start the race. The veteran Quad supporter said he worked for the Quad for nine years and found the heart of the race to be the volunteers, but that this year he was not in on more extensive volunteer work himself.

“I am proud the committee is still going,” he added.
New, younger volunteers attended the meeting and stayed to talk with the regulars and have a casual dinner of enchiladas, pizza, sandwiches, hot dogs and lots of dessert. Food for the kick-off was provided by local businesses, including 1st Street Cafe, Canton Cafe, Chile Kicks on 66, Denny’s, El Cafecito, Kiva Cafe, Pizza Hut, Iron Skillet, Surf Shack, Subway and the ‘Wow’ diner. These merchants will also donate a seven-dollar food ticket to each racer. La Ventana donated drinks and the meeting space.

Quad regulars said the turnout was good, and they expect the volunteer list to swell as the race nears. Volunteers should sign up at the Grants/Cibola County Chamber of Commerce, located in the New Mexico Mining Museum at 100 N. Iron Ave. in Grants.