In a stunning upset over, well, thousands of volunteers, our very own James Mattiace took home the Ben Fain Wheelie Award for Outstanding Volunteer!

First off, James should be honored to get the award that is named after the REAL driver of the BUS, Ben Fain. I had never met Ben before last Saturday, and I am quite sure that a more patient man does not exist in this world. The unruly behavior and shenanigans he was forced to put up with on the drive up and back from Eugene would have driven any lesser man over the edge!

I first met James at a house party at Mark Frohnmayer’s where I was given my first introduction to the Bus. Many beers and many chats later, here I am on the Lane Bus board. The guy knows how to recruit! James’ excitement for politics is infectious and is one of the critical motivators for the Lane Bus experience. This award is a fitting tribute to what he has built here as he now prepares to travel the globe on his Moroccan adventure.

For the Lane Bus folks, The Wheelies turned out to be a perfect culmination of James’ contributions and a passing of the torch to Rose Wilde as the steering board chair. These celebrations took full effect in ways we could not begin to describe or repeat after the show and on the Bus trek from Portland to Eugene!

James and Amanda will be sorely missed and my one hope is that there will be many more beers and chats to be had as the “Mattiace Farewell Party Circuit” rolls on up to their departure! I have no doubt that in two years, he will be back and craving some politics. Either that, or Morocco is about to get a dose of what canvassing is all about!

Congrats James and safe travels!

James basks in the afterglow of his Wheelie award, Cam needs another beer, Mark flashes the peace sign/rabbit ears hybrid, and Mike wonders why he continues to associate himself with the other three.