I used to be a dreamer - I dreamt about doing things, but that is where it stopped. Then, in 1988, I joined AYH (now COP) in an attempt to become less of a couch slug. I had a new bike and a willingness to use it, but I had no practical knowledge of road cycling. On a raw March morning in 1988, I rode a bicycle to the Dutch Kitchen from OSU, 20 miles each way! Unthinkable! I also met the greatest of AYH/COP assets, a good trip leader. John Brown taught me how to be a responsible road cyclist - he also taught me how to be a good bike ride leader. 1988 was a great year for me - I met and learned from some of the best trip leaders any organization could hope to have. Caving and boating from Dave Seslar, boating from Mike Wadkowski, backpacking from Ron Eisele, and rock climbing from Ron Hartung. I went on the last Across Ohio Bike Tour (AOBT) and met Mike & Sue Fox, and then I went on the first GOBA, and met Tom Barlow. All these people are volunteers, and they all made a difference in my life. These people, and what they have taught me, turned me from a dreamer to a doer. I have backpacked for days & miles, bicycled to diverse places, canoed remote & wild rivers, rafted inaccessible canyons and delved deep into caves. I have sailed Drake's Passage, gone diving in Mexico, and this fall I will spend 2 weeks rafting the Grand Canyon. In my opinion, I was able to do these things because some leaders believed I could, and convinced me it was possible. COP trip leaders are the best thing we have - and they all deserve a round of `Huzzah!' for the excellent work they do.