We’re counting down The Top 40 Things to do in Corpus Christi. Click here to see the full list.

#31 is The SpokesPeople.

Corpus Christi–every city, actually–requires a constant injection of innovation. Cities north of us that get a lot of attention for being innovative simply do it–or talk about it–better or more often than we do.

When I find examples of innvoative, new things to do, they always get extra attention. The SpokesPeople are a “not so serious bicycle riding gang” that meet once a month to ride through a great area of town and stop from time to time to eat, drink and socialize. Aside from their big monthly ride, they also ride every other Wednesday. Their innovation, dedication and commitment to success has received my full attention.

Find out more at The SpokesPeople’s website.

I wrote a column about The SpokesPeople for the Corpus Christi Caller Times back on May 11, 2011.

Corpus Christi doesn’t have an idea deficiency. Ideas, or a lack of them, aren’t our problem. The missing ingredient — the critical ingredient — is the people who will take an exceptional idea to the street. Our city’s heroes are the relatively few people who move ‘Someone should,’ to ‘I’ll be that someone.’

Creating events isn’t hard. It requires four simple things: and idea, a few people to help, a little bit of planning and a little bit of magic. Sometimes it takes a little bit of money, but we won’t worry about that right now.

Every event you enjoy anywhere was simply planned by real people. The really great events become really great because they also have that little bit of magic. In Corpus Christi, folks that don’t understand how life works believe that great things to do grow out of the ground like pumpkins. “Why doesn’t Corpus Christi have more things?” people ask. The answer is simple. Because no PERSON (step two) PLANNED (step three) the thing (step one) that you feel should exist. Without those basics…no magic.

Even pumpkins require a farmer to plant a seed, fertilize and irrigate.

Several months ago, six friends had an idea: “What if we took our bicycles and rode around downtown stopping here and there to look around and grab a few drinks?” Not a bad idea. Sounds fun. Thankfully, the story doesn’t end there.

They actually did it, and they had so much fun they decided to do it a few weeks later, trying to introduce friends to their creative lunacy. Twenty people showed up. A few weeks later they did it again. Thirty people showed up. This brings us to a couple of weeks ago when they did it again.

And 50 people showed up.

It’s just that easy. Now, don’t think that I’m discounting the hard work and commitment of The SpokesPeople. Magic (like The SpokesPeople have created) requires hours of discussion (free), planning (free), marketing (doesn’t have to be that expensive), and commitment by many people to make sure that a minimum success, measured by attendance and fun, is acheived with every event. People, planning, a little bit of money, a dash of magic, and something magical is born.

Now, loosely organized, they call themselves The SpokesPeople (ingenious, no?) and have a simple motto: “No Spandex. No Naysaying.” Words to live by in a city known for naysayers.

Step one has been taken. A group of people took their great idea and made it happen. Step two is going out to take advantage of their hard work, and that is up to you.

The SpokesPeople Website

The SpokesPeople on Facebook

Corpus Christi Ride-In Theater on Facebook