Hey, gang!

Mr. Obama's first proclamation reads: "NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim January 20, 2009, a National Day of Renewal and Reconciliation, and call upon all of our citizens to serve one another and the common purpose of remaking this Nation for our new century." (Read the whole thing here: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/a_national_day_of_renewal_and_reconciliation/)

So here's your opportunity to serve: Register for the 2009 Bike MS Pedal to the Point before January 31, 2009 for just $20! This is a DEEP discount over the regular $45 fee. You can register online, mail in a downloaded registration form or call the office at 800-667-7131. If you register online, be sure to use the coupon code RIDER to get the $20 rate.Bike MS Pedal to the Point 2009 will take place August 15 - 16, 2009. The start/finish location is Polaris Career Center which is just down the road from the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds. The lunch and overnight locations will remain the same as last year.Registered so far: Lisa Alexander, Don Bales, Sam Bell, MJ Formoso, Rebecca, Rick, Richard Jester, Kevin Madzia, Kris Sinnenberg, Brian Sobola, Chris Strobbe, and Gordon Wean.
If you registered, and you don't see your name here, tell me, and I'll get it fixed.

Rebecca and I got a nice surprise in the mail - a 2009 Bike MS Calendar. The surprise part is that Patti's Paladins are the big picture on the November 2009 page! See it online here: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=216915&l=f756c&id=1377627646. If you didn't get one and you want one, I can get more for $5 each.

Only one person responded to me about the St. Patrick's Day parade, so I didn't do anything about it.

I got people working on this year's hotel already, hopefully avoiding that last minute stuff from last year.

Anybody want to be in charge of uniforms? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

Just sharing...

http://carlessohio.org/2009/01/13/winter-bike-commuting-lesson-of-the-day/

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

OK, next holiday: Are any of you interested in bicycling in the St Patrick's Day Parade this year? I need to know, like, NOW, because the application deadline is the 10th of THIS MONTH.

Then later this summer: [Sorry, Matt! I'm lifting this almost verbatim from your notification] you have the opportunity to register for Bike MS Pedal to the Point 2009 at the special registration fee of $20. This reduced rate will only be available until January 31, 2009. After that date, you will have to pay the full registration fee of $45. Team Captains - be sure to get your team members from the 2008 ride registered before the fee increases. [I am a team captain, and I'm trying to get my team members registered before the fee increases! ONLY 25 DAYS LEFT!]
You can register online, mail in a downloaded registration form or call the office at 800-667-7131. If you register online, be sure to use the coupon code RIDER to get the $20 fee.
Bike MS Pedal to the Point 2009 will take place August 15 - 16, 2009. The start/finish location is Polaris Career Center which is just down the road from the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds. The lunch and overnight locations will remain the same.
Registered so far: Lisa Alexander, Don Bales, Sam Bell, Rebecca, Rick, Kris Sinnenberg, and Gordon Wean.

But right now, after you register, check this out: rails-to-trails conservancy is lobbying the new congress to include bicycle and pedestrian projects in the economic stimulus infrastructure thingy. For more accurate verbage, details, and/or to sign the petition, follow this link: http://support.railstotrails.org/recovery. Please don't let my cursory treatment erode your support for this important effort. Do check it out. (Thanks, Deb, for pointing this out to me.)