Volume No. 20 Issue No.3
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children-NY/Mohawk Valley
www.therideformissingchildren.com
06 03 16
THE RIDE2016
MARCH
New Rider Meeting @ 6 PM, Regular Meeting @ 7:00
Welcome...........................................................................Tony Artessa
Les
3 M s than
MO OR
NT E
HS
!!!
National
Anthem ............................................................Whitesboro High School,
Directed by Jane Beck
Our Corporate Benefactors............................................Jim White
The 2016 20th Ride for Missing Children Route........John Nabors
Ride Announcements.....................................................Tony Artessa
Guest Speaker..................................................................Robert Hoever,
Director of Special Programs within the Missing Children Division of
The National
Center for Missing & Exploited Children
Bob
will
present
information
regarding NCMEC’s Children with special needs
imitative and NCMEC’S involvement with Amber Alerts.
Closing Remarks..............................................................Dick Jordan
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CORPORATE BENEFACTORS “May The Road Rise to meet you”
Diamond
First Source Federal Credit Union
Platinum Plus
Birnie Bus Service
New York Sash
Platinum
Fastrac Market
by Chip Hemmel
“…Soon there were long rides
In the country, wet week-ends
Playing snap in the kitchens
Of mountain youth-hostels,
Day-runs to Monaghan,
Rough and exotic roads….”
-From “The Bicycle” by Derek Mahon
Gold
Carbone Auto Group
Upstate HomeCare
Silver
Di Highway Sign & Structure Corp.
Dick Sonne's Cycle
Mohawk Valley Community College
NYSCOPBA
Northland Communica1ons
Romanelli Advertising
Sullivan Contracting
Trainor Associates
Bronze
Bartell Machinery Systems, L.L.C.
Bite Bakery and Café
Café CaNole Inc
Cooley Group, Inc
CoughlinGiambrone, LLC
Clinton Tractor & Implement Co.
Daniele's Banquet Facility
Gilroy, Kernan & Gilroy Insurance
Holiday Inn.
Indium Corporation
JPJ Communications
Master Planners & Associates, LLC
Mele Family Fund
Mohawk Limited Luxury Restrooms
Mohawk Valley Health System
New Hartford Shopping Center
New York Central Mutual Insurance
New York State United Teachers
Otsego Mutual Fire Insurance Company
Paragon Athletic Club
Revolutionary Wellness
Rio Grand Tex-Mex Grill
Speedy Awards & Engraving
T. C. Peters Printing, Inc.
TY Pac, Inc
Wal-Mart Distribution Center
March has arrived at last. If you’re a child of Erin your thoughts turn to the “wearin’
of the green” and, if you’re a cyclist, child of Erin or not, “a spin on the black”…top.
On an early spring commitment ride, when the sun shines on our backs with that
fine golden color that it saves for spring and autumn, we huddle during our pre-ride
dedication and announcements; our collective breath forming clouds above our
heads; cold fingers and toes warming as the sun burns off the morning chill. Soon;
we’re rolling along country roads with 100 or so teammates, virtual strangers
moments ago, who are now our teammates and who will become some of our
closest friends.
Commitment Rides for the 2016 Ride for Missing Children will take place every
Saturday and Sunday beginning April 2 and on Thursday evenings beginning April
7 (weather permitting). Please check the Ride Line 624-RIDE (624-7433) after
6:30AM on ride mornings for details.
Rides depart from Par technology at 9AM in April and 8AM in May. Please plan to
arrive 30 minutes to an hour early for prep and check in. Thursday evening rides
will depart no later than 6PM; please plan to arrive by 5 as we’ll slip out early if
everyone’s ready.
As a first year rider you must attend 4 of these rides; but come often - don’t miss
this opportunity to discover who we are and why we’re here during this quiet time
together, before the excitement and emotion of the ride itself. It’s our time to
prepare; to get strong - physically and emotionally - and build the bonds that now
make us part of the ride family.
At these rides we learn the stories of the children we ride for, many of whom were
riding a bicycle when they went missing. We learn how to honor their memory, hold
them in our hearts and how to draw strength from their suffering.
We also learn how to ride together in close formation, how to tackle the “inverted
decline” and avoid a…err…”spontaneous dismount.” We’ll learn how to close a
gap, communicate with hand signals and key vocabulary such as “ROU-U-U-UUGH RO-O-O-O-OAD!”
Don’t miss these opportunities; ride with the group every chance you get. There
will come a Saturday morning in June when you’ll find yourself out on the road
alone - longing for the company of your teammates; your ride family.
IMPORTANT VOLUNTEER INFORMATION
The countdown is on! Three months to The Ride for Missing Children!
The number of volunteers continues to grow. Don't delay with your online
registration, so you don't get closed out. Some positions have already been filled.
PHOTO IDs
NEW and RETURNING Volunteers that DID NOT VOLUNTEER LAST year must
have photo IDs taken this year. A photographer will be available at the monthly
meetings in March and April beginning at 6 pm. Volunteers will not be allowed on
the buses or entry to Troop D without an official 2016 photo ID badge.
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VOLUNTEER MEETING
A mandatory volunteer meeting will be announced via e-mail. Please watch for
time, date and place.
Contributors
A&P Master Images We hope you are excited as we are anticipating Spring and our 2016 Ride For
Missing Children. Thanks to all our volunteers for being an integral part of the Ride
helping us fulfill our Mission: " To make our children safer... One child at a time."
Central Valley's lion Mohawk United Teachers (IMUT) Any questions regarding Day of Ride volunteering or volunteer positions for Day of
Ride contact Judy Palmieri [email protected]. Questions for Pre-Ride Day
volunteers like commitment ride volunteering and volunteering at the monthly
Rider/Volunteer meetings contact Janice Lutz [email protected].
Chobani Greek Yogurt
JERSEYS, JACKETS, ARM WARMERS, WIND
VESTS and CYCLING CAPS
The March meeting will be the last time you
will be able to try on the jerseys before we
place the order. Since the jerseys run
small, we ask that all new riders try them on
before we place the order. Samples will be
available to try on. We also have RFMC
thermal jackets that can be ordered. They
will be available for try on at the meeting if
you are interested. The thermal jacket can
be worn on the day of the Ride. Sleeveless
jerseys can be ordered for summer wear
but cannot be worn the day of the Ride.
The RFMC arm warmers, wind vests and
cycling caps will be available for you to see and order at
the meeting also. Cycling caps are one size fits all. Arm
warmers, wind vests, cycling caps, extra Ride jerseys,
sleeveless jerseys and thermal jackets will need to be
paid for at the time of the order. The deadline to try on,
order and pay for these items will be the night of the
March meeting.
Choice Investments LLC Commercial Travelers Mutual
Insurance Company Inc. Na1onal Grid NYS Correc1ons Emerald Society -­‐ Mid-­‐State Chapter Patricia Electric Inc. Piggy Pat's BBQ Raspberries Café & Creamery Teal's Express The Herkimer County and Oneida County Presidents' Councils of NYSUT's U1ca Regional Office U1ca Mack Truck, Inc. U1ca Truck Sales, Inc. Village Floral
Except for the sleeveless jersey, all or any of these can be
worn on the day of the Ride.
If you have any questions, please contact Cindy at
[email protected] or Kelley at [email protected].
Rider Name Tags
As we will be starting the commitment rides in April, it’s nice to address riders by name. We will, therefore, have
name tags available for all riders to pick up at the commitment rides and at the April RFMC meeting. The name
tags are to be attached to the back of your bike seat with the provided zip ties so a Shepherd or rider behind you
will know you by name. The Shepherds’ names will be printed in orange so you can call the Shepherd by name if
you need their help.
If you have any questions, please contact Cindy at [email protected] or Kelley at [email protected]
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Suggestions for School Participation
The Ride for Missing Children is an awareness/fundraising event for the National Center for Missing & Exploited
Children, New York branch (NCMEC/NY). This signature event supports the operation of our Mohawk Valley office:
community education of child safety issues and the production and distribution of posters of missing children. Over
450 bicyclists will ride approximately 90 miles throughout the Mohawk Valley stopping at pre-selected school “rest
stops” and also riding by many other schools that day. Below are ways that you school can participate in the RFMC,
even if they are not on this year’s route.
Pep Rally - A NCMEC/NY Community Educator or Speakers Bureau member can visit your school to conduct a
Ride Pep Rally. The goal of the pep rally is to raise school spirit about the event, provide safety education, and
support adopted riders affiliated with your school. If a Pep Rally isn’t appropriate for your school, our speakers can
also present short personal safety and bicycle safety programs to any & all age groups, in any size setting from
classroom to assembly.
Spokespeople - Upon a teachers request, a rider would visit your classroom and read to the students. After
reading to the students, the rider(s) will engage the children in a discussion of how to keep themselves safe. On the
day of the RFMC, these children will have a special .connection to ‘their’ rider as we stop at or ride by your school.
Speakers Bureau - We offer a 20 to 30 minute presentation which teaches children
four easy rules to help keep themselves safe. This program varies slightly based on age group but is appropriate for
all grade levels pre-K thru 12. This presentation also includes some history of NCMEC and the mission of The Ride
for Missing Children.
Please NOTE: Schools are not required to fundraise to support this event. However, some schools may decide they
would like to. Following are just a few ideas.
Hang a Bikes (or Bikes for a Buck) - Paper bikes would be made available to purchase at the school’s main office
(or other designated location) for $1. The donor can write their name on the paper bike and hang it up in a
designated location in the building. This is an easy, affordable way for faculty, staff, parents, and even students to
support the event.
Pennies for Posters - Host a school-wide penny drive, or just with selected classrooms. Funds collected may also
support a rider towards their pledge goal. Several schools use ‘Dimes Make a Difference’ for their students and staff
participation. Tags days, pajama days, and hat days are also great fun for the children and lend themselves to
whole school participation.
Strides for the Ride - Get your students moving with a pledge walk to support the Ride for Missing Children. Invite
an adopted rider to be involved.
To learn more, please contact: Wendy Fical , NCMEC/NY/MV Program Director
315-732-7233; [email protected] or Karen LaScala RFMC School Committee, 315-737-5609;
[email protected]
Mirror, Mirror!
Lorrie Tibbits has worked with a vendor on a Custom RFMC Logo Helmet Mirror!
These mirrors normally sell for $29 each; however, RFMC riders can get them for a price of $22 each!
The deadline for orders and payment (cash or check ONLY) is April 1st - this will allow plenty of
time to get them for The Ride!
http://hubbubonline.com/?product=ride-for-missing-children-helmet-mirror-available-612016
Contact Lorrie for the code to get the "special" price. 315-725-8864
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C
C
V
M
MEETING
D A T E S
01/11/2016
02/08/2016
03/14/2016
04/11/2016
05/09/2016
Corporate Benefactor Meeting: 05/23/2016
THE MARCH MEETING IS IN THE
"I.T. Bldg" SHAFER THEATRE.
NEW RIDER MEETING @ 6 PM
REGULAR MEETING AGENDA
STARTS @ 7 PM
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