Greetings, friends.

The 80th Tour of Somerville will be held on Memorial Day.  Check out the website: https://tourofsomerville.com/

It’s America’s longest running bike race.  Lots of fun stuff for kids and grown up kids.  Lots of good places to eat in Somerville and a local brewery as well.

Lots of fun to watch and also some volunteer slots that still need to be filled.

Info about volunteer slots is at https://buff.ly/udBy9jI,

I have signed up to volunteer and encourage others to do likewise.

MAFW will have a tent in front of Pop’s Bike Shop, 34 E. Main St., Somerville where we will be promoting the club and the Ramble.  Stop by and say hi.

Have fun; stay safe.

Michael

Greetings, friends.

Many kudos to Manny Coehlo for being the club’s Ride Coordinator for many years.  It’s hard to express my gratitude for Manny’s outstanding management of this position and he has done an exemplary job.  To me, Manny represents the epitome of a ride leader.

That being said, the club is looking for someone to take Manny’s place as Ride Coordinator.  The tasks involved in this position include:

1. Set example for ride leaders by leading rides and leading rides following MAFW rules.  Be an ambassador for the club when leading a ride.
2. Support Board decisions.
3. Encourage members to be ride leaders by occasionally sending out emails soliciting ride leaders.
4. Help members become ride leaders once they decide to become a ride leader. Start by telling them how to post a ride and to read the ride leader handbook.
5. When requested, put in new start points.
6. For fall and spring picnics, milestone party, kickoff event and other special rides put in a schedule of rides from the library or create tours with the cue sheet committee.
7. Occasionally deal with requests from ride leaders for changes in their ride with respect to pace, time and date.
8. Support cue sheet committee to create new tours.
9. Answer questions from members about MAFW.
10. Promote non-MAFW cycle events by putting them on the MAFW calendar and sending out emails making members aware of these special rides.
11. Make ride leaders aware of road closures when notified by members.
12. Serve as a member of the MAFW Board and attend Board meetings.
13. At end of year determine which ride leaders have earned ride leader award.  Buy the gift cards and distribute them.
14. Occasionally remind ride leaders to close out their rides. Need to verify all rides are closed out at end of calendar year.
15. Send out ride coordinator updates on a variety of topics to members or ride leaders. Topics can include when to switch from Colonial Park Lot C to Howe Athletic Field.  See “Read the Latest Announcements” for examples.
16. Support the Revolutionary Ramble.

Manny will provide all of the necessary information and training needed by the new volunteer(s).

The Board is willing to consider having several members volunteer for this position and rotate among themselves on a periodic basis.  Interested parties can contact me at president@mafw.org.

Thanks for your attention.

Best, 

Michael

Greetings, friends.

Based on the weather forecast the spring picnic on 5/17 is canceled.  We don’t want to risk spending money on food that won’t be eaten.

Each ride leader will decide whether to cancel rides depending on the weather.  Keep an eye on the ride schedule for updates.

Have fun; stay safe!

Michael

 

Greetings, friends.

On May 29, 2025 from 7-9 PM there will be a virtual membership meeting with some of the Club’s Board members.  The purpose of the meeting is twofold:

1. To begin a regular dialog between the Board and the membership so that the Board is better able to meet the needs and preferences of the membership
2. To give members an opportunity to provide suggestions for improving the Club and the services it provides including ideas for new services and education.  The zoom link for the meeting is: 

https://zoom.us/j/98292310258?pwd=dEZhRHdmWFZKMVpwYTQyakFTVGFIdz09

To make the meeting as productive as possible, I encourage you to email questions and comments, in advance of the meeting, to president@mafw.org.

On another note, as a follow up to my most recent communication regarding the need for Ramble volunteers some of you may have contacts in local organizations, such as schools, churches, Scouts, etc., for possible volunteers and they sometimes need community service hours.  Please consider reaching out to them as we still need (70) volunteers, mostly for RVCC Site Management, Food Services, and Rest Stops.

Have fun; stay safe.

Michael

 

 

Greetings, friends.

I know you’ve received an inordinate amount of requests to volunteer for the Ramble so I’ll be brief.  

We are 4 weeks away from the Ramble.  We have lots of volunteer slots open which means if  we don’t get volunteers ASAP it will be time to consider cancelling the event which will cost the Freewheeler Foundation a LOT of money.  It also would mean that the club loses out on $3000 of proceeds from the Ramble.

This situation also causes me to wonder if the Ramble has become an unsustainable event.

Please volunteer.  It’s only a few hours of your time one day out of the year.  The club is counting on YOU.

Best regards,

Michael

 

Greetings, Friends.

You can now sign up for great rides for the picnic on Saturday, 5/17.   Click the calendar link on the website so we can get a head count in addition to signing up for a ride.

Ride Leaders for the C+/B and B/B rides are needed. 

The club will provide supplies, beverages, and yummy sloppy Joe’s

If your last name starts with A-H, please bring a dessert

If your last name starts with I-Q please bring an appetizer

If you last name starts with R-Z please bring a salad

If you don’t know what letter your last name starts with,  please bring 12 of each of the above.

We need a few volunteers to help with set up and clean up.  Contact John Storey to volunteer, social@mafw.org.  You’d probably need to arrive at Pickell Park around 10:30 but John will provide details.

No other club rides will be allowed on 5/17 as per a vote of the majority of the Board.  Here is the rationale:

We want to maximize our efforts to deliver the best possible experience to the largest number of members. The more we accomplish in promoting these programs and touting our successes of social media, it will serve as the best possible recruitment tool to attract new members. 

Having said that, at last night’s Board meeting we began to discuss reconsidering not allowing other rides to be posted on days the club runs special events and this discussion will continue at next month’s Board meeting.

Looking forward to seeing you for some great rides, great food, and great friends.

Best regards,

Michael

Greetings, friends.

The Club’s spring picnic will be on May 17, 2025.  You can sign up for rides on the Club’s website.

The Club will provide beverages and assorted sandwiches.  We are asking that members to contribute as follows:

If you last name starts with A through H, please bring a dessert

If you last name starts with I thorough Q please bring an appetizer

If your last name starts with R through Z, please bring a salad.

Looking forward to seeing you at the picnic!

Have fun; stay safe.

Michael

Greetings, friends.

I am sad to tell you that Mario’s brother, Joseph Pompeo, has passed away.  I know that Mario has many friends in the club.  The funeral is this Friday and details can be found at:

https://www.vpfh.com/obituary/Joseph-Pompeo#:~:text=6%20Trees%2C%20Flowers,Brunswick%2C%20NJ%2008901

Sincerely,

Michael Chenkin

Inspection and rides will go as planned tomorrow but post ride party is postponed. Sign up ASAP so we can give Trek a head count.