9/22/2020: FOR ALL MAF RIDERS AND RIDE LEADERS

To all MAF RIDERS AND RIDE LEADERS,                       9/22/2020

If you sign up for a ride please cancel if you change your mind by 9pm the night before the ride and not the morning of the ride.  You know by then if you are doing the ride.  This gives enough time for someone else to sign up.  This is a courtesy for riders and ride leaders. 

Please be considerate and do not be a no-show!!!

Stay safe and ride safe,

Ride Coordinator

Manny

OCTOBER 1st DEADLINE FOR NOMINATING PETITION FOR 2021- 2022 CLUB DIRECTORS & OFFICERS

Morris Area Freewheelers

2020 Biennial Meeting

Agenda

 

Welcome- Andrew Stroukoff, Pres.

Ride Program – Manny Coehlo, Ride Coordinator

Web Master—Jon Eiseman

Safety – Liz Jennison for Amy Horn, Safety Coordinator

Membership – Liz Jennison for Marv Schwinder, Membership & Marketing Coordinator

Social —Liz Jennison for Mary Conrad-Social Coordinator

MAFF/Ramble—Carl Wheeldon

Financials- Michael Swearingen, Treasurer

ELECTION – Michael Swearingen Nominating Committee Chair/Meet the Candidates

Question & Answers—Open to All

Reflections – Andrew Stroukoff, Pres.

Looking Forward – Dr. Liz Jennison, President-elect

Our MAFW Biennial Membership Meeting will take place (virtually) at 7 pm on this Thursday, November 19th.  We will use the GoToMeeting platform, with information on the log in below.

You can log in via a PC, tablet or phone (web) or dial in via phone.  However, if you are just dialed in via your phone, you will NOT be able to see the slides, and you will NOT be able to vote for the Board of Directors candidates.

To use the GoToMeeting, simply click on the link below.  If using an iOS device, you will need to download the GoToMeeting app.  If you are using a PC, the Chrome browser is recommended, and you can log in just via the browser (not needing to download the desktop app).  You can also just dial in via phone to hear the audio, but again, you will NOT see the slides or be able to vote for the Board of Director candidates.

The ELECTION, will take place during the meeting, via a voting link that will be in the CHAT function during the GoToMeeting.  You MUST also be logged in to the MAFW website in order to vote.  If your computer remembers you as logged in, this will happen automatically.  If not, you can log in at the time of the election.

Here is the meeting link and information:

MAFW Biennial Membership Meeting
Thu, Nov 19, 2020 7:00 PM – 8:15 PM (EST)

Please join my meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.

https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/602956845

You can also dial in using your phone.
(For supported devices, tap a one-touch number below to join instantly.)

United States: +1 (872) 240-3212
– One-touch: tel:+18722403212,,602956845#

Access Code: 602-956-845

New to GoToMeeting? Get the app now and be ready when your first meeting starts: https://global.gotomeeting.com/install/602956845

Here’s a link to the PowerPoint Presentation: https://1drv.ms/p/s!Ald-CVJO5cvu4RJvvwS6MNtHqCkE?e=SJ1wgJ

Looking forward to “seeing” you this Thursday.

Andrew Stroukoff

The 2020 MAF Nominating Committee has submitted a slate of Officers and Directors to serve on the board for the upcoming two-year term of 2021 – 2022. The club members who served on this committee were Xue Li, Arnie Cohen, Cliff Axelson, Amy Horn and Michael Swearingen.

Additional candidates may be nominated by petition, with a minimum of twenty five (25) signatures of valid Club members. Nominating petitions must be submitted to the Treasurer (in lieu of the Secretary), Michael Swearingen no later than October 1st in order for them to be validated and published on the Club web site no later than October 15. Michael may be reached at treasurer@mafw.org, or 201-400-1864.

MAF Nominations for Officers & Directors from 1-1-2021 through 12-31-22 (* = Incumbent)

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

President: Liz Jennison

Vice President: Steve Lindner

Treasurer: Merritt Peterson

Secretary: Paul Malinowski

Ride Coordinator: Manny Coelho*

DIRECTORS

Social Coordinator: Mary Conrad*

Membership Coordinator: Marv Schwinder*

Safety Coordinator: Drew Thraen

IT Coordinator: Jon Eiseman*

Web Content Manager: Pete Nevins*

Communications/Marketing Coordinator: Tracy Brown*

Newsletter Editor: Pat Kipp*

MAFW Bike Adventures Coordinator: Mark Jay*

Steve Bach: In Remembrance

Steve Bach: In Remembrance

Steve’s arrangements are as follows. Visitation this Friday, Sept.18,  9-10:30A with service @ 10:30A at Leonardis Funeral Home, 210 Ridgedale Ave in Florham Park.  The burial will take place directly after the service. Please visit this link for everything: https://www.leonardismemorialhome.com/obituary/Steve-Bach

Steve passed away yesterday (Sept.15th) evening. Additional information will be posted. 

I am so saddened to have to report that we have lost another comrade in cycling. Steve Bach collapsed while riding last week, and despite the many heroic and valiant efforts by his friends, fellow riders, and EMTs, Steve was not able to survive the trauma  and on Tuesday, Sept 15th,  surrounded by his loving family, fellow club member Steve Bach passed away. 

During my years with the MAFW, I have had the opportunity to ride with Steve on many occasions.  His passion for cycling, exhibited by so many of our club members, is what has kept me riding with the MAFW.  Steve was one of the best…he will be missed by all.

As more information about services and opportunities to express your feelings about Steve to his wife Fran and his family becomes available, I will send it along.

RIP Steve

Andrew Stroukoff

9/8/2020: FOR ALL MAF RIDERS AND RIDE LEADERS

To all MAF RIDERS AND RIDE LEADERS,                       9/8/2020

On our website when you log in please review the “Temporary Ride Guidelines.”  We are still limiting rides to 10 riders and rides at same starting point need to be spaced by 15 minutes.  These guidelines were put in for the safety of our riders and their families.  A few reminders and requests:

  • Don’t show up for a ride unless you have signed up.  No guests.
  • If ride is full you will be put on a waiting list and will be notified if someone cancels.
  • If you sign up for a ride please cancel if you change your mind and please cancel with enough time to give someone else a chance to sign up.  That means the night before a day ride. 
  • If you sign up for a ride at a certain time please stay with that time and please don’t jump to another time.  This may result with rides over the 10 rider limit.
  • Oldwick General Store (Gourmet Deli and Grill) is open.  They have tables outside and the usual outside sitting area for us. In addition to pastries, coffee, etc.  they now sell pizza, etc by the slice. It is pricey but they were pricey all along.  In the opinion of bikewithmario with the outside sitting area, rest rooms, cleanliness, quality of food, etc.  it is one of our best stopping places.  Check it out!!!
  • Thanks to Glen and the MAF Cue Sheet Team we now have rides in our library for the Lake George area.  There are 5 starting points and all start with LG.
  • Any questions on how to work the new website or on the temporary Covid guidelines check the website when you log in.  Always remember selecting the Freewheeler Logo top center brings you back to start of the website.
  • Recently I received some information on chip sealing and other road hazards and closures. These include Long Hill in Great Swamp and Back Brook Rd. For a thorough list of road closures and hazards check out “Road Closures/Hazards” maintained by Tony Marchand under “Rides”.  Also if there is an * next to a rides name on the schedule that indicates a road closure.
  • Finally, if you want to become a ride leader to help out the club please contact me.

Stay safe and ride safe,

Ride Coordinator

Manny

Club Election, Nominating Committee and Volunteers

As some of you have heard by now, my wife and I are retiring from our careers of 42 years and plan to move out of state to be closer to family.  It feels like no time at all has passed since you allowed me to serve your interests as Vice President, Ride Coordinator, and now President of MAF.  I thank you all for that opportunity.

I’m not leaving yet!  I’ll be here for a few more months.  But it is that time again to pick a new slate of Officers and Directors.

MAF, like most non-profit organizations, is a strictly volunteer operation.  Without your participation our Club cannot function at the high level we have come to expect.  We need your help to keep improving the experience for us all.

What we are asking right now is who among you is ready to step forward and volunteer your time, your effort, and most particularly, your opinions to move our Club forward.

Except for the positions of President, Ride Coordinator, Treasurer, and Website Designer, most of the positions do not require an undue amount of time, just a passion to serve.  And, as I have learned, almost all of you have an opinion to offer and a passion for cycling.

While many of the Directors are willing to continue their service in their same capacity there will be some key vacancies, especially among the Officer positions.  These include Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary.  The Director position of Safety Coordinator will also need to be filled.

A description of the Duties of the Officers and Directors can be found on pages 6 and 7 in our current Bylaws on the Club’s website.  Here is the link:

https://mafw.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/BYLAWS-Nov-28-2018-FINAL-form-1.pdf

The nominating process:

Step 1 is to find who is interested in volunteering.

Step 2 is forming a Nominating Committee comprised of three individual Club members as well as two current board members.

Step 3 is the Nominating Committee will field a slate of candidates.

Step 4 is to hold the election in November, as per the Bylaws.

I have appointed the Club Treasurer, Michael Swearingen, as Chairman of the Nominating Committee. We are in the process of identifying the other required Committee members.  So please, if you have any interest in volunteering for the Club, you can email or text Michael as soon as possible.  We need your responses no later than Friday, September 4th to give the Nominating Committee time to develop a complete slate of candidates.

Contact info for Michael is:         

Email:  treasurer@mafw.org     Mobile Phone:  201.400.1864

While I am excited for my move to South Carolina, I have enjoyed my time with MAF immensely.  I will miss you all, but I am sure you will be in good hands.  Many thanks to you all.

In the meantime, see you on the road.

Andrew Stroukoff

8/24/2020: FOR ALL MAF RIDERS AND RIDE LEADERS

  • Since reopening June 15 I am pleased to report that we have had over 346 rides compared to 287 rides for same time period last year and I want to thank the ride leaders who have led these rides.  Many of you have stepped up to be new ride leaders and if you want to become a ride leader let me know.  Please continue to follow the Covid guidelines outlined under “Temporary Ride Guidelines” on the website.
  • A reminder again that if you sign up for a ride and decide you can’t make it please cancel yourself from the ride and please don’t wait 30 mins before a ride.  This allows others to join the ride.  Jon Eiseman has set up a waiting list if a ride is full.  If a ride is full and you cancel from that ride the first person on the waiting list gets to ride. 
  • Please be sure to update your profile.  After logging in hover over “Logged in your name” and select ‘Edit My Profile’.  It is important we have emergency contact numbers as well as your personal cell phone.  If you don’t put that information in it forces the ride leader to ask for that info at the start of the ride.
  • Any questions on how to work the new website or on the temporary Covid guidelines check the website when you log in.  Always remember selecting the Freewheeler logo top center brings you back to start of the website.
  • Recently I received some information on chip sealing I want to share with you.  Usually after a road is chip sealed I was told it is OK to ride on after 3-4 days.  For a thorough list of road closures and hazards check out “Road Closures/Hazards” maintained by Tony Marchand under “Rides”.  Also if there is an * next to a rides name on the schedule that indicates a road closure.
    • Started 8/18 and may be OK now: Meyersville, Woodland, Miller between Green Village and Pleasantville, Blue Mill between Spring Valley and James St (affecting your section from Red Gate to Dickson’s Mill).
    • Starting 8/31 weather permitting: Please be advised that the Township of East Amwell will chip seal the following roads: • Back Brook Road • Boss Road • Garboski Road • Iron Horse Drive • Melbourne Lane
    • Station Road Bridge Construction North Branch: Do not attempt to cross this construction.  We tried yesterday and it is dangerous.  Use Readington Rd as a detour to Station Rd and then Miller.  Adds 3 miles.

Stay safe and ride safe,

Ride Coordinator

Manny

7/16/2020: FOR ALL MAF RIDERS AND RIDE LEADERS

ALL MAF RIDERS AND RIDE LEADERS,                       7/16/2020

The day before a ride please verify starting time and location of your ride.  Also verify hours before a ride that it was not cancelled due to weather.  This weekend due to heat some of the rides are starting earlier than originally posted.  Both Bed 1 rides on Sat are starting earlier.  Also Sam’s Sunday ride was changed from Limecrest to Goodale because we have an agreement on weekends and holidays not to use Limecrest.

If you have a friend who wants to ride with MAFW please have them register as a member so they can officially sign up on line for a ride.  

For Tues and Thurs night rides I want to make clear you are not locked into Bed 1 and Loantaka as starting points.  RLs should feel free to experiment.

Be sure to bring a mask and sanitizer on all rides and be sure to hydrate.  It is up to you to wear the mask while riding but is necessary at rest stops, especially if you enter the store.

Ride safe,

Manny

7/13/2020: FOR ALL MAF RIDERS AND RIDE LEADERS

To all MAF RIDERS AND RIDE LEADERS,                       7/13/2020

  • Since reopening June 15 I am pleased to report that we have had over 100 rides and I want to thank the ride leaders who have led these rides.  The more ride leaders we have the more rides that can be posted.  I ask all ride leaders to continue to post rides and if you want to become a ride leader let me know.  To get the ride leader award you only need to post 10 rides and you have until Oct 1.  Never too late!!!
  • On another note if you sign up for a ride and decide you can’t make it please cancel yourself from the ride and please don’t wait 30 mins before a ride to cancel.  Jon Eiseman has set up a waiting list if a ride is full.  If a ride is full and you cancel from that ride the first person on the waiting list gets to ride.  If you are on a waiting list for one ride and join another ride please cancel yourself from the waiting list.
  • I led a ride yesterday that was full at 10 and only 7 riders showed up.  This is very unfair to those who wanted to do my ride.
  • Last week the Board voted to maintain 10 riders per ride but allowed riders to sign up 30 mins before a ride and allowed rides to be within 15 mins at same start point.  These ride guidelines were decided on by the Board to protect all riders and others during this COVID-19 pandemic.  The Board will be constantly revisiting these guidelines.
  • One way to get around the limit that has worked this past weekend is to post multiple rides from the same starting point 15 mins apart but we need ride leaders to do this.  I led a C ride at 8:30am and Maddy led a B ride at 8:45am ride from Summer Rd, both doing same ride.  There were 3 D+ rides out of Kittatinny doing the same cue but 15 mins apart.
  • Please be sure to update your profile.  After logging in hover over “Logged in your name” and select Edit My Profile.
  • Any questions on how to work the new website or on the temporary Covid guidelines check the website when you log in.  Always remember selecting the Freewheeler logo top center brings you back to start of the website.

Stay safe,

Ride Coordinator

Manny

June 16th: RL Update

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