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September 2005 - Posts
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Happy Friday everyone!
Well it's the day for the big event and I don't know about you, but
I am getting really excited. It looks like we are going to have great
weather and the BBQ will be plentiful under the Valero Tent tomorrow
night. Our very own Chef Fausto flew in from Port Arthur last night
just to be with us! He has been helping with hurricane relief at our
refineries in both New Orleans and Beaumont for the past month. So be
sure to give him a big hug and thanks when you see him and all of the
volunteers at the Valero tent.
Speaking of volunteers. I am not sure if you are all aware, but
there are many, many people who help to make the Velo Valero team
possible. Please be sure to say
"Thank you" to everyone serving
food, cooking, coordinating massage, driving shuttles, picking up your
luggage,etc. ALL of these folks volunteer their weekend to help us out
and we could not pull it off without them! Additionally, be sure to
look for the Velo Valero Board Members (their T-shirts have Board
Member across the back). They have all been my right and left arms
throughout the season. I am eternally grateful for all of their
leadership, creative ideas and endless hours of time. Please also thank
them for all they do for the team.
Next, I wanted to say a few words about good sportmanship. One of the things that the Valero team really prides itself in is team spirit and camaraderie, both toward our fellow team members and our teammates from the other corporate teams.
Although we are all feeling a little 'bummed out' about losing our spot
in the start line, I wanted to remind everyone that the most important
reason that we ride is to raise money to find a cure for MS. So
although we got beat in the lineup, the MS Society ultimately benefits
from the friendly competition that arises between the teams. So please
be sure to congratulate the SBC team and give them your loudest Valero
"holler" when they come up to the front of the line. Please make me
proud by being supportive of our fellow teammates!!!
Along the ride, if you see fellow team members, please be sure to
lend a helping hand or check to see if they need anything. Remember
that our SAG support will be available by calling the number on your
phone cards. If you see MS SAG support, use that first. But if you have
been waiting a while and no one is coming, feel free to call Valero
transport services.
Remember to get to the SBC center EARLY tomorrow….it's going to be
crazy!! Our trucks will be marked with Valero signs, so just look out
for it and drop your bags there!
FINALLY, I still have 2 MEDIUM size jerseys and just got 3 LARGE
shorts…if anyone wants to claim them, call my cell phone: (210)
379-1061.
See you in the morning!!
Laura
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Hello Velo Valero!
4 days to go…..so just a few final reminders…..
Valero team packets pick up
We have some special goodies to give everyone including a team
T-shirt and socks and wristbands for your meals. We will be
distributing these at lunch time on Friday at the Valero cafeteria
from 11:30 am - 1:00pm AND at the Rider Expo at the Clarion Hotel on
Friday from 4 - 7pm. We will have a table at the Expo …just look for us!
***For those of you in San Antonio, we will be stuffing packets on
Wednesday after work….5-7 pm. WE are looking for volunteers to
help...If you are interested, please call me! We will meet in room
F1-101.
Team Apparel Pick UP
If you still have not picked up your jerseys and/or shorts, we wil
have them at the Expo along with the packet pick ups. OR you can call
Stan Lear at (210) 345-4228. We shipped all of the shirts that
requested shipment, with the exception of those in Hurricane Rita
zones…..so please give me call if you have any questions about this.
For those of you who made the last minute order, they will arrive on
Thursday.
Bicycle Inspection
Don't forget to have your bikes inspected this week and get your
stickers on your bikes! While you are at the bike shop, be sure to
stock up on tubes, CO2 and GU!
Transportation back to SA on Sunday
Don't forget, we have a limited
number of seats for the free transportation back to SA on Sunday. If
you are not registered, you will not have a ride back to SA. If you
have NOT already done so, please go to the following link and complete
the form to guarantee your seat:
http://secure.valero.com/apps/corp/NSurvey/survey.aspx?surveyid=11
Massage Therapy
We will have a group of 10
certified massage therapists on site to provide 20-minute massages for
$20. Please go online to reserve your spot! OR you can sign up on a
first come first serve basis once your get to our tent. Go to the same
link as above to register your choice of time:
http://secure.valero.com/apps/corp/NSurvey/survey.aspx?surveyid=11
Wayne Campbell Tribute
In your rider packet, you will find sticker that says "Share the
Road" in memory of Wayne Campbell. We ask that you wear this on your
helmet for the weekend as a way to pay tribute to a fellow rider from
SA who lost his life while on a training ride preparing for this year's
MS 150.
Finish Line Staging
Last year a small group of us (About 20) met at the last rest stop
and came across the finish line together. It was a lot of fun to finish
as a team and it makes a great photo!
This year, we have had a request from former team captain Terry
Glaser to try to do this in larger numbers. I thought it was a great
idea, so what we are proposing is that we all plan to meet at the last
rest stop and wait for each other. We will have 8 group meeting times:
11:30 am, 12 noon, 12:30 pm, 1:00pm, 1:30 pm, 2:00 pm. 2:30 pm and 3
pm. So if you are interested in participating, simply wait at the rest
stop until the designated meeting time. Then proceed as a group to the
finish. We will have our TRANSPORT vehicles staged there in case anyone
needs to sit in the air conditioning while you wait.
Guide to everything you need to know for the weekend
I spent some time this weekend, typing up a step by step guide "how
to" guide for the weekend with answers to hopefully all of your
logistical questions. Ths will be included in your packet. You can
also download a copy by clicking here.
Cell Phone TIP for Emergencies
Based on a suggestion from our star Board Member Stan Lear, I am
re-running this information with the hopes that you program your cell
phones for this weekend.
Did you know that Paramedics will turn to a victim's cell phone for
clues to that person's identity? You can make their job much easier
with a simple idea that they are trying to get everyone to adopt: ICE.
ICE
stands for In Case of Emergency. If you add an entry in the contacts
list in your cell phone under ICE, with the name and phone no.of the
person that the emergency services should call on your behalf, you can
save them a lot of time and have your loved ones contacted quickly. It
only takes a few moments of your time to do.
Paramedics know what ICE means and they look for it immediately. ICE your cell phone NOW!
Please pass this one along!
That's it for now. See you on Friday Night at the Expo or on Saturday morning at the ride start!
Laura J. Vaccaro, Captain, Team Velo Valero
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Good morning Velo Valero!
Hope you have had a great week! One more week and we will be on our way to the beach! Our planning is all coming together and its going to be the best event yet!
This week's training ride
Just wanted to share information about THIS week's training ride. We will meet at Judson High School at 7:00….WHEELS DOWN AT 7:30 am…..
There are three mileage options…..50 miles, 70 miles and 90 miles.
The map is on the website, but we will bring copies. Please choose your
route according to your training schedule. I again, urge you to do as
many miles as you feel you can…push yourself up 10 miles from your last
week's ride. This is a very FLAT ride…..nothing like last weekend. It
will be very similar to what you will experience next weekend.
If we do get the rain showers that the weather forecast is calling for, we will meet on SUNDAY instead… Same time . Same place.
For those of you who are
interested in another training option for the weekend, here is another
great fundraising ride you might want to participate in:
Ride to Save you Hide- TOMORROW!! Saturday, Sept 24th (See details below) Another
fun training ride that occurs tomorrow is called the Ride to Save your
Hide. It is a great training ride...(lots of hills) and it benefits the
American Cancer Society. If you are interested, see details below. Click on this link to register: http://www.bikereg.com/races/register.asp?EventID=2621
Team Apparel Pick Up
What about our jerseys you ask? They
arrived on Wednesday and for those of you who asked for them to be
mailed…they went out in yesterday's mail…2 day UPS. So you should be
receiving them any time. For those of you who asked to pick them up,
there are 3 options:
IN TOWN RIDERS: We will have a pick up on Monday 9/26 from 11:30 am - 1 :00 pm in the Valero cafeteria. WE need volunteers to help with this is anyone is available. Please call Stan Lear at 345-2448 if you might be available at 11:00 am to help set up and distribute.
OUT OF TOWN RIDERS: I will be at the
Clarion Hotel on Friday night. I will have a table there so look for
me. My cell is (210) 379-1061 in the event you cannot find me.
THIRD OPTION: Call me an make special arrangements to pick up at your convenience.
Team Velo Valero Packets
Finally, we have organized some nice Velo Valero packets for all
team members. Unfortunately I am still awaiting the arrival of some of
its contents. So, we will have distribution here at Valero at lunchtime
on Friday 9/30 at the cafeteria. I will also have them on Friday at the
Clarion and on Saturday under the tent.
That's it for now. Don’t forget to sign up for your massage therapy
and transportation on our website. You will also be able to register
for massage thereapy on site.
See you Saturday! (or Sunday...)
- Laura
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| Last Minute News About the MS 150
The Jerseys are Coming! The Jerseys are Coming! |
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| San Antonio, TX - September 20, 2005 |
Hello everyone -
I wanted to take a few minutes to answer a few questions that everyone has been asking this week.
When is the Team Apparel Order arriving?
Our team jerseys and shorts were shipped today from California. We anticipate they will arrive on Friday. We will begin distributing on Monday.
For Valero employees, we are going to set up a table by the cafeteria
on Monday (9/26) for pick ups. Out of towners, we will mail them to
you. Everyone else, we will follow the directions you put on the order.
If you indicated that you wanted them shipped, we will. Otherwise, we
will call you for pick up.
For those of you who were placing orders today, please mail payment
to me ASAP. Write checks or money orders to Laura Vaccaro. Mail to:
Laura Vaccaro, Valero Energy, One Valero Way, MS F1E, San Antonio, TX
78249.
Will I get volunteer hours for the ride?
Valero employees are eligible for 36 hours of volunteer service as a
participant it the MS 150. Following the ride, I will submit the names
of all team members from our roster who have met their fundraising
requirement.
How do I sign up for transportation from Corpus Christi to San Antonio?
If you plan to use the Valero provided
transportation from Corpus Christi to San Antonio, I need you to please
complete the following form:
http://secure.valero.com/apps/corp/NSurvey/survey.aspx?surveyid=11 This link will ask you the questions and your answers will sign you up for services accordingly.
Please note this form is both for transportation and massage therapy. Please only fill it out once.
How do I sign up for massage therapy?
We will have 10 massage therapists this year to serve the ever
growing team Velo Valero on Saturday afternoon and evening. The massage
tent will open at 12 noon and run until 7 pm. What I would like to do
this year, is have a schedule in advance so we don't have to wait in a
line outside of the tent to get a massage. Massages will be scheduled
in 30 minute increments….You will get a 20-25 minute massage for a $20 cash donation. Don't forget to bring cash $$!
Please click on the following link to reserve your spot now. We will
have 10 slots every 30 minutes. We will schedule you on a first come
first served basis. So be sure to list your 1st, 2nd and 3rd choice for
times on the form. Don't forget you are riding 90 miles this year…you
can estimate what time you will be finished and then leave time for
your shower.
Please note this form is both for transportation and massage therapy. Please only fill it out once.
http://secure.valero.com/apps/corp/NSurvey/survey.aspx?surveyid=11
How can I check to see if I am registered with the Valero team and what my fundraising total is?
Thanks to the handywork of our very talented
Peter Ray, webmaster extraordinaire, we now have our own link on the
website for checking the team roster and fundraising. Simply click on
the following link to check your status:
http://www.velovalero.com/MS150/teamRoster
What time does the ride start?
Official start time for Saturday is 7:00 am and for Sunday is 7:30 am pending the status of the fog in Beeville.
Velo Valero goody bags pick up
The Board and I are preparing some goody bags for all Velo Valero
team members to include your team T-shirt, socks, meal wrist bands,
spirit items and guest tickets. We will be distributing these to Valero
employees next week. Date to be announced. We will distribute to all
other team members both on Friday evening at the Bike Expo at the
Clarion Hotel and at the tent on Saturday evening. Dinner will be on 5
pm on Saturday. We have some fun music and slides show entertainment,
so please plan to join us Saturday evening under the Valero Tent.
- Laura |
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Hello Velo Valerians !
Hope you have had a great week. Just a reminder about our training ride for this weekend.
We will be meeting at Gruene Hall. Wheels down at 7:30 am. We will have 3 mileage options this weekend 26, 46 and 70 miles. I will bring copies of the maps!
I know you are all sick of my preaching, but I am
going to do it anyway. At this point in your training, mileage is of
utmost importance. I would strongly urge you to consider the 70 mile
ride option this weekend. We are only 2 weeks away from Bike to the
Beach. YIKES!!! And remember, Day 1 of BTTB is over 90 miles
this year. If you have not done at least a couple of 70 or 80 mile
rides, those last 10-20 miles are going to hurt because they are mostly
UP hill. So if you have been riding 50-60 miles, it's time to "kick it
up a notch" and go for 70! That's the end of my speech. : } Not so bad, huh?
Directions are below. I promise they are accurate this week.
Please note that maps are available on our website under Upcoming Rides. Click on this link to go directly there: http://www.velovalero.com/UpcomingRides/#Official
Directions to Gruene Hall:
- Take I-35 N toward New Braunfels
- Exit 189 - Rueckle Road (Route 46/Loop 337)
- Take LEFT to go under highway and go WEST on 46 for ~ 1.7 miles
- Make a RIGHT onto River Crest Drive (Follow signs for Gruene Historic District) - Follow for 1 block
- Take a LEFT on Gruene Road
- We will meet at the public parking lot on RIGHT across from Gruene Hall (Please park at rear of lot so we do not block customers from parking)
Or if you understand maps, here is a map that we "borrowed" from the Tour de Gruene website:
http://www.velovalero.com/NR/rdonlyres/60893F4D-45F8-43ED-82AB-0D42B792A876/2363/mapToGruene.pdf
See you Saturday!
- Laura
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Hello Velo Valero!
Hope you had a great weekend! We are little less than 3 weeks away
from the "Big Weekend." There are a few things to add to your "to do"
list if you have not already done so.
THINGS 'TO DO' FOR MS 150 BIKE TO THE BEACH 2005:
(1) REGISTER
This past weekend, I was reviewing our team roster
through the MS Society Website and I did not see all of your names
there. I have attached the roster current as of today. Please review
it. If you do not see your name on there, this means that the MS
Society either does not have your registration OR they do have you
registered, but do not show your affiliation with team Velo Valero. All
you need to do is call Tony Ralf at the MS Society ((210) 494-5531, ext 4222) and let him know you will be riding with Velo Valero or you can e-mail him at: tralf@nmsslonestar.org.
(2) BIKE INSPECTION
The MS Society requires that all riders have their bikes inspected
PRIOR to the ride. They will be checking for your inspection stickers
at the start line. This is a simple process and does not cost anything.
But it will save you some money. If your bike is inspected prior to the
ride and you have issues on the road, the bike shop will help you with
your repair at no or a discounted cost. The following is a list of San
Antonio and other bike shops outside of SA (note they are in red) All
of these shops are affiliated MS 150 Bike shops and can help you with
inspections and maintenance needs.
Bay Area Bicycles (CC) 361-993-7000
Bicycle Heaven (SA) 210-494-0035
Bike City (SA) 210-308-0812
Bike World (SA - Broadway) 210-828-5558
Bike World (SA - Blanco) 210-344-2303
Britton's Bicycle Shop SA - I-281N) 210-656-1655
Britton's Bicycle Shop (Boerne)830-816-2305
Charles A. James Bicycle Co. (SA) 210-226-7812
Cycle Logic Bike Shop (SA) 210-490-8251
Joe's Pro Bikes (SA) 210-698-8747
Northwest Cyclery (HOU) 713-466-1240
Pedal Power Bicycles (San Marcos) 512-396-7433
Planet Bike (SA) 210-682-2050
Ride Away Bicycles (SA - I-10W) 210-696-9925
Ride Away Bicycles (SA - Culebra)210-520-4789
Southwest Schwinn (HOU) 713-777-5333
Sun & Ski Sports (SA) 210-494-0429
(3) PACKET PICK UP
We had an on-site packet pick up last week
here at Valero. If you were not able to make it, no problem. There are
several other options this week and next. Please click on the following
link for details regarding when and where. There is one TONITE at the
County Line on IH-10 and Wurzbach 5-8 pm. Out of towners, remember that
your packet pick up will be at the Clarion Hotel on Friday, Sept 30th. (It's the last packet pick up listed on the link)
http://biketothebeach.ms150.org/btb/packet_pickup.asp
(4) START PACKING YOUR THINGS TO BRING
I have had several questions about what types of things you might
need to bring with you for the 2-day trip. We certainly encourage you
to pack light as we will limit all riders to 2-3 bags. These are the
most critical items you will needs to have a safe/comfortable trip:
Stuff to pack on your Bike
- Helmet (required)
- Identification (Driver's license)
- Medical Insurance information
- Sunglasses
- Emergency cash or debit card
- Tire pump or CO2 cartridges
- Tire levers
- Inner tube patch kit
- Spare tire tubes
(You should always have 2 extras, I would recommend bringing 4)
- Car keys
- Water bottles or Camelback container
- Nutrition bars/Goo packs
- Wet weather gear (A large plastic garbage bag also works great!)
- Bike to beach rider number
- Bike to beach bike number
- Medications
- Garbage bag
Stuff for overnight
- Two duffel bags (wrap items in garbage sacks/zip lock bags to keep them dry if rain occurs)
- Plastic bag to cover your seat overnight
- Tent (if sleeping outside)
- Hammer for tent pegs
- Foam or air mattress/air pump
- Sleeping bag or sheet and blanket
- Pillow
- Towel(s) for shower
- Soap, shampoo, toothbrush, tooth paste and other toiletries
- Casual clothes for Saturday evening and Sunday ride home
- Casual shoes/sandals
- Bike clothes for Sunday ride (Valero jersey)
- Medications
- Flashlight
- Nutrition bars
- Electrolyte drink mix
- Mosquito repellant
- Sun screen
- Butt Butter (chamois cream)
I think this is about it…..Just as a
reminder, just about all the answers to your questions are located on
the MS 150 website. Here are some...
Useful Links to Prepare for the Bike Tour
Electronic Donations Link
Request Online Donations Summary
Packet Pick-Up Schedule
Waiver Form
Pledge Form
Bike Tour Route Map
Interactive Topographical Map
Bus Schedule
Training Opportunities
Take care!
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Hello again!
Last e-mail for today…(I promise!)
Just a reminder that for San Antonio team members, we are having our packet pick up tomorrow here at Valero.
Valero Employee Team members can pick up their packets between 5 - 6 pm. Don't forget your signed waiver form and minimum donation!
Non-Valero Employee Team members, your pick up will be from 6:00 - 8:00 pm. Please use the SOUTH
Parking garage - The path from the parking lot will be well marked and
will direct you to our cafeteria. The South Garage is the first
driveway on your RIGHT if you are coming from UTSA Blvd. If you are
coming from the 1604 Access Road, it is the 1st driveway to the LEFT.
Out of Town Team Members - Packet pick up will be held on Friday night at the Clarion Hotel.
NOTE: If you cannot make the Valero packet pick up, you have three options:
(1) Have a friend pick up your packet for you. However, they MUST bring your signed waiver of release form and money with them in order to pick up your packet. You can print the release form from this link: http://biketothebeach.ms150.org/btb/forms/waiver_form.pdf
(2) Attend one of the other packet pick ups. There
are several scheduled packet pick ups throughout San Antonio. Click on
the following link for a detailed list of pick up sites. http://biketothebeach.ms150.org/btb/packet_pickup.asp
(3) Drop off your signed form and $ to me. I will pick up your packet for you.
Please let me know what questions you have.
Laura : }
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