Greetings Midway Family!
I am so excited that we will finally be back together in Ontario soon and will once again be riding for our RFTW mission. We have adapted and overcome so many challenges and had to make several changes on our route. To this day, we continue to face challenges that we must overcome. I am confident that our Midway team will be ready, and we will have a great 2022 mission. Much to cover in this newsletter so please bear with me.
We have had several, unexpected, last-minute cancellations from several leadership and support people. Positions that have opened up include Platoon leadership positions (particularly tail gunners), staging team, road guards, outreach, ambassadors and promotion team members. If you are interested in stepping up to volunteer for a leadership or support position, please email me at ken.dugas@rftw.us and we can discuss the position of interest and need. I will then direct you to the right point of contact. Our team leaders would appreciate the help!
I have scheduled an open forum Midway Zoom meeting for Tuesday May 3rd at 19:00 central time. The main purpose of this meeting is to discuss riding expectations, procedures, concerns, morning meetings, welcome FNGs and do our best to answer any questions. The link to join the Zoom meeting is below:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84148438127?pwd=TGNNR0dMREN0ellSTG1COEQ0aVhzUT09
Meeting ID: 841 4843 8127
Passcode: 918155
One tap mobile
+13126266799,,84148438127#,,,,*918155# US (Chicago)
A couple of new things for Midway this year:
We will have a “Missing Man Honor Mat”. This mat will have a clear pouch for you to place a bio and/or picture of the person you are riding for. It will be placed on the ground in the position of the “Missing Man” at every stop we make. The intent is to help people have a better understanding of the “Missing Man” formation of the “Lead Element” and emphasize its meaning and importance of our mission.
If you are interested in riding a leg in the “Missing Man” formation for someone, please contact our Missing Man Coordinator, Sue “Odds” Chapin at sjandrew1992@gmail.com.
Midway will have a flag presented to us in Ontario to take to the “Wall”. I would like for FNGs to participate with this by having a different FNG carry the flag every leg of our route. I want FNGs to feel welcomed and a part of our family and mission. This “flag to the wall” will be coordinated by our Honor Guard Coordinator, Ray “Cornman” Cornmesser. If you would like to participate, please contact “Cornman” at cornman88@hotmail.com. Anyone can participate but FNGs will be given priority.
Some good news to share, with our continued efforts to fund raise and some generous donors, Midway fuel cost should not be a factor for you not coming. I cannot say that all fuel will be paid for like in the past, however, the high cost of fuel will not be a factor for our route. You will have help with the fuel cost. However, please make sure you bring extra money if you can so that you can support our raffles, 50/50 and auctions. Every day you have chances to win something! These fundraisers during the route help to support our riders, hosts, children in Milan and Falcon and our mission. Your participation is always appreciated.
Finally, please go to rftw.us website. Under “run details” tab, you will find the emergency information form. I would encourage you to download the form, complete it, and make two copies of it. One will be for wearing around your neck and the other is good to have in your bike. This is something you can do before you get to Ontario. It is good information for you to have with you during your ride out to Ontario and will be one less thing you need to do in Ontario. Also, many of you have registered but did not complete the on-line waiver form. This form is also on the website under “run details” then “RFTW Registration”. If you have not completed the waiver, please do so ASAP. If you are not sure, it will not hurt to do so again.
I look forward to seeing all of you soon! Safe travels.
Have I told you lately?………I love my Midway family!
Honor, Hope & Healing
Ken ” Six String” Dugas
Midway Route Coordinator
