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October 2024 Central Route Newsletter

Happy almost Halloween, Run for the Wall Riders and Greetings from the Central Route!

Route planning continues to be underway.  A few weeks ago we had our first Leadership meeting with all of the Team leads, and also held a meeting with all of our State Coordinators.  In regards to the route, it will look much like last year.  At this time, the only change from 2024 to 2025 will be our overnight on Day 8, Wednesday, May 21, 2025, and we will be overnighting and pulling into Hurricane, WV instead of Nitro, WV.

Run for the Wall stickerDue to it being the 35th Annual Run in May 2025, and the 50th Anniversary of the official end of the Vietnam War, we will be having a special “Vietnam Veterans” platoon.  This platoon will be made up of Vietnam Veterans ONLY. At registration and check-in make sure that you tell our registration team to put you in this special platoon, if you are a Vietnam veteran, and would like to ride in this platoon.  If the US Department of Defense bestowed the Vietnam campaign ribbon to you, you are welcome to request and ride in this platoon.

Register for the 2025 Run now

Everyone is highly encouraged to REGISTER for RFTW in 2025 now.  This helps us make an accurate plan for May.  If you are in Leadership you need to be getting registered now, if not already.  Your registration is your indication to us that you are committing to your volunteer position.  FNGs please also register as early as you can.  We know plans can change.

Register for RFTW 2025

There have been some questions on how to program the GMRS radios.  As promised, How-to Videos have been made, and they are now posted in the RFTW Forum, and on YouTube.

How to Set-up and Program BTECH GMRS Pro Bluetooth Radio with iPhone or Android - Part 1

Program CTCSS Codes on BTECH GMRS Pro Bluetooth Radio without a phone or app. Part 2

How to pair BTECH GMRS Pro Bluetooth Radio to Sena or Cardo for motorcycling. Part 3

The RFTW Forum is BACK and BETTER than ever!

This is where online RFTW discussion should happen.

The new and improved RFTW Forum is up and running.  This is the FIRST place you should go and ask online questions about RFTW, Routes, Discuss, etc.  It is a much better online community  tool to keep topics organized. Facebook groups are great, but topics get lost in long threads. The RFTW Forum should be your first go to.  It’s yours, it’s free, so please go and register and use it.

RFTW Forum

Volunteer forms have been coming in for 2025. I send them to the appropriate crew and team leaders when I get them.  That being said, if you are interested in a volunteer position on Central Route, it’s also OK to reach out to that particular team or crew lead, in addition to sending in a form. Platoon Leaders pick their own APL’s and Tail Gunners (with RC approval). Road Guards, Staging, Fuel, Ambassadors, Outreach, Medical, and Chaplain volunteers are brought on by those team leads, and again approved by the RC. Don’t be discouraged if a team is full, there is a lot of time between now and May. Things always change. Central Route crews & teams are now just starting to be put together for 2025.

I can tell you as of now, I have openings for a Videographer.  Staging is also going to need a few more bodies, as of now, as well.

See you next month. And drop me an email anytime.

Honor and Remember Them All,

Kirk “Pretty Boy” Olson
kirk.olson@rftw.us
RFTW Central Route Coordinator – 2025
Asst. Route Coordinator – 2024
Road Guard Captain – 2023
Asst. Road Guard Captain – 2019
BoD of Directors – 2016-2019
Road Guard 2010-2018
FNG 2009

If you have not seen from previous newsletters by me or the other Route Coordinators from Southern, Midway, and Sandbox, RFTW is moving to GMRS for our on-road communications. This is not as big of a transition for us on Central Route this year in 2025, since we piloted the GMRS radios in 2024, and they worked very well.  My advice to you all is to get the radio now, and learn how to use, pair, and connect them to your helmet speakers or ear drums.  Also, help our friends on Southern, Midway, and Sandbox get theirs set-up and paired. Personally, I use a Sena 50S paired to the radio, and I paired the radio as PHONE 2, to the radio. See Sena directions, on how to do this.

**See this post on Where and What to Buy, and all things GMRS for RFTW.**

Additional GMRS Info

Donate to the RFTW and the Central Route

If you find it within your heart to support Run for the Wall and RFTW Central Route, please consider making a donation.  This will help make  RFTW 2025 and the 35th Annual Run a complete success. Donate Online – Here

You can also Zelle a donation directly to: central.route@rftw.us
*Most banks now support Zelle transfers.

Or mail a check to:
Run for the Wall Inc.
Central Route
50 Fourth Ave Unit 1445
Dayton, NV 89403

Run For The Wall® Inc. EIN 36-4125559
Run For The Wall® is a 501(c)(3) tax deductible organization.