Hello, Everyone –
Can you believe it is December already? The RFTW 2018 planning process is moving along smoothly and all route hotel lists will be ready for publishing after the start of the new year.

Hotel arrangements in Ontario, CA are being finalized by our California State Coordinator, Carol Olmstead, and Arlington, VA, hotels are being wrapped up by John Staub. To find these hotel listings please check at: www.rftw.us on the route hubs on Jan. 1, 2018. Once again, please be patient when dealing with hotel employees, this includes when making reservations, and also during the check-in and check-out process in May. All these hotels are the product of years of hard work and relationship building, and we do not want to lose them. Remember, we treat everyone we encounter WITH RESPECT!

As you prepare for May: One way to enhance rider safety training—in addition to all-important riding courses—is to read motorcycle safety articles. One very good place to find these safety articles is the American Motorcyclist magazine. The November issue contained information from a congressionally mandated “Motorcycle Crash Causation Study.” That study found that, “Traffic scanning errors by the drivers of other vehicles contributed to 70% of motorcycle crashes!” Another causation was, “Only 8% of riders who crashed had taken a course for experienced riders.”

Moreover, findings encourage regular training, “It is especially important to recognize that periodic re-training and advanced courses can help refresh your knowledge and skills, and provide new information and techniques that were not available when you took your basic riding course.” This mission is very different from what you may be familiar with, so sign-up for one of these courses and ride with confidence during our 30th Annual Run For The Wall.  MSF and Ride-Like-A-Pro, are a good places to start.

On another note, I am pleased to announce the Hurricane Harvey fund drive has met and exceeded its goal. Many thanks to our ridership and a generous Oklahoma donor for your kindness towards a very important effort. Meetings will be held in Houston to assess labor needs during the third week of December. Once these assessments are concluded, dates will be set for the work to begin. Watch for more details in my January message.
On behalf of the Board of Directors, Connie and I want to wish you all a Merry Christmas, a Happy Hanukkah, and very Happy New Year to everyone.

Is it May yet?

Les “Easy” Williams
President
Run for the Wall Board of Directors