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<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
color:blue'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Ladies and Gentlemen,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>There have been lots of questions asked about Snowball
Express and I thought I’d try and answer some of them for you here so
that everybody has the same information.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>For folks coming in from out of town – There are no
special discount plans at any of the hotels available to us for this
event. For hotel, meals, etc., we are all on our own. The hotels
that Snowball Express will be using are all in the downtown Dallas area if
anyone is interested in those but we will have to shop deals individually.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Cagers – You are not being forgotten in all of
this. There will be plenty for you to do. For example – on
December 9 when all of the airport arrivals are occurring, it would be
fantastic if cagers could be at the various hotels wearing all your PGR gear to
greet the kids when the busses arrive and welcome them to Dallas. They
will have already had a long day and seeing those smiling faces ready to help
them out will, I’m sure, be a welcome sight. That’s 9
different hotels so there will be plenty of opportunities to participate.
And that’s just one example. There will be plenty for everybody to
do. There will be sign-up for this.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Bad weather – First of all, don’t even think
about it. Secondly, we will just have to make calls on that as we
go. The events will proceed regardless of the weather, this much we
know. We will not, however, expose ourselves to a situation that will
jeopardize our mission or the safety of the riders or those we will be
escorting. Best advice is to bring your wet weather gear and your cold
weather gear. Semper Gumby.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Note: Some of our riding will be after dark.
Reflective clothing is always a good idea. We have reflective belts for
sale in our store and they have a memorial patch affixed to them in memory of
our friend and fellow PGR member Gary Maddux, who was killed in an accident at
night on his way home after a mission last April 1. We do not have a rule
requiring reflective clothing, but…<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Questions have been asked about how the riders will know
where to go, who to report to, etc. Soon there will be a sign-up
mechanism whereby the riders can choose their preferences on which hotel to
report to for the escorts, what times they are available for the airport
escorts, etc. We did a test run on this with some of the ride captains
over the weekend and it seemed to work out pretty well. We’re still
working out some of the bugs. There will be a ride captain with every
escort. Depending on availability, we may be using some ride captains
from other regions as well. This sign-up mechanism also allows for you to
go back into it and alter your original choices but there will be a cut off
time, probably 24-48 hours prior to the event, where everything will be locked
in and you can make no further changes. Then, if one location needs
people we can move some folks around. The riders and cagers will get to
choose where they want to go unless we get to the point where something
isn’t covered…then we’ll be forced to shuffle things.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Law enforcement help – Snowball Express has been
promised all the LEO help it needs from the Dallas Police Department. The
Dallas PD has been magnificent with helping the PGR each and every time we have
needed it, without exception. That being said, moving 3-4 busses each
from 9 different hotels, all at the same time, is going to require a lot of personnel.
I doubt that they will be able to completely shut down highways, etc.
That means we will be navigating through Dallas traffic, even though
escorted. Be prepared for this. We will, in all likelihood, be
travelling with other vehicles in the lanes right next to us and sometimes at
highway speeds.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Other safety – There are going to be special rules for
this series of missions. This is necessary for the safety of the
kids. There will be no Ft. Hood here if anybody can help it. No
idiot trying to blow up a skyscraper. Remember that these are all kids
who have lost a military parent since 9-11. ‘Nuff said on
that. Access to the kids and where they are going and what they are doing
will be limited. Snowball Express has its own security and credentials
are required to go places and do things. This is a fact of life.
Nobody is trying to be mean to anybody. The kids have to be accounted for
at all times. Access to the kids has to be controlled. Pedophiles
have to be kept out. Criminals have to be kept out. You get the
picture. If you are wearing your PGR gear and are in a place where PGR is
supposed to be then you will at least be recognized as someone associated with
Snowball Express and not someone from the general public snooping around.
If you’re cruising a hotel lobby at midnight in your PGR gear without any
other kind of credentials you might be seen as being out of place and
questioned by someone. The Snowball Express people are very excited that
the PGR is participating and we have been met with smiles and open arms at
every step along the way. They are devoted to the safety of the kids and
family members and I, for one, am glad that they are and support them
fully. I know you do as well. I know PGR folks. I know
you’ll be looking out for the welfare of these kids, too. They are
our extended family and there will be kids and other family members present who
we will recognize from standing tall and silent at the services for the family
member that they lost. We want them to be safe and happy and carefree on
our watch and I know we can be good partners with Snowball Express and whatever
security measures they put in place.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>There are volunteer opportunities with Snowball
Express. I do not know the extent of these opportunities or what the
availability is for these events. All I know is how to access the
process. If you are interested in volunteering, you go to the Snowball
Express web site, <a href="http://www.snowballexpress.org">www.snowballexpress.org</a>
and register as a volunteer. There is a text box that allows you to tell
them what you’re interested in. They will get back with you and if
it works out you will have to submit to a background check. This is
because you will be working with children. The background check
information is submitted on line and will cost you $7.50. Whether or not
you are subject to having your background checked is entirely up to Snowball
Express. We’re just making this information available to you.
None of the information will be shared with us.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>That’s all for now. More and more will be coming
as we get things nailed down.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Ride Captains – we will be needing you very much
during these days. You are going to be contacted soon on all of this so
please make yourselves as available as you possibly can. Your experience
and expertise in really going to come into play.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Thanks everyone.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Steve Lucas<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
color:blue'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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