Happy New Year on behalf of the Rides Committee. As you can see, we have some new Lieutenants joining the ranks. I am proud to welcome Patti Rindge our B* lieutenant, pleased as punch to have Diane McNally fill the job of B lieutenant, thrilled to have Laura Van Riper bring her organizing skills to the job of C* lieutenant, and grateful to Renate Kulnik who is willing to give us at least 6 months of help with the D category. A hardy thanks to Cyndi Steiner, Joe Prebish and Claudia Dukeshire for remaining on another Year as lieutenants in their categories. Please oblige them all when they make a request for help with Monthly coordinating or leading a ride.

We have a dedicated group of core leaders but we always need more so if you haven't led a ride yet, make 2010 the Year to get involved. You'll get the respect of fellow members and it's good to see things from the leaders perspective. You can earn a cool Jersey or one Years free membership if you garner 10 points.

We had 2,050 led rides during our 2009 riding season. Plus the dozens of rides led out at the Rally and the Bergen Bike Tour. I've received Hundreds of completed sign in sheets. And we certainly had a lot of cyclist on the roads this Year. Many of our rides have co-leaders, so we have a lot of leader points to go around. Our point system is as follows:

• Lead or co-lead a ride = 1 point
• Monthly Coordinator = 2 points/ Month
• Ride Lieutenant = 10 points
• Board Member = 10 points
• Tour leader - weekend trip = 5 points
• Tour leader- weeklong trip = 10 points
• Leading a ride for the Rally or BCBT = 1 point

For the 2009 riding season, we have just over 100 members eligible for a ride leader jersey or credit toward a Year's membership. Sue Flaxman has agreed to once again take on the gargantuan job of sending out a mass e-mail to all those members with 10 + points as well as, take your jersey size and style orders or membership credit. The Award List will be published in the February Masterlink and we expect to have the jersey's ready for distribution at the April general meeting.

~ 2009 Rides Captain Tracy Cicatelli