April January - The Ride For Missing Children

JanuaryApril2019THE RIDERIDE2016VolumeVolumeNo.No.2320 IssueIssueNo.No.13National Center for Missing & Exploited Children-NY/Mohawk Valleywww.therideformissingchildren.com06 030401 onday, March 11bbbbRideAnnouncements:CLATOITu’tS NhOeckSEAE E TAprT TgP O il ODEeTAnGdEa6RID’Es!Pag AILSonFOR !!e 4! .HeidiandNo New Rider Meeting for April GuestSpeakerJackKunkel,MSSaraGeneralMonday,April 8 - erformanceMVCCAlumniCollegeCenter - 7:00pmSee Map Page efactorReceptionClosingRemarks- MayDick29JordanbbbbFebruary9th7,2019RIDE DAY– Friday,JuneNextMee1ng["1(]1 )Next Meeting: Monday, April 8 - MVCC Alumni College Center (ACC), 7:00PMbNo New Rider Meeting for April

Next Meeting: Monday, April 8 - MVCC Alumni College Center (ACC), 7:00PMbNo New Rider Meeting for AprilCorporate BenefactorsFrom The Leadership TeamDiamond PlusThe Leadership Team is considering forming a Ride Travel Team. The RideTravel Team would visit schools that we are unable to travel to during ourregular Ride. The Ride Travel Team would ride in the Fall during the weekwhen school is in session. A ride would be 30-50 miles in length and visit oneschool. The terrain would be more challenging than what we experience onour normal Ride. There would be minimal SAG support and riders would beexpected to be able to maintain the ride pace.New York SashPlatinum PlusBirnie Bus ServiceFirst Source Federal Credit UnionPlatinumFastrac MarketGold PlusGoldThe reason for the Ride Travel Team is to spread our message and The Rideexperience to schools and students beyond the boundaries imposed on us bythe dynamics of our normal Ride. We might attempt 2-3 rides this Fall - teammembers would not be expected to attend every ride.SilverIf you think you might be interested in joining the Ride Travel Team contactJim White at:jkrwhite@verizon.net.BME CompanyCarbone Auto GroupSulllivan ContractingNYSCOPBAClinton Tractor & Implement Co.Di Highway Sign & Structure Corp.Dick Sonne’s Cycles, Fitness & SkisMohawk Valley Community CollegeNew York Central Mutual InsuranceNorthland CommunicationsPJ GreenRomanelli AdvertisingTrainor AssociatesBronzeBartell Machinery Systems, L.L.C.Commercial Travelers Insurance CompanyCooley Group, Inc.CoughlinGiambrone, LLCDaniele’s Banquet FacilityGilroy, Kernan & Gilroy InsuranceHoliday InnIndium CorporationJack Kunkel’s Revolutionary WellnessJPJ CommunicationsMaster Planners & Associates, LLCMohawk Limited Luxury RestroomsMohawk Valley Health SystemNew Hartford Shopping CenterNew York State United TeachersOtsego Mutual Fire Insurance CompanyParagon Athletic ClubPatricia Electric Inc.Speedy Awards & EngravingT. C. Peters Printing, Inc.Teal’s ExpressTyPac, IncUpstate HomeCareWal-Mart Distribution CenterAlso, The Five Rides The five Rides, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Utica, and Albany all fall ondifferent dates this year! See the Ride web site for the dates. It is possible fora rider to participate in every Ride. There will be special recognition for thosethat achieve this feat. There is talk of having a special jersey made. Syracuseand Albany have formed teams to take on the challenge. Several Utica ridershave said they will participate.If you are interested contact Jim White at:jkrwhite@verizon.net and we will get a team AVE THE DATE:COME JOIN THE FUN at the1st Annual RFMC Golf Outing!Sunday, July 21st at Crestwood Golf Club, 6315 Rt. 291, Marcy11:00 a.m. Registration – Shotgun start at 12:30 p.m.Captain and crew formatCost of 90 includes golf, cart, lunch, and steak dinner after golfAll proceeds go to the NCMEC Center, 934 York Street, UticaIf interested, contact Larry Woody at 315-527-2473 or at:lwoody5904@aol.com(2)b

Next Meeting: Monday, April 8 - MVCC Alumni College Center (ACC), 7:00PMTHE JOURNEY OF 100 MILES BEGINS WITHA SINGLE PEDAL STROKEBy The New Crew Team.gusty april windscast the blossoms aloft –I pedal on petals.bNo New Rider Meeting for AprilContributorsA&P Master ImagesBonide Foundation, Inc.Central Valley Teachers’ AssociationChain Reaction: Mobile Bicycle RepairServicesChobani Greek YogurtChoice Investments LLCDelta Lake InnExcelus BlueCross BlueShieldIt’s April. The fog’s just lifting, the suns on your shoulders. As a bit of light frostHeritage Health Care Centerburns off, you place your foot on the pedal and push You’re rolling now, you and a hundred or so others, past farm fields just turningRaspberries Café and Creamerygreen. Trees and shrubs, budding and flowering. Goldfinches bob and danceRome Teachers Associationacross your path, the calls of red-winged blackbirds fill the air, peepers are trillingRyder Transportationin spring pools.Oneida County Presidents’ CouncilsYou warm up, the line of bicycles straightens out, and soon you can see throughof NYSUT’s Utica Regional Officethe middle all the way up to the pace shepherds. You spot and call out “HOLE!”Utica Mack Truck, Inc.and the call of pair after pair of fellow riders, passing the information back, echoesUtica Truck Sales, Inc.in your ears. The group moves and reacts as one, in tune with one another. FlowVillage Floraling smoothly, basking in the sunshine and good feelings.The Ride’s “The Show” but the Orientation Rides are our sweet, solitary time towork on our game. Get stronger and more competent. Here is where we get to know each other and get familiar with WHY weride and how to prepare for the emotional impact of the ride.It’s also time for our annual NEW CREW HAIKU contest.As you ride along note what you observe along the way. NOW DON’T GET CARRIED AWAY – EYES FRONT, BE AWARE OFTHOSE RIDING AROUND YOU! Observe our group, the way we mingle with, and roll by, the natural features along our route.What birds and animals did we see? What weather did we encounter?Then, during a break in the action, pull out your Moleskine Sakura (the Japanese word for cherry blossom) Edition pocketnotebook out and scribble these moments down. After the ride compose your observations into a 17 syllable – typically 5-7-5 haiku and enter our contest.They can be sublime or poignant.the songs of peepersswelling louder; then silence spring rain on my capWhimsical, or “LOUD”.valley road spillwayspokes and chains; mists on water –“ROUGH ROAD!” “ROAD KILL!” “HOLE!”Work with what works for you. We’ll have prizes for the top three entries, and we have a lot of fun sharing our poems with eachother along the way.It’s April. See you in the saddle.(3)b

Next Meeting: Monday, April 8 - MVCC Alumni College Center (ACC), 7:00PMbNo New Rider Meeting for AprilAgenda: Monday, April 8, 2019(No New Rider Meeting)7:00pm - RFMC General Meeting - MVCC Alumni College CenterSee Map Page 6!Introduction:National Anthem:Sponsor Spotlight:Welcome:Ride Announcements:Why I Ride:Why We Ride:From The Beginning:Chip HemmelBob Schmeltzer on the Echoharp!Jim WhiteChip HemmelChip HemmelMicky LucasWendy Fical & Ed SukDick Jordan bNewsletter Staff and Photographic ContributorsStaff: Wendy Fical, Karina Belyea, Amanda Mondrick-Robertello, De Anna Stafford, & Gary PlunkettPhotographic Contributors: Katie Reilly, Kathy Daniels, Stacy Rejman, Sandy Foley,Nedra Isenberg, & Gary Plunkett(4)

Next Meeting: Monday, April 8 - MVCC Alumni College Center (ACC), 7:00PMHeidi AllenbNo New Rider Meeting for AprilOn April 3, 1994, Heidi M. Allen went to work at the D & W ConvenienceStore located in New Haven, New York with anticipation of Easter Dinnerlater in the day. At 7:42 a.m. she logged her last transaction.On April 3, 2019, Heidi’s family faces the twenty-fifth anniversary of lifewithout Heidi’s smile and joy-filled personality. Two men were arrested forher kidnapping and presumption of death, one acquitted and one served atwenty-five to life sentence until his death in August of 2018. Despite twoarrests and decades of prayer, Heidi remains missing. Her family holdsfast to their faith, hope, and knowing people like you are the shadows oftheir loved ones. Never forgotten.Let me tell you a snip-it about Heidi you may not know. Heidi was a seniorat Onondaga Community College, set to graduate in May 1994 with multiple job offers for after graduation. Neither happened because she waskidnapped while working alone. She didn’t cross the stage and receive herdegree or make it to the follow-up interviews. Instead of helping childrenknow they were important, and someone cared about them, she vanishedwithout a trace and twenty-five years later her NCMEC poster is howmany remember her.Heidi’s sister and family have attended our RFMC for more than a decadeand consider us a support system, their friends, and most importantly,their family. The RFMC is so much more than a bicycle ride or fundraiserto the families of the missing. While both are true, these aren’t the reasons families of missing and exploited children attend and support theride. Instead, it’s the love, compassion, dedication, selflessness, friendships, and hope found through the RFMC community and family.You might train to ride your bicycle two by two for one-hundred miles andraise funds for posters and educational programming BUT the families,the families see you as encouragers, a hero, and the reminder that goodoutweighs the evil in this world. You are silhouettes of hope for their lovedones, hope for them personally, and most importantly, hope for the futureof tomorrow.Children are safer because of the educational programming and yourvisits to schools. Children are being recovered because of the posters youhelped to fund. Families have hope because of your selfless love and dedication. Thank you for remembering the missing, the exploited and theirfamilies. Ride day is more than a bicycle ride it’s a family reunion filledwith tears, laughter, more tears, and HOPE!It only takes one person to make one call to bring one child home families of the missing never give up and find strength through individuals likeyou, involved with the Ride for Missing Children.Thank you for helping to make our children safer.one child at a time.(5)b

Next Meeting: Monday, April 8 - MVCC Alumni College Center (ACC), 7:00PMbNo New Rider Meeting for AprilA Message for Our VolunteersHello Volunteers!!! A mandatory volunteer meeting for ALL new volunteers and returning volunteers will be held Wednesday, May 15 at 6:00 PM in Room 116 of the MVCC Alumni College Center. This will be an informative meeting about whatour responsibilities as volunteers concerning the day of the Ride. Volunteers will also meet with the person in charge of theCommittee you are signed up for. Questions will be welcomed. Attendance will be taken!!If you have a conflict with this date and time, please email: Diane Cromp - dcromp43@gmail.comCLARIFICATION on photo IDs: If you will be volunteering to assist at commitment rides or at the closing ceremonies youwill not need a photo ID. Photo ID’s are for those who volunteer on the Day of the Ride and will be participating at Troop D,Oneida and at the school sites throughout the day of the Ride.Any questions regarding Volunteer ID photos please contact: Janice Lutz - bgms4786@yahoo.comIf you have any questions regarding volunteering or volunteer positions for the Ride, please contact Diane Cromp above.We would like to thank all our volunteers for being such an integral part of our Mission:“Making Our Children Safer.One Child at a Time”bDon’t Wait to Register to Ride!!Rider l %2Fevents%2FEventReg%2FEventReg SelectType.aspx%3FfEID%3D70549%26fNew%3D1Volunteer l %2Fevents%2FEventOverview.aspx%3FfEID%3D71499&z 1546217409742bPlease note: It is NOT mandatory for you to donate to register as a volunteer!blIf you are a Corporate Sponsor, please contact Jim White for the additional instructions that you will need for your registration:jkrwhite@verizon.netlIf you are a Family Rider, please contact De Anna Stafford for the additional instructions that you will need for your registration:destay4rd@gmail.comCCVMb(6)

From The Leadership Team The Leadership Team is considering forming a Ride Travel Team. The Ride Travel Team would visit schools that we are unable to travel to during our regular Ride. The Ride Travel Team would ride in the Fall during the week when school is in session. A