Polar Bear Grand Tour
2023-2024

An update from Jim Conway
Sunday, July 23, 2023
To: ALL

Subject: Announcements, rules and ride schedule for 2023-2024 Riding Season

I hope everyone is having a great summer and you are ready to see your Polar Bear friends again.

I want to thank Gary Rosen, Alex Meller and Joan Roselli. Joan has been the Flight B Leader for many years and she has moved to South Carolina. Gary and Alex have been performing the quartermaster duties for the last couple of years. Gary and Alex did a great job bringing back the PBGT tees and sweatshirts last season. It was a monumental job working with the production companies trying to reorganize coming out of COVID restrictions.

Steve Obermeier and Rob Schanbacher have agreed to pick up the torch as our new quartermasters for the upcoming season. We will be ordering PBGT tees and sweatshirts on the special order basis this season and will try to have them ready for O'Connors on December 10, 2023. I have also asked Steve to come up with some ideas for bringing back the PBGT flags and other memorabilia.

1. Due to some confusion at the event sites, we will be changing the sign-in times to 12:00 (noon) until 1:30pm.
2. We will be eliminating the split of the members into Flight A and Flight B. All members will be included on just one list. This may be a little slower in the beginning until we figure out what works best for the staff. We ARE NOT bringing back the sign-in books yet, so we will continue to use the expedited sign-in procedures.
3. We will continue the "selfie" rule that everyone seems to like. Rule 06 permits the members to use the "selfie" rule just three times.
4. The extra points ride this season is the Dawn Patrol Labor Day Run on September 3, 2023. You can earn 2 points plus mileage to and from the starting point.

Since Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve and Easter Day are all on Sundays this year, we decided to eliminate one stop so that we can finish before the weather gets too warm. See the schedule so that you get enough chances for the coveted 60 point pins. You will note a new stop on March 3, 2024. Special thanks to Sal and Charlie for identifying the Buck Hill Brewery to replace Pub 199. While Pub 199 was a nice location, they were Cash ONLY and did not have coffee or water which became an issue for some members.

Lastly, I would be remiss if I didn't mention that we could always use a couple more volunteers so that we don't burn out the existing staff. If you think you would like to volunteer, please contact me and let me know what you would like to help with. Except for the Flight Leaders, the staff members work on their own schedule and time-line.

And don't forget to give me your email address so you can stay up-to-date on any changes going on.

All my best,

Jim Conway
1 Northumberland Drive
Toms River, NJ 08757
Emall:PBGT2020@gmail.com