Conference noted::bicycle

    I did the PMC last year and I'll be doing it this year.  Yes, you can
    apply DEC's matching gifts amount toward the minimum entry pledge.
    Last year I think the minimum was $700, but I've heard it's going up.
    
    It's a great event in many different ways.  Get your pledges in
    early so that you'll be assured of getting a room at Mass Maritime
    Academy.  Last year they had hundreds of people on the gym floor.
    
    Hope to see you there.
    
    Phil

    
    The minimum pledge will be $800 this year and will increase each year
    up to $1000 minimum in '92 (If my memory and math are correct)
    
    Early response does not always mean a room at the inn.  My first year,
    '88, I was number 210, but was assigned to the gym.  Fortunatly,
    friends of mine noticed an empty room that the assignees never showed
    up, so I moved in.  Had a room to myself.
    
    I think they base rooms on alums and if you have friend you would like to
    room with.  
    
    
    Later,
    
    Tim Brightman
    
    PMC '88, '89, ......
    

    Thanks for your inputs.  Ilooking forward to participate. 
    hope to see youo there.
    Bo
    

    I'm new to this area.  What is the PAN MASS event ?

    The Pan Mass Challenge is a two-day, 190+ mile ride, from Sturbridge,
    Mass to Provincetown, on the far end of Cape Cod. This is an immensely
    satisfying event, and the largest single fund raiser for the
    Jimmy Fund and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
    
    This year's event will be held on August 18-19.
    
    	/Harry
    

    Where can one get information about participating in this event?
    

    I recieved a package of 300 registration forms last night to distribute
    to local shops.  
    
    If anyone wants one send me E-mail at MSHRMS::BRIGHTMAN.  If you have
    a problem reply here or call me at 291-9681 (leave a message and your
    mail stop with the secretary if I'm not there.)   
    
    

    THIS IS A FIRST FOR ME, I ALLREADY HAVE 800$'S AND STILL
    LOOKING FOR MORE.
    Glad to see some DEC employees out there with me.
    I'll be on vacation the two weeks before the event and 
    be able to train even more than i do know.
    I do about 20 miles a day right know and on weekends
    do 35+ miles a day.
    
    Can't wait to this, it's for a very good cause.
    
    GOOD LUCK TO YOU ALL
    DAVE     FIRST TIME EVER

    Although the PMC is "only" a month away I thought I would share and ask
    how you raise your $$?  Asking friends and co-workers should be
    obvious, but do you do anything special?  What is your most "interest"
    pledge/sponcer.
    
    My wife and I are riding this year.  My 3rd her 1st.  This past weekend
    we were opening a checking account at the local bank.  SO, I asked if
    the bank would consider sponcering us.  The woman introduced me to a VP
    (who had recently done the Great Mass Get-a-way) who said "..sure, how
    about a dollar a mile! Let's round it to $200."
    
    I've contacted the local papers and got stories done.  Last night
    someone called wanting to send me $25.  My first year my sister
    contacted my hometown paper, who ran a story and brought in a couple
    hundred dollars.  The local reporter I spoke with the other week said
    they are looking for stories this time of year.  No school sports this
    time of year.
    
    I, also, follow this recommendation of the PMC and send out a letter. 
    We will be sending out a letter within a week or so with a
    self-addressed envelope, instead of 2 mailings.  We thinking of having
    a "pledge party" a week or 2 after the ride, so people can bring there
    pledges.
    
    So, how about your ideas.  
    
    
    It's never to late to ask!
    
    
    Tim B
    
    PMC '88, '89, '90 ........

    One other tip.
    
    fill out the matching fund forms and have any co-workers sign them. 
    That way they now that they just doubled their $$ for the Jimmy Fund. 
    And if your are able to raise the $1000 max you still get that little
    bit extra!
    
    TB

    The Pan Mass was run over this past weekend, and my second year was
    every bit as enjoyable as the first. I had a friend (whose mother died
    of cancer five years ago) riding with me this time, and that made it
    even better - I rode alone last year.
    
    We finished around 3:00 on Saturday and a little after noon on Sunday.
    On Sunday I wore my Digital riding jersey and got more than a few
    comments on it.
    
    See everybody there next year!
    
    	/Harry

    The Pan Mass Challenge is a thing of the past, and except for the
    weather, it was a wonderful weekend.  

    Here are some details:

    Saturday:  Left Sturbridge Sheraton at 6:15 a.m.  Arrived Mass Maritime
    Academy, Buzzards Bay, at 4:20 p.m.  My riding partner, Dianne Leblanc
    from WMO, clocked us at 111.5 miles total.  Not counting stopping time,
    we averaged 13 mph.  Not what you'd call fast, but we're slow and
    steady, and we get where we're going.  The weather was HOT HOT HOT!  

    Sunday:  Left Mass Maritime at 5:30 a.m. after being woken up to the
    sound  of Queen blasting "I want to ride my bicycle..."  If it wasn't
    4:15 a.m., it  would have been humerous. Weather was warm and humid. 
    Unfortunately, most of  us dressed for warm, humid weather, and put our
    extra clothes in our bags  which were trucked to Provincetown.  By 8:00
    a.m., the clouds thickened, the  wind picked up, and we started getting
    really cool. There were several  accidents during the first 20 miles. 
    Luckily, it turned out that none of  them were serious.

    The people in the support vehicles began giving out all the extra
    clothes they had, including dirty clothes from Saturday.  Many people
    had arrived at Provincetown Inn, the finish line, before the rain
    started.  But Dianne and I, being the slow and steady riders that we
    are, were still out in Truro.  We were soaked by the time we reached
    the Inn around 1:00 p.m.  Since the ride was pretty hilly we weren't
    completely frozen.  However, if we had  had to stop to change a flat,
    we would have had to worry about hypothermia.   We certainly hadn't
    expected this in the middle of August, but after all  this is New
    England!

    We got to the Provincetown Inn to find out that the ferry had been
    canceled. The organizers of the ride had some fancy footwork to do
    trying to get 1000 of us home!  Somehow they managed to find trucks to
    take our bikes back to either Sturbidge or Boston, and buses to bring
    us home.  I can't imagine how they did this on a Sunday afternoon, but
    this ride is an incredible example of great organization, and it really
    showed here.

    Now comes the tough part - collecting the money.  All in all, it was
    quite a ride! 
    
    Kathy  PMCer '80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 87, 88, 90

    
    This years ride was a little more special, as I was joined by 2 family
    members.  My wife, Loretta, and brother-in-law, Mark Nickerson joined me
    on my 3rd ride.  All riding in memory of my brother Steve.
    
    As stated, the ride started at 6, in a fog (that's the weather not our 
    minds).  It made for quick morning, but by lunch it started to heat up.  
    The last 30 miles were tough.  We arrived at the MMA around 3:30.
    
    Sun we got out at 5:15 and were in Brewster before it started to cool
    off.  By the time we were half way to Wellfleet the wind got pretty
    severe.  Then the ride out by the seashore was a surprize.  We arrived
    together at the P-town Inn around 11:30 were our family was waiting.
    
    If you noticed a little boy at the start yelling "Go, Dad, go!"  That
    was Stephen, my son.  He was, also, at the Franklin W.S., the MMA, the
    Brewster W.S. & at the finish.  Anyway, watch for next year and say
    "hello!"
    
    Tim                                       
    
    PMC '88, '89, '90, ......

    
    PS - On the down side of the weekend.
    
    
    As mentioned, there were accidents, but a couple were serious.  It was
    announced Sat evening at the first presentation that a woman had fallen
    in the first 10 miles of the ride and broken or fractured her pelvis.
    
    Sun morning I overheard a radio-car report that another woman had
    suffered head injuries, but was conscious and talking.  Add I've been
    told a guy suffered a broken collar bone. 
    
    I, also, saw a number of people with severe road rash, one who's arm was
    bandaged from 6" either side of his elbow.  
    

    This was my first PMC bike ride.
    I will do it next year also and keep on doing it after that.
    My first day I finished at 4pm, and sunday at 1pm I was happy
    with this time.
    Sunday I got a surprise when I saw my wife at the finish line,
    that made my day.
    The people you meet on this ride are great and freindly(to bad all
    people aren'tlike this).
    The volunteers where great.
    Hope to see you all next year
    
    Dave