Important Fundraising Information:

• The minimum pledge of $400 is due on May 19

• May 19 is also the deadline to turn in pledges to earn fundraising prizes for pick-up at the 2009 Awards Parties. The Houston office is located at 8111 N. Stadium Drive, Ste. 100, near Reliant Stadium.

• Top fundraisers aiming for 2010 Priority Registration (raise >$1,000), Tour of Champions, or Club 300, can continue fundraising until July 31. Applications for fundraising awards may also be completed online until July 31.

• If you did NOT pick up a Rider Packet, you will not be held responsible for the $400 pledge, but we would really appreciate your continued support to the cause.

• If you picked up your packet but did NOT ride on Sunday due to the change in event plans, the only way to get out of the $400 fundraising obligation is to mail your packet back to the MS Society (at a minimum with your bib number and wrist band).  AND if you let TeamShell know you've returned your packet, you will be spared from receiving pestering e-mails to fulfill your $400 pledge.

• If multiple riders raised funds together under only one rider's account, please submit an e-mail to the MS Society specifying how to disburse funds to the multiple accounts.  At the end of the day, if a rider's account does not show a balance of $400 or more, they will be considered as delinquent by both the MS Society and Team Shell.  This does not apply to individuals who meet the "withdrawal" criteria specified above.

• On May 12, Team Shell achieved the team fundraising goal of $300,000 and donations are still coming in. Team Shell is in sixth place overall. Thanks to all our riders and their supporters for contributing to this most worthy cause. Checks received can be turned into the MS Society Houston Office (8111 N. Stadium Drive - MAP) or mailed (if you want credit by May 19, they should be mailed several days earlier) with a  Pledge Form to:
  BP MS 150
  National MS Society
  P.O. Box 4125
  Houston, TX 77210

Congratulations Team Shell for an incident-free 2009 MS150 and thank you for your continued commitment to the cause despite the adverse conditions we faced on Friday and Saturday.  The feeling of accomplishment and elation that everyone displayed on arrival into Austin was indeed the biggest gift you could have given our dedicated organizers and volunteers.  Thank you for that.

Approximately 75% of our riders made the journey to Austin. Nonetheless, our most sincere apologies go out to our remaining teammates who were unable to join in the experience due to last-minute alterations to event logistics.  We feel your disappointment but are comforted by the fact that the MS Society made the right decision to cancel Day 1 for the right reason - the safety of everyone involved (you can see for yourself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZA0lJj-i2Cw).

We would like to close by saying "thank you" to our wonderful volunteers for the heartfelt support you've given us throughout the season.  To you we owe our deepest appreciation and gratitude.

PS - in the next few days, we will e-mail you a brief online survey to help us identify areas for future improvement.  Please be on the look for it.

Be safe!

Afif and Pat

  TEAM SHELL 2008