LWA Members, 

Here we are in Mid-November and we are just a little under a month away from nominating and voting in our 2021 LWA Directors and Officers. (please note: this year's election of officers will be completed by online voting)

Nominations are still be accepted.  Please reach out to Mike Solliday (msolliday@gmail.com) Jack Helffrich (jackhelffrich@hotmail.com) Kathy Zapotachi (retocki@ptd.net) or myself. 

Below is the list of candidates:  

President - Rich Ferrara

 LWA Members,

WOW, I can't believe it's been three years since I've been elected.  I am proud to be the  President of USA Cycling 2019 Club of the Year Division III, LWA. 

Time flies, right? Since the day I accepted the challenge, life has changed. We've seen changes in rides and life due to COVID-19 and changes in our membership.  Yes, we've gained members, and lost members over the years. Our membership continues to be a major challenge, with 1,860 Meetup Members, yet actual LWA Club membership hoovers around 360.  This tells me we have potential to grow our membership. I've got ideas, but I have no time left as President. That's right, my time has come, three years and done. 

Along the way, I've worked with some terrific LWA Volunteers, our Past President & Treasurer, Dave Sheffield, Past VP of Touring, Jim Fullerton and current VP of Touring, Kathy Crampton; Past VP of Racing, Glenn Davis; Secretary, Christine Penn and past Secretary Kathy Crampton; Directors, Bert Mukkulainen, Rich Ferrera, Bruce Kantor, Dick McCreight and past director, Carl Zvanut; Membership, Richard Baldock and Rob Smith, Webmaster, Dave Drummer; and past Newsletter Editor Jean Black.  Hats off to all Ride Leaders for leading the rides over the past three years and to all of the Club Members, for just being you, showing up for rides, volunteering and joing in on the Grill N Chills.  Yes, life has changed!   

This brings me to "Presidental Election Time", not only for US President but for LWA Club Membership.  First, I'd like to announce the Nomination Committee: Jack Helffrich (jackhelffrich@hotmail.com), Mike Solliday(msolliday@gmail.com) and Kathie Zapotocki (retocki@ptd.net) and myself, Roberta Kates (heybert@ptd.net). 

LWA Members,

As of July 1, 2020, Face Coverings (masks) are Now Required when outdoors in PA.  This is by Order of the Secretary of Pennsylvania Department of Health.

Over the PA yellow to green phase, we have heard the comments from many Ride Leaders and Riders, "it is entirely too hard to maintain the six feet distance when cycling."  With this in mind, and with the new order from PA, please wear a mask or have one handy, if you are unable to consistently maintain a distance of six feet from individuals who are not members of your household.

Please be safe, wearing a mask not only protects you, wearing a mask protects those members riding in the Group Ride.  (Again, please try to maintain social distancing at 6 feet,or more when possible; otherwise wear a Mask)

Below is the link if you wish to read the entire PA order, otherwise see Page 3, Section 2 A.

Hello LWA Members, 

I hope everyone is doing well and enjoying the beautiful weather. With the beautiful weather, means more rides.  With that being said, Governor Tom Wolf has announced that PA is moving to the “Green Phase” on Friday, June 26th. With this announcement, LWA Board has met and agreed to increase our Group Ride limit from six riders to ten riders.  

With the change of the group ride limit to ten, LWA is still waving the “caution flag” and asks members to continue to follow the guidelines below.  I remind you, COVID-19 hasn't disappeared.  Please follow the guides for both You and for Your Riding Friends' safety!  

The following guidelines for LWA group rides are in effect June 26, 2020. When a ride is posted on Meetup, please be familiar with the following ride guidelines, which Ride Leaders are asked to include on Meetup posts:

LWA GREEN PHASE Group Ride Guidelines.
 * All riders must be free of any COVID related symptoms for the past 14 days.  If you are feeling sick, please do not ride, stay at home!
  * No more than 10 riders per group. Day-of ride walk-ons will not be permitted - you must RSVP through MeetUp to reserve your spot. 
 * Social Distancing is required. Masks/face coverings must be carried with you at all times and used when within 6 feet of other riders.  (e.g., in the parking lot, at rest stops, if stopped to help with repairs.)
 * Side by side riding must remain 6 feet apart, if it is safe to do so. 
 * Riders should stay 20 feet or more behind the rider in front (about 4 bike lengths). We realize this may be hard to do, but please do your best. No pacelines!
 * If you must sneeze, cough, blow your nose, etc., safely reposition yourself to ensure that no one is in your slipstream.
 * Rides are to be posted with staggered start times. 
 * No two rides should leave from the same location, at the same time using the same route. 
 * No Monday Night Group Rides.
 * No Grill n Chills until further notice. 

With these guides in place, we hope to prevent the spread of COVID-19 to our members.  It's all about common sense and safety! Please practice common courtesy toward your fellow riders. Thank you for your patience while we continue to work our way through these unusual circumstances.  We will continue to monitor the situation and will make further changes as needed.

Hello LWA Members, 

Today is the day! That's right, in PA we move from "Red - Stay at Home" to "Yellow - Caution" phase.  With this change, there are some changes to our ride experience in the Yellow phase.  Caution is the word, and I remind you, COVID-19 hasn't disappeared.  Under yellow, use the precautions as listed below.  At the end of the day, we want members to stay safe.  Please follow the guides for both You and for Your Riding Friends' safety!  

The following guidelines for LWA group rides are in effect June 5, 2020. When a ride is posted on Meetup, please be familiar with the following ride guidelines, which Ride Leaders are asked to include on Meetup posts:

LWA YELLOW PHASE Group Ride Guidelines.

USA Cycling posted the following two pdf's below, please take a few minutes and read over the Group Riding Recommendations and Team/Club Guidelines. Along with USA Cycling recommendations,  we also will be following the guidelines set by each county.  Our rides often range from Berks, Bucks, Carbon, Lehigh, Northampton and Montgomery counties. 

LWA Board of Directors will be using these considerations and will post an update by June 5th - when PA will change from red to yellow phase.

Group RIding Recommendations - 

https://s3.amazonaws.com/craft-prod-assets/documents/COVID-19-Event-Resources/Cycling-Group-Ride-COVID-19-Recommendations-21May20.pdf

Although USA Cycling will be lifting the ban on Group Cycling on May 31st, we need to remember, Lehigh Valley and surrounding cycling counties are still in the red phase, which is under a Stay at Home Order through June 4th. Counties in the red phase are expected to move to yellow by June 5 at 12:01 a.m.

With this update, the LWA NO RIDE POLICY is still in effect through June 4th.  Currently the LWA Board of Directors are dillegently working on developing a "Back to Group Riding Plan" - please watch for updates which will be posted on Meetup and on the LWA Website prior to June 5th. We also plan to hold a Virtual Ride Leaders meeting prior to June 5th.  Please watch Meet-Up for details. 

Until then, please stay safe and ride solo.  

Roberta Kates

LWA President

Hello LWA Members,