In 2008, Randonneurs USA will have a new, more streamlined process for members to receive the ACP brevet medals for brevets of 200km, 300km, 400km, 600km, and 1000km. The medals will be new too, because the ACP changes the medal design after each PBP. The new medal designs can be seen in the medal gallery.

As in prior years, Regional Brevet Administrators may pre-order medals for distribution to finishers at the conclusion of a brevet. However, if your RBA chooses not to do this, you will now have the option of ordering your medals directly from RUSA.

RBAs will no longer handle post-season orders and sales; if you don't purchase your medals at the conclusion of each event, you will need to get them from the RUSA store.

This revision in the medal program comes in response to suggestions and complaints from both riders and RBAs. Riders would order medals, pay the RBA, and then wait many months or possibly until year's end to receive them. A few RBAs prefer not to have to deal with medal sales at all.

Under the new procedures, members will be able to go to RUSA's online medal store and order ACP brevet medals and other RUSA awards that they have earned. Medals for an event will be available once the results for that event have been processed.

ACP brevet medals will be $8.50 each with a flat $3.00 per order for shipping. We expect to receive the 2008 ACP brevet medals in early February. The medal store will open approximately April 10. The store location will be announced.

RUSA volunteers will handle the shipping of medals and other items ordered through the online store. While they will strive to fulfill orders as quickly as possible, there may be times when they are away on business, vacation, or even out on a brevet. Please allow 2-3 weeks for processing your orders and if possible, order all of your season's medals together.

Thank you to Randonneurs USA members for voting in record numbers this year. The results are in. Mike Dayton and Lois Springsteen have been elected to serve for terms from 1/1/2008 to 12/31/2010, replacing retiring board members John Lee Ellis and Tim Sullivan. Eric Vigoren will serve out the remainder of the term (1/1/2008-12/31/2008) vacated by Terry Zmrhal's earlier resignation. Susan France has been re-elected as RBA Liaison. Mike, Lois, Eric, and Susan join continuing board members Don Hamilton, Mark Thomas, and Jennifer Wise.

Thanks to John Lee Ellis (current RUSA VP) and Tim Sullivan (current RUSA Treasurer) for their years of terrific service to US randonneurs and to RUSA. Their presence on the board will be missed and their counsel will continue to be sought.

The ACP has let us know that they will accept Randonneur 5000 award requests this year. In the past, they have not done so in PBP years. The time period is tight. Please wait until official PBP results are posted. Also if you are using a 2007 Fleche, please wait until those certificate numbers are available on the RUSA website. Then send your application in to RUSA by 10/21 (or you can wait and apply in 2008).

RUSA members frame numbers, inspection times, and start times are now listed at http://www.rusa.org/rusa-at-pbp2007.html

Just in time for those chilly all-night brevets, the woolies have arrived! New in stock, and in limited quantities, is the Official Randonneurs Wool Jersey, in long-sleeve and short sleeve. Make a bold retro-randonneur fashion statement by being the first in your region to wear the wool RUSA jersey. (see attached photos.)

Beautifully made by United, this jersey comes in short-sleeve and long-sleeve in sizes M-L-XL-XXL for men. It also comes in short-sleeve and long-sleeve for women in sizes S-M-L. Sizing runs true to size. You can use the same sizing chart on the RUSA Souvenir website to determine your size for this jersey.

Makes a great Mother's Day or Father's Day gift for the female or male randonneur in your household.

Use the newly updated RUSA Souvenir Order Form to place your order today.

A new version of the Rules For Riders document has been posted to the web site. These new rules immediately supercede the previous version. You can view the new rules HERE.

Fancy yourself a fashion designer? Here's your chance to prove it.
RUSA is looking for a new design for its PBP 2007 jersey.
The member with the winning design will get bragging rights and a free jersey.

The details: Entries showing the front and back of the jersey should be submitted as a PDF, JPG or TIFF file.

Designs must be submitted by Dec. 15, 2006.

Ortlieb is offering RUSA members a 15% discount on all products ordered from their website until 12/1/2006. See http://www.rusa.org/Download/OrtliebRUSAoffer.pdf for details.

3M has donated a generous supply of Scotchlite Reflective Adhesive Material, which Randonneurs USA is now offering to its members free of charge. For more information: http://www.rusa.org/Download/rusa-scotchlite.pdf.

As mentioned in the February American Randonneur (which should be in mailboxes shortly), Bill Bryant is pulling off the front of the pace line of volunteers that has ably led Randonneurs USA since its inception in 1998. Randonneurs USA thanks Bill for his tireless service including a strong pull as RUSA President for the past two years. Bill will continue, as always, to devote substantial time and energy to RUSA and to the sport - serving as coordinator for the Fleches USA, administering various RUSA recognitions and awards, being a wise presence on the board, and mentoring many riders and volunteers.

At its January meeting, the Board of Directors chose Mark Thomas to be the next RUSA President. The other officers for 2006 are John Lee Ellis (Vice President), Tim Sullivan (Treasurer), and Terry Zmrhal (Secretary). Together with the rest of the 2006 board (Bill, Don Hamilton, and Tracey Ingle) and the volunteers, they look forward to serving the organization and the sport in 2006.