Dear Adoption Tour Riders, Supporters, Sponsors, and Friends:
As many of you know, The Adoption Tour has been undergoing a significant transition in 2010 as funding would need to be secured through its rider base; the transition was further complicated by the key loss in lead Tour management as Jesse O’Hatnick, our esteemed Tour Director, capitalized on a wonderful opportunity to lead a non-profit youth program in Knoxville.
Clearly, the tour has had its share of loss & has had to endure significant change in 2010, yet the esprit de corps of the tour remains as strong and as vital as ever!
It is natural to view the impact experienced by the tour this year as only a series of losses; however, we’d like to also view this year as a new beginning. To effectively transition the tour during this challenging year, we’d like to approach 2010 as a key transitional opportunity for us to honor and celebrate the esprit de corps of the Tour. The funding and the lead management may be gone, but the common spirit existing within the tour membership remains!
So, the 2010 Tour will be called the Adoption Ambassador Tour!
What does this mean?
- Why the Adoption Ambassador Tour? Change happens and new chapters are written – we want to celebrate and honor what the tour has meant to everyone who has been touched by its message & purpose. Simply, we will not be hosting a 5 day, state-wide tour this year; however, we will promote the notion that we are all ambassadors of adoption, and we have a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate our common spirit to the cause of adoption throughout the year.
- Who will be assuming lead responsibility this year? Though we will not have a formal Adoption Tour Director, Jim Norwood will be serving as the Volunteer Coordinator for the Adoption Ambassador Tour & message.
- Who can participate in Adoption Ambassador effort? Any Adoption Tour alum is eligible to become an ambassador & participate in this awareness raising effort.
- What makes the Adoption Ambassador Tour different from the previous Adoption Tour? The Adoption Ambassador Tour will be a year-round public awareness raiser through the wearing of “Adoption Ambassador” gear, which includes a jersey and vest, along with the issuance of the Ambassador Packet, which includes wrist bands, water bottle, & “parent-a-child” web-site business cards that can be distributed to the public.
- How do we make a difference as Adoption Ambassadors? We ride it; we wear it; and we share it! Awareness is raised simply through our collective pledge to ride, wear, and share … ride your bike; wear your gear; and share the good news of adoption! The steps are easy: register to receive your free jersey, vest, and ambassador packet; wear your jersey at local area training rides & during organized events; and pass out information to your local community & share the good news about being an Adoption Ambassador with others!
- Yes, but when is it? The Adoption Ambassador Tour is now a year-round way of being & promoting awareness and is no longer focused on a 5 day cycling/celebration event. Throughout the year, during local events (training rides, sanctioned riding events, triathlons, or any other appropriate venue), wear your jersey & compete as an Adoption Ambassador.
- Do we have a signature event? We are planning the Adoption Ambassador Classic, which will be a 1 day tour from Columbia into Nashville during the first week of October. Harmony will provide the support and aid stations while the riders will be responsible for their meals, lodging, and transportation to & from the event. More details on the Adoption Ambassador Classic will be forthcoming during the summer through Adoption Tour Facebook page. We anticipate this ride will be approximately 70 miles (similar to the Day 5 route of 2009 Tour).
Harmony is proud of the Adoption Tour’s esprit de corps and we want to celebrate and honor its life and legacy by supporting its ability to adapt to changing times. We look forward to continuing the relationships and partnerships connected with this critical need – after all, Tennessee’s children are counting on us to continue riding for them!
If you are interested in being an Adoption Ambassador in 2010, please contact Jim Norwood (jnorwood@harmonyadoptions.org) to alert him of your interest and to indicate your jersey / vest / t-shirt size by Friday, May 8th. Thanks again to all of the folks involved in making the Adoption Tour a meaningful event over the past 5 years and for supporting the tour’s transition in 2010!
