1. Getting Started
2. How the Bike MS Program can help you
3. The Team program
4. Team Program Contacts
5. You’ve registered now what?
6. Join an existing team
7. Team Mentor Program
8. Team Village What is it and how do I become a part of it?
9. Top fundraising teams from 2008
10. Online tools and how they can help you surpass your goals!

Getting Started
Register yourself as Team Captain, choose a team name and encourage others to join you.  An official Bike MS team has 4 members. Starting a team is as easy as 1-2-3.

1. Decide on a team name and register your team’s captain!
2. Recruit and Register Team Members!
3. Raise Money and Motivate Your Team and have fun! 

By forming a Team, you are not only leading your friends, family members and co-workers on a Bike MS event of fun, fitness and community involvement, but you are also truly making a difference in the lives of the 20,000 individuals and families in Northern California touched by multiple sclerosis. On behalf of everyone at the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Northern California Chapter, thank you for your participation and leadership.

How the Bike MS Program can help you:
Meet the Staff
Team Captain Guide - coming soon!
Team Mentor Program
Team Village

For more information about the Bike MS Team Program please contact a Bike MS Team Program representative at 800-344-4867 or email us

The Team Program
A minimum of 4 riders is needed to form a Team. Teamwork is a great way to involve family, friends, neighbors and co-workers in the journey to end multiple sclerosis. The team program is an effective and efficient method for companies and organizations to promote teamwork and camaraderie among employees.

To learn more about starting a team please contact a Bike MS Team Program representative at 800-344-4867 or your MS Team Program Contacts

MS Team Program Contacts:
Erin Nasca, Corporate and Community Relations Manager, Sacramento Area
800-344-4867 or Erin.nasca@nmss.org
Simone Price, Development Coordinator, Bay Area
800-344-4867 or Simone.Price@nmss.org
Sam McIlrath, Director of Corporate and Donor Relations
800-344-4867 or sam.mcilrath@nmss.org

You’ve registered now what?
Recruitment Tips for Team Captains

1. Spread The Word - It only takes four people to create a team. Recruit three more people to join and there’s your team!
1. Tell your family, friends, coworkers and neighbors.
2. Send an email to everyone on your email list.
3. Ask your fellow riding buddies or other active friends
4. Encourage those that have never ridden, and have them sign up for our training program-by September they will be more than prepared!
5. Post news about your involvement on your personal web site.
6. Follow up with phone calls or emails. 
2. Enlist Company Support
1. Ask the highest ranking person in your organization to send an endorsement memo announcing that he or she is supporting your ride.
2. Include the matching gift form if your company has a matching gift policy.
3. Remind your company that Bike MS: Waves to Wine Ride 2009 participation is a great way to get the name and brand in front of over 2,000 receptive customers. 
4. Ask your company to help pay for team jerseys, host a fundraising day, or even sponsor your team tent!
5. Talk to departments such as human resources and community relations for recruiting assistance.
6. If your company sends newsletters or hosts its own intranet, ask to include an article on your team or the Waves to Wine ride. List other participants and include your name and phone number. 
7. Do you belong to a chamber of commerce, professional organization, social group, alumni association or area committee? If so, promote your participation at their meetings and in their newsletters and Web sites. Issue a challenge for other group members to join you.
3. Host Registration “Parties” at Work
1. Host a breakfast, afternoon snack break, or lunch sign up rally
2. Hold a new team rider registration party. 
3. Encourage each teammate to recruit at least one person and bring him or her to the party.
4. Award a prize to the team member who brings the most number of new people.
5. Mention your business competitor’s teams; healthy competition helps a great cause.
6. Display Bike MS: Waves to Wine Ride 2009 posters in central locations such as company cafeterias, water cooler areas, gyms, library bulletin boards and other high traffic places. Write the captain’s name and phone number on the posters.  
4. Let the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Help
1. Schedule a visit from a National MS Society Team Program staff member to speak with potential team members at your company, class or meeting place.
2. Request posters, brochures or videos to help you get the word out.
    Join the team mentor program and get tips from veteran captains.  

Join an existing team
If you are interested in joining an existing Bike MS: Waves to Wine 2009 team, check out the team profiles below to see which team is the best fit for you. If you would like more information on a team or would like to join, please contact the team captain.

WeFightMS.com
Team Name: WeFightMS.com
Webpage: http://www.wefightms.com/
# Years doing Waves to Wine: 4
# riders: 45 for 2008
Captain: Aden Bliss / aden.bliss@gmail.com
Geographical info: San Francisco Bay Area
Team activities: training rides, kickoff parties
2008 fundraising goal: $50,000

Mitzvah Milers
Team Name: Mitzvah Milers
Webpage: http://www.mitzvahmilers.com/
2009 will be the 6th year of our team participating at Waves to Wine.
# of riders: 46 in 2008
Captain: Dan Siegel  mitzvahmilers@pacbell.net
Geographic Area: Bay Area
Team Activities: We have a stylish team jersey which we provide free to new Waves to Wine team participants and offer group training rides
2008 Fundraising Goal is $40,000

Barreling Up the Coast
Captain: Randi Bethel, randi.bethel@gmail.com; mobile: 650-284-9621
Years riding in Waves to Wine: 3
Number of riders in 2008: 18
Geographical area: Mostly Peninsula, but some East Bay
2008 fundraising goal: $25,000  

If you are a Team Captain and would like to add your team profile to this page, email the information below to Erin Nasca.

• Team Name
• Link to Team webpage (this can be your Team Page or another website you have created on your own)
• Number of years your team has participated
• Number of riders
• Captain’s name and contact info (email and/or phone number)
• General geographical location of the team
• A few team activities (training rides, team fundraisers, team jerseys, etc)
• Photo of team and/or team jersey
• 2009 Fundraising Goal 

Team Mentor Program
The Team Mentor Program is a fun way to learn some trade secrets from some of our top team captains. Get the inside scoop on what works for fundraising and recruitment. We will pair you with a mentoring team captain to help you along the way. If you are interested in the Team Mentor Program please contact Erin Nasca at 800-344-4867 or erin.nasca@nmss.org

Team Village
A place of celebration
Team Village is located in the heart of the festivities at Sonoma Mountain Village close to the action - Beer Garden, Massages, VIP Tent, and food. This is a great place for your team to meet after finishing the first day of the ride. Invite your friends, family, and co-workers to your tent for more fun! Space is limited so reserve your tent in Team Village today!

For more information on Team Village, contact Erin Nasca at 800-344-4867. You can also download the complete Team Village Guide.

There will be contests for the Best Corporate Team Tent and one for the Best Friends and Family Team Tent.

Top Bike MS Teams in 2008:
Team Chevron  $65,455.00
Mitzvah Milers  $51,436.56
Team Wachovia  $51,377.48
Deloitte Difference $47,103.90

How to become a top team:

1. Set a fundraising goal-challenge yourself to raise more by putting the goal out there. (start with _ number of teammates X $880 each).
2. The fastest and easiest way to fundraise is to use our online tools.
1. Log into your  Participant Center at wavestowine.org

You can use your Participant Center to:

	Update your personal page. Keep friends and family informed about why you're riding, how your training is going and how you've been influenced by someone with MS in your life. New from 2008: Blog in your personal page!
	Upload address book to send fundraising and recruitment emails.
	Track progress and update your fundraising goal.
	See how your team is doing
	Create a URL shortcut to your personal page.
	Find out important information.