MONTHLY MEETING AND ELECTIONS:  The March meeting will be held on Monday, March 10th at 7:00 pm at JAX Grill located between Shepherd and Durham just south of I-10.  We will be outside on the deck, so feel free to ride your bike beforehand and hang out.  We will discuss the new Kids Program, updates for Jack Brooks and Huntsville, Memorial Park master plan update, new venue prospects and status, Houston Bike Month in May, set the calendar for monthly rides and nominate a ride coordinator, and then tackle elections.  Please make plans to attend and vote on the new slate of board members.  If you would like to run or vote for a position, you can join GHORBA that evening to ensure your name is included on the ballot or among the electorate.  The ballot positions of President and Vice President of Trails are currently empty and lonely.  Other positions have interested parties, but more candidates may be nominated if people are interested. 

HAVE A KID'S BIKE YOU WANT TO DONATE FOR A GOOD CAUSE??  GHORBA is working on either purchasing or obtaining donated bikes /funding for the new Kids Program.  We are working with the Houston Parks and Recreation Dept, the National Park Service, and the Houston Police Dept. to create an off-road program for kids around Houston and will be conducting skills clinics for approximately 50 kids per event starting in April.  If you have a kid's bike you are no longer using, please consider donating it to GHORBA for repair and future use for area kids.  It is a tax-deductible contribution for which you will receive a receipt for your records.

NEW WEBSITE:  Keith is almost done with the updated and upgraded GHORBA website.  We are just making the switch to another server and should have it up and working in the next week or so.  It will have pages for News, Trails, area Rides, Events, Beginners, Photos, Kids Program, and the Board, as well as a new user-friendly forum.  Keep your eyes and computers pealed for the new site!

For anyone liking to participate in off-road duathlons, go to www.usara.org for information on the du at Warda this weekend.  The Sprint Series for adventure races also starts in May (the schedule can be found on usara.org).  The next TMBRA race series is in Comfort, TX.  Check out www.tmbra.org for more details.

What else is new?  Rain, rain, rain, rain, and more rain.  Are we in Seattle?  Nope.  Please bear in mind that riding or running on any trails around Houston during these conditions impacts the trails greatly.  It is reported that the Huntsville and Double Lake trails currently have mucho mud puddles and ruts.  Memorial Park trails are closed and should also be avoided for a while.  Please ride on the paved hike and bike trails or road until it dries out....it saves all of us time later making repairs.  Yeah, I know, but road rides can be fun if you make it interesting.  Thanks!