Captain's Log
Star Date 2006

Welcome to the Team ELF Web Site. My name is Frank Plunkett, and I am the team captain. Our team was started in 1997 after I completed my first MS 150 City to Shore ride in 1996. The ride and the support that I received from the staff from the Mt. Laurel Schools energized me. I thought the ride was great, but I vowed that I would never again do it... alone. From that basic idea, a team was born. I had ridden for Eileen L. Flynn in the 1996 tour. She was the main reason for the tremendous support that I received. I went to Eileen after the tour and proposed my idea to start a team. She was thrilled and it was no challenge to come up with a name for the team at our first meeting in January of 1997. Eileen had gone by the nickname ELF for many years. It was even part of the personalized license plate on her car. Team ELF was to be the name in honor of our beloved ELF.

In our first year as a team we recruited 18 riders and 20 volunteers. We raised around $5,000 for the cause. Our evident team spirit and drive earned us the Outstanding Rookie Team award that year. Our success in the 97 City to Shore led only to more success. With 28 riders and some 30 volunteers, we raised over $12,000 dollars in 1998. We also shared the coveted Team Spirit Award with the Wild Bucks of the Central Bucks Bicycle Club. Not only did we have the support of the folks in the Mt. Laurel Schools; we also had the counseling and advice of successful team captains like Larry Etzel of Frank and his Friends and Wayne Seiffert of the Wild Bucks. These are great men whose sense of competition is surpassed only by their commitment to the cause that we all share. I thank them.

And then we come to 1999, our best year yet. Our recruiting efforts were phenomenal! We topped out at 65 riders and brought more than 40 volunteers to the start line in Cherry Hill, NJ. We brought in new folks from all over South Jersey and even as far as Allentown, PA. The word of mouth of our team members, especially Frank Flynn, whose undying love for his wife, Eileen, drives him to be the best. I think Frank single-handedly twisted every arm in the South Jersey Cyclists to have them join our team. Frank alone raised over $5,000 in 1999. Our team of 65 riders raised over $28,000. I cannot describe the utter shock, surprise, and elation I felt when I received our donation numbers. Our goal for 1999 was a mere $15,000. We nearly doubled it. We also picked up our third award in as many years. We received the Outstanding Continuing Commitment Award for our efforts.

And so, we come to the year 2000, Y2K to all of you computer literate folks. What will this new millennium bring for Team ELF? I think only more success. From our first team meeting in March to our team party in October we will breathe success. My goals for 2000 will be to recruit an additional 35 riders for a total of 100 and to raise a total of $50,000. Both are high but obtainable goals. If only half of our 1999 riders recruit one person we are well on our way. We can do it folks. Those of you who are already on board, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your efforts. To the rest of you, come join us. There are few better ways to have a great time and raise money for a great cause.
We did a fantastic job in the year 2000. We reached our two main goals of having 100 riders and raising $50,000. We also took home the coveted Larry Kane Founder's Cup Trophy. Thanks to all of you that worked so hard.

The 2001 tour came and went on September 29th and 30th. Once again the Elves have done a fantastic job. We had 112 registered riders and to date have raised over $60,000. We also won the award for the Largest Community Team. This year our very own ELF, Eileen Flynn, crossed the finish line with her husband Frank and about thirty other elves. What an incredible site to see the sea of green and yellow jerseys rolling down Sixth Street in Ocean City. Thanks again to our team members and supporters for a fantastic job. Our goal of course is to end the devastating effects of MS. We ride specifically for Eileen Flynn, but our efforts help each and every one of the over 9,000 people in the Greater Delaware Valley that are stricken with MS.

In 2002, we raised over $80,000 and were awarded the Largest Friends and Family Team Award. Our team consisted of 140 riders and at least 50 support volunteers. Team ELF was also awarded a Tour of Champions plaque for our fundraising efforts. We look forward to seeing all of our members and recruiting new riders and volunteers for the September 20th and 21st 2003 ride.

If you want more information on what the tour is all about, check out the bike tour web site at http://www.ms150biketour.org. If you have questions about the team, please check out these pages or e-mail us at info@teamelf.org. Those of you from other teams that would like help and advice, please e-mail me directly at fplunk@comcast.net.
Thanks for visiting our web site. I hope to see you on next year's tour. Plans are already underway for next year's tour please register early.

Sincerely,

Frank Plunkett

09 Jun 2006 08:26