It is with great sadness that we report that Simon Milward died after an accident in Africa on March 4, 2005.  Many people knew him and his mission. He spent a considerable amount of time in the mid-west securing donations for his ride around the world.  He was scheduled to be back home in England sometime in October.  He was on the last leg of a five year journey that took him around the world on a home made motorcycle.  His mission was to bring awareness to medical needs around the world and to use motorcycles as a means to travel to remote places with medicine and doctors, the only way to access some of these regions. His mission and his heart were pure, and we all lost a true brother in the world motorcycle community.  Simon was also very involved with the politics and rights movement, having been a founder of FEMA, the European counterpart to the MRF.   You may want to visit a memorial page in his honor at: http://www.fema.kaalium.com/ .  Tony Pan Sanfelipo  

Share your TFT Parade comments with us.  Send your ideas to info@ChicagolandTFT.org .  Thanks to everyone who sent us the following thoughts.

I rode in 2004's TFT parade. I also am a Chicago Police Officer and rode with my group past the accident scene at 3500 N Western. I work in that District, the accident occurred just a few blocks from my police station.   In my opinion the cooperation from the Chicago Police was minimal, the traffic control was sporadic, especially on the north side, and helped to contribute to dangerous circumstances resulting in one tragic crash. I urge you to enlist the Chicago Police Department to increase the traffic control at future parades.  I have seen them effectively control traffic flow for other large scale events.  The traffic control on the north side particularly was a half hearted attempt at best.   Every street, every main street and side street, needs to have a traffic control aide or police officer with clear orders on when to let traffic through and when to close the intersection. That this was not done helped contribute to a dangerous situation which was noticeable to me once the riders got north of the Eisenhower Expressway. The south side seemed to run much more smoothly. The congestion on the north side is greater, hence the need for more traffic control. That was obvious.  I believe I will be watching from the sidelines next year and until the traffic situation on the north side gets under control.  Best wishes for a successful event in 2005.  
Dennis M

Well hello. Don’t know if you all still remember me, lol. It's been over a year since I've been there, and I missed this last toy run, first one since I was in the hospital, and I hope I never miss another.  Just wanted to say hi to all, and  was wondering if at anytime will there ever be absentee ballots for those of us that live outside of Il, who live in states that are not just a jump from the meetings.  I try to get there when I can, but have been a member for many years and plan to stay one 'til I can't do it anymore and then some, lol.  Don’t forget to say hi to all for me and Congrats to all the Old and New members on the Board and to those that had served.  
Joseph Vieira TFT 159

The web site is a good "indoor cruise".  The Parade is ALWAYS great !!   Thanks for all the info you send, and thanks for the parade.  
Greg

This was the first time we have attended this affair...Words cannot speak of what we have felt...Thank You.  
Lin

My group and I are riders in the parade and we personally found that Tier 3, 4 and 5 were better organized this year than previous years we rode in. We also, found that Tier Members were alot more friendlier, and polite. We applaud everyone of those Tier Members in 3, 4, 5 for getting out there and standing for hours, and hours waving us into that park, putting up with our rudeness. So, what a Tier Member makes it there late maybe their cycle broke down at least they made it there to volunteer their time to help out. As for the riders like our group in parade we do give toys previously arriving to park, we attend parties, TFT meetings where we donate Toys way before the parade approaches so, yes alot of us arrive at parade without toys on our cycles. We find it more organized for ourselves to do it that way. I don't think the parade is based on whom shows up with a toy on cycle or not it is based on supporting, caring, for these tots out there that would 'not' have a Christmas if, it was 'not' for us motorcyclist uniting together and giving them a Christmas.
We look forward to this year's run again!  Keep up the good work Tiers 3, 4, 5!  
Sincerely, Junior P.  COBB BIKERS

Great response!  Sometimes people just don't understand what is going on outside their own personal space, so I am glad you clarified that.  I too encourage people to drop off their toys before the run at the meetings.  Less chance of them being weather damaged or obstacles that we are running over on Western Ave.  My husband and I like to purchase basketballs, soccer balls and footballs for the older children.  They don't fit too easily on a bike so we hand carry it to the meeting the Friday night before the parade.  That certainly does not make us freeloaders who don't care about the children.  I know many people in our organization that give a lot more that a $10 toy, but they do not put signs on their bike indicating what they have given.  I cannot be my neighbors conscience, I must instead only be my own. 
Rita B

Hello to all my Friends and Relatives:  I just wanted to let you all know that I'm retiring April 1st, 2005.  I will be leaving for Florida to help my daughter.   It's has been 27 years that I've been working for the City of Countryside, and I think it's time to give another person a chance to have a job.  I'm thankful to still be alive today, so I want to relax a little and see what it's like to be retired.  Sixty-five and still alive. Hopefully I'll have a few more years to enjoy.  I might run for Mayor of Countryside again, God willing.  I'll be sixty-seven in 2007 and my lucky number is 7. Take Care and have a great year.  God Bless, until we meet again.    
Love to All "MOOSE"  Ray A. Mussatto

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