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August 23, 2010
| E-Update
Souderton Telford Main Streets
Univest Grand Prix Edition
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Dear Reader,
The September 11, 2010 Univest Grand Prix is undergoing another evolution this year. They are reducing the scope of the race to a focused, hotly contested competition through Souderton, Telford and Franconia.
Now, instead of all the excitement of the Start fizzling out until three hours later when the racers return for the exciting final laps, we will have all that fun and excitement in town, all day.
This will be a great opportunity for our local businesses to draw people inside to see what they have to offer. We always have people who are here to support family members and friends in the Cyclosportif at 8 am.
The Cyclosportif will now be geared toward families and developing safe bicyclists. Come do a lap so you will truly appreciate what the racers are facing.
More local residents will be able to host parties for their friends, family and neighbors to join in the fun.
Businesses have an opportunity to host their employees and clients at a race party as a Customer Appreciation Event with the race flying past.
The Community Expo offers a place for businesses and community groups to set up within the race area to interact with our race visitors.
The Souderton Community Park is the perfect place for a picnic as you watch the grueling Wile Avenue Hill take it's toll on the riders.
The media coverage starts as our friends at Souderton Independent post an article on Facebook.
This email blast is dedicated to exploring the ways you can maximize on the enthusiastic crowds that will be wandering through town to enjoy the race and to explore our many wonderful dining, shopping and fun-filled opportunities.
The live broadcasts, helicopters, cameras and visitors will turn the world's eye on us and we are ready to shine.
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 | The New Course for 2010
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83 miles / 133 kilometers
11 laps - Opening 5.8-mile Race Course
5 laps - 3.8-mile Finishing Circuit
Cyclosportif Course in Gold.
Click here for a downloadable map.
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| The Day's Timeline
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For your Planning convenience
 The Univest Grand Prix will be held on Saturday, September 11, 2010.
The Cyclosportif riders will begin gathering by 7 am for their 8 am start. They will ride the finishing circuit ( in green on the map above) until 10 am.
Registration for the Shimano Youth Series is from 9 am to 10 am. The kids will race from 10:15 am to 11 am. Ages 3-5 on Big wheels and trikes, ages 6-8, ages 9-10 and ages 11-13 all on bicycles compete in this.
The Pro Race sign-in begins at 10:30 am, staging at 11:10 am and the start will be at 11:30 am with a finish at 2:45 pm.
For the first phase of the race, you will see the racers fly by every 14 minutes or so. When they move to the Finishing Circuit, they will be going past about every 3 to 4 minutes. We will all be at the edge of our seats by that point!
Imagine facing the Wile Avenue Hill every three minutes at full speed with competitors so close you will be able to touch them with an elbow.
A special section of the Grand Prix website is dedicated to the information that the spectators will need. Check it out!
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| Cyclosportif
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What is it and where will they ride?
 In the past the Cyclosportif has followed the professional race route out of town. With the changes to the professional race, the Cyclosportif has under gone a transformation also.
Whereas the Cyclosportif was for dedicated long-range riders who wanted to test themselves against the pros; this year the Cyclosportif will be following the 3.8 mile Finishing Circuit.
See the yellow route in the map above. The riders will be on the streets from 8 am to 10 am.
With this change, they are hoping to attract more families and new cyclists to this event. There will be a Feed Zone on Wile Avenue, bicycle mechanics standing by for quick repairs and post-ride prizes for participants.
The Cyclosportif will once again benefit the Penn Foundation.
Please note that the roads will not be closed to vehicular traffic during this time. All safety rules will apply. The coordinators will remind riders about those rules before they start. In short, watch for riders of all skill levels.
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| Community Expo at the Univest Plaza
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| | The Heart of the Fun
 This area is open to businesses and community groups to set up a booth near all the action.
The only cost is a $150 IF you need to rent a 10x10 tent, table and 2 chairs. If you can supply that for yourself, there is no cost.
Set up by 9:00 am and stay to the end at 3 pm.
Think about all the thousands of spectators and how you can entice them, educate them, entertain them and sell to them.
Email or call 215.721.2459 to arrange for your spot in the midst of the action.
A booth is a four-color, 3-dimensional, interactive ad for your organization. Can you afford to pass this opportunity by?
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| Volunteers are Needed Everywhere
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Join the Univest Grand Prix Race Team!
 Volunteers are needed to assure a safe and exciting day of racing. Many volunteers come back year after year because they enjoy it so much.
You can register online or go to our website to download the form, compete it and fax it back. Volunteers must be 18 or older or have parental permission to participate.
If you have any questions, call Jenn King at the Penn Foundation at 215.453.5190.
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Join the Univest Grand Prix Race Team!
Volunteers are needed to assure a safe and exciting day of racing. Many volunteers come back year after year because they enjoy it so much.
You can register online or go to our website to download the form, compete it and fax it back. Volunteers must be 18 or older or have parental permission to participate.
If you have any questions, call Jen King at the Penn Foundation at 215.453.5190.
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| Another Opportunity for the Businesses
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Early Morning Activities
 Many people come to Souderton for the entire day. They have friends and family members who ride in the Cyclosportif at 8 am and then they all stay for the pro race.
These people roam around from 8 am to 10 am looking for the few businesses that are open and offering a distraction.
We are looking to compile a list of the businesses who will be open early to offer a service, a shopping opportunity or breakfast or coffee in that time frame. STMS will create a simple one-page handout that will identify these early bird businesses who will alleviate the boredom of these potential customers.
Send us your name, address and what specials you may be offering. We will restrict this to ONLY businesses along Main, Front and Broad Streets. Our graphic abilities are limited.
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| Fun at Home
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| | Throw a Race Party
 This year, the race riders will be flying past any one point every 14 minutes for three hours.
What a great excuse for a Porch or Front Yard Party!
Invite your friends, family and neighbors to join in for a great party. Pick a team to cheer for and join the fun. You will have many ways to track the excitement around town.
The race will be broadcast on television but we don't have the details yet. You will be able to bring out the television or computer monitor to the porch to see what is happening elsewhere on the race circuit.WNPV-1440 AM will also be broadcasting radio live from Souderton on Race Day.
Take a photo of your decorated porch, your party in swing or your neighbors as they celebrate the race. Post it on the STMS Facebook page to enter a contest for great prizes! Watch for details.
Our Web Gurus are scheming with the Sparta Cycling Web Gurus to maximize the amount of information you will be able to access through social media on our main website. When they translate it all into layperson's language, we will share their excitement. Stay posted.
Start your planning and watch for another email like this with specific details on the television broadcast, the teams, the Facebook competitions and a score of other exciting things that are currently under development.
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| Do Something Fun for Your Clients
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Host a Party!
 Your clients, customers and employees have stood by you through the Great Recession. Now you have an opportunity to thank them for their support. Invite them to your business to watch the Univest Grand Prix at your own VIP party. We have plenty of great restaurants who can provide fabulous food for the party. The race will provide the entertainment. All you need to do is provide the decorations, drinks, chairs and tables. Send a photos to the Facebook contest and win a great prize! Oh, yes...have a great time socializing with the people who make your businesses a success! |
| Meet Race Coordinator John Eustice
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Listen to the Vision
 The Young Professionals' Network of the Indian Valley Chamber of Commerce will be hosting an event on Thursday, September 9 from 5 pm to 7 pm at the Caboose Grille. The guest speaker will be John Eustice of Sparta Cycling, Inc. and his topic will be The Business of Bicycling and its Impact on Communities. John is the visionary behind all the changes to the Univest Grand Prix this year. Here is your chance to meet him and listen to his vision of the future of the Univest Grand Prix two days before the race. The cost is $10 for Chamber members and $15 for non-members. Cash only-payable at the door. Hors d'oeuvres, wine and beer will be served. Spread the word and join us as the excitement starts to build for 13th Annual Univest Grand Prix. |
| Final Thoughts
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Welcome the World
 Once a year, the World comes to the Souderton area to see world-class professional bicycle racing in person and through the broadcasts on television and online. This year we will encounter many changes from the way the race was run over the past 12 years. On one hand, it will disrupt our Saturday morning routines a bit more. On the other hand, the entire day will be full, busy and exciting. Please bear with all the changes. We are so fortunate to have a professionally-run, signature event to draw the region and the world into our community. Let's make sure they understand why Souderton and Telford are Classic Towns of Greater Philadelphia!The same factors that qualified our towns as Classic Towns, quality of life, ongoing revitalization, cultural attractions, strong business climate, will draw visitors back to explore our community. Welcome our visitors with a smile. They are fortunate that we have invited them to our community to share in this wonderful event. Let's make sure their experiences here are memorable ones. |
| Non-Race Note
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Check the Proposed Map
 On Wednesday, September 1 at 7 pm, we will be holding a Public Meeting at Souderton Borough Hall to discuss the proposed Souderton National Historic District. This is the last step we have to do locally before the final approval at the October 5 meeting in Harrisburg. Shelby Splain from Keystone Preservation Group will make a presentation about how the national historic district will affect the properties within the boundaries of the district. Check the map on our website to see if your property is in the Souderton National Historic District. We will hold a meeting later in the year for commercial property owners about how to use Historic Tax Credits when doing major renovations on their properties. |
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Facebook
| Souderton Telford Main Streets is now on Facebook. Watch for daily posts about a variety of local interest news. Post your comments or photos.
We now have a page for the Indian Valley Farmers' Market.
Check out the pages we have found on Facebook for Souderton and Telford Businesses! Let us know of any we have missed on Facebook.
Find us by searching for Souderton Telford Main Streets! |
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