Many Trekkers choose to ride the ETBT as a part of a team. A team consists of 5 or more friends, co-workers, family members, etc.

If you would like to join a team or sign up as a new team, simply indicate it on your registration form when you sign up. If you are already registered and would like to join a team, call (916) 444-5900 and we'll find the right team for you.

As a part of a team, you will not only have a personal online ETBT page, but a team ETBT page as well. There you will be able to see the progress of your entire team’s fundraising. Your team members will also automatically show up in your online address book.

For more information on being a Team Captain, check out the information below on forming a team.

The ETBT Team Challenge is a FUN-draising competition among teams who ride the Emigrant Trails Bike Trek. The 11 perpetual trophies are awarded to:

All teams receive a framed group photo for display. The ETBT Team Challenge is a great way for corporations, families, or groups of friends to show their support for Breathe California. Last year, 32 teams participated in the ETBT Team Challenge.

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Thank you for your interest in forming a team for the Emigrant Trails Bike Trek! The information below will hopefully answer any questions you may have about both the responsibilities and the benefits of being a Team Captain.

Team Captains play a very important role in the success of the Trek. While some Trekkers choose to ride on their own, the majority of our Trekkers choose to ride the ETBT as part of a team.

We are here to help you! If you sign up to be a Team Captain, please note that Breathe California staff are here to support you in every way possible. Below are answers to questions you may have about being a Team Captain. If you have additional questions, please contact Judy Bruguier, Trek Director, at (916) 444-5900 or judyb@sacbreathe.org.

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Co-Captains will be officially recognized for teams of 10 or more.

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2. Establish Team Goals

Meet with your team members to set goals for your team…total dollars to raise, number of team members, which of the eleven team trophies (provided by Breathe California) you want to go after. Team trophies are awarded to:

• Largest Team
• Largest New Team
• Team T-shirt contest winner
• Team Jersey contest winner
• Team that raises the most money
• Top Fundraising New Team
• Team with the highest fundraising average (small and large team categories)
• Team with the highest percentage in the Winners Circle (small and large team categories)
• Returning team with the largest percentage grow

This is a fun competition among teams and the winners will be announced on the Trek during the awards ceremony.

3. Act as the Team Liaison with Breathe California

Team Captains are encouraged to be in regular contact with Trek staff at Breathe California. We want to know how your team is doing and give you whatever support you need to make your efforts as Team Captain successful and rewarding. Remember… we are here to help you!

4. Be in Regular Contact With Your Team Members and Answer Any Questions They Might Have

Even though Breathe California will share Trek information on a regular basis with all Trekkers, we ask the Team Captains to reiterate/distribute important information to your team members to make sure they are well informed and up to date on the Trek.

Create a Team page using our online services. If you need help, contact Carolyn at (916) 444-5900 or cmelville@sacbreathe.org. We are here to help you! You can request to be notified whenever a new member joins your team, keep track of how your team is doing on its fundraising goal, send out regular email updates, and announce team rides and fundraisers.

5. Help Coordinate Team Rides/Fundraising Activities

Team rides:
Schedule training rides for your team (in addition to the 3 organized training rides offered by Breathe California over the summer months). This will help beginner riders become more comfortable riding on the road. Encourage your team members to train for the Trek. Your team members will thank you. Being trained and fit for the Trek will make all the difference between enjoying the Trek and enduring the Trek.

Breathe California training rides are scheduled for:

• June 2008
• July 2008
• August 2008

If your team is a corporate team, ask your company to match contributions, donate a certain amount per team member, or provide another form of support such as team jerseys/t-shirts.

Encourage the use of Breathe California’s online services for Trek registration and fundraising. Assist your team members in setting up their personal pages for fundraising. Be the first to sign up for your team. Note…the Team Captain must be registered to create the team. Once the team is created, your team members can register online and request to join your team.

6. Help Coordinate a Team Jersey/T-shirt

Every year there is a friendly competition between the teams to see who develops the favorite T-shirt and jersey. Teams are not required to have team shirts but it adds to the team camaraderie and gives recognition to company support. Teams design their own shirts and enter them in the Team Jersey/T-shirt competition. Team shirts are displayed in camp and Team Captains do the judging. The winners of the Team T-Shirt and Team Jersey contests are announced at the dance on Saturday night.

GUIDELINES: Team captains are the judges, but they cannot vote for their own shirt or jersey. Below are the specific T-shirt/Jersey contest guidelines.

• ENTRIES WILL BE JUDGED ON THEIR RELEVANCE TO THE MISSION OF BREATHE CALIFORNIA AND THE EMIGRANT TRAILS BIKE TREK.
• T-shirt/Jersey entries must be turned in to Trek Central by 4:00 pm on Friday, September 5 th. Entries may be dropped off to Trek Central. Please pick up your entry from Trek Central after the contest ends.
• Team Captains will be the judges. Their ballots will be in their packets when they register. Voting will take place between 4:00 pm and 6:00 pm at Trek Central on Friday, September 5 th. If a ballot is lost, it can be replaced at Trek Central.
• Each team captain may vote for only one T-shirt and one Jersey, but cannot vote for their own entries. Ballots will be pre-labeled so as to track who has voted and who has not.
• Winners will be announced at the awards ceremony on Friday night along with the winners of the other team trophies

7. Help Organize Carpooling To/From the Event

Since parking is limited at the Trek start (and because this event supports clean air programs), Trekkers are asked to carpool to the Trek start. Please encourage your team members to carpool.

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Breathe California truly appreciates your efforts as a Team Captain and is here to support you in every way possible:

Team Captain Breakfasts -- To help support you and keep you well informed Team Captains are invited to attend three Team Captain Breakfasts over the summer months:

Enjoy a hot, catered breakfast, learn the latest updates on the ETBT, meet other team captains, and share recruitment and fundraising ideas.All breakfasts are held 7:30-8:30 am at Breathe California ( 909 12th Street, Sacramento).

Trek Presentations -- Trek staff are available to attend team meetings to give a PowerPoint Presentation on the ETBT and answer any questions. Team Captains can request a scripted PowerPoint Presentation (on CD) if they would like to deliver the presentation themselves.

Team Photos -- Teams will receive a framed team photo (taken at the Trek start). Team Captains will each receive a 5X7 team photo for themselves.

Team Captain Recognition -- As a thank you Team Captains receive a Team Captain item (i.e. jacket, vest, cap, TBD) to identify them as Team Captains on the Trek.

Team Captain Post-Trek Celebration -- Team Captains are invited to a post-Trek celebration dinner where their team pictures and team trophies are presented.

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If you have any questions about the role/responsibilities/benefits of being a Team Captain, please contact Judy at (916) 444-5900 or email judyb@sacbreathe.org.

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