Dear Friend of the US Biathlon Team,

Last season was the most successful in the history of US Biathlon – this year has started off even better.

Jay Hakkinen and Tim Burke have led the team with 9th and 12th place finishes respectively at the opening World Cup event.  The team is ranked 9th, just one point out of 8th in the Nations Cup.  We have never had a stronger start to the season.

It is now clear that the comprehensive plan to ensure Americans will have the training and support necessary to win medals at the 2010 Olympics, and a gold medal at that, is working. The athletes have done their part by being focused and dedicated day in and day out – doing the hard work to become the best in the world.  The staff has organized a great training program, utilizing the most advanced training methods and technologies. The Team has received much more support than ever from the US Olympic Committee. But to continue to make progress against the best in the world and ultimately beat them, we need to do more. To succeed, our team requires unprecedented commitments of time, facilities, and financial support, year after year.

Last season about fifty members and friends answered the call and helped our annual Gold Medal Campaign reach over twenty thousand dollars, an unprecedented success and a first for the Team.  In fact, that support helped our athletes post their best season ever last year. This season we are even closer to the medals and we know that your contributions will help us close the gap. Proceeds will be used to help finance team training and travel costs so critical to improving results.

Below you will find a chart outlining the various levels of giving and associated thank you gifts and a link button to a PayPal form that will allow you to give online with a credit card. Or you can send a check to US Biathlon, 49 Pineland Dr, Suite 301A, New Gloucester, ME 04260

Categories	Annual Donations	Thank You Gift
Champion’s Circle	$20,000 +	VIP Passes & Accommodations for 2 at World Championship, Official Team Apparel, Commemorative Photo with Team
Chairman’s Circle	$10,000 to 19,999	VIP Passes for 2 to World Cup
Team Leader’s Circle	$5,000 to 9,999	US Team Jacket
Coaches’ Circle	$2,500 to 4,999	Autographed Team Photo
Gold Medallists	$1000 to 2,499	Gold Medal Club Pin
Silver Medallists	$500 to 999	US Biathlon Calendar
Bronze Medallists	$250 to 499	US Biathlon Calendar
Olympic Dreams	$100 to 249	US Biathlon Calendar
Team Supporter	$25 to $99	World Championship Pin

Please support this important campaign to the best of your ability and help us raise $15,000 by the end of December. With your help, we will be able to provide our team the support necessary to produce that gold medal!