North Carolina District News

Transcription

1 WINGS Over The Smokies 2015 Back To Our Roots The Repeat Blue Ridge Parkway Hatteras Lighthouse Tweetsie Railroad Carowinds USS North Carolina North Carolina District News March 2015

2 I pledge Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all. We SUPPORT and THANK ALL our service men and women. 2

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5 District Directors Bob (Goose) and Dorothy (Mrs.Goose) Richards Asst. District Directors - East Bobby and Susan Womack Asst. District Director - Central Libby Jennings Asst. District Directors - West Mike and Lynn Humphries District Educators Susan and George Huttman Asst. District Educators Sid and Terry Chambers District MEPC Robert and Donna Ferguson District Treasurers Bev and Ron Chapman District COY Roy and Cindy Bryant District Leadership Trainer Susan Huttman District Care Bear Susan Harden District Vendor Coordinators Don and Susan Harden District Newsletter Editors Steve and Mary Craig District Webmaster Steve and Mary Craig District Goody Sales Tony and Rita White 5 District Marketing Directors Charles and Marion Dudley

6 We asked. You answered. We listened. We re changing. North Carolina District Director Bob (Goose) and Dorothy Richards Why did you join GWRRA? Did you join to ride with likeminded folks that have a passion for motorcycles? What about having joined to better your riding skills and be a much safer rider? Did you join to become more knowledgeable about the maintenance of your motorcycle? Whatever your reasons - now you are part of the largest Gold Wing, Valkyrie and other motorcycles association in the world that we call a big family. For newer members you are quickly finding out that this organization is made up of the most friendly, charitable and caring folks that you will ever meet. These are your friends that will visit you in the hospital, take care of your pets when you are away and do just about anything for you when you are in need of help. You will become very good friends with a number of these folks and as I have said before you will be friends way after your motorcycling days and may even end up in the same nursing home with some of them as long as they allow you to race your wheelchairs up and down the hallways and have LED lights on them. Now to another subject We are all getting older and have many more aches and pains than we did 10 years ago. Some of us have given up riding our two-wheelers for three wheelers and others continuing to stay active in our chapters while riding to events on 4 wheels. With Gold Wings becoming more expensive and some of us dropping out of GWRRA for health reasons the active memberships in many chapters is dwindling. Before your chapter gets to the point of possibly closing think back about all the friendships, belly-laughing good times that you have experienced with these friends that you now call family. Do not let your chapter close because no one is willing to step up to a leadership position. Instead talk with the members and remind them that the way you all became such good friends was because of this organization. Do not let a chapter close thus not allowing potential new members the same opportunity to join a chapter and enjoy the camaraderie and lifelong friendships that you have. Wings Over The Smokies 2015 is just 4 months away. If you have not registered as of yet please do so. Be sure and get your motel and campground reservations in now since motels and campgrounds are quickly filling up. Your District Staff is working hard to make this year s rally even better than last years. Don Harden, Vendor Coordinator has been working over-time to bring you an outstanding selection of quality vendors. As riding season arrives be sure to be mentally and physically ready and to make sure your motorcycle has been thoroughly inspected and road-worthy. Dorothy and I will be traveling to the Florida Rally March 19-21st and the Tennessee Rally April 23-25th. Hope to see some of you there or on the road. 6

7 We asked. You answered. We listened. We re changing. NC Assistant District Director - East Bobby and Susan Womack Hello Fellow Wingers, Susan and I would like to start out saying it wasn t just Chili in February, it was downright cold. We still had a great time at the Chili cook-off. Susan and I both helped C-2 Smithfield, but we still had time to visit and meet both new and old friends. When it came time to eat the folks did another good job of making pots of Chili for the contest. Unfortunately with my diet I could only have one bowl this year, but I still got a sweet dessert. Congratulations go out to Roy Bryant for winning the best Chili. Now the District staff has told him that he will have to make some for us at Wings over Smokies this year. Do you realize it is only 4 months till Wings over Smokies? Have you gotten your registration in? How about motel rooms? Well start putting that little nest egg back, because you know you will find something there you just can t live without. This year looks to be bigger than last year for vendors. There are some that said hearing last year s number of participants of over 3,000 that they were not going to miss this one. Some of the vendors have asked for the same spot as they had last year. Don Harden is working on new vendors as well. Most of all we are looking forward to seeing all of you again this year. I was amazed when I went out and looked at the front of the Acquoni Center and seen it filled with trikes. Then I walked upstairs and looked at the parking lot filled with bikes. I knew that being back in Cherokee was the right move for North Carolina. So make your plans and get everything reserved and come on out to Cherokee and have some FUN with us. Also don t forget to buy some extra Grand Prize tickets. You may be the lucky person to win the th Anniversary Special Edition Goldwing or the Bushtec Quantum GL Trailer. Now that the weather seems to be getting better don t forget to check your bike over real good. If you start now you might find something that needs attention and get it fixed before riding season. Susan and I have ridden some over the winter months but I still look the bike over and never leave the garage before I check the air pressure in the tires. Also if you plan on pulling a trailer check the pressure in tires on it as well. Until next time Be Safe, Be Smart, and Be aware of your surroundings. NC Assistant District Director - Central Libby Jennings Hello Gold Wingers, Don t know about you but if this cold, rainy and snowy weather doesn t leave here before long I am going to scream. Spring, hurry up and get here, please!!! In the month of February there were four (4) chapter gatherings, in the Central area, that had to be cancelled because of this bad weather. Where is that ground hog?!!!!! This means I haven t been able to promote Wings Over the Smokies like I did in January. Well here it comes. Get those registrations in ASAP and make your rooms reservations ASAP so we can have some FUN, FUN, FUN & fellowship in Cherokee this year. Members you have been given tickets to sell for the grand prizes of a motorcycle and trailer and we need to get on the stick and sell them. If you need more, let me know. We only have four (4) months before Wings will be here. It is coming up fast. Just think gold wingers, trees will be turning green and flowers will be blooming and soon we will be able to get out and ride our motorcycles. 7 Wishful thinking, right? It is time to get your bikes in great condition for our first ride of the season so get those T-Clock inspections done. Believe me it will happen soon!!!!!!!! Happy St. Patrick s Day to everyone. Please be safe in your travels. Love to all, Libby Jennings Central Assistant District Director

8 We asked. You answered. We listened. We re changing. NC Assistant District Director - West Mike and Lynn Humphries Finally it's starting to warm up. Lynn and I have been able to get the bike out and ride some thank goodness. We hope you've able to do the same. For us it's a great way to relieve the stress from our jobs and everyday life. A few more days of snow, ice, rain and cold we may have killed each other ( just kidding ). We have been on the road visiting several chapter gatherings throughout North and South Carolina and all the gatherings have had a lot of folks in attendance. Everyone seems to be having a great time and are enjoying themselves so if you are not doing this you are really missing out on a lot of fun. The Chapter Educators at most of the gatherings are talking about ways to prepare our bikes and ourselves for the riding season. It always helps us when we re reminded of what we can do to stay safe while we're out on the road. We would like to thank all the Chapter Educators for the wonderful job they do each and every month. There are a lot of events coming up in the near future for everyone to enjoy. Check out the calendar on the NC District website and plan to attend some of these events, Invite someone to ride along with you, they don't even have to be GWRRA members. Lynn and I have come to realize the more folks that go the more fun we have. Wings Over the Smokies is only 4 months away so get to booking those hotel rooms, or camp sites, they will be filling up fast. Get your registrations sent in to Mrs. Beverly and don't forget to purchase your Grand Prize Tickets. I would really recommend that you start looking at some maps and start planning for some rides. The roads around Cherokee are some of the best motorcycle roads in the entire world. We are really looking forward to seeing you all there!!!! See you on the Road Mike and Lynn Humphries North Carolina District Couple of the Year Roy and Cindy Bryant Did someone say spring was almost here? Our ears perk up and our eyes start to sparkle as we think..riding season is just around the corner. Until we round that riding season corner, we will continue to visit safely on four wheels. Just because it s not motorcycle weather out there yet, doesn t mean you can t go out and have some fun. There are events at other chapters that are calling to you.. come have some fun with us. Roy rode solo the Smithfield s Chili Cookoff and came home with first place. Durham will be hosting their annual Swap Meet where couples have free registration. Check the events calendar and plan a ride. Speaking of plan a ride, prepare for unexpected events. We have decided to visit a few Virginia chapters. In our planning, we called ahead and checked on the weather before leaving to go to Chesapeake, VA social. The weather prediction was snow to be coming in the next day and the ACD said he had not seen a single flake. We headed to Chesapeake. The closer we got, the more the weather conditions worsened. We were 15 miles from our destination, avoiding all the mishaps from other drivers and became more determined than ever to get to the meeting. We pulled into the parking lot with 3 inches of snow on the ground and more falling from the skies. What an adventure and the shocked expression on the faces of the members. We had a blast!!!!! As we handed out the 8 WOTS flyers, we expressed our wish for them to be just as determined to be a part of our event as we were at being a part of theirs. As we have seen, the Chapter Couples are on the move. The plaques are everywhere and all seem to be having fun. Remember.fun is what it is all about. Fun is what our theme is for the Couples Retreat to be hosted April 11 in Burlington. We hope all couples have marked their calendars for that day and plan to be a part of an event just for them. Roy & Cindy Bryant District Couple of the Year

9 We asked. You answered. We listened. We re changing. North Carolina Asst. District Educators Sid and Terri Chambers As a former member of the NC Precision Drill Team from 1993 to 1998, a certified Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) instructor, and NC-H2 Chapter Educator during the same time, I was initially surprised to learn that Drill Teams operated under the auspices of GWRRA Rider Education. And it still does today. Riding on a Drill Team is not showing off to fellow Gold Wingers. It is visual proof that proper riding techniques can make us better riders. Just look at the similarity between some of the Drill Team maneuvers and Experienced Rider Course (ERC) range exercises, particularly turning, cornering, braking, and riding in a straight line. I became a better rider on the street by using proper riding techniques which made me a better MSF instructor which made me a better Drill Team member. A rider training course will not automatically qualify you to be a Drill Team member, but it will certainly make you a better rider. If you have not taken a rider training course, I highly encourage you to do so. I guarantee you that you will learn something that will save your life. If you want to work on the basics in the meantime, please read the following article written by Bill Lowry, NC-D2 Chapter Educator and a current member of the North Carolina Precision Drill Team. Each sentence contains valuable information and is not just filler. Read it carefully! We ve all been riding throughout the winter, but not as frequently as previously. Our riding skills do diminish due to lack of use so some refresher training is a good way to ease Refresher Rider Training in to the riding/drill season. I ve put together some information for all to share. Although these practice exercises are not dangerous by themselves, precautions should be taken. First, we re fortunate that the Drill Team has an interference-free environment where we can concentrate on physically controlling the motorcycle without worrying about passing cars and pedestrians. However, we do have a potential for oil spots from school buses and other vehicles; sand, gravel and other debris can also cause the tires to lose traction. Second, (ATGATT). There is always a chance that we will fall. Riding gloves, for example, can mean the difference between being a little annoyed and a trip to the emergency room. "Full riding gear"means a helmet, eye protection, long sleeves /jacket, gloves, pants, and boots. Third, make sure that your motorcycle is in good working condition. Good brakes, tire tread, and proper tire inflation are key elements to practicing proper technique safely. Most exercises involve maneuvers in restricted space and may require the use of both small and large cones to mark boundaries and indicate the path of travel. Tennis balls cut in half, empty coffee cups, or plastic bottles filled with water for stability and capped to prevent spillage also work if necessary (maybe practice on your own). The diagrams provided can be used as guidelines for setting the cones, but can be modified as necessary. For all practices, you should sit firmly on the motorcycle, with your knees against the tank and your feet firmly on foot pegs. For slow speed maneuvers, counterweighting may be 9 useful but too much moving around will interfere with your steering inputs. These exercises don t all directly apply to drill team riding, but are still good practice. A key take away from this practice is that proper use of the controls will lead to smooth riding which leads to increased confidence in yourself and your machine which will make you a safer rider! Basic Exercises Exercise 1: Slow Ride The goal of this exercise is to practice moving very slowly along a straight line in 1st (maybe 2nd) gear. This is a common real-world scenario for a lot of riders. Set your cones in a straight line. Go to the start of the line. Start riding along at walking pace, trying to keep as close to the straight line marked by the cones as you can. Don't fixate your attention on the cones. Keep your head and eyes up, look ahead where you want to go. With practice, you ll become more confident at low speeds. Exercise 2: Slow speed cone weave Set cones in a straight line, 12 feet apart from each other (maybe 15 to start). The goal is to weave between the cones at a slow pace, keeping your balance and controlling your speed using the throttle, the clutch and/or the rear brake. There is no speed requirement; just try to go as slow as you can. Continued on next page

10 We asked. You answered. We listened. We re changing. North Carolina Asst. District Educators Sid and Terri Chambers A variation of this exercise is setting your cones 16 feet apart with a 4 to 8 foot offset from the straight line. Exercise 3: Slow Circles and Figure Eights We already have some circles, but they ll need refreshing or maybe more of different sizes. Practice riding both clockwise and counterclockwise. Do not focus your attention on the circle markers or on the asphalt immediately in front of you. Look at the road where you want to go. When you start feeling comfortable doing this exercise, try a smaller diameter circle. Stay in the friction zone and use steady throttle. The goal is smooth controlled speed. After getting dizzy riding circles, practice riding figure-8 maneuvers around the circles at slow speed. Sit upright (scooting forward will help), use the clutch and/or rear brake to adjust your speed, and look through the turn where you want to go. When you get comfortable with this exercise, try smaller circles. Again, the goal is smooth control. Medium-level exercises These exercises can to be performed at medium speed. Start out slow to get a feel of your tires and familiarize yourself with the maneuvers. Refresher Rider Training (cont.) Exercise 1: Weaves Set the cones in a straight line, 30 feet apart (approximately. You may use the parking lot markings to set up). The nature of this exercise is essentially the same as for slow cone weave, described in Part 1. However, the increased speed requires you to lean your motorcycle through the weave. Start at 10-15mph and then go as fast as you are comfortable, but strive to maintain steady speed. Keep your eyes up and use counter steering. After practicing the 30-foot weave, set your cones 20 feet apart and repeat the exercise. Smooth controlled riding is the goal. Exercise 2: Sharp turns at speed Practice tight left and right turns by running along the parking stripes and then making a sharp left or right turn at the end. The goal here is being smooth. See how fast you can get up to and still brake/downshift smoothly and make a nice sharp corner. Exercise 3: Circles/Figure-8s 10 Draw two large, 50' diameter circles next to each other so they form a figure "8". Ride this layout in circles (clockwise and counterclockwise) to practice leaning and to get the feel of your bike. Ride around the oval to practice braking and turning and as a figure-8 to practice side-to-side transitions. Start slowly, and build up your speed gradually. This layout should allow you to ride at about 20mph. Be careful, speed and lean may cause low parts to drag. Don t be startled by your foot pegs scraping the ground; slow down, adjust your body position, and decrease lean to maintain control. Exercise 4: Obstacle swerve Position your cones as depicted in the diagram below: The distance between the cones is not set in stone. Use parking lot markers to approximate. Before starting each exercise decide in which direction you will swerve. For a left-hand maneuver, start riding towards the cones in a straight line. Upon reaching the cones you should be travelling at steady mph. As you pass cone "A", push the left handlebar to swerve around cone "B". Also practice swerving to the right. If the maneuvers are too difficult, the cones can be set farther apart and slowing approach speed. Your steering inputs should be quick, smooth, but not abrupt. Exercise 5: Hard braking Use of both brakes is needed to achieve the shortest possible stopping distance. The key to hard braking is smoothness. If you quickly squeeze the brake lever, you will most likely lock the front wheel and crash. If you pull the lever in very gently, you won't stop quickly enough.

11 We asked. You answered. We listened. We re changing. North Carolina Asst. District Educators Sid and Terri Chambers You should progressively increase pressure on the brake lever as the motorcycle is slowing down and its weight is transferred forward. More weight on the front tire means better traction between the road surface and front tire. Better traction means more force can be applied to the brake. You must understand this concept before performing emergency braking from higher speeds. Your brakes are more like a volume control than they are an on/off switch. In the beginning, practice the gradual braking technique at slow speeds without concerning yourself with stopping distances. Feel how the bike's weight gets transferred to the front. Practice squeezing the brake lever (gradually) harder and harder as the Refresher Rider Training (cont.) bike stops. When you get a feel for gradual braking it will be time to limit your stopping distance. Set two cones about 25 feet apart. Your speed for the first few runs will be no more than mph. Ride towards the cones at steady speed. Upon reaching cone A, start braking. Remember to be smooth. Don't grab the brake lever. You should be able to come to a full stop before reaching cone B.As you feel more and more comfortable stopping between the cones, start increasing your speed little by little to about to 20 mph. After you get comfortable with this exercise, try braking from 30 and then 40 miles per hour. Don't forget to increase the distance between the cones for higher speeds! You should be able to stop your motorcycle in 30 feet from 30mph and in 60 feet from 40mph. Increase the exercise's level of difficulty in small increments. This was a lot of information but riding a motorcycle requires a lot of mental and physical skills. Are you ready for the riding season? THE MORE YOU KNOW, THE BETTER IT GETS. THE MORE YOU PRACTICE WHAT YOU KNOW, THE BETTER YOU GET. Sid Chambers NC Assistant District Educator 11

12 We asked. You answered. We listened. We re changing. North Carolina District MEPC Robert and Donna Ferguson WHAT DOES THE GWRRA MOTTO MEAN TO YOU? Have you ever really thought about what the GWRRA motto Friends For Fun, Safety, and Knowledge means? Have you thought about what it means to you personally? Let s break it down and figure it out together. Friends When you are young, you develop friends and may even have one or two best friends. When you join GWRRA and become involved in a chapter, your friend list explodes. You start meeting new people and before you know it, you know people all across the USA and you call each one of them Friend. After a while, you discover that these are people you can count on to help out and be there for you whenever you need a friend to lean on. Fun Who doesn t like to have fun? Attending chapter meetings and meeting new friends is just one way you have fun in GWRRA. But what else do we do to have fun? We ride our motorcycles with our friends and go on new adventures and discover new places to visit. When we discover new things together, we share experiences that bring us all closer together and create bonds that last a lifetime. Safety As motorcyclists, we all strive to be the safest riders and co-riders that we can be. Through GWRRA s Rider Ed program, we are offered opportunities to participate in safety courses that help us to always ride safely. The best part is they are offered free or at very low cost and when you take them, you are taking the classes with your friends. This makes the experience all that more enjoyable. Knowledge Knowledge is a lifelong pursuit. As long as you are alive, you never stop gaining knowledge. There is knowledge in everything we experience and everywhere we go. Knowledge is power and within GWRRA, there is a lot of knowledge to learn and absorb. You just have to take advantage of the opportunities that are offered. And if you take advantage of these opportunities, then you are attending seminars with your friends and having fun doing it. Now, let s tie it all together. As you can see, Friends, Fun, Safety,& Knowledge are not separate items. They are an integral part of GWRRA life and when you join GWRRA, they are part of who you become as a result. Each one is a part of a whole and when a piece is missing, then our lives are incomplete. When you become a part of the whole, then you become a part of something that is bigger than yourself but at the same time, something that is a part of you and stays with you forever. GWRRA is Friends For Fun, Safety, and Knowledge and you, the members, are GWRRA. Without the members, there would not be GWRRA. This is YOUR GWR- RA and your motto. Take full advantage of the opportunities and have fun while you do it! Ride Safe! Ride Often! Ride Together! Robert and Donna Ferguson NC District Membership Enhancement Program Coordinators 12

13 We asked. You answered. We listened. We re changing. North Carolina District Leadership Trainer Susan Huttman One of the most difficult tasks for a GWRRA chapter director is maintaining the balance between what it means to be GWRRA member and what it means to be a chapter participant. It is not always easy to promote the Association while representing those who call their chapter home. It can be more difficult when the distinction between the terms GWRRA member and Chapter participant are blurred and individuals consider their home chapter a private club. Every person with a current membership card is a member of the Gold Wing Road Riders Association paying monetary dues for their individual, family or associate membership. No one pays dues at the chapter level and any member of GWRRA can take part in the activities at any single GWRRA chapter, multiple chapters or, if one chooses, no chapters at all. A chapter s success can be measured in different ways. Having participants engaged in volunteering for positions and projects helps everyone feel included and takes a lot of the burden off the chapter staff. This can make it possible for the director to take care of their responsibilities without the undue pressure of covering vacant staff positions. Another benefit of participant support is the higher level of visitation to other chapters which in turn brings more members to their gatherings and events. The club mentality however, can detract from the enjoyment both your chapter participants and other GWRRA members experience as a chapter s circle tightens and begins to exclude. When a chapter s participants become territorial the results can be hurt feelings, decreased member retention and in some cases, a chapter closure. So, what can a director do to avoid negative chapter reputation? Start by creating an atmosphere of community. Make each of your chapter participants feel valued for their support and encourage them to share ideas. Think about the GWRRA philosophy and how it can be demonstrated during your gatherings and events. Seek the advice of your area s Assistant District Director. Consider attending Leadership Training seminars or contact your District Trainer to bring Leadership training to your chapter. Offer activities of inclusion to connect with visitors and promote partnerships with neighboring chapters when planning rides and events. Sharing what you enjoy with others can only strengthen the bonds you share as GWRRA members and produce an upbeat, active and thriving chapter with participants who welcome all members and visitors with genuine enthusiasm. Your NC District Leadership Training Program offers a full set of seminar choices to boost participant interest to take on a more active role in chapter life and better understand what Friends for Fun, Safety and Knowledge is all about! Susan Huttman NC District Trainer lt4nc@aol.com home: 828/ cell: 828/

14 We asked. You answered. We listened. We re changing. Congratulations To The Following Newsletter Editors For The Newsletter Editor Of The Month Carolyn Little NC-T2 Albemarle - January Judy Bankston NC-C2 Smithfield - February Congratulations and a big KUDOS Keep up the good work. 14

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17 March 2015 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat NC-C2 4 5 NC-D NC-G NC-V 6 7 NC-G2 NC-Y2 8 NC-X 9 10 NC-B2 NC-P NC-A NC-T NC-H2 Swap Meet NC-L2 NC-U2 NC-X2 15 NC-O2 16 NC-D2 NC-W 17 NC-E NC-M NC-E2 NC-F NC-M2 NC-Q NC-S2 22 NC-K NC-R NC-N NC-I NC-L NC-Y NC-Z - Bles sing of the Bikes. 17

18 April 2015 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 NC-D NC-G NC-V 3 4 NC-G NC-C2 8 9 NC-A NC-T NC-L2 NC-U2 NC-X2 12 NC-X NC-B2 NC-P2 NC-Z NC-E2 NC-F2 NC-H NC-M2 NC-Q NC-S2 NC-Y2 Open House NC-O2 NC-D2 NC-W NC-E NC-M NC-N NC-I NC-L NC-Y 26 NC-K NC-R

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22 The following chapters have reported a change in their normal meeting schedule. Be sure to check the District Website for any last minute cancelations or contact the Chapter Director to verify they are meeting on their scheduled day. NC-H2 will CHANGE their monthly gathering for March only to be held on March 14, 2015 at their annual Swap Meet at 1:00pm. NC-L Gastonia will be changing their meeting to the 4th Saturday and changing location to Christopher's Restaurant 125 North Main Street, Lowell, N.C. They will eat at 9:00 and meet at 10:00 beginning Feb. 28. NC-R Thomasville, will change their meeting place beginning Feb. 24, 2015 to Loflin s Restaurant, 108 Randolph St, Thomasville, NC. NC-Z will CHANGE their monthly gathering for March only to be held on March 28, 2015 at the conclusion of their Blessing of the Bikes event. Across 1. Little guy that lies around with a bow and arrow (cupid) 4. A woody perennial of the genus Rosa, within the family Rosaceae. (rose) 6. Second month of the Gregorian calendar (february) 7. Third-century Roman saint, associated with a tradition of courtly love. (saint valentine) 9. An expression of affection, especially romantic affection, usually in the form of greeting card, gift, or message (valentine) 12. A typically sweet, usually brown, food preparation of Theobroma cacao seeds, (chocolate) 14. Object that is red, 2 rounded curves at the top and point at the bottom. (heart) Answers to last months puzzle 22 Down 2. A very strong feeling about a person or thing (passion) 3. An emotion of a strong attraction and personal attachment (love) 5. A decorative card sent to convey good wishes on some occasion. (greeting card) 8. Love emphasizing emotion over libido. (romance) 10. Weapon of love shot from a bow. (arrow) 11. An act of holding someone closely in one's arms. (embrace) 13. Protect and care for (someone) lovingly. (cherish)

23 23 Happy St. Patrick s Day

24 We asked. You answered. We listened. We re changing. North Carolina District Newsletter Editor Steve and Mary Craig From The Editor Hello Wingers, How about this weather we have been having. Only in North Carolina could we have weather like this. I personally will be glad when the temperature stays at 60 or above so that Mary and I can RIDE. There is now a link for ing your newsletters to the NC Chapter Directors and the District Staff. You can go to the District Newsletter page of the website and click on the Newsletter link or add newsletter@gwrranc.org to your contacts in your program and this will all the Chapter Directors and District Staff. I would like to congratulate our Newsletter Editor winners so far this year. Carolyn Little from NC- T2 and Judy Bankston from NC- C2. Who will be the winner for March? Please take the time to download and read the new guidelines for newsletters. We are getting a lot of newsletters in that cannot be scored because they do not have the required information on the front page. We are seeing a lot of really nice newsletters this month and some from last month but are unable to be scored because of missing information. There is a link on the District Newsletter page of the website that will allow you to download the guidelines Now to say a word or two about the website. If you have not visited the new website, I invite you to go to it and browse around. There is a lot of good information there and it is constantly changing and being updated. If you are browsing and find a link not working, please me at webmaster@gwrranc.org. I have tried to make it as user friendly as possible by creating batch links to Chapter Educators, Chapter Directors, District Staff and the plaques can be clicked on to the appropriate person. Do you know what is 4 months away? You guessed it Wings Over the Smokies. Have you registered? If not, what are you waiting for? Vendors come based on preregisters. Have you reserved your room? If you made your reservations at the Great Smokie Inn you need to confirm your reservation as ALL reservations for Friday and Saturday have been cancelled by the owner because of the casino purchasing the rooms for those 2 nights. In closing, I would like to leave you with this thought: Do not lose hold of your dreams or aspirations. For if you do, you may still exist but you have ceased to live. Thoreau Ride safe, have FUN and remember AGTATT. Steve and Mary Craig NC District Newsletter Editors Ride Safe, Have FUN, Live Life 24