Chapter L s Toad Tales

Transcription

1 Chapter L s Toad Tales February 2010 GOLD WING ROAD RIDERS ASSOCIATION SOUTHCENTRAL REGION H - ARKANSAS DISTRICT CHAPTER L CONWAY, ARKANSAS From the Toad Masters: Hello everyone, Well the first month of the year is behind us and February has started. How many of you are still writing 2009 on your checks? We started out the year with our New Years Day ride to Corky's in North Little Rock. Jan and I got to meet Bert Graig for the first time and enjoyed getting to know him. There were 10 other members there and we all helped celebrate his 80th birthday. He sure gets around good for his age. Jan and I held our first staff meeting at our home on Friday the 15th. We went over all the things we would like to see happen in We talked about our new website which is up an running now. Check it out by going to the state website and go to the bottom of the page and click on our logo. Thanks Charlie for your hard work on the website. We also talked about having a maintenance day this year. It will be Saturday March 6, at 10 am at the maintenance building at the College in Morrilton. Charlie has offered to fry Crappie and hushpuppies, everyone else will bring the rest of the food. Our annual Rally is set for May 22, at the Toad Suck Pavilion. We look forward to everyone's input on the plans for the rally. Our Chapter will be participating in the St. Patrick's Day Parade again this year, it will be on March 13, at 1 pm. We' re looking forward to it. Our first Chapter meeting went well for starting out in a new place. The UCA room at Ryan s handled us well and I believe the more we have the meetings there, the smoother things will go. We had two surprise guests, Steven Hollingsworth and Greg Dempsey from Huntsville Alabama joined us and we were honored to have them. Greg and Tina McKinney the AR District Couple were there and we all had a good time. In all we had 32 members there. What a fantastic meeting we had! The paperwork meeting at Morrilton went well and we are official for Our February rides will be chosen by Jerry and Marilyn. As we go into February with the anticipation of the riding season ahead of us, let's not forget that February is a special month for Chapter L, after all we are the Love Chapter. With a heartbeat to ride Bud & Jan Danner Chapter L has a new website, be sure and check it for the latest updates: New Meeting Place Ryans Steakhouse 1400 Hwy 64, Conway Eat at 5 Meet at 6 TOAD STAFF DIRECTORS Bud & Jan Danner (501) danner@cyberback.com ASSISTANT DIRECTORS Jerry & Marilyn Dailey (501) jdailey57@yahoo.com TREASURER Lee & Goldia Wilkins (501) cbchief17@yahoo.com RIDER EDUCATOR Allen Holloway (501) Allenholloway@hotmail.com WEBMASTER Charlie Wirges (501) cwirges@swbell.net NEWSLETTER EDITOR Vicki Humphrey (501) Bickyhum@aol.com CHAPTER COUPLE Charlie & Debi Wirges (501) cwirges@swbell.net CHAPTER AMBASSADOR Harold Wilson (501)

2 Page 2 Chapter L s Toad Tales Rider Education Rue and I are Excited to be back with Chapter L and our GW family. We look forward to serving as the Chapter Educators for Chapter L, Promoting Rider safety through education and preparation. I know riding season is still a little ways off, but we can t start to early preparing and thinking about what it takes to be safe. Rue and I wish you and yours a safe and Happy New Year!! QUICK TIPS: Guidelines for Riding with a Passenger on Your Motorcycle Operator Preparation 1. Passengers should be considered as a second active rider so they can help ensure that safety and procedural operations are correctly followed. 2. A passenger will affect the handling characteristics of a motorcycle due to the extra weight and independent motion. 3. A passenger tends to move forward in quick stops and may bump your helmet with theirs. 4. Starting from a stop may require more throttle and clutch finesse. 5. Braking procedures may be affected. Braking sooner and/or with greater pressure may be required. 6. More weight over the rear tire may increase the usefulness and stopping power of the rear brake, especially in quick stop situations. 7. Riding on a downgrade will cause braking distance to increase. 8. Extra caution is called for in a corner because of the extra weight. 9. Cornering clearances may be affected. 10. More time and space will be needed for passing. 11. The effects of wind, especially side wind, may be more pronounced. This information provided by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation. Allen & Rue Holloway, Chapter L Educators 12 Bream Rd., Morrilton, AR

3 Chapter L s Toad Tales Page 3 Chapter Couple Charlie & Debi Wirges Dear Friends, Debbie and I have not slowed down very much this month. She s been visiting her Dad a lot, as you know he s not been well and he lives in Hot Springs. And if you ve had a chance to visit the Web page for the Chapter, I think it looks pretty good, that took me a little more time that we thought ( Buddy and I ). The weather has finally broken away from the very cold days and I got to ride a couple of days, but not much more than that. The meeting this month was very enjoyable. We had two visitors from Louisiana as well as the State Couple of the Year Greg and Tina McKinney. We also had a good turn out for the first meeting of the year. It looks like our calendar is filling up much faster than we both thought it would and will be very challenging. We both hope you are all doing very well and hope to see you soon. Your Couple of the Year 2010, Charlie and Debbie Wirges Being over the hill is much better than being under it!

4 Chapter L s Toad Tales Page 4 February Dinner Rides 12th Cock of the Walk 7103 Cock of the Walk Lane, Maumelle 26th Morrilton Drive-Inn 1601 Hwy 95, Morrilton It s not too early to make your reservations for the 2010 Arkansas District Rally at the Embassy Suites Northwest AR, in Rogers, AR. This year s theme is Circus Circus May 27 29th 2010

5 Chapter L s Toad Tales Page 5 The first chapter meeting of the new year with our new Toad Master, Bud Danner leading the gathering was a great success! We had a room full with some faces that we haven t seen in a while being there. It sure was good to see them and we also had the AR District Chapter Couple Greg and Tina McKinney along with Steven Hollingsworth and Greg Dempsey from the Alabama District. They are trying to get a ride from the east coast all the way to Phoenix, AZ with as many as can to join in anywhere along the way. More info can be found at the GWRRA website. They were also promoting their AL District Rally which will be at the Huntsville AL Marriott, April 1-3,2010. Our Chapter Ambassador, Harold Wilson brought one of our past Toad Suck Rally T-Shirts for everyone to sign and will be taken to the HUB and placed on their wall. Other chapter news was introducing a riding partner for our current mascot, Telly. This friendly Toad is named BERT, in honor of our oldest member of Chapter L, Bert Graig who now resides in Memphis, but was back for a visit over the holidays and we celebrated his 80th. Bert and Telly will be available to anyone going on a trip, to a rally or just riding, they are excited about this year s riding season and getting in on the fun and good times that Chapter L participants have and hope that you will join us for some of those good times! They love to have their picture taken so be sure and bring your camera! Introducing Bert, Telly s new riding partner Greg & Steven from the Alabama District promoting 40 to Phoenix and the AL Rally April 1 3, Harold holding T Shirt that will be hung on the wall at THE HUB

6 Chapter L s Toad Tales Page 6 Celebrating Bert s 80th! New Year s Day some of the Chapter L gang went to Corky s in No. Little Rock to help Bert celebrate his 80th and to reminisce about the good times we had riding with him and Helen. We miss him riding with us, but he will be remembered through our newest riding buddy, BERT. We love you Bert and you will always be a part of Chapter L! Lee and Goldia Wilkins was presented their patches for obtaining Level 4 Master Riders at the AR District Paperwork Meeting held on Jan. 23, 2010 in Morrilton. Congratulations Lee and Goldia on your achievement and commitment to riding as safely as possible and may you be an example for others to follow.

7 Chapter L s Toad Tales Page 7 MARCH INSANITY March 25 27, 2010 Your Region H Rally in Marshall, Texas Mini-Grand Prize $250 Daily 50/50 Drawings Grand Prize TWO $500 Drawings Daily Drawing for a Free 2011 Rally Registration (Drawn From Pre-Registration) COY Selection On/Off Bike Games Light Show & Parade Seminars Talent Show Full Registration Includes: Rally Pins for first 500 Registered Vendors.Vendors.Vendors. Vendors. Vendors And all the Region H FUN you can stand. Bike Show Competitions Tours Participation Prizes Poker Walk GWRRA Member $25.00 Non-Members $30.00 Life Member $12.50 Children Under 12 Free Pre-register by March 1, 2010 and be eligible for the $250 Mini-Grand Prize.

8 Chapter L s Toad Tales Page 8 District Directors Wow, what a difference it makes when you decide to have fun. The paperwork meeting not only went well, but it seemed like everyone had a good time. Let me pause right now to say thank you to every Chapter for your participation and not only to the new staff, but to the outgoing staff that were present also. We have already started receiving s from local chapters concerning their calendars for the riding season. Chapter E, Hot Springs has a list of events that they are planning. Chapter D, Jonesboro and Chapter L, Conway are also filling their calendars. If you are going to be in the local area of any of these chapters, then give them a call and make plans to join them in some of their events. Your District staff are looking at their calendars to see what fun they can join in on. I am planning on getting out this month to schedule membership drives with our local Honda dealers. If we have not discussed your local dealership, then give me a call and we will make that connection also. Our rally is shaping up and the registration info is finally on the website. We are adding hotel info as it comes in. We have some great fun planned and hope that all of you are planning on being in Rogers, AR on May We have some fun planned in the city, meeting with the merchants on Friday evening and then hopefully some shopping and picture taking on Saturday morning. There are many fun things planned and we will be sharing them with you as the day approaches Couples be watching for you invitation to the couples dinner. We hope that all of you will be able to attend and enjoy some fun time with all of the couples from around the District. It will be our way of saying thank you for all you do for your Chapter and the District. We will also have plenty of info for you concerning District and Region Couple programs. Remember, If it looks like a good day to ride, it probably is. Chris and Pam DePriest

9 Chapter L s Toad Tales Page 9 BY THE BOOK By: Dale Wingrove Region H Trainer The By The Book articles are intended to help familiarize Volunteer Leaders and GWRRA Members with the policies, procedures, and information contained in the GWRRA Officer s Handbook. Any quotes or references to topics contained in our OHB should not be taken out of context. Please feel free to reprint these articles in Region, District and Chapter newsletters. As most of you know there was a Leadership Summit in Phoenix in January and with that meeting a number of changes will be taking place. I will be sharing some of the changes to the Officer Handbook in the next few articles. The following excerpt is taken from the newly revised Officer Handbook pages E-1and E-2. EXPECTATIONS OF GWRRA OFFICERS 1. Be appointed for a probationary period of six months. At the end of the probationary period, the tenure may be extended through December 31 st and each year thereafter, subject to the approval of the appointing Officer. Total tenure in office will not exceed the specified tenure as established by the Association. 2. As an appointed GWRRA Officer, the Director agrees to comply with the Officer s Guidebook and agrees to be self-funded and operate under the guidelines of GWRRA. 3. Immediately upon being appointed, a new Director will contact existing subordinate Directors within the District or Region to establish their interest in continuing their appointments and/or appoint current Members to serve as Directors and to assist as District or Region staff. 4. Immediately upon being appointed, a new Director will appoint a current GWRRA Member to serve on your staff as the Treasurer of the District or Region. The Treasurer cannot be the assistant or anyone in the Director s immediate family. 5. The District Director, upon appointment, shall establish a checking account in the name of the District, and all checks shall require the signatures of both the District Director and the Treasurer. 6. The Region Director, upon appointment, shall establish a checking account in the name of the Region, and the Region Director, Treasurer and Executive Director are authorized signers on the account, with two signatures required to write a check. 7. A copy of the signature card along with the checking account number must be sent to the Home Office. 8. If not in close proximity, each check written by any of the signatories on the account must have prior written approval from one other signatory. Approval in the form of an is acceptable. This document is to be kept on file. 9. It is understood that monies raised in the name of GWRRA are intended only for the operations of the District or Region. At no time shall any Officer or representative of GWRRA assume that funds or GWRRA property may be used for personal gain. If difficulties regarding the operations of the District or Region Director arise, the appointing Officer has the authority to conduct all business of the District or Region. 10. It is each Director s responsibility to use all funds for the legitimate operations of business within their District or Region. All expenses must have verifiable receipts. All expenses relating to legitimate GWRRA business are reimbursable from operational funds. A full accounting of expenses reflected in an annual financial report, with receipts, must be provided annually by the District to the Region Director and the Region Director to the Executive Director (even a negative balance). In order to protect yourself, the IRS states that all documentation must be kept on file for up to seven years. To be continued in the March By the Book article.. LEARN SOMETHING NEW AND THEN TEACH SOMEONE

10 GWRRA SOUTHCENTRAL REGION H AR DISTRICT CONWAY CHAPTER L February 2010 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 Happy Shirley Williams Happy Paul Belviy Anniversary Bud & Freida Price Dinner Ride Cock of the Walk Anniversary Williams Happy Donna Holland Happy Jeannie Phillips Chapter L Meeting H appy LaRue Holloway and Marilyn Dailey Anniversary Charlie & Kay Fortson 26 Dinner Ride Morrilton Drive Inn 27 Happy Richard Holland 28 UPCOMING EVENTS March 6th Maintenance Day at UACC Morrilton March 12-15th 40 to Phoenix Ride NC to AZ (anywhere between) March 13th St. Patrick s Day Parade in Little Rock March Region H Rally Marshall, TX Chapter L Website: