MAPLE CITY WINGERS GWRRA Region D Michigan Chapter W MARCH 2009 The Chapter W TEAM Chapter Director Craig White (517) 403-7338 Assistant Chapter Directors (517) 423-8369 Chapter Educators Fred & Randa Probst (517) 424-8241 Secretary Pat Szymanski (517) 263-4196 Treasurer Deb Bailey (517) 436-3735 Member Enhancement Mark Szymanski (517) 263-4196 Newsletter Editors Ken & Patti Kintner (517) 265-2667 Wing News Reporter Suzy Stoddard (517) 263-7754 Brag Book Ken & Patti Kintner (517) 265-2667 Sunshine Person Randa Probst (517) 424-8241 Goodies Dick & Karen Papworth (517) 451-8435 Awards, Plaques, Pins Dan Bailey (517) 436-3735 Chapter Ticket Sales Kent & Annette Naugle (517) 423-7884 Craig White Spring has made it known that it is coming. The warmer weather sure feels good. It is nice to see motorcycles out on the roads again in numbers over one or two. More and more people are talking about getting their motorcycles ready for the upcoming riding season. Cleaning, doing maintenance, replacing batteries, and putting on the famous safety chrome that they have purchased over the winter are only a few of the things that I have heard people saying that they are doing to be ready for the riding season. I know that it is only March and winter is still not officially over and snow is still possible, but it is nice to have daylight longer in the evening. I feel more like doing something after I get out of work. The couch is seeing less of me, now that I feel like doing something after supper. Seeing all who came to the gathering and the sound of conversation and laughter before we got started was just a notch louder than in the recent winter months. All of us are feeling the springtime in the air and are looking forward to the warmer weather that is coming, we hope. April is busy for Chapter W with our annual breakfast on April 19 th and our monthly gathering right afterwards. If you did not get to sign up to help out at the breakfast, please contact Randa or Karen to sign up. Many hands make light work for all. Please note the change in date for the gathering. Easter is on April 12, which is the second Sunday, our normal gathering day. On April 22 nd, many of us are leaving on the annual Men s ride to Tennessee. We get back on Sunday the 26 th, and the next week is May already, the official start of riding season. Now is the time to start talking to all of your friends and relatives about starting to look for motorcycles on the roads. We have not had to look for them all winter and it is sometimes hard to remember to look for motorcycles on the road again. Fun Goddess Mindy Rapp (419) 531-2635 Public Relations (517) 423-8369 (Continued on Page 2) Hope to see all of you at the breakfast. Sincerely Your Chapter Director, Craig White Page 1
The W TEAM (Continued from Page 1) Chapter Visiting Coordinators Bob & Edna Wetherell (517) 266-7116 Toy Run Coordinators Bob & Marcia Kinsey (517) 458-6807 Toy Run Chair (517) 423-8369 Annual Breakfast Coordinators Karen Papworth (517) 451-8435 Randa Probst (517) 424-8241 Ride Coordinators Scott & Sherrie Griewahn (517) 263-6008 Road Captains: Cal & Beth DeLine (517) 263-1550 Ron & Marlene McKimmy (517) 263-0384 Kent & Annette Naugle (517) 423-7884 Dick & Karen Papworth (517) 451-8435 (517) 423-8369 Craig White (517) 263-3510 2009 Couple of the Year Greetings everyone, As I sit here thinking of what to say, I m once again thankful to ALL of you. This Chapter and all of GWRRA has been a joy to Vicki and I. We didn t know what to expect when we first joined but when you hear someone say GWRRA changed their life, its TRUE! We have done things and been places we hadn t been before. We meet more new friends everywhere we go. And then to have you all honor us with couple of the year tops it all. We hope to represent all of you as your ACD s and if there is anything we can help or do for you we will always do our best. Wingless Weekend has come and gone again with lots of fun had by all. We would like to thank Scott & Sherrie Griewahn for the great game. If you hadn t heard about it yet you will most likely see it put to use at our other events. Our own Chapter W won best dressed thanks to all of you that let us borrow your outfits. Fred & Randa continued their winning ways with both getting a door prize. We may not have been the largest chapter in attendance but they all knew we were there. Another big THANK YOU goes out to Mark and Pat Szymanski for the help with my bike. I would not have tackled the work on my own. This year is already moving too fast. We visited chapter C on the 1st. Chapter J had their mall show and we were well represented there with 9 of us on Saturday. The workshop in Toledo is on the 28th, meeting at the hobby lobby at 7am. April sounds like a rush with spring officers meeting on the 4th & 5th. Chapter J has the Rootin Tootin Rodeo Roundup on the 18th. We have our 22nd annual Breakfast on the 19th with our gathering after. Then the guys head for Tennessee on the 22nd. I know I will miss some other events some of you are looking forward to but I still have to work sometime. We have decided to try to camp at the rallies this year and would like to invite any of you to join us. I have heard the stories about how many of you used to camp and would like to see if we can get another group going. We will try to go to the Michigan and Region D rallies again this year so if you re interested, let us know. I am also planning on going to Stockbridge on June 21st for the ARC class. We had a good time last year even with the rain. Thank you again and like they say, Every Member Matters in Michigan. Ed & Vicki Page 2
Fred & Randa Probst Motorist Awareness... Level I Safety by Commitment How many times have you been sitting at a four-way stop and witnessed an oncoming vehicle totally blow through their own stop sign? Level II Safety by Education Maybe you have experienced basically the same thing at an intersection just as your red light turns green and someone crosses in front of you because they didn t have the courtesy to stop at their own red light? Or someone turns right in front of you as you are crossing on your green light because they didn t really stop before turning right. Are you getting the picture that intersections are one of the most dangerous places in traffic? Level III Safety by Preparedness There are all kinds of ways in which crashes can happen at an intersection. Some people try to beat the changing light by accelerating through; some people make a snap decision to turn left in front of on coming traffic; drivers going too fast for road conditions hydroplane or skid. All of these conditions could lead to tragic situations. Level IV Safety by Enhanced Commitment and Preparedness It is imperative, especially when riding a motorcycle, that we stay alert to everything going on around us. Most importantly, we must look for an escape route for every possible situation. The Motorist Awareness slogan has changed from Ride Aware to Share the Road. It is winter in Michigan and we are more than likely riding in fourwheeled vehicles, which makes us a part of that group that the Motorist Awareness Division targets. Winter roads are usually wet, slick, snowy, icy, slushy or partially sanded and salted roads. We would be wise to adhere to the same vigilance that we do when riding our two- or three- wheelers. Fred & Randa Page 3
Kent, Patty, Mark, Mike, Craig, Debbie, Dan & Fred. Confucius say: Fortune Cookie Say... You Pay Bill! Dinner NOT Free! Page 4
He shoots HE SCORES! Chapter W won the contest for the best dressed chapter using the Love Boat Cruise theme. Scott s game Toss Your Cookies was a big hit! I think I helped win the contest by using my SHORTS & HARLEY BOOTS... Page 5
Karen bowling with the Nintendo Wii. Patty tries the ski jump. Ron & Mark shooting with the Wii Crossbow. Page 6
Cal led a group of us to the mall in Jackson, then to dinner at the Hudson Grill. Hanging out at the mall... were presented with a certificate, pins & medals for being selected as our Couple of the Year. ORDER YOUR 2009 TOY RUN SHIRTS! Vicki Philo is taking orders for our 2009 Toy Run Shirts. They are black/gray/white tie dyed with shiny silver lettering. The cost is $12.00 up to XL and $13 for larger than XL. Members need to pay at the time they order. For more information contact Vicki Philo @ (517) 424-8132 YOU CAN SAVE CHAPTER W POSTAGE AND PRINTING COSTS! All you need is internet access and an email address. You will receive an email each month as soon as the newsletter is available for download. All you have to do is click the link (in the email) to bring the newsletter up on your screen. You can read or view it on your computer screen or print your own copy If you are interested please send an email to ken@vplenawee.com Or if you have any questions, Call Ken Kintner @ (517) 265-2667 Page 7
Lucky winners at the March gathering Raffle Tickets - Randa Probst 50/50 - Sherri Griewahn Chapter Pride - John Sell Upcoming Rides and Events: NATIONAL EVENTS July 2nd-5th, 2009 WING DING - Tulsa, Oklahoma REGION D EVENTS March 28th, 2009 September 17th-19th 2009 REGION D WORK SHOP - Toledo, Ohio REGION D RALLY - Celina, Ohio MICHIGAN DISTRICT EVENTS July 30th - August 1st, 2009 MICHIGAN DISTRICT RALLY - West Branch, MI CHAPTER W & Area Events Wednesday Night Dinner Rides (see calendar) March 21st March 28th March 29th April 18th April 19th April 22-26 September 25th FUN NIGHT Don & Brenda Garner s House (see calendar) The Workshop in Toledo - leave at the Hobby Lobby at 7am. Nashville, MI Pancake Breakfast - leave Hobby Lobby at 8am. Chapter J s Rootin Tootin Rodeo Roundup Chapter W Breakfast (with GATHERING AFTER) Men s Ride to Tennessee Rally (Hobby Lobby at 8am) Cookout & Camping Weekend (For more information on region & district events go to the events page on the Michigan District Website.) www.gwrra-mi.org MORE HELP WANTED! Beth DeLine has volunteered and would appreciate someone to help her with the (2010 Chapter W Breakfast) Contact Karen Papworth or Randa Probst, so they can Show you the ropes during the 2009 Breakfast! Page 8
FRIENDS FOR FUN, SAFETY AND KNOWLEDGE Visit Chapter W Monthly gatherings: Held the 2nd Sunday of every month at 9:00 a.m. at the VFW Hall located at 726 N. Main Street in Adrian. (NOTE THE APRIL GATHERING WILL BE AFTER THE BREAKFAST ON THE 19TH) CHAPTER W WEBSITE: www.gwrra-mi.org/chapter/w Page 9