Rocket City Wings Huntsville, Alabama -- Chapter B, Region A Friends for Fun, Safety & Knowledge August 2006

From The Chapter Directors
- Mike & Cindy Janes

According to the pictures on the Rocket City web page, and stories being told,

Take a look at the District Director’s newsletter article.  There were

The District Staff has finalized most of the plans for the District Rally and they made some changes that you will really appreciate.  Jim Lee does a great job describing the plans for the

As for more immediate concerns and projects;

The best news is;

Many of you have read about Sabrina Campbell’s daughter in our web page Forum.  Sabrina’s daughter, Misty has been seriously injured in a car accident.  The good news came Wednesday afternoon that Misty had been moved to a private room.  Jut prior to finishing this newsletter, I received word that Misty has been released from the Hospital.  Sabrina and Misty have a difficult year of recovery ahead of them now, so keep them in your prayers.  Please be aware when you are riding and driving that the traffic volume and inattentive drivers are increasing rapidly, you must be extra cautious.  Come ride with us soon.

Mike and Cindy

Support the next Ride For Kids Breakfast on August 12th

The May 20th Ride For Kids Breakfast raised $882.50.  Now we need everyone's support to make the August 12th breakfast even better.  There are 2 things that everyone in the Chapter can do to help this fund raiser be a success.  1) Pre-sell tickets to the event so that we can get an estimate for Applebee's as to how many people to expect, 2) Come to the breakfast and help serve, bus tables, greet people, or work in the kitchen.

Bill Leonard will have the tickets with him at the July meeting.  If you have not already done so, please check out a sheet (10) of tickets to sell to your friends, family, or co-workers.  The money raised and/or the left over tickets will need to be turned in at the August meeting (August 8th).  So far, only 5 sheets of tickets have been checked out, so we really need your support for pre-selling tickets.  If you would like to get a sheet (or sheets!) of tickets before the July meeting, just contact Bill or Kay (864-3121 - Hos pita lity) and we will arrange to get them to you.

We need everyone's help at the breakfast to make it a success.  If you can help out, please be at Applebee's about 6:45 am on Saturday August 12th so that we can get organized before the guests start arriving.  If you can't make it that early, but can come later, COME!  You can relieve someone who has been working, so that know one has to do that much work.  We will be serving from 7:15 am to 9:45 am.  We are responsible for straightening up the restaurant before we leave so that it is ready to open for their regular lunch crowd.

We need everyone's support to make this a success!

August 2006 District News

Sure hope you got a chance to make Wing Ding in Nashville.  The hotel was beautiful, although there was a lot of walking involved getting from one place to another.  Some folks had a problem getting their room.  We didn’t go to Smiley Hollow, but I was told by a number of folks that it was not what they expected.  Lots of time spent waiting in line for food, etc.

There were some records set this year!  Largest Gold Wing parade with 1246 Gold Wings.  Guinness Book of World Records was there to document it.  So, if you were in the parade, you are a part of history!  There were 13,500+ in attendance this year.  Jon & Diane Klaaren made all of Region A proud, even though they were not selected as the International Couple of the Year.  The Region D couple from Ohio was selected.  Jon & Diane, we are extremely proud of you!  Jon and Diane are now the Alabama District MED/PR coordinators.  Donnie and Charlotte told me of there decision to step down a couple of months ago and we decided to wait till after Wing Ding to make it official.  Thanks Donnie and Charlotte for the time and effort you have devoted to Alabama and our members, and congratulations to Jon & Diane!

Alabama had the duty of working on-site registration this year.  Dian & I appreciate all of you that spent some time helping out.  Without you we couldn’t have handled it.  You are the greatest!  Please pass our thanks on to your folks that turned out to help.  For those of you that didn’t get to make it to Nashville and Wing Ding, you missed a great time.  I’m sure you have all heard that Wing Ding will be in Billings, MT next year.  Here’s your chance to take that trip out west and make Wing Ding at the same time.  If you think there’s a chance you will go, you need to make your room reservation soon.  The hotels are already getting full. Speaking of reservations, please get your registration in to Jim Lee for our 25th Anniversary in Mobile next March 29-31, 2007.  We have some new and great events planned for this one.  Snowball and the Officers Conference are coming up in January.  Start making plans now to be there. 

Don’t forget the Rally pin contest for our 2007 Rally in Mobile.  Send me your designs.  You could be a winner and get $100 and 2 Rally registrations.  So far I only have one entry.  Requirements for the design are, Alabama District Rally, 25th Anniversary, GWRRA or logo, March 29-31, 2007 and Mobil, AL

We held a District Staff meeting at Wing Ding this year to discuss some new ideas.  All Chapter Directors were invited.  We discussed the idea of having 2 District picnics a year instead of one.  This would be to benefit the Chapters financially.  The District would furnish and cook the food.  Each attendee would pay to eat, buy 50/50 and grand tickets.  All the money collected would go to the chapters based on the number of participants from each chapter.  One picnic would be in the north and one in the south at different times of the year.  Probably be in the south in the spring and the north in the fall in order to have the best weather conditions.  Hopefully this would eliminate the need for each chapter to have a separate Fun Day.  This does not mean you could not have a Fun Day if your Chapter so desires.  We also discussed Snowball and Officers Conference as well as the Mobile Rally. 

Start making plans now for the Region A Rally in Perry, FL.  This is shaping up to be a great Rally.  Sure hope you don’t miss this one in a new location that promises to be fantastic.  The date is August 31-Sept 2.  Perry is about 40 miles south of Tallahassee.  The Rally will take place at the 4-H center.  There will be a parade down town and the lighted bike show will take place down town at the end of the parade route.  There will also be a street party sponsored by the city.  Sounds like it will be loads of fun!  Come on down.

Please keep our Military folks and all those who are sick and recovering in your prayers.  Till next time, Hug someone you love and don’t forget to wave.

Bill & Dian

August 2006 District News
– From the Assistant District Director

If you noticed, I have been silent about the Alabama Rally to this point. Well folks it’s time to start talking about what is in store. We have some surprises for you and I hope you like.

1. This year at the rally we will conduct certified GWRRA courses for both ERC two wheels and Trikes. That’s right we will have a ERC course and a Trike course. At least one of these course will start on Thursday morning prior to registration. The schedule will be determined later. Just know it is our hopes to provide the safety training so needed in the state and the rally is a good place to start. Space is limited so if you want to attend either of these classes you will need to confirm your desire on your registration form. I will in turn notify you if a seat is available and then you can send in your $50. A portion of this money will be returned. We will keep the portion required to pay for materials, expenses and secure the parking lot. Lunch will be provided.
   
   
2. We will have two cruises this year. At least we have two scheduled. If we don’t have enough participation in one of them the people signed up for that cruise will be given the option to go on the other.
   
   
3. We plan to have a dunking booth. Chapter directors and District Staff stand by for the members are going to get their chance to dunk us. This will be conducted a little different than most dunking booths. What we will be doing is selling balls to throw and for each ball you purchase you will receive a 50/50 ticket. Not only will the lucky winner get half the pot but also get to try to dunk some of their favorite targets. How’s that for a twisted 50/50.
   
   
4. This year we will not have the indoor games. Instead we will simply give away door prizes. You will have the opportunity to purchase door prize tickets instead of playing the games. This will reduce the amount of people needed to work and make door prize distribution more fair. As we know there are always some games that give more tickets than others and interest in the games has been falling away.
   
   
5. We are searching for a band to play after the talent show. If we don’t get a band we may simply get a disc jockey and have karaoke. This one hasn’t been decided yet.
   
   
6. As you know our problems with the Lafayette Hotel will no longer be an issue. Our host hotels are the Malaga and Ramada Inn. Parking will no longer be a problem as both the Ramada and Malaga have large fenced parking lots.
   
   
7. The hospitality suite will be at the Malaga Inn Courtyard. This is a lovely courtyard across the street from the Civic Center complete with tables and chairs outside. Should the weather turn bad we will move it inside.
   
   
8. We are planning a cookout at the Ramada Inn on Friday night prior to the talent show.
   
   
9. The lighted bike show will be on Thursday night in the Civic Center in conjunction with the Ice Cream Social.
   
   
10. We will have tours of the area once again.
    
    
11. We will have a road captains course again.
    
    
12. We have new vendors interested in our rally and hope to have them attend.
    
    
13. The Grand Prizes will be $2500, $1000, $500 and we don’t plan to throw darts.
    
    
14. ...

Wow and we are just getting started. Make plans for the rally now. Get your pre-registration forms in as soon as possible and if you intend to take one of the cruises you need to indicate on the registration form which night you prefer to secure your tickets. Don’t forget to indicate if you want to attend one of the motorcycle courses (Trike or ERC). 

Jim & Karen Lee

August  2006 -  AL-B Ride Schedule

• Unless otherwise indicated, all rides will leave from the ride meeting place at scheduled time.
• As a courtesy to all members, it is important to be ready to leave at the departure time.
• All bikes should be fueled and bladders emptied ahead of time.
• We plan a variety of rides.  Time and money might make it hard to make all events.  We hope this variety will give you an opportunity to pick and choose, and at least enjoy some of them.
• If the weather is bad--come in your car.
• If you have a CB, you will find us on Channel 1 (unless noted otherwise by the ride leader).
  
  
• We need your ride suggestions!! Please e-mail us at Rid eCoo rdin ator with any and all ideas.

August - 2006

1	Tue	Supper at  Mountain View -- 6:00pm - 6762 U.S. 431 S
		CMA - Huntsville Forgiven Riders -- Ryan's on University Drive - Eat 6:00pm / Meet 6:45pm
3	Thu	Bike Night at Sonic -- off Hwy 20 on Wall Triana, Madison, at 6:00pm. Then Bruister's Ice Cream on County Line Rd.
4	Fri	Steel Horse Stampede -- Franklin, TN
5	Sat	Left/Right/Straight Ride -- 9:00am - Depart Favorite Mkt - Conoco station located at Old Railroad Bed Road and Highway 72
		AL-K (Shoals Wings) Meeting -- Florence, Underwood Community Center 840 County Rd. 7, eat 8:00am / meet 9:00am
		AL-N (Coosa Valley) Meeting -- Western Sizzlin, 209 W. Grand Ave (Hwy 77) Rainbow City, AL. Eat 5:00pm / Meet 6:00pm.
6	Sun	Breakfast at Mullins -- 8:30am - 607 Andrew Jackson Way NE, Huntsville. Ride TBD.
		Cathedral Caverns -- 12:30pm - Depart Moores Mill Shell - Shell station located on Highway 72 near Moores Mill Road. Caverns open 9-4 daily – Admission $8.00
7	Mon	Sturgis Rally -- Sturgis, SD
8	Tue	Rocket City Wings meeting -- Ryan's, S. Pkwy, Huntsville.  Eat 6:00pm / Meet 6:45pm
		AL-I - Breakfast ride to Davy Crocket Park, TN -- Meet 7:30am at IHOP, Decatur, Depart after breakfast 8:15-8:30am
		AL-Y (Liberty Wings) Meeting -- Neighborhood Sports Grill, Hwy 11 Near I-459, Trussville, AL. Eat 6:00pm / Meet 7:00pm.
10	Thu	Bike Night at Sonic -- off Hwy 20 on Wall Triana, Madison, at 6:00pm. Then Bruister's Ice Cream on County Line Rd.
		TN-G (Volunteer Wings) Meeting -- Tullahoma, TN. Ponderosa, Eat 6:00pm / Meet 7:00pm
11	Fri	Breakfast at Little Diner -- 8:30am - 1219 Jordan Lane, Ride TBD
12	Sat	Ride for Kids Pancake Breakfast -- 7:00am until 10:00am (workers)
		Ocoee Whitewater Rafting -- 10:00am - Depart Madison Applebee's after Pancake breakfast. 4:30 Rafting Reservation/$40-$46/person – Overnight stay optional
		TN-Z Meeting -- Catfish Campus on James Cambell Blvd, Columbia, TN. Eat 5:30pm / Meet 6:30pm.
13	Sun	Breakfast ride to Jack's in Cullman -- 8:00am - Madison CB/Shell - Shell station in front of the Cracker Barrel in Madison
14	Mon	AL-E Meeting -- Fish Creel Restaurant, Hwy 207, Anderson, AL - Eat 6:00pm / Meet 7:00pm
15	Tue	Birthday Dinner at Casa Blanca -- 6:00pm - 140 Browns Ferry Rd, Madison
17	Thu	Bike Night at Sonic -- off Hwy 20 on Wall Triana, Madison, at 6:00pm. Then Bruister's Ice Cream on County Line Rd.
		TN-V (Choo Choo Wings) Meeting -- Ryan's Steak House, Lee Hwy, Chattanooga, TN. Eat 6:30pm / Meet 7:30pm.
18	Fri	Sturgis Mississippi Rally
19	Sat	Picnic at Davy Crockett State Park / Lawrenceburg, TN -- 3:00pm - Depart Favorite Mkt - Conoco station located at Old Railroad Bed Road and Highway 72. Afternoon picnic/Bring food (or) grab dinner at the local KFC to take into the park.
		Bikers Against Child Abuse - Poker Run -- Hooter's on University. Reg: 10am, FBO: 11am LBI: 3pm. $10/hand. Activities: Hooter's Girls Bike Wash, 50/50 Drawing, Door Prizes
20	Sun	Breakfast at Mullins -- 8:30am - 607 Andrew Jackson Way NE, Huntsville. Ride TBD
		Ride For Kids Meeting / Bill and Joyce’s House / Pelham, AL -- 12:00 noon - Madison CB/Shell - Shell station in front of the Cracker Barrel in Madison, AL
		Ride to Lynnville, TN -- 2:00pm - Depart Favorite Mkt - Conoco station located at Old Railroad Bed Road and Highway 72
		CMA - Biker Sunday at Life Church -- Morning and evening services with lunch served (More details to come)
21	Mon	Staff Meeting (All Welcome) -- 6:00pm - Country Vittles - 7121 University Drive NW (Just East of Slaughter Rd)
		Iron Butt Rally
22	Tue	Dinner at Donato's Pizza -- 6:00pm - 7500 S Memorial Parkway
		AL-I (Point Mallard Wings) Meeting -- Barnhill's, 1702 Beltline, Decatur. Eat 6:00pm / Meet 7:00pm
24	Thu	Bike Night at Sonic -- off Hwy 20 on Wall Triana, Madison, at 6:00pm. Then Bruister's Ice Cream on County Line Rd.
		GWRRA - Kentucky District’s "Blue Grass Blast"
25	Fri	Breakfast at Little Diner -- 8:30am - 1219 Jordan Lane, Ride TBD
26	Sat	Ride For Kids Poker Run / National Guard Amory, Pelham -- 10:00am - Depart Madison CB/Shell - Shell station in front of the Cracker Barrel in Madison (Silent auction 5:00-6:00, Loud auction afterward)
27	Sun	Breakfast at Mullins -- 8:30am - 607 Andrew Jackson Way NE, Huntsville. Ride TBD
		Buck’s Pocket State Park / Guntersville, AL -- 1:00pm - Depart Moores Mill Shell - Shell station located on Highway 72 near Moores Mill Road. Meet Rich and Nancy at Country Cruisers.
		TN-R Meeting -- Rachel's Restaurant, Hwy 431, Fayetteville, TN. Eat 8:00am / Meet 9:00am.
29	Tue	Supper at Po Boy Factory -- 6:00pm - 815 Andrew Jackson Way
31	Thu	Bike Night at Sonic -- off Hwy 20 on Wall Triana, Madison, at 6:00pm. Then Bruister's Ice Cream on County Line Rd.
		GWRRA - Region A Rally

September - 2006

1	Fri	Motorcycle Jubilee
		Three Flags Classic -- Start: Tijuana, BC, Mexico - Finish: Calgary, AB, Canada.  Approximately 2500 miles over five days.
2	Sat	Seafood Fest – Guntersville -- 10:00am - Depart Hardee's Governor's Dr - Hardee's across from Huntsville Hospital
		AL-K (Shoals Wings) Meeting -- Florence, Underwood Community Center 840 County Rd. 7, eat 8:00am / meet 9:00am
		AL-N (Coosa Valley) Meeting -- Western Sizzlin, 209 W. Grand Ave (Hwy 77) Rainbow City, AL. Eat 5:00pm / Meet 6:00pm.
3	Sun	Breakfast at Mullins -- 8:30am - 607 Andrew Jackson Way NE, Huntsville. Ride TBD
		Moonlight Ride -- 8:00pm - Depart Barnes & Noble / Target Shopping Center – Jones Valley. Pit Stop at Rich and Nancy’s
4	Mon	Mountain Ride and picnic at Green Mountain Nature Park -- 11:00am - Depart Hardee's Governor's Dr - Hardee's across from Huntsville Hospital
		Labor Holiday
5	Tue	Dinner at Gibson's -- 6:00pm - 3319 S Memorial Pky
		CMA - Huntsville Forgiven Riders -- Ryan's on University Drive - Eat 6:00pm / Meet 6:45pm
7	Thu	Bike Night at Sonic -- off Hwy 20 on Wall Triana, Madison, at 6:00pm. Then Bruister's Ice Cream on County Line Rd.
8	Fri	Breakfast at Little Diner -- 8:30am - 1219 Jordan Lane, Ride TBD
9	Sat	Hurricane Mills TN (Lorretta Lynn's Dude Ranch) -- 7:30am - Depart Favorite Mkt - Conoco station located at Old Railroad Bed Road and Highway 72. Dinner/Lunch Groups Choice.
		TN-Z Meeting -- Catfish Campus on James Cambell Blvd, Columbia, TN. Eat 5:30pm / Meet 6:30pm.
		March of Dimes Ride
10	Sun	Breakfast at Mullins -- 8:30am - 607 Andrew Jackson Way NE, Huntsville. Ride TBD
		Progressive Dinner Ride -- 1:00pm - Starts at Roy and Anita’s House
11	Mon	AL-E Meeting -- Fish Creel Restaurant, Hwy 207, Anderson, AL - Eat 6:00pm / Meet 7:00pm
		Patriot Day -- Terrorist Attack on NY and DC Anniversary
12	Tue	Rocket City Wings meeting -- Ryan's, S. Pkwy, Huntsville.  Eat 6:00pm / Meet 6:45pm
		AL-Y (Liberty Wings) Meeting -- Neighborhood Sports Grill, Hwy 11 Near I-459, Trussville, AL. Eat 6:00pm / Meet 7:00pm.

Ride Maps & Directions

RIDE TO HURRICANE MILLS

Summary:  302.4 miles (6 hours, 34 minutes)