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

From The Chapter Directors
- Mike & Cindy Janes

We were fortunate to hear from seven of OUR kids this year and we expect to have more next year.  We could go on and on about all the

Yes, I put the dollar amount for Chapter B at the beginning of this article, and placed the total amount raised near the end.  The

“You are saving the lives of many more children each year and bringing hope where there was formerly only despair.  In essence, you have you hand on the throttle of their very future.  I stand in awe of your judicious use of your throttle hand.  You have warmly answered the call to help the children, for which we thank you and celebrate the progress you are making for each of them.  We look forward to celebrating with you at a Ride for Kids event!” Mike Traynor.

Mike and Cindy

From The Assistant Chapter Directors
(Wet Wings Over the Smokies)
- Chris & Linda Miller

The following personnel provided good representation for AL-B at WOTS this year in Fletcher NC.

Mike Janes, Paul Neely, Steve Stelk, Kay Leonard, Julianna Polka, Tommy Reaid & Melissa Jacobs, Mike & Alice Chapman, Steven & Tammy Hollingsworth, Roger & Peg Allen, and Linda & I.

We all rode up and back in small groups. Mike, Paul and Steve soloed up on Thursday, and returned on Saturday, to beat the rain. Kay and Julianna rode up early Thursday, in order to teach a trike class, and returned with our group on Sunday. They started training on Thursday afternoon, and spent all day Friday on the range teaching the class. Tommy & Melissa drove up in Melissa’s little red convertible on Wed evening, and returned on Sunday. Steven & Tammy rode up to Pigeon Forge on Friday evening, and then rode down to Fletcher to visit the vendors with us on Saturday afternoon, before returning to Pigeon Forge.  Not sure when Roger and Peg rode up, but they said they planned to return on Monday. Mike, Alice, Linda & I rode up on Friday morning, and returned on Sunday.

The Friday weather forecast was 40% chance of rain. It was overcast when Linda & departed the house to tank-up in route to Mike & Alice’s for a 7:00 AM departure.  It was sprinkling when we arrived so we decided rain-suits were in order. While we were dawning our rain-suits, a torrential downpour moved thru Madison; so much for a dry departure.  Actually, despite the rain, we had a nice ride up to Fletcher taking the back roads through Ocoee and the parkway, arriving in Fletcher about 3:00 PM local time. It was as if the clouds that prompted the 40% rain chance followed us all the way to Fletcher, but we Goldwingers found a way to have fun and enjoy ourselves in the process. Friday, by the way was Melissa’s birthday (you’ll have to ask her how old she is), so Tommy decided to throw her a big party. We all went to Honda Direct Line’s free Bar-B-Q dinner. They had a good sale at their store front in Hendersonville, followed by some free eats.  Yes, Tommy sure knows how to wine and dine his lady.

Saturday turned out to be sunny, and great biking weather. After an excellent breakfast at J&S Cafeteria (sure wish they had these in Huntsville) we headed for the vendors. This was our first WOTS, and we’ve always heard they draw plenty of vendors. Well this certainly turned out to be true. I was shopping for lights and Linda was shopping for glitz and hats. There were several vendors that offered just about every type of light available. I understand Paul had a bunch of lights installed on his bike on Friday, and I can’t wait to see his bike in the dark.  While strolling through the vendor area, I observed a nice looking seat on a bike near one of the vendors. At first, it looked like a Corbin seat, with different trim lines. I asked the vendor what brand of seat it was, and he said it was an Ultimate seat, and they were at the rally.  Well, I found the Ultimate Seat vendor, and tried the seat. It felt great. Then I did what any self-respecting man would do; I went and found my lady to get her to try the seat. Linda liked it too. (Yea!)  I talked to Winger from Maryland who just purchased an Ultimate to replace a 1 year old Corbin. He had went on a demo ride, and said it felt great. Bigdog tried the seat, and really liked it too. He was ready to buy two seats to replace his and Alice’s Corbins, but Alice had the last word, “NO”. Linda and I (mostly me) have looked and tried different after-market seats for several years now, and always resisted the temptation to buy, but this time, we took the plunge. They didn’t have the style we wanted in stock, but if they deliver on schedule, we’ll have it for the Biloxi Rally.

On Sunday morning, we woke up to Sunshine at the hotel, even though the weather channel was showing rain coming our way.  Kay and Julianna decided to join us for the return ride. We departed with 5 bikes headed to Madison with Linda & I in the lead slot, followed by 3 ladies on trikes, and Bigdog in the tail-gunner position. We didn’t get 5 miles before the rain started. Due to a wrong-turn (not a Roy turn) GPS-Jill routed us through Maggie Valley. It was a rainy, but beautiful ride. The tension was high on the wet mountain roads in route to Cherokee.  I asked the group if anyone wanted to make a quick Deals Gap run, and Alice replied, “that’s not even funny.”  We rendezvoused with Tommy & Melissa at the Smokey Bones restaurant at I-75 Exit 5 in Chattanooga. Tommy sure knows how to give good directions.  After a good meal, we had a smooth, uneventful ride into Madison.  In spite of the wet weather, our little group did great. By the way Julianna, you did tell Mickey, we stayed under the speed limit didn’t you? Linda & I had a great time in Fletcher. It is a beautiful area, and we look forward to going back and seeing the sights. You should too you’ll love it. 

Chris & Linda
AKA Killswitch & GG AL-B ACD

REAL SURVIVORS

"O' say can you see," sang the young girl standing on the small stage, located at the Glynn County Fairgrounds.

I removed my hat and placed it over my heart until she had finished singing The Star Spangled Banner.  I lowered my head and accepted the bronze medallion.

The large crowd I was in, about three or four hundred people, began to slowly shuffle forward as the music began to play and the event began. I followed along, most of the time looking down at the ground.  But every now and then, I would look up and see the faces of thousands, upon thousands of people who lined the mile long, oval shaped track that we were now starting to walk.

Suddenly everything became quiet (to me) as if I were now someplace else and everything appeared to now move in a slow, and hazy motion.

The five to six thousand people watching us began clapping and waving their hands.  Thousands cheered at the top of their voices, for all of us who wore the "bronze medallion."

As we slowly walked, I raised my eyes up from the ground and I looked directly into their faces as I passed.  Their hands stretched outward towards us as if they wanted to hug us.  I looked back at the ground and I silently wondered if any of those people really knew how we felt inside. Or why they should really care about us, one way or the other.

They continued to cheer, on and on, as red, white and black balloons were being released into the heavens, and the bagpipes played at the front of the procession.  It was if we had become champions of something special and were now being cheered on by thousands of Romans who lined the streets of Rome itself.

From out of no where came this wonderful, overpowering feeling which I cannot describe in written word.  It was something that I have never known as a human being.  My jaw began to quiver and my eyes began to water.

The crowd continued to yell and cheer as loud as they could.  When I looked up into the eyes of the massive crowd, I saw thousands of white, black, brown and yellow smiling faces.  Smile after smile.  Clap, after clap.  Cheer after cheer.  It never seemed to end.  Twelve thousand clapping hands.  Clapping more loudly than I have ever heard in my entire lifetime.

Smiles, laughter and sounds of joy like I have never known.  I felt as if we had just given the performance of our lives and were being congratulated for a job well done.  For twenty five minutes we walked before we reached the end of the mile long track.  Still the crowd kept cheering and clapping and they would not stop.

By now, I could take no more.  The tears began to stream down my cheeks and I felt so proud.  I looked to my right and I smiled, just a little smile, at the young six year old girl who had no hair.  I looked to my left and looked into the face of my friend, Sharen, who less than a year ago had her breast removed.  I cried when I thought back to the time when I was told that I had cancer, and that I had less than six months to live.

Once again, I looked up into the cheering faces and closed my eyes to force out the tears, and listened to the thousands upon thousands of clapping hands, cheering us on.

The 21,416 candles, in white and gold paper bags, which lined the track, were now all lit, and glowing in the darkness.  Those candles burned memorial to those of us who survived, as well as those who were not able to be there to walk the American Cancer Society's Relay For Life.

-- Roger Dean Kiser, Sr.

October 2006 District News
– From the District Director

Snowball and the Officers Conference are coming up in January.  Start making plans now to be there.  Plans have been finalized at the Embassy Suites again for next time.  The number for room reservations is 334-269-5055.  Use code GWR when calling for a room.  We will do the financial reports again on Friday evening this year.  If you can’t make it Friday evening, we’ll take care of it Saturday morning so it will not take away from the Officers Conference.  Remember all CDs, ACDs and Rider Ed people need to be there for the Officers Conference.  The conference will start at 4:30 PM.

Speaking of finances, I have received word from Phoenix that all Chapter charter fees are due to be received by me no later than November 30 this year.  There has also been a change made in submitting the financial reports. You do not have to submit bank statement copies this year.  You do however need to submit a chapter inventory form.  Please make sure your treasurer gets this information.  If you have changed CD during the year, you must do a financial report and an inventory sheet at the time of the change.  There will also be one due Dec 31 from the new CD.

We want to thank each of you that attended the Region Rally in Perry, FL and assisted in any way.  We have a special group in Alabama and we are proud to count each of you as friends.  There were over 700 in attendance at the Region Rally and 146 bikes rode in the parade downtown.

The chapters that ordered hanger bars should have them by the time you get this letter.  I also have web master patches for those chapters that want them.  Just let me know.  They are $5.00 each.

At the fifth annual Birmingham Ride for Kids, a sunny day greeted nearly 400 fundraisers at the Pelham Civic Complex. A police escort took the riders through rural Alabama on the way to the Barber Motorsports Complex, a thrilling venue for any motorcycling enthusiast.  The stirring Celebration of Life program featured eight local brain tumor survivors, from 3-year-old Avery to 13-year-old Ryan.  Another special guest was state Sen. Hank Erwin, who said the governor had proclaimed Sept 17, 2006 as Ride for Kids Day in Alabama. The group also heard from Dr. Yancey Gillespie, a brain tumor researcher at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and his colleague Dr. Alyssa Reddy, a pediatric oncologist. "We're entering a new era where there is now a wave of new options for the treatment of brain tumors, where before there were very few," Reddy said. The total raised in Birmingham was $69,444. The top individual fundraisers were Joyce and Bill Smith of Alabaster, Ala., who brought $11,200.  Roy & Anita Fosnight turned in the 3rd highest amount as individual fundraisers with $3000.00.  The top club was GWRRA AL Chapter B (Rocket City Wings) of Huntsville, whose members raised $12,648.  Chapter K members raised $1160 and was 5th.  Chapter Q Members raised $1669 and was 4th.  Chris Miller of Madison, AL, (Chapter B), won the Honda motorcycle drawing and Roy Fosnight won a new tire.  Congratulations to all of you and thanks for a job well done!

The customers of Big #1 Motorsports in Homewood, Ala., turned in $11,080 to make it the top motorcycle business.

Don’t forget the Rally pin contest for our 2007 Rally in Mobile.  Send me your designs.  You could be the winner and get $100 and 2 Rally registrations.  So far I have three entries.  Requirements for the design are, Alabama District Rally, 25th Anniversary, GWRRA or logo, March 29-31, 2007 and Mobil, AL.  The deadline for entries is Nov. 1, 2006.

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

October 2006 District News
– From the Assistant District Director

Hi Folks,

Last year at Snowball we put into place a couple of new programs. The first was the traveling IT. Boy have we had some fun with IT. IT started out with Chapter N and went to Chapter A, then to Y then to U, then to O, L, Z Q and finally to M. As I understand IT has IT’s own suitcase and wardrobe now. There are many chapters that haven’t had the opportunity to have IT but we still have a few months before Snowball to get IT to as many chapters as possible. Next year we will be looking for something similar to involve the chapters once again.

The second new program is not new but simply a change in the way we determine the numbers. This is the most active chapter award. In the past large chapters have always had the edge when competing for this award. This year we are determining the most active chapter by percentages. For instance if you have an average of  10 people attend your business meeting and there are 5 weeks in the month then in order to have 100% activity you would have to have 50 people attend chapter events for the month. Likewise if you have an average of 50 people attend your business meetings and there are  five weeks in the month you would need to have 250 people attend events in order to have the same 100% activity level. Business meeting averages are adjusted by 10% of the total number of people available in your area as reported on the Green bar report from National  so it is not based completely on the business meeting numbers alone but your potential membership as well. Most of the chapters have been reporting their activity to me and the numbers are very interesting. I’ll share them with you at Snowball.

The rally will be here before you know it. Currently the Malaga Inn have half their rooms filled and the Ramada is about 1/3 filled. There was some confusion at the Ramada concerning room availability but that should have been resolved. Once those are filled give me a call, I’ll try to help you locate another hotel in the area.

This year's rally promises to be better than the last. We are having a TRC and ERC course starting on Thursday morning. We are having two cruises, Friday afternoon and Saturday evening. We will have more seminars and courses to include CPR and First Aid, News letters, Round Table discussions, Road Captains and Co-Riders. The talent show, lighted bike show, Mascot, Banner, Newsletter, Best Dressed, and Scrapbook competition will be back and we will have the auction once again. The door prizes will be distributed differently  this year and on Thursday night there will be a cake and ice cream social, hamburgers on Friday night, a dunking booth will be in the vendor area where you will be able to try to dunk some of your favorite leaders. We hope to make this a chapter challenge but there will be a twist to this one. You will receive 3 balls to throw for $5 and a ticket. That ticket will be placed in a barrel and at closing ceremonies a ticket will be drawn and half the money raised will be awarded to the lucky person. We will have a  poker run, tours, approximately 50 vendors, and for closing we will once again have our Mardi Gras Queens and their courts. This year there should be some additional Queens so if you saw the one last year don’t expect to see the same display as new Queens have taken their places. We will once again give away at least two sets of tires and the grand prize money will once again be more than last year. As our attendance increases so will the prize money. In keeping with the spirit of Mardi Gras we will have a crazy hat competition. Costumes are encouraged but the hats will be judged on Thursday night.

Yes, we have it going on for the Rally. It is our 25th anniversary and we plan to do it right. This year our hospitality suite will be across the street from the Civic Center in the Malaga Inn Courtyard. Be sure to turn in your Rally registration as soon as possible. We need you there.

Jim & Karen Lee

Trike Tattles - October 2006

TRIKE RIDER COURSE TO BE HELD AT ALABAMA DISTRICT RALLY

In keeping with our commitment to making Trike Rider Courses (TRCs) more readily available, there will be one or more TRCs offered at the 2007 Alabama District Rally in Mobile, March 29th, 30th, and 31st.  There is an updated Registration form but as of this writing has not been placed on the District Website.  The information shows the cost of the course is $50.00 per person.  It includes lunch and upon completion of the course there will be a partial refund.  Once you send in your registration you will be notified of availability. .  If you have already registered, please email Jim Lee, jim :lee *ico npap er:com  and he will send you all the pertinent data, cost, etc.  to get you registered.  The upfront cost is $50 per person.  A portion of that fee may be refunded when you successfully complete the course.  We would really like to fill 2 classes (a total of 24 trikes) to show the District Staff that we were serious when we said "you offer the course, and they will come!".  The actual time and place of the course has not yet been fully finalized, but it is very likely that the course will be held on Thursday March 29th

For those of you wanting to take a TRC, but will not be able to attend the Mobile Rally, please contact your Chapter Ride Educator and ask that they get in touch with Kay Leonard, kay :leo nard *kno logy :net  (see next paragraph).  As long as your Chapter Ride Educator is willing to assist Kay with finding an appropriate classroom and range for the course, she is willing to hold additional TRCs for our members.  In general, the TRC involves a 2.5 - 3 hour classroom portion followed by a 3 - 4 hour range portion.  An added plus  is having Kay be our TRC Instructor.  She is an actual Triker so theory will be backed up with experience!

As Kay told you in last month's Trike Tattles, there have been some "big changes at the top".  The GWRRA Trike SIG program is now part of the International Membership Enhancement Division.  Bob Larsen has assumed the role of International Trike SIG Coordinator.  Some of the other changes that Kay mentioned were coming, have now arrived.  Kay has assumed the role of Assistant International Trike SIG Coordinator - Education.  In her position, she will be promoting the development of more safety training programs and seminars for trikers.  She will also be working with all the Regions and Districts to improve the availability of Trike Rider Courses (TRCs) to our members.  We also are in the process of updating DRAMATICALLY the Trike SIG website (http://sig.gwrra.org/trike/).  It is not quite ready, but keep checking.  We hope to have it up and running within the next couple of weeks.  One of the key features with invaluable information on the site will be a list of all upcoming Trike Rider Courses and safety seminars

Changes in Trike SIG International that involve myself will be a big step for me. .  I will be doing a Trike SIG International newsletter that can be read on our new website (see above).    I encourage any of our trikers (actually I plead with you) to send me articles of interest pertaining to what you have been doing in your Chapters for your trikers within the context of Fun, Safety and Knowledge.  I need information to send information.

I have stepped down from my position as the Alabama District Trike SIG Coordinator and have stepped up to the role of Region A Trike SIG Coordinator.  It is now time to move on to other states in Region A and try to get their Trikers and Ride Educators involved with Fun, Safety and Knowledge within GWRRA under Trike SIG.  I want to re-activate participation and activities in our Special Interest Group.  What does that mean for Alabama?    I will be calling for a new District AL Coordinator, preferably from the central portion of the state.  If we could then appoint an Assistant District Coordinators for the Northern and Southern portions of the state it would not sound like such an awesome volunteered position.  The duties are not that difficult..mainly it is to carry on keeping our data base up to date and keeping the lines of communication open to all AL trikers by encouraging them to get on the database.  The fun part will be to plan on a trike hike at rallies or games at rallies.  Now we can really make it simpler if each Chapter would have its own Trike SIG Coordinator to ensure that all of our members receive information in a timely manner and to welcome them to the database.  Please contact me if you would like to fill one of those roles. Help me help you.

There are exciting new things happening in the world of the Trike SIG.  We do still have a few more surprises in store for you.  Just keep watching your Inbox

I am excited about what WE can accomplish together.  We all started from a Special Interest Group of folks that rode on a Gold Wing.  How wonderful that we are GWRRA International Trike Special Interest Group dedicated to making friends through Fun, Safety, and Knowledge.  Visit our Home Page!!!!  http://sig.gwrra.org/trike/

Ride Safe - 
Ride with the Eyes of an Eagle.

Julianna Polka,
GWRRA Trike SIG,
Region A, Coordinator

Home Office Announces New Executive Director

(Phoenix, Arizona--September 28, 2006) Last week, GWRRA Chairman of the Board Paul Hildebrand announced Don Brock's resignation as the Association's Executive Director and the appointment of Jim Hodge as the Association's new International Director of Operations. Paul noted, however, that he would take some time to decide who would take over leadership of the business side of the Association.

Today, Paul says he is happy to announce the appointment of Melissa Nordeoff, GWRRA's first female Executive Director, to that position. "I'm certain Melissa will form a close team with Jim Hodge, so that while Jim will primarily help the field officers, Melissa will team up with Jim on national and corporate issues," Paul says. "She'll ensure the processes and activities of the Home Office are seamless and friendly to our Membership."

Paul goes on to say that he's worked with Melissa for over 10 years and that she always excels at whatever she takes on. "And, being younger than most current Members, she has new ideas, concepts, and questions that some of us 'ol' fogies' can't think about--much less remember," he adds laughingly.

Melissa says she remembers much about GWRRA from her very youngest years (she's been a Member since birth), especially the "Friends for Fun" part. But she says one of her fondest--and most impressionable--memories took place at 1992's Wing Ding when she was able to help work the Goodie Booth.

"When I was first able to participate and spend time with the volunteers," Melissa says, "I realized whether anyone knew who you were or not, everybody had a smile for you; everybody said, 'Hey, how's it going?'; everybody watched out for each other. And it was such a warm, friendly atmosphere that I've never been able to feel anywhere else. It was fun."

Indeed Melissa, who says many of her "new" ideas actually revolve around the Association's roots of volunteerism and motto of "Friends for Fun, Safety & Knowledge" is certainly qualified to offer advice. Most recently, she has served as the Operations Manager for GWRRA and has trained a very good staff of professional customer service people.

Melissa says she'll work on programs that--first and foremost--show appreciation for GWRRA's many volunteers and Members. In fact, Melissa is responsible for developing the sub-theme of GWRRA's National and International 30th Anniversary Events--"Giving Back to the Members." And, among the first qualities she lists as her personal qualifications for the position, is her desire to help our Family.

"And now I want to help give more appreciation to the volunteers and the Members for everything they do," Melissa says. "After all, they're the reason we've been here for 30 years."

Email:  mno rdeo ff*g wrra :org
Phone: 623-581-2500 X212

Bud Abbott and Lou Costello
in the computer age

You have to be old enough to remember Abbott and Costello, and too old to REALLY understand computers, to fully appreciate this.? For those of us who sometimes get flustered by our computers, please read on...

If Bud Abbott and Lou Costello were alive today, their infamous sketch, "Who's on First?" might have turned out something like this:

Super Duper computer store. Can I help you?	Thanks. I'm setting up an office in my den and I'm thinking about buying a computer.
Mac?	No, the name's Lou.
Your computer?	I don't own a computer. I want to buy one.
Mac?	I told you, my name's Lou.
What about Windows?	Why? Will it get stuffy in here?
Do you want a computer with Windows?	I don't know. What will I see when I look at the windows?
Wallpaper.	Never mind the windows. I need a computer and software.
Software for Windows?	No. On the computer! I need something I can use to write proposals, track expenses and run my business. What do you have?
Office.	Yeah, for my office. Can you recommend anything?
I just did.	You just did what?
Recommend something.	You recommended something?
Yes.	For my office?
Yes.	OK, what did you recommend for my office?
Office.	Yes, for my office!
I recommend Office with Windows.	I already have an office with windows! OK, let's just say I'm sitting at my computer and I want to type a proposal.  What do I need?
Word.	What word?
Word in Office.	The only word in office is office.
The Word in Office for Windows.	Which word in office for windows?
The Word you get when you click the blue "W".	I'm going to click your blue "w" if you don't start with some straight answers. What about financial bookkeeping? You have anything I can track my money with?
Money.	That's right. What do you have?
Money.	I need money to track my money?
It comes bundled with your computer.	What's bundled with my computer?
Money.	Money comes with my computer?
Yes. No extra charge.	I get a bundle of money with my computer? How much?
One copy.	Isn't it illegal to copy money?
Microsoft gave us a license to copy Money.	They can give you a license to copy money?
Why not? THEY OWN IT!
(A few days later)
Super Duper computer store. Can I help you?	How do I turn my computer off?
Click on "START"

October 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.

October - 2006

November - 2006