April - N2
Transcription
April - N2
The N2 Buzz April 2015 Gold Wing Road Riders Association FRIENDS FOR FUN, SAFETY, AND KNOWLEDGE Texas District South Central Region H Chapter N2 Humble, Texas Monthly Gatherings - 4th Saturday, 6:00 p.m. American Legion Hall 307 Charles Street, Humble TX 77338 2015 Chapter N2 - Humble, TX Page 2 INSIDE THIS ISSUE... Monthly Meeting/Ride Location Map Chapter N-2 Staff Birthdays and Anniversaries Texas District Staff Dates to Remember News from the Chapter Directors News from the Assistant Chapter Directors News from the Chapter Educator MEC Spotlight News from the Chapter Events Coordinator Kudos News from the Camping Coordinators Get Well Wishes Social Dinner Schedule George’s Words of Wisdom March Participation Report This & That Calendars Region H Chapter Challenge Meet us at the Hobo Hop in Marshall, TX Texas District Rally Let’s Get Ready to Rally! Temple of Goldwingers By the Book Members Business Cards Chapter N2 - Humble, TX 2015 Page 3 Chapter N2 Staff - 2015 (www.gwrra-n2-humbletx.com) Asst. Chapter Dir. George & Linda Stich Chapter Directors Randy & Sharon Rainwater 281-360-4577 / 281-794-1909 281-812-0997 / 832-264-2005 [email protected] / [email protected] [email protected] / [email protected] Chapter Educator/MAD Coord. Kenny Shults 281-642-4619 Treasurer Robin Smith 832-434-2991 [email protected] Newsletter Editor Sharon Rainwater 281-360-4577 [email protected] Ways N Means Randy Rainwater 281-360-4577 [email protected] Scrapbook Coordinator Karen Frazier 281-615-1365 [email protected] MEC Steve & Linda Seligman Camping Coordinators Rex & Ann Nix 713-231-4604 [email protected] Chapter N2 Email Address [email protected] Events Coordinator Billie Fleming 832-630-2293 [email protected] Website www.gwrra-n2-humbletx.com 2015 Couple of the Year 713-305-0225 / 281-844-6207 [email protected] [email protected] Web Master Brad Rodger 281-687-3267 [email protected] April 2015 Birthdays May 2015 Birthdays Steve Seligman 4/20 Ann Nix 5/24 Jim Flournoy 4/24 Jerry Barnett 5/27 Wedding Anniversaries Wedding Anniversaries David & Cathy Southwell 4/24 GWRRA Anniversaries GWRRA Anniversaries Randy & Sharon Rainwater 4/2003 Steve & Linda Seligman 4/2005 Jim & Lynn Flournoy 4/1989 Paul & Mari Rich 4/1998 Adrian Summers 4/2011 Mike & Robin Thacker 4/2004 Marty & Donna Uphoff 4/2012 2015 Page 4 Chapter N2 - Humble, TX Texas District Staff - (Texas District Website - www.gwrra-tx.org) District Directors Mike & Robin Thacker 281-686-8892 [email protected] Assistant District Directors Tom & Dawn Sprague 858-755-6071 TxADD2@gwrra-tx-org District Rider Educators Lynn & Cindy Harris 386-846-8521 [email protected] Couple of the Year 2014/2015 Cliff & Gillian Allen 972-207-7557 [email protected] Membership Enhancement Coord. Steve & Donna VanGlider 210-391-9495 [email protected] Vendor Coordinator Kenny Shults 281-642-4619 [email protected] Newsletter Editor Tom Sprague 858-755-6071 [email protected] Chapter of the Year Coord. Robin Thacker 281-687-8548 [email protected] District Treasurer Diane Shults 713-562-3994 [email protected] Webmaster Tom Sprague 858-755-6071 [email protected] District Leadership Trainers Cliff & Gillian Allen 214-886-5798 [email protected] Couple of the Year Coord. Steve & Donna VanGilder 210-391-9495 [email protected] DATES TO REMEMBER... 2015 4/16-18 4/30-5/2 5/9 5/14-16 5/21-23 6/17-20 6/18-20 7/16-18 9/3-6 9/17-19 10/15-17 Region H Rally, Marshall, TX TX District Rally, Temple, TX Chapter TX-J’s Rally, Beaumont, TX Alabama District Rally, Eufaula, AL Arkansas District Rally, Harrision, AR Reno Rendezvous, Grand Sierra Resort, Reno, NV GWRRA Georgia Gold Wing Dynasty, Dillard, GA South Carolina 31st Annual District Rally, Anderson, SC Wing Ding 37, Huntsville, AL Kansas District Rally, Park City (Wichita), KS Oklahoma District Rally, Sequoyah State Park, Wagoner, OK Entertainment Coordinator Kenny Shults 281-642-4619 [email protected] 2015 Chapter N2 - Humble, TX Page 5 NEWS FROM THE CHAPTER DIRECTORS Randy & Sharon Rainwater Chapter N2 - Humble, TX first experience of riding with Chapter N2. The monthly Social Dinner was at El Ranchero and was well attended. We had several attending the Florida and Louisiana District Rallys. I understand that the Uphoffs upgraded their bus while in Florida, so you will have to ask them about the details. After our Monthly Gathering we shared a potluck dinner with a St. Patrick’s theme and everything was great. Welcome to April 2015. We had great fun in March 2015 with all of the planned and unplanned events. You were missed if you couldn’t attend the events, but we look forward to seeing each of you at our upcoming events. Breakfast at Luby’s was our first event for March 2015. Everyone that went felt that it was worth keeping on the breakfast rotation list. Fourteen Chapter N2 members drove to Baytown to invade Chapter C’s Monthly Gathering. We all had a great time visiting with the Chapter C members and left one of our Humble Bumble Bees as a reminder of our visit. We received news from Linda Stich that the doctors thought that George had suffered a stroke after returning from the Florida District Convention. After a short stay at Hermann Memorial Hospital in Humble, the doctors ruled out a stroke, but found several masses on the right side of George’s brain. George will be going to Hermann Memorial Hospital in the Medical Center for further testing and a biopsy. We ask that everyone keep George, Linda, and their family in your thoughts and prayers as they work their way through these steps. You Chapter Staff is continually looking for ways to improve Chapter Life and to bring in other Chapter Members. If you have ideas that might help, please contact anyone on your Chapter Staff with ideas or bring them up and any of our events or meetings. The more ideas that we have the better it gets for everyone. Remember “Bee seen in 2015.” We had four members on three trikes from Chapter N2, two trikes from Chapter C, and one trike from Chapter J to take the Trike Rider Course. On the same day we had three bikes for the No-Meal Ride that turned into a meal ride at Phil’s in Montgomery. Steve Seligman and I were riding, when I went down due to gravel in the turn off from Hwy. 105 and Hwy. 390 between Navasota and Brenham. Needless to say that ended the day of riding for me, but Steve stayed around until someone picked up my bike to transport it to my house and Sharon and my daughter brought us a picnic lunch. I ended up with a broken left arm and the bike was totaled. But, I was happy to be able to walk away with only that injury. To round out March, Steve Seligman lead the ride to the Pickett House for lunch and you will need to meet David & Karen Huggins and ask them about their Please send your articles, pictures, recipes, etc. to Sharon Rainwater. Let’s make this newsletter a group effort and the “best” one around! 2015 Chapter N2 - Humble, TX Page 6 NEWS FROM THE ASSISTANT CHAPTER DIRECTORS George & Linda Stich Chapter N2 - Humble, TX some unique gifts available and we brought some home. The pecan pie cheesecake was ~AWESOME~. If you have the chance stop in Robertsdale, Al off I-10 West at Exit 53. It was a great travel diversion. It rained some more in Tallahassee where we stayed for the night. FLORIDA BOUND & DERAILED We awoke to rain on the 18th of March and based on current weather from here to Florida we would encounter rain 4 days out of 6, so we elected to take the car, bummer. To our disappointment the weather cleared in Beaumont and rained lightly in Orange and Lake Charles, so much for the weather predictions! The trip was uneventful until we stopped at a Tourist Information Center in Alabama. The Oasis Travel Center brochure caught my eye because it was the home of THE DERAILED DINER. It was a unique experience and the food was great too! The dining car was detailed from the 1920’s period. Each dining table had a glassencased memory box of railroadin’ history which kept you entertained while waiting for your meal. Or you could eat off the back of a tailgate or sit at the lunch counter with a school bus as a backdrop. Each bar stool was different, however, I couldn’t see all of them because I didn’t want the other patrons thinking I was checking out their butts!!! Chose a saddle, motorcycle seat, or bucket seats to name a few and enjoy the experience. You could shop in the Western Store, Toy Shop, Sweet Shop, or browse around the pirate ship. There were We drove into Kissimmee the next day and found our room wasn’t ready, so we joined the Thackers and Flemings for a seminar on Smart Moves. We all accepted an invitation to join the Couple of the Year Social. We enjoyed a delicious meal of baked chicken, scalloped potatoes, corn, salad and a roll that evening for opening ceremonies. George and I left early to hopefully get a room and missed the costume contest. I rejoined Robin and Billie later for Bingo. Billie was a $60 big winner. We met a couple that had moved from New Caney many years ago. On Friday, we played the indoor games, visited the vendors, went to the ice cream social, and had a delightful time watching the talent show. There was a beauty contest (men dressed as ladies), exceptional singing, a production of Mt. Rushmore, comedians and many more patriotic skits. It was an enjoyable evening. The Uphoffs and George and I ate at Pizza Hut inside the hotel, which was good also. We saw the last run of the bike show after dinner. On Saturday we had a good breakfast, played more indoor games, watched the Couple of the Year selection, and played Bingo again. Unfortunately, none of us won the Couple of the Year Baskets. I won a wooden bowl crafted by Nate and a hand embroidered picture of Jesus with frame, both crafted by Corky and Ron at AL-G at the Rider Ed/MAD prize give away. Since all of us were newbie’s to the Florida rally, we received “Explorer” ribbons. At closing ceremonies, George won a gift card for attending the rally as an Explorer. Alas, none of us came home with the new Goldwing given away. We were all winners with the Indoor Game Prizes; 3 battery chargers/engine starter, 2 picnic utensil baskets, free massage, drill with flashlight, angle grinder, decals, mugs, socket set, screwdriver set, patio lights, pool toys, and so much more. The rally was attended by the Flemings, Thackers, Uphoffs and Stichs from Chapter N2 with Alonzo Brown, Dale and Carleen Garrett, and Jim and Alvalin Woodul from Chapter T. Texas was IN THE HOUSE! It was a great weekend and a wonderful trip. Hopefully, I didn’t leave out anyone. Be Safe! 2015 Chapter N2 - Humble, TX Page 7 NEWS FROM THE CHAPTER EDUCATOR Kenny Shults Chapter N2 - Humble, TX hazards, like small rocks, bugs, and cigarette butts, that people in cars are protected from. At 60 miles per hour, even a small rock can sting. Leather gear can help protect you. Of course, you don’t have to look like a reject from “Easy Rider” to ride a motorcycle. A lot of companies specialize in armored motorcycle gear, and it’s not all leather. You can get vented motorcycle jackets that keep you cool while keeping you safe. These jackets are made of lightweight, breathable material, but have heavy-duty amour panels in key places (along the spine, torso, shoulders and elbows) to protect the wearer. 8: Protect Your Feet Hi everyone, As I looked around on the internet for a subject to talk about in this month’s newsletter, I come across these ten safety tips and they hit home with me. So I decided to just share them with you. 10: Take a Motorcycle Safety Course In most states, if you’re going to get a motorcycle license, you need to take a skills test. In many states, you also have to take a motorcycle safety class – think of it as driver’s education on two wheels. Even if your state doesn’t require you to take a motorcycle safety course, you should. The class will teach you about the traffic safety laws that apply to motorcycles in your state, how to respond to emergency situations on a motorcycle, and give you a chance to try out your new skills in a controlled environment. The instructors will also give you tips about motorcycle maintenance and how to avoid unsafe situations. After all, the time to learn how to recover from a skid on a bike is not when you go into one for the first time. Taking a motorcycle safety course prepares you to hit the road safely and with more confidence. 9: Get the Right Gear We’ve all seen people on motorcycles in shorts and flip flops. Those people are not being safe. Since a motorcycle offers little protection in a crash, what riders wear is part of the crash protection system. Even if you aren’t in a crash with another vehicle on your bike, you could simply lose control and lay the bike down. In that situation, you’ll be sliding along on asphalt. That’s not something you want to do in shorts. There’s a reason a lot of bikers wear leather: it’s strong enough to protect their skin if they slide along the road surface. Plus, motorcycle riders are exposed to other road The right shoes are also important to riding safely. To shift gears on a bike, you lift up with your toes – so opentoed shoes can become painful fast. Plus, when you’re riding a bike, you’re sitting on the engine and exhaust system, which get hot. It’s easy to burn your feet. Not only do open-toed shoes like flip-flops expose your feet while on a bike, they can slip off, causing a dangerous situation. When riding a motorcycle, you want sturdy shoes. Those shoes are the only protection your feet will have. Look for something with a rugged sole. When you’re at a stop and using your feet to balance, the last thing you want to do is slip and drop your bike. Motorcycle shoes should also have sturdy ankle supports and a low heel. Look for shoes or boots in a durable material, like leather, for better protection. 7: Ride With in Your Skills Riding a motorcycle is a skill, and like all skills, it’s something that you need to develop. While you may be fine to go on an easy cruise around town, it takes time to grow the skills you need to be an expert rider. To stay safe, make sure that you always ride within your skill level. Your friends who have been riding longer may be able to go fast, weave in and out of traffic, or control their bikes on curvy roads, but that doesn’t mean you should. Take the time to build your skills and only ride in situations where you know your skills are up to the job. Of course, you should still challenge yourself — that’s how your skills grow — but you need to do it in a safe, controlled way. This is why GWRRA suggest advanced riding courses where you can practice more advanced maneuvers. These schools are not only fun, but they help you safely build your skills so that you’re safer on the road. 2015 Chapter N2 - Humble, TX Page 8 (News from the Chapter Educator, cont.) 6: Avoid Distraction 3: Educate Your Passengers We all know distracted driving is a bad idea, but it’s worse when you’re riding a bike. One of the keys to staying safe on a motorcycle is staying hyper-aware of everything that’s going on around you. Remember, motorcycles are tough for drivers to see – especially drivers in large cars or SUVs. You need to see and avoid them, rather than bet on them seeing you. In addition to the risk of distraction, taking your hands off your bike lessens your control more than taking your hands off the wheel of your car. Not only is steering compromised, but so is braking, accelerating and shifting. It’s just a bad idea. Part of the fun of having a bike is having someone on the back. Having a passenger with their arms around you as you cruise the open road can be quite romantic. But your passenger has a part to play in keeping both of you safe. If you’re on a bike, remove all temptation for distraction. Don’t wear headphones, and put your phone where you can’t get to it. 5: Leave Enough Space One of the biggest mistakes drivers and motorcycle riders make is not leaving enough stopping distance for bikes. While it’s true that since bikes are smaller and lighter than cars, they need less space to stop and maneuver, they still need more than you might think. Anti-lock brakes are still relatively new on many bikes, and older models don’t have them. That means that bikers can’t just slam on the brakes like a driver could. Their wheels would lock up, they’d lose control, the bike would drop and they’d go for an asphalt slide. Practice stops on your bike in a safe environment and know how much space you need. Then, make sure you give yourself that much space in traffic. Leave a generous following distance between your bike and the vehicle in front of you, and try to keep an escape route open to the side (onto the road shoulder, for example) if you can’t stop in time. 4: Watch the Weather Because they aren’t as stable as cars, riding a bike in the rain is much riskier than driving a car. With only two wheels, you have half the traction of a car. Plus, without windshield wipers, your visibility is compromised. Finally, riding through the driving rain can hurt. When you’re preparing to go for a ride, check the weather. If heavy rain, snow or ice is predicted, leave the bike at home. If you absolutely must ride in the rain, don’t ride right after the storm starts. When rain first hits the road, it brings up oil and other residue, making the road extremely slippery. If you wait a while, the rain will wash away the oil and slick stuff it brought up. Give the rain time to clear the road for you. Then, when you’re on your way, be extra cautious. Go slowly, leave plenty of space for stopping, and if the weather gets worse, stop and wait it out. Make sure anyone you carry on your bike has the right gear. Like you, they should wear sturdy shoes and protective clothes. You should also practice having a passenger, especially if they’re bigger than you, in a safe place, like a parking lot. That will get you used to having the extra weight on the bike and the passenger used to how the bike feels, and how they need to move with you in various maneuvers. Make sure your passenger knows not to distract you, and what things like stopping and turning on a bike feel like, so they won’t panic. If you’re carrying a young child, check the laws of your state. In many states, you need to be over a certain age to ride on the back of a motorcycle. 2: Look Twice This tip is more for drivers than bikers, but it’s so important that it’s worth mentioning here: Look for motorcycles. Motorcycles are small and tough to see. That means many drivers miss them, causing collisions that are often fatal to the motorcycle rider. Keep your eyes and ears open for motorcycles. Lots of bikes have loud exhaust systems specifically to draw drivers’ attention. Use that to your advantage. But you still need to look out for quiet bikes. Look twice before changing lanes, and always check your blind spot. A bike may be there. Also, before pulling into traffic, look for motorcycles. They’re harder to spot than cars, but taking an extra second to look could save someone’s life. For riders, look twice is still a good rule to follow. Never assume that a driver sees you. Ride defensively and take responsibility for staying safe around cars. 1: Wear a Helmet The most important thing you can do to stay safe on a motorcycle is wear a helmet. Helmets protect your head, and head injuries are the leading cause of death for motorcycle riders. Your brain just wasn’t meant to be exposed. Of course, wearing a helmet isn’t enough. You need to wear the right helmet. Lots of places sell novelty helmets that look good but don’t protect you. Look for a Department of Transportation-approved helmet. Those helmets have been tested and provide a minimum standard of protection. 2015 Chapter N2 - Humble, TX Page 9 (News from the Chapter Educator, cont.) Make sure your helmet fits properly. It shouldn’t be too tight or too loose. It shouldn’t obstruct your vision, but it should cover most of your head. For more protection, opt for a full-face helmet with protection all the way around. A simple windshield can at least protect your face from bugs, rocks and rain, but a full-face helmet will have a piece that goes around your chin, so your face won’t make contact with the road. Even if you ignore every other motorcycle safety tip, wear a helmet! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Come this summer, the Rainwaters will be wearing a jacket along with a helmet, boots, and gloves. The proper equipment DOES make a difference! 2015 Chapter N2 - Humble, TX MEC SPOTLIGHT Steve & Linda Seligman, (Membership Enhancement Coordinators) Master Tour Riders 6748 & 6747 Chapter N2 - Humble, TX Remember - come out and have fun with us! Remember - MECs rock!!! In March, when our chapter visited Chapter C’s meeting, Carolyn and Gene Tice talked about how all GWRRA members are ambassadors for GWRRA. An ambassador is defined as an authorized representative or messenger. The more I thought about this term Linda and I both feel Carolyn and Gene are correct – we are all ambassadors of GWRRA. Now that spring has officially arrived, it is time to dust off our bikes and get out riding. We are also preparing and attending the numerous rallies around the GWRRA country, our monthly rides through the countryside, to restaurants and to the rallies gives us a great opportunity to teach the community about GWRRA. It is very rare that when we stop for gas or a meal, that someone does not ask us about our bikes or what do the initials GWRRA mean. So, of course, being proud of our bikes and GWRRA we have a great opportunity to be GWRRA ambassadors – to represent and tell everyone about GWRRA and our love of riding. Another was we are ambassadors of GWRRA is the way we treat fellow members. A great example of this was from our ride to Pickett House. I was lucky enough to be the lead for this ride. During the ride new chapter members, David and Karen Huggins, had an issue with their bike tire. After a few miles the tire was no longer safe to ride on, so we parked the bike in a parking lot. Jim and Lynn Flournoy decided to ride home and bring back to David and Karen a tire on a rim. During the wait for Jim and Lynn, Steve Fleming and I waited with the Huggins. It was a beautify day to relax and enjoy the weather. This type of support for another GWRRA member shows what ambassadors we are and send the message the GWRRA is a family. So, thank you Carolyn and Gene for introducing the thought to us that we are all GWRRA ambassadors. Let’s keep up the good work!!! Page 10 2015 Chapter N2 - Humble, TX Page11 NEWS FROM THE CHAPTER EVENTS COORDINATOR Billie Fleming Chapter N2 - Humble, TX BLUEBONNET LOVE As the first hints of spring appear, the question on every good Texan’s mind is “When will the bluebonnets bloom?” In a typical bluebonnet season, Texas Bluebonnets will bloom in the southern parts first. Places like Brenham, Houston, and San Antonio will start lighting up with bluebonnets. Did you know there is a Bluebonnet Triangle? The majority of bluebonnets grow in this area. Okay, it’s not really a true triangle as it is more like a triangle with a hump on its side. Imagine Houston, San Antonio, and the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex as the corners, throw the Texas Hill Country in as the hump, and you got the picture. While Texas Bluebonnets bloom throughout the Bluebonnet Triangle, there are a few choice places in the state known for being Bluebonnet Hotspots. Fortunately they’ve spread themselves far and wide within the Bluebonnet Triangle; this sounds like a great road trip. Here are a couple of Bluebonnet Hotspots that makes an easy day trip for taking in fresh air, warm sunshine, and Texas Bluebonnets. Washington County known as the birthplace of Texas Independence, not only oozes with history but bursts at the seams with Texas Bluebonnets. With expansive pasture lands and gently sloping hills, Washington County is home to the small, but quaint, towns of Brenham, Chappell Hill, and Independence, as well as Washington-on-the-Brazos State Park. These areas abound with bluebonnets during a typical bluebonnet season. The Texas Hill Country is a great way to spend a weekend cruising back roads lined with Texas Bluebonnets, pink granite boulders, and Prickly Pear Cactus. Here bluebonnets don’t typically spread into the adjacent fields and pastures; instead they line the roads like beacons marking a path to your next Texas back road adventure. Well, we all know the 3 B’s that makes Texas our favorite place to “BEE”; Brisket, Blue Bell Ice Cream, and Bluebonnets. (Information from article by Perri Angela Wickham) Kudos to.. Ricky Frazier, Steve & Judy Ferguson, Randy & Sharon Rainwater, Linda Stich, and a member of Chapter J - for participating in the Trike Course; and also to the instructors, Max, Lynn, and John and to Ricky & Karen Frazier for hosting the seminar and feeding us lunch; a special thank you to First Baptist in Porter and (the Stichs) for the use of the church parking lot 2015 Chapter N2 - Humble, TX Page 12 NEWS FROM THE CAMPING COORDINATORS Rex & Ann Nix Chapter N2 - Humble, TX CAMPING IN 2015 Camping for this year will be sporadic, for several reasons. We have several people that enjoy camping either dealing with prior commitments, or like myself, on the mend from medical issues. The later has a tendency to make it somewhat difficult to do all the setup and assorted physical things involved with this particular sport. Even though going camping may involve a lot of relaxation, the more the better as far as I am concerned, it also involves a lot of physical involvement. So, for this year, we have in the planning process at least two trips at this time. The first trip currently on the planning table is going to the Arkansas area and staying at the Petit Jean State Park on May 23rd through the 30th. The plan on the first day is to get to the park and set up. There will be several day rides to various areas around the park and beyond. We may ride as little at 100 miles a day, or quite a bit more depending on what we decide to do on a particular day. Besides the seemingly never ending motorcycle roads in the area, there are other museums, parks, waterfalls, and many other things to do and see. The area is a big draw for motorcycle enthusiast; Arkansas openly invites riders of all motorcycles to their area. If you are interested in this event, please contact Randy Rainwater. The next trip on the planning schedule at this time is our annual Thanksgiving Family Campout. Normally this is held at Wolf Creek Park north of Coldspring, Texas on Lake Livingston. This started out as a family event for the Nixs and their family, as time went on they started inviting friends to join the fun. At last year’s event, there were 50 plus attendees, using 8 different camping spots, staying in everything from motor coaches to tents and nearly everything in between. We had people from four or more different chapters, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren with several families. We ended up having movies after dark, cooking Ho Bo stew, there was food for everyone, walks all over the park, campfires, s’mores cooked every way from here to Sunday. Stay tuned for this event, it will be held Nov 26 - 29 and at this time, it looks like we can use the park. If you are interested, please let Rex know so we can keep a tally of the folks that would like to join us. I also know there have been several attempts to check out the area around Lake Summerville this year, knowing that many campgrounds have been looked at and more are still planned to be inspected. We like shade, clean bath houses, restrooms close by, and lots of room to spread out and relax. More details will be offered as they become available. Finally, I am looking to put a trip together going to Colorado. It will be at least a one week event. There is nearly anything you can think of to do there with roads perfect for our sport of pleasure. Typically I like to go between Sept 1st and 15th for several reasons. Mostly because the kids are back in school and traffic is a lot lower as well as this is the last of the good weather in the area. Anyone that does not desire to camp will almost always have a hotel nearby. There are no details for this event so far, just thinking and pondering. If you have a camping event you would like to put on, let the chapter know. We aren’t picky, in the back yard or at the park. I offered our back yard for an unofficial overnighter, but I found out last week that it holds a lot of water after several days of rain. I know we can put 3 campers back there with electricity. Just saying, maybe you need to test some equipment. Your back yard may be the best place to start. At least you know if a storm blows in, you have a dry place to go. All things said, keep the mattresses dry, the sheets clean, the bugs outside, more than one way to start a fire, and the mosquito spray handy. Happy camping. GET WELL WISHES GO OUT TO… Rex Nix Randy “Crash II” Rainwater Sharon “Crash” Rainwater Paul Rich George Stich 2015 Chapter N2 - Humble, TX CHAPTER N2 MONTHLY WEDNESDAY NIGHT SOCIAL DINNER 6:30 p.m. APR George & Linda Stich Wed., April 15 - (Humble City Café - 200 E. Main 77338 - 281-319-0200) MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC Robin Smith Mike & Robin Thacker Gary & Marie Rabalais Steve & Billie Fleming Jerry Barnett Renzo & Donita Nardi Rex & Ann Nix Marty & Donna Uphoff Alternates: Jim & Lynn Flournoy, Ricky & Karen Frazier, and Bubba & Carolyn Tice George’s Words of Wisdom… By George Stich A smart man will give you a smart answer, but a wise man will ask you a smart question. March 2015 RIDE/EVENT PARTICIPATION REPORT DATE 03/01/15 03/05/15 03/07/15 03/07/15 03/13/15 03/14/15 03/18/15 03/21/15 03/22/15 03/29/15 EVENT #OF BIKES Breakfast @ Luby’s Bee Invasion - Chapter C Trike Course - Porter 3 Lunch Ride @ Phil’s 3 Movie Night Pickett House Ride 8 Social Dinner @ El Ranchero 1 Chapter Gathering 1 Florida District Rally 3 Louisiana District Rally 4 #OF PARTICIPANTS 16 14 5 3 9 9 14 19 8 11 Page 13 2015 Page 14 Chapter N2 - Humble, TX Good Friday April 3 Left Behind Lunch Ride Saturday, April 18 9:00 a.m. Meeting at the Valero gas station at the corner of Northpark and Hwy. 59. Spring Getaway Fredericksburg, TX April 2 - 5 Come join us! Make your reservation at the Econo Lodge Hotel (810 S. Adams, Fredericksburg 78624). Ride for Kids Volunteer Training Thursday, April 23 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Training will take place at FMC on Beltway 8. Easter Sunday, April 5 Ride for Kids Setup TX Chapter O Campout @ Lady Bird Municipal Park Fredericksburg, TX April 10 - 11 Humble Civic Center Saturday, April 25 10:00 a.m. We help with setup and go to lunch afterwards. Ride for the Bear (for the Lindsay Foundation) Saturday, April 11 Registration: 8:00 a.m. Ride: 9:00 a.m. Ride begins at the Harley-Davidson of Kingwood parking lot. Left Behind Breakfast Ride Chapter N2 Monthly Gathering @ the American Legion Hall Saturday, April 25 6:00 p.m. Following the meeting, we will go eat at a local restaurant (TBA). Saturday, April 11 7:00 a.m. Meeting at the Valero gas station at the corner of Northpark and Hwy. 59. Chapter Social Dinner Wednesday, April 15 6:30 p.m. George & Linda Stich have chosen Humble City Cafe (200 E. Main 77338) for the April social dinner. Ya’ll come! Region H Rally Marshall, TX April 16 - 18 Humble Civic Center Sunday, April 26 Registration: 8:00 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. Ride: 10:00 a.m. Texas District Rally Temple, TX April 30 - May 2 2015 Chapter N2 - Humble, TX Page 15 2015 Chapter N2 - Humble, TX Page 16 2015 Chapter N2 - Humble, TX Page 17 2015 Chapter N2 - Humble, TX Page 18 2015 Chapter N2 - Humble, TX Page 19 TEXAS DISTRICT RALLY IN TEMPLE, TX Website Winners will be announced. After the Talent Show, people can start decorating there tables for the Social Event, which begins at 6:30 p.m. This is also where the Couple of the Year and Chapter of the Year winners will be announced. We are also going to be playing the NEW GAME...Not So Newly Wed and, of course, have the 50/25/25 drawing. Wow, we have less than two months until the District Rally, April 30 - May 2, in Temple, TX. Everything is coming together and everyone is doing a great job to make sure there are a lot of fun activities and things to keep the members busy. Thursday beginning at 3:00 p.m., we will have registration, vendors, and a concession stand for food and drinks. At opening ceremony, we will have the famous chapter competitions with your decorated pyramids; the winner will receive an awesome trophy for their chapter to display. After opening ceremony, we will begin staging the motorcycles for the light show. We will have categories for moving and nonmoving lights. There will also be a drawing for 50/25/25. We will have a table set up on the inside to display your awesome work on your chapter pyramids throughout the Rally. They will also be judged for the best overall pyramid. Friday: Doors open at 8:00 a.m. with food onsite. Wait until you see what will be displayed at the registration table. Everyone is going to want it. On Friday and Saturday we have more fun and education planned. Of course, we will have the ever so popular Medallion Hunt. There will be Vendors, Seminars, Ticket Sales, First Aid/CPR Beginner, and On-Bike Games. Before lunch, we will have the District Couple of the Year Selection and we hope everyone will attend to show support for the couples. It is always a great feeling to see all your friends supporting you. After lunch, we will be having BINGO, a couple of more Seminars, a NEW GAME...Chapter Feud, and a Talent Show. The Newsletter and Saturday: Doors Open at 8:00 a.m. with food onsite. On Saturday, we will have another Medallion Hunt, Vendors, Seminars, Ticket Sales, and a First Aid/ CPR Refresher. We will have BINGO, On-Stage Dress Competitions, a Pride Room to display your mascots, banners, scrapbooks, and out-of-state newsletters. (The Texas newsletters will be read and judged after March 15th, just let Steve know which one you want to enter - January, February, or March). We will be having the Bike Show, On-Bike Games, more of Chapter Feud, and Not so Newly Wed games, then closing ceremony. At closing ceremony there will be grand prize giveaways, 50/25/25, and a lot of Rider Ed giveaways. We cannot wait to see everyone again. Don’t forget to get your reservations for the hotel. If you want to know anything about the Rally go to the Texas website and click on the icon on the right bottom. Mike & Robin Thacker TX District Directors 2015 Chapter N2 - Humble, TX Page 20 Let’s get ready to Rally!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Come out and join us for the Texas District Rally!!! The rally will be April 30 through May 2 in Temple, Texas at the Frank W. Mayborn Convention Center. This year’s theme Temple of Goldwingers! Preregistration ends on April 10. There is so much going on this year’s rally. There will be on bike games, Bingo, Chapter Feud, Bike Show, Chapter Pride competition (mascot, scrapbook and banner), plus a lot more fun. There also will be plenty of seminars, games, and, of course, vendors. Don’t forget the Chapter Feud Game, Talent Show, and, of course, the Not So Newly Wed Game, which will be held on Friday night. This year we also have a new opportunity to show our Chapter Pride! We can decorate our tables for the weekend. We can combine our Humble Bumbles with the theme of the rally – can you see Bees at the pyramids – or a Bee Pharaoh? This year Steve Van Gilder is introducing a new competition and award – it is called Chapter Participation Award! This award was created and designed to stimulate Chapters towards participating in Rally events and contests, and encourage all participants to try some new things and have even more “Fun” at our Texas District Rally. It will allow both large and small chapters to compete and possibly win. The points will be awarded based on a ratio of the members pre-registered versus the average members at our chapter gatherings. There will be 25 events that will count towards the Chapter Competition. The more we participate the more points we earn. For example, if the chapter competes in the T-Shirt completion we receive points, if we participate in the Chapter Feud we get more points. The Membership Enhancement Team is raffling off a quilt at this year’s rally. The tickets can be bought at the rally. So – let’s get pre-registered, go to the 2015 Texas District Rally and have some fun!!! 2015 Chapter N2 - Humble, TX Page 21 Chapter N2 - Humble, TX 2015 Page 22 GWRRA Region H Newsletter BY THE BOOK Spreading the Word, Part 2 Last month By the Book addressed the topic of newsletters and their importance. Many distribute their newsletters as an email attachment; however many choose to provide a link to their web site. So let’s talk this month about websites. Most Chapters, Districts, and Regions develop websites to share information regarding Membership Enhancement, Rider Education, activities, announcements, etc. They can range from very fancy and sophisticated to plain and simple. Websites have become the most common method used for communication today with anyone worldwide having access to them. Therefore, to display an association with GWRRA, it is recommended that these guidelines be used: The GWRRA Logo, and the words “Gold Wing Road Riders Association” or the acronym, “GWRRA”, should be included as a part of the website home page. Region, District, Chapter designations, city, and state should also be on the home page. Other information to be considered for the home or front page would be Chapter meeting info and perhaps even a map to the location so that new Members or those just traveling thru can find you. Building and maintaining a website requires a few special skills. Since you will likely need someone to serve as a webmaster, it may be helpful to also have that person listed as the point of contact for inquiries and questions. There could also be a link to the Chapter Director. Just make sure that someone is designated as a point of contact and that any inquiries are responded to promptly. A link to the GWRRA Home Page (http://www.gwrra.org) as well as the Region homepage. That way, a Chapter Member or anyone else, can go to the Chapter's website and easily find information on a Region or National level. GWRRA websites should not advertise or link to competitors such as other motorcycle organizations. Some webpages identify Team Members using direct email links to Team Members. A tip is to use alias email addresses like [email protected] which then link to the individual. That way, when an officer changes, the webmaster only has to change the alias link rather than everyone else having to change their address books. The final word on websites–keep them updated as information changes. Frequently GWRRA Members from outside of your area may be traveling and wish to visit a Chapter gathering or event. I can tell you from personal experience there is nothing more frustrating than showing up at a location expecting others to be there only to find out the event was canceled or moved to another venue. Out of date information also results in having to make several phone calls or have emails ‘bounce back’ when attempting to communicate with the current Officers. Visit your website frequently to make sure it is up to date and that everything functions properly. The more you know, the better it gets! Jack Wagner Region H Trainer 2015 Chapter N2 - Humble, TX Page 23