GWRRA AL-U News July 2016

GWRRA AL-U News

July 2016

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CRUISIN U'S NEWS Gold Wing Road Riders Association

Chapter "U" Dothan, AL. Southeast Region "A"

FRIENDS FOR FUN, SAFETY, AND KNOWLEDGE

CHAPTER DIRECTORS Bruce & Eileen Williamson

eileengram@

REGION "A" DIRECTORS Jim & Sue Jackson

RegionDirector@

ALABAMA DISTRICT DIRECTORS

Frank & Linda Teasley Director@Alabama-

ASSISTANT CHAPTER DIRECTORS

Pat & Darnell Lapera patlapera@

DISTRICT COUPLE OF THE YEAR

2016-2017 Robert & Gail Brown

ALABAMA DISTRICT TEAM

ASSISTANT DIRECTORS Max & Kathy Tanner

SUNSHINE LADY Darnell Lapera

patlapera@

CHAPTER EDUCATOR LTC James & Freida Clayson

334-791-3288 james.clayson@

TREASURER Melissa Stumpf melissa.stumpf@

NEWSLETTER EDITOR Richard Stumpf (334) 477-3667

richard.stumpf1@

TECHNICAL ADVISOR Mike and Jessica Tatum banjomt@

MONTHLY GATHERING Second Tuesday of every month

6:00 PM Eat - 7:00 PM Meet Golden Corral, Dothan AL

RIDER EDUCATORS Carl & Jan Breeding

MOTORIST AWARENESS Carl & Jan Breeding

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter & State Officers....2 District News..................3 SAADD News................4 Brake Lights .................5 Chapter Rider Ed .............6 Bruce & Eileen's Gab.......8 Ride Schedule...............10 Calendar......................11

LEADERSHIP TRAINERS Roy & Anita Fosnight

MEMBER ENHANCEMENT COORDINATORS

Kenneth & Veronica Campbell

C.O.Y. COORDINATORS Terry & Barbie Cleveland

VENDOR COORDINATORS Robert & Gail Brown

DISTRICT CHAPLAIN Trina & Bill Barden TREASURER Sara & Harry Leach WEBMASTER

Larry & Penny Anthony

On the cover: Our June meet at Golden Corral

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Greetings fellow riders, another month has slipped by us but boy what a month it was. We had our annual Alabama District Rally in Eufaula in May and certainly had a great time. Congratulations to our own Chapter N for winning the GWRRA's Got Talent show and they will be going on to Wing Ding to represent Region A in the talent show there. Great job folks, that's the way to represent the Alabama District. If you missed the rally you certainly missed a lot of fun. We announced at closing that next year's Alabama Rally will be held at the Ashbury Hotel and Suites in Mobile, Al. We are certainly looking forward to going back to Mobile, we have had lots of fun there in the past and look forward to another great rally there again. The theme next year is "Sitcom Mania". We want to remember all of the great TV sitcoms that we all grew up with. Happy Days, MASH, The Carol Burnett Show, I love Lucy, and the list could go on and on. Please circle the dates next May and make plans to be in Mobile with us for a great time.

Wing Ding is just around the corner. We hope many of you are planning to go to Billings to not only have fun and enjoy a great trip but to support our own Chapter N as they attempt to bring back home the 1st place prize in the GWRRA's got talent show as they will represent Region A in that program. If you are going be sure to preregister so you will have everything ready when you get there. Alabama has the registration desk on Wednesday and we would certainly appreciate it if you have an hour or two to spare, come by and help out. You will get to meet people, not only from around the country, but from around the world. Should be loads of fun so come on by and sit with us for a little while.

This Alabama District plaque is back this year and will be offered on a regular basis for chapters to capture. Please watch the district website and see when the plaque is offered and get your chapter together and go after it. The chapter that captures the plaque will then get a chance to give it away at their choice of places and get to have other chapters come visit them. This is not only fun for everyone, it is another opportunity for everyone to ride together and enjoy the company of other members. Remember, we are all one big family in GWRRA and we hopefully enjoy seeing each other on a regular basis. Also, remember that the chapter with the most miles for the year will have their charter fees paid by the District for next year, another incentive for you to come out and enjoy yourselves. We hope every chapter will participate this year.

A very big thank you, from Linda and I and the entire District Team, to everyone who attended this year's District Rally. A special thank you to all of you who volunteered to help out at the rally, we could not put these rallies on without YOU, thank you.

Please remember all of our men and women in uniform and their families and all of our first responders and their families. They work to serve and protect us each and every day. A big thank you to all of you. Please be safe and drive defensively out there on the road, watch out for the other drivers, they don't always look out for us. We hope to see you soon,

Frank and Linda Teasley

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SAADD GREETINGS to all! I can't believe it is almost the end of another month as I am writing this article and I am

late as usual too. I think I would do a better job of keeping up if the time didn't fly by so quickly but it does and there is nothing I can do about that! I'll tell you what, don't blink too long or you will miss something! WOW! I think we all can be assured that "time stands still for no one" so keep up, pay attention and stay involved! Life is short and precious to all of us and I hate to think you might miss even one of the blessings out there for you.

Our local chapter has been quite busy and we have made some great rides recently, just out riding our motorcycles, having fun and enjoying our Friends for Fun, Safety and Knowledge! That is what we all are supposed to do and it certainly makes a difference in your personal psyche too as it is a great revitalization activity for your life. We all need to do this quite often and if you do, I know you will see what I mean. It is a great experience and another of those activities you need to take advantage of at every opportunity. It is great, even in this hot weather time of year if you choose the best times to ride for yourself and your group. Stay hydrated and be safe as those are the main requirements for having FUN!!!

There are still a few activities and rallies scheduled for the rest of the year so keep up with your calendars and make plans to attend. The South Carolina Rally is scheduled for July 14, 15, 16 in Andover SC and it promises to be a great event. The BIG DANCE ? WING DING is scheduled for September 1, 2, 3 & 4 in Billings Montana. This is the largest rally GWRRA puts on and it is in a beautiful place again where the scenery is spectacular with way more things to do than you will have time to get done. Chapter D has decided to offer the District Scrapbook Grab on Saturday, July 23rd from 11AM till 1PM at the Peerless Grill, 13 W. 10th St., Anniston, Alabama. Phone number is 256-238-1899. Remember that the chapter with the most miles at the end of the scrapbook run will have their charter fee paid for the next year. Also in September, the Wings Over the Smokies event is scheduled for the 22nd, 23rd and 24th in Cherokee NC. What a gorgeous part of the world that is and I hope many of you can take part in that great offering too!

NEWS FLASH!!!!! The Alabama District Rally for 2017 will be in Mobile AL, May 18 ? 20 at the Ashbury Hotel & Suites. The theme for 2017 is SITCOM MANIA! Make your plans now to attend and be prepared to have more fun than a barrel of monkeys! It will be GREAT AGAIN!!! More info to follow!

Remember that GWRRA is a wonderful association and we want all "good folks" to be part of our great family. Share your calendars and your experiences and feel free to call me or Kathy anytime if we can assist in some way with you. Use those beautiful Gold Wing motorcycles and others to enrich your life and strengthen your GW family ties and relationships and make more memories of a lifetime! You deserve it! We look forward to many more miles of riding pleasure with all of you and please, stay safe out there. That's the only way we can continue to make it fun.

Thanks and we love you all!

Max & Kathy Tanner - 179769 & 01 South AL Asst. Dist. Directors 251-680-3794 Max cell 251-680-4980 Kathy cell

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Motorcycle Hand Signals

Maybe it's been a while since you rode with a group, or perhaps you have no idea at all why that guy up front keeps waving his arms around. Here's a refresher guide. Group rides are a fun way to share the experience of an awesome trip, so don't miss out.

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DRESS FOR THE "SLIDE" NOT FOR THE "RIDE"

You see them a lot during these warmer months. They're on cruisers, sports bikes and, yes, even GoldWings. You might even be one of them. Who am I talking about? I'm talking about all those riders out there in their short sleeved shirts (sometimes tank tops), and fingerless gloves (or no gloves at all). Sometimes they wear jeans but I've seen them in shorts with sneakers on their feet (I've seen them in sandals too). Sometimes they wear helmets; sometimes not. Most of the GoldWing riders do wear helmets; maybe because we can hear the radio and intercom better.

I'm sure you know the excuses too. There's the, ever popular, "It's too hot to wear all that stuff." I hear that one a lot. Then there's, "All that stuff is too restrictive." That one's pretty common. I've even heard, "I'm a good rider, I'm not going to crash." Say whaaaat?

I know that being an All The Gear All The Time (ATGATT) rider can be kind of a pain. Yes, riding jackets and pants can be pretty warm; particularly if you're in a lot of traffic. However, the new mesh gear allows substantial air flows and it provides more abrasion protection than jeans and WAY more than you get from a short sleeved shirt or tank top.

I know that full-fingered gloves can be restrictive but they aren't as bad as having your hands wrapped in gauze. Try buttoning your shirt with your index and middle fingers wrapped in about 6 layers of gauze if you want to see what restrictive feels like.

Yeah, boots can be hot but a stone kicked up by the car in front of you can break your toe. Casts are really hot, itchy too.

Page |7 Lastly, I seriously doubt that crashing their motorcycle is on anyone's "Things To Do Today" list. Let's see: "Go to the Post Office. Drop off the dry cleaning. Crash the bike." Somehow I don't think so. While you may not plan to crash, someone out there probably didn't get that memo. Now, don't get me wrong, I still ride in my Tee shirts and shorts; of course they're UNDER my riding suit. That gives me the benefit of sun/wind/abrasion protection and, when I get where I'm going, I can stroll about in my Tee shirt/shorts; swap my boots for a pair of sandals and I'm good to go. For what it's worth, I've worn this kind of gear in temperatures into the upper-90's for all day rides (coming across the Great Plains) and with the airflow through the suits that are available I was (reasonably) comfortable except when stopped in traffic. Remember, asphalt is unforgiving. It doesn't care that the weather is hot, or how well you can ride. You should always DRESS FOR THE SLIDE, NOT FOR THE RIDE.

James and Freida Clayson LTC (USAR Ret) James Clayson

Trike your ride! Call David at D&C 334-655-7000

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