January 2013 Newsletter - GWRRA Mi january.pdf · Newsletter Editor Bev Clark ... 948-2969 [email protected] CHAPTER “A” STAFF January 2013 ... Please review this informative

Michigan District Directors

Kim & Sandy Bargeron

Assistant District Directors

Gayle & Dennis Jisa

Michigan District

Couple of the Year

Rick & Esther Keeling

Region “D” Directors

Roger & Penny Hurley

Gold Wing Road Riders Association

Michigan Chapter “A”

“The Great Lakes Pioneer Chapter”

Region & District Staff

Chapter Directors Rich & Donna Whittier

Rich’s Cell

Donna’s Cell

(248) 969-0595

(586) 201-7409

(586) 212-0438

[email protected]

Assistant Chapter

Directors

Sylvia &

Allen Pocock

(586) 991-0696 [email protected]

Ride Educators Lisa & Larry Kunert (586) 206-4696 [email protected]

Treasurer Ken Kuiper (586) 201-7901 [email protected]

Member

Enhancement

Bev Clark &

Duane Larkin


2012

Couple of the Year

Bev Clark &

Duane Larkin


Newsletter Editor Bev Clark (313) 478-3196 [email protected]

Ride Coordinator Rich Phariss (586) 749-9962 [email protected]

Asst Ride Coordinator Wayne Walters (586) 489-8547 [email protected]

Charity Coordinator Gail Phariss (586) 749-9962 [email protected]

Chapter Webmaster Ken Kuiper (586) 201-7901 [email protected]

Chapter Historian TBD

50/50 Sales Dennis McAlister (586) 295-5014 [email protected]

Promotions Lisa & Larry Kunert (586) 206-4696 [email protected]

Refreshments TBD

Coffee Karen Kenemer (586) 489-4529

Public Relations Gail Phariss (586) 749-9962 [email protected]

Wing News Reporter Sylvia Pocock (586) 991-0696 [email protected]

Ticket Sales Jim & Donna Emch (586) 948-2969 [email protected]

CHAPTER “A” STAFF

January 2013

Newsletter

From Your Chapter Directors - Rich and Donna

Chapter A – The Great Lakes Pioneer Chapter Page 2

HAPPY NEW YEAR, CHAPTER A!

Yes, another year is about to begin and we hope all of you were at Bellicino’s

to bring in the year. Special thanks to Rich & Gail Phariss for hosting this

event. As we looked at the long range weather predictions it looked like

another year with no polar ride. We might have to plan a winter ride instead.

Who’s for it? What better way to start the year than with the camaraderie of

good friends. That is what this group is all about!

Michigan District is having an OCP (Officer Certification Program) class Jan 19 & 20 at the Chrysler

National Technical Training Center, 2367 Walton Blvd., Auburn Hills. The class will run from 8:00 a.m. to

5:00 p.m. on Saturday and 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Sunday. Everyone is welcome to participate. This is a

great opportunity to learn the in’s & out’s of how GWRRA works. We encourage all members to join in this

class. Please contact us if you have any questions or would like to attend.

Who likes playing games???? This is always a fun night. Sylvia & Allen will be our host for a January

Game Night. We ask that you bring a dish to pass. This is planned for Jan. 26 at 4:30. Please contact Sylvia

if you are interested in joining. Don’t forget to bring your favorite game!

Its ticket sale time again! We are setting up some dates with Gibraltar to sell our raffle tickets there again.

Watch for an upcoming e-mail and as always we need volunteers to help. Please give a few hours to help out

your Chapter. Besides helping the kids at Rainbow Connection, this is our Chapter’s #1 fundraiser for our

operational expenses. We also like to encourage each member to help and sell at least one book. Tickets will

be available at the Gathering.

We want say Thank You to the Chapter for all your help this past year and at our February gathering we will

be having pizza before the meeting. So don’t eat dinner … come a little earlier … pizza will be available at

7:00.

Before we know it Wingless Weekend will be here. This year’s theme is Gilligan’s Island. We are looking

for ideas to make this a FUN GETAWAY weekend. Send us an e-mail with your ideas. The best part is

YOU joining us there. Send in those registrations. Wingless Weekend is March 1 & 2 at the Lexington Hotel

in Lansing.

We like to plan a few Winter Dinner rides in the next few months. Let us know if you have a favorite

restaurant we all should try.

We ended our year with our traditional Lunch with Santa. A BIG THANK YOU goes out to Santa (Bam

Bam McAlister) who made every child have a sparkle in their eyes. It was a delightful day enjoyed by the

children and those still young at heart. Thank you to Sylvia, Ted & Wanda for their help putting this day

together for the Chapter.

We hope one of your New Year resolutions will be to participate and volunteer with Chapter A more often.

What a better way to help keep you young!

Happy New Year!

Rich and Donna Whittier - Chapter Directors

From Your Assistant Chapter Directors - Sylvia & Allen Pocock


Happy New Year Chapter “A”,

First of all, Allen and I would like to wish everyone love and happiness in your

heart, peace in your soul, understanding of fellow man, abundant good health,

and safe riding in the coming year and always.

Our Chapter members exhibited outstanding support at our December gathering

by filling the table with Barbie Dolls, games, balls, gloves, hats & scarves. This

Christmas we decided to pair with the American Legion’s charitable program to “Adopt a Family” in the

Macomb County area. Additionally, Chapter “A” also gave a check for $300 to fill the family’s wishes.

Your generous donations helped give several families a nicer Christmas. Thank You for your extreme

kindness to help those less fortunate. Chapter “A”, you are all so very special.

December 9 we attended the Chapter “F2” Gathering to

welcome Larry Klephart and Wanda Booth as the new

CDs. Don and Connie Smith will still be close as they

will be become ACDs. They are all wonderful people and

we wish the foursome the very best year ahead.

December 15 Santa came to town to have lunch with the

Chapter “A” kids at Marcus Grill. There were 22 little

kids and 23 big kids in attendance. Santa’s helper (Donna

Whittier) had the children’s attention with a fun game that

ended with them all getting a goody bag. They liked that.

Christmas cards were on each table to sign and give

Santa. Santa said “no dog without a Christmas” and had a

doggie treat passed out for all the pets that were waiting

at home. As we all sang Carols, it was a signal to Santa

(Dennis McAlister) that the kids were ready for his

arrival. The children sat around Santa’s chair waiting for

their name to be called and receive their gift (see photos).

It was a happy day for all – especially Matthew Kuiper

who did his own two-year old version of the Santa dance

without taking a break. Thank You to Bam-Bam (Santa),

Donna (helper), and Whit (for the music), together we

throw the BEST parties around! I couldn’t have been

more pleased that every thing went so well.

Guess who became SENIOR MASTER RIDERS? We

did! Allen and I received our patches and couldn’t be

more proud. We are amazed at our own achievement. So

please give us an extra hug when you see us. Just look

for the couple wearing the big smiles.

Sylvia & Allen Pocock

Assistant Chapter Directors

Senior Master Riders!

From Your Chapter Educators - Lisa and Larry Kunert


Whether you’re shopping year-end clearance sales or just preparing for next year as you store everything for

the winter: Please review this informative article written by Rick McCalla, Region Educator of Region K

‘Central Canada’ to check your gear!

Age Does Matter! At a recent GWRRA trailering course, before allowing the members to use the course,

the instructors had everyone attending check their motorcycles, trailers and helmets for safety. One of the

things they checked for was that the helmets should not be over 7 years old. It was quite a surprise to a

member when he found out that the new helmet he had purchased only a month before on sale was actually

over 7 years old and no longer suitable for use. The helmet has since been returned to the dealer who sold it.

All DOT approved helmets must include a date of manufacture on

them. It might be a label on the chin strap or you might have to

carefully peel back the cloth liner of the helmet and look for a label or a

date stamp on the Styrofoam.

The industry recommendation is that a helmet should be replaced

after a maximum of 5 years of use or after 7 years from the date of

manufacture – which ever occurs first. Even an old helmet that

appears to be brand new may have deterioration, due to many factors,

that can affect its ability to properly protect you in the event of an

accident.

Patrick Houlihan, a representative from Shoei Helmets (Tustin, CA)

had this explanation; “A helmet should be replaced 5 years from date of

purchase or 7 years from date of manufacture, whichever comes first. This replacement recommendation is

based on a consensus by both the helmet manufacturers and safety standards. Glues, resins and other

materials used in helmet production can affect liner materials. Hair oils, body fluids and cosmetics, as well as

normal "wear and tear" all contribute to helmet degradation. Petroleum based products present in; cleaners,

paints, fuels and other commonly encountered materials may also degrade materials used in many helmets

possibly degrading performance. Additionally, experience indicates there will be a noticeable improvement

in the protective characteristic of helmets over a five-year period due to advances in materials, designs,

production methods and the standards. Thus, the recommendation for five-year helmet replacement is a

judgment call stemming from a prudent safety philosophy.” Gordon Murphy, GWRRA National Director -

Rider Education – Canada had this to say:

(Continued on page 5)

From Your Chapter Educators - Continued from Page 4


“The Canada Safety Council in Canada and the Motorcycle Safety Foundation in the US (I have been a

CSC Senior Instructor for 7 years) teaches that helmets should be replaced between 5 and 7 years, depending

on whether or not the helmet has been dropped or not. The experts tell us that the foam breaks down after that

period, due to the natural oils in our head, sunlight and the normal aging process. While there may not be any

visible sign to the naked eyes, that doesn't change this process. Therefore, the helmet will have lost its

optimum protective qualities and leave the person vulnerable in the event of an impact with the pavement or

other surface….. My strong advice for anyone is that they always check the date on a helmet before they

purchase it. Even if it was never worn, the foam naturally breaks down, becomes more brittle and less

absorbent during the space of 5 to 7 years.”

Before you head out for your next ride please take a minute to check the manufacture date on your helmet.

Is it within the recommended date ranges? The next time you are out shopping for a new helmet, especially at

shows and sales, check the manufacture date before you buy it.

On a similar note tires are another critical part of our motorcycle for which age

does matter. Even a new tire purchased at a dealership can be several years old rather

than a fresh new one and that age can affect its safe performance and life. Check the

date of the tire before you buy it to make sure you are getting a fresh one!

You can determine the date of manufacturer as follows; “The manufacture date is

in a code printed on the sidewall. It will be the last four digits (for tires made in the

year 2000

or later) in a string of letters and numbers starting with DOT. The first two digits are

the week of manufacture, and the last two digits are the year of manufacture. For

example, if it says DOT817AD472200, look at the last four digits. 2200 means that

your tire was made in the 22nd week of the year 2000. Tires manufactured prior to the

year 2000 will have a three-digit code. For example, DOT733AC297, means (looking

at the last 3 digits 297) that your tire was made the 29th week of 1997.”

Hope this information is helpful to you all.

Larry and Lisa Kunert

Chapter Educators

GWRRA Rider Education - Levels Program Level I Safety by Commitment Level II Safety by Education Level III Safety by Preparedness Level IV Safety by Enhanced Commitment and Preparedness The GWRRA is proud to offer the Rider Education Program. We encourage you to think seriously about motorcycle safety and be a participant in the GWRRA Rider Education Program. You should also remember the old cliche, "an ounce of preven-tion IS worth a pound of cure." Always wear protective riding apparel! For Levels Program details: http://gwrra.org/regional/ridered/levelsprogram.html

M.E.C. & Chapter C.O.Y . - Bev Clark & Duane Larkin


Who belongs to GWRRA?

(Reprinted from the Region N Newsletter)

GWRRA members are men and women from all walks of life with varied

interests and backgrounds. We have riders in their teens, riders in their 90's

and every age in between! Many ride solo; many ride with their children or

grandchildren! Some ride Wings that are new; some ride Wings that are

"classics." Some belong for the technical information we share; some just

for the enjoyment of riding with friends.

As a family organization, typical GWRRA fun includes restaurant runs, picnic rides, campouts or CPR/

first aid workshops conducted in a wholesome, fun-filled environment suitable for all family members.

We also have dances, charity runs, parades, ice cream socials and riding clinics.

To be a member of GWRRA, there are only two requirements: own a Honda Gold Wing/Valkyrie and

keep your membership fees current. We have individual or family memberships available. For non Gold

Wing/Valkyrie owners there is now a classification of our membership titled Associate, which is also

available as individual or family.

Some of our most dedicated members, though once apprehensive about riding as passengers, have

discovered the joys of touring: the fresh air, the beautiful vistas, the close communication with their

partners. Many even learn to ride their own machines.

While generalization about a group of individuals as large as today's GWRRA is difficult, GWRRA

members are likely to be independent thinkers, fun-loving, generous, adventuresome, cooperative and

unfazed by the natural challenges of riding in the rain, temperature extremes or highway uncertainties.

Many members have completed CPR and first aid training, making them the best-prepared riders on the

world's highways!

Why belong to GWRRA?

There are many benefits to GWRRA membership. Our members enjoy special camaraderie and

fellowship and the comfort of belonging to the largest family of Gold Wing/Valkyrie owners. We like to

share our pleasure in the freedom of riding motorcycles with others like ourselves. We strive for

improvement by attending GWRRA safety workshops. We share technical expertise, news and tips

about riding, maintenance and the best touring routes in the world. We also offer emergency towing and

roadside assistance program. Rescue is a benefit that ensures peace of mind, day or night. Among our

72,000 skilled and dedicated members can be found the answer to just about any question about the

Gold Wing/Valkyrie, whether new or old! Membership, signified by our special membership card, also

results in benefits like discounts at many Honda dealerships, certain hotels, campgrounds, repair shops

and travel agencies. And, if you ever need help when traveling, our Gold Book Directory connects you

with your nearest friends wherever you are.

Let’s enjoy the New Year together, Chapter A!

Bev & Duane

Membership Enhancement Coordinators

2012-2013 Couple of the Year

Celebration Days for our Chapter “A” Members

January Birthdays

Pauline McClintock 2

April Kupier 17

Lisa Kunert 18

Chris Bobek 18


Raffle Winners at our

December Gathering

50/50

Charles

Esther

Whit

Chapter Pride Drawing: Sylvia

Thank you to everyone who brought toys to the December gathering

for the Adopt-a-Family charity project with the American Legion .

You’re all winners, Chapter A!

Bonus Drawing -

Friday’s Appetizer & ‘Indy” Boston Pizza:

Dean

SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT

1 2 3 4 5

6

7 8 9 10 11 12 & 13

13 14 15 16

17 18 19 & 20

20 21 22 23 24 25 26

27 28 29 30 31

January 2013 Chapter A – The Great Lakes Pioneer Chapter Page 8

Legion’s

Spaghetti

Dinner

11 AM to

6:30 PM

Chapter

Gathering

7:30 PM

Breakfast

9:00 AM Den-

ny’s

Breakfast

9:00 AM Den-

ny’s

Breakfast

9:00 AM Den-

ny’s

Breakfast

9:00 AM Den-

ny’s

Staff Meeting

7:00 PM

Polar Bear

Dinner

at

Bellacino’s

2:00 PM

Abner

Rescue

from W2!

7:30 PM

Pot Luck &

Game Night 4:30 p.m.

at

Allen & Sylvia’s

GWRRA

Officer

Certification

Program -

Auburn Hills

Ticket Sales

at

Gibraltar,

Mt. Clemens

Lunch with Santa 2012


December Doings


Congratulations to Rich Phariss --

300,000 Safe Miles!

… and to

GWRRA Life Members

Rich & Gail Phariss,

displaying

their new patches

with pride!

Chapter A’s Level 4 Riders!


Good Times at the December Gathering

Fran accepts Chapter A’s $300 donation

on behalf of the American Legion post’s

Adopt-A-Family Christmas collection,

from Chapter Director Rich Whittier.

Ken & Debbie Kupier, Chapter A’s 2013-2014 Couple of the Year,

accept a check from the Chapter to help with their COY expenses.

Abner Spice-Meisters

Frank & Donna Saverino

We played a game at the December Gathering …

you had to be there …

ask Debbie Kupier about it ...


GWRRA Michigan

East Central Section Gatherings

Make a New Year’s Resolution to visit GWRRA friends

in at least one of our neighboring East Central Section Chapters this coming year!

Here’s where and when you can find them (including us, Chapter A!) --

for information on contacting each Chapter, visit the GWRRA Michigan website: www.gwrra-mi.org

A 1st Thursday: 7:30 PM

American Legion #4, Mt. Clemens

B2 2nd Sunday: 4:00 PM Eat, 6:00 PM Meet

Imlay City

D2 2nd Thursday: 7:00 PM

Howell Recreation Center

E 2nd Thursday: 7:00 PM

Elks #810, Waterford

F 1st Tuesday: 7:00 PM

Michigan Chrome, Richmond

F2 2nd Sunday: 6:00 PM

VFW Hall, Davison

K 3rd Sunday: 6:00 PM

Valley Family Restaurant, Flint

L 1st Tuesday: 5:30 PM

Flap Jacks Restaurant, Lansing

Q2 4th Sunday: 9:30 AM

Gilligans Restaurant, Cass City

U 4th Sunday: 9:00 AM

Main Street Café, St. Johns

V 3rd Wednesday: 7:00 PM

Tittabawassee Twp. Memorial Park Bldg., Freeland

V2 2nd Saturday: 9:00 AM

Betty Lou’s Restaurant, Vassar


Please Support Our Sponsors

52298 Gratiot

Chesterfield Twp.

(south of

24 Mile Road)

(586) 598-0213





Information Page


Blue Star Mothers

Children's Rainbow Connection of Michigan

Christmas Charity Giving

with the American Legion

Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation - Ride for Kids

Women’s Shelters

Selfridge Military Food Bank

GWRRA ____________ www.gwrra.org MICHIGAN _________ www.gwrra-mi.org

REGION D __________ www.gwrra-regiond.org OHIO ______________ www.ohiogwrra.org

CHAPTER ‘A’ _______ www.gwrra-mi-org/chapter/a INDIANA ___________ www.indianonwings.org

CHAPTER “A” GATHERINGS

HELD AT THE “AMERICAN LEGION POST” The first Thursday of the Month, Starts at 7:30 Sharp!

Located at 401 North Groesbeck in Mt. Clemens. Just South of the Macomb County Sheriff’s Dept.

CHAPTER ICE CREAM RIDES

Every Wednesday During Riding Season, 7:00 PM Sharp

At McDonald’s - 45010 Utica Park, Utica MI 48315

On Hall Road near Sam’s Club

CHAPTER BREAKFAST

9:00 AM—EVERY SUNDAY

Denny’s Restaurant, Lakeside Circle, Sterling Heights

Rides leave at 10:00 AM

LISTINGS OF ALL CHAPTER ‘A’ RIDES IN EACH MONTH’S NEWSLETTER AND ALSO ON OUR WEB PAGE.

SUNDAY RIDES WILL LEAVE FROM DENNY’S RESTAURANT AT 10:00 AM SHARP.

RIDERS MONITOR C.B. CHANNEL #15 AND A FULL FUEL TANK IS REQUIRED TO RIDE !

GWRRA WEBSITES

AROUND

THE REGION

WINGLESS WEEKEND 2013

March 1 & 2

Lexington Lansing Hotel

Get Ready to Cast Away …

the Wingless Theme will be

GILLIGAN’S ISLAND

Gail Phariss, our Charity Coordinator, collects hotel/motel

amenities for donation to a local women’s shelter. She also

collects gently-used purses for Handbags for Hope to be

given to women in shelters. Bring your donations to our

Monthly Gathering. Thank You for your help.

Chapter “A” Charitable Services

Documents

January 2013 Newsletter - GWRRA Mi january.pdf · Newsletter Editor Bev Clark ... 948-2969 [email protected] CHAPTER “A” STAFF January 2013 ... Please review this informative