Welcome to April 2020gwrramdi.org/enews/Apr20News.pdf · Systems and finally a cashier for DECA at the Naval commissary. She recently retired in December of 2019. She likes to cook

2019 Chapter Staff

Chapter Directors

Bob & Julie A’Hearn

[email protected]

Correspondence Coordinator

****Vacant****mail.com

Treasurer

Robin Little

[email protected]

Motorist Awareness

Bill Little

[email protected]

Membership Enhancement

Bob & Julie A’Hearn

[email protected]

Goodwill Ambassador

****Vacant****

Webmaster

Tony Fontaine

[email protected]

Couple of the Year

Tony & Lorna Fontaine

[email protected]

Ride Coordinator

[email protected]

Chapter Directors

Gold Wing Road Riders Association Maryland Chapter I

S O U T H E R N M A R Y L A N D W I N G S L E T T E R April 2020

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Congratulations to our 2020 “Couple of the Year”

Tony & Lorna Fontaine Welcome to April 2020!!

Spring is here and most of us are practicing social distancing due to the pandemic. Below is the official message from National on the COVID-19.

“Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we would like to encourage you to postpone all Chapter and District gatherings for the time being. We are aware that many of you have already done so, but felt it was important to reiterate the message for any of you that have yet to do so. Unfortunately, due to the fluidity of the situation, we cannot begin to estimate the length of time this request will remain in effect. But we can assure you that we are in continued communication with health entities and municipalities across the country for the most up to date and accurate information.

We would also like to mention, that at this point, Wing Ding, which is

to be held in Springfield, MO, from 6/30-7/4/2020, is NOT being postponed

and/or cancelled at this time due to it still being several months away.

The health and wellness of our members is of the utmost importance as an

association, and appreciate your support and understanding of the current

situation. If you require any additional assistance, please don’t hesitate to

reach out to our Home Office at 9460 -843-800

or [email protected].

Additional information can be obtained from the Center for Disease

Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO)

including steps to limit the spread of COVID-19.”

Following both the GWRRA National guidelines and the US Federal and State guidelines, we have cancelled all our Chapter Gatherings, and Events until further notice.

The following other events have been cancelled / postponed:

- April 11th - Road Captain Course - April 18th - MD Chapter B Gathering - April 18th – MD/DE District MEC / MA at Heyser Cycles Open House - April 25th-26th – ArounDE District Ride - May 2nd - Chapter B Fun Day & Motorcycle Rodeo at Elks Lodge

Updated information on events and gatherings are posted on our website, the three-month schedule, and e-mail announcements.

mailto:[email protected]





mailto:yellowwing10@netm




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Last month, before the guidelines were announced, we were able to participate in a few of our scheduled Events.

We held the gathering on the 1st of the month, followed by a Camping weekend,

which included attending “Grease” at the Riverside Dinner Theater in Fredericksburg VA.

The weekend started with the RV group checking into the KOA Fredericksburg

on Friday evening. We had at least seven RV’s already set up by the time we arrived. We were delayed due to work, and then 3 miles from our destination I got a

warning from our Tire Monitoring System that one of my inside rear tires had no pressure. Seeing we were so close to the campground, we decided to keep going.

Upon arrival, and checking into our site, I verified the tire was flat. It was one job

that could wait until the next morning. After setting up, a group dinner, and a nice fire it was time to retire for the

evening. The next morning, after a scrumptious group breakfast, I headed to the RV to

start the tire change. After getting permission from the office to perform the maintenance required, we started the project.

As soon as I broke out the tools, bottle jack, and spare tire the Calvary arrived.

Thanks to Ray Hartman, Roger Tenbrink, Dave Laurie, and a few others providing support.

If it wasn’t for our extended GWRRA family, I would still be laying under the RV!!

Later that evening we departed for the “Riverside Theater”.

We arrived just as the doors opened. The ladies at the “Will Call” requested the

Bar be opened early, just for our group. A good start to a great night!!



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Initially we had reservations for 33 folks for “Grease”. When the curtain went up,

we had 31 in attendance. The show was fantastic, and It was great to see everyone out enjoying the

evening. All the events for April are cancelled due to the COVID-19 If not cancelled, other upcoming events:

- Thursday May 14th – Saturday May 16th: PA District Rally Altoona PA - Friday May 22nd – Wednesday Jun 3rd: District Cruise to Alaska - Tuesday Jun 2nd – Sunday Jun 7th: Americade Lake George NY - Tuesday Jun 30th – Saturday Jul 4th: Wing Ding 42 Springfield Missouri

Check out our website, Group Works, and three-month schedule in this newsletter for more details.

Robert & Julie A’Hearn

MD-DE Senior District University Coordinators

MD-I Senior Chapter Directors

MD-I Membership Enhancement Coordinators



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Lorna and Tony Fontaine

MD-I 2020 Couple of the Year

Hello MD-I. Lorna and Tony are very proud to be your MD-I Couple of the Year

and look forward to representing our Chapter during Winter Thing.

Antoine (Tony) Fontaine was born in central Massachusetts, the eldest of nine

children. During the early years, the family moved several times between

Massachusetts and northern Vermont. They eventually settled in North Andover,

Massachusetts where he started the third grade. He graduated from North Andover

High School in 1976.

After High School, Tony went to the University of Massachusetts in Amherst to

study Computer Systems Engineering. After an intensive first year, he changed majors

to Sociology, with focus on university core requirements, then Forestry where he was

introduced to Aikido martial arts for the physical education requirement. A sabbatical

followed working on the factory floor of a stereo equipment manufacturer north of

Boston. The job gave him motivation to continue study in engineering. A year at the

University of Massachusetts in Boston was followed by two more years in Amherst to

finish his Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Systems Engineering.

Tony’s first engineering job was at Raytheon Submarine Signal Division in

Portsmouth, Rhode Island where he designed digital electronics interfacing analog

circuitry with the on-board computer. His next employer was Sikorsky Aircraft in

Portsmouth, Connecticut designing training equipment for helicopter maintenance.

After, due to defense cutbacks, Tony worked a variety of odd jobs while completing his

Masters Degree in Electrical Engineering at the University of Bridgeport. Another job

search transported him to southern Maryland working on Naval test support equipment

with Eagle Systems. Now, as a DoD civilian, he works as an electrical power subject

matter expert on a plethora of fixed wing Marine and Naval aircraft.

Lorna was born and raised on the island of Luzon in the Philippines. She is the

fourth child of eleven. She went to Umanday Elementary School and later to

Pangasinan Provincial High School. At Luzon College she earned her Bachelor Degree

in Commerce majoring in Accounting.

Her first job was to help run the small grocery store her family owned. Proceeds from

the store supported her sibling’s education. One of her elder sisters married a Filipino

gentleman who joined the US Navy at Subic Bay. The two of them petitioned her mother

to come to the United States. The mother in turn, petitioned each of the children. Finally,

in 1991 after a long immigration process, Lorna as able to come to the United States.

She arrived in the later part of the year. The cold weather made her



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wonder why she came, but eventually she adjusted. She was a factory worker at

Minitec Corp., a cashier at the Navy Exchange and Walmart, a cable assembler for BAE

Systems and finally a cashier for DECA at the Naval commissary. She recently retired in

December of 2019. She likes to cook and sews in her spare time.

Tony received his first motorcycle as a surprise gift from his father. It was a

250cc one-cylinder, two-stroke AMF Harley Davidson street version of a dirt bike during

the second year of undergraduate college. The condition was to work during the

summer, which he did. Unfortunately, the motorcycle was totaled in heavy traffic three

months after purchase. The insurance money bought a used Honda 550K with half

fairing at a local Cadillac dealer. A lot of miles and experimentation went with that

motorcycle. A self-botched engine repair leaked oil at the head gasket, but the engine

kept running. On a rainy day in Amherst, another accident should have totaled the

motorcycle. The frame was straightened and some broken bits replaced. The engine

was not repaired, so it became a basket case. Eventually it was sold as a project for

someone else in Rhode Island.

After many years, the motorcycle bug never fully left. Shortly after they were

married, Tony announced he wanted to buy a motorcycle. After touring on the 550K,

Tony knew he needed a larger comfy touring machine. They bought a 2000 Goldwing

from a Fredericksburg dealer and joined GWRRA right after an Internet search for local

groups. We joined MD-I at their monthly gathering in the Golden Corral in Waldorf. A

few months later at Winter Thing, the Chapter Director Charlie Schappet signed Tony

up to be the Chapter Web Guy. He has managed the website since then. At Winter

Thing 2019, Tony agreed to also manage the MD-DE district website.

Lorna and Tony are both qualified as Level IV riders. They reside in Lexington

Park, Maryland in their woodlot hide-away.



Maryland District Rider Education Coordinator

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Ride Ed changes due to COVID-19 MFA: Please be advised any current Member participating in the GWRRA Rider Education Levels Program with a MEDIC FIRST AID® (MFA) or alternative FA/CPR expiration on or after January 1st, 2020 is being granted a grace period until further notice.

Rider Course Instructors:

Because of the liability in the use of expired/ineligible Rider Course Instructors, all Rider Course

Instructors must maintain ALL aspects of their certification in order to conduct a Rider Course for

GWRRA..

Riding safe during COVID-19:

This is coming at a time when nice riding days are just starting to appear. You are geared up for

safety for riding, but some extra steps should be taken during these times:

This one is always the case: Don’t ride when sick!

Put a small hand sanitizer bottle in your front pocket or glove box on your ride.

When fueling use a credit card at the pump instead of cash

When fueling we must touch the pump handle and perhaps keypad, don’t touch your face, then

sanitize your gloves or take your gloves off to pump gas and sanitize your hands before putting your

gloves back on.

These might seem funny, but perhaps they are in order:

If you enter a store, keep your helmet on and your face shield lowered for protection.

If you’re going to remove your gear at your destination, leave your gear in the bike if possible,

instead of bringing it in contact with surfaces inside the places you visit.

If it’s a bathroom break bring your own toilet paper, so you don’t have to touch the community

roll.

If you must ride with other riders, please ride staggered. (social distancing) 😊

Cleaning is something we are all doing a lot of, don’t let your ride see you cleaning everything

else and neglecting it. Nobody wants to ride a sad bike!

Jeff

Gold Wing Road RidersAssociation Maryland Chapter I


March Gathering

MD-I 14GWRRA GUESTS 4

VISITORS 1

Vest or Shirt ($5): John Fink

50/50 Drawing: 3rd place Robin Little $5 / 2nd place John

Fink $15 / 1st place Robin Little $25

Birthday Drawing: Bill Little

Rider Educator Patch ($15): Robin Little

Marble Game – No winner

Apr 4 Robert A’Hearn Apr 8 Jody & Robin Groves

Apr 9 Steve Norbrey

Apr 11 Tony Fontaine

Apr 13 Angela McEwen

Apr 27 Dan Kenney



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If things get better, our next month’s

Gathering will be Sunday May 3rd, 2020

Stay tuned for more information

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Documents

Welcome to April 2020gwrramdi.org/enews/Apr20News.pdf · Systems and finally a cashier for DECA at the Naval commissary. She recently retired in December of 2019. She likes to cook