August 2013

www.tiptopwebsite.com/gwrra

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Chapter G – The “New” Riding Chapter!!!

Dear fellow Chapter G members,

Hello from Sturgis! Sorry I didn’t make the July gathering, but I had an opportunity to join friends and leave for vacation a day earlier than expected. So when Bobbi offered to do the meeting, I thanked her for her friendship and asked her to let you all know that I look for-ward to reconnecting and riding with all of you when I return home.

It’s already halfway through our riding season, so be sure to take advantage of the wonderful events remaining on our 2013 ride schedule. I’d like to encourage all of you to get out and ride as often as you can. Before you know it, this riding season will be over. Also, I would like to ask that if you receive an email or a call about an upcoming ride event that you please indicate whether or not you plan to participate. In this way, we can avoid having only one person show up and save them from having to get up early and drive to the meeting spot only to find no one else is coming.

During August and September, we have several overnight rides on the schedule, and upon my return, I will be in touch with you to see who wants to go. Also, don’t forget about the Bi-State Rally, the PA Rally and the District Ride Out hosted by Chapter N (see flyers in this newsletter). These events provide an opportunity for you to greet old friends, make new ones and have a great time.

I’d like to thank Pete for doing the paperwork to get us four more Dash for Cash points. A visit to Chapter N is planned for 8/16 as well as a visit to Chapter L on 9/13, so we will need at least 5 members at each event to secure our Dash for Cash points with the District. Also, I would like to thank all our officers for their work on behalf of the Chapter. I couldn’t do it without all of you.

I look forward to seeing everyone at our August 28th gathering!

Mike and Carol McGinness Chapter Directors gwrranygcd@yahoo.com

Chapter Directors

Mike McGinness

518-376-8061

Asst Chapter Director and Newsletter Editor

Bobbi Hardman

607-731-7233

Asst Chapter Director & Ride Coordinator

Jerry Deyoe

518 465 3051

Secretary

Marielle St. Amour

518-490-1031

Webmaster

Pete St. Amour

518-490-1031

Rider Educator

Lee Robertson

518 875-6604

MEC & Sunshine Lady Verelyn Robertson

518 875-6604

Chapter COY

Don Clapper & Terri Adams

518-421-9081

Treasurer/Seamstress

Mary Louise Bornt

518-663-8109

Retreads Coordinator

George Astle

518-735-2116

CHAPTER G

OFFICERS

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District Director

Paul & Suzette Wood

Asst. Dist. Directors

Bob & Cathy Turner

Gary & Donna Cork

District Educators

Al Stahl & Vicki Ross

Asst Educator

John & Pam Van Deusen

District Leadership Trainer

Rich and Claire

Aylward

District COY

Coordinators

BOB & SANDY KELLEY

Couple of the Year

Tim & Eileen Guile

District Membership

Coordinator

Pete & Marielle

St. Amour

District Public

Relations

Linda Waterman

District Treasurer

Kathy De Groff

Newsletter Editor

Phil & Tammy Coons

District Web Mistress

Suzette Wood

NOTES FROM CHAPTER NY-G GATHERING July 31, 2013 Wolf Road Diner, Colonie, New York

Bobbi, our Assistant Chapter Director, opened the discussion at 7:05 p.m.  She gave a warm wel‐come to Christine, a new guest.  The entire Chapter congratulated Dave and Christine on their recent engagement.  Bobbi also reported that our Chapter Director Mike was absent from our gathering due to a very well deserved vacation.  He and his wife Carol intend to do lot of riding during their time together in Sturgis. 

Last month, several of us who made the Ride for Kids enjoyed a different ride format.  At the end of day, we contributed over $1,000.  Thanks to all who made the ride and contributed during the year at our monthly gatherings. 

Lee, our Chapter Ride Educator, reiterated the importance of looking out for lighting storms and lighting strikes. Thanks Lee for reminding us about this very important information during the summer riding season. 

Verelyn, our Chapter MEC, reported contacting both a new and prospective member within our jurisdiction; hopefully they will respond to her invitation to join us on upcoming rides. 

Please check out our revised ride schedule for upcoming rides in August and September – we hope that you will join us for some of these great events.  For more information, contact Bobbi at bobbi1151@verizon.net or 608‐5892. 

Ed announced his semi‐retirement and said he is looking forward to having more time to interact with the membership and join us on upcoming rides.  Be sure to check out their bike – it’s a real beauty tastefully enhanced with chrome and LED lights. 

August birthday wishes go out to Sylvia Czuchrey (8/26).  Don Clapper won the 50/50, and the meeting adjourned at 8 p.m. 

Respectfully submitted by Marielle St. Amour, Secretary

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8/26—Sylvia Czuchrey

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WANTED: A motorcycle camping trailer (not a cargo trailer). If you have one you don’t use any more and wish to sell, please contact me. Condtion or age are not important. If you could send me pictures, that would be great. Thanks, David Portzer

Cell (518) 610-1447 or dportzer@gmail.com

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WHY SHOULD I TAKE A RIDER COURSE?

This question is one that many of us find easy to answer. What we may not understand is why anyone would need to ask it. There are some riders in each of our chapters that choose not to participate in an instructed Rider Course. Let’s ex-amine this and try to understand why, and look at what a Rider Course can do for you. Some may say, “I’ve been riding for years. I don’t need to take a class.” Other will boast about the miles they have accu-mulated on two wheels and ask “what can they teach me?” Have you ever tried to persuade someone with that attitude that a Rider Course might help them be an even better rider? Their position can be so negative and so strongly put that you don’t want to talk to them about the benefits of rider training. Sometimes, people hide their self doubt behind a curtain of confidence and bluster. Is it possible to have all the knowledge and skill necessary to avoid any accident? Well, if one chooses not to ride very far or very often, then perhaps it is possible. But I wouldn’t want to bet my life on it! Do you remember a single season in your riding career without at least one close call or near miss due to another motor-ist’s driving behavior? How about a single month? If you ride around the state or across the country, you expose your-self to many different situations that require anticipation of all the possible action of other drivers. You have to be pre-pared to counter with the proper response – whatever their action – and do it in a split second! A motorcycle Rider Course helps prepares you mentally and physically to execute the kinds of maneuvers called for by a driver’s unexpected actions. We look upon these classes as an opportunity to learn and improve our riding skills in a safe environment. The instructors are trained to spot the little techniques during range exercises that riders tend to forget to employ on the road. They provide reminders to all students in a positive manner. Their trained eyes and constructive comments are geared to put each of us on the path to being the safest riders we can be. This can help with your attitude and perform-ance on the road. Being reminded of the best techniques to execute different skills does not hurt at all. It is painless. The practice and coaching helps to improve our skills, whether we never knew the technique to use, or just need the oc-casional reminder. Hey, who doesn’t appreciate a reminder from time to time? Especially when it is about something you want to do correctly and safely, but may have just forgotten the best methods. In athletic training, we are taught that practice makes perfect. And when you practice something you enjoy doing, it’s just a lot of fun! Practicing motorcycle riding maneuvers in a closed parking lot with someone else (the instructors) monitoring the range to protect the riders from outside hazards helps you focus your attention on the task at hand – becoming a better rider! On another level, taking a Rider Course will help you qualify for advancement in the Rider Education Levels Program, to Level II or above, or keep you current in your present level. And there is one more thing to remember about all GWRRA Rider Course offerings. Nobody fails! Everyone who completes the course receives a course completion card. There are no minimum performance requirements. You are asked to push yourself to improve your abilities. You won’t get better if you don’t try. Sign up for a Rider Course today – you will thank yourself later!

Courtesy of Bruce & Melissa Thayer, Former MI Asst. District Rider Educators

Submitted by Lee Robertson, Rider Educator

Chapter G Dash for Cash

2013 Status - 8 Points

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8/3 Balloon/Spiedie Festival I-88 truckstop 9 am

8/7-10 Bi State Rally, Liverpool, NY I-88 truckstop Friday 8/9 at 8 a.m.

8/12 Car Show/Ice Cream Ride Meet at Guptils 6 pm

8/16 Visit to Chapter N Meet at Carl R’s 6:15 dinner/7 pm meeting

8/17 Baseball Museum/Rubbing Butts Ride I-88 truckstop 9 am

8/24-25 Mystic Seaport Overnight Ride Mystic, CT tba

8/28 Gathering Wolf Road Diner 6 pm dinner/7 pm gathering

8/31 Yankee Candle Ride Wolf Road Diner 9 am

9/5-7 PA District Rally Gettysburg, PA

9/7-8 Hershey Overnight Ride Hershey, PA tba

9/13 Visit to Chapter L, Koch’s Restaurant New Baltimore Rest Area 5:30 pm

9/14 -15 Lobster Overnight Ride to Maine tba Tba

9/20-21 District Ride Out – Chapter N Lake George, NY tba

9/25 Gathering Wolf Road Diner 6 pm dinner/7 pm gathering

9/28 Closing Ride to Fire and Ice tba tba

10/30 Gathering Wolf Road Diner 6 pm dinner/7 pm gathering

11/27 Gathering Wolf Road Diner 6 pm dinner/7 pm gathering

12/7 Christmas Party Hawthorne Gardens Com Room 5 pm

2013 RIDE SCHEDULE FOR CHAPTER NY-G

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More Information

HOTEL RATES

Holiday Inn

$96/night *includes breakfast for 2*

Staybridge Suites

Studio $112/night *includes breakfast*

1 bedroom $135/night*includes breakfast*

2 bedroom $195/night*includes breakfast*

MENUS

Optional Thursday Evening Buffet

Tossed garden salad, Baked mac’n cheese, Yankee Pot Roast, Mashed potatoes and gravy, Fried Chicken, Roasted Vegetables, Fruit Salad, Rolls & Butter, Cookies & Brownies, Cof-fee/Tea/Decaf, Lemonade

Optional Friday Wild West Buffet

Chili, Cornbread, Baked Beans, Cucumber/Tomato Salad, BBQ Beef with Fresh Rolls, Coleslaw, BBQ Chicken, Homemade Mac Salad, Fruit Salsa with Cinnamon chips, Coffee/Tea/Decaf, Lemonade

Saturday Evening Banquet (included with full registration)

Deluxe Garden Salad, Beef Tenderloin Tips OR Chicken Francaise, Wild Rice, Green Bean Almondine, Chocolate Cake, Coffee/Tea/Decaf, Iced Tea

SPECIAL SATURDAY GUIDED RIDE

An all-day trip thru the beautiful Finger Lakes area to the excellent Glenn H Curtiss Mu-seum in Hammondsport, NY, which features early motorcycle & aviation history.

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