Rocket City Wings Huntsville, Alabama -- Chapter B, Region A Friends for Fun, Safety & Knowledge February 2012

Director Notes
  -- From the Chapter Directors

The Chapter is off to a good start in 2012. We were the largest Chapter in attendance at Snowball again this year. We also received a certificate for the second most active chapter in Alabama for 2011. Chapter D from Anniston came in first, we really need to get it in gear if we plan to take first place back this year. As many of you know the Alabama District Couple of the Year selection was also held at Snowball. Even though Renee and I offered to stay on for one more year, they insisted on selecting a new couple for this year, go figure! Hiram and Lisa did us proud, as they say here in the South. We couldn't have asked for better representatives for Chapter B and we owe them a big THANK YOU for their efforts. Speaking of the Couple of the Year selection, Bill and Trina Barden are the newly crowned 2012 Alabama District Couple of the Year. I know they will do an outstanding job as ambassadors for Alabama GWRRA. If you haven't had the chance, make sure you congratulate them and turn out to support them during the Region A selection.

February is going to be a busy month. We get started with the Chill Bowl at Cycle Nation on the 4th from 11:00 to 1:00. Bill and Bonnie Nelson are putting together a Recruiting table. Avery and Steve and Shirley Kremer are working on a Rider Safety and Motor Awareness booth. We need as many of you that can make it, to show up and help spread the word, about what a wonderful bunch of folks we are and how much fun they will have if they join us. We may even help some of them ride a little more safely and become more aware of motorcycles in the process, not to mention the Chill and possibly of door prizes. Please contact Bill and Avery to find out what time they need you to help, if you can. As if that's not enough for one Saturday, we will follow that up with a Bowling Night at AMF Parkway Lanes starting at 6:00 pm.

We will not be holding our monthly gathering on the normal second Tuesday this month due to Valentine's Day. Instead, we will have a Valentines Party on Saturday the 11th. We will hold a short meeting before the party to take care of important Chapter business (like the J for Genius). The Chapter will provide the food and drinks; if you can, please bring a desert to share. The only other things you need to bring is yourself, your sweetheart, and anything you would like to give to your sweetheart. The information is on the website, hope to see you there.

The District will be putting on an OCP (Officer Certification Program) on the 18th and 19th. We have several members signed up for the course. This is a very good course and is open to everyone, not just Officers. If you would like to attend, there is a link on our website where you can register. For those not attending, there is a lunch scheduled at Tellini's with a possible ride TBD depending on weather. The next training opportunity is Chapter Leadership Skills on the 25th. This is a one day class and the next in the series after Horizons. I know a lot of you took Horizons last year and this is a good chance for you to continue in the Leadership Training Program. It would be great if we could get a group together and convoy down to Bessemer.

We have 3 birthdays this month, Jeff Burns on the 3rd, Tammy Hollingsworth on the 17th, and me on the 18th. As you can see Tammy is one day older than I am. Renee and I would like to wish each one a very Happy Birthday and I for one am willing to except any cash that you may want to give to any of the other two(just a joke). Until next month remember:

Ride Safe Today So You Can Ride Again Tomorrow

Greg & Renee Dempsey

Chapter Couple Notes
  -- From the Chapter Couple of the Year

FROM OUR VIEW POINT

Greg told me that as Chapter Couple we had to write an article for the newsletter each month.  Whooooppps!  Did anyone notice I didn't manage to get one written and in for the newsletter last month.  Well, now that I know, I'll write......

First of all, Jake and I would like to thank everyone for all the well wishes we have received since becoming AL-B's Chapter Couple.  Needless to say that the honor was unexpected, but very much appreciated.  I hope we can look forward to your support during this coming year.

Jake and I were able to make it for breakfast on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day at Cracker Barrel and the rides after.  Although, I'll confess, on New Year's Eve, after breakfast, we did have to come back to the house to get our bike in order to go on the ride. 

We got our Medic/First Aid updated at Roy and Anita's before the Hobo Stew and game night.  Even after taking the class, I'm still not sure anyone would want me trying to help them if they got hurt.  With that in mind, maybe I could assist the educator by being an incentive for everyone to ride safer.

We went to Snowball with Steve and Tammy on the week-end of the 21st & 22nd.  We were really disappointed that our 2011 Chapter Couple, Hiram and Lisa Bass, didn't get selected as district couple.  I know they would have represented our district well.  But, in spite of that, we wish Bill and Trina Barden, our new District Couple for 2012, all the best.  We really had a lot of fun playing 99 that night at the motel, getting some new converts in the process.

While most of the chapter was visiting AL-V in Guntersville, Steve, Tammy, Jake, and I went to the Tennessee Winter Event at Fall Creek Falls.  There we got to attend a C.O.Y. Reception and Seminar.  We were able to meet several other chapter couples from Tennessee and got to play a cute little game of Nuts & Bolts.  The seminar was very good and we both learned a lot. 

Now we're plotting and planning out the next few months, deciding where we can go and what we have to miss due to babysitting.  We're looking forwarded to riding with all of you as much as we can.  Until next month, ride safe and ride often.

Jake & Kathy Lawyer

  In the Spotlight
  -- Walter & Faye (Neal) Gersch

Walter & Faye (Neal) Gersh

Walter & Faye are very active participants with Chapter B!!  You will see them everywhere ... from dinners to rides to rallies.  Walt & Faye first met in 1999 when he moved into Faye's neighborhood.  Their friendship blossomed into something more around 2009... and on February 11, 2011 they were married!  (Happy Anniversary !!!)  Walter has two sons; Eddie & Douglas -- and Faye has three sons; Wesley (who is a Goldwing owner), Paul (who is a member of Chapter B) and Richard. They are also the parents of a dog, Charlie.

Riding on their 2003 Goldwing 1800 Trike -- they have traveled all across the country.. .attending Wing Ding's, Rallies and other events.  Last year they jumped on the trike and headed West on an adventure that took them through Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Colorado ... and many more destinations..  All in all they have triked their way thru at least 20 states .. Putting thousands of miles on their Wing and earning themselves many wonderful & treasured memories. They have more adventures planned for 2012!  When not on their trike or spending time with their GWRRA family... they spend time at the Lake of Guntersville where they enjoy camping and fishing. Among other fun activities, they enjoyed a fun and relaxing cruise last year... and plan on taking another later this year with many other GWRRA members.

Walter & Faye are always smiling and happy .. and it's obvious they are enjoying life!  We are very fortunate they are part of our Chapter family !

Safety Notes
  -- From the Chapter Rider Educators

Wow, hard to believe it's already the second month of the New Year. Shirley and I are excited to have accepted the Rider Educator positions and see lots of opportunities to serve and promote the Rider Education Program for our Chapter. As Greg has said "Change is a funny thing, some people love change while others seem to never adjust." I believe change can be scary, exciting, and sometimes a life saving experience. As our mission to "Save Lives Through Quality, World Class Education", the GWRRA Rider Education Program (REP) is intended to make the motorcycle riding  environment safer by reducing injuries and fatalities and increasing motorcyclist skills and awareness.

If you're like us, you're passionate about riding. And, if you're like most folks that want to have the safest, most enjoyable ride possible, you're also on an ongoing journey to master the skills of road riding. And hopefully that's what we're all about. We want to educate riders ranging from one to 50+ years of riding experience, to build on skills they've already developed and introduce techniques that help take members closer to mastering the riding experience while increasing their safety margin.

I believe that we all have certain tendencies to be complacent when driving any vehicle (no matter how educated, experienced, or well seasoned). Driving complacency can be reduced through developing a better attitude of those we share the road with. One way to manage that attitude is to be actively involved in programs that promote skills and awareness. I know it's hard sometimes to see how sitting through a class, answering questions and having fun can ever be more enjoyable than hopping on the bike and taking a ride. I'll admit, it does take a little commitment, lots of rationalizing, and tad bit of humility to enjoy life. All the GWRRA education programs that Shirley and I have gone through have always involved one or more of those things, and we've always gained a positive experience or enlightenment that's been useful in, just about, any situation (and it's just hard to beat free). 

This year, as your Chapter Educators, we're asking that you become a better rider by being a lifelong learner, no matter what your current education or experience level.
We hope they'll be lots of opportunities for everyone to have fun, gain some confidence and share experiences that'll complement all the other great programs in our Chapter.
Please, take some time to browse through the Chapter Web site and see upcoming education events and Links to valuable motorcycle safety sites (see below).

Hope to see you at our next Chapter Meeting and remember "Safety is for Life".

http://www.rocketcitywings.org/education.asp
http://www.rocketcitywings.org/links.asp?page=education.htm
http://www.rocketcitywings.org/calendar.asp?m=&p=group&cat=safety

Steve & Shirley Kremer

Where is IT?

Some of you may be wondering where our friend IT has been. First let me fill you in on It's background and bring you up to date.

It is native to Australia. It is a marsupial. It was adopted by the Alabama District and has traveled all over Alabama. It was scheduled to visit Chapter N.

This is where It's story really begins. On the way to Chapter N, or shortly after arriving (no one is sure which) It showed up in Australia and twin Koalas were born, a boy and a girl. It returned to Chapter N immediately upon the discovery of the twins, then baby boy It was itnapped.

}A private It-vestigator was hired.  At Snowball; It met with the It-vestigator.  He is pretty sure that an undisclosed person from Chapter N was the last one seen with baby boy It.  Rumors abound, but none have been substantiated, related to the current location. Per the Chapter N police department a person of interest is being questioned......    , the It-vestigator also informed It that It is not an It, but a She It.

She It is requesting your help in locating baby boy It. Baby boy It looks just like baby girl It, without the pink shirt.  Thank you for your help and keep your eyes open when visiting other Chapters.

IT & baby it

February 2012 -  AL-B Ride Schedule

• Unless otherwise indicated, all rides will leave from the ride meeting place at scheduled time.
• As a courtesy to all members, it is important to be ready to leave at the departure time.
• All bikes should be fueled and bladders emptied ahead of time.
• We plan a variety of rides.  Time and money might make it hard to make all events.  We hope this variety will give you an opportunity to pick and choose, and at least enjoy some of them.
• If the weather is bad--come in your car.
• If you have a CB, you will find us on Channel 1 (unless noted otherwise by the ride leader).

• We need your ride suggestions!!
• We need any and all of your ideas!!
• You can be part of the Ride Committee!!
• If you want to help...
  Please e-mail us at Rid eCoo rdin ator

February - 2012

March - 2012