“a”wesome newsgwrranha.org/uploads/3/4/9/3/34936843/march_2017... · tion at many chapters and...
TRANSCRIPT
“A”WESOME NEWS MARCH 2017
Chapter NH-A meets monthly, (except December)
Wingate Hall, Bethany Chapel 54 Newbury Road , Manchester, NH 03103
at 7:00 PM on the third Friday of the month.
Who’s —- Who
In Chapter NH-A
Chapter Directors
2016-2017 District Couple of the Year
Chris & Lynne Christensen
321-223-3254
Assistant Chapter Directors
COULD THIS BE YOU
Chapter Treasurer
Julie Bernier
978-201-6566
Chapter Educator
Doug Melanson
Chapter MEC
Glenn Daniels
Chapter Ride Coordinator
Paul Morrisette
Chapter Webmaster
Bob Wilson
Chapter Photographer
Leanne Clayton
Well Wisher
Deb Melanson
Chapter Newsletter Editors
Chris and Lynne Christensen
Region B Directors
Tom & Renee Wasluck
570-474-1014
District Director
David & Bonnie Bolster
603-624-0268
NH-A Website
www.gwrranha.org
DIRECTOR’S NOTE
NH District
Website
Hello fellow motorcyclist,
Winter is hopefully gone, so lets pre-
pare for the riding season! Maybe you
have recently taken a CPR/First Aid
class or a seminar or two during the off
season. This means you are better pre-
pared to help in case one of your riding buddies has an acci-
dent or a health issue, or you are prepared to be a better rid-
er or co-rider. Now you are available to spend more time rid-
ing with the season in the near future. Hopefully you take the
time to make sure your motorcycle is ready to go. It is recom-
mended to do T-CLOCS, change the oil, replaced worn tires,
kept your battery charged, or discovered that you needed a
new one and replaced it.
There are other things that you can do to be at your best out
on the road. Many of us will be out on the road before MSF or
GWRRA Rider Courses are offered. So what else can you do
to get in the right frame of mind and tune up your skills right
away? There are a few things you can do as an individual or in
a group to be prepared to ride safely and with skill before the
season begins.
First, you can practice your skills in an empty, quiet parking lot
with smooth pavement that is free of loose gravel or sand and
away from moving vehicles. Choose a time when it is unlikely
to be busy, (e.g., a school lot on Sunday) as your safety and the
safety of others is of the utmost importance. Work on brak-
ing, turning, curves, stopping while in a curve (remember to
straighten the handlebars before braking!), and turning when
pulling away from a stop. When you practice alone, always re-
main vigilant to vehicles encroaching on your space.
Continued on next page
Chapter NH-A meets monthly, (except December)
Wingate Hall, Bethany Chapel 54 Newbury Road , Manchester, NH 03103
at 7:00 PM on the third Friday of the month.
Directors Note Con’t.
Remember practicing in a parking lot by yourself or with others, is good for all of us after a much too long,
off-season. It is even more beneficial and important if you recently bought a new or used motorcycle. Get
to know that new-to-you bike and how it handles in a safe environment. After brushing up your skills, you’ll
be ready to go out and enjoy a safe riding season!
Second, take advantage of attending a Team Riding Seminar. This Rider Ed seminar is available for presenta-
tion at many chapters and may be available at some District rallies. Why would you attend a Team Riding
Seminar? One reason is because most of us ride to various places around the state with our chapter and we
encourage everyone to join the other chapters on their rides. If you know what to expect from the others
in your group – your team – you will be more prepared. Knowing safety is on everyone’s mind, you will
become more comfortable with riding in large groups. That is what the Team Riding Seminar provides you.
Getting back to the bike for a minute, if you have new tires on your bike for the new season, know that the
tire manufacturers recommend that you take it easy on those tires for the first 50 – 100 miles. That means
go easy in the curves and easy on acceleration to prevent slide-outs. The reason is because the surface of
the tire will be slickest (slippery) when new. There are a couple of common explanations why, but the re-
sult is the same – reduced traction. The rubber will get scuffed and roughed up enough over that distance
during normal riding and the tire’s grip will improve. Be particularly careful with new tires on painted stripes
and metal plates, and all surfaces that are slick.
Safety and fun,
Chris & Lynne
LOCATION IN HOOKSETT NH!
SHOW YOUR GWRRA MEMBERSHIP CARD FOR A 10% DISCOUNT
Hooksett NH
1329 Hooksett Rd
Tel: 603-622-5151
At this month’s meeting we had 17 people attend. Ron Black won the 50/50 which was $45.00, congratula-
tions, and Carol Chadwick found her member ID# in the newsletter. Carol picked a Subway gift card as her
prize. The members that did the puzzle, received Valentine’s conversation sweetheart candies.
Thank you Ron and Susie, directors of NH-E and NH Assistant District Directors for attending. Ron and
Susie presented a great idea that each NH chapter take a weekend to plan a ride. NH-A will have the first
weekend of the month, NH-E will have the 4th Sat. of the month, NH-G will have the 2nd Sunday (except
Mother’s Day weekend it will be the third Sun.) and NH-T will have the second Sat. of the month. This does
not mean we can’t plan something for another day that is open. The idea is for everyone to come together,
enjoy each other’s company and do things together as a district.
Chris also discussed how important it is to utilize our sponsors. With their continued sponsorship, we as a
chapter have been able to do many events, like pay for our members to attend The Medic First Aid-Basic
Plus Class.
Looking forward to seeing everyone at the next gathering. On Friday, March 17, 2017, we will be holding a
Corned Beef Dinner with cabbage, potatoes, carrots, rolls, desserts, soda and water for $10.00 per person.
So WEAR YOUR GREEN, come and enjoy.
At the meeting in January, we discussed how we could help/volunteer Bethany Chapel at one of their meals.
NH-A has been very fortunate to continue to use Wingate Hall for our gatherings. On Sat. March 18th,
at 4:30 pm, they are hosting a SPRING TURKEY SUPPER. It is $10.00 for Adults and $4.00 for Children (6
-12), under 6 years of age is free.
Why we are mentioning this, is we would like you to come support them while enjoying a homemade tur-
key dinner with all the fixings. We would greatly appreciate it if you would volunteer to help with clean up
after dinner. Wear your Red Shirts and Vests (if you have one) and help support them. See the Flyer Below.
For those people that are taking the OCP Class, Bethany Chapel is just a few minutes away. Come enjoy a
wonderful dinner after your class.
FEBRUARY GATHERING
Thank you for your continued support and for your generosity.
Saturday: March 18, 2017
4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Roasted Turkey, Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, Peas, Stuffing, Butternut Squash, Cranberry Sauce, Rolls & Butter,
Coffee, Tea, Fruit Juices, & A variety of home-made pies
BETHANY CHAPEL Community Church
United Church of Christ 54 Newbury Road
Manchester (Goffe’s Falls), NH 03103 Phone: (603) 645-6399
Donation: Adults: $10.00 - Children: (6 – 12) $4.00 (Under 6 – Free)
Combined Chapter NH District Schedule :
***Anything highlighted in maroon, is a hyperlink to a map or website for the destination.***
SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY
1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 9 10
11
12
NH-T Gathering-
NH-G Gathering
13 14 15 16 17 NH-A
Gathering
Bethany
Chapel 7pm
18 OCP
Training Manches-
ter, NH
Turkey Dinner-
all you can eat
4:30-6:30. See
flyer attached.
19 20
21 22 23 24
NH-E Gathering
Emma’s 321 Pub
and Kitchen
6:30pm
25 NH-G Medic
First Aid/Basic
Plus
NH-A
Bowling 4pm
Park Place Lanes
26 27 28 29 30 31
MARCH
2017
From the Chapter Educator: Doug Melanson
February 17, 2017
Hearing Protection for Motorcycle Riders
Thanks to Frank Clayton for suggesting this topic
and sending me the source article from Motorcyclist
Magazine's MC Garage about the risks to our hearing
resulting from motorcycle riding. It was interesting
to learn that the biggest impact to our hearing doesn’t
come from loud exhausts, although that is certainly a
factor, but from wind noise generated by riding
As motorcyclists, we’re diligent about wearing helmets and sturdy apparel to protect the parts of our bodies
that are most likely to get injured in an accident. However, there’s a part of your body that may be suffering
damage every time you ride, even if you never go down – your ears. As riders, we are regularly exposed to
noise levels that put us at risk of permanent hearing loss, the same as industrial workers, heavy-metal
musicians, and machine gunners.
According to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA), noise-induced hearing loss is
the most common permanent and preventable occupational injury in the world. Hearing loss can occur from a
single extremely loud sound such as an explosion, but it is more commonly incurred gradually over time. In
other words, noise-induced hearing loss is most commonly the result of repeated and prolonged exposure to
elevated noise levels. The unfortunate reality is that riding a motorcycle is a noisy endeavor, and the more you
do it, the more likely you are to damage your hearing.
The louder the noise, the shorter the time your ears can safely be exposed to it. Noise intensity is measured in
decibels and the decibel scale is logarithmic, so a noise that registers at 70 decibels (a typical vacuum cleaner)
is 10 times louder than normal conversation, which typically registers 60 decibels. Sounds above 120 decibels
(an ambulance siren) can be painful to hear and clearly poses a risk to your hearing, but OSHA says permanent
hearing loss can also occur with sustained exposure (more than eight hours) above 85 decibels, roughly the
sound of a lawnmower, or the noise level inside your helmet while riding down the road at 65 mph!
According to a study conducted by Ulster University in Ireland, “motorcyclists can be exposed to very high
levels of noise and are an important population at risk of developing noise-induced hearing loss.” When we
think of motorcycles as a source of noise, exhausts systems are the first thing that comes to mind. But loud
pipes are not the biggest threat to our hearing, as well as our public image as motorcyclists; as it turns out,
wind rushing around the rider is the biggest source of noise experienced by most motorcyclists, assaulting our
ears with everything from booming low-frequency vibrations to whistling high-frequency noise. “Below about
40 miles per hour, machine, exhaust, and road noise predominates,” says Etymotic Research’s Doctor of
Audiology Patty Johnson. Pick up the pace, however, and wind noise quickly becomes the main culprit – a
deafeningly loud one at that. Depending on the style of motorcycle you ride, cruising down the freeway at 80
mph may subject your ears to noise in excess of 110 decibels. That is equivalent to running a chainsaw at
arm’s length and is loud enough that OSHA warns that without hearing protection you should limit exposure
to 15 minutes or less per day. Can you imagine limiting your rides to last no more than 15 minutes?
How do loud noises damage your hearing? Deep within your ears are tiny hairs that vibrate in response to sound waves, converting the mechanical energy of sound into electrical impulses that are carried to the brain via the auditory nerve. We’re born with approximately 16,000 – 20,000 of these little sound-sensing hair cells. Those tiny hairs get damaged when the volume goes up, and unfortunately, once they’re damaged, your sensi-tivity to high-frequency sounds is diminished; and they don’t grow back, which is why noise-induced hearing loss is subtle, cumulative, and permanent. It’s also entirely and easily preventable. “If you’re looking for the maximum amount of sound reduction in a form that’s comfortable to wear, foam ear-plugs are a great choice,” Dr. Johnson says. Disposable earplugs are available in a variety of styles and materi-als, and are by far the cheapest, easiest, and most effective means of shielding your ears from excess noise. Buy them at any drug store or hardware store, practice putting them in properly, and make sure to keep several pairs in your riding jacket or motorcycle storage. “Earplugs are uncomfortable… They’re too hard to put in… The noise doesn’t bother me.” These are all com-mon excuses expressed by those who don’t want to be bothered with sticking foam plugs in their ears, or more likely have simply never experienced the serenity that is riding with earplugs. “I wear a full-face helmet, so I don’t need earplugs,” is another popular rationalization. Full-face helmets do provide some noise insulation, but a full-face lid isn’t enough. If you want to prevent damage to your hearing, earplugs are a must. Most helmet manufacturers invest a fair amount of time and money making their helmets as aerodynamic as possible. Even so, helmets can be quite noisy. While ensconced in a full-face helmet, the primary source of wind noise is turbulence around the chin bar and the bottom of the helmet. Swirling air from your bike’s body-work or windscreen is a contributing factor as well, but it’s how your helmet manages airflow that determines how loud it is. Besides a proper fit and an aerodynamic shell, features like chin curtains and neck rolls that seal the bottom of the helmet will go a long way toward reducing ambient noise. If you plug your ears, how will you hear your bike’s engine or, more importantly, monitor traffic around you? The truth is earplugs don’t leave you in complete silence; they simply make the world a bit quieter. Just as put-ting on a pair of sunglasses limits the intensity of light entering your eyes, earplugs simply reduce the volume of the sound that reaches your ears. Your engine’s rpm and the sound of passing cars, their horns, and other noises are still entirely audible. In fact, wearing earplugs effectively reduces background (wind) noise, ena-bling you to hear the important stuff better. Another important benefit of wearing earplugs is improved con-centration by reducing the detrimental and distracting effects of elevated noise levels. Not only does prolonged exposure to loud noise cause physical harm to your ears, but it’s been shown to have non-auditory affects that include an elevated heart rate, elevated levels of the stress hormone cortisol, fatigue, and anxiety. “Excessive sound exposure has the effect of being tiring on the whole body,” Dr. Johnson says, “and using earplugs can actually result in less fatigue after a long ride.” So not only will wearing earplugs keep your ears safe, they can help make you a safer, more relaxed, more concentrated rider. While most states have no restrictions specifically on earplugs, several states have hearing-impairment laws for vehicle operators that make earplugs illegal or put them in a bit of a legal gray area. Ohio is famous for out-lawing earplugs, although helmet speakers are okay. In New York, you’re only allowed to wear one earplug. In California earplugs are okay as long as they don’t impede one’s ability to hear sirens and car horns. Researching the laws for the New England states, I found no restrictions on the use of earplugs, however I did discover an interesting twist on the use of helmet speakers in Massachusetts, a state we frequently ride to and through. Mass law states that helmet speakers are prohibited, then goes on the state that “No person shall oper-ate a motor vehicle while wearing headphones, unless said headphones are used for communication in connec-tion with controlling the course or movement of said vehicle.” As I interpret this seemingly contradictory state-ment, listening to audio sources such as a radio or MP3 player through helmet speakers is prohibited, and even simply chatting with your co-rider using your intercom through helmet speakers would seemingly put you in violation of the law in Massachusetts, yet it appears to be okay to use your CB and intercom through your hel-met speakers when the communication is being done for the purpose of controlling the course or movement of the motorcycle. To find out about a specific state’s laws, visit the American Motorcyclist Association’s law database.
Sources: Motorcyclist Online MC Garage, “Riding Your Motorcycle Could Be Wrecking Your Ears” by Ari Henning - http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/riding-your-motorcycle-could-be-wrecking-your-ears State Motorcycle Laws on the American Motorcyclist Association website - http://www.americanmotorcyclist.com/Rights/State-Laws-Database
Continued from Chapter Educator
“A”WESOME MEMBER PROFILE
Chris and Lynne
Christensen
Names: Chris & Lynne Christensen
Where are you from? Chris is from St Petersburg FL. and Lynne is from Manchester NH.
How did you meet? We met in July 2011 online through MATCH.COM and Chris moved to Manchester in
Oct 2015 and the rest is BLISS….
How long have you been married? We were married on August 15, 2015. It was my 60th Birthday and I was
surprised from a visit from my son (Chris-Michigan), my brother Bill, sister Bonnie both from Florida and my
son Wesley, D-I-L Cristal, grandkids Connor and Makenna from Maine, for my birthday, and we surprised
them by getting married.
How many children, first names, where do they live? Lynne has one son Ryan (27) who is a Manchester Po-
lice officer and has a wonderful girlfriend Rolinda who is a Nurse Practitioner in the Emergency Department
at Winchester Hospital in Massachusetts. They have been together for 3+ years and bought a home in Lon-
donderry, NH. Chris has two sons, Chris 41, is a computer security specialist. Chris is married to Brenda,
who has a daughter Sylvana, who is a college student. Chris is a and Brenda owns a dog/cat grooming busi-
ness. They live in Grand Rapids Mi. Wesley, 39 works at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. He is married to
Cristal who is a phenomenal stay at home mom. They have two children Connor 10, and Makenna 8, whom
we love spending time with.
What are your occupations? Chris is retired from the US Postal Service (30Years), and now is the Hospital
Services Coordinator for the DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS, at the VA Medical Center, Manchester.
He coordinates transportation (for 20 volunteer drivers) for about 8,000 veterans that otherwise would not
receive care at the VA.
Lynne works at the Elliot Hospital in Manchester as an Admissions/Referral Coordinator for the Adult and
Geriatric Psychiatric Departments and as a resource person for the LNA Float Pool Department.
What brought you to New Hampshire? Grandchildren brought Chris to Manchester after his retirement.
How long have you been riding motorcycles? Chris has been riding since 1974.
What Led you to GWRRA? Chris was on a ride near Kennedy Space Center, FL., when he spotted a row of
Goldwings about to leave on a ride, so I joined them and have been involved ever since. When Lynne
Continued from previous page.
and I started seeing each other, I started going to the gatherings (Lynne was working evenings). When she
went back to day shift, she started joining me at the gatherings.
What was your first motorcycle? Chris’ first motorcycle was a Suzuki B120 in the UK in 1974 while in the
USAF. I later moved up to a CB360 and in 1978 I bought a 1977 Yamaha XS750D, which at the time was
Yamahas first venture into shaft drive (full fairing, saddlebags, CB radio, AM/FM radio and a Trunk that
would hold three (3) full face helmets). I put 99,000 miles on that in 4 years. Then I bought a 1978 GL1000,
in 1988 I bought a GL1200, and in 1995 bought a GL1500, now we have a 2008 GL1800.
What are your Hobbies/ Interests? Chris and Lynne like to read, spend time with family, play cards with The
Card Shark Group and ride.
Any pets? What type and names? Not anymore, but love our time with our grand puppy Finn who is 2 years
old.
Ever held any Positions in GWRRA? In 1995 Chris became webmaster and newsletter editor for the Space
Coast Wings FL-2N until 2001. I was also a member of the GWRRA “Florida Drill Team” from 1995-1997.
The team was International Champs in Greenville SC (1995), and 1st runner up in 1996 in Madison WI. Cur-
rently we are the Chapter Newsletter Editors, was NH-A Assistant Chapter Directors for 3 months and
currently are Directors for the BEST Chapter NH-A…Awesome.
Have you had any GWRRA training? Chris and Lynne have had Medic First Aid, OCP, Road Captain, Rider
safety and numerous other courses. Lynne is a Certified Medic First Aid-Basic Plus Instructor.
Please let us know if you would like us to add your birthday and/or anniversary to our newsletter.
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY
Janis Melanson—3/9
Vince and Louise
Laposta
March 5, 2017
Glenn’s Points to Ponder
**IF SOMEONEWITH MULTIPLE PERSONALITIES THREATENS TO KILL HIMSELF, IS IT CONSIDERED A HOSTAGE SITUATION?
********************************************************************
IF YOU ATE BOTH PASTA AND ANTIPASTO, WOULD YOU STILL BE HUNGRY?********************************************************************************************
New Definition of the Month:
MISTY: How golfers create divots ****************************
Maybe you knew this & Maybe Not In the late 1700's, many houses consisted of a large room with only one chair. Commonly, a long wide board folded down from the wall, and was used for dining. The 'head of the household' always sat in the chair while everyone else ate sitting on the floor. Occasionally a guest, who was usually a man, would be invited to sit in this chair during a meal. To sit in the chair meant you were important and in charge. They called the one sitting in the chair the 'chair man.' Today in business, we use the expres-sion or title 'Chairman' or 'Chairman of the Board.'
IT’s a 1999 Honda Valkyrie Interstate with under 40,000 miles on it. It’s in excellent condition and it comes
with
a $500 CB radio. I am asking $6,495.00 for it, but for GWRRA Members, $6,200.
Call Dick Bernier at 978-496-4363
CLASSIFIEDS
SEE YOU AT THE ST’PATRICKS DAY GATHERING!!!!
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