May 2008
From your Director;
GWRRA Chapter P participants;
Thank You! to all of you who attended our April gathering last month, making it our largest attended gathering this year to date!
For those who were not able to attend, we had 34 happy faces share their smiles with us. It has been encouraging to see many new guests and faces of those we have not seen in a while revisit and share in the FUN.
Many have commented at the potential GWRRA growth and membership our area offers and it is because of you and your positive encouragement and involvement that will determine
the successful future of GWRRA TX-Chapter P.
We are excited to see so many of you express interest in and order patches to show your GWRRA pride! You should be! You belong to one of the largest family of friends and Gold Wing riders you can be involved with! The benefits are second to the friendships we have developed over the years. Experience what
GWRRA offers, and I know many of you will agree.
Check the calendar for a ride or an event and ‘let’s have some
FUN riding Safe!
Jeff Mew
GWRRA TX-Chapter P
Chapter Director
Inside This Issue
Chapter Director 1
Letter from District 2
Educators Corner 3
Awareness Month 4
Miscellaneous 5
District Staff 6
Chapter P Staff 6
GWRRA Events 7
Chapter Calendar 8
Region Rally Results 9
Month in Review 10
Awareness Day 11
GWRRA Texas
Region H Chapter P
Granbury, Texas
www.wingsofgranbury.org
Page 2 www.wingsofgranbury.org
A Letter From Ken Peterson
Well folks, what can we say, except CONGRATULATIONS to EVERYONE who attended and partici-pated in the Region H Rally in Marshall. You cannot begin to imagine how proud we are of all the Texas Chapters in attendance. We could go on and on about everyone but the attached listing is pretty
well self explanatory. The Bragging Rights belong to Texas this year.
Your District Staff brought home the "coveted" District Cup, that's now 2 out of the last three years.
And the newest of the Big Competitions - Texas Chapter O from Austin was selected the first Region H Chapter of the Year. Region will present Chapter O's credentials to National shortly, and the In-ternational Chapter of the Year will be selected and announced at Wing Ding in July.
Yes, we are extremely proud of you all ! It all started in Louisiana this year and the fun is continuing on thru the rally season. But the BEST is yet to come -
See you all in Corpus Christi, Ken & Barbie
Picture from Region H rally in Marshall
At the April chapter gathering we discussed three safety related hand signals, Hazard in the road, single file and staggered formations. When you receive one of these signals from the bike in front of you give the signal to the bike following you so it can be passed on throughout the group. These hand signals should be given even when the signal has been communicated by
CB.
The road hazard signal for something on the left is done by pointing at it with your left hand, hazards to the right are either pointed at with the right hand or right foot. If the lead missed
pointing out a hazard anyone can point it out.
The call to switch to single file riding (two second or greater following distance, and utilizing the full lane) is done when the lead feels that road conditions are such that more space between riders is needed. This is done by pointing arm and index finger up. When road conditions become safe to do so the call for staggered formation is done by pointing arm with
index and middle finger up.
When approaching a curve all riders should switch to single file even when not being signaled to do so. Resume the original
formation after the curve.
There are several other hand signals but for the most part they
are used to communicate between individual bikes and not necessarily the entire group.
At the June meeting Trooper Gillum of the Texas Department of Public Safety is going to discuss motorcycle related issues with the
chapter.
Remember: RIDE YOUR OWN RIDE. Don’t allow pressure, to keep up with the rest of the group, let you to make unwise
decisions. You are responsible for your own safety.
Kevin and Kerry
TX-P Educators
Page 3 www.wingsofgranbury.org
From our Ride Coordinators and Chapter Educators
Your lifetime risk of being killed in a motor vehicle crash is one in 88, three times greater than being murdered-and more than 50 times greater than dying in an airplane crash. For all Americans, car crashes are by far the leading cause of “accidental’’ death. 2.5 million people suffer disabling injuries each year in almost 6,000,000 million car crashes.
You can’t control the way other motorists drive, but you can lower your chances of being involved in a crash by avoiding certain types of high risk driving behavior. 40 % of collisions that result in death or serious injury are alcohol-related—speeding, drowsy driving, distracted driving, and aggressive driving are commonly viewed as being among the most dangerous.
Speeding nearly triples the risk of being involved in a crash or near-crash. Traveling too fast for existing driving conditions reduces your ability to steer safely, extends your stopping distance, and can prevent you from reacting quickly enough to avoid a crash. Speeding is probably the single biggest cause of traffic fatalities.
Drowsy driving. 37% of drivers have admitted to falling asleep at least once while driving. And 51% of teens reported driving while drowsy. That’s scary! Studies indicate that fatigue is a factor in more than 15% of all collisions.
Distracted driving nearly doubles the risk of being involved in a crash or near collision. Drivers are distracted nearly one third of the time that vehicles are in motion. Either by eating, talking on the phone, fiddling with the radio, text messaging and more!
Aggressive driving more than doubles the risk of being involved in a collision. Aggressive driving is a widespread and growing problem. Driving at aggressive speeds, unsafe lane changes and tail gating are just to name a few.
Risk is a natural part of our everyday life. For most of us, driving is the most dangerous regular activity we do, so it’s good to know we can control much of our risk and increase our odds of getting to our destination safely. Stay aware! Constantly check your mirrors and identify unsafe or distracted drivers and adjust your space. Be visible to other vehicles on the road by wearing bright colors or using a headlight modulator. Be on top of your game and don’t overdrive your capabilities. Ride your own ride and ride safe!
You are the only you, you have!
Stats provided by AAA
May is Motorcycle Awareness month. Page 4
www.wingsofgranbury.org
There are currently seven LTD training programs.
� MEMBER ORIENTATION
� HORIZONS PROGRAM
� KNOWLEDGE ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM
� LIFE SKILLS
� INSTRUCTOR DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
AND INSTRUCTOR CERTIFICATION PROGRAM
� OFFICER MENTOR PROGRAM
� LEADERSHIP 2000 PROGRAM
Discuss your training needs with your District Trainers.
Dale Wingrove
Region H Trainer
SONIC NIGHTS ARE BACK-4TH THURSDAY OF EACH MONTH-AT SONIC ON HWY 377 IN CRESSON. MEET FOR ICE CREAM AT
7:00PM
Title Name Email
District Director Ken & Barbie Peterson [email protected]
District Treasurer/Newsletter Edi-tor
Pamela Meyer [email protected]
District Educator John & Lydia Bourg [email protected]
Assistant District Educator Collen Campbell [email protected]
District Trainer Ron & Magaly Griffis [email protected]
MED-COY Coordinators John & Lena Bryant [email protected]
MED-Activities Coordinator Carolyn Barton [email protected]
Vendor Coordinators Jim & Ruby Seale [email protected]
Chief Advisor Dieter Meyer [email protected]
Couple of the Year 2008 Mandy & Fred Mew [email protected]
MFA Coordinator Larry Colson [email protected]
GWRRA TX—CHAPTER ‘P’ OFFICERS & STAFF
Chapter Directors Jeff & Theresa Mew [email protected]
Assistant Chapter Directors Your Name Here
Chapter Treasurer Donna Adair [email protected]
Newsletter Editors Larry & Mary Henderson [email protected]
Webmaster N B D Production/Brian Neil
Chapter Educator/
Ride Coordinators Kevin & Kerry Kaldenbach [email protected]
Chapter T-Shirts and patches available for purchase.
Short sleeve t-shirts are $15.00 each.
Long sleeve shirts also available for $15.00 ea.
We also have Chapter Patches for $6.00 each.
Contact Jeff or Theresa to get your orders in.
Most items are in stock.
A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five
people, promptly announces she never did care for pie.
A suburban mother's role is to deliver children obstetrically once, and by car
forever after.
Sweater, n.: garment worn by child when its mother is feeling chilly.
GWRRA UPCOMING EVENTS
Greenville Chapter G2 Motorcycle Awareness Day 5/3/08
Texas District Rally-Corpus Christi, Texas 5/08/08-5/10/08
Arkansas District Rally 5/23/08-5/25/08
Wing Ding 7/03/08-7/06/08
Arlington Chapter “M” The Moonlighters Fun Run 8/16/08
DFW Chapter “R” 11th Annual Rally 9/06/08
Tyler Chapter Y2 Rally/Camp-out 9/20/08
Killeen Chapter “T” rally 10/11/08
www.wingsofgranbury.org
Anniversary's Birthdays
May Calendar of Events and Planned Rides
NOTE: Scheduled Rides May be Postponed if Bad Weather is Forecast.
Contact Jeff or Kevin if you have any questions.
SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT
1 2 3
Lunch Ride Home
Depot
4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Texas District Rally
Monthly
Gathering
Texas District Rally
Texas District Rally
Lunch Ride 11am
Home Depot
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
Mothers Day Lunch Ride 11am
Home Depot
18 19 20 21 22 23 24
Sonic Night
7:00 pm
Lunch Ride 11am
Home Depot
25 26 27 28 29 30 31
Lunch Ride 11am
Home Depot
This Months Birthdays and Anniversary's
Anniversary’s Only One Anniversary this Month
Frank & Peg Pease—3rd
Birthdays
Lanny Lacy—18th
John Neeley—22nd
Dan Crocker
Page 8 www.wingsofgranbury.org
Region H Rally
Individual/Chapter Competitions Results
Bike Show 1st Place 1000 Stock Donald Reeves I
1st Place 1500 Stock Dale Compton G2
1st Place 1500 Show Tom Fletcher B
1st Place 1800 Stock James Smith Z2
1st Place 1800 Custom Ed Neal Z2
1st Place 1500 Trike Stock William Henson G2
1st Place 1500 Trike Custom Larry Glass M
1st Place 1800 Trike Custom Dwayne Hooten I
1st Place 1800 Trike Special Show Charles Dunn Z2
1st Place Open Class Terry Hamons I
Light Show Permanently Attached 1st Place Dale Compton G2
2nd Place Joe Acker I
Anything goes Bonnie Curry I
Dress Competitions Best Dressed Couple Riding Doyle & Debra George Y2
Best Dressed Chapter Riding 1st Y2
Best Chapter Knit Shirt 2nd U
Best Chapter Casual Shirt 1st G2
Talent Show Serious Category 1st Linda Hartwell G2
2nd Ron Cheny G2
Comedy 1st Village Idiots G2
2nd Bill/Yvette/JimRuby I
Medallion Hunt Friday AM & Pm Karen Durham Y2
Saturday Robin Smith N2
Chapter Banners 1st O
2nd R
Scrapbook 1st G2
2nd N2 & Y2
Newsletter 1st U
2nd R
Mascot 1st N2
Longest Distance Female Rider Judy Adams K2
Lowest GWRRA Number Dwight Palmer J
Page 9 www.wingsofgranbury.org
Page 10 www.wingsofgranbury.org
Kerry, Kevin, Jeff and Theresa rode to Fredericksburg for the Chapter ‘O’ Rally. Kerry and
Kevin slept in a tent amongst Chapter ‘O’ folks, while Jeff and Theresa roughed it at the Best Western in Kerrville. We spent the day of the rally hanging out with the many friends we
have met throughout Texas since we joined the GWRRA. The fellowship that is felt when you socialize with friends from Chapter P is just the tip of the iceberg when you attend local ral-
lies.
Kerry, Kevin, Jeff, Theresa, Robert, Donna, and Freddie rode to Marshall for the Region ‘H’
Rally-where Texas was well represented. Chapter ‘O’ is the new Region Chapter of the Year. Texas District Staff won District cup competition-(a game competition). Chapter ‘G2’
won comedy talent show. Robert led the ride-straight down the super slab (IH-20), while Jeff
tried to keep up as tail gun. We all spent our time carousing the many vendors, upgrading our bikes ($$$!) and hanging out. We ate good and spent the evenings shooting the breeze.
Elvis represented chapter ‘P’ and entertained Region ‘H’ in the talent contest. Rumor says it was Jeff. It was two days of non stop fun. Our safety education definitely paid off riding
down I-20 from Fort Worth to Marshall.
Month in Review