GWRRA PA District Chapter Y Harleysville, PA Volume 4 February 2018 Issue 2

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1 GWRRA PA District Chapter Y Harleysville, PA Volume 4 February 2018 Issue 2 CHAPTER Y GATHERING BLUE COMET MOTORCYCLE FACILITY 4042 Mensch Road Skippack, PA Our Next Gathering February 24, :00a.m. Table of Contents Chapter Y Staff 1 Upcoming Events 2 Thoughts from the CD 3 Chapter Rider-Ed 4 Motorist Awareness 5 Roll For Dough 6-7 From the Web Side 8 PA District Directors 9 PA District Educator 10 PA Chapter B Flyer 11 PA District Flyer PA All Chapters West Flyer PA All Chapters East Flyer Wing Ding PA District Chapter of the Year Chapter Directors Peggy & Ron Kratz Chapter of Year Coord. director@gwrrapa-y.com Assistant Chapter Directors Bob & Elaine Williams assistantcd@gwrrapa-y.com Treasurer Jeff Kratz treasurer@gwrrapa-y.com Member Enhancement Coordinator Pam Kratz mec@gwrrapa-y.com Sunshine Jane Youells sunshine@gwrrapa-y.com Goodies Store Barbara Silverman CHAPTER Y STAFF Rider Education Director Motorist Awareness Coord. Doug Little rider-ed@gwrrapa-y.com Couple of the Year Coordinators Doug & Lee Little coy@gwrrapa-y.com Couple of the Year Bob & Elaine Williams Roll For Dough Coordinators Bob & Elaine Williams rfd@gwrrapa-y.com Newsletter Editor Joan Cope newsletter@gwrrapa-y.com Web Master Dan Reisinger webinfo@gwrrapa-y.com GWRRA PRESIDENT Anita Alkire president@gwrra.org Home Office, Phoenix, AZ PA DISTRICT DIRECTORS Harold & Diane Jackson Jackson2@zoominternet.net Friends for Fun, Safety & Knowledge 1

2 ************************ FEBRUARY UPCOMING EVENTS ********************** Chapter Y Events FEB 15 ICE CREAM MEET.. 7:00 pm Harleysville Dairy Queen, 261 Harleysville Pike, Harleysville, PA FEB 18 Y Staff Meeting 2:30 pm Kratz s Home FEB 24 Y Gathering Around the District FEB 25 GW University PA-M hosting Training Day 10 am 5 pm MAR 3 GW University PA-N hosting Training Day 9:30am-5pm Sandy Lake Masonic Hall, Sandy Lake RSVP 2/24 MAR PA District COY Weekend Comfort Inn, Duncansville, PA APR 14 PA Officer Conference Trinity Methodist Church, Clearfield MAY 12 PA-B Spring Fling Lancaster Central Park, Lancaster MAY PA District Rally Park Inn, Uniontown JUNE PA All Chapters West Bear Run Campground, Portersville JUNE 24 PA-H Dice Run BBQ Bloomsburg - $15 pp. RSVP 6/10 JULY 21 PA-R Gumball Ride Sayre - JULY PA All Chapters East Old Mill Stream Campground, Lancaster Other Districts ***FEB 8-10*** WINTER THING, Ocean City, Maryland District Rally Clarion Resort Fountainebleau Hotel by 1/19 Pre-register to insure banquet seating with your chapter see flyer on GWRRA MD website 6 Y members have reservations contact Peggy or Bob W. for details SNOWBIRDS.. MAR Quacker Dynasty Florida District check website APR NJ State Rally Matador Oceanfront Resort, North Wildwood, NJ JUNE Rally in the Valley, Roanoke, VA JULY NEW ENGLAND Districts Rally Southbury, CT SEPT New York District Rally, Watertown, NY Hilton/Holiday Inn Express National.. WING DING 40 Knoxville, Tennessee 8 Y members have reservations at LaQuinta Inn & Suites Knoxville Central Papermill, 1317 Kirby Road, Knoxville, TN Check In 8/27/2018 Check Out 9/1/2018 Other JUNE 5-9 AMERICADE Lake George, NY 2

3 ************************************************************************** FROM THE DESK OF YOUR CHAPTER DIRECTORS CHAPTER DIRECTOR S FUN LIST Peggy & Ron Kratz, Chapter Directors January Gathering started our year off with a big group of Y members and chapter PA-A guests. While PA-A is looking for a new gathering location, they are invited to come do a joint meeting with us. Our sponsor, Montgomeryville Cycle Center, held their annual Chili Cookoff. Y Members Katie Green and Kermit Gable entered their special dishes. Kermit s chili was got third in the popular vote. MCC Spring Sale Days are April 6-8, plan to stop in and assist Y in sharing the perks of owning/riding a Gold Wing, membership in GWRRA and PA Chapter Y. This is our main recruiting event. Treasurer notes included the rental of Blue Comet s facility for our Gatherings for 2018 District Lottery ticket sales netted our treasury a good amount and the lottery payouts started on February 1 and go all month long. Check your tickets hope Y has some winners! Levels Program was reviewed The commitment and achievement of the GWRRA Master Tour Rider designation was bestowed on four Y members Jeff Kratz, Bob and Elaine Williams, and Peggy Kratz. We thank them for their attention to knowledge and safety. The following Rider Ed discussion centered on bike tires, flats and emergency steps. Tom Smith of PA-A reminded folks that the cold weather affects tires especially when cornering. Doug Little will be setting up our 1 st Aid, CPR class this spring. Six Y members are headed to Ocean City, MD for Maryland s Rally Feb I m sure you ll hear more about it and photos will be shared next month. Y s officers will be attending the District Officer Meeting on April 14 and will report on current GWRRA plans. PA Rally May make your reservations now to join the fun. Some chapter members have agreed help out Pam Kratz will be leading the singing of the National Anthym at Saturday s banquet and Doug Little will be assisting with the Road Captain course. There will be a talent show again this year hmmm? What will Y do? Give your suggestions to me. Also, we ll be designing an ad for the Rally book. RIDES!!! You ve given me your ride destination ideas and now they are being matched up with Road Captains and dates. The Schedule is in the works and coming soon. All kinds of rides day rides, overnights, picnics, ice cream plus all those fun events put on by District and other chapters. Check the 2018 Upcoming Events page for those new additions. THIS MONTH, join the ice cream meet this month on February 15 at 7pm at Freddy Hill Ice Cream, 1440 Sumneytown Pike, Lansdale, PA. February Gathering on Feb. 24 at 9am, Blue Comet facility. Looking forward to seeing you soon. HAPPY VALENTINE S DAY TO ALL!!! Peggy and Ron Kratz GWRRA PA-Y CDS 3

4 *************************************************************************************** From the Chapter Rider-Ed Coordinator Doug Little, Chapter Educator Hello Chapter Y... So far, this winter there only have been a few days to get in a quick ride. For those of us that have been able to get out it was a chance to brush up on our riding techniques and skills. It won t be long and it will be time for all of us to enjoy group riding and our great machines. The ride committee is putting together a fun filled ride schedule. With group riding being a major part of GWRRA and such a busy ride schedule, I feel it is important to review the basics of group riding. As we practice these techniques during our rides and sharpen our skills, it makes for a much easier time when we are confronted with unexpected weather and/or traffic conditions. GROUP RIDING TECHNIQUES: Group riding usually consists of five to seven cycles with a Road Captain/Ride Leader, as the lead cycle, and a Trike as the Tail Gunner/Sweep whenever possible. When the number of cycles allows, it is usually preferred to stay with five to seven within a group. The lead cycle rides in the left track with all other cycles riding in staggered formation using both the right and left tracks. Remember that riding with trikes within the group that they do require additional space. The staggered riding formation uses the two second rule where there should be two seconds between you and the cycle in front of you, and one second between you and the cycle riding is winter To test your judgment, pick a point or landmark ahead of you and when the cycle directly in front of you passes that mark count one-thousand one, one-thousand two, and you should be at or almost at that same point. If you have passed the point you may want to consider increasing the distance between you and the cycle in front of you. The cycle riding staggered to your left or right should be at the one-second interval. Any cycle not equipped with a CB will usually be placed in the middle of the group to make it easier for the rider to stay within the group and follow the maneuvers for safe riding while making it easier and more enjoyable for the rider and co-rider. Before any ride begins there should be a brief riders meeting to discuss route of travel, safety considerations and any health concerns of any of our riders that we should know about. In case of an emergency this could be a vital piece of information. With the busy ride schedule comes the safety checks of the cycles. Don t forget to perform a periodic T-CLOCK, as well as any scheduled maintenance. As always, feel free to offer any ideas/topics you may want to be mentioned or discussed to either Peggy Kratz or myself at any time. All suggestions are welcomed. Doug Little Chapter PA-Y Chapter Rider Education 4

5 *************************************************************************************** MOTORIST AWARENESS Doug Little, Motorist Awareness Coordinator LOOK TWICE SAVE A LIFE! Watch for Motorcycles Usually this time of year seeing motorcycles in traffic is not the norm due to cold and snowy weather. However, with the ups and downs in temperatures this winter there have been a few cycles out and about. To fellow cycle riders this does not seem so unusual other than the riders may be testing newly acquired cold weather riding gear or taking their safety chrome for a ride. Raising awareness to motorcycles is not always the easiest thing to do, but keeping it the forefront with general conversation and talking about the motorcycles you see, in what non-motorcycle riders would consider the non-riding season, will make it a lot easier. Remember, it is that time of year to start thinking how we can raise awareness of the motorcycling community to the non-motorcycle riders. This can be accomplished in many ways. The attached lawn sign is only one of the many ways. There are many bumper and window stickers available as well as handouts that can be acquired through the Motorcycle Safety Foundation, motorcycle dealers. and just to name a few. So, start posting your signs, stickers, etc. to get the word out.. Doug Little Chapter Y Motorist Awareness Coordinator 5

6 *************************************************************************************** From Your Roll For The Dough... Bob and Elaine Williams Pennsylvania District will continue the Roll for the Dough program. The purpose is to encourage our Chapters to visit each other, attend our Rally/Convention, and other events. The District will pay the 2019 Chartering fees ($100) for each Chapter that achieves 20 points during the period from November 1, 2017, through October 31, Roll for the Dough Guidelines Your Chapter can earn one (1) point by attending: Another PA District Chapter s Roll For Dough at Winter Thing gathering or Another PA District Chapter s scheduled event such as a Ride, Poker/Dice Run. Pennsylvania s bordering states: Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Ohio & West Virginia o Bordering Districts Chapters gathering or o Bordering Districts Chapters scheduled event. Your Chapter can earn two (2) points by attending: All Chapters East and/or All Chapters West with a Day Pass or Full Registration Any GWRRA District Rally/Convention with a Day Pass or Full Registration except the PA District Rally Wing Ding with a Day Pass or Full Registration Your Chapter can earn three (3) points by: Attending the Pennsylvania District Rally with a Day Pass or Full Registration Hosting All Chapters East or West (2 for attendance plus a bonus point for hosting.) The Guidelines: 1. Five card-carrying members from the chapter must attend the event. 2. The District Roll for the Dough Coordinators must receive either a printed or digital group photo of the members attending with a representative of the group hosting the event. Include a description of the event, attendees names and the date it was held. Pictures must be sent to the District Roll for the Dough Coordinators, Bonnie & Gerry VanArt within 10 days of the event. Questions call or rollforthedough@gmail.com 3. A Chapter can only get credit for one visit to any other chapter one time per year regardless of the type of event. 6

7 4. PA District Director and National Team from Pennsylvania are not eligible to be counted in five card-carrying members. 5. All Discrepancies will be addressed and resolved by the current PA District Director. GWRRA Moto: Friends for FUN, Safety and Knowledge HAVE FUN!!!! Katie wins the Winter Thing Door Prize! Maybe Bob can put that on the 1800 spoiler LOL Hey Chapter Y looks like your Rockin at the Winter Thing! 7

8 *************************************************************************************** From the Web Side Dan Reisinger, Webmaster Hello Chapter Y! I think I have found something that really gets under my skin. Some of you might remember my What s Happening presentations years ago when I would give a short presentation about something that caught my eye, had me going hmmmm, or what was I thinking about when I.... LOL! Well, I found something lately that seems to be What s Happening!!!!. I ve been reading about new equipment for motorcycle riding such as new Bluetooth connections, GPS units, etc. and I have noticed over and over YOU CAN CONNECT YOUR CELL PHONE TO TAKE AND MAKE CALLS! And these ads and articles are in MOTORCYCLE MAGAZINES geared to safe riding and laws to protect motorcyclist! Even Facebook and motorcycle forums have members asking what or which connects their phones best. Listening to the morning traffic reports full of fender benders, intersection accidents, people walking into traffic, are almost a daily phenomenon. How many times have you seen a vehicle going slower than the speed limit by a great margin (not that 3 5 ish mph below or above) and maybe going from side to side in traffic lanes? How many times have you found yourself further down the road than you thought and you aren t on a phone (talking or texting)? And you are probably in a full protection vehicle when you witness it or did it! It doesn t even have to be texting; it can be talking on their cell phones. Even with my Bluetooth connection in my ear so I can do hands free phone calls, I have to make sure I am putting more concentration into driving than the conversation on the phone. Having had a mobile phone long before free minutes and now with unlimited minutes (and text and data and...) when each ( E A C H ) minute you were on the phone was charged (and sometimes rounded UP to the next full minute!), I learned quite quickly to get to the point and get off the phone. I am not looking to carry on a conversation about the weekend, how the grandkids are growing so quickly, or how last night s dinner went at the local pizza parlor, I want to get to the meat of the matter and get off the phone as soon as possible and back to full concentration on my driving. I thought How can you be talking (ok printing) about talking on a cell phone on a motorcycle? I know we all have radios on our Wings and sometimes we move to the music or get upset at that baseball strike when the commentator on the station is swearing it was a ball and the umpire should get his eyes checked, but we can isolate that from our driving in the moment. Even with our conversing on our CB radios, those key ups are short like going straight at the intersection, roadkill in the right track, or maybe some history about the road we are traveling but most of these interactions are swift, short, and quickly to the point. The difference I notice when I see a driver on the phone holding their hand to their ear sure gives it away is they don t talk for a few lights but they seem to be talking for their entire trip. Oh and if they have to stop for coffee at WAWA, hopefully they are behind you because I am sure they think they should just show up at the register and get their purchase for free LOL. They can t even pause the conversation to have their funds ready. Yea, I am on a bandwagon, tree stump, or soapbox this month but seeing articles about talking on a phone while driving a motorcycle is just one of those moments when I go hmmmmmm???? Thanks for reading Dan Reisinger 8

9 *************************************************************************************** Pennsylvania District Directors Harold and Diane Jackson Wow is it February, time to write a newsletter. Time sure does fly when you are having FUN! We know it has only been a month since we became Pennsylvania District Directors. We appreciate the time that everyone puts it to getting yearend paper work done and selling District Raffle tickets while trying to get ready for Christmas and the New Year. This month is the drawing for the District Raffle tickets. We hope you have a winning ticket! A list of winners will be announced weekly through PEDS. At our District Team Meeting, the team decided that the month of February was a good time for the drawing. It gives everyone something to look forward to during the winter. So, this coming year, District Raffle tickets will be distributed to the Chapters to sell. Thanks for all your help in selling the tickets! There are many events planned by the District and Chapters for Take time to look at the District website for the flyers. The first page of the District Newsletter has the events that have been posted to the District website events page. To highlight some of the District Events that are quickly approaching. March 10 th Couple of the Year (COY) Retreat This is a great time to meet couples from other chapters that have been selected to represent their Chapter. You will learn about the honor and what is expected of you. April14 th Officer Conference in Clearfield, PA The purpose of the day is to learn about the office you are holding and the responsibilities of your office along with any changes that home office has implemented. The meeting is open to Chapter Directors, Assistant Chapter Directors, Ride Coordinators, Membership Enhancement Coordinators and Treasurers. Please let us know how many will be attending from your Chapter by March 31, May th PA District Rally in Uniontown, PA Please send in your registration and make your hotel reservation. At the rally, we have scheduled riding courses. The only course that has spots left open is the ARC (Advance Riding Course) for two-wheeled motorcycles. There will be non-riding education classes held on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. All Chapters East & All Chapters West Both campgrounds are taking reservations for the event. And don t forget to send your registration in to the host chapter. Both these events are FUN so, plan on attending even if you do not camp! We have been receiving phone calls about planning a Day of Training at your chapter or a couple of chapters going together. Now is a great time to have a non-riding day of training. Please contact Gerry and Bonnie VanArt, PA District University Trainers, at or Tim and Crystal Brakebill, Assistant PA District University Trainers, at to schedule a time. Or contact Doug Motter, PA District Educator, at to schedule a riding course such as the Road Captains Course at your chapter this summer. Remember to always ride safe! Harold and Diane Jackson 9

10 Your PA District Directors *************************************************************************************** Pennsylvania District Educator... Doug Motter Hello everyone. In the last newsletter, I talked about the data available on the Rider Education website. I also explained how to enter this site so you can review your own information. This month, I would like to explain the difference between Safe Mileage and High Mileage. Safe Mileage begins on the day you join GWRRA. Your safe mileage increases for every mile you ride your motorcycle without having a reportable accident. If you have an accident which is reportable for insurance claim or by law enforcement as an accident, your mileage reverts back to 0 miles. The program awards a pin for every 5,000 miles safely ridden. We have many members with 100,000 miles in the program. High Mileage is just for bragging rights. This is not a GWRRA program. High Mileage indicates the number of miles you have accumulated since you began riding a motorcycle legally. Safe miles bars awarded in 50,000 increments are displayed from a head pin. I must say it again, This is not a GWRRA program. However, we have members in the Pennsylvania District with over 400,000 miles and they are still adding up the miles! In the coming months, I will explain what the Levels Program is, how the program works, and why it is important to all of us as GWRRA members. It is up to you to monitor and update your information for the website, but I am here to help when needed. Please feel free to contact me when you have questions or need other assistance. Doug Motter Pennsylvania District Educator 10

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