Saturday July 20, 2019

Chapter PA-R

GUMBALL RIDE Meet at Comfort Inn

Sayre, PA

Chapter enjoys Ice Cream Social

The Comfort Inn Staff samples some of our Chapter’s homemade ice cream

during our March 30th Ice Cream Party.

Happy Easter!! This is the time of year when the days are getting longer and warmer. The Easter Bunny should be around to bring you some Easter Treats if

you’ve been good. Leaves me out! Anyone getting the itch to start up the bike yet? I’ve seen a lot of bikes out recently anytime there was a warmer day. I know John Nutting is getting his bikes ready. He called me the other night not being able to get either of his bikes started. Both were ignition/battery problems. He has since informed me the Kawasaki is running. The Spider is awaiting the arrival of a new battery. As for my own, I took the battery out some time ago and put on the Battery Tender. I’m getting tired of paying for a new battery every year because I’m too lazy to take it out. When getting the bike out for the first time this year, it’s always a good idea to do a little practicing to get your riding skills back up to par. It is suggested to find an empty parking lot and do some drills to sharpen up those driving skills. I know of a couple of guys in the Chapter that follow this advice. Anything to be safer out there and increase the fun factor. I’m trying to write this article on time this month, not my strong suit. While my intention was good, my follow through, not so much. While I expected to submit this before the Ice Cream Party which is this Saturday, March 30th, it did not happen. It was a blast. The Comfort Inn treated us royally with all tables and

ice set up for us on our arrival. Homemade ice cream with lots of topping, cookies and some of those Amish Donuts (thanks Dwayne). We did get the Comfort Inn Staff to come in and eat a little ice cream. Thanks to Edie & Frank for taking the lead and Bob & Sally for the finish. A real nice time for everyone! Next on our event list is Chapter M’s Hobo Stew Ride. Nothing on our calendar for April but our Gathering and Staff Meeting. I think we need to put something on there. How about a Spur of the Moment Lunch? What about a dinner ride? We have an open weekend, April 6th & 7th, before our next Gathering. The weather is supposed to be nicer by our Gathering. Anyone have an idea for a ride after the Gathering? Art is getting information about Steamtown so we can set up a ride to there. Only a day ride. Anyone interested in a weekend getaway? To where? We need some input if we are going to start filling our calendar up. At our last Staff Meeting, we generated a list of places to go to (see box at left), mostly places we have been. That is not a problem as most of them are great. It would be nice to add a couple of new places to the list. Also, we need some people to come forward to set up the rides. I know most of you don’t like to lead

rides. That’s okay. I enjoy leading and so does Dwayne, so we can take that part of the duty. It would be nice to have someone do a little legwork for the ride though. Pick a place. If you have a chance, check out Chapter M’s Ride Schedule. It is impressive. It might give us a couple of ideas.

List of Riding Destinations

Elf & the Oak – Lunch/Dinner

Dinosaur BBQ – Dale to check this ride out.

Antique Inn, Penn Yan

D&D Brew Works – top of Sonestown Mountain

Sonestown Military Museum

Sonestown Inn

Sprague’s Maple Farm

Country Cupboard, Lewisburg

Dairy Queen

Slate Run Hotel

Hillside Dairy, Dallas

Steamtown

Turkey Ranch

Pier 87, Loyalsock

Thousand Islands

Lancaster

Rural Living, Pittsburg

Continued on Page 3

Note, the Meet & Greet at Southern Tier Honda has been changed to June 1st due to a conflict with the District Staff Meeting. Speaking of volunteering, there is an open position I would like to see filled, MEC Coordinator. What is the role of the MEC Coordinator? I’m glad you asked! From GWRRA website Officer Position Description – Membership Enhancement Coordinator: “Your role, and it’s like your major responsibility, is to always focus on: INCREASE PARTICIPATION, ENGAGEMENT AND FUN WITHIN YOUR CHAPTER AREA!”. Then it goes on to explain in more detail on the next two pages. Get involved. It is the only way to ensure chapter viability. It also increases the fun for you and everyone else. A little business, Carla & I are working on creating a website for Chapter R. We hope to have it ready to view in a couple of weeks. The process is not as easy as I thought it might be. It takes time, which is all Carla, and me criticizing. Thanks Carla. Barb & I will not be at the April Gathering. I planned and paid for a vacation last year and cannot cancel. Sorry, will miss everyone. Dwayne and Norma will handle the duties. In closing, from my book, ‘Sit Down, Shut Up & Hang On! A Biker’s Guide To Life:’ “Sometimes it takes a whole tankful of gas before you can think straight.” Not sure too many in our group think straight anytime anyways. Did I say that out loud?? See ya’ soon, Dennis & Barb Chapter Directors PA-R

Continued from Page 2

With warmer weather coming soon we must think of some rides and places to visit as well as good food and most of all ICE CREAM !!! Let’s put our thinking caps on find some new places to ride that may be of interest to all. Maybe we can plan an overnight ride to someplace that be of interest to us. Think hard!!! Dwayne and Norma

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Sometimes it's best to keep your thoughts to yourself. As the winter dragged on I was complaining to Sally about being cooped up in the house. I told her I had been out in the garage and saw the Wing and my lawnmower setting there and

right now I would even be happy to crank up the lawnmower and be mowing the lawn. With that, she pulled out her vacuum cleaner and told me to plug it in and start pushing. Not the same, but you don't say no to Sally. It didn't stop there. After running the vacuum cleaner, she said she wanted to rearrange the

furniture, and while I was at it, there were two rooms she would like me to paint. I was all ready to protest when she reminded me she had helped me in the yard project I did last summer. I do know when I get done helping her, I'm going to my wood shop and like that woodchuck, not come out until I see my shadow in

the spring.

I can’t begin to tell you all what an honor it is to be chosen as your Couple of the Year representatives for this year. I hope we can do you proud!!! We attended the Couple of the

Year Fun Day on March 30th and the whole event just proved our theory - GWRRA is an awesome group to be a part of. Everyone is so welcoming, just like Chapter R was to us when we first stepped into your

Gathering at the Comfort Inn.

We met nine other couples from around the state who are in our shoes as Couple of the Year. It was fun to share stories and compare patches!! Many thanks to John & Glenda Leib and Pat Delo for planning the day’s events. Besides some fun ice-breakers,

they spent most of the day concentrating on teaching us the steps in the Selection Process for becoming District Couple of the Year at the PA Rally in May. Each couple

did a two-minute presentation of themselves off the cuff, learned how to handle the interview

questions, and reviewed the proper format for writing the resume. We sat at the table with the current District Couple of the Year, Dave & Cindy Marconi. They assured us that it is EASY to go through this selection process! So, that is Ed’s and my plan - after spending the day with

the other seven couples - it will be a fun experience and it won’t matter which of

us is selected - every single couple is amazing! We’ll be looking for Chapter R to root us on in York!!!

Ed & Carla Dawejko

Chapter PA-R 2019 Couple of the Year

Below, the ten couples who attended this year’s District Couple of the Year Fun Day in Clearfield, PA. Left to

right, Chapter E, H, I, K, P, Q, R,W, X and Y. All of them except P & Q are eligible to go through the Selection

Process at the District Rally in York this coming May.

The Marconi’s act as interview judges.

April 4 - Bonnie Wilson

April 19 - Gary House

April 22 - Emily House

April 30 - Sally Eiffert

1907 State Route 14 Montour Falls, New York 14865

Owner: Gary House

607-535-0005 Hours:

8-8 Mon, Wed 8-6 Tues, Thurs, Fri 9-4 Sat

Scenes from the March Ice Cream Social

We hope everyone can attend the District Rally in May.

Register online here: http://codynparker.com/new_district_rally.html

At this same link you can find the T-shirt order form. T-shirts will not be sold at

the rally; pre-orders only, so order yours ahead of time!

If you are thinking of attending the All Chapters West event in June, take note

that cabin rentals are limited and should be reserved soon. At this point in

time, All Chapters West will be the only All Chapters held this year.

Hi Everyone!

The Riding Season is closing in on us with most of you taking your first

ride of the season starting in May. The following are just plain old common sense, but when common sense is in short supply, the numbers change on the statistics page.

BACK OFF DUDE: Space is the best protection you have between yourself and the people who are not you. Keep your distance from others, so you have more time to react and more space to adjust when someone else does something stupid.

TO SOME PEOPLE A YELLOW LIGHT MEANS GO FASTER: Many crashes happen at intersections.

Cars that turn left in front of you and cars on the side streets that pull into your lane are the biggest dangers. Always be looking for potential hazards, and anticipating how you will react. If a car can cross your path, assume that it will. That old saying about assumptions? It doesn’t apply here.

WHAT ARE YOU A PSYCHIC OR SOMETHING? It’s pretty-simple – if you have the right skills you can

react a lot quicker and help avoid crashes. Studies show that most riders involved in crashes either under brake the front tire and over brake the rear, or do not separate braking from swerving or choose swerving when it’s not appropriate. Knowing when and how to stop or swerve are critical skills to keep your butt off the ground.

IF ONLY EVERY LINE WAS STRAIGHT, BUT WHAT FUN WOULD THAT BE? A common cause of

single-vehicle crashes is riders running wide in a curve or turn and colliding with the roadway or fixed object. Be alert to whether a curve remains constant, gradually widens, gets tighter, or involves multiple turns.

BEING AFRAID OF A LITTLE PIECE OF RUBBER DOES NOT MAKE YOU LESS MANLY. Potholes,

wet or icy surfaces, railroad tracks and tire scraps all increase your chances of going down. Avoid obstacles by slowing down or going around them – duh, right? On slippery roads, reduce your speed, use both brakes and try to keep your bike as upright as possible. When crossing railroad tracks, it’s safer to stay in your lane rather than try to turn to cross at a 90-degree angle. For track and road seams that run parallel to your route, cross at a 90-degree angle. For track and road seams that run parallel to your route, cross at an angle of at least 45-degrees to avoid catching your tires.

TURN MAN: Traffic lights don’t hate you. It’s just that some of them don’t turn green until they receive a signal

from a metal detector buried in the pavement. But, sometimes bikes don’t have enough metal to make them work. Seriously, just try to locate a detector – usually a square or octagonal pattern of thin lines in the pavement – and ride along it.

IF THEY CAN’T SEE YOU, YOU DON’T EXIST: Many crashes happen when the dr iver of a car doesn’t

see you. No surprise there. So, help yourself by wearing the proper clothing, using your headlight and riding in the best lane position. And, before making a move, always let people know what you’re doing by using the correct signals.

Evelyn and I would like to wish everyone a Happy Easter on April 21st. “Ride Safe & Ride Proud” Chuck & Evelyn Stone PA DISTRICT EDUCATORS

Chuck & Evelyn Stone

PA District Educators

Hi Folks:

It’s April! Can you believe we are starting the second quarter of the year? Spring is in the air and we are ready to get our motorcycles out and ride! As, I write this newsletter we are at the Florida District Rally. Attending a District Rally, you get to see friends you have made over the years and make new friends you are meeting for the first time. There are classes where you learn so much about your self and improve your riding skills. There is so much excitement and FUN when you attend a rally. And we are so excited and proud of our District Team for all the effort they are putting into the PA District Rally “Ride of the Roses”. We have so many events happening at the PA District Rally, May 16-18, 2019. And several of the events require pre-registration: Riding Classes: Advance Rider Course (ARC) - Wednesday the day before the rally. Side-car Course – Friday Medic First Aid Course – Saturday - $25/person Welcome Party - Thursday - $8/person Harley Davidson Factor Tour – Friday morning - $8/person Rally T-shirt – preorders only – see order sheet for pricing If you have already registered for the rally and would like to add one of the above items, please contact us. We will be happy to add you as long as there is room available. If you have not sent in your reservation for the rally please submit your registration and join in the FUN. The last day to sign up for a full registration or a Saturday day pass that includes the banquet Saturday evening is May 4, 2019. If you cannot attend multiple days at the rally, join us for a day on a day pass. Officer Conference is Saturday, April 27th at the Trinity UMC, Clearfield, PA. Chapters Directors, we need to know how many will be attending from your Chapter. Your reservation needs to be made by 04/19/19 by contacting us at 814-589-1307 or email us at jackson2@zoominternet.net. Thank you to the Chapters who have let us know how many are attending. The Couple of the Year FUN Day is Saturday, March 30th. A great day is being planned by Pat Delo, your District Membership Enhancement Coordinator (MEC) and John and Glenda Leib, your District Couple of the Year Coordinator. Thank you to all the Chapter Couples of the Year, Chapter Directors and Chapter Couple of the Year Coordinators for attending and making it a FUN Day! It won’t be long before we will see you at a chapter gathering, event or on the road. So, remember to check the PA District Events page on the PA District website to find out what is happening in PA! Remember to always ride safe!

Harold and Diane Jackson Your PA District Directors

Harold & Diane Jackson

PA District Directors

APRIL 2019