The Official newsletter of Region "A"                                     

         When we left you last month we were headed to the Region ‘N’ Rally in Kingsport, TN. Not only did we make it but also we had a ball while we were there. The facilities were awesome and the people were great. Their theme was “A County Fair” and they carried it out to a T. We got to judge a couple events with our friends, Region ‘E’ Couple of the Year, Carlton and Lynda Alcorn from Missouri. We also had the pleasure of spending time with Ed and Mary Ann Grazier from Tennessee, the Region ‘N’ Couple of the Year. They were busy helping host the Rally and they were everywhere doing a wonderful job.  Our thanks to Ken and Shirley Craddock who helped make us feel at home and guide us through the city to the restaurants. Our heartfelt thanks to Region ‘N’ Director Frank and Cathy Albert for treating us like royalty at their Rally. We’ll be back!

Our trip home from Kingsport was in the company of our Alabama friends, Dewy and Alice Cole, with whom we’ve ridden many, many miles, and Terry and Barbie Cleveland, another couple we are proud to call friends. Terry and Barbie are the AL District Couple of the Year and what a nice couple they make! They were on the lead bike as we literally walked our ‘Wings along the spiraling overpasses through Chattanooga, TN…in a heavy thunderstorm, to boot! A rig had overturned and three lanes were bottlenecked down to one. We waddled the bikes in the downpour for several miles before we cleared the accident. But, that’s the kind of ride you encounter sometimes and those make for fond memories with friends.

We just returned from another one of our favorite rallies, that being the Georgia District Rally in Athens, GA. Lemme tell ya; Bill and Betty Livingston and their entire staff know what it takes to make a rally a RALLLY and we enjoyed ourselves to the utmost. We loved the location, personally. We could walk downtown and eat at any of the thirty or more pubs/restaurants and all we had to do to get to the vendors was walk across a narrow street. Wonderful! (By the way, Bill Livingston had a toga for our esteemed leader, Bob Shrader, to wear but the boss wimped out and stuck to his street clothes. Nan said we all benefited by NOT seeing Bob in a toga) Another one of the great talent shows we’ve attended this year contained something for everyone. We laughed at the antics of the comedians and were awed by the talent of the serious. A truly magnificent presentation of “God Bless America” received a long, standing ovation that was well deserved. Thanks to everyone in Georgia who had any part hosting this year’s Georgia Rally. It doesn’t get much better. Now be sure to block your Stetson’s, polish your Tony Lama’s, ruffle your cuffs, oil your single action Colt and come to Georgia in 2009 for their ‘Wild West” party. Don’t be surprised if you see Mae West on the arm of Tom Mix! I believe Gabby Hayes is coming, too!

Wing Ding is now upon us and we’ll be on stage in the Selection Process for International Couple of the Year in Greenville, July 2nd. We want to thank all of you for your encouragement and well wishes throughout the year. We’re very lucky to have come this far because there were so many other Couples along the way that would have made an excellent Region ‘A’ Couple of the Year. To each of those Couples, heartfelt thanks for the kind words and affection you’ve shown us. We’ll do our best to represent your spirit and make Region ‘A’ proud of all of us.

Gregg & Pat

See ya` in Greenville

Wing Ding 30