We’ve had three (3) successful District rallies in Region “A” so far this season.  Florida, Alabama and South Carolina all hosted their respective rallies and now we are awaiting the Georgia rally in Hiawassee.  This promises to be a fantastic encore at Lake Chatuge and the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds.  We know it’s going to be great!

       Just a reminder (as if you needed it) that our Lower Alabama Region “A” Hoedown is coming to Dothan, AL September 10^th-12^th at the Holiday Inn.  The last word we got was that the host hotel is full (all 143 rooms) but our great over-flow sites still have rooms.  Our two over-flow sites are the Fairfield Inn and the Dothan Courtyard by Marriott so if you can’t get into the Holiday Inn, go for either of these two sites and you won’t be disappointed.

       We’re going to serve supper on Thursday evening, have a great dessert social on Friday evening, raffle away $1,000 in cash as our Grand Prize and have a great talent show.  Our theme is a Lower Alabama Hoedown, so break out those bib overalls, straw hats and the rest of your farming gear and we’ll see you in Dothan for a good time!

       I know that it seems that not a month goes by that the subject to membership recruitment and retention doesn’t come up.  We can’t over emphasize the importance of maintaining our membership base.  As we’ve said many times before without the members, GWRRA ceases to exist.  We’d be just a group of volunteer leaders with no one to lead.  With that said, the fact is that Region “A” has been trending downward for four consecutive months.  Our last month of positive growth was December of 2008.  I’m sure we’d all agree that this isn’t a healthy trend and a situation that we can’t allow to continue.

       I know that we ask a lot of our Membership Enhancement Coordinators at the Chapter and District levels.  It must seem to many of you that that’s all we talk about, but remember what we just said in the previous paragraph about the long-term viability of GWRRA.  Without the great membership base we enjoy, there is no GWRRA.  When you receive requests from Bob and Karla Greer to complete certain critical tasks with respect the Membership Enhancement mission, please take them seriously and do your best to help us get these things done.  As volunteer leaders we all signed an MOU pledging to uphold the duties of our respective appointments and we ask you to do your very best in that regard.  Thanks!

        Region “A” has been tasked with an additional duty at Wing Ding in Tulsa; we have been asked to staff the poker run table.  The local chapter in Tulsa has laid out the runs and done the mapping, etc.  We have been asked to staff the table where the delegates sign up for the poker run and draw their cards.  This table will be located adjacent to the ticket sales tables so the two functions can back each other up.  We will have a member from the Tulsa area there to answer questions about geography and directions since none of us will have knowledge of the local area.  This will be an enjoyable task but it will mean we’ll need a few more Region “A” members to help out.  If you can spare us a little time, we would really appreciate it.  Thanks!!

        We hope to see you at a GWRRA function soon, 

Bob & Nan

         “I found my thrill on Blueberry Hill.”  Yep, and if you decide to ride to the North Georgia Mountains June 11 thru 13 to find that “Blueberry Hill” spot, stop by the Georgia District Rally in Hiawassee.  Bill and Betty Livingston and the Georgia Staff have planned a  Journey Thru Time to the Old West “Goldwing Style” and all you need to do is bring your cowboy hat, chaps, six-shooter and join the party.  Hey we look forward to seeing some of you old cowpokes and cowgirls for the Georgia Western Ho-down starting Thursday night along with the line dance lessons, costume contest and Western BBQ.  Friday and Saturday are just bonus days for the good-times.

        Wow, when you tour the rally circuit in Region 'A' it's absolutely one fantastic rally tour right after another.   In May we had the Back to the Beach tour in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and what a very nice time we had staying and playing right on the water's edge.  Carl and Donna Blackston and the South Carolina Staff really put out the welcome mat for us “rally bums” and their rally was another success story for the Carolina Beach Tour.  The only sad part of the rally was when Carl and Donna announced they would be stepping down as the SC District Directors.  I must interject that Carl and Donna and the SC Staff have really put their hearts and sole into SC District and it has really paid off for them.  Carl and Donna will be missed, but accepting the challenge and leading the SC District on into the future will be Charles and Kathy Coleman.  Just two super individuals that will do SC proud.  Please shake Charles and Kathy's hand the next time you see them.

        Folks, don't forget if you will be attending Wing Ding in Tulsa, OK in July, we, Region 'A', really need some of your volunteer time in helping us man the ticket sales booth.  And this is all inside so think air condition.  Please check with your District Director and let him know if you can give some of your time.  Always, we appreciate your volunteered time.

        It's not too early to be thinking about the “LA Hoe-down” Region 'A' Rally to be held in Dothan, Alabama September 10 thru 12.  We will be rallying at the Holiday Inn South where all events will be on-site and the hotel is exclusively for the rally delegates.  Come out and play with us.

        Well, got to get out of here and start getting the Black-Cherry and the Bushtec ready since we are planning a mini tour around Robbinsville, NC for a few days of R&R at the end of May and early June.   The 10 day weather forecast shows some really super weather coming up in the NC mountains so we might as well take advantage of it.  We are going to call this the Two-Wheel Inn mini tour since that is where we will be staying.  Hope to see some of you during the Georgia Rally if not before.

Jim & Sue 

       Wow! It’s June already and the rally season is half gone.  Now, if only the rain would stop for a while so we could get the wing out and do some serious riding.  As the weather gets nicer (and dryer) it is difficult for our class participants to keep their focus on the training being conducted.  I guess that goes for the instructors, too.  All we can do is plan it, schedule it, and hope everyone shows up for it.  The members do appreciate your efforts, and so do I.

       June is the last month of the second quarter and time for all District Trainers to submit their quarterly training reports.  Trainers are encouraged to submit their reports following the last scheduled training events for the month.  That just avoids a last-minute rush at the end of the month.  So, if possible please submit your reports once your training for the month is completed.

       Sharon and I will be hitting the road on June 26 headed for Texas, then to Wing Ding.  From there we will head to Denver to present a Horizon Program.  After cruising Colorado we plan to do some sightseeing in Utah.  The plan is to be home by the end of July.  We’ll have our laptop with us and will be able to keep up with all the emails, so keep those emails coming!

Dave & Sharon

Keeping Members Informed & Involved

       For the most part, GWRRA members know about their local Chapter’s activities and rides but how well are we keeping them informed about & involved in GWRRA activities outside the local Chapter?  Below you will find a few things within GWRRA that can be passed on.

GWRRA e-mails – Recently, GWRRA started e-mailing all members about things going on at the National level.  Members, however, have to ensure that National has their current e-mail address to be on these mailings.  If members do not want to be on this National e-mail list, they can elect to be left off.

National Directors Newsletters – Each month newsletters are published by the Rider Education Division (RED) Director, the Leadership Training Division (LTD) Director and the Membership Enhancement Division (MED) Director.  These newsletters are available for download from the National Web Page. 

Region “A” Newsletter – Published once a month and available on the Region Web Page.  This has articles of interest from the Region “A” Directors, Assistant Directors, Rider Educators, Medic First Aid Instructor Coordinator, Trainers, Membership Enhancement Coordinators (MEC), Motorist Awareness Coordinators, Couple Of The Year Coordinators and the Region “A” Couple Of The Year.

Your District Newsletter – Once again published monthly and it also has articles by some, if not all, of the same staff positions listed above.

Leadership Training – Let your members know when, where and what Leadership Training classes are being held at Chapter and District levels.

Rider Education – Let your members know when, where and what Rider Education classes are being held.

WING DING – Some of our members may not even know that WING DING is GWRRA’s National Rally.  Advertise it.  Put out flyers.  Have someone tell about their 1^st WING DING experience at one of the monthly gatherings or write about it in the Chapter newsletter.

District Rally – Same as above but a lot more of the local things going on at the state level. Encourage early and full registration.  Educate the members why it is important to participate in the District’s biggest and sometimes only fund raising event.

Nearby Chapter Events (in-state & out-of-state) - In addition to attending nearby regular monthly Chapter gatherings, join them in rides, dinners, bike shows, Fun Days, etc.

         Sometimes in our current automated & computer era we forget about the few members that do not have, for whatever reason, a computer or e-mail.  We cannot afford to leave these few out of our communications.  Mail them a newsletter, pick up the telephone and call them.  A little extra time and effort will be rewarded.

       I would like to remind you that Chapter rosters are not normally a comprehensive list of all GWRRA members in the Chapter area.  The Full Area Reports that come out in January and July each year lists all GWRRA members in each Chapter’s area.  Anyone, even if you do not know them, that is listed on the Chapter’s Full Area Report and is not an active participant of the Chapter needs to be contacted and invited to participate with the Chapter.

       You can choose one or more of the above suggestions or be creative and do it your way.  The point is to keep the members informed and involved. You will not regret the investment as you watch your Chapter participation grow.

Bob & Karla

       We have good news for Region “A”. The first quarter report is out on how many classes and students were taught by the different Regions. Region “A” came in third, this is real good with only three districts Florida, South Carolina and Mississippi. As soon as we can get Alabama and Georgia up and running then we will give the other Regions some pretty stiff competition. So congratulations to all the Region “A” MFA Instructors and thanks to the Region “A” Members that participate in the Rider Ed program if it wasn’t for you there wouldn’t be a program.

       Ride Safe, ride often and be prepared.

Buddy