What a great convention they threw in the South Carolina District April 28^th -30^th!  Nan and I (along with the Region “A” staff) had a fantastic time at the Wingate Hotel on the campus of Charleston Southern University in North Charleston, SC.  One of the nicest features about this site is that the GWRRA convention delegates are permitted to eat at the CSU student cafeteria.  This is a great eating-place; it is a buffet format with a wide selection of entrees, salads and deserts at a very reasonable price (around $5.00) and the food is great.

       District Director Charles Coleman and his very able staff hosted a great convention with a wide selection of vendors spotted just to the rear of the Wingate Hotel.  All of the amenities you’ve come to expect at a quality GWRRA District event were present.  The Talent Show (MC’d by Charles Coleman and Buddy Summer) was hilarious and the Ice Cream Social was tasty and fun. There were over 500 delegates in attendance, making the SC rally a serious success.  We’re told that the convention will return to this site next year, which is good.

       The next District convention is coming up in Duluth, GA June 16^th-18^th.  The venue is the lovely Marriott Gwinnett Place hotel on Pleasant Hill Rd.  This is a super-nice facility and by the time you read this newsletter, there will still be time to register.  Come on out to the Georgia District convention for some great fun, “Clown’n Around Gold Wing Style”.  See you there!

       An important announcement from Ed Price, the Marketing Director for GWRRA was made to the Regional and District Directors on May 17^th.  GWRRA is embarking on a new initiative called the Honda Dealer Incentive Program.  As of this writing, the kick-off date is on or about June 1^st.  Letters from the Home Office to the individual Honda Dealers will be sent out explaining the program and asking them if they would like to participate.  Those dealers who respond affirmatively will then receive the recruitment material from the Home Office.  The program offers the dealers a variety of incentives to help recruit new GWRRA members and if it’s the success we hope it to be, we will all benefit.  Once the program is officially underway, the Chapter Directors will receive a letter from the Home Office making the announcement.  The District Directors have received the paperwork that explains the program and how it is intended to work and will make it available to the Chapter Directors as the program unfolds.  There are neither paperwork responsibilities nor any reporting duties for the Chapters in this program.  It’s probably wisest to wait until the individual dealers respond back to the Home Office in the affirmative about participating in the program before approaching them about further activities.

       The OCP is now available in an on-line version.  The Region “A” Leadership Trainer, Dave and Sharon Aikens along with the respective District Leadership Trainers will administer the program.  It is NOT intended to replace the classroom version of the OCP but rather to provide an option for those folks who just cannot attend class due to exigent circumstances.  If you have a candidate that needs to take the on-line OCP, please contact your respective District Leadership Trainers or the Region A Leadership Trainer, Dave and Sharon Aikens.  You must have a login and pass word to access the program and these are available only through the Leadership Trainers.

       Remember that Wing Ding is less than 2 months away, so if you have not already made plans to attend now would be the time to do so.  This is the Gold Wing Road Riders Association’s premier event, drawing thousands of delegates each year.  You’ll have a great time in Knoxville, TN July 6^th-9^th.  Come on out and give us a hand selling tickets and staffing the poker run table (Region A’s duties) and you’ll not only have a fun time but get a handsome volunteer pin as a “Thank You”.

       Nan and I hope to see you at a GWRRA event soon (how about the Georgia District Convention or Wing Ding?).

Bob & Nan

Hello Region ‘A’,

       Freedom isn’t free so please take a moment during Memorial Day, which is Monday May 30, and pay your respects to the men and women that have given the ultimate sacrifice, and to the Veterans and Active Military that have given so much to keep this Country free.  Many folks will pause at 3:00 PM on Monday May 30, to stop what they are doing and give a thought or prayer to the folks that have given the ultimate sacrifice..........I sure plan to do this small act.  I invite you to join me.

       Region ‘A’ Members please remember we need some of your valuable volunteer time to help in the Region responsibilities during Wing Ding, Knoxville, TN in July.  We are responsible for all Ticket Sales and Poker Run activities.  These two events are really fun meeting many fellow GWRRA Members and Visitors and we really have a bodacious time working the Station.  Please see your District Director or a District Staff Member to get on the volunteer list or stop by the Ticket and Poker Run Station and see either Sue Jackson or myself and we can fit you right into some fun that you will never forget.

       Volunteering is a “funny-old-dog” and we find that the most apprehensive folks really have the best of times working the Station so come on out and play with us for a couple of hours.  Yep, this gig isn’t an all day thing just a couple of hours of volunteer time and your are back in the game doing whatever you might want to do.  As for Sue and I, we volunteer the complete week to help in the Station everyday.  This is just our way of giving a little back to GWRRA for all the good-times we have had during the past 22 years.  And on top of that we really enjoy meeting new folks and greeting some of the previous ones we have met during Wing Ding.  So, please come out and drop a couple of volunteer hours with us at the Ticket and Poker Run Station.  We will be looking for ya.

Jim & Sue 

2010 GWRRA International Chapter of the Year

       A GREAT BIG CONGRATULATIONS goes out to FL1-L2, Wings over Wesley Chapel, for being named as the 2010 GWRRA International Chapter of the Year. Rick & Madalena Buck were the Chapter Directors in 2010 and the current Chapter Directors are Frank & Marilyn Thomas. 

       This is the 3^rd year in a row that Region “A” has been home to the International Chapter of the Year winner.  The 2008 International Chapter of the Year was MS-O, Picayune CheeriO’s and in 2009 the International Chapter of the Year was FL1-H, Daytona Beach Race Wings.

       Other Region “A” 2010 District Chapters of the Year are:

               Alabama, AL-A  Mobile, AL, CDs Bill & Cyndi Long

               Georgia, GA-D  Cumming, GA, CDs Phillip & Terri Kozlowski

               Mississippi, MS-L  Laurel, MS, CDs Kenny & Joanna Williamson

               South Carolina, SC-J  Myrtle Beach, SC, CDs Dale & Charlie West

       As winners of the GWRRA Chapter of the Year they receive:

           Recognition at Opening Ceremony

           Banner with their Chapter’s Designation

           Name Badges

           Plaque

           Reserved Seating at Wing Ding

          Wing World Article

          ½ Price Registration at Wing Ding

          Meet & Greet Seminar at Wing Ding

       I would encourage all Chapters to participate in the Chapter of the Year program.  Most Chapters are already doing all that is required to participate.  All that is needed is to document the Chapter’s activities and put them on a score sheet.  If possible, I would recommend that the Chapter Director ask someone to do this “record keeping” for the Chapter with a title of Chapter of the Year Coordinator.

       Information about the Chapter of the Year can be found on the National and Region “A”  Membership Enhancement Pages.  http://med.gwrra.org/

http://www.gwrra-regiona.org/RAmed.shtml

       You can also contact your District’s Membership Enhancement Coordinator for information and assistance.

          Alabama               Lynn & Lyn Edwards    

          Florida                 Harry & Lynn Anderson

          Georgia                Sid & Donna Cohen

          Mississippi           Jane & Lemuel Jones

          South Carolina    Buddy & Kim Summer

       If you are attending Wing Ding in Knoxville, TN this year, please plan on attending one of the Chapter of the Year Seminars that we will be giving. We will also be having a Chapter of the Year Meet & Greet to which everyone interested in the Chapter of the Year Program is invited to hear the past and present Chapters of the Year share their secrets.

       Chapter of the Year Meet & Greet – Wednesday July 6^th  2:30 – 3:30  PM

       Chapter of the Year Seminar          -           Thursday   July 7^th  1:00 – 2:00 PM

       Chapter of the Year Seminar          -           Friday        July 8^th  2:30 – 3:30 PM

       We will be responsible for the Recruiting and Retention table at Wing Ding this year also so come by and say hi.

Bob & Karla 

       The on-line OCP has been officially released for use.  Initially the on-line version was to be made available for officers only.  That has been changed to include any member wishing to take the OCP.  It is, however, highly recommended (and should be encouraged) that any member wishing to take the OCP should attend a classroom presentation of the program.  The on-line version provides no interaction with others, thereby making it impossible to share ideas, or receive on-the-spot clarification on any of the information being presented.

       The on-line version takes approximately 7-8 hours to complete all 15 modules, including the knowledge exercises.  A DVD version is available for anyone having a dial-up ISP, or who otherwise can’t get online.

       Each District Trainer has received a “Statement of Release” which provides the contact information necessary to access the on-line OCP.  I will provide the required username and password on an as-needed basis.  I will receive electronic confirmation the first time a member signs into the program.  A member will have 30 days from their initial sign-in to complete all 15 modules.  Each respective District Trainer will receive notification when one of their members signs in.

       PLEASE make every effort to encourage members to attend a classroom presentation of the Officer Certification Program rather than the on-line version.

Dave & Sharon

Just a Note from your

Region “A” Couple of the Year

       The time is growing closer for the International Couple of the Year selection in Knoxville, only 5 more weeks.  Ron and I are eagerly awaiting the experience and FUN that we will have.  We have submitted our resume and look forward to meeting the other couples in the selection process with us. We hope you have made plans to attend Wing Ding in Knoxville and if you haven’t don’t wait.  There is no other venue that will have all the chrome and ladies bling in one area like Wing Ding.  And we would love to have you there to cheer us on.  

       And speaking of Selection Process we have the Region “A” Convention in Eufaula coming faster then we realize. We have met all of the District Couples and it once again is going to be a great Region “A” Couple of the Year event. We have had the pleasure to know and see the couples at other District Conventions and frankly Region “A” is going to have a great selection to choose from.  The one thing that we have noticed is the bond of friendship and spirit among past and present Couples of the Year and how we all feel about GWRRA. It doesn’t matter if you are Chapter, District, Region or International Couple of the Year you will always be met with friendship. This is an experience that will not be matched anywhere we know of so to all the new Chapter Couples of the Year when you are selected by your Chapter Director realize it is an honor and the more that you participate the more fun you will have. We know you have heard this before but it will not be realized until you get involved. It is then that you will feel the Honor of being the Couple of the Year and to feel the bond between the Couples and then you will say to yourself this is great.

       We had a great time at the South Carolina convention and if you missed the fiesta than you missed a great time. We want to say great job to the South Carolina District Team and we look forward to next year’s convention.  Georgia’s convention is only three weeks away and we can’t wait to hang out with a bunch of clowns, oh I mean friends.

Ron & Becky