It’s March already and with that, the rally season begins anew!  This is always a great time of year because the weather begins to moderate from winter and the Region “A” District rallies begin.  Please remember that the hosting Districts and chapters have devoted lots of effort and labor to make their events a big success and that success is measured primarily by attendance.  We all want our own rallies and poker runs to be well attended and that starts by supporting your fellow GWRRA bodies when they sponsor an event.  If you expect good attendance at your event, you must reciprocate and support your neighbor’s event.

The first District rally is Florida, the 13^th through 15^th in Kissimmee at the Radisson World Gate Resort.  This the first District rally for Ed and Jeanette Carr, the Florida District Directors.  Let’s show them our full support.  The week prior to the Florida rally is Bike Week in Daytona Beach where Chapter FL1-H sponsors a vendor show at the New Smyrna Beach airport.  Nan and I plan on attending both these events and encourage you to do likewise as both have proven track records of being fun and enjoyable.

Please note that we have slightly modified the rules for capturing the Region Wanderer.  We ask that each chapter that attempts to claim the Region “A” Wanderer bring a Map Quest printout with them calculated to show the most direct route (shortest miles) from their meeting location to the capture site.  Please note that we need shortest distance and NOT shortest time.  Please have this available upon your arrival for the capture attempt.  We trust that this will eliminate any confusion as to how miles are computed.

We know that it’s still several months away, but please remember that all GWRRA components (Region, Districts and Chapters) have work assignments at Wing Ding in July.  We are compiling a schedule of duties and times and will e-mail it to the District Directors for them to complete.  We have principle responsibility for Ticket Sales, Poker Run and Sales and back-up for Post Registration.  As soon as we have all the details from the Home Office we will start plugging names in the schedule.

This time of year we normally have many new chapter officers stepping up to Chapter Director, Assistant Chapter Director, Chapter Rider Educators, etc.  We welcome all the newly appointed Chapter and District officers and thank each of them for their commitment of service to GWRRA and the members.  We’ve said before that there is an essential “business” function to all of the GWRRA components and it’s only by virtue of the great volunteer leaders that it gets done.  Thanks to all of you for your time and dedication!

We received applications from the Districts in Region “A” for Chapter of the Year.  Each District was tasked with selecting one Chapter from the many that applied and forwarding one to the Region for selection.  The applications we received were impressive, making the selection tough.  We convened a committee of Region staff members who reviewed all the submissions and selected one to be the 2007 Region “A” Chapter of the Year.  We are proud to announce that Chapter FL2-G (Ft. Myers) of Florida was selected.  Their application package was totally complete and their accomplishments well documented.  We have submitted Chapter FL2-G to the National Chapter of the Year selection and hope that they will prevail and be announced at Wing Ding in Greenville, SC.  Thanks to all the Chapters in Region “A” that submitted applications and congratulations to Chapter FL2-G on being selected Region “A” Chapter of the Year for 2007.  Our thanks also to Rick and Madalena Buck for taking care of this important project before accepting their appointment to Assistant Chapter Director at Chapter FL1-L2.

We are pleased to report that the January Growth Management Report shows a nearly 2% increase for Region “A”.  No District in Region “A” lost any members and 4 Districts gained members.  Our total membership for Region “A” is up to 11,838.  We had a larger percentage increase in members than any other Region in GWRRA.  Needless to say, this is excellent news and something we have all been working towards.  We can not thank all of our great volunteer leaders at every level who have worked so hard to not only recruit new members but to retain the ones we already have.  We know that each reporting period will not be this good; we’ll have times when membership is down, but for now, let’s celebrate a great turn of events as far as membership goes.  

         Lastly, we are sad to report the death of Ms June Agee, the National Membership Enhancement Director on Saturday the 23^rd of February. She passed away at home and funeral services were held in Washington, IL on the 26th. June was a fixture at many GWRRA events and had worked hard to develop the Membership Enhancement concept into something meaningful and productive. She had planned to attend the Region “A” rally in September. Our sympathies and condolences go out to her husband Derrell; she will surely be missed. 

We hope to see you at a GWRRA event soon,

Bob & Nan

Region A Leadership Training has started 2008 off with a bang.  Dave and Sharon Atkins, LTD Georgia, got things going by putting on a Staff Training Session for the District Staff in South Carolina.  They then held an instructor’s training class and we have two new certified instructors in Georgia and others in training.  Then a Horizon class with Knowledge Enhancement and Intermediate Skills on the following Saturdays will round out the First Quarter Training for Georgia.  Dave and Sharon have Georgia in great shape for training with more Leadership classes planned for August.  Of course, there will be some fun things for all the members in Athens, GA when Georgia does the Roman thing in June.  Start lining up those bed sheets, as the Toga gang is back in Athens.

          Not to be outdone, our new District Trainers in Alabama, Frank and Linda Teasley, held their first Horizon class Feb 3^rd with 34 participants, some from as far away as the Florida Panhandle.  On Feb 16^th they followed up their Horizon’s class with a Knowledge Enhancement and there were 46 participants coming in from Florida, Mississippi and Alabama.  An Intermediate Skills class was held Feb 23^rd to a similar group.  The border guards have allowed entry for LTD participants and have promised safe passage for future LTD classes in the entire Region. Also Linda Teasley and Anita Fosnight completed their requirements for certification as instructors during these classes.  The first weekend in April the Teasleys will be “racing” to bring you some fun seminars sure to get your engine revved up.

          Speaking of border crossings, Ellen and I crossed over into South Carolina on Feb 23^rd for their first Horizon class on the schedule. Held at a lovely state park on the western border, the new District Trainers, Larry and Mary Rosselot held a fantastic class for the 15 participants that we hope will be the standard bearers for future training in South Carolina.  Everyone had a great time, including the District Directors, Carl and Donna Blackston.  This was their first Horizon class and they were excited to see LTD making a come back in South Carolina.  Larry and Mary have another Horizon’s class planned for March 4^th in Myrtle Beach to catch those folks on the east side of SC.  They are also planning on bringing in Knowledge Enhancement in the fall.  In May they will be “lighting” up Anderson, SC with some fun seminars for the rally.

          We are excited to announce the certification of another Master Instructor for Region "A".  From Mississippi, KZ Kleinheitz, has completed his Master Instructor requirements and has been certified.  Now we have two Master Instructors in the Region. 

          Pat and Judy Seadorf have been busy getting ready for us to “sock hop” our way to Kissimmee, Florida with lot of fun things for the GWRRA attendees to do.  That is a few weeks away.  They will get the rally season started on a high note.  See you there!

Dave & Ellen

         As you all know the riding season is knocking at our back door and now is the time to T-Clock and all that jazz.  It’s also time to get the word out that we bikers are about to hit the road again.  We must by all means make our four-wheel drivers aware of our presence!!!  I am still waiting on a couple of you districts to notify me of your new “MAD” Coordinator appointments to your staff.  It is very important that we take this step to reach our goals, not just to impress National, but also to save lives. (Yours, Mine, Ours)

Just the other day there was an article in the Columbus, Ga. Ledger Enquire Newspaper talking about a possible no helmet law in the state of Georgia.  Lord help us, just what we need is for this law to pass. We already have a number of Districts across our nation with no helmet laws. Think about it like this, the bike riders who don’t think enough of their own head to wear a helmet, will no longer have the law to force them to protect themselves. This means they will now become more apt to serious injury.  My take on this is for us wingers to take the ring and lead these people by example. This is where Rider Ed comes into being! We “MAD” folks must do all we can to help by teaching and instructing those four wheeler friends of ours to be aware of those who are on the bikes, helmet or not. Whether the biker is wearing a helmet or not shouldn’t make him or her anymore a target.  However, when you hit the ground a helmet could mean the difference between life and death.

Come on guys; let’s make a difference!

Ray & Cindy  

Retention and Recruiting

  What’s wrong with this title? Do you see something different?   

        There is also something different going on in GWRRA. When we normally think of R&R, we think Recruiting and Retention in GWRRA.  Retention and Recruiting may appear backwards to many because of the way you are used to seeing and hearing it.  For years you have heard a strong emphases put on Recruiting.  It has worked well and all of you are doing a great job of bringing new members into GWRRA.  But unfortunately, we are loosing members at a much larger rate than we are bringing new members in.  Unless we start emphasizing Retention at all levels of our organization we will continue to see our membership dwindle and our chapters close.    

         Retention begins the first month that a new member joins. Ideally, the Chapter Director or Chapter Membership Enhancement Coordinator receives the new member’s name by way of the HOT LIST (the new members list) and invites them to a Chapter gathering. This is when the next stage begins, the membership or retention phase. Hopefully, during this stage, a member has enough fun and positive experiences with their GWRRA friends that they renew their membership.  An early investment of the Chapter Director’s time and efforts to get the new member involved in Chapter Life and Chapter activities, will more likely than not result in the participant being a long time member of GWRRA. These two responsibilities alone show how important the Chapter Director is to the Retention process and the future of GWRRA.    

        Let’s not be too quick to put ALL of the responsibility on the Chapter Director. As a member, we too, have responsibilities.  We need to assume the responsibility of renewing our own membership in a timely manner.  Don’t be guilty of becoming a “Phantom Member” or “Hitchhiker”. This may be hard to believe, but there seems to be some folks that see no reason to rejoin.  They continue to enjoy the benefits of Chapter Life as usual.  We don’t want to appear snobbish or rude, but if this describes you, please try to understand the advantages of true membership in our family.  Take pride in your organization. Be a true part of the future of GWRRA.  The member can also assume responsibility for the future of GWRRA by welcoming the new member to your Chapter and make them feel a part of GWRRA.  You can show your support by attending gatherings, rides, events and rallies.  Don’t wait to be asked.  If you are interested in helping out in your Chapter, let your Chapter Director know about it.  I’m sure he/she could use your assistance and enthusiasm.    

        In January, June Agee, the National Membership Enhancement Division (MED) Director, released new outlines for the Membership Enhancement Coordinators (MEC) staff position with a goal of filling this position within each Chapter.  This document describes the Membership Enhancement Coordinator’s duties and responsibilities.  One of the objectives of this MEC staff position is to help involve and retain members for the growth and strength of GWRRA.  You can get a copy of the duties and responsibilities of the MEC from your District MEC.  If your interests lie in this area, let your Chapter Director know.  Having a Chapter Membership Enhancement Coordinator is one of the basic eligibility requirements to compete in the Chapter of the Year Program.  Last year was the very first year for the Chapter of the Year Program and we would like to send out…  

        A great big CONGRATULATIONS to FL2-G Ft. Myers, FL for being chosen as the Region “A” Chapter of the Year 2007.  The District winners within Region “A” were:  

Florida – FL2-G, Ft. Myers Yellow Jackets

Georgia – GA-E2, Savannah Coastal Wings

Mississippi – MS-F, Jackson Magnolia Wings

South Carolina – SC-E, Greenville Palmetto Wings

Alabama - no entries for 2007  

        With all that said, we cannot just forget about the recruiting piece of the puzzle, in order to make it all fit together.  We must continue our efforts to bring new members with new ideas, different ways of thinking and new leaders into GWRRA. Our continued excellent recruiting efforts of past, along with a new push to improve the retention of the members we already have, will help keep our chapters not only open and surviving, but growing and having lots of FUN.  

Bob & Karla Greer

Region “A”

Membership Enhancement Coordinators

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

HOW TO GET YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION

UPDATED AT THE HOME OFFICE

        Have you moved, changed email addresses or a telephone number? Previously, member’s new information was corrected by the Chapter, District and Region Membership Enhancement Coordinators. It is now necessary for each individual member to update their personal information. This can be accomplished three different ways:  Call 800 843-9460; e-mail customerservice@gwrra.org; or make changes online at www.gwrra.org/members and follow the instructions.