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Greetings!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY GWRRA!
This month we celebrate our Association's 35th year as a family and as the world's largest Gold Wing Association!! It is such a milestone to understand that 35 years have passed since Paul & Shirley, our Founder & Co-Founder, got the idea to start this group. It is even more mind-boggling to know what impact GWRRA has had on so many people over the years. In speaking with both Paul and Shirley over the years, they never imagined GWRRA would grow to such an organization and have such an effect on so many.
I know Paul's goal was to learn about the new Gold Wing, teach people how to ride better and SAVE LIVES! WOW, has he accomplished his goal! As I have testified many times in the past, due to him and GWRRA's Rider Education Programs, I am here today because of the many courses I took and am proud to have been Master Tour Rider #9. Had it not been for these courses...I would not be here to tell the story. While I was traveling on I-25 going from Colorado Springs to Denver back in 1980, I had a rear tire blowout at 65 mph with my then wife on the back. I knew exactly what to do to get the bike under control and pull safely off the highway, thanks again to GWRRA's Rider Ed courses.
GWRRA in its 35 years has had a profound effect on so many Members, organizations, non-Members because of our involvement with so many charities, events, Wing Dings, as well as city and state governments. Plus, our international involvement with other countries. We are a truly international family!
I would like you to write me and tell me your story of how GWRRA has effected you over the years. Let me know how GWRRA has expanded your personal/professional experiences and maybe some examples of how GWRRA has changed your life. I will publish as many of them as I can in upcoming issues of Wingin' It. Also, let me know how your Chapter, District or Region is celebrating GWRRA's 35th birthday this month. Don't forget to send me some pictures to go along with your story. Send your stories to me here.
Please read below the wonderful messages we have from our Co-Founder, Shirley, and our President, Abel Gallardo.
This is your last chance to register for the best GWRRA party in the world...WING DING 34 in Fort Wayne. REGISTRATION ENDS JUNE 7TH! Just go to www.wing-ding.org and get registered. There are so many new events the staff have planned, so much entertainment and so many vendors will be there, you do not want to miss this one! Fort Wayne is one of my favorite cities and the Memorial Coliseum is one of the best run venues in the country!!
Speaking of awesome events, do not forget the GWRRA's 35th anniversary cruise in November! See the information on the left side below and get registered to hold your cabin NOW! See you on-board!
A little personal story, I just returned from seeing my son and grandchildren last week in a small town Manitowoc, Wisconsin and visiting a good GWRRA friend, JB Hamilton in Southern Illinois. It was so cool to see all the Gold Wings on the road! I also had the opportunity to use GWRRA's Wyndham Hotel benefit by staying at some of their brand hotels and saved 20% by registering online...sometimes, just the night before! I also used our Budget Car Rental benefit and saved quite a bit. So, make sure when you travel and find the need, check out GWRRA's benefit page and use our multitude of benefits.
Remember to see the notice below about Ride To Work Day on June 12, 2012.
We hope everyone is enjoying your FREE enewsletter, Wingin' It. As another benefit of GWRRA, we are always looking to make it better. If you have any suggestions on how to improve your enewsletter, please write me and let me know. I am still in need of more articles to make each issue interesting to our Members. So, if you have an interesting story about your Chapter and any of it's activities or a great ride you took, or some great Gold Book story, please write me here. And don't worry if you are not a great writer, we have wonderful editors here to make any article sound great!
Thank you Paul & Shirley for starting GWRRA! And, thank you to all our Volunteer Officers, past and present who have helped make GWRRA the best motorcycle family in the world. The motto created so many years ago, "Friends for FUN, Safety & Knowledge" still holds so true today! Ride safe and FIND-A-FRIEND! FRIENDS FOR FUN, SAFETY & KNOWLEDGE! 
Editor, Wingin' It
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Joke of the
Month
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A little boy asks his Grandpa, "Grandpa can you make the sound of a frog?" Grandpa said, "I don't know, why?" Little boy- "Cause grandma says when you croak we all are going to Disney World!" Sent by:
Guy O. Thomas GWRRA #147814 Evansville, WY
Remember, send me your best, clean jokes here! |
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MEMBER RESPONSE
&
VENDOR COMMENT
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My name is Lon DeBrabant
Member #257791.
I just wanted to comment on your letter about John Lazzeroni, owner of J&M. I was in Florida for the winter vacation and as my mother is 91 years old, I never want to miss any phone calls while out riding. I purchased an ipod blue tooth and had a problem with the memory card not staying in place. I emailed Mr. Lazzeroni personally. He said he would make certain that a new unit would be on the truck to Daytona for Bike Week- Even though it was a Harley event. He said if he can't repair mine he would give me a new unit. This is the kind of service this man gives. He did repair it right away while I was waiting. My hat is off to Mr. Lazzeroni. I thanked him and will thank him again for the great service when I get to Wing Ding. The unit is working great now, no worries about Mom.
Thank you.
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GWRRA TRIVIA
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To help celebrate GWRRA's 35th Anniversary Year (1977-2012), we are going to be offering many activities, events, discounts and surprises throughout 2012.
This column will be our Trivia about GWRRA over the past 35 years. See how much you know about our history, organization, people and programs! Have FUN!
1-Who were the 7 original Members who met back in 1977 to start GWRRA?
2-What were the original dues to join GWRRA in 1977?
3-What was the horsepower, top speed and weight of the first, GL 1000, 1975 Gold Wing?
(answers in the coupon section below and Thanks to Manny Moreno for the Trivia this month)
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Looking for
Articles
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Remember, we are looking for articles for YOUR e-Newsletter!
Travelogues, Member
and Officer profiles, Chapter activities, your stories about how joining GWRRA has positively affected your life, etc.
And don't forget those great Gold Book stories.
Please send your stories to me here .
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Inspirational
Quotes
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"The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts; therefore guard accordingly."
Marcus Aurelius
"Do not forget small kindnesses and do not remember small faults."
Chinese Proverb
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GWRRA is on
Facebook
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Check out GWRRA's Facebook page and sign up to follow us! It is easy!!
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INTERNATIONAL CHAPTER
OF THE YEAR ANNOUNCED
Submitted By:
Bob and Karla Greer,
International Assistant Directors
Membership Enhancement Program
Chapter of the Year
CHOYcor@att.net
"Building Relationships"
Mike and Lori Stiger, GWRRA Directors, Ed and Linda Johnson, International Membership Enhancement Program Directors, and Bob and Karla Greer, International Assistant Directors for the Chapter of the Year program are pleased to announce that Oklahoma Chapter N, Norman, OK, The "N"Credibles!!", has been selected as the 2011 GWRRA International Chapter of the Year.
Read More
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GWRRA's 35th ANNIVERSARY CRUISE
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Click here for more information and to register.
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Rescue Plus Reminder
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Remember to sign up for Rescue PLUS! It will add more miles and more vehicles to your standard FREE
Rescue towing package from GWRRA. PLUS, it only costs $25 per year to upgrade the entire family!!
<><><><><><><>
Sign up NOW by calling 800-843-9460! <><><><><><><>
And remember, non-members can purchase Rescue PLUS for only $50 with all the same benefits!
Call NOW!
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Co-Founder's Message: 
submitted by:
Shirley Stephens-Garcia - Co-Founder, GWRRA
Thirty-five years....who'd thunk? So much has happened over the last 35 years that it is impossible to hone in on one or two events or happenings. Suffice it to say, we couldn't have lasted for three years, let alone thirty-five, if it had not been for the wonderful membership. Those great people have been the root of our growth...where our hard working volunteers have their interest piqued; many getting so interested they become Directors, work events, become trainers, etc. Those "leaders" are the backbone of our great Association, they spend countless hours making our passion more interesting, more fun and more safe. Thanks to these volunteers, and to the membership who (hopefully) take advantage of all the programs, hugs, friendships, hugs, rides, hugs, events, hugs, fun, and hugs made available on a regular basis. Thanks for caring and sticking with us....we appreciate your time, effort, hard work and loyalty.
Here's to the next thirty-five!
Shirley
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President's Message:
submitted by:
Abel Gallardo - President, GWRRA
Thirty-five years and counting, what a truly amazing feat to be accomplished. Congratulations and a warm "Thank you" to each and every one of you who have played a role in making GWRRA what it was, is and will be. You, the Members of GWRRA, are this Association's life-line, and without every one of you, we could not take steps towards the next 35 years of GWRRA!Here's to a bright future of "Friends, Fun, Safety and Knowledge"!
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MEMBERS STORY:
Submitted by
David Heaton
Member #121736
Boulder, Utah UT-R
My GWRRA Story!
I just wanted to take a moment to tell you a little bit about what I have found with GWRRA.
I have had a Gold Wing now for over 30 years. I joined GWRRA about 28 years ago and then dropped out because I didn't really see the value in it. I never met anyone and was never invited to join anything. There was a Chapter in the city where I lived and we went out to breakfast with them one time. We sat by ourselves and were never welcomed and no one even talked to us. Because of this, we felt very uncomfortable. I did like the Wing World and the Gold Book, but that was it. Three years ago, we purchased another Gold Wing and decided to give the GWRRA another chance... Read More
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RIDER EDUCATION ARTICLE
Submitted by
Joe and Gracie Mazza  International Motorist Awareness Director
MANAGING DRIVER DISTRACTIONS
The Governors Highway Safety Association has developed 10 tips for managing driver distractions. Distracted drivers pose a deadly risk to everyone on the road. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ( NHTSA ) estimates that in 2008, the most recent year for which data is available, 5,870 people lost their lives and another 515,000 were injured in police reported crashes in which one form of distraction was noted on the crash report. Drivers engaged in a range of distracting activities.
Here are 10 tips for managing some of the most common distractions:
1) Turn It Off--- Turn your phone off or switch to silent mode before you get in the car.
2) Spread The Word--- Set up a special message to tell callers that you are driving and you will get back to them as soon as possible.
3) Pull Over--- If you need to make a call, pull over to a safe area first.
4) Use Your Passengers--- Ask a passenger to make a call for you.
5) X The Text--- Don't ever text and drive, surf the web or E-Mail while driving. It is dangerous and against the law in most states.
6) Know The Law--- Familiarize yourself with state and local laws before you get in the car. Some states and localities prohibit the use of hand held cell phones. GSHA offers a handy chart of state laws on its website.
7) Prepare--- Review maps and directions before you start to drive. If you need help when you are on the road, ask a passenger to help or pull over to a safe location to review the map/directions again.
8) Secure Your Pets--- Pets can be a big distraction in the car. Always secure your pets properly before you start to drive.
9) Keep The Kids Safe--- Pull over to a safe location to address situations with your children in the car.
10) FocusOn The Task At Hand--- Refrain from smoking, eating, drinking, reading and any other activity that takes your mind and eyes off the road.
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OFFICER APPOINTMENT  Renee and I live in Mountain Top, Pennsylvania.We have been married for 31 years and have three children and three granddaughters.
When we joined GWRRA in 1997, we were looking for someone to ride with. Little did we know what friendships and adventures we would have!
We have held several positions in our home Chapter, PA H- including Chapter Couple, Assistant Chapter Director and Chapter Director. On the District level, we had been the "Rally/Convention" Events Coordinators, Assistant District Directors and District Directors.
We are both Leadership Training Instructors and continue to learn all the time. We are both Master Riders and believe in the value of the Rider Education Program. Renee and I were recently presented the Senior Directors Award.
We both look forward to continued service to the Members on a broader field as Region B Directors.
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Fort Wayne Updates
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Wing Ding Welcome Party!
We are kicking off the week with a Welcome Party In the Amish Town of Grabill, Indiana featuring vendors, antique shops, buggy rides, homemade ice cream and much more hosted by Visit Fort Wayne! http://www.visitfortwayne.com/ Here is a really cool link to Grabill, so Members can go to this web page. http://www.visitfortwayne.com/locations/grabill-amish-community?focus=ttd
On Your Way to Fort Wayne for Wing Ding? Half the Fun is Getting Here!
The CVB has put together some awesome rides to Fort Wayne which also might be helpful! Click Here!
To make your hotel reservations, simply call 1-800-753-3823 or visit us online at www.VisitFortWayne.com/WingDing.
To request a Visitors Guide or receive additional Visitor Information, please give us a call at 1-800-767-7752 or visit us online at www.VisitFortWayne.com.
We can't wait to host you in
Fort Wayne. For visitor
information, please contact
us at 1-800-767-7752 and
you can make your housing reservations at
1-800-753-3823!
Or, visit us online at www.VisitFortWayne.com/WingDing!
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Home Office Reminders
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GWRRA WEBSITE: New Feature!
Hello GWRRA Members,
I wanted to let you know about a new, exciting feature through our website. You can now chat with a Member Services agent live! Shortly after visiting our home page, a box will appear asking if you would like to chat with one of us here at the home office. It is easy to use, especially if you just have a quick question, need some information, or need guidance around our website.
When the box pops up just click on it, fill out three pieces of information: your name, membership number, if applicable and for faster results, your email address, then click "Start Chat". You will then be able to type in your questions and a Member Services agent will write back.
We want you to check it out and stop by and say "Hi" just to see how it works; we look forward to hearing from you!
Thank You,
Andrea Lowe
GWRRA Member Services
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Featured Member Benefits of the Month
- *Financial Services: Show Your GWRRA Pride! - No Annual Fee GWRRA© Visaź Credit Card Program, with Rewards Program, low introductory APR on Purchases and no balance transfer fees for six months. Click here to earn bonus points for FREE airline tickets, merchandise, cash-back and more at participating merchants. Enhanced Visaź Platinum benefits, including 24/7 Emergency Customer Service and 100% Fraud Protection, Auto Rental and Travel Accident Insurance and much more. Competitive interest rates, plus three card designs or upload your own picture!
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- VPI Pet Insurance: VPI Pet Insurance provides healthcare coverage for your dog, cat, bird, hamster or other exotic pet. As a Member of the Gold Wing Road Riders Association, you'll receive a 5% group discount on your VPI policy. Plus, owners of multiple pets are entitled to receive additional discounts! With coverage from VPI, your pets are protected if they are injured or become ill. VPI policies are easy to use and reimburse you for eligible veterinary expenses related to surgeries, hospitalization, X-rays, prescription medications and more. Best of all, you're free to visit any veterinarian. Benefit only valid in the United States. For more information call 877-PETS-VPI or click here today!
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RIDE TO WORK DAY!
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Member's Travelogue:
"Bucket Trip"  A diary written about our motorcycle trip around the USA.
by:
Gerald & Marsha Goudie
GWRRA Member #140724 & 140724-01
Forty-eight years ago, a friend and I started to plan a motorcycle trip around the country. We were 19 years old at the time and, as it turns out, our planning was woefully inadequate. We were riding small Japanese motorcycles at the time. Mine was a Suzuki with a 80cc two-cycle engine and his was a Yamaguchi with a 50cc two-cycle engine. We intended to upgrade to a couple of 250cc English bikes. As I said, we were 19 years old and not too bright at the time. Then, college, military service and life interfered and we never took our trip. Nor did we take the proposed trip around Europe, although we both served in Germany while in the military. My friend, Dick Muri, passed away about a year and a half ago and I think my wife, Marsha, got tired of listening to me whine about the trip. I am retired and she is semiretired, so we decided it was time to go. We decided to upgrade from our '87 1200cc Interstate to a much newer 1800cc, 2005 Gold Wing. This proved to be a smart move. The peace of mind that a well maintained Gold Wing gives you, was enough to make a 67 and 63 year old couple feel comfortable with this expedition... Read More |
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Your Opinion Matters!
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Remember to check out GWRRA's Homepage at www.GWRRA.org
to let us know your opinion of a variety of subjects in our polls.
We'd like to give you the results of the last survey we have posted on the home page.
"What is your #1 reason for attending Wing Ding 34?"
FREE J&M Evening Entertainment event featuring Vocal trash....35% (79)
Winning a New 2012 Honda Gold Wing.........34% (76)
GWRRA's 35th Anniversary Rooftop Party with VIP seating for Fireworks show...12% (28)
Meeting Craig Vetter and hearing his testimonials....9% (20)
Trade Show featuring over 200 vendors....1% (3)
Total Votes: 225
We always have a current GWRRA topic. To let us know your opinion,
Check it out!
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GWRRA Member Benefit Discounts!
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Save
19% |
EZ Air Combo
Reg. price: $29.95
Buy both EZ Air Gauge and Extension Hose and save. Note: The GL1800 does not have an on-board compressor. The EZ Air Gauge will work on the GL1800 tires; but requires access to a compressed air source
Lifetime manufacturer warranty
Product Code 4011002
Special price for June.....$25.00
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Trivia Answers:
1-The first Members to meet and form GWRRA were: Paul & Shirley Hildebrand (Founder & Co-Founder); Chuck Ainsworth; Dave Nicolai; Tex Wilson and Beggs & Lil Nelson.
2-The original GWRRA dues in 1977 were $3 annually.
3-The original GL 1000 had 82 HP@7500rpm, a top speed of 121.8 mph and weighed 650 pounds.
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Offer Expires: 6/30--mention June Wingin' It
Contents copyrighted by GWRRA, Inc.
©2012
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