Greetings! 


As many of you know, I "officially" retired from GWRRA Home Office the first of the year and have had the opportunity to do some traveling. Yes, I am blessed and very, very grateful! One of my recent trips with my wife was to her country of Brazil. It is the second time I have visited there, but this time was very different for some reason. We went to visit her first granddaughter and to see if we could stay for an extended period of time, mostly for my benefit. You see, I have never spent more than 2-3 weeks in a foreign country. I have visited Europe for Wing Ding Europe and took an extended vacation and toured Denmark, the Netherlands and France. I have also been fortunate to visit Colombia, and spend much time in Canada and Mexico, but never more than 2 weeks at a time.  

 

This time we planned to stay for 4-6 months. At least that was our hope. As a good GWRRA Member, when you first visit a foreign country you check your Gold Book and see if you can Find-A-Friend. No luck in Brazil - but that was OK, as we were busy with the new grandchild and family. Plus, I was dealing with getting used to all the traffic, (including all the small motorcycles whitelining), the culture shock, the language, the smog, and the lack of technology. There were motorcycles everywhere. Small ones, less than 250cc, and they were used for everything from personal transportation, taking their kids to school, to delivery (everything from pizza to auto parts and documents).  

 

Brazil had some wonderful things, like the food, modern malls, great restaurants, and even the movie theaters where you get severe senior discounts and can reserve your seats upon arrival, very cool! The country is beautiful, amazing architecture, and a good economy...overall.    

 

Needless to say, I did not make the 4 months - nothing to do with the country or the people - just my own missing my home and my country! As we get older, we really appreciate the important things, like clean air, clean streets, laws to protect everyone, bureaucratic organization, and freedom! Plus, your own bed and plenty of clean drinking water and toilet paper...! I am not putting down any country or their way of life...I am just grateful for mine! The essence of the story is that Rose and I will be visiting Brazil once or twice a year for maybe a month or two at a time, and that we appreciate the USA! And have her family come visit us!!  

 

Please share your story about touring or going overseas here

   

I have been reading a lot of newsletters lately and it is fun reading about all the riding currently being planned. There seems to be an emphasis being placed back on rides, trips and even in one newsletter (GA-D), "Bucket List Rides." This is so great to see.      

 

Below, you will see an article about the Gold Book. It is time to remember to update your information in the Gold Book. Please read the article and follow the instructions on how to update your information if you need to make any corrections. The time is NOW!!

   

This is your last chance to get registered for GWRRA's 35th Anniversary Cruise. You can register and get all the details here. Rose and I are looking forward to seeing everyone on board! 

The new Wing Ding 35 website is up and running, so check it out and get registered for Greenville, SC. It is one of my favorite cities and I will see you there! We are looking for articles about riding to Greenville or great rides in and around the Greenville area. Let's share your knowledge of the area! 

 

And don't forget to check out GWRRA's Home Page, www.gwrra.org for all the latest and greatest news, events, and Member benefits at GWRRA's benefit page.   

 

I want to thank you again for sending in the articles and stories you see below. It is so important that you, our Members, keep supporting this newsletter. We hope to receive more items to add to this e-newsletter, like Travel Tips, Packing Tips, Best Road Trips, Best Motorcycle Routes, Maintenance Tips, Couples Travel Tips, most useful products, innovative products, best websites, you name it!! We are hoping to get more articles, stories, Gold Book stories, etc., so your newsletter reflects our Members' input! Please send them to me here and feel free to ask me any questions in this regard. And don't worry if you are not a great writer, we have wonderful editors here to make any article sound great! As our Association tries to reflect your desires, more riding, riding activities, more Member/Officer input...we promise to do our part, so we too, ask for you efforts...with input! The best newsletters are those that contain your content! Thanks for all your continued support!

 

Ride safe and FIND-A-FRIEND!

 

FRIENDS FOR FUN, SAFETY & KNOWLEDGE!

 

Ed Price

 

 

Editor, Wingin' It
In This Issue
Joke of the Month
Looking for YOUR Articles
Inspirational Quotes
GWRRA & Facebook
GWRRA's 35th Anniversary Cruise
Quotable Quotes!
Rescue Plus Reminder
Membership Enhancement Article
Member Article
The Gold Book!
Saturday at Wing Ding
Featured Member Benefit
Region H Article
Your Opinion Matters
GWRRA Benefits
Quick Links
Join Our Mailing List

Joke of the

Month 

question mark
 What A Tail!

A man was waiting at an intersection for a circus to pass by. He saw a sign on one of the wagons that read: "Barney's Circus with 50 Elephants." He counted the elephants as they crossed the intersection. When he got to 50, he put his car in gear and started to cross the intersection because he was late for an appointment. Unfortunately, he has miscounted and his car hit and killed the last elephant.

A week later he got a notice from the circus that he'd have to pay $200,000. He called the circus manager and inquired, "What's the deal? I only hit one elephant! Why do you want $200,000?"

The manager responded, "It's true, you only hit one elephant, but you pulled the tails out of 49 others!"  
 


Remember, send me your best, clean jokes here

Looking for

Articles

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 .


Inspirational

Quotes

 

"Adversity reveals genius, prosperity conceals it." 

Horace

    

"The price of greatness is responsibility."
Winston Churchill 

 

GWRRA is on

Facebook 

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Check out GWRRA's Facebook page and sign up to follow us! It is easy!!

 

GWRRA's 35th
ANNIVERSARY CRUISE



Click
here for more information and
to register.

  
Quotable Quotes!
Here are some quotes sent in by our Members!


If you have some you'd like to send to me, send them here!

Four wheels move the body. Two wheels move the soul.
~Author Unknown

 

Sometimes it takes a whole tank of fuel before you can think straight.  

~Author Unknown  

 

If you wait, all that happens is that you get older.  

~Author Unknown

 

These were sent in by  

Tom Hendricks 

Rescue Plus Reminder  

Tow Truck
 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 $80 with all the same benefits!


Call NOW!
MEMBERSHIP ENHANCEMENT ARTICLE
by

Ed & Linda Johnson 

International Directors, Membership Enhancement Program   

 

Wing Ding Recap from the "F"UN Region

 

We read many articles and many are worth repeating. Below is the Newsletter article from the Region "F" un Directors in their own words about their adventures and take on Wing Ding 34. We thank Anita and JR for the super job they did on the Newsletter article.  

 

"Recruit a NEW Member"

 

Anita and
JR Alkire 
 

Region F Directors

 

Wing Ding 34 is in the books as an adventure, family reunion, celebration, and probably a budget buster if you spent time with the vendors! As always, when the suitcases get unpacked you come back to a common thought...how much you enjoyed seeing all your friends. Some of you wish you live closer to so you could see them more often and go riding with them, but you know... Read More

"EATING"

submitted by 
Gene Hanselman
Member #135067, Chapter OH-B

 

There has always been certain enigmas that relate to Gold Wing riders, one of them includes our eating habits. I can attest to this and find no reason for the connection, other than we ride Gold Wings.   One of the Chapters I was affiliated with had a short phrase "When We Meet, We Eat". That pretty much sums it up for all Gold Wing Chapters, Co-riders, passengers, friends and acquaintances. So why do we indulge ourselves with food? Is it because we are food addicts as well as motorcycle addicts? Do we find comfort in sitting around in restaurants, pubs, grills and ice cream parlors searching for the best taste ever? Or is it because we all just "Ride To Eat and Eat To Ride". There are even patches that read, "Ride To Eat, Eat To Ride". Certainly there are other establishments where we could meet, socialize or ride to without the sole purpose of getting something to eat. Maybe it would not be as much fun or light up our endorphins, but it might help with our health... Read More

THE GOLD BOOK
submitted by
Ed & Linda Johnson  
GWRRA International Membership Enhancement Program
The "Gold Book" is our annual Service Directory that has thousands of  

names of GWRRA Members who offer services that range from roadside assistance to lodging. It is important to keep the information listed in the directory correct. For the past two years, the Membership Enhancement Program has been working with Home Office to get the correct information listed in the Gold Book. This can be done by visiting  

http://membership.gwrra.org. This web site will give you directions on how to update your information.   Why is this important? A few months ago while talking with a GWRRA Member about the Gold Book and the information it contained, it was brought to our attention that some of his information was incorrect.   The District he lived in had two area codes and then added a new area code. There are other GWRRA Members who live in the affected area that may not have thought about the Gold Book and getting it updated to this change. The 540 area code was split and many were assigned to a 276 area code. For those affected by the area code change it was necessary to update or notify Home Office (Customer Service), of your new area code so the change could be made in the Gold Book.   Please, as a Member of GWRRA, take a few minutes to check the Gold Book and see if your information is correct. Your home address, zip code, phone number and services you checked to provide to other GWRRA Members may need to be updated. It is very important that we keep the Gold Book as accurate as possible. We thank you in advance for taking time to read this article, but most importantly, we thank you for helping us to keep the Gold Book up-to-date so it can be used as the tool it was intended to be. 

                                                                                                             

Saturday At Wing Ding
Submitted by
George Click
Chapter Ohio W Educator
Member number: 81649

 

The plan for Saturday was to go to the Master's Breakfast, visit the J & M people to see if my headset had a short then return to the hotel, pack and head for home.

 

I was on time for the Master's Breakfast which was well attended with plenty to eat. After the breakfast I returned to my trike, removed my vest, put on my jacket and proceeded toward the coliseum and the J & M booth. As I approached Coliseum Drive, the light was red, so I stopped and waited for my green light. When the light turned green I looked both ways and started across Coliseum Drive. All was going well when I heard something that just did not sound right. I looked to my right and here comes a black car right at me. Tires were squalling and I hoped/thought maybe she would miss me. A loud crash was heard, the trike was spun around, do not know how often, and I ended up on the pavement... Read More

Featured Member Benefits of the Month

 

Gold Wing Road Riders Association (GWRRA) is pleased to remind you of two Member Discounts in our Benefit Program.

 

 *You as a Member can now receive great

discounts with your Retail Connectsm Card. Whether you are purchasing for your Chapter or for your family, this card will provide you access on office supplies and printing services from OfficeMax ImPress™ at nearly 900 OfficeMax retail locations.
Visitwww.officemax.com and use the store finder. 
OfficeMax Discounts - Click here to download. You will need to log in using your GWRRA assigned password (User: 6 digit membership number. Password: combination of the numeric portion of your mailing address followed by the 4 digit expiration of your membership. ie. 0613)

 

   

    

 *Financial Services: Show Your GWRRA Pride! No Annual Fee GWRRA� Visa� Credit Card Program, with Rewards Program, low introductory APR on Purchases and no balance transfer fees for 6 months. Click here to Earn bonus points for FREE airline tickets, merchandise, cash-back and more at participating merchants. Enhanced Visa� 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 3 card designs or upload your own picture! 

 
CardPartner, under the ownership of United Missouri Bank, offers a co-branded credit card program for GWRRA

New Antigua Line
Operation H- No Winger Left Behind!

Submitted By: Bill & Dea Ann Gray  
Region H Director 

Do you remember your first gathering? How did you find out about 
it? Were you warmly greeted at the door? How many welcomed you and who did you sit with? Were you invited back? Were you asked to join them on the next dinner ride? Did you receive a newsletter & calendar of events?
 
Why so many questions? ....because we want NO WINGER LEFT BEHIND! If you are reading this, you probably have a good if not great Chapter life! We've always spoken of Chapters as our extended families and most of you have been treated accordingly! During your last gathering, did you have a visitor? Did you greet them? Did you offer to
sit with them? Were they acknowledged and introduced during the meeting? Did you thank them for coming and invite them back? Why more questions? ....because we want NO WINGER LEFT BEHIND!
 
PLEASE DO NOT TAKE VISITORS AND NEW PARTICIPANTS FOR GRANTED OR
ASSUME ANYTHING! Be proactive! Add them to your email and phone tree list immediately! Send them your latest newsletter and follow up with a phone call to invite them on a ride! Get them involved now!

What does the "H" stand for?   HOSPITALITY ..... Let's live it and leave NO WINGER LEFT BEHIND!

2012 GWred 

Your Opinion Matters!

 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 most important to you when planning a motorcycle tour?" 

 

 Taking a popular/scenic trip, 24%--(131)

 Visiting landmarks & attractions, 17%--(95)

 Roads that are technically challenging, 7%--(37)

 Desire to escape & explore, 42%--(229)

 Schedule your trip around an important event, 9%--(51)

  

Total Votes---543  

 

We always have a current GWRRA topic. To let us know your opinion,  

Check it out!

GWRRA Member Benefit Discounts!
Save
20%

Harbor Blue Moisture Wicking Polo

 
 

All new moisture wicking harbor blue polo shirt.  Gold embroidered GWRRA on the left chest. This shirt is perfect for all types of events.

 

 

  

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Special price for October.....$19.99

Offer Expires: 10/31--mention October Wingin' It

 

 Contents copyrighted by GWRRA, Inc.

�2012