GWTA 1 May 2009 Touring News GWTA 2 May 2009 Touring News TOURING NEWS May 2009 Volume XXIII, No.5 (USPS-011-789) Advertisers On the Cover: Add-On .......................................................................... 19 Herb Williams of North- AIM ................................................................................ 32 ern California Chapter P Americade ...................................................................... 17 ARAI Helmets ................................................................. 5 has been a GWTA member Big Bike Parts .................................................................. 8 since 1987. Herb will be Cartier ............................................................................ 39 Champion Sidecars ........................................................ 40 celebrating his 90th birthday Chrome Crazy ................................................................ 15 September 25th! Read more Chrome World ................................................................ 29 about Herb on page 33 of Everett Powersports ......................................................... 6 Jason Industries / ION Trailer ........................................ 21 this issue! Lawrenceville Honda ..................................................... 13 Leesure Lite ..................................................................... 4 Markel American Insurance Company ...................... 7, 17 Departments RAM Mounting Systems ................................................. 2 Neosho ........................................................................... 19 Chairman of the Board ........................................8 Powerlet ......................................................................... 34 Education & Retention ......................................21 RoadRUNNER ............................................................... 33 Executive Director ..............................................4 ThEngraver .................................................................... 12 Executive Director Secretary ............................11 Time Out Trailers ........................................................... 25 Tour King ....................................................................... 24 Family of the Year ...............................................6 Helping Hands ....................................................4 GWTA Resource Center Rider Education ................................................24 Board of Directors Notice of Elections ............................ 9 In Every Issue Board of Directors Self Nomination Form ...................... 9 Chapter Listings .......................................... 26-29 Classified Ads................................................................. 25 Gold Rush XXII Registration ........................................ 38 Cross-Eyed Crossroads .....................................32 GWTA Business Members ............................................. 35 Honda Tech .......................................................18 GWTA Membership Application ................................... 11 Rides & Rallies Across the Regions ........... 30-31 Region A RaveNRide ................................................22-23 Welcome New Members ...................................17 Safety Shirt Order Form ................................................. 19 Office Hours: Monday - Friday 8am - 5pm GWTA National Office Features P.O. Box 42403 Along the Road .................................................20 Indianapolis, IN 46242 My Early Years Chapter 4 .................................25 800-960-4982 (317)243-6822 Product Review .................................................33 [email protected] Region E Feature ......................................... 34-37 [email protected] www.GWTA.org Contributions and photos... are welcomed but not guaranteed to be published, whether solicited or Send articles, photos & changes to: unsolicited. All articles must be typewritten and e-mailed or provided Touring News Magazine, 2415 Director’s Row Suite K on disk with program specified. Contributions become the property of Indianapolis, IN 46241 GWTA and will not be returned to source. Reprints authorized when Email: [email protected] full credit is given. All articles subject to revision without notice and may be edited for content and language. GWTA, Editor and Publisher Canadian Members: Beginning April 1, 2009 an additional payment alike are not responsible for validity of content of the advertising copy of $40 USD is required annually in order to receive Touring News in the magazine. Photos used in the magazine cannot be returned. The Magazine. This additional fee exclusively covers the extra postage magazine is printed in the United States of America. required to mail Touring News to Canada. Touring News is published monthly for Gold Wing Touring Association (GWTA) in the United States of America. The known office of publica- tion is GWTA, 2415 Director’s Row, Suite K, Indianapolis, IN 46241. $39 of the annual membership dues go toward a one-year subscription to GWTA’s Touring News Magazine; however, the subscription cannot be deducted from dues. Postmaster: Send address changes to: GWTA, P.O. Box 42403, Indianapolis, IN 46242-0403. Periodicals Postage Paid in Indianapolis, Indiana and at additional mailing offices. GWTA 3 May 2009 Touring News EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Bruce & Linda Keenon P.O. Box 348, Huntington, IN 46750 (260) 358-0851 Fax (260) 356-3392 [email protected] Again my family and I would like to thank each and every one of you for the heartfelt sympathy cards, flowers, plants etc. We were overwhelmed by all of your personal notes, prayers and kind words. I am taking each day Lees-ure Lite Popup Tent Trailers one at a time now and all of your cards were a tremendous help in getting us through some tough times. Thank You again. Now selling motorcycle accessories & hitches! As our membership increases in many areas by way of new chapters I Sleep anywhere, in comfort! thought it might be a good idea to refresh everyone’s mind on why GWTA Set up in 6 seconds - optional add a is so unique. We are the only Member owned, Member run, not for profit room - screen room - rear storage - organization I know of. No one individual profits from GWTA. There are awnings air conditioning kit only two paid staff in our office in Indianapolis. Other than that we run and more! strictly on volunteers who are members. GWTA is made up of the Operations Staff which is your Executive Director, Regional Directors and State and Chapter Directors. The Board is For information or a brochure made up of a Chairman and Regional Board Members that are elected by call free the membership. Board Members sit on the Board of Directors for a term of 1-800-660-0933 three years. They protect our Bylaws and elect the Executive Director. Shipping all over America Our membership is broken down into 8 Regions throughout the U.S. and www.tent-trailer.com Canada. For each Region we have a Regional Director that is chosen by the [email protected] Call for nearest distributor Executive Director with the input of State Directors and members who work on his staff. The Regional Directors then chooses the State Directors again with the input of the Chapter Directors and members. Chapter Directors are elected by the chapter members usually on an annual basis. You, as a member, have the right to change chapters if you wish or to start a new one to help grow our association. Our monthly publication, Touring News, has no professional writers, editors or photographers. This publication is for the membership and is written by the membership. We encourage all members to submit an article about upcoming events, stories reflecting on the great experiences they have had, or beautiful photos of scenery they have enjoyed. It is your magazine, your tool to communicate with every member of GWTA. We often have members ask how they can get their picture in the Touring News magazine or even on the cover. The answer is to submit one. Of course, it needs to be print quality but our staff in Indianapolis can give you some tips on how to do that. Thank you to all the members who have donated funds to keep A major point to remember is that chapter directors are voted on by the Helping Hands program going. Without your generosity, we its chapter members. No one else. Our Board members are voted on by couldn’t continue this great work. No matter how big or small the their fellow members in that respective region after they self nominate. Our Chairman of the Board as well as the Executive Director position is voted donation, we are grateful for your support. on by the Board of Directors. All of these positions are filled by members. After much thought, we have decided to vacate the Director of The officers in operations are appointed with member input by the respective Helping Hands position following Gold Rush in Lexington, KY. leading officer and serve under his or her direction. Due to some health issues we need some down time. If you would As a GWTA member your benefits are many. You receive our monthly be interested in becoming a member of the national staff in this publication, Touring News, access to our webpage, access to our 800# Blue Line Service; third party liability insurance, Helping Hands, discounted position, please contact Bruce Keenon directly. rates to our National rallies: Gold Rush and Camp Wing Tyme, discounted Administering the Helping Hands program is