INTERNATIONAL FELLOWSHIP OF MOTORCYCLING ROTARIANS February 2013 Edition Desert repairs returning from our previous ride to Loxton how many Rotarians does it take to repair a Can Am? Presidents Page The Christmas season has now gone and even though January is passed I send you my belated New Year s greetings and I trust that 2013 will be a good year for you and that you will find plenty of time to enjoy riding. I did not get much riding in over the recent holiday season, they always seem to be something else on or it was just too darn hot so motorcycling was confined to the local area, but I did have a very pleasant run to Geelong back on one of the milder days. And I am planning to going to take the long ride to Loxton, South Australia, to take part in their Related Ride on the long week-end in March. We are entering the Rotary District Conference season and I urge you to take part in your local Conference by either just attending on your motorbike, or preferably by contacting the relevant Committee member to organise a IFMR display. Although it requires is to have your bikes parked in an open area where all the Conference attendees have to pass by on their way to and from refreshments. Add yourself and a couple of colleagues and the IFMR banner obtained from your State Vice President (on a first in best dressed basis) and you will find that you evoke much interest. 500 or so delegates passing your location six times ensures that the Fellowship will get major exposure. A valuable asset for such a display will be the Brochure which was sent to all Rotacyclists recently (have you read the e-mail query); print off 20 or 30 of these and distributed to interested Rotarians. Whilst on the subject of e-mails, I wonder how many of you are opening your IFMR e-mails as we tracked the recent e-mail sent to all Members and I was very concerned to find that several days after the message had been sent only around 30 of you had taken the time to read your mail. We have gone to great pains to develop a highly efficient means of maintaining contact with every Member so that you can be fully aware of what is being said, done, or planned on your behalf. Read your e-mails and know what is occurring within your Fellowship. As many of you will be aware, on taking on role of President again I expressed the strong desire to hold the 2013 AGM in the Ballarat region, and I am very pleased to be able to report that the Horsham Rotary Club have positively responded to my request to host this event. The AGM will be held on the 25-27 October, the weekend immediately following the 2013 Phillip Island Moto GP. A report on arrangements is included in this newsletter. Keep your rubber on the road. Robin Nuttall President 2012-13 A full electronic copy of this publication is available on IFMR Australia Website www.ifmraustralia.org
2013 AGM IFMR-Australia Fri 25 th, Sat 26 th, Sun 27 th Oct Those of you who were at the AGM in Broken Hill will know that I stressed that this year's AGM would be at or near Ballarat and whilst there is a lot of good riding in the Central Highlands, I decided that the most suitable location would be the Grampians. www.visitvictoria.com/regions/grampians.aspx For those of you who are strangers to this part of Victoria the Grampians mountain ranges are situated between Stawell and Horsham, the latter city being the obvious choice as a base for the AGM. Just as a matter of trivia the 1998 AGM was held in Halls Gap (Grampians), 2002 in Ocean Grove, 2006 in Ballarat, and 2007 in Torquay. My thoughts were discussed with a number of Rotacyclists in Horsham and I am very pleased to report that the Horsham Rotary Club have agreed to host the AGM and they have prepared a programme of events as follows. Friday 25th October This is Horsham Rotary Club's normal meeting night and will be the location for registrations and meet and greet. Other local Rotary Clubs will be invited and a suitable venue will be chosen for a meal and the display of bikes and IFMR paraphernalia. Saturday 26th October Rides around the Grampians followed by the AGM and a BBQ at the home of IFMR member Neville Thomas. Neville has a very large display of motorcycles and cars and Horsham RC are very experienced BBQ caterers. Sunday 27th October Following a "long" breakfast again catered by Horsham RC, and a photo session, Horsham members would be prepared to "pilot" riders on the start of their return journey via interesting roads and areas not normally used, and then point them in their home directions. Accommodation http://visithorsham.com.au/things/ Horsham has a significant number of motels, caravan parks with cabin accommodation, and budget hotels, and Horsham members are also offering home hosting. I will be travelling to Horsham in the near future and will check out the accommodation options and give you further details on these and the AGM in the May newsletter. Having experienced Horsham RC's hospitality in the past as part of an IFMR tour I can guarantee that this will be a most enjoyable AGM and I look forward to seeing a record number of Rotacyclists in attendance. So start planning now and join us in Horsham in October. Robin Nuttall President
Current Board 2012 2013 President Secretary Robin Nuttall Claus Weber rnuttall@giant.net.au engineeringclaus@bigpond.com 0353413490 / 0427413490 0885227565 / 0419984714 Treasurer Newsletter Editor Franz Van Der Ploeg Beverley Weber vdploeg1@bigpond.com engineeringclaus@bigpond.com 0353424902 / 0417123738 0885227565 / 0421879781 - State Vice Presidents The role of these VP s will be to seek opportunities within the Districts in their States to promote the Fellowship, encourage riding activities, and to increase membership. Western Australia : TBA Victoria/Tasmania: Lance Deverson Ph: 03 93780103 Mob: 0400476409 Email: deveson@acer.edu.au Queensland: Peter Brown Ph: 0428987287 Mob: 0428987287 Email: peter.brown@ncsi.com.au Sth Australia: Ian Chase Ph: 07 3241914 Mob: 0409700904 Email: Ian@chasecomputers.com.au New South Wales: Andrew Irvine Ph:02 69215645 Mob: 0437694010 Email: ab.irvine@bigpond.com WELCOME TO NEW MEMBERS It gives me great pleasure to be able to again welcome Rotacyclists who have joined our Fellowship since the publication of our last Newsletter. Every 3 months brings an increase in Members but there are still many Rotarian motorcyclists who for some reason are not aware of IFMR so I urge you to talk to your colleagues and spread the good news!! So, a special welcome to: Shannon Black from The Basin, Victoria, Member of the Boronia Rotary Club & rides a 2003 Harley Road-glide & 2005 HD Soft Tail Welcome Shannon. Enjoy the opportunities our Fellowship can provide. Ride often and stay upright!
Ian Chase who was already a Rotary member (and IMFR Vice President) has moved to the Rotary Club of Gawler Light and as you can see he is fitting in well with the club and its social activities. WANTED INTERESTING ARTICLES for Newsletter & Website Do you have anything that you feel could be of interest to other members which can be included in this Newsletter or Website??? If so, please email to: Beverley Weber engineeringclaus@bigpond.com Or info@ifmraustralia.org
Annual Membership Fees are payable to our Treasurer NOW. Again set at only $15.00 (All Members should by now have received an email with an attached Invoice). Payment can be made by either: EFT to: CBA Nerang BSB: 064451, A/C No: 10246484 (Please make sure you Include Invoice No. or Name as Reference) or Mailing a cheque to: IFMR Australia, 145 Post Office Rd, Smythes Creek, Vic 3351 Available Now IFMR-Aust Sticker (Waterproof Vinyl) only $2.50 each +.60c Postage (Actual Size) Order Now from our Treasurer: ifmr-australia@bigpond.com
Claus and I went on the Christmas Toy Run from Victoria Park to Callington. A member of our Ro-tary club had his inlaws over from the UK. Eddy is a bike enthusiast and he and his wife (pillion) go on rallies around the UK and send us photos of them rugged up on their bike. Eddy joined us on the Toy Run and had, in his words a super day. I rode my Honda 400, Eddy rode Claus s Suzuki 1250, and Claus rode a Honda 800 Cross Over which was a demo bike borrowed form Micks Motor Cycles. Eddy sent us a thank you card with a photo of a motor bike and a great verse. Four Wheels move the body Two wheels move the Soul Anonymous Beverley Newsletter Editor