Gold Wing Road Riders Association CHAPTER OK-X DON T MISS OUR CHAPTER GATHERINGS! the They are held the second Saturday of each month, X Sirloin Stockade, 208 N. Perkins, Stillwater, Oklahoma 9 a.m. - Next: February 11, 2017 PLANNING SESSIONS: Last Friday of the month. Subway, 908 W. 6th, Stillwater 6:30 p.m. Come join us! Website: www.xchapterok.org for more information Stevens, Cramtons, Wagner, Cottons and Sadlers attended the Mid-Winter Rendezvous Jan. 20-21 in Kansas! F I L E S FRIENDS FOR FUN, SAFETY, Look What s INSIDE.. AND Officers 2 Ridin with Rex 12 Chapter Director 3 Cares & Concerns 13 Financial Meeting 4 February Calendar 14 ACD 5 Coming Events 15 Riders Education 6 Fliers Motorist Awareness 7 OK Chapters 20 MEC 8 OK District Team 21 Chapter Couple 9 By the Book 10 In the Spotlight 11 1 16-19 KNOWLEDGE FEB 2017
Char & Ron Sadler Chapter Directors Patches/Pins char.sadler@gmail.com 918 223-5688 Steve & Carolyn Cotton Assistant Chapter Directors Senior Educator, Chapter Director District Asst. Rider Educator scotton01@cox.net 405 285-5962 Linda & Bill Stevens Assistant Chapter Directors District Couple of the Year District Asst. MEC District CHOY Coordinator stevenslinda@hotmail.com 580 336-2390 CHAPTER X OFFICERS www.xchapterok.org Steve and Marie Wilson Chapter Treasurer District Assistant Directors kd5exm@gmail.com 405 338-5393 Robert and Linda Oberholzer Mem. Enhancement Coordinators Chapter Couple Newsletter Editor-firstos@att.net PLP Facilitator Photographer rdoperryusa@gmail.com 580 336-8030 Robert Fritsche Motorist Awareness Coordinator fritz501@aol.com 405 624-6217 Jack Wagner Deputy Director of D, H & K Region Trainer jwagner10@cox.net 405 359-7892 John & Shawn Irons OK District Directors Contingency Prizes ironsline3414@gmail.com 405 747-4618 David & Cindi Hudgins Webmaster Shirt Designer Parking Lot Facilitator cindihudgins@sbcglobal.net 918 223-7523 Larry and Shiela Cramton Ride Coordinators Parking Lot Facilitator cramtonstill@aol.com 405 747-7275 Janis & Bob Day Chapter of the Year Coordinator Cares & Concerns Scrapbook dayjanis@hotmail.com 405 880-1082 For your information: GWRRA Officers Directors Ray & Sandy Garris Region H Directors Jim & Reba Berry 2
Chattin with Char February 2017 Hello Chapter X Friends Last Saturday at the District Financial Meeting in Stroud the Chapters learned what level they had acquired in the Chapter of the Year program and I am happy to announce that Chapter X was awarded Gold. Thank you, Janis Day, for all your hard work keeping the records and the beautiful book you put together. We appreciate your many hours of dedication. We do not qualify for District or Region until 2018 as we were the International Chapter of the Year in 2014. I would like to congratulate Chapter K on being named the District Chapter of the Year and they will compete for District. They too had a very nice book which Sarah Hoogendoorn put together for their chapter. Would also like to congratulate Robert Jackson on being named Individual of the Year. He is the one that named Bill Stevens Mr. Wonderful so I suppose Robert will be Mr. Wonderful Two. All kidding aside it is an honor well deserved for Robert. February is beginning on the cold side but hopefully we will see some days which maybe we can take a ride. Everything we have scheduled for this month will be inside to keep us warm. We will be having our anniversary party on the 25 th and we certainly hope that will be a very warm and sunny day. Hope everyone will plan on coming to Cushing to help us celebrate our 22 nd year as a chapter. Hope everyone has a wonderful month! Char Sadler 3
CONGRATULATIONS TO JOHN & SHAWN! FINANCIAL MEETING - Stroud, Oklahoma January 28, 2017 Our own John and Shawn Irons were sworn in as the Oklahoma District Directors! They will make us proud for sure. Special thanks to the retiring Directors, Johnie and Gina Fredman. Job well done. Also a shout out to the new Individual of the Year, Robert Jackson, Chapter Director of Chapter M. Everyone knows Robert such a fun person! Chapter X was recognized as a Gold Level Chapter once again. Special thanks to Janis Day, our Chapter of the Year Coordinator, for all her hard work. Chapter K was announced as the OK Chapter of the Year and we send them our congratulations too! Johnie Fredman announced the District s State Park Ride winners. Out of all the packets sold only seven were completed. So the winners were drawn and three were Chapter X winners: Nedra Sanders $25, Jimmy Seward $50 and Bob & Janis Day $75 Great job guys! The Chapter Travel Awards were presented to Chapter K, 1st, Chapter X 2nd, Chapter B 3rd, and Chapter P 4th! This program was instigated by John Irons to encourage visitation through the Chapters and has been very successful. Thanks to John for bringing this program to Oklahoma. 4
Notes from Assistant Chapter Directors Bill and Linda Stevens February 2017 February brings several holidays including one of our favorites, Valentine s Day. So Happy Valentines Day to everyone! Take time to do something special for your sweetheart and smile! February for Chapter X is like always filled with many activities. Activities include CPR/First Aid training, training seminars, ice cream/dinner rides, a Valentine s party, and Chapter B visitation. Chapter X will host the first anniversary party of the year on February 25. You won t want to miss that United We Ride. Wear your red, white and blue and come join the fun! We do want to congratulate Chapter K for being named the 2016 Oklahoma District Chapter of the Year. Chapter X was named a Gold Level chapter. Janis Day did an excellent job of putting our packet together. Take time to thank her. We thank you very much Janis for all your time and effort on this project! Braum s dinner in Cushing! Nineteen X friends came! Planning Meeting Char led 20 others in making plans! Lots of input. 5
Winter is Still Here Rider Education Oklahoma Chapter X Stillwater, OK Steve and Carolyn Cotton February 2017 Most motorcycle owners love the feeling of the wind on their face and being out on the open road. However, when the weather turns cold, many pack up their bikes for the winter and wait it out. While a lot of riders don't want to venture out in snow and freezing temperatures, there are those who will ride no matter what, and riding in the winter can be a dangerous feat. If you find yourself taking your motorcycle out in the winter, here are a few safety tips to make the most out of your ride: Wrap up: One of the biggest dangers while riding in the winter is the cold. When the temperature dips below freezing, you are more vulnerable to frost bite. Fortunately, there are many different types of motorcycle gear to keep you warm. In the winter, the best way to stay warm is to dress in layers that will protect your skin. Be sure to have on comfortable base layers that cover your arms and legs fully. Synthetic materials are often better than cotton, which does not pull moisture away from the body when you sweat. On top of your base layers, add midlayers that can create an insulation barrier from the cold before putting on your jacket. Be sure to wear gloves, socks and a helmet that will keep you warm. Be visible: Some motorists have a hard time seeing motorcycles on the road in perfect weather, but in winter conditions it can be even more difficult. To make yourself as visible as possible to other drivers, be sure to keep your lights in good working condition. You can also wear reflective clothing on the outside of your layers that will help you stand out. Do not ride in a car's blind spot and make your intentions like turning or slowing down as obvious as possible. In addition to other cars having a harder time seeing you, your vision could be impaired by winter weather. Be aware of the road conditions and wear protective eye gear to see well. Check your tires: When the temperatures drop, your tires will also become colder. Many drivers already know that colder tires can lead to less traction on the road and a greater chance that you will slide. Be sure to check your tire pressure so that it will grip the road as best as possible. It is also important you check the tread to ensure your tires are not too worn down from riding before heading out. 6
When the road freezes and unfreezes, more hazards can crop up on the street. One of the biggest winter hazards for your bike is potholes. Potholes can be a major threat to motorcycles and driver safety, so be sure to keep an eye out and avoid running over them when possible. In addition to potholes, there are other obstacles that might be in the road. Remember that motorcycles were not designed for winter riding and you could run into trouble riding over salt and sand meant to melt ice. You could lose traction easily, so be wary of salt and sand littered on the road. How about enrolling in a Rider s course to improve your riding skills? Aggressively Ride Safe! Steve and Carolyn Cotton Chapter X Rider Educators DEFENSIVE DRIVING When some people get in to their vehicles, they kind of get in their own little world. They forget that they are at the controls of a very dangerous machine that could even be a weapon. Some are overly cautious and can be a burden to other drivers. In turn, the other drivers can react and take chances that they might not normally do. Some people can t walk and chew gum at the same time but will try to multi-task will at the controls of their vehicle going down the highway at 70 mph. Others have their earbuds in and are messing with their phone at the same time. Make-up is being put on, newspapers are read, shaving is done, and the list goes on and on. It is truly amazing the things that are done while operating a vehicle. While driving my car, trucks, and especially when towing my trailers, I muster all the defensive skills I know of. Watching and paying attention to the vehicles behind and on the sides of me as well as in front. Also scanning the traffic further ahead of me for people changing lanes with or without using turn signals. Also watching for brake lights to alert me that traffic might be slowing or other traffic merging in or exiting off. Most of the time while riding our bikes and trikes, we try to stay out of heavy traffic areas. But, face it, even when going down that deserted road and you meet that lone vehicle closing on you at a speed of 110 to 140 mph, you don t know what is going on behind that steering wheel. Fritz MOTORIST AWARENESS Robert Fritsche Chapter MA Coordinator February, 2017 7
MEMBERSHIP ENHANCEMENT COORDINATORS Robert & Linda Oberholzer February, 2017 MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS Here are more benefits you may not know that are available for GWRRA Members. For more information on any of these benefits please visit GWRRA.org Still more benefits next month! Robert and Linda Chapter X Website, www.xchapterok.org We also have a Facebook page the Chapter enjoys. Please send me any news, articles and/or photos you would like to have in the newsletter! firstos@att.net 8
CHAPTER COUPLE 2017 Robert and Linda Oberholzer The anniversaries that Oklahoma Chapters celebrate are ready to begin, starting with our own February 25th! They are scheduled all through August and along the way are rallies everywhere to attend ending in September! And then there are those fall rides we all like to ride. We are ready! We have began making hotel reservations and filling out those registration forms. We always make sure to make the hotel arrangements first, as we like to stay at the host hotels where all the action is and if there is the slightest chance we re going, we ll book, you can almost always cancel if something comes up that you can t attend. You can send in the registrations a little later, just don t forget. We love attending all these functions, love to ride, seeing friends, and seeing new places along the way, after all, it s the journey, right? Get your hotel reservations done soon, you ll be glad you did! Robert and Linda Save those pull tabs for The Ronald McDonald House Our fellow chapters will hopefully be bringing in many pull tabs for the contest at our anniversary! 9
By the Book By: Jack Wagner Deputy Director Region H Trainer Spreading the News! Newsletters inform Members and Officers of what s going on. No matter how plain or fancy, the main purpose is to communicate with the Members. There are a few 'rules' for newsletters. Chapter participants cannot be charged to receive a newsletter. Members should not be asked for a contribution to receive a newsletter. Newsletter costs should be charged off as an operating expense to the Chapter and paid for from the Chapter operating funds. It should be available to all GWRRA Members shown on your ARL. The format you choose is up to you, but the heading of the newsletter must have the Chapter name and the GWRRA logo on it to indicate that it is a GWRRA newsletter. Your Region and District designation should also be visible, along with the month and year. Newsletters provide you an opportunity to talk with the Members on a one-to-one basis and is never to be used as a platform for personal tirades or politicking for, or against, a particular cause. Information from Home Office, Region and District should be included to assist them in understanding the concept, goals and workings of GWRRA. Other contributions should come from folks like your Rider Educator with items on safety. Members may submit interesting items about trips, experiences, anniversaries, etc. All Chapters within a District are encouraged to exchange newsletters. Copies should also be sent to your District, Region and Deputy Director. Newsletters should be distributed at least monthly to all Chapter participants. Sometimes, Chapters piggy -back their information with a sister-chapter or participate in a District publication for more efficient use of resources. This is acceptable. We know many distribute newsletters through email or on your web sites; but we must remember there are those who do not have access to the Internet. Therefore, hard copies of newsletters should be mailed to those Members. You should also have copies available at your Chapter gatherings for any visitors or guests. Newsletter editors are the heroes of our Association. Please thank them for their efforts and help them out by providing articles or pictures. The more you know, the better it gets! Jack 10
Dennis & Betty Jefferies In the mid-70 s as gas prices started going up, I purchased my first motorcycle, a Honda CB360. Two years later I bought a CB550, added a faring, saddlebags and trunk. Betty and I rode to Nashville in the summer heat and came home in the rain. I mainly rode from Cushing to Perkins for work when the temperature was above 50 degrees. I retired from riding as work pay slowly caught up with gas prices. In 2008 wanting to ride again I purchased a Honda 250 and then a 1300. We were looking for good people to ride with and found them at Chapter X in Stillwater joining GWRRA in 2011. My ship came in so I traded my 1300 and the ship s cargo for a yellow 2010 Gold Wing. In 2014 I triked it and trimmed with purple. Since joining Chapter X, Betty and I have been to four international Gold Wing conventions and several region and state rallies. Along with chapter rides and local trips, we have ridden almost 50,000 miles in 46 states. 11
Riding with REX Hello Well, I am still staying with Ron and Char, I have never stayed this long in one place before. In January on the spur of the moment, we went to Jacksonville, FL. to see all the family there. Avery was spending the month with Brian, his dad, and Kelly. Char had been moping around since Christmas and I think it was because she wanted to go to Florida to see the kids. She sure did get around fast when Ron said we would go. I got to sit right up between them all the way to Jacksonville! When we got there, it was warm but a couple of days later it was cold, in the 40 s, but after that it was warm. Sure, was glad we were there when it snowed in Cushing. I really don t like snow, ice and cold weather. I like that good winter temperature in the 70 s like it is in Florida. One day we went to the beach to check out how much damage they had from the hurricane they had last year. We saw lots of the walkways closed for repair but not too much damage that we could see. Avery and I got our picture taken playing in the sand. It was a windy day so we did not stay too long. I wanted to get in the water but Ron said the Atlantic is cold in the summer and it was very cold in the winter. When we got the call from home that a big ice storm was coming Ron thought we should leave a few days early but Char did not want to leave as she was enjoying Avery and Brian. She does not get to see them enough and did not want to leave. We stayed until Thursday morning. At 5am we were headed home to beat the ice. I did not think we were ever going to stop, Ron drove 835 miles that day before we stopped for the night. We were back on the road at 6am the next morning, arrived in Cushing before noon. Well, as we all know the ice storm did not happen, that is a good thing! If it had we were home, off the road and ready. I am not sure who I will go home with this month but it will be another adventure. I will miss the little dog and that nice big chair I got to sit in to watch TV. Rex I X When the Sadlers went to Braum s in Cushing I got to listen to Marie and Karen catching up on news! 12
FERUARY BIRTHDAYS GWRRA FEBRUARY Robert Fritsche Linda Stevens 16th 22nd ANNIVERSARIES John & Linda Hoover 2007 Gene Colclasure 2011 Jimmy Seward 2012 Please keep Randy Hart, Vernon Brown, Jerry Sadler, Larry Corr, FEBRUARY ANNIVERSARIES Lori Hamilton s father and our Region Director, Jim Berry in your thoughts and prayers. None Our GATHERING in January was cancelled because of ice storm predictions. 13
14
2017 February 25 Chapter X Anniversary, Cushing March 5 Chapter E Anniversary, Jenks March 11 Chapter M Anniversary, Muskogee March 29-April 1 LA District Rally, Lafayette April 8 OK District Picnic/Campout, Muskogee April 22 Chapter K Anniversary, Ponca City April 27-29 Region H Rally, Marshall, TX May 6 Chapter N Anniversary, Goldsby May 18-20 TX District Rally, Wichita Falls June 1-3 Missouri Rally, Branson June 22-24 KS District Rally, Hutchinson July 13-15 AR District Rally, Eureka Springs July 22 Chapter E Scavenger Hunt, Tulsa Aug 12 Chapter E Bug Gut Run, Sand Springs Aug 19 Chapter P Anniversary, Claremore Aug 29-Sept.2 Wing Ding, Grapevine, TX Sept 28-30 OK District Rally, Muskogee 15
16
17
18
19
Directors & Meeting Information Oklahoma Chapter Directors Chapter B Carol Haynes 405-255-3589 carouselranch@hotmail.com Gathering: 4 th Tuesday at Golden Corral, 2513 N. Harrison, Shawnee OK, meet at 7pm Chapter E Harry Sanders 918-402-9170 hsanders96@yahoo.com Gathering: 2 nd Tuesday at Golden Corral, 8144 E. 21 st St., Tulsa OK, meet at 7pm Chapter G Jim & Binnie Gullane 918-331-5859 S52jim@aol.com Gathering: 1 st Tuesday at Montana Mikes Steakhouse, 3825 S.E. Adams Rd., Bartlesville OK, meet at 7pm Chapter I Dennis & Ann Mullins 918 760-0374 meathead9337@gmail.com Gathering: 4 th Monday at East China Buffet, 13202 S. Memorial Dr., Bixby OK, meet at 7pm Chapter J Bill Duvall 405 348-0754 wduvall@sbcglobal.net Gathering: 3 rd Thursday at Johnnies Charcoal Broiler, 33 E. 33 rd, Edmond OK, meet at 7:15pm Chapter K Lee & Cindy Headrick 580-716-1385 jinglesdog101@yahoo.com Gathering: 2 nd Thursday at Pizza Hut in Ponca City, meet at 7pm Chapter L Max Rowlett 580 704-8290 maxer50@aol.com Gathering: 1 st Monday at Golden Corral in Lawton OK, meet at 7:30pm Chapter M Robert & Angela Jackson 918-260-5000 rj3ballman@gmail.com Gathering: 2 nd Thursday at Hamlin s El Toro, 3731 W. Okmulgee, Muskogee, OK, meet at 7pm Chapter N Mark & Cindy Hoover 405-834-7516 soonerfan1962@hotmail.com Gathering: 3 rd Tuesday at Libby s Café, 111 E. Center Street, Goldsby, OK, meet at 7pm Chapter P Bobby & Dianah Hall 918 706-9632 halehome@sbcglobal.net Gathering: 2 nd Monday at Pizza Hut, 600 Lynn Riggs Blvd., Claremore OK, meet at 7pm Chapter X Char and Ron Sadler 918-223-5688 char.sadler@gmail.com Gathering: 2 nd Saturday at Sirloin Stockade, 208 N. Perkins Rd., Stillwater OK, meet at 9AM 20
21