VOLUME 14- ISSUE 4 GWRRA Region D - Michigan District Chapter A-2 www/gwrra-mi.org/chapter/a2 The A2 Team Chapter Directors Bruce & Melissa Thayer Bruce: 734-740-7847 Melissa: 734-395-9213 Asst. Chapter Directors Kim & Dawn Kay Kim: 517-285-4753 Dawn: 517-285-4465 Chapter Educators Bill & Peggy Bower Treasurer Ron Minor Membership Enhancement Corky Lillie Ride Coordinator Bruce Thayer Goodie Sales Robin Lillie Brag Book Carol Massengill Sunshine Girl Barb Williams Couple of the Year 2009 Jerry & Kathy Minor Newsletter Editor/ Web Mistress Kathy Minor 50/50 Ticket Sales Larry & Mary Bigenho Fun Run Coordinators Kim & Dawn Kay Public Relations Coordinator Lyle Tindall Continued on Page 2 Bruce and Melissa Thayer First off, we hope Corky Lillie is back in the saddle real soon after his medicallyinduced spontaneous get-off while riding his GL-1500 after leaving the Thunder Rolls ceremony in Belleville on Memorial Day. Hurry back soon cuz we miss you, Corky! We had a very enjoyable Spring Ride around the thumb last month. There were 14 A2 members on 9 bikes, including Jerry & Kathy Minor, Bill & Ronda Keedle, Bob Shafe & Barb Williams, Ron Minor, Bill & Peggy Bower, Kim & Dawn Kay, and Larry Bigenho. We had lunch in Frankenmuth after a couple of early delays en route. Then after seeing the lighthouse at Pointe aux Barques, we checked in at the Econo Lodge in Bad Axe. We drove to dinner in Ruth, Michigan, past a windmill farm that was pretty awesome 49 windmills cranking out enough electricity to power 20,000 homes. The Farmer s Tavern in Ruth was an adventure in itself. The owner gave us all black Harley Davidson bandannas. She asked us several times where we were from. And she told us to come back any time! On Sunday we stopped at the lighthouse at Port Sanilac. It was closed (opens on Memorial Day) but we got some good pictures. Before we left the lighthouse, Ron Minor s trike had a rectal procedure performed by Larry (no more details here). We were a bit disappointed that the Swinging Bridge in Caseville was under repair, so we couldn t walk, or ride our bikes, across it. Next time you are in Caseville be sure to check it out. All in all, it was a very successful trip. And we managed a couple of parking lot practices just for Ronda! June brings a couple of fun runs at neighboring chapters, W2 and D2. W2 s First Birthday is June 7 th in Wayne. Action starts at noon. The Strawberry Festival Parade in Belleville is on June 20 th. Parade starts at 11:00am. We plan to be in the line-up by 10:00am or earlier. Watch your email for later updates, please. Then Chapter D2 s Ride to Hell on June 28 th caps off the month. There s something about going to Hell that we just can t resist! We hope you ll join us for the fun! And while we are talking about fun, be sure to register for the Michigan District Rally in West Branch. Dates are July 30 to August 1. Registration forms are available on the District website, or contact us and we ll print one for you. Camping is on site and there are good roads in the area to ride. Let s make it a weekend to remember! Ride Safe, Have FUN! PAGE 1
The A2 Team Continued from Page 1 Road Captains (listed alphabetically) Larry Bigenho Bill & Peggy Bower Ken Burkhalter Bill & Ronda Keedle Corky & Robin Lillie Jim Massengill Jerry & Kathy Minor Ron Minor Big Bob Morgan Russ & George Peabody Bob Shafe Bruce Thayer Melissa Thayer Tim Towler Wayne Waters Region D Directors Ron & Dianna Miller Happy Anniversary to: Ken & Nancy Burkhalter June 16 Russ & George Peabody June 25 Happy Birthday to: Big Bob Morgan June 3 Janet Klein June 11 District Directors Tom & Shelly Rushman Asst. District Directors Brad & Connie Garner Couples of the Year International: Ken & Rita Moffitt (Michigan) Region D: Brad & Connie Garner (Chapter W) Michigan District: Dick & Ginny Beardsley (Chapter E) Chapter A2: Jerry & Kathy Minor Chapter A2 Mascot Grape Ape JUNE 4 Harvest Moon 5484 W. Michigan Ave, Ypsilanti 734-434-8100 11 J Neil s Mongolian Grille 200 W Michigan Ave, Ypsilanti 734-544-9960 18 Zhu New Century Buffet 4108 E Grand River Ave, Howell 517-548-6888 25 Whitmore Lake Tavern 9838 Main St, Whitmore Lake 734-449-5011 THANK YOU to: Bob Shafe for coordinating the June dinner runs. Lyle Tindall has volunteered to coordinate the dinner funs for July. Let Bruce and Melissa know if there s a month that you d like to coordinate the dinner runs for. During_the_Riding_Season (approximately April through October), we meet every Thursday evening at 6:00 PM. We leave at 6:30 PM and ride in formation to the designated restaurant. Unless otherwise noted all dinner runs begin in the parking lot behind McDonald's at 3811 (East side of) Carpenter Rd, Pittsfield Twp, 48197, 1/4 mile north of intersection of Carpenter & Ellsworth. During_the_"off"_Season (approximately November through March) we meet at the designated restaurant every Thursday evening at 6:30 PM. All Bikers and Bikes are welcome. Dinner runs do not require membership. PAGE 2
Bill & Peggy Bower June is here and with it comes the first day of summer on the 21 st along with the many challenges it presents. The first of these challenges is the condition of our roads. The frost has left the ground. Many gravel roads are in need of some desperate attention. The roads will be graded and then sprayed with some type of product to keep the dust down; unfortunately, when the product is tracked onto paved roads, it makes them slick. Keep your eyes open for this condition. It generally happens at least twice a year. There are also patching crews out and about making pot holes into launching ramps. And, there may be road closures that may put people in a bad mood causing short tempers and way too many knuckleheads on the roads. No, I am not referring to a Harley Davison s engine type. I am referring to the knucklehead that has to jump in front of you and then slam on his brakes; or move over into your lane causing you to slam on your brakes to make room for them. The same holds true for those knuckleheads that have to tailgate. That 3 seconds that they re going to save must mean a lot to them. Our life means a lot more to us. June is also graduation time, so be extra careful. There s no telling how many party goers will be driving that shouldn t be. There will also be many new drivers driving their own cars, and they are fearless. Some of the more experienced drivers not only talk on their cell phones, they text, too. Others may shave, put on lipstick, read the morning paper, eat a meal or look at a map to find directions to their destination. Some people just love to multitask, and they don t think that there is a thing wrong with it. I know that you have seen drivers doing some of these things while going down the road. No don t tell me, you had to look in your inside rear view mirror to see some of those actions. May, which is motorcycle awareness month, has come and gone. Its focus was to promote drivers to be aware of motorcycles. January thru December is also an awareness period. Its focus is to promote motorcyclists to be aware of all other vehicles. Always ride safely and be aware of your surroundings. TILL NEXT TIME HAVE FUN RIDE SAFE PAGE 3
A2 ActivitySched-2009.doc; Revised: 5/27/09 January 10 A2 Gathering Paula s 9:00am 17 **Ch. H2 Anniversary Party 24 Medic First Aid Fortis Academy 25 SE Section Meeting, Britton MI (Garners) 31 Medic First Aid Fortis Academy February 6-7 MI Wingless Weekend, Bay City Doubletree 8 Ch. F Wingless Ice Cream Run 13 14 OH Cabin Fever 14 A2 Gathering Paula s 9:00am 20 21 IN Winter Rendezvous March 5 8 **Ch. J Mall Show, Jackson Crossing Mall 14 **Ch. J Polar Bear Run, Jackson MI 14 A2 Gathering Paula s 5:00pm 28 Region D Work Shop, Toledo OH April 4 5 April Officer's Meeting, Bay City Doubletree CHANGE => 18 A2 Gathering Paula s 5:00pm < = = = NOTE CHANGE 18 **Ch. J Rootin' Tootin' Rodeo Round-Up 19 **Ch. W Annual Breakfast 25 Ch. E Anniversary Party 26 A2 Chapter PLP May 2 3 Country Choppers Open House, Cygnet OH Bologna Run (OH-W2) 3 Ch. A Blessing of the Bikers 9 A2 Gathering Paula s 5:00pm 16 17 A2 Spring Ride 17 Ch. L Picnic in the Park 25 Thunder Rolls in Belleville (WCCC Start) 28 30 IN Spring Wing Warm Up, Decatur Cty. Fairgrounds, Greensburg IN 30 Road Captain Seminar (Rider Ed) June 7 **Ch. W2 1st Birthday Party 11 13 OH Buckeye Rally 13 A2 Gathering Paula s 5:00pm 20 Belleville Strawberry Festival Parade 20 Ch. G2 Chicken Run 28 Ch. D2 Ride to Hell July 2 5 Wing Ding 31, Tulsa OK 11 A2 Gathering Paula s 5:00pm 25 Ch. Y Camp-Out 30 8/1 MI District Rally, West Branch MI August 8 Ch. S2 BBQ 8 A2 Gathering Paula s 5:00pm 9 Ch. A2 Fun Run Wings Around Ann Arbor, Nicholson's 15 Ch. N Pizza in the Park, Muskegon MI 16 **Ch. C Fun Run, Monroe MI 22 Ch. G Midnight Ride 23 PBTF Ride for Kids 30 A2 Picnic September 5 Ch. U2 Anniversary Party 12 A2 Gathering Paula s 5:00pm 13 **Ch. W Toy Run, Adrian MI 17 19 Region D Rally, Celina OH 26 A2 Cider Mill Run 27 Ch. H Anniversary Picnic October 3 Ch. D Hosting DRJ 10 A2 Gathering Paula s 5:00pm 17 18 A2 Color Run 31 Fall Officer's Meeting, Bay City Doubletree 31 Ch. V Anniversary Party November 9 A2 Gathering Paula s 5:00pm December 5 (Tent) Ch. A2 Christmas Party 4:00pm ** Chapter is in our Section (ADD = Brad & Connie Garner) ************************************************** **** Additional items to be added when dates are known: ************************************************** **** Rainbow Connection Ticket Sales & Recruiting Nicholson s Open House Events Ticket Sales & Recruiting Other activities not yet advertised! PAGE 4
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Part of the 300+ motorcycles Pictures are from Thunder Rolls in Belleville Memorial Day May 25, 2009 Line-up shots are at Wayne County Community College. Others are in Belleville, MI at the Veteran's Memorial. Some A2 members and friends Saddling up for the ride Color guard presenting the colors. Veteran's Memorial in Belleville. PAGE 7
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