chapter “f” cavalry news1 chapter f members meeting 6:00-7:00pm, western sizzlin on 5720 roger...

CHAPTER “F” CAVALRY NEWS February/March 2016 Edition

REGION H – FORT SMITH, ARKANSAS

Join us for our monthly meeting the first Monday of each month.

We meet at Western Sizzlin’ on Rogers Ave in Fort Smith.

6:00 PM

SEE YOU THERE!

FROM YOUR CHAPTER DIRECTOR – BRUCE & RENEE ARMENTROUT

A message from Bruce:

From March 30--

It is with much sadness that I must report that my mother is in hospice and can pass away at any time. I am currently in West Virginia and looks like I will not be back in time for the meeting Monday night.

UPDATE:

Bruce’s mother passed away today, April 4th. Please keep him and all the family in your thoughts and prayers.

We want to hear from you!!!

If you have pictures from rides and/or trips you have taken that you would like to share with the chapter, please let us know.

Email [email protected] so we can share your adventures.

Wanted to let everyone know about the beautiful blacked out Goldwing I saw at the Fort Smith

Honda Power Sports. It’s a new 2014 for $19K. Big savings on a great bike…Lloyd Cole

*** PLEASE NOTE: credit goes to Don Lewis of Honda Power Sports for the History of the Goldwing article that was posted in our last newsletter. Sorry for that oversight.

FROM YOUR CHAPTER EDUCATOR---KEVIN MASSIE

Top Tips For Handling Heavy Touring Motorcycles - RIDE SMART

Man that barge–master your giant bike.

By John L. Stein Illustration by Ryan Inzana Posted March 25, 2016

“She’s mighty-mighty just lettin’ it all hang out.” Funny, but for years I thought that 1977

Commodores song was about a brick house. Well, think again because the curb weight of a Gold

Wing has swelled from 626 pounds in 1977 to 904 for ’16, while the latest Harley-Davidson

Road Glide Ultra weighs in at a hefty 916 pounds. Add 300 to 500 pounds for yourself, your

lady, and your luggage, and the whole, cheesy enchilada crushes the scale at well over a half ton.

Mighty indeed!

Physics says that when mass is doubled (a big touring bike is about twice the weight of the

average streetbike), the kinetic energy also doubles. It’s easy to guess this won’t help a touring

sled match either a Honda CBR650F (461 pounds) or H-D Street 500 (489 pounds) in agility.

So, with this much tonnage in play, how exactly do you save your butt in an emergency

situation? Practice skills, think ahead, and ride at speeds appropriate for the weight of your rig.

It’s easier to avoid trouble before it happens than fight for control.

Here are four tips for smooth sailing on that big, beautiful barge on wheels.

LOOK AHEAD. More mass can result in longer stopping distances; a longer wheelbase and

more relaxed steering rake widen turning radiuses; while loaded side bags increase overall width

http://www.cycleworld.com/authors/john-l-stein

http://www.cycleworld.com/harley-davidson/

http://www.cycleworld.com/touringsport-touring/

http://www.cycleworld.com/honda/

and can raise the center of gravity. Accordingly, increase following distances, engineer turns as

smooth, steady arcs, and continuously gauge gaps and distances.

PRACTICE A LOT. Motorcycle cops make maneuvering hogs look easy. Well, it isn’t, but it

will get easier if you practice tight maneuvers, sudden stops, and emergency-avoidance actions.

Make an unused parking lot your own to practice building crucial muscle memory.

CHOOSE SOLID FOOTGEAR. The last thing you need when propping up a half ton at a

stoplight or backing into the Riders’ Roost Motorcycle Resort is squishy and unsupportive

sneakers. Investing in good-quality boots (motorcycle-specific is even better) will help provide a

better foothold and superior protection.

GO ALL ARNOLD. Regular weight training for the legs, arms, chest, and core will help you

handle a half ton of teetering touring bike with authority. A couple of weeks into a program and

you’ll notice a difference.

WEDNESDAY LUNCH RIDES

5 Star Diner – March 2, 2016

Southern Grill, Ozark – March 16, 2016

***************************************************************************************************************************** *

Miss Anna’s

March 30, 2016

2016 MONTHLY EVENT SCHEDULE

If the weather is not conducive to riding, come in your car and still join in the fun!

February

1 Chapter F Members Meeting 6:00-7:00pm, Western Sizzlin on 5720 Roger Ave, Fort Smith, AR 3 Chapter F Lunch Ride: Contact Bruce 479-414-1089 or Mike Torres 479-461-7593

6 Chapter F Ride: Future 10 Chapter F Lunch Ride: Contact Bruce 479-414-1089 or Mike Torres 479-461-7593


20 Chapter F Lunch Ride: TBD 24 Chapter F Lunch Ride: Contact Bruce 479-414-1089 or Mike Torres 479-461-7593

27 Chapter F Ride: Future

March

5 Chapter F Ride: Future 7 Chapter F Members Meeting 6:00-7:00pm, Western Sizzlin on 5720 Roger Ave, Fort Smith, AR

9 Chapter F Lunch Ride: Contact Bruce 479-414-1089 or Mike Torres 479-461-7593 12 Chapter F Ride: Future

16 Chapter F Lunch Ride: Contact Bruce 479-414-1089 or Mike Torres 479-461-7593 19 Chapter F Ride: Future

23 Chapter F Lunch Ride: Contact Bruce 479-414-1089 or Mike Torres 479-461-7593 26 Chapter F Lunch Ride: TBD

30 Chapter F Lunch Ride: Contact Bruce 479-414-1089 or Mike Torres 479-461-7593 31-April 2 District Rally: Lafayette, LA Info

http://www.gwrra-la.org/District%20Convention.html

April 2 Chapter F Ride: Future


9 National 40 to Phoenix Ride: Info 9 Chapter F Ride: Future

13 Chapter F Lunch Ride: Contact Bruce 479-414-1089 or Mike Torres 479-461-7593 15-17 Rider ED Weekend: Conway, AR Info


21-23 Wild Hog Music Festival: Helena, AR 23 Chapter F Lunch Ride: TBD

22-24 District Rally: Hutchinson, KS Info 23 Chapter F Ride: Future

27 Chapter F Lunch Ride: Contact Bruce 479-414-1089 or Mike Torres 479-461-7593 29-30 Steel Horse Rally: Fort Smith, AR Info


May




19-21 Texas District Rally: Temple, TX Info 21 Chapter F Lunch Ride: TBD

25 Chapter F Lunch Ride: Contact Bruce 479-414-1089 or Mike Torres 479-461-7593 26-28 Arkansas District Rally: Harrison, AR Info


http://40tophoenix.org/

http://www.argwrra.org/Documents/2016_RED.pdf

http://www.gwrraks.com/kansas-district-rally.html

http://www.thesteelhorserally.com/

http://www.gwrra-tx.org/2016Rally.htm

http://www.argwrra.org/Flyers/2016_AR_District_Rally_Flyer.pdf

FEBRUARY

2nd Duane Mantzke

2nd Joe Milton

4th Cathy Yeager

6th Linda West

16th Lloyd Cole

28th Bruce Armentrout

28th Randy Tacket

MARCH

1st Allen Miller

1st Bill Brock

5th Robert Graves

11th Trish Jennings

12th Mike Torres

16th Rueben Jones

BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES

If your birthday or anniversary is missing or incorrect, please let us know. Contact [email protected]

FEB 14th Robert & Melissa Graves

February 20, 2016 Ride to Woody’s for lunch and Heavener, OK to The Runestone

ORDER YOUR F TROOP SHIRTS

Long Sleeve Tee’s $18.36 (printed) Razor Graffix 479-667-1518

Long Sleeve Dress Shirts $78.81 (embroidered) Creations

479-430-7301

Thanks Joe and Barbara!

FROM YOUR DISTRICT DIRECTOR- JOHNNY & MILDRED GLASSCOCK

February 2016

We had a good business meeting. Thank you to everyone that shared their Saturday with us for the

meeting. We hope that everyone took something back to their chapter to use at some time.

Spring is right around the corner!!! This is the month of love so don’t forget to buy some nice shiny

chrome or some sparkling lights for those wings.

A list of scheduled events are on the district web site, be sure to take a look and plan your chapter

monthly calendars. If there is somewhere you want to go and nobody from you chapter is interested be

sure to reach out to the other chapters in the district, I’m sure they would enjoy your company.

There isn’t much going on in February at this time. If your chapter has a chapter couple please let

Richard & Vicki know and maybe we can set up a Couples Luncheon like we have the past few years.

We enjoy spending a day with the chapter couples and answering any question they might have about

the District Couple Selection. We hope to have a district couple this year. It is very disappointing that

we do not have a district couple to be in the Region Selection this year. We promise being the District

Couple is FUN!!!

A couple of events to mark on your calendar are Region H Rally in Marshall, TX March 17-19 and LA

District Rally in Lafayette, LA March 31st -April 2nd. We look forward to seeing everyone at these events.

The district has some responsibilities at the region rally that we will need help with so please plan to

attend.

Come take the Arkansas’s Super Hero Adventure-the Arkansas District Rally flyer and registration and

hotel information is on the district webpage. There is an early bird special, register now and save

money. You can print the form and mail a check to Becky or use paypal.

March 2016

What is up with this crazy weather? Rally season officially starts this month!!! Hope to see everyone in Marshall, TX March 17 - 19th. You get a chance to win $250 for anyone that pre-registers. Arkansas will be in charge of the bike show, registration and security so please let me know who will be there so we can all help out and everyone still gets to enjoy the activities. Also there will be a talent show which is a Region Challenge-you can win a Region Cup to display for a year!! It will be a “Lip Sync Challenge”, watch the show on Spike TV and get some ideas. You will need 5 team members, doesn’t have to be from a chapter just 5 members from your district. So watch the show, get some ideas and Arkansas bring home that cup for the year!! Then we all head to Louisiana District Rally in Lafayette, LA March 30 – April 2nd. Get those rooms booked, if you want to ride with someone just send out an email and see whose going, what day they plan to leave and where they are staying. There is a lot of FUN to be had at both these events.

We don’t have anything to put in the director’s corner this month. We would really appreciate each director sending an article about you. We enjoy reading them, helps us get to know you even more. We really liked reading the couple that we’ve had in the newsletters the last couple of months. We want to Congratulate Keith and Mary Jo Cooper, AR-D on becoming Senior Chapter Directors. Thank you for having a chapter that enjoys to ride and have FUN. We are really proud of ALL our chapter directors and their teams. We understand the countless hours you plan and prepare thing for your chapters, the monthly reports that need to be done. We don’t want to discourage anyone from stepping up, there is some work that must be done but the FUN activities are so worth a night or so of paperwork. There has to be members willing to step up and take charge. So please consider filling those empty positions in your chapter, to become the next director or educator. Talk to the officer in the position so you can shadow them. Is there anyone in the district that would be interested in becoming a seminar instructor? We are trying to find out if we can hold a UDTP. The space is only limited to six and at this time there is nothing set in stone; we are just gathering information to see if there is a need. Please email me at [email protected] if you are interested. We also need instructors for the Arkansas District Rally so pick your favorite seminar and send to Mildred so we can get the schedule finalized. We need all areas Leadership training, Rider Education and Membership Enhancement. You can check with Buster and Richard & Vicki to see if they have any seminars already requested and let them know you are interested in helping. We appreciate the help!

RIDE OFTEN AND RIDE SAFE!!!!

Johnny & Mildred Glasscock,

Arkansas District Directors

1109 South Parkside

Blytheville, AR 72315

870-623-4578

[email protected]

FROM YOUR DEPUTY DIRECTOR - BY THE BOOK – JACK WAGNER

Achieving the Vision

Last month's By the Book article featured the GWRRA Mission and Vision statements. Most people look at mission and vision statements as something that is 'dreamed up' or only applicable at the higher levels of an organization. A vision statement defines the goals of an organization or what that organization wants to be. This month's article examines how what we do at the Chapter level supports achieving the Vision statement goals. The first element of the vision statement reads:

GWRRA (Gold Wing Road Riders Association) is a leader of associational organizations,

respected by its Members as well as its competitors and the communities it operates within.

What happens at the Chapter level that supports achievement of that goal? What about being role

models attempting to dispel the stereotype many people have toward motorcyclists? Wearing the proper

riding apparel, exhibiting safe riding practices, making Motorist Awareness presentations to outside

groups and distributing Motorist Awareness materials, working to recruit new members by 'spreading the

word' about our Association, proudly wearing Chapter apparel or vests when participating as a group in

community events, publicizing Chapter functions. These are just a few examples of the multitude of ways

a Chapter can be a positive influence on the perception of motorcycle 'clubs' within their community. The

training offered to GWRRA Members is something few other organizations offer.

The next element in the Vision statement reads:

GWRRA strives to offer the highest quality service to its Members.

Henry Ford used to say, “Service isn't always good, but if it isn't good, it can't be service”. To fully

appreciate how a Chapter provides service to the Members, we should first define 'service'. According to

the dictionary, service is the act of providing aid, or a helpful activity – and taking Mr. Ford's quote into

consideration, it has to be done well. Wow, that is exactly what we do and I believe we do it exceptionally

well! Members are always willing to help another Member – whether its a needed repair to their Goldwing

or help with a project around the house. In times of need, GWRRA Members are always there – even for

total strangers who called a phone number from the Gold Book. Chapter Educators provide potentially

life saving advice on safe riding plus helpful information on maintaining our motorcycles. Whether it be

Rider Ed training on improving our riding skills or Leadership Training benefiting our personal or

professional life, GWRRA training is always of the highest quality. For GWRRA Members, help, or

service, is never farther away than the nearest telephone.

I'm sure everyone can think of many other things which support these two Vision statement elements.

Next month, I'll continue the discussion of how the remaining Vision statements come into play at

Chapters.

Achieving the Vision continued

Last month we began our exploration of how the elements of the GWRRA Vision statements come into

play at the Chapter level. Lets continue that journey. The next portion of the Vision statement reads:

GWRRA is a family-oriented, non-religious, non-political association comprised of owners of

Honda Gold Wing and Valkyrie Motorcycles as well as non-Gold Wing owners, our Associate

Members.

The family-oriented part should be obvious. I frequently see Members bring their children (or

grandchildren) to Chapter events. GWRRA Members should conduct themselves in a manner that no

one would be embarrassed to bring their children/grandchildren along. Chapter events are usually held at

family friendly facilities.

We conduct our 'business' in a non-political environment – no voting; no election of officers; no Robert's

Rules of Order. Whenever there is voting there are naturally winners and losers – the 51% rule. What

about the Members on the 'losing' side? Will they go along, or be upset and leave? What about pressure

to vote with your friends, even if that's not what you really want? Do elections produce the best Officer?

Campaigning for office brings about favors or promises for votes. GWRRA appoints their officers based

on ability. When it comes to a decision, the Director and his team listen to input from all Members, then

make the appropriate decision. Our Chapter gatherings are social events conducted to provide

information and FUN – not meetings with formal report-outs and rules of order, motions, etc.

While we are like-minded when it comes to our love of motorcycling, we come from a multitude of

backgrounds. GWRRA isn't attempting to persuade or dissuade anyone from their religious beliefs –

religion is a very personal choice, not to be dictated by anyone. The statement serves only to create an

environment where no one feels obligated to participate in any religious expression that may make them

uncomfortable. IF we were to endorse or practice a particular religion, whose would prevail? The

Director? What happens when a new Director with different beliefs comes in? There is also potential

liability exposure when refusing to allow a Member the opportunity to express an alternate belief. The

best way to satisfy everyone is to ask for a moment of silence where all are free to quietly express

themselves as they see fit.

Religion and politics can be very polarizing subjects because people have very strong opinions about them. My Dad always said not to discuss either when at work or when visiting in someone's home. It shouldn’t have to be that way, but it is and until people can let go of the need to be right and believe only

their opinions are the right ones, these will continue to be very sensitive topics. It CAN BE very hard to change or open your mind to a different point of view.

We're supposed to be having FUN riding our motorcycles, being with our friends and their families.

Anything standing in the way of that is something we should all strive to avoid.

There are good reasons for the way things are.

The more you know, the better it gets! Jack Wagner GWRRA Deputy Director Region H Trainer

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