1

FROM YOUR CHAPTER DIRECTORS

Jim and Carol Rodgers

We took advantage of some nice

April weather with a Monday

breakfast ride to the Little Grill

in Delhi followed by a

backroads return ride. If we

had had a bigger turnout for

breakfast, Little Grill would

have had to become Big Grill to

seat everyone. We enjoyed the

members who were on Easter

vacation from work being able

to join us. Special thanks to the

Parkers for helping Jim & Re-

ba Berry line up our reservation.

Chapter D’s 22nd annual craw-

fish boil was held the following

Saturday. Thanks to Faye Alex-

ander for designing and getting

our commemorative T-shirts.

We still have a couple of extra

shirts that can be purchased if

you have an annual shirt collec-

tion from past boils that you

wish to add to. Thanks to eve-

ryone who brought the delicious

desserts and snacks and helped

with the cooking. The rain held

off to the end.

We finished out April with elev-

en members attending Region H

Rally in Marshall, TX. We had

the opportunity to brush up on

our Boogie Woogie dance steps

as well as attend exercise clas-

ses to help get ready for the

longer rides of the summer (or

fall if you are able to make the

Chapter D ride to the Northeast

in September).

We have been honored to be

past Chapter D couple of the

year for 2015 and to also repre-

sent LA District at this year’s

Region Rally in the COY com-

petition. Thanks to Chapter D

members who came to Marshall

to support us in the selection of

Region COY for next year.

John and Sarah Hoogendoorn

were selected to represent Re-

gion H for 2017. They are cer-

tainly deserving as they have

actively supported their Oklaho-

ma chapter which was just

named the new International

Chapter of the Year.

A couple of items were an-

nounced at the rally that every-

one should add to their next

year’s calendar as “must do”

items!

1. Louisiana Rally theme will

be “Welcome to the Krewe

of Eugeneioux”. Each chap-

ter will do a Mardi Gras

float to pull through the ho-

tel. Put your thinking cap

on and let’s do a very spe-

cial float to honor the

memory of Eugene Wyble.

2. Region Rally next year will

be in Paris. (No not France –

too hard to ride to rally

across the ocean) It’s Paris,

Texas which has lots of in-

teresting sights also. Should

be a great chance for a desti-

nation ride next Spring.

JIM & CAROL

Chapter Team and Upcoming Events

3

Chapter Educator 3

Chapter MEC 4

Sponsors 5

At the Gathering 6

District Director 7

Rally and Ride Pics 8

Inside this issue:

Region H LA District NELAWINGS Chapter D - Monroe May, 2017

Monthly Gathering

The Piccadilly Cafeteria

1st Thursday of each Month

2203 Louisville Ave.

Monroe, Louisiana

6:00 to eat, 6:45 to meet

2

Chapter “D”

Leadership Team

Chapter Directors

Jim and Carol Rodgers

lad.cd@nelawings.org Assistant Chapter Directors

OPEN

Lad.acd@nelawings.org Chapter Educator

Kathleen and Charles Parker

lad.re@nelawings.org Chapter Motorist Awareness

Lou Ann and Eugene Copeland

Lad.mad@nelawings.org

Treasurer

Lou Ann Copeland

lad.treasurer@nelawings.org

Newsletter Editors

Ride Coordinators

Reba and Jim Berry

lad.newsletter@nelawings.org

Membership Enhancement Coord. Couple of the Year

Jean and Eddie Peavy

lad.mec@nelawings.org

Check out the

District

Webpage for

events going on

throughout the

state.

TX District Rally - 5/18-20, Wichita Falls, TX KS District Rally - 6/23-24, Hutchinson, KS AR District Rally - 7/14-15, Eureka Springs WINGDING 39 - 8/29-9/2, Grapevine, TX OK District Rally - 9/28-30. Muskogee, OK

Upcoming Events Details at www.nelawings.org

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Chapter Educators Kathleen and Charles Parker

May is Motorist Motor-

cycle Awareness month

in Louisiana and in al-

most all other states. It

is our time to make the

public aware of motor-

cycles on the road, and

that they are supposed

to share it with us. Most

drivers do observe the

laws and do not set out

to run over us, but it on-

ly takes one to cause se-

vere injury or worse.

Since they won’t watch

for us, we have to al-

ways BOLO, or be on

the look out for them.

According to studies

done by various agen-

cies and insurance com-

panies, our biggest dan-

ger is meeting a car and

him making a left turn

in front of us. So, what

can we do as riders to

mitigate this danger?

You need to see him

and expect him to turn

in front of you is the

first thing. As you ride

and get experience, you

will learn to expect

these situations. Even in

my truck, I always look

for vehicles that may

turn in front of me. Of

course, the truck offers

more protection that a

motorcycle, but still not

a good thing. Look for

the obvious, intersec-

tions, especially if there

is a gap in traffic that

would allow the other

car to turn into you. I

would slow down, cov-

er my brakes, and get

ready to evade. Always

look for an out. Be ob-

servant of vehicles be-

hind you, so you can

maneuver if necessary.

Look at the wheels of

the car, if they are

turned, you can bet he is

going that way, maybe

in front of you. Expect

it, even if the other driv-

er is making eye contact

with you.

Now remember, we

never “lay the bike

down”; that is down-

right dumb.

Did you know that 50%

of bike accidents are

caused by alcohol?

Never ever drink and

drive a motorcycle, or

any vehicle for that

matter.

Let us help promote

Motorist Awareness

Month in Louisiana,

and help make our pas-

sion a little more safe.

Until next time,

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Hello everyone. Eddie and I hope you have beenriding some and enjoying the nice weather. Eddie and I attended the Region H Rally, although just for one day. We wish more of our chapter could have gone. Ten of us are going on the ride to Big Bend May 11. It’s not too late to signup. We are really look-ing forward to this trip. Jimmy Watley had knee surgery. We hope everything goes well and will be able to ride soon. Watch the calendar for our next breakfast ride and eat out. Well, until next time ride and be safe. Eddie and Jean

Things on the Horizon: Barksdale Airshow - May Davis Mountain/Big Bend Ride - May Peach Festival - Jun Memphis Bike Fest - Jul Wing Ding 39 - Aug/Sep Nova Scotia/NE Fall colors Ride - Sep/Oct Angola Prison Rodeo - Oct Cruising the Coast - Oct Region H Ride In - Nov Chapter Cruise Rider Ed Seminars

Things to celebrate in May: 5 - Cinco de Mayo 8 - V E Day 13 - Blame Someone Else Day 14 - Mother’s Day 19 - National Ride a Bike to Work Day

Chapter Membership Enhancement Coordinators Jean and Eddie Peavy

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6

At the April Gathering

50/25/25 Winners:

Jimmy and Fay

Happy Birthday:

Martin and Alan

Happy Anniversary:

Billy and Rita

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District Directors Brenda and Red Roussel

Hello Wingers

Hello Wingers

We are sad to say we lost the foundation of the Louisiana District. Eugene Wyble

passed on April 20th. Along with his wife Kathy, Eugene built the foundation for our

great District today. He will be greatly missed and we ask that you keep Kathy and her

family in your prayers. May God bless.

Well, on another note we had a great Louisiana Rally. Again, thanks to the members of

the Louisiana District, you guys made it happen. We had 400 guess, 13 vendors and a lot

of party time. We had 70 guests take the swamp tour and all said they enjoyed it. They

saw over 20 gators from 4 foot long up to 12 foot long.

We want to congratulate Chapter K for winning the Chapter of the Year and the Region

Newsletter of the year for 2016. Also, we want to welcome on board the 2017-2018

Couple of the Year, Bruce and Lauren Hurly from Chapter K. We want to thank Jim and

Carol Rodgers the outgoing Couple, and we will be supporting them in the Region Couple

Selection in Marshall, Texas.

Remember wear blue to support them and good luck. I would like to congratulate Fritz

and Johnette Beter and Brenda Roussel the 2016 individuals of the year. All deserved

the recognitions, they do anything asked of them and more.

Brenda and I were announced as the newest Senior District Directors of Region H. With-

out the whole District this could not have happened, thank you all. We hope we can con-

tinue to serve as we have in the past.

Region Rally is next week in Marshall, followed by the Texas Rally in Wichita Texas in

May. In District, Chapter E will hold a membership drive and MAD Day at LOEWS Honda

in Alexandria. This will be on May 20th, and if you can, attend and support them. Chap-

ter M’s Mudbug Rally is May 27th. Please support both of these Chapters. On June 3rd,

Chapter H will have its Progressive Dinner ride; they have sent a flyer to all of the

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Breakfast Club at Little Grill in Delhi

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Region H Rally

Eddie and Jean in search

of free ice cream. Jere doing his

George impersonation

Free lunch at H&W Honda:

Burgers, crawfish, boudin Jim and Reba receiving

Master Level 4

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Region H Rally Couple Selection

Although Jim and Carol were not selected as the new Region H Couple,

they did a great job representing both Chapter D and the LA District in

the selection process and throughout the entire year. Thanks, Jim and

Carol for your efforts as our 2016-2017 LA District Couple of the Year!

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2 3 4 Chapter

Gathering

5 6 Ride to Chapter C

and Barksdale

Airshow

7 8 Breakfast Club

9 10

11 Big Bend and TX

Rally Ride

12 Big Bend and

TX Rally Ride

13 Big Bend and TX

Rally Ride

14 Big Bend and

TX Rally Ride

15 Big Bend and

TX Rally Ride

16 Big Bend and

TX Rally Ride

17 Big Bend and TX

Rally Ride

18 Big Bend and TX

Rally Ride

19 Big Bend and

TX Rally Ride

20 Big Bend and TX

Rally Ride

21 Big Bend and

TX Rally Ride

22

23 24 25 26

27 Eat out at the

Burger Grind

28

29 30 31

M a y, 2 0 1 7

5/4 Chapter Gathering at

The Piccadilly

2203 Louisville Ave

Monroe, LA

6:00 to eat, 6:45 to meet.

5/8 Breakfast Club

Daily Press by the Mall

8:30

5/11-5/21

Big Bend/TX Rally

Depart USA Travel Center in

Calhoun, 8:00am

5/27

Eat Out

The Burger Grind

7tth Street WM

5:00

C h a p t e r D L o u i s i a n a D i s t r i c t

R e g i o n H

G W R R A