How do I join GWRRA? GWRRA has three types of membership available. An Individual Full Membership is for an owner/operator of a Gold Wing or Valkyrie. An Individual Associate Membership is for an owner/operator of any other motorcycle or for non-riders. A Family Membership (Full or Associate) includes spouses and dependents in the same household of the Member. All types of membership offer many special benefits which can be reviewed on the www.GWRRA.org website. GWRAA has a worldwide network of Chapters, so you are never far from "home" even when you're on the road. How do I become a Member of Chapter A? There is no cost or formal application required to become a participating Member. In addition to maintaining current membership in GWRAA, we also ask that you fill out an information form for our records. As a Member of A, you will be given the latest updates on area, regional, district, and national events. You will also be able to participate in a variety of activities, social, charitable, educational, and, most of all, FUN! We expect you to treat people with dignity and respect. How do I get the Chapter Newsletter? For participating Members (those who have attended a Chapter function in the previous three months) a notice that the newsletter has been posted to the L2 website will be sent to the email address given on the information sheet. For those who do not have online capability, a copy will be mailed to the street address given on the information sheet. What are the Chapter colors? Lake Norman Wings Chapter colors are Lime Green shirts or Blue denim shirts, and distinguish L2 Members from others whenever we're on a ride or participating in another event. You may also notice that many Members wear vests to display GWRRA patches, Chapter patches, Rider Education patches, and event pins. GWRRA and Chapter patches are available for purchase at the Chapter meeting; embroidered race check shirts and Chapter vests may also be ordered. In addition to patches, each Chapter also sells visitation bars when you visit. What is the Chapter Visitation Program? North Carolina provides each Chapter Director (CD) with Chapter Visitation Cards. When you visit any other Chapter for the first time in the year, have the CD of the Chapter sign and date your card. At the end of the year, cards are turned in to the NC District by all the CDs. Individuals who have visited at least 16 Chapters will receive a certificate from NC. The Chapter who has the most cumulative visits will receive $100.00 at the Operations Meeting. The individual who has the most visits will receive $200.00 at the Operations Meeting. What is the Gold Book? The Gold Book is an exclusive international GWRRA service directory. It lists by state and city GWRRA Members who have identified the assistance that they are willing and able to provide to other Members, to include telephone calls, emergency transport of a motorcycle, tools, lodging or local tour guide services. Also included is a Honda dealer network listing. What are "50/50" Tickets? As a way for the Chapter to obtain monies for expenses, we sell tickets at our meetings. The Chapter retains 50% of the monies collected, and the other 50% is given away by drawing ticket(s). This is voluntary, and you are not obliged to purchase tickets. What is the Chapter money used for? The CD uses Chapter funds for operating expenses of the Chapter. Expenses include Chapter chartering fees, staff and officer training meeting expenses, newsletters, postage, and other supplies necessary for Chapter operations. A financial report is submitted annually thru the District Director to GWRRA. What is a Chapter Ride? A GWRRA sanctioned ride must have a Chapter Officer present. A Chapter ride that has not been submitted for GWRRA approval/sanction does not require a Chapter Officer to be present. All ride participants are reminded of the importance of wearing a helmet and other appropriate riding apparel. What is a "Hump Day" Ride? We schedule Wednesday rides "Hump Day", for those who are retired and have a lot of FREE time, or for those who have Wednesday as a day off during the week. This gives everyone a chance to ride as a group. What is a Dinner Ride? Each month we pick a favorite restaurant of a Chapter member and go to that restaurant to eat on a chosen night and time. What is a "Ride Pot"? On every sanctioned ride we collect $1.00 from everyone that attended the ride. Then at the next gathering we put all the "Ride Pot" money together and for every ride you went on a ticket is put in for the drawing of the money. What CB Radio Channel do I use? Chapter L2 normally uses Channel 25 for communicating directions, turns, lane changes and other traffic information to the group. If channel 25 is not to be used, the designated channel will be stated to all riders during the pre-ride meeting. If significant interfering CB traffic occurs during the course of a ride, the leader will announce a change while enroute. What are the Group Riding Guidelines? 1. Arrive at the designated meeting place with a full gas tank and an empty bladder, dressed for the weather. A lead rider and a drag rider with CB-equipped motorcycles will be identified for each group of motorcycles. 2. Ride within your capabilities, and take responsibility for your own safety. Don't just blindly follow the group check traffic before lane changes or other maneuvers. If you're not comfortable at the current speed, let the leader know. It is the responsibility of the leader to insure that all riders ride within the limits of his/her ability. If you're not comfortable, then you're not having fun and riding safely. 3. Individual motorcycles will ride in staggered formation within one lane. Trikes and sidecars will stagger as the situation permits, but will usually be last and occupy both the right and left tracks in the lanes. While in motion at highway speeds, a minimum two second [split] interval between motorcycles riding in the same track will be observed. The interval may be less when in slow traffic. When stopped at a traffic light or stop sign, motorcycles should pull abreast, directly behind the motorcycle being followed. While in motion, do not pass or pull up even with another motorcycle. 4. If someone other than the leader pulls out of the formation, do not follow. The drag motorcycle rider will stop and provide assistance. 5. When passing other vehicles on a two lane highway, each motorcycle should pass in turn. The drag rider will inform the leader when the group has passed and has resumed formation. 6. Relax and enjoy the ride getting there is the fun of it all. What is the Rider Education Program? The GWRRA Rider Education Program is the most critical element of the organization. The existence of a highly successful education and safety programs allows GWRRA to maintain its tax-exempt status while providing outstanding training for the Members. There are four progressive levels of Rider Education with training requirements and standards for both Riders and Co-Riders. The four levels are: Level I Safety by Commitment Level II Safety by Education Level III Safety by Preparedness Level IV Safety by enhanced Preparedness and Experience To view a complete and up-to-date listing of the levels and level requirements please contact the Chapter A Rider Educator or visit the GWRRA website. In addition to the training requirements for the four levels above, there are various training courses such as the Road Captain Course offered through the Rider Education Program. When do you do your Ride Planning? Chapter A conducts Ride Planning Meetings on a Quarterly Basis, and the Ride Calendar is set for the upcoming three months. Your participation and input is highly encouraged. If you cannot attend the Ride Planning Meeting, please write down the rides that you are interested in doing or the places you would like to visit and pass the note to the Ride Coordinator or other Chapter Officer. We may not get there in the next quarter, but we will get there eventually. I'd like to help what could I do? We'd appreciate any assistance that you are willing to provide. In addition to the duties of Chapter Officers and support staff, there are many other functions that require participation of Members to be successful. You can assist the staff during the monthly meetings in many ways fill in for a missing support staff member by selling 50/50 tickets, giving out door prize tickets, greeting Members and visitors and helping them sign in, or handing out door prizes. You can volunteer to be the lead or drag rider of a Chapter ride if you are a Road Captain. You can suggest upcoming rides to visit other Chapters and events that aren't on the ride calendar. You can write an article for the monthly newsletter about a ride, a safety tip, a new ice cream shop opening, or any other information that would be of interest to your fellow Chapter A Members. Your input is valuable please give us feedback and let us know if we are meeting your needs as a Chapter. Identify areas that you feel need improvement, and suggest a possible solution to a Chapter A Staff Officer. |
