About the GWRRA
The Gold Wing Road Riders Association (GWRRA) is a non-profit international organization based in Phoenix, AZ. With more than 70,000 members in all 50 states and over 45 foreign countries, GWRRA was chartered in 1977 to provide an avenue for mutual enjoyment of the American-made Honda Gold Wing motorcycle. Membership is not limited to only Gold Wing owners. In fact, some of our more active participants, as members are called, do not even own a motorcycle. They just enjoy being around them, and the people who do ride. Participants tend to be in the 40+ age bracket, and are not members of any one Chapter, rather, they are participants in all Chapters.
GWRRA is organized by Region, District (State), and Chapter. The North Carolina District is part of Region "N" - The Appalachian Region - (Virginia, North Carolina, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee) and has 40 Chapters as of 2009 in all areas of the state.
Each year, the GWRRA national rally, "Wing Ding" as it is called, is held and will draw some 13,000+ attendees. Also each year, the North Carolina District Rally ("Wings Over the Smokies") near Asheville will draw in excess of 5,000 people, over 100 vendors catering to motorcyclists, and will be giving away a fully dressed (with chrome & accessories) brand new Gold Wing and a matching trailer! Obtain/Download and read the annual Wings Over The Smokies registration flier for full details.
Chapters are the GWRRA's basic unit of organization. They hold monthly meetings throughout the year. Each Chapter has a Director (president) and a staff of volunteer officers who must adhere to fairly stringent national guidelines for operation of the organization. Chapters provide the means for participants to meet and plan activities to increase their enjoyment of riding, and generally hold fund raising activities for local charities and provide services for local events.
The GWRRA encourages rider safety by promoting the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) Rider Education Programs. Each chapter has an Educator whose job it is to oversee local participation in the GWRRA Rider Education Program , and provide safety instruction at our Chapter get-togethers. Nationally in 1994, through 4,918 seminars and riding courses, the GWRRA reached 145,645 motorcyclists with its message of motorcycle safety. GWRRA is continually recognized by the MSF for its efforts.
Who is/are GWRRA? We are your next door neighbor. Your associate at work. Your doctor. Your child's teacher. People from all walks of life have come together to make the GWRRA what it is an organization that makes no social or political demands on its participants, other than to allow them the opportunity to have the time of their life, enjoying the most exciting means of transportation ever invented.
Sourced from the NC District page http://www.gwrranc.org/gwrra.htm
