G OLD W ING R OAD R IDERS A SSOCIATION
Southeast Region “A”
DECEMBER 2011
SOUTH CAROLINA DISTRICT NEWS
F R I E N D S F O R F U N, S A F E T Y A N D K N OW L E D G E
District Director
Charles Coleman
Region ‘A’ Director
Bob & Nancy Shrader
Travelers Rest, SC
Ph: 864-834-5170 (cell)
[email protected]
South Carolina
District TEAM
District Director
Charles Coleman • 864-834-5170
Assistant Dist Directors
Buddy & Kim Summer • 803-924-2851
Joe & Nadine Cooper • 843-518-3300
John & Karen Higgins• 864-437-0657
Phil & Judy Stone • 803-425-7833
District Trainer
Larry & Mary Rosselot • 843-813-9676
Membership Enhancement
Dale & Charlie West• 843-650-1979
District Rider Educator
Jesse & Sue Sammons • 864-269-9566
Assistant Rider Educator
Jerry & Teresa Hill • 864-908-6114
District Treasurer
John & Janet Crabtree • 864-862-6737
PR & Couple of the Year Coordinators
Ron & Becky Lees • 864-895-3517
Couple of the Year
Judy & Bill Dunaway 843-357-2270
SC District Ambassadors
Faye Hood & Steve Smith
SC Goody Shoppe
Doug & Faye Skipper • 843-907-1799
WebMaster & Editor
Mike Melton • 843-847-1444
[email protected]
I would like to wish everyone and their families, a
Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
CONTENTS
Charles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Region Conventions . . . . 2
Buddy & Kim . . . . . . . . . . . 3
John & Karen . . . . . . . . . . 4
Phil & Judy . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Jesse & Sue . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Jerry & Teresa Hill . . . . . . . 7
Dale & Charlie . . . . . . . . . . 8
Judy & Bill . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Ron & Becky . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Mike . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11, 12
SC Convention/Safety Tip. 13
May God Bless each of you
Charlie Coleman
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Assistant District Director
Buddy & Kim Summer
1121 Piester Road, Newberry, SC 29108
Ph: 803-924-2851
Email: [email protected]
Holiday Greetings to you, fellow Wingers. As Christmas and the New Year
approaches, we should embrace family and friends and be thankful for our
everyday blessings of health, happiness, and the ability to ride our Wings.
There are many upcoming events and rides to help us
celebrate Christmas and its true meaning. Just a few are,
several local parades, charity events such as the Toys for
Tots Ride, the Veterans Christmas Ride, the Boys Farm
Ride, and many more. I know there are other events in
your area and your participation will increase your joy
and help you get into the “Christmas Spirit.”
The 2012 New Year will bring us hope for jobs for the
unemployed, peace and homecoming for those serving in
the military, and maybe economic prosperity for our
nation.
On January 14, South Carolina District will host our Officer Staff Meeting. It will
start at 8:00am at the Wingate Inn in North Charleston (phone 843-553-444). I will
present information and guidelines for the Chapter of the Year Program as a few of
the qualifications have changed. I will send out packages to the chapter directors,
so that you can review the information and ask any questions that you have during
the meeting. See you there.
Have Fun with Friends, and Ride Safe
Buddy & Kim Summer
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Assistant District Director
John & Karen Higgins
Anderson, SC
Ph: 864-437-0657 (Cell)
[email protected]
Happy Holidays, and a very big Merry Christmas & Happy New Year from
our home to yours.
The year is coming to an end, and while there have been challenges to
overcome, there are vastly more experiences to be thankful for. If I were to
start a list, I don’t know when I’d stop. I know I am blessed far greater than I
have a right to expect. So many things come to mind if I simply pause long
enough to let them filter through the cobwebs I call a brain.
My family, there just is no description of how fortunate I am to have them.
My home, so lucky to have warmth, food and a safe haven to live in.
And a wonderful country fought for and protected by those brave souls that
put their lives in harm’s way for my way of life.
I remember a few standout experiences from this year, that are among the
many that enriched my year.
 The incredible support and encouragement during the Couple of the
Year competition from so many GWRRA family members.
 Watching the sheer joy and excitement on the face of a very special
young man at the Region A convention if Eufaula, as he won a prize.
 And last but not least, the first big vacation on our Goldwing to Key West
with two good friends.
Yes, I want to say thanks. Thanks for everything you all .
Karen and I wish you and your family the very best experiences for the new
Year.
Happy trails
John & Karen Higgins
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Assistant District Director
Phil & Judy Stone
2319 Tickle Hill Road, Camden, SC 29020
Ph: 803-425-7833 (H) 803-427-1695 (C)
[email protected]
Well, here we are in December already. You have probably done all, or almost all, of the things on
your motorcycle adventure list for 2011. So it is time to turn our attention to other things. Obviously,
for most of us, our attention will turn to preparing to celebrate Christmas with our families. It is such a
wonderful time of year, if we remember what we are celebrating and keep that spirit in our mind
throughout each day! We definitely wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Now that leads us to 2012 – WOW, that was a quick trip! It is not too early to start planning your
calendar for GWRRA fun activities for next year. There is a very long list to consider, but for many of
us, it will start with the South Carolina District Officer’s Meeting at the Wingate in North Charleston
on January 14. From there, your calendar should include our District Convention on April 26 – 28 and
Wing Ding July 3 – 7. If you are lucky enough to be able to schedule more time off, then there are
several options to consider. Support the other districts in our region (FL in Mar., AL in Apr., GA in
Jun., MS in Oct.), or the Region A Convention itself (in Sep.), and dozens of other opportunities are
available, if we want to find them. Make this a year of change. Do something different than past
years. Take a trip to another state, or another area of the country, or visit another district or region.
Since our primary responsibility as officers is to help the members in South Carolina, and visitors from
anywhere, have FUN, we need to take an active role in our home chapter. As part of the District Team,
we should also try to participate in activities of the chapters we are to visit. When we really get to
know the members, we will learn what others think of the job we are doing and what they think is
wrong with GWRRA, or their chapter, or some other member. This will allow us to help them have
more FUN.
Don’t forget to give some attention to your favorite Wing during the next several weeks. We need to
do (or arrange for) a complete check of tires, wheels, cables, hoses, bearings, lights, fluids and
everything else that needs attention before we start riding again next year. Don’t forget to keep your
rider education courses current to help you be safer on the highways and byways.
How many of you are always wondering what to give someone for Christmas? Did you ever consider
the fantastic value of a membership in GWRRA? We are not recommending that you buy all the
people on your list a membership (definitely not recommending that you buy them a GoldWing ha, ha).
What we do recommend, is to tell others about the fun you have with
GWRRA, and let your excitement convince someone to give it a try.
You just might have provided one of the best gifts they have ever
received!
May you and all of your families have a glorious end of this year, and
an even better 2012.
Come join us on the highways, but always remember to use your safety
gear and ALWAYS RIDE SAFELY!
Phil & Judy Stone
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District Rider Educator
Jesse & Sue Sammons
Greenville, SC
Ph: 864-269-9566
[email protected]
First of all Sue and I want to wish each and every one of our fellow GWRRA
members a very special “MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR” ! This has
been a very interesting year for our family as we have endured several bouts of
illness with a couple of surgeries thrown in for good measure. Each of these
hardships brought to mind that old saying of “we aren’t promised tomorrow and
should live today like it’s our last day”. I guess what I’m trying to say is don’t put
off until tomorrow what you can do today. We have all lost friends or maybe even
members of our immediate families during the course of this year whom we
never expected to lose. We just took for granted that they would be here
tomorrow as they were yesterday. How many times have we lost some one, and
said to us afterward “I wish that I had told them that I loved them, or thanked
them for being my friend when I needed them and they were there.
Many of us have family members who are currently serving our country in the
military, and will not be able to be we us during the upcoming Christmas
Holidays, and I ask that you offer up a special prayer for each of them to include
those men and women serving
alongside them all around the world. I
remember all too well what it was like to
be away from my loved ones during any
holiday, but more especially at
Christmas time. For whatever reason in
one’s heart Christmas is just a very
special time of the year, and a time that
we want to be with family and special
friends.
Again Sue and I wish each and every one of you a very
“MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR”!
Until next time “Ride Safe and Ride Often”!
Jesse & Sue
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Assistant District
Rider Educator
Jerry & Teresa Hill
Simpsonville, SC
Ph: 864-908-6114
[email protected]
Teresa and I would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. We hope that your year has
been a full fun packed year. I would like to take this moment to thank every member thru
out the chapters for their commitment to safety for themselves and for their fellow riders.
We all know this year has been a year of various ups and down, as we have lost a good
many to accidents. I would like to take this time to reflect and remember those who are
no longer with us.
In remembering, those who have fallen let’s also take time to remember our service men,
those who have given their lives so that we can live in a country that is free to ride as we
please. As a safety conscience organization, we need to be more instrumental in
providing a stronger base of safety topics. This would arm our riders to be more aware of
the consequences, when they choose not to follow the rules of the road, and the advice of
those who actually have experienced the various hazards of not wearing the proper riding
gear. I also know that we as rider educators can only suggest that we follow the rules of
the road, but as adults, we all have to make that hard decision as to how we will choose
to ride.
As we all reflect over this past year, just think of that one thing that may have saved your
life while riding. With all that said, I can honestly say that as a whole, we all try to ride
with safety in mind. As 2012 rolls around, as a rider educator, I would like to see more
of our members take a more active role in rider education. Maybe then, we would be
100% in the Levels programs and who
knows, maybe it could be your life that
you save, just because you decided to
wear the proper riding gear.
In closing, I want to say please watch
out for the partygoers as we all know ‘tis
the season for extra activities.
Until next year be safe and have fun.
Jerry & Teresa Hill
-7-
District Member Enhancement
Coordinators
Dale & Charlie West
417 Sea Eagle Court, Myrtle Beach, SC 29588
Ph: 843-650-1979
[email protected]
Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Have you made your reservation for our S.C. District Convention in April? Well it's
time to do that little task. Also, has your chapter starting thinking about a skit for the
Convention? This is a great way to get members involved and having FUN, if they
are new members ask them to join you in your skit. Remember, it doesn't matter how
silly you act, it is all about the fun we have. Actually the skits can be serious, funny or
just about whatever you can dream up. If you can think it you can do it.
We hope you are planning to submit your chapter for Chapter of the Year. Remember,
if you don't win Chapter of the Year you will still have enough points to qualify for a
Gold, Silver or Bronze status.
Keep involving your members in your activities, and your planning and most
importantly remember to greet those prospective new members and new members
with a friendly hello and hug each time you see them. Also, remember that your new
members are what keeps a chapter going and active. In your event planning let’s
remember, it is all new to the new members, whether it is a ride you have been on
before, an activity you have done before or whatever, it is new to them. Also, is your
chapter giving your new members a new member handbook? If not, please give us a
call or e-mail and I will be glad to help you out. So often we use acronyms that we all
know but to a new member it is all Greek. They may
be afraid to ask for fear of sounding dumb, but
remember we were all new members once, so try and
speak their language until they are familiar with ours.
Ride Safe and Happy Holidays.
Dale & Charlie West
-8-
South Carolina District
Couple of the Year
Judy & Bill Dunaway
843-357-2270
[email protected]
Hey Y’all,
As I write this we are on our way to Eufuala, AL for the Region A Officers
meeting. We can’t wait to see some of our extended family from the other
Districts, and to learn all about the new things going on in GWRRA.
Thanksgiving is over and Christmas is right around the corner and that
means a New Year is fast approaching. Chapters, if you haven’t already
honored a couple by selecting them as your
Couple of the Year, please don’t let the New Year
catch you—Honor your couple now! And if you
are a Chapter Couple, we want to encourage you
to participate in the District Couple selection. It
may sound hard or time-consuming, but it’s not. It
is fun and exhilarating and will create memories
you will never forget. We have just had so much
fun this year! It is definitely a year we will
remember. If any Chapter couple needs any help
getting ready for the selection, or have any questions, we will be most
happy to assist.
My we take this opportunity to wish each of you a Merry Christmas and a
Happy New Year. Our wish for you is that you spend your holidays full of
love, warmth and family and friends. Until we see you in 2012.
Happy Holidays!!!
Bill & Judy
-9-
District Public Relations &
Couple Of The Year Coordinators
Ron & Becky Lees
864-895-3517
[email protected]
Hi everyone,
December has arrived and this year has gone by so fast
for us. Ron and I enjoy going on the bike to conventions and plaque
captures or to a chapter meeting to see our friends. We joined
GWRRA to meet others who liked to ride and visit places in our
home state or another state. To us there is no other way to travel and
to enjoy this great country we live in. Being selected Chapter,
District then Region Couple of the Year was not a job as some would like to think. To
us it was an added benefit of being a part of GWRRA and adventure that we got to
experience by riding our Goldwing to different district conventions and Wing Ding.
On the way back from the Alabama convention we went to Little Canyon Gorge
outside of Fort Payne, AL. We had no idea this was there and the view and water fall
were beautiful and by taking back roads we enjoyed the scenery, the weather and it
gave us another memory to share and another idea for a road trip to see what else is in
the area.
As we all start thinking about what we want to do in the coming year you as Chapter
Directors need to be thinking of the couples in your chapter who have been there
quietly in the background or right there in front of you loud and
proud helping the chapter to be successful. Remember this is an
honor and you should be selecting the couple not asking them if
they want to be the next Chapter Couple of the Year.
MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
Ron & Becky
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South Carolina District
Webmaster
Mike Melton
P.O. Box 61885, North Charleston, SC 29419
843-847-1444
[email protected]
December holds so many things to think about. When I look at all the
patriotic things that have happened in December, it makes you
wonder how some of our ancestors had time to celebrate the greatest
gift in the month… Christmas Day.
I’ll start with just a few. First, we have Pearl Harbor on December 7th. What a
horrendous price to pay for freedom, and so many people affected by a single act. As
we still have survivors from Pearl Harbor, it is definitely something to thing about, and if
you know anyone, just listen to their story.
There are so many events that took place in this month, it is difficult to describe them
all. Below I have listed some that I felt held some significant level of patriotism
importance to our current nation, and I’m sure there are more:
Dec 7, 1941 – Pearl Harbor
Dec 10, 1898 - The Treaty of Paris signed between America and Spain
following Spain's defeat in the Spanish-American War. US gained the
Philippine Islands, the islands of Guam and Puerto Rico, and an
agreement by Spain to withdraw from Cuba.
Dec 14, 1799 – George Washington, 1st president of US 1789 - 1797, dies at age 66.
Dec 16, 1944 – The “Battle of the Bulge” began during WWII.
Dec 16, 1773 – Boston Tea Party – the day Patriots disguised as Native Americans
dumped 342 containers of tea from the British Ships into the Boston Harbor. The Boston
Tea Party was the beginning of the American fight for independence.
Dec 17, 1777 - At Valley Forge in Pennsylvania, the Continental Army led by General
George Washington settled in for the winter.
Dec 20, 1989 – Operation Just Cause - Invasion into Panama to
remove General Manuel Noriega on charges of narcotics trafficking.
Operation Just Cause occurred seven months after Noriega had
declared unfavorable election results in his country to be null and
void. Noriega temporarily eluded capture, but surrendered a few
weeks later to U.S. troops.
Dec 21, 1988 – One of the earlier terrorist attacks against the US, Pan American Flight
103 exploded in midair as the result of a terrorist bomb and crashed into Lockerbie,
Scotland. All 259 passengers and crew members along with 11 persons on the ground
were killed.
(Continued on page 12)
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(Continued from page 11)
Dec 22, 1783 - Following a triumphant journey from New York to Annapolis, Maryland, George
Washington, Commander-in-Chief of the American Revolutionary Army, appeared before
Congress and voluntarily resigned his commission.
Dec 23, 1968 – North Korea releases 82 crew members of the USS Pueblo.
Dec 25, 1776 – George Washington crosses the Delaware
River with the Colonial Army to surprise and defeat 1,400
Hessians, suffering nine casualties while capturing 1,000
prisoners.
Dec 25, 1896 – "Stars and Stripes Forever" written by John
Philip Sousa.
Dec 26, 1776 – George Washington Defeats Hessians at
Trenton, NJ which is a major defeat for the British.
December 26, 1944 – General Patton's 4th Armored Division defeated the infamous German
Panzer Divisions, destroyed all their tanks, and broke through the
German lines in route to Bastogne, in what was called the Battle of
the Bulge, during WWII.
And, let’s not forget the role of so many motorcycles, within our
military history. All the way back to WWI, through the current
involvement with Iraq and Afghanistan, we have a tremendous
history there. But that will have to be another time.
So, when you think of December, yes, we need to remember
Christmas. But so many of our patriots have given so much, during this month, to ensure
American Freedoms. Let’s not forget them either. I can remember several Christmas Holidays
spent overseas, or in strange places, and I can remember the memories of home I kept close to
my heart. We have many of our American Patriots who still serve away from home during this
time. And we also have many of our home bound patriots serving during the holidays, keeping
our roads safe, and the fires out. Let’s not forget them either.
So, to all our patriots, past and present, and to all the supporters of these patriots,
Merry Christmas and a Very Happy New Year.
So, until next time, ride safe and often,
Mike Melton
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G O L D W I N G R O AD R I D E R S A S S O C I AT I O N
GET ALL THE CONVENTION DETAILS
INCLUDING CONVENTION FLYER & FULL PAGE REGISTRATION
AT WWW . GWRRASC . COM / SCRALLY
Tis the season for shoppers! Guess what… they are not looking for you.
Use lane positioning to be seen. Ride in the part of a lane where you are most
visible, and use ALL of your lights!
F RIENDS F OR F UN , S AFETY
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AND
K NOWLEDG
NOWLEDGE
E