It’s hard to believe, but the year is almost half over. Summer
officially starts in a week, Independence day is just around the
corner and the riding season is in full swing. I just wanted to
take a minute to thank everyone for making 2007 one of the best
ever for Chapter 111. I also wanted to make sure that everyone
knows that the best is yet to come.
I wanted to make sure that everyone is aware that STAR DAYS is
just around the corner. This year, it is in our own back yard
(or front yard…depending on which way you are facing). Having
STAR DAYS in Chattanooga this year is a great opportunity for
everyone to at least visit for a day. Each year they move the
location across the country so that everyone across the country
has an equal chance to attend. Next year it will be in the
central US. This makes for a great road trip to get there and
back, but limits the opportunity for some members on the east
coast to attend. This year it is a couple hours ride away (if
that).
If you have never been to STAR DAYS, this is your golden
opportunity. Take advantage of the proximity of this event to us
and try to make it up for just a day. I have attached the full
schedule to this newsletter. As you will see the event is held
during the work week. There is no better excuse to miss a day or
two of work. You will need to burn some vacation time (or call
in sick) to get there, but I believe it is well worth the time
to attend. Peruse the schedule and find a day that appeals to
you and come up.
Several of us will be there for the entire week. Doug will be
there as a vendor and will be doing on-site oil changes. I am
sure, Teresa will be sitting in the shade watching. Maria and I
will be there all week as well. We all have plans to work the
Swampazz ride. It takes a number of people to monitor the stops
and run the event. Chapter 111 is in charge of this event and
there are several of us who have volunteered to do so. If you
have time, we could still use more people. If you don’t know
what a Swampazz ride is, then you need to find out. Five hours
of riding, 200 miles, checkpoints, follow the directions, don’t
get lost, have fun, enjoy the scenery, get a pin and end it all
with a wet butt….that’s a swampazz. The Swampazz is on
Wednesday. Like I said we can use more volunteers. Even if
you’re not the volunteering type it’s a great experience to ride
it.
Another great event is the Feed The Children Charity Food Drop
Ride. This is a very satisfying event to take part in. Everyone
lines up for the ride. A tractor trailer of food and supplies
is brought in and we all get a box to strap to the bike. We then
proceed on an escorted ride through town to a distribution
point. Thousands of bikes with a tractor trailer of food in tow.
It is an awesome site. But the best part is that we, the STAR
riders, get to distribute those boxes to the people who need it.
We put it in their cars. You see the gratitude and know that
what we do really does mean something. It’s a little work with a
great big reward. You get to see what the money you spent on
those 50/50 tickets is used for. If at all possible, attend this
and participate.
There is a Trivia Ride on Tuesday that will lead you around and
through various historic sites in Chattanooga. You may even
learn something. There are plenty of vendors. You can make up
your wish list or just buy it now. Star will have the demo bikes
there. If there is a bike you would like to try out, this is the
time. The demo rides are usually 30-45 minutes long and allow
you to really get a feel for the bikes. They usually have all
the STAR bikes as well as the FJR and the FZ models. Also, there
are seminars, bike rodeo and bike games, a custom bike show, and
on Thursday evening they hold the Feed the Children charity
auction. This is something you just need to experience.
So, I’ll say it again, come up if at all possible. I think you
will enjoy it.
We have other things on the agenda besides STAR DAYS this summer
as well. Check the calendar on the web site for all the
regularly scheduled rides. There is some good stuff on the way.
Prior to STAR DAYS we have a safari planned. This is a great
experience. The Trail of Tears is in September. Most everyone
who did this last year said they will do it again. If you have
never done it, you just have to do it once. Imagine a hundred
thousand bikes riding down the road. Roads are closed. People
set up chairs along the streets and watch bikes go by for hours.
Put it on your list. Biketoberfest in Daytona in October. It’s
not a sanctioned ride, but those of us who went last year had a
blast…..the more the merrier. We have rides scheduled every 2nd
Sunday and 4th Saturday. We try to go to as many
different kinds of places as we can.
Another great thing that is on the horizon is a Feed the
Children Food Drop here in Atlanta. Chapter 111 is only a few
dollars away from being able to bring a tractor trailer of food
to Atlanta. We will provide more info on this as it becomes
available, but we will soon have the opportunity to distribute
food to those in need, here in our own community. It will be a
big multi chapter event when it happens. In the mean time,
participate in our Chapter 50/50 drawings and participate in any
event that we advertise as benefitting Feed The Children. You
money really does get to the less fortunate, and very soon you
will be able to see that first hand.
Finally, it would be great if everyone could make every ride,
but I know that just isn’t possible. I may even miss one or two.
I suggest that you find the rides that interest you and plan now
to make those rides. Set those dates aside now. If you can try
to plan for a day or two at STAR DAYS and if at all possible
make the Trail of Tears. Those are two events that you really
need to experience. We all ride for a lot of reasons. I think
most enjoy the wind in our face and the occasional bug in our
teeth. We like the feeling of freedom it provides. Many find it
an escape, some find it relaxing. Some find it thrilling. But, I
think we will all agree that the reason we ride with our chapter
is for the fellowship and friendship. We try to pick
interesting destinations and we try to make the journey and the
ride as enjoyable as it can be. It’s not always the destination,
sometimes it’s not even the ride, but it’s always the
friendship.
If you have ever been on a ride with us, please join us again.
Bring a friend. The bigger the family, the happier we are. Hope
to see everyone soon….On The Road….with Chapter 111.
Gary V Kohl
Vice President
Chapter 111
Schedule for STAR DAYS – Chattanooga, TN – Tuesday, July 24,
2007 – Friday, July 27, 2007
Monday 7/23/2007
1pm - 6pm
Early Registration
8am - 5pm
Vendor set-up and Check-in
4pm
STAR Vets Rep Meeting
7pm
Presidents/VP Meeting
7pm
LOS Rep Meeting
7pm
Chapter Officer Social
Tuesday 7/24/2007
7am – 8am
Tin Star Breakfast
8:30am
Opening Ceremonies
9am - 6pm
STAR Tent Sales
9am - 6pm
Registration
10am - 2pm
FTC Bike Wash
9am - 5pm FREE
Star Motorcycle test rides
9am - 6pm
Vendors open
9am - 4pm
Cruiser Café
9am - 10am
Chapter Growth Seminar By Ron & Debi Greene
9am - 2 pm STAR Trivia/Poker Ride Last
Bike out at 12pm
2pm - 3 pm
Bike Rodeo
3pm - 5pm
Bike & Family Games
Dinner on your own, night on the town
Wednesday 7/25/2007
- Star Family Foundation Day
7am - 8:30am
LOS Breakfast
8am – 10am Seminars
Customizing your motorcycle—Barons
Performance Enhancement—Barons
8am – 4pm Swampazz Ride
Check out and in at the STAR trailer last bike out by 11
9am – 5pm
Registration open
9am – 5pm FREE
Star Motorcycle test rides
9am – 6pm Vendor
area open
9am – 4pm
Cruiser Café
12pm – 3pm
Star Family Foundation bike wash
9am – 5pm STAR Tent open
Dinner on your own
Thursday 7/26/2007
7am - 9am
Line up for FTC Food Drop Charity Ride
9am Ride leaves
9am – 4pm
Vendor area open
9am – 4pm
STAR Cruiser Café
1am - 4pm STAR
Tent open
9am – 5pm FREE
Star Motorcycle test rides
1pm
Registration at STAR trailer
12pm – 2pm
FTC bike wash
2pm - 3:30pm Seminar
Owners Maintenance by Star Motorcycle Service
1pm - 3pm
Kids Games
4:30pm - 6:30pm STAR Touring Dinner
At
the Convention Center
6pm - 6:30pm
Awards
6:30pm - 7:30pm
FTC Speakers & money donated to FTC
7:30pm FTC Charity Auction
Friday
7/27/2007
7am - 8:30pm
Vets Breakfast
8am – 9am Seminar
Motorcycle Safety—Vince Greva & Mark Vrabel
9am
Vets Ride leaves to VA Hospital
9am – 4pm STAR Custom Bike Show
(all participants must be set up before 12pm)
9am – 4pm FREE
Star Motorcycle test rides
9am – 3pm
STAR Tent open
9am – 7pm
Vendor area open
5:30pm - 7pm Dinner by Star Motorcycles
7pm -???
Vendor Party come dance to our own “Voice of STAR” Eric Ortega "
8pm Closing Ceremonies, Blessing of
the bikes. |
