February 2010

From Your District Director

By Bruce & Barb Beeman

Here I sit pondering on what I'm going to write about and it's the middle of WINTER. My bike, like every one else's bike that lives were it SNOWS, is stored away on it’s center stand, while I dream of warmer days to come. Are you feeling sorry for me yet? Well don't, because it may be cold and snowy here, but there is a ton of things to do. All you have to do is check out the journal http://www.mngwrra.us/html/MNJournal.html or visit our web-site http://www.mngwrra.us/ and you will see all kinds of thing to do. There is something going on in GW-MN just about every weekend, you just need to look. Like the International Bike Show in Minneapolis on February 5^th, 6^th, and 7^th. There are chapter socials or other chapter events that you can take part in and the best part of it, I bet you'll have FUN and most likely meet some really neat people.

Education, with it great thing can happen. The more a person knows about anything, the more that person will enjoy what ever that is. We that are in leadership rolls in GW and to those that would like to become a leader and even those who just want to know more, have a great opportunity right here in good old Minnesota. Tammy & Brian Anderson are the District Leadership Coordinators. They have just gotten back from Leadership training and are ready to share their knowledge with all of us. So, if you would like them to come to your chapter first, you might want to email them, like right now at tfulton2@comcast.net. The same goes for your First Aid. Kevin's crew has already booked chapters in, so there again, you might want to get yours booked. You can email him at klheap@comcast.net.

So, we can choose to sit and be bummed out about the weather or we can choose to get involved in the activities offered to us because of GW and our local chapters. The people you meet and the friendship you build will change your life, I guarantee it.

Remember, be safe out there, the life you save just might be your own.

Thank You and Ride Safe

Thank you and Ride Safe
Bruce & Barb Beeman
District Directors
GWRRA Minnesota
507-438-7063 (cell)

District Educator's Corner

By Pete & Laura Winter

In a recent MN Journal article we mentioned the 2010 Motorcycle Safety Conference which is sponsored by the MN Motorcycle Safety Center. The Conference has been scheduled for Saturday February 27th, 2010. The cost of the Conference is $45.00 per person and this includes a light breakfast and lunch. You can see the course schedule and download the registration form or register online at www.motorcyclesafety.state.mn.us.

We received an advance copy of the 2010 Rider Course schedule from the MMSC. Booklets will be available at the International Motorcycle Show or online at www.motorcyclesafety.state.mn.us.

Now's the time to look at the GWRRA Rider Education database to see who in your chapter needs a rider course, a Rider Education Seminar course or Medic First Aid to stay current or advance in the Rider Ed Levels Program.

Most of you probably know that our Assistant District Educator, Bill Eslinger recently lost his battle with cancer. Bill was passionate about Education; in fact he and Judy hadn't been in GWRRA very long when he approached us and asked "How can I help?" Minnesota District and Chapter N have suffered a tremendous loss with his passing and we'd encourage all of you to keep Judy in your thoughts at this difficult time.

Take care and let's make 2010 a safer year through Rider Education.

Take care and remember ATGATT!

District Leadership Trainer

By Tammy & Brian Anderson

News From Your Leadership Trainers

Brian and I went to Phoenix the beginning of January and came back with a mission directly from the home office. As many of you may have already heard there is new training in town and the officers are the lucky recipients. This will be a great thing for GWRRA and its membership. It’s time to get back to the basics, GWRRA is doing this to help our organization survive and grow.

We have been trained to help roll out the new OCP (Officer Certification Program). We are excited about this and know that it will be a lot of work, but the benefits for the members and the organization will out weight the extra task that we all have before us. We believe the material in this program is definitely something that will make your life easier, make the chapter run smoother, enable the membership to have more fun, and ultimately do what we all want to do, and that is get the GOLD WING out of the garage and go riding more.

Details about the program:

OCP is a training and certification program, administered by the Leadership Training Division, for current and prospective GWRRA Officers; includes Region, District and Chapter Directors, their assistants, and interested members. In it we communicate what GWRRA is, what it stands for, and why it is structured and operates the way it does. Much of the information is from the GWRRA Officer Handbook.

The Officer Certification Program is a 1 ½ day training class consisting of:

9 modules covering the Officers Handbook
A Knowledge Exercise
4 modules consisting of expanded, advanced seminars just for the GWRRA Officer.
An additional module geared specifically for Region/District Directors and their Assistants.

Why is this program necessary now? The member’s have requested better trained and qualified Officers who can lead them and make the GWRRA experience the best it can be. This is a long overdue program that should have been available for our Officers to make sure they were prepared for the position – now it is here. We want to achieve continuity throughout GWRRA so that the Membership can have the same experience and our Officers can be certain they are doing things the “GWRRA way”

Our Association is unique and distinctive in the way we are structured and how we function. Every Officer at every level needs to understand this. We have a goal to get all the current operations officers certified by August 31^st of 2010. We need your help in getting the goal achieved. We will have locations and dates coming soon for Minnesota and anyone in surrounding states that wish to participate. One of the new buzzwords is TEAM and we need to work as a team to achieve this goal. Let’s start thinking of ways that we can get together to make this happen. Brian and I are looking forward to sharing this information with all of you and look forward to an exciting and rewarding 2010.

Minnesota Journal

A Publication of the Minnesota District - Gold Wing Road Riders Association