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1. How did GWRRA get started? [Back to top] Based on the premise of Friend for Fun, Safety and Knowledge, GWRRA, an international association for Gold Wing and Valkyrie motorcycle Riders, Co-riders, and Associate Members, was started June 4, 1977, by seven people with a common interest in riding their motorcycles. They wanted to establish an association that would allow freedom from regulatory membership, yet provide benefits superior to those available from other, more ordinary, motorcycle groups. Over 30 years later, the Association continues to grow and flourish. Today there are over 72,000 Members spread across the United States and 53 other countries! There are over 800 Chapters where Members gather to have fun and live the motto of "Friends for Fun, Safety and Knowledge." The Association is built on four simple ideals. First is
to "promote safety and skill enhancement," so we
can continue to enjoy our hobby of riding. The second is to
"promote friendship" among the entire biking public.
The third is to "promote the positive image of the motorcycle
rider" to continue striving to overcome the negative
image many non-motorcyclists attach to folks like us. The
fourth ideal is to "promote fun." After all, life
is too short not to enjoy, and the one common thread that
runs through this Association is the FUN factor! Individual Membership: For individual Members only. The Individual Membership fee is $55 for one year, $105 for two years and $150 for three years. Family Membership: For families with two or more people in the same household. The Family Membership fee is $65 for one year, $125 for two years and $180 for three years. Associate Family Membership: For families with two or more people in the household who wish to take advantage of GWRRA and its benefits, do not own a Gold Wing or Valkyrie and pay the annual membership fees of $60 for one year, $115 for two years and $165 for three years. Life Membership: For those individuals who have been a Member of GWRRA for twenty consecutive years and pay a nominal annual membership fee of $30 per year. Subscription Only: The subscriber receives 12 issues of Wing World magazine for $40 per year. Business Membership: Available with three levels of Membership
options. Level 1 provides your business name and website link
in black for only $250 a year; Level 2 provides your business
name, logo and website link in black for just $350 a year
and Level 3 provides your business name, logo, website link
and a full-color ad for only $500 a year. As a Business
Member, you also receive the GWRRA Business Logo for use in
your advertising and marketing; biannual listing in Wing World magazine; signage at Wing Ding; certificate to exhibit in
your place of business; a listing in the Gold Book; and a
12-month subscription to Wing World magazine. Visit http://www.gwrra.org/businessmembers.html 3. When
will my new Member packet arrive? [Back
to top] 4. What
are some of my benefits as a Member of GWRRA? Social Amenities / Chapter Life / Interactive Website with
Message Boards
5. Can
I purchase a membership card for each of my family members?[Back
to top] 6. Why
am I getting emails from GWRRA? [Back
to top] 7. How do I stay informed
of what is going on in GWRRA? [Back
to top] 8. What is the benefit
of belonging to a "Chapter?" [Back
to top] New Friends: Countless new friends with a common interest are made. It provides an opportunity to ride our Gold Wings with our friends. Safe Riding: Safe riding is promoted to make our riding experience even more enjoyable. Skills and safety techniques are learned. Friends for Fun, Safety and Knowledge: You really get an opportunity to live the motto of "Friends for Fun, Safety and Knowledge." The best advice that can be offered is to attend a Chapter meeting (sometimes referred to as a "gathering" or "get-together"). These meetings (normally held monthly) are social events that try to offer something for everyone. New ideas are always welcome! You do not "join" a Chapter; you are a Member of GWRRA and a �participant� of a Chapter or Chapters. You can participate in as many or as few activities and meetings as you wish! There are no applications or fees needed to participate in a GWRRA Chapter. With over 800 Chapters, when you travel you�re never far from "home." Most Chapters publish a newsletter, usually on a monthly
basis. When you attend your first meeting, you will be asked
to sign in, and then you will be on the distribution list
for that Chapter�s newsletter. In it, you will find everything
from upcoming rides, to recipes, to motorcycle items for sale,
to information about other Chapters� meetings and events.
9. How do I find a local
Chapter? [Back to top] 10. What is Wing
World? [Back
to top] 11. When can I expect
to receive my Wing World each month?
[Back to top] These instructions are old�please read the article on the Wing World Website here for instructions on submitting to Wing World Magazine. Contents for Wing World are selected on an as-needed basis in order to create an appropriated mixture of topics per issue. Standard items include tour stories, technical features, letters to the editor, letters to the technical editor, and more. We welcome unsolicited stories and photos from our Members, though there is no monetary compensation for works published. Articles emailed or submitted on CD are preferred to typed or handwritten articles on paper for the sake of time and clarity. Feature-length stories should be between 2,000 and 5,000 words in length (or less) and can be of any genre. Technical articles are welcomed but should include the names, addresses, telephone numbers, and experiential background of experts quoted along with a bibliography of other sources (i.e., books, Websites, scientific research studies, etc.). We must check responsibly the facts pertaining to any technical information submitted to us. Please remember that, because of the large volume of submissions we receive daily, articles and photos submitted cannot be returned. Therefore, please only submit copies of your articles and photos, never originals. Also due to topical needs for each issue, quality of submitted work, etc., not all submissions are chosen for publication. Email attachments are limited in size to 9 mb; so please place your document on our FTP server at ftp://jmt.gwrra.org. Log on to the FTP site with User Name: �jmtclient� and Password: �graphics�. After you have placed the document on the FTP site, email editor@gwrra.org and reference the file name. Note: Pictures placed on the FTP server should be 300 pixels per inch, no greater than 8.125" x 10.875" maximum size and in a JPEG (JPG) format. Of course, please include all your pertinent information, such as name, GWRRA Member number, address, telephone number, email address, etc. 13. How do I contact the technical editor? [Back to top] 14. Does my membership
include emergency roadside assistance coverage for my motorcycle?
[Back to top] 15. Does my membership
include emergency roadside assistance coverage for my other
vehicles? [Back to top] 16. How will I know
when it is time for me to renew my membership? [Back
to top] On-line: http://www.gwrra.org/contact.html Email: memberservices@gwrra.org Telephone: 800-843-9460 or 623-581-2500 (Phoenix) Postal Delivery: 21423 North 11th Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85027 Our office hours are: Monday-Thursday 6:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Mountain Standard Time). 18. How do I post
on the Message Board? [Back
to top] Generate your own Message Board username and password: Username - This is your SIX digit membership
number. It is on your membership card, or you can contact
Member Services for assistance.
Password Examples � All alpha characters must be in lowercase font.
How to update or add your email address: � Go to www.gwrra.org and login to "Manage your Membership." 19. Does GWRRA have
officially-licensed products available? [Back
to top] In-stock merchandise orders are usually shipped within 7 to 10 business days upon receipt and processing of your order. Arrival depends on the postal service. 21.
Does GWRRA have a department where I can order custom pins
and patches for my event or organization? [Back
to top] 22. How long until my custom pin or patch order arrives? [Back to top] 23. How is GWRRA structured?
[Back to top] To provide a communications link between the Home Office and our Members, an Operations Team, headed by the Director of GWRRA, had been established. This Team is comprised of a large network of Officers, also referred to as "volunteer leaders," at various levels within the organization. The Association is comprised of "regions." Within each Region are two or more states (U.S.) and/or provinces (Canada) � we refer to states and provinces as "Districts." (To help visualize the Regions, you may want to look at the Region Map on the Homepage.) Within each District are "Chapters." A Director and Assistant Director(s), who are the network
of Officers, or volunteer leaders, comprising the Operations
Division, lead each Region, District and Chapter. 24. What is a Director?
[Back to top] 25. What is the Chapter of
the Year (CHOY) Program? [Back
to top] All �charter paid� GWRRA Chapters worldwide are eligible
to participate providing the qualifications have been met.
Each District shall select a Chapter that demonstrates the
greatest combined achievement in the list of criteria. Each
Region will select one outstanding Chapter that will be compared
to other Region Chapters at Wing Ding each year. The Chapter
of the Year Award will be presented to one regional Chapter
that demonstrates the greatest combined achievement in the
criteria listed. 26. What is the Couple
of the Year (COY) Program? [Back
to top] 27. Whom should I talk
to if I have a problem within my Chapter? [Back
to top] 28. What
is the Rider Education Division (RED)? [Back
to top] 29. What
is a Motorcycle Rider Course: Riding and Street Skills (MRC:RSS)?
[Back to top] 30. What
is the Experienced Riders Course (ERC) [Back
to top] 31. What
is the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF)? [Back
to top] 32. What is the Member
Enhancement Division (MED)? [Back
to top] 33. What is the Leadership
Training Division (LTD)? [Back
to top] Throughout the Association, there are thousands of Members who have volunteered to be on staff at the National, Region, District, and Chapter levels, to perform the functions of these last three Programs. These Members contribute their time to help ensure the motto and ideals of the Association are achieved. 34. What
is the Motorist Awareness Division (MAD)?
[Back to top] "Ride Aware!" is an international effort to reduce the number of crashes, conflict situations and hazards occurring between motorcycles and other highway users. "Accident" is a term we choose not to use, because the term implies crashes -- conflict and hazardous situations that were not preventable. In "Ride Aware!" we believe most crashes are predictable, preventable and a culmination of many factors. It is our belief that riders and drivers can minimize the interaction of factors and by so doing reduce or eliminate the possibility of hazards, conflicts or crashes through use of an active strategy and good judgment. "Ride Aware" is GWRRA's campaign to realize these ends. Join us as a "Motorist Awareness Liaison" and "Ride Aware!" 35. What are Special Interest Groups (SIG)? [Back to top] The organizational format of Regions, Districts and Chapters (or local groups) should normally suffice. It is important for a SIG to not become a distraction within the Chapter and take away from the primary purpose of the Chapter, motorcycling. Some SIG�s, such as bowling, classic Gold Wings or classic cars, for example, could blend very well within the Chapter�s structure. Other SIG�s such as golf, scuba diving or photography may not have sufficient interest to operate within the Chapter structure and may warrant the formation of an outside group. The SIG is supplemental to the Association, and its activities do not interfere with the daily operations and activities of the Region, District or Chapter. 36. What
is a Mall Show? [Back to top] 37. What are Rallies?
[Back to top] Regardless of which convention you attend, they typically have several things in common. For those who like to compete, there is a bike show, field events (on-bike skill events), a talent show, seminars, poker or observation run, and many other fun-filled things to do. Generally the conventions have vendors selling everything from leather wear to chrome, polish, pin striping, cargo trailers, campers, tires, tune-ups, oil changes, helmets, CB�s, intercoms, and a multitude of other "must have" accessories. Many of the conventions also have Rider Education classes, seminars, and training to enhance the GWRRA experience. All of the conventions we�ve described thus far have been
those normally held when the weather is conducive to riding
the Gold Wing or Valkyrie. However, when the weather turns
colder and the bike has gone into hibernation, many Districts
also hold "winter conventions" to give their Members
an opportunity to socialize during the off-season months.
These conventions go by various names, such as "Wingless
Weekend" and "Cabin Fever." They offer many
of the same activities as the warmer weather conventions,
with the exception of anything that requires a Gold Wing or
Valkyrie, e.g., bike show or on-bike field events. 38. Does GWRRA have
a national rally/convention? [Back
to top] Wing Ding is the granddaddy of all conventions. This event is the largest GWRRA convention of the year, drawing over 10,000 participants and over 150 vendors! The Gold Wingers basically fill a convention center and surrounding town for four or five days of clean, wholesome, family fun! Since 1979, Wing Dings have been held in places such as Madison, Wisconsin; Tulsa, Oklahoma; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Greenville, South Carolina; Knoxville, Tennessee; Louisville, Kentucky; Billings, Montana; Huntsville, Alabama and Fort Wayne, Indiana. 39. What is a Ride? [Back to top]As the name implies, an All Day or Weekend Ride is generally a scenic trip that is planned well in advance and includes several meals and normally quite a few miles (over 100 per day). There are shorter rides such as to a dining spot or sometimes merely a quick gathering for dessert. 40.
What is a Field Event? [Back
to top] 41. What is a 50/50
Ticket? [Back to top] 42. What is a Chapter
Challenge? [Back to top] 43. What is a Charity
or Toy Run? [Back to top] A poker or observation run normally serves as a fundraiser for the Chapter, District or Region, as there is usually a small registration fee to participate. There are many formats but these basically are conducted as follows: You sign in and receive a set of directions for a scenic ride. For a "poker run" you may be required to stop at
certain checkpoints and draw a card. At some events, you may
draw all your cards at the end of the ride when you check
in. As in poker, the best hand wins normally some pre-announced
percentage of the proceeds, or a plaque, trophy, or fixed
cash prize. An "observation run" is similar but
requires that you answer questions about sites along the route.
The person who answers the most questions correctly wins. 45. What is a Bug
Run? [Back to top] 46. Can you tell
me what next year�s Honda Gold Wing will look like?
[Back to top] 47. What is GWRRA�s
relationship with Honda? [Back
to top] |