• How did GWRRA get started?
• What are some of my benefits as a member of GWRRA?
• How is GWRRA Structured?
• What is a "bug run," "COY," etc.?
• Are there different types of membership?
• What is the benefit of belonging to a Chapter?
• What are Rallies?

How did GWRRA get started?

The Gold Wing Road Riders Association (GWRRA) is an international association for Gold Wing and Valkyrie motorcycle riders, co-riders and associate members. GWRRA is a social/fraternal organization created for the pleasure, recreation, safety, exchange of information, coordination of common motorcycle efforts, promotion of camaraderie and friendship of its Members, without political or religious affiliations.

GWRRA was started June 4, 1977, by seven people with a common interest of riding Gold Wing motorcycles. They wanted to establish an association that would allow freedom from regulatory membership, yet still provide benefits superior to those available from other, more ordinary, motorcycle groups.

Now, almost 25 years later, the Association continues to grow and flourish. Today there are over 75,000 Members spread across the United States and 48 other countries! There are over 900 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. One is to "promote safety" so we can continue to enjoy our hobby of riding. The second is to "promote friendship" among all the biking public. The third is to "promote the positive image of the motorcycle rider" to continue to strive 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!

What are some of my benefits as a member of GWRRA?

The benefits of membership are many. Member benefits include a subscription to Wing World, one of the finest Gold Wing/Valkyrie magazines in the world! A second benefit, the annual "Gold Book" Service Directory, has thousands of names of fellow Members offering services that range from roadside assistance to lodging. Members also receive an attractive gold-plated GWRRA pin, embossed plastic membership card, logo patch, and distinctive logo decals. Other benefits that many of our Members take advantage of are:

• Group Cycle Insurance
• Emergency Road Service Plan
• Honda Dealer Discounts
• Motel/Hotel Discounts
• Travel Agency Discounts
• Rider Education
• GWRRA "Wearhouse"
• Credit Card Programs

The above are all material benefits. Many of the Members feel the greatest benefit of belonging is the camaraderie and friendship.

How is GWRRA Structured?

The GWRRA Home Office, located in Phoenix, Arizona, takes care of the day-to-day business activities of the Association. For example, this is where your initial and renewal memberships are processed, where Wing World magazine and the Gold Book are published, and where the GWRRA Wearhouse (or "goodie store") fills daily orders for clothing and other items displaying the GWRRA name and/or logo. The Home Office has a small, paid staff to do all these things for you. Also located at the Home Office are the Founders of the Association, a Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board, and the President and Executive Director. These officers ensure the Association runs smoothly and in the best interest of the membership.

To provide a communication link between the Home Office and our Members, an Operations Division, headed by the President and Executive Director, has been established. This Division is comprised of a large network of officers, also referred to as "volunteer leaders," at various levels within the organization. To help you understand this Division, we need to explain what these various levels are.

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 you visualize the Regions, you may want to look at the Region Map.) Within each District are "Chapters."

Each Region, District, and Chapter is led by a Director and Assistant Director(s), who are the network of officers, or volunteer leaders, comprising the Operations Division.

To help carry out the motto and ideals of the Association, three other Divisions, headed by National Directors, have also been established:

Member Enhancement Division (MED) -- The MED focuses on the "friends for fun" aspects of our motto. It oversees various programs which (a) promote a positive image of the Association and motorcycling in general, (b) publicize fun activities to ensure our Members enjoy their GWRRA experiences, and (c) encourage Members to retain their membership and to recruit new Members into the Association.

Rider Education Division (RED) -- The basic purpose of the RED is to make the motorcycle environment safer by increasing skills and awareness. As such it focuses on the "friends for safety" aspects of the slogan. This Division provides various rider education seminars and courses, and maintains a close working relationship with the Motorcycle Safety Foundation. It also sponsors a "Rider Education Program" whereby Members can achieve advancing levels of rider safety and education.

Leadership Training Division (LTD) -- The LTD provides a smorgasbord of formalized training programs that provide opportunities for new learning experiences and personal growth to any of our officers and Members who wish to take advantage. This Division is responsible for the "friends for knowledge" aspects of our motto.

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 Divisions. These Members contribute their time to help ensure the motto and ideals of the Association are achieved.

What is a "bug run," "COY," etc.?

As with any organization, there are terms you will hear which may be new to you, or may have some unique meaning within GWRRA. We’ve attempted to identify and define many of these. However, if you hear something not described in this Handbook, feel free to ask your Chapter Director--remember, there is no such thing as a "dumb question"!

• Bug Run: Same as a "poker run" or "observation run" except you have a target on your windshield. The bike that returns with the bug closest to the bullseye or with the most bugs on the target wins. (For more details, see the "Fun Activities Guide" available from your Chapter Director.)

• Chapter Challenge: This can be on or off the bike. It is an event(s) that allows us to act like the kids we usually think we are! Normally there is a timed event in which a team of 4-6 Members representing a Chapter play a game or take some sort of a harmless and fun challenge.

• Charity or Toy Run: You’ll find people in this Association to be a lot like you -- they have a big heart and like to help the less fortunate. Many times a "charity" or "toy" run is held where you will meet at a pre-arranged point with a new/stuffed toy and with the assistance of the local law enforcement be "escorted" to a children’s hospital or ward to deliver your toys to children with critical and even terminal illness. Visits are also made to nursing homes, homeless shelters, etc. to share some joy and happiness.

• Couple of the Year (COY): The COY program, which is managed by the MED, was started in 1988 as a way to recognize Members by selecting a couple that represents the best qualities and ideals of GWRRA and its Members. The program starts at the Chapter level with "Chapter COY," and then through a friendly "competition" process, COYs at the District, Region, and National levels are selected and recognized. These COYs normally serve for one year. At the National level, the term "International COY" is used because the competition at that level includes Region COYs from both the U.S. and Canada. (For more information, please see the "COY Guide" available from your Chapter Director.)

• Director: Chapter, District, Region, National, Executive: As explained in Section 3, within GWRRA there are several levels of "Directors." With the exception of the President and Executive Director, who resides at the Home Office and is a paid employee of GWRRA, these positions are all filled by Members who volunteer their time to provide a communication link between the Home Office and its Members, to serve our Members, and to ensure their fun and entitlement as Members of GWRRA. (For more information, see the "Officer’s Guidebook" available from your Chapter Director.)

• Experienced Riders Course (ERC): This course, which is taught in about eight hours, is offered by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation and expands on the physical and mental skills taught in the Motorcycle Rider Course: Riding and Street Skills (MRC:RSS) (see definition in this section). Unlike the MRC:RSS, in the ERC you use your own motorcycle and, in some states, you can take it "two-up" with your co-rider.

• Field Events: At rallies you will hear about "field events." These can be both on-bike or off-bike. On-bike events are done at low speed (usually first gear) within a designated area and are designed for fun! Some are done with just the rider, and others require a co-rider, such as when the co-rider tries to take a bite out of a hot dog that’s dangling from a string overhead as they slowly ride by! Off-bike events are similar to on-bike events except they’re done off the bike. Plaques, trophies, and other similar forms of recognition are normally given to ackknowledge the winners within each event.

• Fifty-fifty (50/50): To help fund expenses, tickets are sold (where legal) and later ticket stubs are drawn. Half the money (50%) is given away, typically in increments of 25%, 15% and 10%, to the persons holding the drawn ticket numbers, and the other half (50%) is deposited into the treasury. 50/50 tickets are sold at Chapter meetings, rallies, and other events.

• GWRRA Home Page: For those Members who enjoy computers and using the Internet, there is a GWRRA Home Page you can access at "http://www.gwrra.org." A few of the services available from the Home Page are general information about GWRRA and upcoming events, such as Wing Ding, ability to address questions directly to the National Staff, access to Members’ classified ads, as well as on-line ordering from the GWRRA Wearhouse.

• Mall Show: This is a pre-scheduled "bike show" set up at a local shopping mall. This gives us an opportunity to set up and display our beautiful machines to the general public. It also assists us in recruiting new Members or associate members who may not otherwise have heard about us. (For more information, see the "Public Relations Guide" available from your Chapter Director.)

• Motorcycle Rider Course: Riding and Street Skills (MRC:RSS): This is a course offered by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) which teaches the basic skills of riding, such as straight line riding, turning, shifting, and stopping. It also teaches advanced turning techniques, maximum braking techniques, and swerving. In addition, mental skills are taught such as street riding strategies and special situations and how to deal with them. The class (on and off-bike) is about 22 hours, and motorcycles are provided for the students.

• Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF): The MSF is a national, nonprofit organization sponsored by Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Suzuki and BMW. Its purpose is to improve the safety of motorcyclists on the nation’s streets and highways. The MSF offers programs in rider education, licensing improvement, public information, and statistics.

• Poker or Observation Run: A poker or observation run normally serves as a fund raiser for the Chapter, District, or Region, as there is usually a small registration fee to participate. There are many formats but these are basically 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 check points 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 sights along the route. The person who answers the most questions correctly wins.

• Rides

  • All Day or Weekend Ride: As the name implies, this 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).

  • Dinner Ride: Most Chapters have scheduled dinner rides (year around by bike or, in bad weather, by car) to their favorite restaurant. Normally these rides will be scheduled at least a month in advance and the schedule published in the Chapter Newsletter or in the "Annual Ride/Activity Schedule" that many Chapters prepare. These rides will start from a designated point, but the meet/departure times may vary. The ride may a short one directly to the restaurant, or it may be a longer ride with a stop for dinner at the beginning, in the middle, or at the end of the ride.

  • Ice Cream or Dessert Ride: This is similar to a "dinner ride" except, as the name implies, it is normally a shorter ride (such as after work) and a stop is made for some sort of dessert (normally ice cream as most GWRRA members love ice cream!).

• Rally: This is a planned, normally annual event, two to four days in length, held at the District, Regional, or International level. Typical activities include vendor/trade shows, seminars, poker/observation runs, field events, best dressed competitions, etc. See Section 6 for more details.

• Special Interest Groups (SIG): As we all know, it’s the Honda Gold Wing that brought us together as our "common interest." However, it’s clear that many of our Members also have other interests and hobbies, such as camping & RVs, trikes, computers, etc. So SIGs are being established for your enjoyment as well.

• Wing Ding: This is the four-day International rally held each year in June or July. Each year it’s held in a different city within the U.S.

Are there different types of Membership?

Member: The following are currently the only two recognized types of membership within GWRRA (see Officer’s Guidebook, available from your Chapter Director, for more details):

• Full Member: The person who owns a Gold Wing or Valkyrie motorcycle and pays the annual membership fee, either individual or family.

• Associate Member: Recognizes participants who may not own or ride a motorcycle, or own or ride a motorcycle other than a Gold Wing or Valkyrie. This program is for people who cannot otherwise qualify for a "Full" membership.

What is the benefit of belonging to a "Chapter?"

As mentioned earlier, many Members feel the Chapter is the single most important benefit of belonging to GWRRA and for many reasons, some of which are:

• Countless new friends are made with a common interest
• It provides an opportunity to ride our Gold Wings with our friends
• Safe riding is promoted to make our riding experience even more enjoyable
• Skills and safety techniques are learned
• You really get an opportunity to live the motto of "Friends for Fun, Safety and Knowledge"

When you receive your first issue of Wing World, you should find an "Officer Listing" that includes, by District, locations of over 900 Chapters, one or more of which should be within riding distance of where you live.

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 monthly) are really social events that try to offer something for everyone. New ideas are always welcome!

When you attend, you will be made to feel at home, and the first time you will probably be introduced as a "guest." That allows the Chapter to recognize you as a first-time guest and prevents you from sitting in a corner ignored and bewildered! The next and subsequent visits you may not be introduced, but simply welcomed as one of the Chapter’s "extended family."

When you attend your first Chapter meeting, you may have several questions which we’ll try to address here. That way your first visit will be nothing but FUN!

First of all, you don’t "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. As mentioned earlier, there are over 900 Chapters and when you travel, you’re never far from "home."

What’s a "CD" or "ACD"? Each Chapter has someone who has volunteered to run the Chapter, and they’re known as the "Chapter Director," or "CD." Their assistant is called the "Assistant Chapter Director," or "ACD" for short. These are the individuals who can answer any questions you may have. They help organize and run the Chapter. Their primary "job" is to make sure the Members have FUN! In fact, upon your becoming a new Member, they should have initiated contact with you via a phone call and invited you to attend a Chapter meeting.

Most all of our Chapters publish a Chapter Newsletter, usually on a monthly basis. When you attend your first meeting, you will probably be asked to sign in, and then you’ll be on distribution for that Chapter’s Newsletter. In it you’ll find everything from upcoming rides, to recipes, to motorcycle items for sale, to information about other Chapters’ meetings and events.

You may see or hear someone selling "50/50" tickets at your Chapter meeting. First and foremost, you are under no obligation to purchase these tickets, or anything else at a Chapter meeting. Your attendance does not cost you a cent, except perhaps the cost of your meal, dessert or beverage. The reason these tickets are sold is because each Chapter has some minimal expenses such as printing and mailing newsletters. To help fund such expenses, tickets are sold (where legal). Later during the meeting, ticket stubs are drawn and half (50%) of the money is given away to the lucky ticket holders, usually in increments of 25%, 15%, and 10%! The other half is placed in the Chapter treasury. So partake if you like, but you’re under no obligation!

Chapters are self-supporting; they do not receive any portion of your annual GWRRA membership dues. Because most Chapters incur expenses (e.g., printing newsletters, annual Ride Schedules, event flyers, etc.), various methods of raising funds are found. One is the selling of 50/50 tickets. Others are craft and bake sales, raffles, etc. Again, there is no obligation to buy anything in order to participate.

Since some parts of the world are not conducive to riding our Gold Wings all year-round, there are all sorts of non-riding Chapter events held such as bowling parties, roller skating parties, pot lucks, chili dumps, etc. After all, this is a social/fraternal organization, and most Members do like to be with other Members once they take that initial step and attend that first Chapter meeting or activity!

What are Rallies?

Each year GWRRA rallies are held at the District, Region, and International levels (this last one is known as "Wing Ding"). They all have one express purpose in mind: to provide a fun, social environment for the participants. District rallies are normally two days in length, Regional rallies are normally three days, and Wing Ding is usually four days in length. Depending upon the size of the rally, they are held at convention centers, hotels, fairgrounds, schools or other locations.

Regardless of which rally 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 as well as off-bike games), a "talent" show, seminars, poker or observation run, and many other fun-filled things to do. Generally the rallies have vendors selling everything from leather wear, to chrome, polish, pinstriping, cargo trailers, campers, tires, tune-ups, oil changes, helmets, CB’s, intercoms, and a multitude of other "must have" accessories.

The granddaddy of them all, Wing Ding is typically the largest GWRRA rally of the year, drawing over 10,000 participants and about 150 vendors! The Gold Wingers basically fill a convention center and surrounding town for four days of clean, wholesome, family fun! Over the past 20 years, Wing Dings have been held in places such as Madison, WI; Tulsa, OK; Albuquerque, NM; Greenville, SC; Knoxville, TN; Louisville, KY; and Billings, MT.

All of the rallies we’ve described thus far have been those normally held when the weather is conducive to riding the Gold Wing. However, when the weather turns colder and the Gold Wing has gone into hibernation, many Districts also hold "winter rallies" to give our Members an opportunity to socialize during the off-season months. These rallies go by various names, such as "Wingless Weekend" and "Cabin Fever." They offer many of the same activities as the warmer weather rallies, with the exception of anything that requires a Gold Wing, e.g., bike show or on-bike field events.

If you have questions about membership, use the contact link below.