Gold Wing Reporter
Newsletter of the Capitol Wings
Gold Wing Road Riders Association
Region N, Virginia District, Chapter VA-A
June 2015, Volume 31, No. 6
www.gwrravaa.org
Chapter A (VA-A) welcomes riders from Northern Virginia (Fairfax, Alexandria, Arlington Counties) and the metropolitan Washington DC area to meet in Burke, VA,
the second Wednesday of every month at 7:30pm at the Commons Community Center: 5701 Roberts Parkway, Burke, VA 22015
AT THE JULY 8TH SOCIAL GATHERING
FUN, PRIZES, BRAGGING RIGHTS, AND MORE FUN!
Dear Chapter Diary...
VA-R Fun Fest
On Saturday May 2nd, Wally Newcombe, Jim Vaness,
Jim Hendershot and I road down to Harrisonburg to
support their Poker Run. I had grandson Andrew on the
back, his first ride of the year and he was thrilled. It
was nice having him. Members Bill Cook, Joe
Campbell, John and Michele Howe had already arrived.
The NC Precision Drill Team did a
wonderful job of entertaining us. The poker
cards were not good to us and the 50/50
money flew away. There was a delicious
assortment of food and desserts for all to
enjoy. After that the beautiful weather
made it a good day.
Law Ride
The Law Ride, on Sunday the 10th was very well
attended. Wally, Lou and Ric Cross and I followed the
Blue Knights over to the Stadium. As we pulled into
RFK it looked like hundreds and hundreds of bikes
were already lined up. We had time to shop and I
bought a souvenir tee shirt. The ride into DC was
quiet, with no radio or CB chatter. It was very solemn
ride. At the memorial, we had the opportunity to view
the names of the fallen police officers. Wally was able
to locate the name of his friend. Then Wally and I
went over to Arlington National Cemetery to view
his mothers’ new head stone. Afterward we went to
his father’s home and had a nice visit with his
family.
May Social Gathering
Matt Danielson from the Law Office of
Tom McGrath was a most welcome
guest at our gathering. He was very
informative and answered all our
questions. He told us about all the new
laws passed recently. I heard about the
New Auto Cycle, with side-by-side seats
and a steering wheel. I prefer my trike.
Wil Bell presented Wally with his
Master Tour Rider Certificate and
patches. We had long distance visitors from NC.
The District Couple of the Year, Roy and Cindy
Bryant. They are visiting all the chapters in VA
and NC. Quite an ambitious couple.
“Old Folks” Ride
Friday the 15th was the annual senior picnic at the
park. The volunteers from the Manassas and
Woodbridge Senior Centers get together. They
make all the food and provide music and other
Continued on next page
GWRRA Chapter VA-A (The Capitol Wings) Leadership Team
Chapter Director
Mary O'Connor
[email protected]
703-378-3873
Ass't Chapter Director
Jim Hendershot
[email protected]
703-354-3880
Chapter Educator
vacant
[email protected]
Chapter Treasurer
Wally Newcombe
[email protected]
Ride Coordinator
vacant
[email protected]
Motorist Awareness
Wil Bell
[email protected]
703-929-8329
Newsletter & Website
Joe Campbell
[email protected]
540-786-9572
Social Dinner Coord.
Steve Hartsock
[email protected]
703-408-2106
703-978-0824
Could we use a little bit more help? You betcha! We need folks to step up and fill in some of the many Chapter team
positions available. Help plan and execute activities and events and take charge of a portion of chapter life.
Talk to Mary O'Connor today about what you are interested in doing to help.
entertainment. The seniors look forward to riding on our
bikes every year. This year 5 of us gave rides to 37 elderly
folks. Some were looking for the 2 wheel bikes but we
only had trikes this year.
May Chapter Ride
Saturday the 16th was our trip to Hershey PA., Land of
Chocolate. Wally was the first out of the parking lot with
Robert & Tina Marie Toby, Steve Hartsock, Jack Bradden,
Jim Hendershot and I following behind. When the 7 of us
drove through town, we could smell the chocolate. The
parking lot at the Chocolate Factory was so very crowded,
I am glad we decided before hand to visit the Antique Car
Museum. I never knew there were cars in the 1890’s.There were hundreds of old cars, bikes and buses.3 floors to
see and so many different kinds. With Ford, Chevy
,Plymouth, Buick, and Edsell to name a few. I saw station
wagons, Lotus cars and Volkswagens. Even some bicycles
with motors on them. A 1972 Honda and of course some
Harleys. The Train room has several different model trains
set up. All running through the little town. I enjoyed it
very much. Our lunch at Subway was good as usual.
On the way home, as we approached Dulles Airport it
starting sprinkling but only for 10 minutes. It stopped long
enough for everyone to arrive home safely.
May Social Dinner
Our dinner on the 26th was at MAGills Famous Pizza &
Buffet. Wil and I road our bikes and when we arrived
Betty Needham was already waiting. We were a little
early. Steve Hartsock, Robert Tobey, Wally & June
Newcombe pulled in followed by Jim Hendershot & Jim
Farrari. We all went in together and found our seats. The
manager suggested we get our food right away because he
expected a couple of buses of teenagers from Myrtle
Beach, SC and South Dakota. They were seeing the sights
in DC for the week. Just as we picked up our food, the
buses pulled in. George & Nancy Ogden, John & Phyllis
Baldus came in later and did not know it was a buffet, so
they waited a little bit to get their food. When we finished
enjoying our food, Betty surprised me with a birthday
cake. It was a wonderful time for all.
Mary O'Connor
Everyone Has a Role in Making Our Roads Safer
No one wakes up thinking they will lose a loved one in a car crash
that day. But vehicle crashes are the No. 1 cause of death for children
and young adults ages 5 to 24. They are the No. 2 cause of death for
adults 25 and older and for toddlers, according to the Centers for
Disease Control.
Overwhelmingly, these deaths are preventable, and you can help
change these statistics. Be aware of the dangers associated with
impaired driving, speeding, not using a seat belt, or letting a child
play in or near a vehicle.
The National Safety Council has a message for every driver: Slow
down, make good choices, buckle up and watch out for children. It
will save lives. And remember, you’re setting an example for your
own kids.
Don't Drive While Impaired
Driving under the influence is a deadly proposition. Consuming
alcohol, prescription medication, over-the-counter or illegal drugs
greatly increases the chance of injury or death for you, your family
members and others on the road. Impaired drivers face prosecution,
legal costs and fines.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that in
2012, about one-third of all fatal crashes involved alcohol, and more
than 10,000 people lost their lives (Injury Facts 2014). Almost 4,000
drivers were killed in crashes while under the influence of drugs
other than alcohol. Due to under-reporting, this number actually may
be higher.
The best solution is for drivers to always be sober. If you plan to
drink outside the home, decide in advance how you will get home
with a sober driver. Impairment starts with the first drink.
Seat Belts Save Lives
Worn properly, seat belts are your best protection against injury in a
crash. That’s why 49 states and the District of Columbia have laws
requiring people riding in cars to wear seat belts. Only New
Hampshire lacks a seat belt law.
More than 90 percent of Americans wear seat belts, and the few who
don’t are vulnerable. More than half of vehicle occupants killed in
2012 were not wearing one (Injury Facts 2014). For 16- to 24-yearolds, seat belt use is significantly lower than other age groups.
Unfortunately, teens and young adults also have a higher risk of a
crash due to driver inexperience and impaired driving. For
information about teens and seat belts, visit driveithome.org.
Air bags also help reduce injury in crashes, but only when used with
seat belts. In addition, due to the force of air bags in a crash, children
should ride in the back seat of a vehicle until they are at least 13
years old.
Secure Children Safely
The best way to protect children in the car is to put them in the right
seat at the right time, and use it the right way. Restraint use among
young children often depends on the driver's seat belt use. When the
driver is buckled, children are restrained 95 percent of the time.
When the driver is unbuckled, children are restrained 67 percent of
the time, according to the National Occupant Protection Use
Survey.
Car seats reduce the risk of injury by 71% to 82% and reduce the
risk of death by 28% compared to children in seat belts, alone.
Booster seats reduce the risk of non-fatal injuries by 45% among 4to 8-year-olds, according to AAA. However, child restraints often
are used incorrectly.
Slow Down
Speeding was a factor in almost a third of fatal crashes in 2012,
according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. People
often believe speeding is a problem only on highways. However,
the percentage of crash deaths involving speeding is higher on
minor roads, such as neighborhood streets. Traffic-calming
engineering changes and speed enforcement cameras can help
reduce speeding in your local area.
Be Aware of Kids
Children under age 4 are especially vulnerable to getting run over
in a driveway. This happens most often by a parent who backs over
a child standing or playing near the vehicle. Drivers should always
walk completely around a vehicle to be sure small children are not
present before backing up or pulling forward. Mirrors and rearview cameras won’t always show children near the car.
Kids also can get trapped in the trunk, strangled by seat belts or
hurt by power windows. Cars should always be locked so children
cannot play inside.
Don't Forget Your Precious Cargo in the Back Seat
During the spring and summer, children increasingly are getting
locked in cars and dying of heatstroke. Even in 70-degree weather,
cars can reach life-threatening temperatures for children and pets in
just minutes. Leaving a window open a crack will not help.
Always keep vehicles locked so children cannot get into the car
alone. And, since most cases of heatstroke happen when a parent
forgets a child in the back seat, put something you need back there
with the child, such as a purse or laptop.
Older Drivers May Need Additional Help
According to Injury Facts 2014, the risk of a crash increases for
drivers older than 75. Check out resources from NHTSA to
determine if driving is the best option for older loved ones. You
will find advice on modifying cars for older drivers and those with
physical challenges. NHTSA also has advice on how to talk with
older drivers and medical conditions that can affect driving. You
may decide that public transportation is the best option.
Editor's Note: Borrowed from the National Safety Council website
CHAPTER STORE
More Association news is available
at the following websites
The Chapter Store has many GWRRA National,
District, and Chapter items for sale, including
patches, pins, and visitation bars
Gold Wing Road Riders
Association
Items Available at Meeting or call Wally
Newcombe @ 703-978-0824
www.gwrra.org
All prices subject to change without notice. Due to
demand, some items may be temporarily out of
stock.
GWRRA Region N
www.region-n.org
GWRRA Virginia District
wwwgwrrava.org
Chapter VA-A's Poker Run & Picnic Sponsor for 2014
MHKS _ 9105 Mathis Ave., Manassas, VA 20110
Coming Events
June
Jun 10 (Wed): Chapter Social Gathering and Co-Rider
Seminar, 7:30pm. Commons Community Center, 5701 Roberts
Parkway, Burke Va. This seminar is just as important for
Riders too. Just in case you’re giving a new friend their first
ride, you’ll know what they need to know. Even more fun
when YOU show up. Remember, ‘The More, The Merrier’.
And while you’re at it, bring a friend or two (or three, or
four…). Food, Fun, Stories and more Fun. For directions, call
any staff member.
Jun 20 (Sat): Chapter Ride, 8am eat / 9am ride. IHOP,
Shoppes at Quantico Center, 3914 Fettler Park Dr, Dumfries,
VA 22025. Just West of the I-95 and VA-234 interchange.
Ride to Reedville, VA on the Northern Neck at the Chesapeake
Bay.
Jun 23 (Tue): Social Dinner, 7pm. Milanos. 6230 G Rolling
Rd., Springfield, VA. No agendas, nor speeches. Just a chance
to sit down and have dinner and conversation with your
friends. To suggest a restaurant for future dinners, email Steve
Hartsock at [email protected] or call 703-408-2106.
Community Center, 5701 Roberts Parkway, Burke Va. Even
more fun when YOU show up. Remember, ‘The More, The
Merrier’. And while you’re at it, bring a friend or two (or
three, or four…). Food, Fun, Stories and more Fun. For
directions, call any staff member.
Jul 18 (Sat): Chapter Ride, 7:30am eat / 8:30am ride. IHOP,
Shoppes at Quantico Center, 3914 Fettler Park Dr, Dumfries,
VA 22025. Just West of the I-95 and VA-234 interchange.
Ride to Hanover, VA and Chapter VA-U’s Poker Run.
Jul 28 (Tue): Social Dinner, 7pm. Logan’s Roadhouse
12821 Fair Lakes Pkwy, Fairfax, VA. No agendas, nor
speeches. Just a chance to sit down and have dinner and
conversation with your friends. To suggest a restaurant for
future dinners, email Steve Hartsock at [email protected]
or call 703-408-2106.
August
Aug 5 (Wed): Staff Meeting, 7:30pm. Bob Evans
Restaurant, 10433 White Granite Drive, Oakton, VA 22124.
July
Jul 1 (Wed): Staff Meeting, Well, due to the holiday and
Wing Ding, the staff meeting has been cancelled.
Jul 8 (Wed): Chapter Social Gathering, 7:30pm. Commons
Aug 12 (Wed): Chapter Social Gathering, 7:30pm.
Commons Community Center, 5701 Roberts Parkway,
Burke Va. Even more fun when YOU show up. Remember,
‘The More, The Merrier’. And while you’re at it, bring a
friend or two (or three, or four…). Food, Fun, Stories and
more Fun. For directions, call any staff member.
*see Find-A-Friend under Programs at www.gwrra.org
Mary O'Connor
Chapter Director - VA-A
15206 General Stevens Ct
Chantilly, VA 20151