NORTHWIND RIDERS TANKBAG

October 2008

From the Director’s Chair

It’s that time of year again; time to think about putting our rides away for the winter. Oh sure, there will still be some good riding days, but not as many as we would like!

For those of us who don’t ride during the winter, it’s a time to do some work we may have been putting off during better weather.

If you are not sure what needs to be done, you are in luck this year; Fox Valley is having a maintenance seminar for us after the October meeting. There is more information on the date and time in this news letter.

Until then, keep the shiny side up.

Minutes of Meeting – September 20, 2008

Cindy called the meeting to order at 9:38 am. Guest Robin from Bensenville was introduced. Robin, who rides a Suzuki 650 Boulevard, is looking for some riding friends (and came to the right place, I might add).

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Cindy read the WOW Mission Statement.

Secretary's Report:

The following changes were noted to the minutes from the August 16 meeting: Regarding the report on WOW Women Only Weekend

– The WOW Women Only Weekend is hosted by a Wisconsin WOW chapter, the Dairyland Originals, who lead us on a ride through beautiful country roads on Saturday. The annual Ride for Kids event on Sunday raised a total of $102,570 for the benefit of the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation. About 25 (or so) WOW riders rode for this worthy cause on Sunday.

Under “New Business,” it was incorrectly reported that Jan S. was a nominee for the office of Treasurer. It should have read “Secretary.” Lynn L. is the nominee for Ride Coordinator.

Treasurer's Report:

Judy read the current financial statement. LaVerne moved to accept the report as presented. Kim seconded and the motion passed.

Road Captain’s Report:

Those who attended the August meeting had a beautiful ride afterwards to McHenry for lunch at Vicky’s on the Fox River.

On August 31 the scheduled ride to Galesburg was cancelled and a group of riders went to Farmers City instead to check out a possible campsite and lunched there. After lunch, they went to Lincoln, IL, for the largest covered wagon Point of Interest.

The ride scheduled after the October meeting to Dwight for lunch at Turtles Restaurant has been changed to lunch at E.J. Karz in Verona – a shorter ride to ensure those attending the Maintenance Seminar at Fox Valley Cycle on that day can get back in time.

Committee Report:

Kim gave an update on the events sponsored by Fox Valley Cycle. Regarding the Scavenger Hunt, all materials that need to be completed and the pictures must be turned in by the October meeting to Kim or participants can take their package to the store anytime before that date. A handout from FVC was distributed regarding the “Women Only” Maintenance Seminar held by FVC on Saturday, October 18 at 2 pm. Information has been previously collected on all the motorcycle make and models in our group so they could have specific information for everyone. The seminar, presented by Bob Conley, will emphasize winterizing. The FVC Mystery Ride will be on Sunday, October 19. Women riders only will meet at FVC at 10am. What happens after that is still a mystery.

Lincoln’s Campout 2009 - Marilyn and CJ reported on their search of a new site for next year’s campout weekend formerly known as Mr. Lincoln Campout. These ladies went to Farmers City on Aug. 31 to check out campgrounds and are planning a trip in October to check out a couple of possibilities for a new location in the Peoria area including the Wildlife State Park.

Cindy is still checking on the price of a possible Northwind Riders decal.

Old Business

Annual Officer Elections were the next order of business up. Joanne made a motion that nominations be closed and the motion was passed. Nominations were made at the August meeting and there was only one candidate for each office. By popular vote all those candidates were elected to office as follows:

Chapter Director – Cindy B.

Assistant Chapter Director – Sharon “Rusty” L.

Treasurer – Judy G.

Secretary – Jan S.

Ride Coordinator – Lynn L.

Newsletter Editor – LaVerne H.

New Business

Kim made a suggestion that Northwind Riders nominate Fox Valley Cycle for Dealership of the Year recognition by Woman On Wheels Magazine. The process for that will be investigated.

It’s that time for By-Laws update. Officers will meet to discuss possible changes and present their proposal to the chapter at a future date.

Kim gave us information on the following events:

The Ovarian Cancer Ride will be held Sunday September 21 starting with registration at Heritage Harley in Lisle at 10am. The entry fee is $15 in advance or $20 at start. The ride starts at noon.

There will be a Motorcycle Swap Meet on October 5 at Sandwich Fair Grounds. Hours are 8am to 3pm. Admission is $5.00.

On October 26 at 4 pm will be the annual gathering at Dave & Busters in Addison. The gathering will include members of Wild Roses, Redhawk Riders, and Northwind Riders chapters.

There being no further business, Joanne made a motion to adjourn. CJ seconded and it was passed. The meeting was adjourned at 10:35 am.

Respectfully submitted,

Jan S.

Secretary

Tankbag Tidbits

You have probably received an “eVite” (I bet that’s a new one on Webster) for the fall gathering at Dave and Busters in Addison (1155 N. Swift Road). For those of you who are not familiar with D&B this is a family restaurant with a big game room and lots of machines in back to keep the whole family busy for a while after dinner. This event is organized and hosted by Rene of the Redhawk Riders, GiGi who just started a brand new Chapter in north central Illinois called Wild Roses, and our own Director, Cindy. Let’s all join for dinner (4:00 pm) and welcome the new chapter into our sisterhood.

Birthday Announcements

Four of us were born in October: Mary Ellen (10/3), Vanessa (10/10), Laura P. (10/15), and CJ (10/23). Happy Birthday to all.

Happy cruising.

– Editor

Rusty’s Ramblings...

By Rusty H.

Illinois State Ambassador

Holy smokes, its October already. I’m not sure about the rest of you, but I’m afraid to check the mileage on my bike for the Contest/Survey. I got the low mileage award last year, and looks like I’m gonna get it again. The trip to Michigan was the only real “trip” that I took this year, and that was mostly straight up and back. I don’t remember seeing southern Illinois getting pounded with rain and floods like we did here in the Quad Cities, but I do remember seeing many of the Chicago suburbs getting mentioned on the Weather Channel with trees down, streets flooding, and other really nasty weather related stuff.

I don’t know how everyone fared, but I have a 4 inch hole in my roof with a big patch over it, and a new water heater in the basement (Thanks Red Cross!) because of the massive rainstorm that left 10 inches of water at the foot of the steps. The cats’ litter box was floating. Needless to say, I didn’t ride much.

So, it’s October! Open your latest magazine and either tear out or copy the 2008 Ending Mileage Form and get it sent in. The last day for the mileage is Oct. 31^st and the form must be mailed by the 15^th of Nov. Remember, W.O.W. crunches all the numbers from this Survey/Contest and sends it to the bike manufacturers. This is why we have lower bikes and pink leathers. If you don’t think you’re gonna win, so what! We all win when the manufacturers see that we are riding and spending money, and we like to be pampered.

Sept. was election month. I hope all the Chapters have completed their elections and have the results ready to send to National and myself. This needs to get sent in soon, so that all the information in the Magazine (and on the website) can be updated at one time and ready for the Jan-Feb. issue.

The Ride Schedules are starting to thin out a bit as the summer comes to an end. Here in the Quad Cities, our Ice Cream Dinner Ride on Oct. 9^th has changed. Instead of meeting at Sonja’s, we will be going to Salvatore's Ristorante Pizzeria in Muscatine. We’ll meet there at 6:30. Our Sunday Ride this month will be at the Holiday Inn in Moline for Sunday Brunch. And, another of my favorite meetings, the Annual Pumpkin Carving Meeting. Yes, ladies, we all get together with our cleaned out pumpkins and carve them there. It used to be a contest, but that has fallen by the wayside and now it’s just fun. I’m not good with sharp objects, so I have one of those safety knives for carving pumpkins. Nov. 13^th is our Dinner Ride and we’re going to Mulkey’s in Rock Island for some very good Henny Penny Chicken.

The Shawnee Riders are having a meeting on Nov 6^th, and a Chapter Ride on the 9^th. If you’re gonna be in the neighborhood and wanna ride with, contact a Shawnee Rider for more info. The NCI Wildroses are meeting on the Winner’s Circle Bar & Grill for their meeting on the 25^th of Oct. Meeting starts at 9am.

The Northwind Riders have a Chapter meeting on Saturday, the 18^th of Oct. and then are riding to E.Z. Karz in Verona, IL, if the weather permits. They also have a busy weekend with the folks at Fox Valley Cycle in Aurora. On Oct. 18^th there is going to be a Maintenance Seminar, and then on Sunday Oct. 19^th there is a Mystery Ride planned. This is for women only and is the rain date for the ride scheduled in Sept. that was rained out. Hopefully, they won’t get rained out again. Nov. 15^th is scheduled as a meeting but lunch is open. The IL Red Hawk Riders are hostessing a get together at Dave & Buster’s in Addison. Dinner time is 4pm so come a little earlier. I’ve been to Dave & Buster’s a couple times and have a blast every time.

So in closing, just a reminder to get those mileage forms sent in. Don’t think you have to quit riding once the form is sent in. I hate starting the new year survey with the same mileage that I closed with the year before, so I hope you don’t have to either.

Ride Safe,

Rusty