From The Chapter Director

Hope everyone is having a great summer.  Margaret and I had a great trip, we saw a lot of country, and were able to visit with family and friends. This was the best trip we have ever taken.  From  the wing you see so much more, but we are glad to be back home.

We are sorry to hear about Jim Willa, We wish him and his family the best, and hope Jim has a speedy recovery.  Also we all know there have been a number of motorcycle deaths in Alaska this summer and from things I heard most of them were caused by the other driver not the rider.  We all need to be more alert on the road.  So please ride safe.

The fireweed 400 race was a lot of fun and went real will.  Thanks to those who were able to help with the support ride.  We had great weather for it. There was a 50 mile and 100 mile bicycle race and a 400 mile.  It was great to see the people who took part in this.  It was very well put together. Hope more can join in next year.  See you all at the next get together.

Tom

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From The Assistant Chapter Director

I have a bit of a dilemma.  It seems that I will be taking over as Chapter Director sooner then I thought.  My dilemma is, I'm not sure there will be a Chapter to take over.  In the past few months member after member have said they were leaving for some reason or the other.  Has everyone lost interest in the Club?  We have at least two pages of  members names and only had 9 people show up at the last function.  At the get- togethers it's always the same ones that show up.  What are we doing wrong?  The Club is dieing from lack of interest.  This is not what I want to see happen.  If you feel the same way, then get involved, step up and help instead of sitting back and grumbling about the way it should be.

Butch

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Jim Willa Story (received from Wendy)

For those who have not heard, Jim Willa had an accident on the ALCAN the first part of July.  He fell asleep behind the wheel and was off the road two hours before help arrived.  The van was so damaged that the jaws of life had to be use to get him out. Once the Canadian hospital had their way with him, he was put on a medivac(sp?) from Champagne (Yukon) to Harbor View Hospital in Seattle.

He is now at home it Arizona, he has 5 broken ribs, near his back,  he has what the doctors think is a deep tissue injury in one of his legs,  and he cannot recall much of anything that happened before he left Haines to include his time spent up here.  The memory loss may only be temporary, but may take time to come back, there is a possibility it will not come back at all. There is no internal organ damage.

He is in a great deal of pain and pretty exhausted. He is very glad to be home.  Jim does not remember the accident happening and woke up in the hospital not knowing why he was there.

Needless to say we are just glad that he is alive.  (The front-end and the back-end of his van are now facing each other.)

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Member Milestones
~*~
Birthday wishes to

Wendy Heikes July 8th
Jill Mingus July 20th
Cindy Heck July 25th
Lu Woods August 15th
Dean Mingus August 20th
Randy Heck August 22nd
Tom Bush August 23rd
Von Dean Christley August 26th

Anniversary wishes to

Greg & Peggy Olson July 6, 1968
Dean & Jill Mingus August 28, 1982

Belated wishes to those who had birthdays and anniversaries while I was on vacation.

If we've missed anyone, please let us know so we can acknowledge their special day.

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Just for Laughs
~*~ The difference between the Intercom and the CB radio is simple...  The Intercom is the device used by your co-rider to let you know you made the wrong turn...  The CB is the device used by ALL the riders in your group to let you know you made the wrong turn.

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2003 Ride/Event Schedule

June thru August -  Saturday Rides - Meeting at Taco Bell Tesoro in Palmer at 10:00 AM.  These Saturday rides will continue all summer long.  Contact persons - Roger & Wendy Heikes - 907-373-5790 - rogerwen@mtaonline.net

August 9th & 10th - Fairbanks Loop Ride - Due to extensive construction, the Fairbanks Loop Ride has been cancelled.

All rides are subject to change due to weather.
All riders MUST wear helmets.
  All ideas are welcome for more rides/events to be added.

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Recipe of the Month
Got a favorite recipe???  Send it to me an share it with the group.

BBQ Seasoned Salt - from Linda Steckman

Mix equal parts:
Creole Seasoning (I use Tony Chachere’s)
Garlic Salt
Season*All
Hickory Smoked Salt

Sprinkle on any meat you're throwing on the grill.

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Web Sites of Interest

Gold Wing Road Riders Assoc.  -  http://www.gwrra.org/

Chapter AK-M Web Site  -  http://www.ak-m.20m.com/

Chapter AK-M Photo Site  -  http://groups.msn.com/ChapterAKM/shoebox.msnw

BC District Rally 2003  -  http://www.vwh.ca/rally2003/

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Chapter AK-M Staff

Chapter Director - Tom Bush
907-745-0840 ~*~ tommarg@alaska.net

Assistant Chapter Director - Dana (Butch) Dobson
907-373-3155 ~*~ mailman@mtaonline.net

Senior Chapter Director - Mike Woods
907-373-6702 ~*~ mikeandlu2@gci.net

Treasurer - Von Dean Christley
907-333-9691 ~*~ cchris@gci.net

  Newsletter Editor - Linda Steckman
907-745-0849 ~*~ happyhen@alaska.net

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From The Editor

I'm stepping down as newsletter editor, so if any other members would like to take over the position, please contact me and I'll be happy to get you started.

Ride as if your life depended on it…  it does.        Linda  {:>

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GWRRA - Friends for Fun, Safety and Knowledge.