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It is with great pride that I announce our CMC family is growing once again! This time we are welcoming our newest chapter into the fold! With relentless effort from Bill Boyd Irma and Marilyn Denyer please welcome CMC 093 Nackawic NB to the CMC!! Congrat ×

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  1. CMC Bylaws & Guidelines - Revised Feb 2018 The Canadian Motorcycle Cruisers (CMC) community is a family-oriented, social riding club consisting of fun-loving, enthusiastic individuals representing diverse races, creeds and colours. In order to foster an atmosphere of understanding, safety and inclusivity, the following guidelines have been made available. All members of CMC are required to be aware of, maintain compliance with, and sign off as required, on any of the following guidelines and waivers. ARTICLE 1 – CLUB CREATION AND NAME 1.1 This riding club shall be known as the “CANADIAN MOTORCYCLE CRUISERS.” This may be abbreviated as “CMC”. 1.2 The “CMC” Riding Club was founded in Cambridge, ON, in November 2006. The CMC has a National Officer as the head, a Provincial Officer Board consisting of National Officer, Provincial Officers, and Regional Officers; having autonomous decision making authority on all aspects of the CMC. The National Officer will have input equal to that of other members of the Board. The National Officer may not change or reverse a decision made by the National Officers Board. Decisions will be made by consensus of the National Officers Board, in the best interest of the CMC. The National Officer will make a final decision ONLY if the National Officers Board is deadlocked and a majority position is not attainable. The CMC is also represented by Chapter level officers. ARTICLE 2 – PURPOSE 2.1 The purpose of the CANADIAN MOTORCYCLE CRUISERS (CMC) is to provide a safe, family based riding and social club. It is a volunteer, non-voting riding only club; the CANADIAN MOTORCYCLE CRUISERS (CMC) exists as not for profit. ARTICLE 3 – MEMBERSHIP 3.1 Criteria: Membership is open to anyone who has an interest in motorcycles and or motorcycling (taking note of sections 3.6 and 3.7 below). However, given that the Canadian Motorcycle Cruisers is a private family-friendly, social riding club, it therefore reserves the right to refuse membership applications, should it be deemed in the best interest of the club. 3.2 Members will agree to adhere to the club bylaws. 3.3 Members must meet the membership criteria. 3.4 Members will agree with the club purpose. 3.5 Members are required to maintain good standing in terms of conduct. 3.6 Members must reside in Canada for at least 6 months of the year and must maintain a Canadian postal address. Grandfather clause is applied to current members that have moved from Canada but are still active with the Chapter. 3.7 Riders must possess a Canadian Provincial Driver’s License properly endorsed for motorcycle riding in the Province that issued it. This license must be produced to the Chapter’s First Officer (or his delegate) or the Road Captain upon request and comply with Article 14.2.6 3.8 Members agree that they are responsible for their own safety and conduct. 3.9 Participation in any club event is at their own risk and, as such, cannot hold the CANADIAN MOTORCYCLE CRUISERS (CMC) responsible for any mishap, incident or accident; nor is it implied that the CANADIAN MOTORCYCLE CRUISERS (CMC) is open to suit or litigation. 3.10 Any member who passes away will have their membership number retired. 3.11 Members may belong to other riding clubs such as brand specific or International Riding clubs, Motorcycle Clubs or other riding organizations, however recruiting CMC members for enrolment to that club may be grounds for improper conduct and thus dismissal from the CMC. 3.12 Members are not required to hold office and do not have voting rights. 3.13 Members not active within 90 days of joining, will be deleted from Chapter rosters at the 1st Officer’s discretion. (Exceptions may include military personnel, snowbirds, illness, etc). 3.14 Dormant memberships will be purged annually in November. The purging of Lone Riders will be the responsibility of the Regional, Provincial or the National Officer only. 3.15 Members not living within a 100 km "catchment area" of the nearest Chapter may join the Canadian Motorcycle Cruisers as a Lone Rider. This is the only justification for being a Lone Rider. This member will be given all rights and privileges as any other member of the CMC and will be included on the National and Provincial roster(s) to ensure local updates. As a Lone Rider, you will not be able to hold an Officer's position within a local Chapter. It will be the responsibility of the Lone Rider to keep current on all provincial activities by participating on the National forum and to actively participate in Provincial Chapters' events. ARTICLE 4 – DUES 4.1 Membership to the CANADIAN MOTORCYCLE CRUISERS (CMC) is free. There will never be a membership fee to remain in the club. No chapter may maintain a bank account under the name CANADIAN MOTORCYCLE CRUISERS (CMC). 4.2 No chapter may present or sponsor an event without the written approval of National. Insurance for an event must be carried by the venue or individual presenting the event. The CANADIAN MOTORCYCLE CRUISERS (CMC) will not insure any event, ride or social activity. ARTICLE 5 – MEETINGS 5.1 There are no formal meetings of the membership; however the officers may meet (periodically) to discuss club related business and issues. ARTICLE 6 – CLUB OFFICERS 6.1 The club shall be administered by the following officers: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and Financial Officer. Chapters may increase officer ranks to reflect individual chapter needs. Any Officer designation (outside of those outlined above) must be approved by their Provincial, Regional, and/or National Officer 6.2 Road Captain: organizes and leads/tailguns the group during a riding event or group rides. 6.2.1 Road Captains must have taken part in a group riding program that covers the planning, procedures, safety, signals and other relevant factors for a group riding activity. 6.2.2 Members must be group riding approved by a Road Captains before proceeding on a CMC ride. 6.3 Officers shall be eligible for reimbursement for reasonable expenses incurred during the administration of club business by submitting a request with receipts to the First Officer, who will deal with the Financial Officer, all chapter funds are the responsibility of the First Officer who may delegate to a Financial Officer. 6.4 No officer may hold an executive or officer designation with any other motorcycle or riding club. ARTICLE 7 – DUTIES OF OFFICERS 7.1 It is the responsibility of all Officers to adhere to and put in practice all CMC bylaws. 7.2 All officers must report to the First Officer for any and all chapter issues. The First Officer will consider all remarks and render a decision that he/she feels is best for the club. The First Officer’s decision is final. The First Officer will consult with the Provincial Officer/Regional Officer or National Officer to make the decision best for the CMC and Chapter. 7.3 Should a Chapter’s 1st Officer feel it necessary and appropriate to remove a Member from the Chapter and / or the CMC for bylaw violations, the 1st Officer must inform and consult with the Regional Officer (or in the case where there is no Regional Officer, the Provincial Officer) before final decision to remove a member is made. The Regional Officer will inform Provincial Officer so he/she is aware of situation. Upon approval, this removal will then be forwarded by the Regional Officer to the National Membership Coordinator for entry into the National Rosters. ARTICLE 8 – APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS 8.1 The First Officer will appoint Officers as needed or required to fill vacancies, and will inform the CMC Membership Coordinator and their respective Regional or Provincial Officer of these changes or additions. The First Officer can appoint his/her replacement but only after consultation with their respective Regional/Provincial or National Officer. 8.2 Instalment or replacement of: National Officer, Provincial Officer, or Regional Officer, must be made by consensus of the Provincial Officer Board. 8.3 Any National, Provincial, Regional or 1st Officer, being either unable, or unwilling to fulfill duties required of the National Officers Board, due to personal, health, work, absence, or other reason, may be removed from their position, upon consensus of the National Officers Board. 8.4 All such decisions must be made maintaining Article 10 “Conduct” of the CMC, and with respect. ARTICLE 9 – APPOINTMENTS AND COMMITTEES 9.1 Appointments and Committees are positions in the club that are of a voluntary nature. 9.2 These positions are appointed by the First Officer and can include, but are not limited to road captains, event coordinators, social convenors, etc. ARTICLE 10 – CONDUCT 10.1 All participants agree to adhere to CMC riding protocols and proper social etiquette. Any member of the club may be dismissed from the CMC, a club meeting or any club activity as a result of inappropriate behaviour/conduct. The member shall be warned concerning such inappropriate conduct by an Officer or Road Captain. The following shall be the basis for, but not limited to, inappropriate behaviour and disciplinary measures: 10.1.1 Wild, unsafe riding habits; especially any activity which jeopardizes the safety of other persons. 10.1.2 Inappropriate or obnoxious behaviour that is detrimental to the image of the club or any member or officer. 10.1.3 Consumption of alcohol, or any other potentially impairing substance, including but not limited to prescription medication and/or legalized marijuana by a motorcycle operator, prior to or during any ride organized and posted by a chapter, its Officers or a qualified Road Captain. 10.1.4 Solicitations of members for the purpose of joining another club. 10.1.5 Threatening or verbally intimidating or harassment of a member. ARTICLE 11 – NON-MEMBER GUESTS 11.1 Non-member guests are welcome at general meetings, rides, and social gatherings of the CMC so long as they are invited guests and they agree to abide by CMC rules and ride guidelines. Each regular member may invite one (1) non-member guest to a club event, more upon consultation with the Officer/person in charge of the event. 11.2 Guests must agree to abide by club rules and standards of conduct. ARTICLE 12 – CRESTS, LOGO & PATCHES 12.1 All crests and logo designs are property of the CANADIAN MOTORCYCLE CRUISERS (CMC). Only the National can commission the production and distribution of Promotional Product, including, but not limited to: Crests, Clothing, Hats, Stickers, Event Banners, or any product bearing the Madison or CMC designation. 12.2 All third party items must be approved by National and distributed by the First and Second Officers of each chapter. Any reproduction in any way of the Madison must be approved by National. 12.3 Any profits from Sections above become property of CMC. A quarterly report of CMC funds will be provided to the Provincial Officer Board by the National Financial Officer, or Officer with access to the same information. 12.4 The riding crest will never be referred to as colours. It will never be worn with other motorcycle club patches. Riding clubs and brand specific logos/crests are welcomed to be shared with the CMC logo (Madison). Our crest is called the “Madison” in honour of the 10 year old girl that won our design contest. (Madison Smith). 12.5 The riding crest will never be worn with rockers, 1%, MC or colour designations. Our riding crest is purchased, not earned. 12.6 The riding crest is used only as identification of the CANADIAN MOTORCYCLE CRUISERS (CMC) and not a MC designation. 12.7 No Territory or location badge/patch will be worn on the back with the CANADIAN MOTORCYCLE CRUISERS (CMC) crest. 12.8 CMC (Chapter number and chapter name) may be worn on the front left of the vest / jacket only. 12.9 CANADIAN MOTORCYCLE CRUISERS (CMC) encourages all members to proudly wear a Canadian Flag crest on the left front of their vest / jacket. 12.10 No other countries flag can be worn above or beside the Canadian Flag. The CANADIAN MOTORCYCLE CRUISERS (CMC) is 100% Canadian. 12.11 Crests may only be purchased from CMC National or through your Provincial/Regional/Chapter Officers. Cost is plus taxes and shipping if applicable.. Email for your order. ARTICLE 13 – CHAPTERS 13.1 All CANADIAN MOTORCYCLE CRUISERS (CMC) chapters must adhere to these bylaws. 13.2 All chapter decisions will be made by the chapters First Officer. If the First Officer is not able to render decisions or commission the rules and code of conduct due to negligence or sickness, the Provincial/Regional Officer (or his appointee) will assume operation of that chapter until the First Officer can return to his/her capacity or a new First Officer is appointed. 13.3 All chapters must purchase their crests from National . The crest may not be reproduced in part or in whole for any reason. Any member with a counterfeit crest will be removed from the CMC membership and subject to legal repercussions. 13.4 Transfers between chapters due to relocation is permitted and does not require National Officers Board approval. Chapter 1st Officer will be notified and welcome the transferring member accordingly. Transfer requests to another chapter for reasons other than relocation, such as personal issues, will be reviewed on an individual basis. After appropriate National Officers Board member has reviewed request, he/she will make decision to permit or decline request. Administration and 1st will then be notified of final decision. ARTICLE 14 – CLUB RIDING 14.1 All members and guests participating in any riding activity: 14.2.1 Shall wear a helmet compliant with CSA and/or DOT helmet standards where applicable by law, and appropriate closed toe footwear. 14.2.2 Shall wear eye protection such as goggles, face-shield, safety eyewear, including prescription eyewear; meeting shatter or impact standards. 14.2.3 Are highly recommended to also wear long pants, long-sleeved shirt or jacket and full-fingered gloves. 14.2.4 Shall be properly motorcycle licensed to ride a motorcycle. And ride only a legally registered, licensed and insured vehicle that they are operating. 14.2.5 Shall keep their motorcycle in proper operating condition, including, but not limited to, vehicle equipment and operation requirements set forth in the Provincial Motorcycle Vehicle Act. 14.2.6 Provide proof of license, registration, insurance and will allow the inspection of their vehicle and equipment, done by any club officer or road captain who then may deny participation for failure to meet standards in the interest of the group’s safety. ARTICLE 15 – CMC PARTICIPATION / RESPONSIBILITY & LIABILITY WAIVER(S) 15.1 Each individual participates in activities solely by choice. Any participation relinquishes any responsibility of the CMC as an organization, for any and all liabilities resulting in participation in any club ride, gathering or social activity. 15.2 All activities and events must comply with any and all Provincial or local laws and ordinances. Any personal injury or property damage resulting during a club ride or social activity at any time, becomes the responsibility of the individual parties directly involved only, and at no time shall the CMC be held liable. 15.3 Any individual involved in any illegal activities will be immediately suspended from the CMC until a further review of the situation by their Provincial/Regional Officer and subject to immediate removal from all club rosters and membership roles and will be forbidden to claim any and all association with the CMC. 15.4 All individuals participating in any CMC club ride, gathering or social activity, will be required to accept these terms and conditions by reading and signing off on the Bylaws and any required or pertinent waiver form(s), prior to any CMC club ride, gathering or social activity. 15.5 Waiver Forms may be downloaded here. Please note, by not agreeing to these terms and conditions you will forfeit your eligibility to partake in any CMC rides and activities. ARTICLE 16 - OPERATING PROCEDURES FOR CMC CHAPTER FACEBOOK PAGES 16.1 A CMC Chapter FaceBook page will be a closed group. Any chapter that is not already closed must do so immediately. 16.2 A CMC Chapter FaceBook Page will be administered by the 1st officer or his/her delegates 16.3 A CMC Chapter FaceBook Page will be open to all CMC members - New CMC members welcomed on FB must have been processed through the forum registration process first. Example of past issues: member is welcomed on FB as CMC member but in reality the National Membership Coordinator has no record of person joining CMC. Members from other chapters wanting to join a chapter FaceBook page can be verified as members by the National Membership Coordinator beforehand. 16.4 All CMC Chapter FaceBook Pages will adhere to CMC Bylaws & Chat guidelines - link to the bylaws can be found on the bottom right corner of any page on the forum. 16.5 Any & all CMC information such as CMC rides, M/G, new member welcomes, retired/injured CMC member, officer status change etc must also be posted on CMC National forum. This document is binding to all established and future CMC FB pages. Any FB page using the CMC name/trademark that is found not to be following these stated rules, may/will be closed. Revised Jan 2019
    26 points
  2. I do not think it is mere coincidence that we are embarking on a new venture with a new platform around the same time of our 7th Anniversary. We have grown not only in numbers, but in positive exposure and credibility. Our community-focused mandate is reflected in our continued involvement with many charitable organizations such as the Children's Wish Foundation. But beyond that, we have become nationally recognized as a group of individuals who exemplify compassion and a genuine willingness to make a difference to the disenfranchised across our country. This forum is your home. This is where you will be regenerated as you participate in the give and take of social interaction with CMC members all across the country. Each region has its own flavour and distinctiveness and that has transformed our riding club into a representative microcosm of Canada. No where else in Canadian mortorcycling, is there such a diverse group of individuals who have come together, not just for the fun of riding, but building community. Some of you will recall my original post 5 years ago, (see attached) on my experience in meeting for the first time, the “black leather crowd” that was CMC, and how in a matter of minutes, all preconceived notions were dispelled through the act of a hug from a leather-clad female stranger. I was safe because my wife was also with me, and she received the same from an equally leather-bound male stranger. The point is, we are different, but one notable and defining characteristic of our club is that we celebrate those differences with compassion, inclusiveness and respect. Irma, Mike and I thoroughly enjoyed taking the last three months to prepare this online platform for all of you. Please use it to the fullest. We did not set it up to compete with other social media sites; you are free to use those. We worked hard at setting this forum up to compete for your hearts; the hearts that make up CMC. cmc036_2008.pdf
    24 points
  3. A few days ago, I was listening to a CBC television newscast showcasing a young Quebec filmmaker by the name of Xavier Dolan. This admittedly young, brash, yet gifted filmmaker, has been dubbed The Québécois L'Enfant Terrible. After all, where does a fresh-faced 25-year-old, get off winning the prestigious Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival for his just released film Mommy? Decades-old, entrenched filmmakers of his genre, have continually looked down their noses at such young up and coming unorthodox filmmakers. Breaking stereotypes, and shattering molds, seems to be the new normal; as far as new, talented Quebec filmmakers are concerned anyway. So what does this have to do with bikers? Well, in my opinion, everything. A stereotype, once dissected and laid bare, usually verifies its own definition. A descriptive aberration of the oversimplification of a partial truth. The unfortunate and widely held mystique of the "biker" promotes the image of a 'rebel without a cause'; individuals with apparent dysfunctional, untrustworthy attitudes, borne out of seemingly rebellious natures, replete with a radical death wish predisposition. While there are unsavoury, immature individuals who utilize motorcycles, that does not necessarily translate into all participants of this two-wheeled genre being poster children for the Hells Angels. An unfortunate side effect of all this is that the culture becomes inundated with misinterpretation and preconceived notions from within and without. These attitudes are also pervasive within the subculture itself. If you ride a cruiser you may not necessarily look on with favour, those who do not ride that type of motorcycle. Or if you do not subscribe to the "Sons of Anarchy" mentality, even in pretense (which has its own inherent and dangerous traps) then you are catalogued and classified as an outsider; or a biker 'wannabe'. If you missed the irony in that last statement, that would be akin to you not seeing a screaming naked person running in circles around you as you tried to order coffee in a Tim Hortons check out line. Just saying :). I know of which I speak, because I have been on the receiving end of that kind of short-sighted thinking several times over. Let's be honest, we all unfortunately maintain some level of prejudice or bias based upon our preconceived notions of how things should or should not be, along with our likes and dislikes. These preconceptions have come about through our upbringing, our environment, and from things that have made an impact on us, whether for good or for ill. What we do about that type of thinking and how we comport ourselves (as individuals first; bikers second) moving forward, is the question we should be asking ourselves. With that said, I have a confession to make. When dealing with idiotic twits (are there any other kinds?), there have been times when I have said to myself, why bother? Why wrestle with those whose thought processes are intractable, narrow-minded, or self-serving? Why acknowledge them? Why give them the time of day? Then I am reminded that I too am a part of this whole global culture. I make up a part of the human race. No matter what or how I think, I cannot extract myself from the people of this planet. Yes, I will disagree with some of their ideas, or ways of doing things, but I am a part of the whole. That in itself is not necessarily a bad thing. In fact I believe it has great intrinsic value. It means I not only have the opportunity, but the right to offer something of value back to the community. Why should I be robbed of the opportunity to promote something good or worthwhile, because of someone else's insecurities? The Canadian Motorcycle Cruisers Social Riding Club effectively stretches between Canada's east and west coasts. It consists of individuals in different provinces and cities with different types of motorcycles from different walks of life with different ways of thinking. Some look as if they eat nails for breakfast and dress the part accordingly, but in truth are the most gentle, kind, grandparents, doctors, teachers, pharmacists, mechanics, electricians among others, you could ever meet; while others look as if they have just stepped off the covers of GQ or Cosmopolitan magazines, but may not seem immediately warm and friendly. The point is if you judge a book by its cover, you risk losing the opportunity of discovering the value of the content within. The CMC has an underlying and refreshingly realistic mandate; you may not be able to make friends with everyone, but at a minimum show respect to everyone and hopefully you should expect the same in return. Essentially we are a microcosm of humanity who just happen to have a thing for motorcycles. My association with the CMC began in July 2008, with a small chapter, in a small town, in a rural county in Southwest Ontario. Through that initial association I volunteered to become one of the maintainers and official coordinator of our national online forum. So I've had some time to witness the evolution of our riding club as it has progressed over the years I have been a part of it. Attitudes change, people come and go and yes, there been times when I thought about not being a part of CMC. The encouraging thing is that you're allowed to think that way. You're not mandated to be here permanently. You're free to come and go. If it is not enjoyable anymore you are not constrained to stay. You prioritize what is of value for you. Your family comes first. Your health comes first. Your job comes first. Your lifestyle comes first. Something that was of great assistance in helping me during a period when I was feeling a bit disillusioned about my role or value in CMC, (only as far as I was concerned), was when I met George. George is one of the friendliest, most unassuming, jovial, characters you will ever meet. George unfortunately had to have one of his legs amputated a few years ago, but that is not stopped him from participating in rides and meet ups as a new member in our local chapter. George's best friend and confidant, also joined our chapter recently and the two are inseparable. You see George rides in his friend's sidecar which his friend built just for him. Also George happens to be an English Bulldog. Seriously. I cannot quite put my finger on it but, Sir George and his friend/master brought something unique and special to our meetings and rides. Yes he is quite the 'Babe Magnet', (George that is) but beyond that, both of them have engendered a new sense of cohesiveness to our small chapter. They, as well as recent new members to our chapter, have demolished myths and reestablished a fresh camaraderie among the chapter members. It's little things like this that help when we need to reevaluate our own lives, not just as bikers, but individuals who have to face life with it's inherent struggles on a daily basis. We may ride motorcycles and maybe even look as if we just stepped off of some 14th-century Viking ship with body parts studded with metal, or wear strange helmets reminiscent of some post apocalyptic era, but beneath the leather and iron-mongering, we all have dreams and desires for our lives just like anyone else. Image Source - Reddit - https://www.reddit.com/r/motorcycles/comments/2x27xj/bought_a_gopro_this_week_never_going_back/
    15 points
  4. This morning as I was sitting in my office looking out my window at the park across the street, I received a text message from my youngest son. A simple word with so much meaning – FREEDOM! For most of us, freedom means to get on our scoots and cruise to wherever the front wheel points. No timeframe, no destination, no one to bother us. For others, it may mean to live in a land where you are free to say what comes to mind, to eat when you want to eat or live where you want to live. But for my son, it meant that he was finished with his five year obligation in the Royal Canadian Air Force. As a flyer, he flew in some of the rattiest aircraft in the RCAF’s fleet, a miracle that he landed safely some days. He was involved in a couple of incidents where things that go boom flew by him, so close a baseball bat would have taken them out of the sky. He saw some things that I know he would like to forget, but never will. FREEDOM. Freedom can mean so much to so many, yet means so little to just as many. Freedom is taken for granted. Freedom is unrecognized. You have heard the expression that freedom is not free. The truth is, it is not and never will be. But what grabs my goat is watch these people on the steps of the Legislative Buildings and say, “Free us from Russia <or substitute a country here>” just gets to me. You are now living is Canada, you ARE free from Russia <or substitute a country here>, and for you to fly any flag other than the Canadian flag is a disgrace, and may the gods above help you if you burn my flag! You live in Canada – MY CANADA. This is your home, and if it is not – move on. You are here today because of my son, our sons and daughters, our mothers and fathers, our grandparents. If you cannot accept their sacrifices, then you do not deserve the right to stand on those steps. FREEDOM. A simple word with such a strong meaning. As a father to a son who served, the two of the proudest days of my life where the day he entered the RCAF and today, the day he exited. I am just thankful that he is coming home. My heart falls heavy when I read about our sons and daughters that do not make it home. They made that ultimate sacrifice in the name of FREEDOM. FREEDOM. What it means to have men and women who are willing to put their lives on hold so we can say that word. To all those in uniform – Thank you for your service.
    13 points
  5. 11th National Rally Coombs BC, was held at the Coombs Rodeo Grounds a couple of weekends ago this is my video of what took place. I could only cover so much, I hope you like it. Please do not share this video outside the CMC hopefully this will bring back some smiles and good stories .. thanks to the 008 for putting together a great rally
    12 points
  6. Nervously, I watched him stride with grim intent towards me; a huge holstered firearm fastened to his right hip and a look of pure disgust and indignation written on his face. As he came up to me, any preconceived notions of me owning personal space was totally obliterated! 24 hours earlier…. Excitement started to build once I found out I would be introduced to cross-border flight procedures. My flight instructor at the university I attended at the time, was going to take a couple of his students from Langley, British Columbia into Washington State, in order to teach not only advanced flight navigation, but the differences between U.S. & Canadian flight and ground operations. The main intent was to acquire the skills and knowledge required to safely traverse from Canadian to U.S. Airspace and land there; ostensibly without initiating a cross-border war. We had flown many times into U.S. Airspace, but had never before landed an aircraft on U.S. soil, since we always returned to a Canadian airport. So we began to prepare for the upcoming flight. This was back in the days when passports were optional, so a federally issued commercial pilots licence sufficed. Preparing for any flight requires a significant level of commitment and attention to detail. Planning a flight into what was effectively a foreign country, even more so. You had to let them know you were coming at a minimum 24-48 hours in advance; in what type of aircraft; along with a complete passenger manifest. All aircraft airworthiness logs and of course your pilot’s licence had to be up to date. On top of that, you had to compile a flight plan detailing your proposed route, and that was dictated by a thorough review and dissemination of meteorological data along your intended route of flight. After all that, you had to file your flight plan in advance in order to get it into the Air Traffic Control system. Then on the actual day of the flight, you are required to complete a full pre-flight inspection of your aircraft, checking for leaks, anomalies, or other things that could physically impede or affect your aircraft, on the ground or in flight. So on that day when all pre-flight forms, transmissions, checks and the weather cooperated to actually allow me to fling myself skyward, we ventured south into the U.S. and hopped throughout the San Juan islands into airports with exotic names such as Anacortes, Samish, Guemes, Sandovi and Fidalgo. Names that sounded more at home in Puerto Rico than the State of Washington. We then looped back into Canada via Victoria to clear Canadian customs before heading back to home base in Langley in the Lower Mainland. 24 hours later…. With the previous day’s flight still fresh in my mind, as part of my training, I was required to complete the same flight solo. I was permitted one passenger who was not a pilot. So I asked one of my friends and she agreed to go along for the day’s adventure. With flight prep out of the way and round trip flight plan already filed I once again headed south. Things started to get interesting after being handed off to Washington’s Air Traffic Control. My initial visual flight planned altitude was for 5500ft, but given the penchant for inclement weather to rapidly form on the west coast, while enroute I was forced to request a lower altitude below the 3000 foot cloud deck that I swear was not there a minute before. Our first destination was Bellingham International to clear customs. We were vectored toward the airport and once given clearance we landed and taxied to the area where itinerant pilots clear customs. Because of the requirement to file a flight plan and set up customs notification ahead of time, a U.S Customs Agent will normally be aware of any foreign private aircraft arriving at a U.S. airport. So when I parked in the designated spot, I did not expect a long wait. After 15 minutes we started to get antsy. 35 minutes after putting the parking brakes on, worry began to set in. When 50 minutes ticked over, I decided to venture forth from the aircraft to the Customs building approximately 100 metres from the plane. I had not taken two steps toward the Customs building when an agent emerged and started towards my plane. Nervously, I watched him stride with grim intent towards me; a huge holstered firearm fastened to his right hip and a look of pure disgust and indignation written on his face. As he came up to me, any preconceived notions of me owning personal space was totally obliterated! To say this guy was angry would be the ultimate understatement; and initially somewhat puzzling. He wasted no time in getting all up in my face; then proceeded to climb up one side of me and then down the other; excavating and then demolishing any sense of well-being that I may have had. After he shouted at me for what seemed like 10 minutes, he asked to see my flight documents as well as my passenger’s. Unfortunately, I also made the mistake of forgetting to ensure that my passenger’s birthdate was filled in the proper place on the form. This then provided another opportunity for the agent to initiate a rain dance; possibly in the hopes that it hid his power-tripping insecurities. Here is the deal. Back then, pilots of arriving private aircraft were required to remain in the aircraft. The Customs Agent comes out to meet them. Given that I had landed an hour earlier and had not been met by anyone, I assumed that Customs had not received notification of my arrival for whatever reason. Yes, I knew the rules stated I should not have left the aircraft, but hey, what happened, happened. Now for the real kicker. This was the same Customs Agent that had cleared my aircraft not less than 24 hours earlier, along with my flight instructor, myself and two other students. He most certainly knew who I was. He was well aware of the fact that I was a student in training. He most certainly know the aircraft registration. Needless to say, his demeanour was polar opposite from the previous day I was 24 years old at the time, and I was no fool. It did not take much to ascertain that he had an issue with anyone with a naturally deep tan being allowed to operate an aircraft, much less having the audacity of landing it in his back yard. It would not be the last time that I encountered such a scenario. Well after being thoroughly put through an emotional wringer, I still had several stops to make throughout the State, before safely returning my passenger to Canadian airspace. When we finally landed in Victoria to clear Canadian customs, having been sufficiently chastened, I was determined to stay put; no matter how long the agent took. But as I taxied up to my designated parking spot, I noticed someone leaning out of the terminal building’s doorway leading to the Customs area. He was waving me to come inside. I am now thinking, fool me once….but he persisted and after shutting down the aircraft, both my friend and I stepped out of the plane fully expecting to be shot on sight. When we did get inside and produced our documents, we got this: A Customs Agent in a T-shirt and not so much as a pea shooter in sight! Customs Agent: "Howzit goin’ eh?” Me: “Fine.” I lied Customs Agent: "Been hoppin’ the islands again?" Me: Yes sir. Customs Agent: "Anything to declare?" Me: (Thinking: Yes…there be whack jobs south of the border) "Ah..no sir." Customs Agent: "Alrighty then…have yer’selves a safe flight back to the mainland!" Oh how I love Canada!
    10 points
  7. Reviewed Feb 2018 The Canadian Motorcycle Cruisers is committed to protecting online users' privacy. The purpose of this policy is to inform you about the types of information we gather when you visit or interact with the website and how we may use that information. Email and Electronic Forms If you send us an email message or fill out an electronic form with a question or comment that contains personal and/or identifiable information, we will only use that information to respond to your request, enable any registration requirements, or on occasion forward CMC-related information. We may redirect your message to another person, who is in a better position to answer your question. Under no circumstance will we give your information to any source that is not qualified, equipped or permitted to expedite and/or process your information. We collect some information that may be used for site traffic and statistical analysis, that helps us manage our web site and eCommerce store. Information Collected for Statistical Purposes We automatically collect electronically generated information about any visits to our site, such as the date, type of browser used, and technical Internet protocol data. We collect this information about each user session from our user logs, and refer to it in summary form for statistical purposes. No personal information is captured or retrieved from this type of information collection. Control of Personal Information At any time, while accessing our site, any user, while online, may decline participation in any activity that asks for information (e.g. surveys, email, or electronic services). Your choice not to participate will in no way affect your ability to use any other features on our site. In online applications that ask for personal information, you also are provided the option of cancelling or clearing all fields of information and terminating the application. Use of Cookies We do not use persistent cookies to collect permanent information. Use of persistent cookies (which would reside on the user's computer) may be used to increase ease of use. Such a cookie might contain the user's ID number, thereby relieving the user of having to always enter the number. Under this circumstance we will only use a persistent cookie, when you give your permission. We do use non-persistent (session) cookies in applications that keep track of a user's online session and make it possible for you to complete a form or use a function, but this cookie disappears when you finish filling out an application or searching a database. Disclosure To Third Parties Any information that we receive through the use of this website is subject to the same provisions as information provided on paper. Otherwise, we do not share personal identifying information with any third party without your permission. We disclose only in aggregate form our statistical analyses or demographics of users to third parties. This information is not reported or used in any manner that would reveal personally identifiable information and will not be released to any outside parties unless we are legally required to do so in connection with law enforcement investigations or other legal proceedings. Disclosure Exception To Third Parties Other Than Legal Any other access to CMC personal information outside of that required by law, would include only the following: Access to the servers of CMC's host provider (InvisionPower.com). This access is infrequent and will only take place after a formal request is made to CMC by InvisionPower, to allow them admin access for server maintenance (including hardware and/or software conflict resolution). If you believe that The Canadian Motorcycle Cruisers is using your personally identifiable information for a purpose other than outlined in this privacy statement, you may contact the Web Development Team by clicking on the Contact Us link at the bottom of the page. Adherence to PIPEDA Canadian Motorcycle Cruisers endeavours at all times to the proper management of personal information related to user privacy and is set up to be consistent as such with Provincial and Federal requirements. Reviewed Feb 2018
    10 points
  8. After hearing the sad news about Tina's passing, it got me to thinking. Do we really take the time to honour and care, or show compassion for each other while we have the opportunity? I know human nature causes us to take many things for granted, but let us try to at least make a concerted effort to stop and consider one another, instead of falling into the trap of self-interest. This not only applies to our immediate families, or even our CMC family, which we all are so fortunate to be a part of, but to those who happen to randomly cross our paths throughout life. I am not exactly sure why I am feeling so impacted by Tina's passing. Maybe it has to do with her vibrant personality and that ready smile. I do know the times I have ridden with, or conversed with her, were always moments that found myself being intrigued, just by watching her live life to the fullest. Those snapshots in time definitely lends weight to what is important to me now. Tina was taken prematurely from us by a condition we all despise. There are those still among us, who are in similar battles. Whether the ailments are physical, mental or emotional, let us try to be more aware of others and instead of just looking, let us begin to really see them. Get closer.
    9 points
  9. Grizzz brought up a very important topic in one of his recent Blog posts - New Blood - http://www.cmcnational.ca/index.php?/blog/10/entry-29-new-blood/ - pertaining to the issue of waning membership in the CMC. I would like to submit a few thoughts of my own on his insightful piece. I am sure it is the general perception (in and out of the CMC), that I ride a “Crotch Rocket”. Maybe I am just slightly oversensitive, as I tend to lean towards the politically correct left, by refuting the aforementioned notion in saying that I ride a "Sport Touring" bike. My ride does not force me into a position that looks as if I am humping it in order to make it go faster. Granted, the lines of my bike at first glance, (ok, and maybe the second), may convince one otherwise, but my handlebars are positioned upright; thereby saving me the indignity of looking as if I am taking a high velocity crap. Tongue-in-cheekiness aside, (my true Crotch Rocket friends know I jest), one of our stated Club mandates, vociferously argues that ALL makes and models of bikes are welcome; and I will continually and ardently defend that CMC position. But we are all a product of our environment and the associated influences in said environs will lend itself to how we make choices in life. Whether we like to admit it or not, individual style preference does (and should) matter to us on some level. So back to the underlying question raised by Grizzz. How do we attract new and younger riders? Well, for myself, prior to joining CMC, I had never owned a motorcycle. I was not particularly “young” when I first got my bike after joining CMC, and that was 6 years ago. I am now 52. But what attracted me was not the prevalent types of bikes (Cruisers) that were in attendance, but the people that rode them. They shared their passion not only for riding, but the community that it fostered. They did not care that I never owned a bike or what type I would eventually get; but were willing to welcome me into their family anyway. So then, are we willing to get (and yes even feel) awkward by stepping outside of our comfort zones in attempting to demonstrate inclusiveness to those types who we think may not fit with the CMC? Yes, even the reckless, inconsiderate individuals who give a bad name to all riders? In my estimation, they are the ones who most need “mature” experienced riders to set an example; first by totally freaking them out by actually talking with them, rather than down to them; and then offering the hand of friendship through invitation to come and see what we are all about. All of this in the hope that they may learn from our combined experience and in turn, give something positive back to the motorcycling community. Not all will respond, but never forget, all of us at one time were inexperienced and had lower maturity levels. We all have latent preconceived notions that are overdue for a Spring cleaning. That truth alone dictates that we need to strive for a continual blood transfusion to eradicate "old blood" thought processes.
    8 points
  10. Oh my, it has been a long time since I was last on to make a post - it seems work has a way in getting the way of having fun these days. Anyway.... We are going to have another contest!!!! A member approached me last week and said that we need to have a bumper sticker in the store. So here is the contest: The bumper sticker needs to be 11.5" x 3" Contain the CMC logo Contain "www.cmcnational.ca" Theme must be centred around Watch for Motorcycles, Motorcycles are on the road too, etc (similar to Motorcycle Awareness). CANNOT contain individual chapter information Must NOT contain copywrite material. Post your completed works here for judging. Contest ends July 31st Winner will recieve a $50 CMC Gear credit and full bragging rights!! Good luck all!!
    8 points
  11. All our CMC members all deserve pats on the back but to choose one would be Dave Dunn (Dunner)/ He does a great job at organizing events and follows them through to the very end making sure everyone is content, putting himself last. He organizes many rides and makes sure we all return safe. Always stands up to the plate when anyone needs a helping hand. All round great guy
    7 points
  12. Baby Jack, When I was 1st Officer of 036 Orangeville, I always wanted to return the favour for those chapters who made the trek to visit our area. Not everyone was enthusiastic, but even it it meant a solo ride, I went for it. Not sure what our chapter plans are this season, but rest assured I will see about corralling some of the 'Villians to head on down to your neck of the woods. The new 1st Officer is of the same mind. I know I have been thinking of planning a ride through the Ohsweken Reserve near Brantford. I would also certainly love to come on out for any of your picnic rides Yes it's a bit of a jaunt to travel across portions of Ontario, but meeting up with any CMC Chapter is always an enjoyable occasion. But I fully appraciate the time commitment of family and other responsibilities also. I think I only put 200km on the bike last season and I did not even get a chance to go on any CMC rides. Hope to make up for that this season. Stay positive. You and Jayhawkr are doing great stuff!
    7 points
  13. The rains outside my window today should be cleansing the roads from salt and gravel, but when is it going to end and let us have our normal weather back? A wish I am sure so many of us have these days. But these days seem to be bringing more than doldrums of weather… Recently we lost another CMC sister to that damn ‘C’ word. Tina was one of our Charter Members, starting with the Club when we formed in 2006. Always the life of the gatherings and wisdom for the younger crowd. I met Weener in Guelph when I went out to Ontario for the 1st CMC Rally. Her big grin and warm welcome will never be forgot. Rest in Peace sister and protect your fellow members as we ride.
    7 points
  14. Ever since that Tower of Babel inci­dent way back in his­tory, we of the human race have been engaged in diverse forms of racial, religious and socio-economic one-upmanship. Some sub­tle, some overt. The peren­nial ques­tion: why is race is such a light­n­ing rod? In the USA, it has been debated ad-infinitum and unfor­tu­nately may not be answered for yet another gen­er­a­tion. One would expect more mature, rea­soned think­ing and accep­tance of this unavoid­able and patently obvi­ous fact; we are all inter­wo­ven with DNA strands that dis­tin­guish (all of) us as being from the same human race. Apparently some individuals beg to differ. One notable case in point. Nina Davuluri was crowned Miss America in 2014. Her plan was to follow her family tradition in medicine and become a cardiologist. She also happens to be of East Indian descent. Interestingly there are those who have chosen to denigrate her based on culture, but somehow adroitly miss the substantive fact that she is highly intelligent and was born in the USA. One online writer (The Thinking Housewife) even stated that because of Ms. Davulri’s appreciation and promotion of diversity in the pageant, that must mean “…she is proud that she is not a white American.” In a word….."Wow!" In North Amer­ica, certain "official" elements of authority, admit to profiling whole people groups, mainly because they “look the part”. All this in an inane attempt at fostering public security. This unfor­tu­nate response has been adopted by hate-filled, ide­o­log­i­cally stunted indi­vid­u­als; arguably, those with less officious mindsets. They cat­e­go­rize peo­ple out of fear, and by doing so, cul­tur­ally cas­ti­gate them out of igno­rance. This not only diminishes a person's humanity; it strips us all of human dignity. Here in Canada, racial issues are no less real and can appear to be less in-your-face; at least in con­trast to our neigh­bours south of the 49th par­al­lel. Yes, I am aware many in Canada have been, and con­tinue to be, on the receiv­ing end of overt expres­sions of racism. While that may be an uncomfortable truth to digest, at ­times I wonder if sub­tler forms of racial intol­er­ance are more insid­i­ous than those that usually motivate a person to go eye­ball to eye­ball with iden­ti­fi­able, intractable narrow-mindedness. February has been set aside as Black History month. Ostensibly to celebrate and honour the achievements of those past and present who have an African ancestral line. While I applaud the intent of the accorded honour, there are those who wonder if it really accomplishes what it sets out to do. Some argue that it is just a method to assuage any latent colonial guilt of the majority who oversaw unfortunate things like the early African Slave Trade, or legal segregation, (schools, public transport etc). There will always be those who look with disdain, suspicion, or outright hostility on certain indigenous, cultural, or religious groups, without having one lick of understanding about who they are, or what their life is like. This year will mark my 37th year in Canada after emigrating from Jamaica in the West Indies. I left a country where I was in the majority. Arriving in Canada, I attained minority status. I was still the same 16 year old who left Jamaica, wide-eyed and fascinated; eager to embrace a new culture, but a 3.5 hour flight adjusted my geolocation sufficiently to render me "different" in the eyes of some. Thankfully I had parents who had grounded me in the realities of life. I was taught that not everyone would accept, or in some cases even acknowledge me. Solely based on the fact that I did not have to pay exorbitant amounts of money to travel to destinations to acquire a tan, which would eventually fade 2 weeks after returning. But if truth be told, I have had way more good than bad happen while living in Canada. While I am grateful for the country of my birth, proud and not ashamed of my heritage, Canada, of which I am a citizen, is my home. My French Cana­dian wife and I have taught our (now adult) chil­dren that char­ac­ter traits such as integrity, com­pas­sion, for­give­ness, courage, among oth­ers, go a long way in defin­ing who they are. Exter­nal dif­fer­ences such as skin colour, hair type; the shape of your nose or lips, among other read­ily rec­og­nized phys­i­cal fea­tures that dif­fer­en­ti­ate the global pop­u­lace, also affirms and pro­motes what I like to refer to as the “unique cohe­sive­ness of diversity”. I pray that February is not a once-a-year crutch for some to appease guilt; or others to foster guilt, by always throwing the racial horrors of the past into our faces. While I will always advocate the need to remember history, let us seriously try to learn from it; by not staying in the past, but embracing the future with all people groups, so that our next gen­er­a­tion will take up the man­tle of inclu­sive­ness and accep­tance with more under­stand­ing and aware­ness than their predecessors. Arabian & Jewish Children - Image sourced from zazzle.com. Images of Nina Davuluri sourced from her Twitter Page & PageantProfessors.com Family image - mine
    6 points
  15. Hi Everyone! Well, hopefully spring is here for most of us. I have had my bike out twice, and it snowed the next day both times. I am going to risk it again today and go for a short ride with my friends. Like most riders, I waited patiently for that first ride, and with the winter that seemed to drag on forever, I was beginning to feel a bit caged! The first ride out was tentative, as the roads were covered with sand and grit, but it felt SO AWESOME! I read grizzz's Blob Post about enjoying the small things in life. I also read through the tributes to Tina (from 089) and although I didn't know her, the tributes really tell the story of a courageous lady. I had an idea. There is a challenge on the Internet called the 100 Happy Days Challenge http://100happydays.com - challenges people to focus on things that make them happy, even for a little while. As the site says - We live in times when super-busy schedules have become something to boast about. While the speed of life increases, there is less and less time to enjoy the moment that you are in. The ability to appreciate the moment, the environment and yourself in it, is the base for the bridge towards long term happiness of any human being. 71% of people tried to complete this challenge, but failed quoting lack of time as the main reason.These people simply did not have time to be happy. Do you? If you are up to the challenge, you post a picture every day for 100 days of things that make you happy. You can change the privacy settings to whatever you want, or you can just keep the challenge to yourself. My idea is this - is anyone interested in doing a CMC 100 Happy Day challenge? We could use the hashtag #100HappyDaysCMC or create a forum here for folks to post. What a great way to promote our love of riding, our friendship and the beauty of belonging to CMC!
    6 points
  16. So on Thursday March27th “I was looking out my window” (cheers Grizz) and although the temperature was less than ideal the roads looked very dry. I must admit there was a large amount of sandy areas, and was very determined to avoid these. With that said I rolled my bike out of my garage and started it up. I let the bike warm up about 10 minutes or so, the bike itself was pleading it was ready, it responded with nice crisp throttle rolls. I used the time while the bike was warming up to GEAR UP, I must admit I was a little nervous, not about getting hurt, but rather possibly dropping my bike and being upset at myself for being an idiot So for the first 20 minutes or so I just rode around a 2 block radius of my house, just getting the feel, The only bike I had ridden really was the little Honda CBR125 used at the Humber course. So my Honda Shadow 500 was a very new and different experience compared to the other. After I was comfortable with the handling and controls I ventured a little further from home, This is when I realized that @ 60 kph the wind is stronger than I had anticipated, so back home I went. I thought to myself that was F U N ….. Hmmm. So I went upstairs and put on a pair of sweatpants on underneath my jeans. Don’t get me wrong I’m not suggesting track pants & jeans are a good alternative to proper weather riding gear, but I just had to get a few more klicks in before putting my bike back in the garage. Thinking about it some more I thought “Oh, I know, I have to go order a new set of contact lenses.” So I planned my route to try avoiding the higher traffic areas, It was going to be about 15 km each way One of my first observations upon arriving at the plaza was how BIG the parking spaces were, backing my bike into a spot I thought to myself “this bike is a lot easier to park than my SUV”. I took a much larger street for my ride home and @ 4 pm it was quite busy. Shortly after getting underway it began to SNOW!, luckily it was just some light flurries and was not enough to even change the colour of the road; I felt much better being on DRY roads. The ride home was very straight, but some good practice in heavier traffic. So all in all I put just over 50 kms for my first ride ever on public roads. It felt AWESOME getting that monkey off my back Cheers Aces N Eights Stay tuned for my next post: My First Ride - Things I did well, and things I need to work on
    6 points
  17. Hi and welcome to my CMC Blog My goal is to consistently provide my readers with an informative, and entertaining perspective on motorcycles & motorcycle riding. Let me start off with a little background about myself. I was born and raised in Toronto Ontario, and I now reside in Brampton Ontario with my wife and two children. Prior to taking the Motorcycle Safety Course, my only experience riding a motorcycle was when I was 13. Two weekends one summer I rode my cousins Kawasaki KE100 Enduro at a small dirt track just outside of Acton Ontario. I was so unskilled at the time that whenever it was my turn to ride my cousins bike, I had him meet me at a low hill 2 feet high with a flat spot, reason being I wasn’t able to use the clutch properly and needed a rolling start to prevent stalling the bike, pathetic I know. But hey I grew up in downtown Toronto, and there really wasn’t much in the way of places to ride a motorbike for a 13 year old. Jump ahead to July 27th 2013, the day before my 45th birthday I decided to go take my M1 written test. I passed the written test and now had 90 days to prove myself and procure my M2 license. I enrolled in the Gearing Up Motorcycle Safety course offered at Humber College. Unlike most of the people there I didn’t even own a motorcycle, but everyone was going to be riding the same bikes regardless. It was a Honda CBR125 with a whopping 13 HP engine, ok you can stop laughing now. Anyway the course and test were pretty difficult for a “first time rider”. I’m proud to say that out of 26 people that enrolled in the course only 7 people passed, and knock on wood, I was one of them. Then the issue became … how and where am I going to get a motorcycle to ride. I started scouring the local AutoTrader.ca and Kijiji.ca looking for a cheap first ride. I didn’t want a sport bike like the one I had used for the safety course, I was drawn to the Cruiser style of motorcycles, lets face it I’m 45 and have no interest in wheelies or stoppies or burn outs or any of that silly stuff (don't get me wrong watching some of that stuff on Youtube is cool), I just want to get out on the road and cruise. So with a very limited budget in mind I set out looking for an older Japanese Motorcycle, either a standard or cruiser style. I looked over a few used bikes at various Dealerships, and a few private sales. I finally pulled the trigger and purchased my first motorcycle January 31st 2014. I’m now the proud owner of a 1985 Honda Shadow VT500C, the reason I picked up this particular bike was due to it’s condition. For a 29 year old bike this thing is in great shape, wish I could say the same So here it is March 7, 2014 and Old Man Winter is playing a nasty game of “lets see how long before Aces goes nuts”. I really only have myself to blame for all the snow, seeing as how I sold my snowblower back in October. You know, Karma has a way of biting you in the ass. Anyway My readers are being offered something unique here. The opportunity to ride with me on a journey as I go from virtually zero experience to a confident safe and defensive rider. As the riding season progresses I will concentrate on 5 key factors to ensure that you are not wasting your time here. I will post new blogs at least 1 per week to keep the content fresh. 1. Interesting Topics related to riding Motorcycles 2. Scenic Rides throughout southern Ontario 3. Fun Stories & Anecdotes 4. Product Reviews and some “how-to” & DIY type stuff 5. Helpful hints & tips, as well as answer any & all questions as best I can. So feel free to "follow" my Blog, If you dare . Cheers Aces out
    6 points
  18. Hey all! Thought you would like to see the video I created for the CMC Booth at the recent Motorcycle Supershow in Toronto. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylvsVwod-oQ
    6 points
  19. Hi everyone..... Starting November 15th 2015, lynn lees will be putting aside 15% of all sales from CMC members to be donated to the Childrens Wish at the next Anniversary Brunch in November 2016. What you have to do is state your name and chapter that you belong to when you order...either in "notes to Lynn" that is available when ordering or in a separate email after you have ordered. That way I can confirm your chapter and deduct the 15% from your order to go towards Childrens Wish. This will apply to everything that is on my site....not including sale items. The 15% will be taken off the total before taxes and shipping. Maybe we can make a difference if just a little bit Go to lynnleesembroidery.com to place your order http://lynnleesembroidery.com/ Lynn and Lee
    6 points
  20. Our members that are forever remembered, the dates they left us, their retired membership numbers, never to be forgotten until we ride with them again. May time soften the pain until all that remains is the warmth of the memories and the love. We can shed tears that they have gone Or we can smile because they have lived. We can close our eyes and pray that they’ll come back Or we can open our eyes and see all that they’ve left. Our heart can be empty because we can’t see them Or we can be full of the love we shared. We can turn your back on tomorrow and live for yesterday Or we can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday. We can remember them and only that they have gone Or we can cherish their memory and let it live on. We can cry and close our mind, be empty and turn our back Or we can do what they’d want Smile, open our eyes, love and go on. #63003 Jim Sanderson, Grande Prairie, AB, Aug 12, 2007 #14026 Dennis Barron, St.Catharines, ON, Sept 22, 2007 #35005 Jim Parr, Elliot Lake, ON, Sept 23, 2007 #60006 Bob Brown, Medicine Hat, AB, April 2, 2008 #40010 Ken Ducheno, Brantford, ON, June 9, 2008 #40021 Don Morgan, Brantford, ON, July 4, 2008 #75027 Mike Moran, Goderich, ON, Aug 12, 2008 #63056 Sylvie Durrant/Day, Grande Prairie, AB, Sept 29, 2008 #76035 Denis Vaillancourt, Cornwall, ON, Nov 17, 2008 #1089 Al Johnson, Kitchener, ON, Dec 19, 2008 #7072 David Humpartzian, Hamilton, ON, Dec 20, 2008 #23069 Bill Wakeman, Winnipeg, MB, Apr 10, 2009 #24047 Glenn Kennell, CBS, NL, Sept 19, 2009 #40067 Bill Jamieson, Ohsweken, ON, Sept 25, 2009 #29007 Bill McCubbin, Prescott, ON, Oct 30, 2009 #63007 Ray Seely, Grande Prairie, AB, July 30, 2009 #75026 John Drummond, Zurich, ON, Dec 29, 2009 #36022 Allan Thomson, Nobleton, ON, Mar 2, 2010 #43001 James C. Manning, Tillsonburg, ON, Mar 3, 2010 #60000 Jodi Hilgendorf, Medicine Hat, AB, Mar 30, 2010 #74017 Norma Hulme, Chatham, ON, Mar 7, 2010 #61001 Larry Smith, Calgary AB /Cape Breton NS, May 25, 2010 #62043 Gilles Grenier, Iroquois Falls, ON, June 1, 2010 #76115 Gilles Beauvais, Cornwall, ON, June 9, 2010 #6123 Michael Campbell, Barrie, ON, Sept 15, 2010 #11459 Phil Dupuis, Ottawa, ON, Sept 22, 2010 #80047 George Mote, Selkirk, ON, Sept 30, 2010 #74033 John Thomas, Chatham, ON, Oct 14, 2010 #65037 Fred Picard, Victoria, BC, Oct 30, 2010 #76083 Maurice Brisson, Cornwall, ON, Dec 4, 2010 #17101 Patrick Cushing, Windsor, ON, Dec 18, 2010 #27038 Ed Hendriks, Mitchell, ON, Jan 26, 2011 #280156 Lorne Paul MacKenzie,London, ON, Feb 9, 2011 #6013 Rob Wood, Barrie, ON, Feb 12, 2011 #11081 Vince Tessier, Alfred, ON, Feb 16, 2011 #61022 Cameron LeBlanc, Alder Point, NS, Feb 28, 2011 #16032 Gilles Parent, Sarnia, ON, May 11, 2011 #76025 Pete Latour, Cornwall, ON, May 13, 2011 #20070 Paul Pinch, Peterborough, ON, June 4, 2011 #19001 Mark Lefort, Toronto, ON, July 1, 2011 #37017 James Mitchell, Port Alberni, BC, July 7, 2011 #47019 Rob Gedcke, Owen Sound, ON, Sept 5, 2011 #85009 Duane Schmale, Esterhazy, SK, Sept 9, 2011 #17285 David Schatz, Tecumseh, ON, Oct 3, 2011 #6106 Roger Martin, Barrie, ON, Oct 16, 2011 #58017 Deb Lindquist, Estevan, SK, Nov 2, 2011 #87017 Vic Mealing, Niagara Falls, ON, Nov 12, 2011 #46037 Bryan Day, Kitchener, ON, Nov 28, 2011 #17234 Paul Rocheleau, Lasalle, ON, Jan 17, 2012 #7141 Larry Blacklock, Stoney Creek, ON, Mar 19, 2012 #18019 Al Shipp, Woodstock, ON, Mar 19, 2012 #76080 Ray St. Germain, Cornwall, ON, Mar 24, 2012 #15073 John Gilbert, Fort Erie, ON, Mar 26, 2012 #42051 Dean Mcilroy, Balgonie, SK, Mar 30, 2012 #6053 Joe Noce, Tottenham, ON, Apr 20, 2012 #14042 Regis Allard, St. Catharines, ON, May 9, 2012 #22006 Jeff Crockford, Calgary, AB, June 8, 2012 #11564 Swapnil Hajare, Kanata, ON, July 17, 2012 #49007 Roger Grenier, Sudbury, ON, August 16, 2012 #6140 James Young, Barrie, ON, September 3, 2012 #76100 Larry Labelle, Cornwall, ON, October 19, 2012 #72033 Steve Bowering, Blind Bay, BC, November 20, 2012 #87001 Frank Chiasson, Welland, ON, November 28, 2012 #40035 David McIntosh, Brantford, ON, December 28, 2012 #36020 Tom Coates, Orangeville, ON, January 3, 2013 #84001 Andy Brownlie, Wallaceburg, ON, May 13, 2013 #6111 Gord Hollywell Orillia, ON, May 20, 2013 #17109 Donald Harris McGregor, ON, May 29, 2013 #69008 George Noel, PEI #42027 Chris Nicolychuk Regina, SK, June 17, 2013 #80061 Lana D'achilla Port Dover, ON #89023 Heather Finch Elora, ON Aug 2, 2013 #11449 Daniel Bissetsmith, North Gower, ON Nov 29, 2013 #32008 Jim Bradley, member of CMC Sault Ste Marie, Dec 16, 2013 #89073 Valerie Koster, Alma, Dec 21, 2013 #74062 Kenneth Shavers, Chatham, ON, Jan 7, 2014 #34057 David Johns, Pefferlaw, ON Jan 14, 2014 #17105 Patty Kotow, Harrow, ON Feb 3, 2014 #90041 Tina Hogg, Cambridge, ON Mar 3, 2014 #90050 Bill Ingraham, Cambridge, ON Mar 14, 2014 #84003 Rick Fulkerson, Tupperville, ON Apr 15, 2014 #75137 David Vanneste, Clinton / Port Dover, ON May 8, 2014 #59013 Glen McLeod, Iroquois, ON May 28, 2014 #76003 Charlie Matthews, Cornwall, ON June 5, 2014 #45012 Art Pennell, Consecon, ON, July 27,2014 #76093 Rory Evans, Newington, ON, Aug 20, 2014 #71001 Richard Gondek, Newtonville, ON, Sept 20, 2014 #74025 Barry Wood, Chatham, ON, Nov 14, 2014 #75133 John Schoen, Lucknow, ON Nov 21, 2014 #6100 Wayne Riviere, Barrie, ON, Nov 26, 2014 #24138 Wayne Rodgers, Paradise, NL. Jan 17, 2015 #7062 Pete Hendriks, Stoney Creek, ON, Feb 6, 2015 #29015 Glennys Bourassa, Brockville, ON, Mar 9, 2015 #11090 Peter Newhook, Kanata, ON Mar 11, 2015 #46084 Richard Watkins, Kitchener, ON Mar 23, 2015 #73030 Gloria Stokes, Guelph, ON May 28, 2015 #94094 John McPhate, Courtice, ON July 18, 2015 #20076 Karyn Hayward, Bethany, ON July 28, 2015 #46015 Heidy Schmidt, Kitchener, ON Nov 13, 2015 #27090 Andy Devries, Mitchell, ON Jan 11 2016 #11185 Wayne Villeneuve, Ottawa, ON Mar 2 2016 #23230 Bill Brown, Winnipeg MB Mar 23, 2016 #36007 Phil Feifer, Hillsburgh, ON Apr 5, 2016 #12190 Nicole Puff, Calahoo, AB May 6, 2016 #18032 George Stachovskis, Woodstock, ON June 27, 2016 #50126 Lynn Smith, Bowmanville, ON, July 10, 2016 #46099 Susan Buller, Kitchener, ON, Oct 30, 2016 #17061 Wayne Scottie, Essex, ON, Oct 29. 2016 #65092 Ron Asselin, Victoria, BC, Jan 20, 2017 #46088 John Ellis, Kitchener, ON, Jan 31, 2017 #11235 Winson McEwen, Kemptville, ON Feb 9 2017 #50069 Keith Hill, Oshawa, ON Apr 14, 2017 #46085 Annie VanLanduyt, Kitchener, ON May 15, 2017 #75024 Cheryl Bilcke, Hensall, ON June 3, 2017 #11005 Bob Godin, Nepean, ON June 9, 2017 #280153 James Michael "Mike" Evans, Lucan ON, June 20, 2017 #11002 David Lott, Ottawa, ON July 4, 2017 #96001A. Magnolia Lemay, ON Aug 12, 2017 (honourary junior member) #99016 Elliott Tessier, Shuniah, ON Aug 25, 2017 #82021 Brenda Sumner, Neepewa MB, Sept 22, 2017 #29033 Robert Joyce, North Augusta, ON Oct 4, 2017 #88012 Bill Broad, Picton, ON, Oct 4, 2017 #82031 Mike Goodman, Neepawa, MB, Nov 14 2017 #21015 Linda McNair, Strathroy, ON, Nov 24, 2017 #50016 Bill Smithers, Oshawa, ON, Dec 9, 2017 #65165 Randy Davis, Victoria, BC, Dec 12, 2017 #50100 Rob Winfield, Oshawa, ON, Dec 15, 2017 #24088 Denise Murrin, Logy Bay, NL, Dec 2017 #30006 Jennifer Heimbecker, Cambridge, ON, Dec 28, 2017 #50115 France Bernier, Whitby, ON Jan 1, 2018 #62003 Gilles Lepage, Iroquois Falls ON, Jan 14, 2018 #75015 Gerald Davidson, Clinton, ON, Jan 14, 2018 #18021 Brenda Lee Hill, Woodstock, ON, Feb 20, 2018 #58034 Judy Brown, Russel, SK, May 27, 2018 #8054 Steve Oke, Lantzville, BC, June 15, 2018 #45046 Marilyn Terry, Consecon, ON Aug 10, 2018 #17031 Jim Wright, Windsor, ON Aug 21 2018 #7035 Rhys Westmoreland, Hamilton, ON, Sept 11 2018 #94125 Donna Ton, Bowmanville, ON, Sept 29, 2018 #94069 Larry Brigley, Port Perry, ON, Oct 2 2018 #20051 Shelley Jorgensen, Woodview, ON, Nov 30 2018 #72056 Doug Norton, Inverary, ON, Jan 9 2019 #32053 Robert Patterson, Kinmount, ON, Jan 28, 2019 #23033 Mike Dunn, Winnipeg, MB, Feb 21 2019 #280195 Jack Thornton, London, ON, Mar 29, 2019 #7001 John Galley, Hamilton, ON, April 2, 2019 #73056 Cheryl Ward, Listowel, ON, May 16 2019 #50010 Heather Cloutier, Stouffville, ON May 18, 2019 #16081 Pam Clifford, Sarna, ON 4 June 2019 #7109 Jeff Baird, Ancaster, ON 14 June 2019 #57043 Randy Woodruff, Sharon, ON 7 July 19 #40015 Cliff Penfold, Brantford, ON 9 May 2019 #40047 Dave Gregory, Brantford, ON 5 July 2019 #11298 Alex Urquhart, Orleans ON, 5 Oct 2019 #280182 Tony Augustine, London, ON 1 Dec 19 #20042 Jay Hughes, Port Hope, ON 20 Mar 20 #36024 Catharine "Cathy" Mino, Orangeville, ON 17 Apr 20 #16051 Darcy Krauza, Courtright, ON 16 May 20 #56005 Maurice Woodworth, Vancouver, BC 3 July 20 #16089 Pat (Pasquale) Fazio, Bright's Grove, ON 11 July, 2020 #6115 Rose Holmes, Barrie ON, 8 Aug 2020 #73083 Bill Gallagher, Bluevale, ON, 19 Sept 2020 #73043 Harry "Woody" Woodrow, Listowel, ON, 22 Sept 20 #89040 Jim McBain, Guelph, ON 18 Nov 2020 #280288 Shelley Keay, Delware, ON 24 Dec 2020 #LR-ON019 (formerly 036) Roger Roberts, Lanark ON 30 Jan 2021 #71001 Robert Frank HIggins, Mission BC 3 Feb 2021 #280194 Sandra Cassar, London, ON 10 March 2021 #7074 Tracy Buckland, Hamilton, ON 30 Mar 2021 #29061 Linda Lavigne-Clarke, Metcalfe ON, 3 June 2021 #45058 Robert "Bob" Bourdeau, Trenton, ON 23 June 2021 #16038 Judy Grigg, Wilkesport, ON 19 July 2021 honourable mention: Mike Palmer Aug 2021 #17042 Jim Tracey, Belle River, ON, 12 Oct 2021 #72033 Jackie Dalzell, Cornwall ON, 5 Nov 2021 #23046 Doug Mattila, Stonewall, MB, 26 Oct 2021 #23350 Willi St Goddard, Winnipeg MB, 17 Nov 2021 #23349 Bob St Goddard, Winnipeg MB, 4 Dec 2021 #23112 Dolores Fracassi, Winnipeg MB, 11 Dec 2021 #23022 Armand Gevers, Stonewall MB, 15 Dec 2021 #23189 Wayne Boonstra, Winnipeg MB, 4 Mar 2022 #23293 Gord Clark, Niverville, MB, 13 Mar 2022 #42019 Kevin Monaghan, Montmartre, SK, 14 Apr 2022 #92034 Emily Tuner, Pembroke ON, 24 Apr 2022 #49020 Roland Brisson, Hamner ON, 11 May 2022 #45060 David Pyatt, Napanee, ON 24 June 2022 #11133 Robert Berthelet, ON, 30 July 2022 #57034 Ken Coleman, Markham, ON, Sept 2022 #94086 Robert McCaul, Clarington ON, Sept 2022 #45052 Richard Sharpe, Trenton, ON Oct 29, 2022 #57018 Rick Proteau, Keswick ON, Apr 18 2023 #45083 Deborah Mora, Belleville ON, Apr 17 2023 #280225 Walter Beitlberger, London ON, 19 Feb 2023 #7069 Tom Lake, Hamilton, ON 4 May 2023 #6037 Scott Emmerton, Barrie ON, 8 May 2023 #57031 Eric Adams, Mount Albert ON, Sept 12 2023 #89014 Mary Slade, Guelph ON, Oct 4 2023 #280135 Debbi Haskins, St Thomas ON, Oct 7 2023 #46016 Ingrid "Oma" Fohry, Waterloo ON, Oct 2023 #72026 Larry Geier, Ganonoque ON, Dec 6 2023 #59008 Louis Fontaine, Matlock MB, Dec 20 2023 #59011 Marion Lacroix, Ames, MB Feb 25 2024 The gypsy wind, it called your name, No time to say good-bye. You left us here alone, old friend, To take your final ride. The world it couldn't tame your soul, You lived your life with pride. Now you soar free - like the crow,57 You're on your final ride. Your memory won't fade, old friend, We'll hold you deep inside. We'd come with you if, we only could, Upon your final ride. It's time to say so long, old friend, As you take your final ride. We'll keep you with us in our hearts, If not riding by our side.
    6 points
  21. Those who know me well, are all too aware of the fact that I have a thing for all things aeronautical. In times past and in another era when I was flush with testosterone, and with little guidance as to what to do with such a virulent chemical coursing through my veins, I somehow convinced the Government of Canada to legally certify me to slip the surly bonds of earth and dance the skies on laughter-silvered wings. The fact that I was officially sanctioned to strap on thousands of pounds of metal, rubber and aviation gasoline at will and then bodaciously launch said contraption skyward in defiance of gravity, still amazes me today. It all started at conception. Mine that is. Well, that is how I have come to romanticize it. Apparently I entered life's centre stage during a time when my mother worked in the Air Traffic Control system in Jamaica. That in itself I find more than interesting, as I too ended up working in the Canadian Air Traffic Control system in my later years. I have no idea if it had anything to do with latent avgas fumes, or if the principles of jet propulsion, suck - squeeze - bang - blow (intake - compression - ignition - exhaust) had anything to do with it. I have had some interesting adventures during my initial flight training days; some thrilling and some scary. My training took place on the west coast of Canada all throughout the mountains of British Columbia. There is nothing like waking up to a bright sunlit morning, heading down to the local airport to preflight your aircraft for a jaunt up the coast, or a hop over the channel to land on the beach in Tofino on Vancouver Island’s Pacific-facing coast.…something that will probably get me arrested should I attempt that now. I have adjusted somewhat, my adventurous spirit to now accommodate motorcycles. While I may not find myself airborne as much as I once did, (an admittedly life-limiting move if hanging on to a motorcycle), I nonetheless still relish the opportunity of being out in nature’s element. Some of my riding compatriots favour headgear that allows for the steady pitter-patter of insects against their grinning facade. Me? I am allergic to all forms of pain-inducing stimuli and therefore tenaciously hide behind a full-face helmet. Riding a motorcycle for me is akin to controlling an aircraft in many ways. One aspect of these two modes of transportation that always registers with me is the freedom I experience. On the one hand, one provides the opportunity to actually take a machine and manipulate all associated parts working in concert to enable it to leave terra firma and then facilitate its return to earth. Hopefully with the ability to walk away with a smile. Or in the colloquial vernacular of anyone living west of Manitoba, a sh*t eatin’ grin! On a motorcycle, the same hormonal responses are initialized. To a non-rider, anyone who voluntarily straddles a piece of equipment with sufficient power to weight ratio to threaten dislocation of arms from shoulders, needs to have their cerebrum analyzed. But there is an element that is too often missed with that sort of thinking. The assumption is made that those who ride are reckless thrill seekers without a modicum of sense about what they are doing. There is another name for that. Profiling. A motorcyclist needs to be acutely aware of his or her surroundings, at all times, given that we are more exposed than those sheltered in 4-wheeled vehicles. The freedom of being able to control this type of vehicle while absorbing the enjoyable sensory perceptions of the environment at any given moment, requires our level of responsibility to be directly proportional to the power band at our disposal. It is not something to be trifled with. So, whether I am intercepting high altitude jet airways over Wyoming's Crazy Woman navigational beacon, or navigating twisty mountain roads at ground level through Spuzzum British Columbia, the focus is always freedom and fun tempered (nay, mandated) by safety. The passion of freedom that battles life’s drudgery, never fades on a motorcycle.
    6 points
  22. Ok, I just had to enter as well
    6 points
  23. Yesterday was so cold, dreary, and windy, it hardly felt like spring. Looking at the big piles of dirty snow on the lawn and lane way also take away the feeling that summer is near! John (jayhawkr) and I have been pondering our Chapter, and what works best. Like most of the Officers before me, we sent emails out asking for advice (no response), encouraged Forum postings (very little use) and tried Facebook (the people on the Forum are also the ones on Facebook, so no improvement there). We are in a rural Community with no larger urban centres, so our membership will always be smaller. There are other riding groups, such as ABATE, Steelhorse Riders and a few others - but their riders are not likely to join CMC for a variety of reasons. Sometimes there are periods of self-doubt. Perhaps people who can ride more than a Mom with young kids should be part of this group, someone who can ride more. But this assumes that the people in our Chapter want to ride more - I don't really know what they want. The ROMEO rides are always well-attended by a few of our members, but this excludes the ones who work on Fridays. John has posted some weekend lunch events to bring out the others. The Freeze King and Willies Burger Stop just opened, so we will be doing some after-work ice cream rides when it warms up. We will restart our weekly Meet and Greets at the end of the month and hopefully the weather is better! We are also going to try more picnic lunches - this will allow for more riding in a short ride, and less sitting. Its easy to blow off 1.5 hours going to a restaurant with a group - if we only plan a 5 hour ride, we've lost most of our day. I'd rather sit outside in the sun anyway. For me, and probably John, the social aspect of CMC is as important as the riding. We will be planning to meet up more often with the other local groups and join in their fun! Its much harder to develop the camaraderie in a smaller group that doesn't meet up as often. I know Bob and Rob also put a lot of thought into planning different rides and thinking of the same challenges - wondering if there are officers from other rural chapters with new ideas too?
    6 points
  24. Our chapter is also located in a small city. Picnic rides work great. We had many days of going to a restaurant or pub (no alcohol of course) only to sit and wait for service and food. Now we do picnic rides. The advantages- eat what you want, much cheaper, and the opportunity to sit in the sun with your friends. The disadvantages- none so far. It seems like everyone (here on Vancouver Island at least) likes the meet in the middle rides too. It sounds like you are on the right track. Put a good active program out there and the members will show up. Even if most don't, carry on. As long as you are having fun yourself and keeping active you will eventually get a good core group, and even if that core is only 6 or 7 people, it's good.
    6 points
  25. December 31st - The last day of 2013, signalling the end of another year. Some of us have just had their electricity turned back on after almost a full week of weather related outages in the GTA and Southern Ontario region. It sucks being cold. I am not just saying this because I hail from a tropical island (ok, maybe a little), but having chosen to live in Canada, it is incumbent on me not to give into complaining. After all, Canada is a fantastic place to live and get connected on all sorts of levels! Our country offers freedoms and opportunities that all of us have taken for granted at one time or another. But I want to focus on one aspect of Canadian priviledge that we seldom seem to consider. Just being Canadian. Sure, many have tried to qualify and quantify what it means to be Canadian, but have we taken the time to realize that it's the sum of the parts of who we are; where we live; what we do; that make up the whole of our identity? I had mentioned in a previous post that the CMC is a microcosm of Canada; sort of a two-wheeled diorama of leather-clad individuals, that somehow lends itself to defining who we are collectively and individually. These are just my impressions of course, and in no way should be construed as representing the majority of the collective CMC thinking. Here are a just few elements of individuality that makes CMC so unique; and I daresay, so Canadian: Shoe’s (Glenn) trucking photos of his cross-border travels. Canadiana at its finest. CenCom’s (Mary) faithful birthday greetings. CMC’s Loving Grandma for sure Trixie’s (Amanda) courageous discourse on Aspergers Syndrome and how it affects her family. Also her penchant for jumping on the Choo Shoe train with stops at Louboutin, Vuitton and Blahnik Baby Jack’s (Jacqui) skillful care and passionate commitment to our environment and food sources. Grizzz (Mike) - one of CMC’s west coast Regional Officers who single-mindedly juggles work and home life, while at the same time demonstrating unique cheerleading characteristics of leadership on the forum. Fireden (Dennis) - our National Officer who brings balance to the force of personalities that make up the living CMC organism. Irma - our Membership Coordinator who is the first contact and introduction to CMC for all new members. She would probably say otherwise, but look up CMC in the dictionary and you will see a picture of Irma. Ron’s (Morissette) excellent representation via video and radio on what CMC is all about. There are many more like those mentioned above. All of you, yes even those with differing opinions, share in the common values that make us CMC Members. Whether we ride or just have a passion for motorcycles; what is important are the people who make up our Trans-Canadian community. My prayer for 2014 is that we learn from our mistakes; we become stronger in spite of our differences and we demonstrate what it means to unconditionally accept each other; yes, with imperfections, idiosyncrasies and all. Isn't that what family is all about?
    6 points
  26. Thank you Thank you to: - The members of our families who came, and those who sent best wishes. It was so special to have our CMC friends with us, as well as other friends and family. It was about sharing it with the people who help make our lives so great! It was great to have family from far away, and those that conquered a few hurdles to join us. We appreciate it very much. - To Angela B and Mom who helped get the house and gardens ready for the big day. We know other folks wouldn't care, but it was important to us to be able to show you our home. Special thanks to Mom Patty for making the little vests for our nieces and nephews - they fit right in! - To my brothers Jody and Mike, who planted the trees we got for wedding presents, and Matt, who helped with parking at the ceremony. Thanks to my sisters in law Tanya and Gillian for chasing my awesome nieces and nephews all over the place! It was great to have a chat with you guys Friday night too. We must do that again! - To our CMC friends who collected food money and donations - you made that part of our day so easy! Thank you to the road captains who made our trip to Goderich safe and fun! We are a very impressive group, I think! Thanks to Jayne for supplying the bird seed for the kids - Cooper didn't eat it and it was the perfect activity for the 4 year olds! - To Paul and Izzy, who were the best witnesses ever! You made us laugh, and you helped us enjoy our day just the way we wanted it - no fuss, no schedule. - to Paul and Marianne, for taking our engagement and wedding photos. They are so very perfect in capturing the special moments - to Carol for the awesome flower bouquets! - to Susie and Karen at the White Carnation for an awesome meal! And the laughs afterwards too! - to Jackie Bradley for bringing our guest of honour Kally - we appreciated it, and we were glad you both could join us. We are 100% behind you, Kally! - To those who gave donations - you guys generously gave $1400 to help a brave girl and her family fight Crohns Disease, and another $200 to the Crohns and Colitis Foundation. - To Jeff Sabin, the best wedding officiant ever! He helped us create the perfect ceremony! We will forever laugh hysterically at a draft wedding ceremony he found (which we didn't use) that took "cheesy" to a whole new level, but guaranteed, we won't forget it! For those who asked, here are our vows: John: Jacqui, 16 months ago you captured my heart by being exactly who you are. A kind, caring, generous soul with a huge heart and the willingness to take another chance. You make me feel alive, you make my heart sing, and Lord knows, you make me laugh. In the past 1 1/2 years, we have shared some good times, had some challenges, but you have been by my side when I needed it most. I respect you, and will never take you for granted. I call you my Angel for these and many other reasons. I love you, you are my best friend, and Jacqui, you will always be the best part of my day. Jacqui: A wish is an invitation to imagine. A chance to pause with wonder, an opening into possibility With each wish is the power to make it come true. I wished for: A man who would love and respect me as deeply as I love and respect him I wished for: A passionate man who wasn't afraid to face and share his emotions. I wished for: A man who would be interested in the things I care about and be willing to share his interests with me I wished for: A man who could be a role model for my sons not only in how he conducted his life but how he treated their mom My wish came true when I met you.
    6 points
  27. Cmc024 members and friends have worked hard the past 7 year to make the Twist Your Wrist ride a success and ensure some great kids benefit from the money raised each year. Thank you to National and other members from across the country for your support and compliments. The children's wish rides in the province have grown to three a year. Supporting rides the Twist Your Wrist ride have formed in Marystown and Clarenville. Both have become a success. What we have started here on the rock and continue to grow and help terminally ill children throughout the country. Any member, chapter, or region who would like to give it a try we at 024 are here to help. It's all for the kids. Some very special kids. All the best. Don
    5 points
  28. Today as I look out my window, I no longer see the green of the park or the flag fluttering in the breeze, but I see the mountains and the sea from my chair in the living room. The mountains have a "cloud halo" where the clouds ring the middle portion of the mountains. The sea is calm as the single freighter makes its way to the harbours in Seattle. But today, I think the halo has a special meaning. You see, today we send one of our brothers home. He will take that one last ride and those clouds will be there to steady him as he travels and when he gets to those pearly gates, he will be greeted by his brother who left us several years go and his other brothers from across the land. It is not a time to morn, a time to cry or a time to be sad, rather a time to smile at all of the crazy things Recycle said and did. A time to remember that ear-to-ear grin when he was on his Red Steed. His wave to everyone on two wheels - yes, even scooters. A time to share that smile and remember times like when he looked into his empty beer bottle and swore there was someone drinking it because it emptied too soon, or when he bit into his hotdog and it shot out the other end like a cartoon clip. Ron was a man like no other, he is Recycle, CMC65092 If you would like to donate to Ron's Memorial Fund, please go to: http://cmc-victoria.com/donate.html Thank you. Safe journey home brother Ron. We are going to miss you. RIP
    5 points
  29. In a few days, according to the societal predisposition of my awesome country Canada, I will be classified as a Senior. Now, there are variations on a theme as it pertains to what qualifies someone to enter this auspicious stage of life. Some Federal, Provincial and private entities bestow the title on those who have attained the silver-lined age of 55. (That would be me by the way). Others require an individual to be 60 or 65 years old. That then affords me a minimum of 5 to 10 years to potentially nurture an unqualified state of denial. I figure if it takes that long to wrestle with the reality of turning 55, then by the time I actually am permitted to graciously scale the misty heights of 60 or 65, then all arguments to the contrary will be null and void. If truth be told, as much as I am looking forward to this stage of my life, my level of introspection on what has transpired thus far to get me to this point, has taken a quantifiable turn. I presume the older one gets, the more one takes stock of one’s life. It is natural to weigh in the balance what you thought of, desired, or planned for your life as a young man, with where you presently find yourself. Borrowing an analogy from the sporting world, what has been uppermost on my mind is the identification of my life’s Sweet Spot. In simple terms, a sweet spot is a place where a combination of factors results in a maximum response for a given amount of effort. Now given that I fall on the side of being genetically masculine, my tendencies lean toward rating myself through performance or accomplishments. While these are not inherently bad indicators of a person’s worth, more importantly, they are not the most healthy of litmus tests to gauge one’s equilibrium and value. Our society intensively advocates and promotes the successful; the strong; the popular; the beautiful. Again traits and positions that are not in themselves improper, but when you are forced to measure yourself against such demanding, or in some cases, unforgiving standards, your inner man; your psyche; your spirit, becomes weighted down and diminished when unhealthy expectations prove impossible to live up to. For me it has been difficult to identify if I even have a sweet spot, compared to even living out of one. To that end, I figured why not work backwards with what I know. I am a husband of almost 27 years to a woman who I am learning daily has more value and love to offer than I have sufficiently acknowledged. I am a father of the most awesome adult children a man could ask for. I have now transcended from Fatherhood to Grandparent with the arrival of our first Grandson. I have had the opportunity to taste the sweetness of a dream fulfilled in having the opportunity to pilot aircraft in the mountains of British Columbia and Northwestern USA. I have been blessed with a rich ancestral heritage that spans not only generations, but continents, countries and islands around the world. These are just a few things that aid in answering questions of significance on my part. I still fail and make mistakes at times, but I am reminded that growing older and having your once black follicles turn grey (those that remain anyway), is more a badge of honour, than a banner stigmatizing who you are as a person. After all, wisdom and knowledge come through experience. Experience takes time and effort, and yes even self-doubt and failure are valuable commodities that are indispensable to the repository of knowledge one gains in a lifetime. Proverbs: 20 vs:29 – The glory of young men is their strength, but the splendour of old men is their grey hair.
    5 points
  30. As I look out my window today, the flag is fluttering in front of a partially blue sky and the mighty Gary Oak trees are shedding their golden leaves. The Parks personnel are diligently blowing the leaves away from the Cenotaph and the military members are pacing off the positions where everyone will be tomorrow. In one day the park will be full of poppies, wreaths and vets as we commemorate another Remembrance Day. This year there will be fewer vets from the World Wars, fewer from Korea but more from our recent scrimmages. As parents, it is our jobs to tell the story of those who served and how they fought for our freedoms and the freedoms of others. Tell your children to talk to the veteran and find out their stories. Click on the link and think about the words. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kX_3y3u5Uo
    5 points
  31. I really think every one of our cmc members deserve this but if we have to pick one .i cant do it .you all deserve it and i proud to be a member with you all.
    5 points
  32. A strange thing happened this morning, one that has not happened in over 25 years – I forgot to set my alarm clock last night and I slept in this morning. Normally I am up at 05:30, grab my first cup of joe, do some Club business and some work stuff, take a shower, get dressed and off to the office I go. Not today however. I looked at the clock, my heart started to pound, the adrenaline kicked in, jumped into the shower, threw on my clothes, grabbed a cuppa and downed it, filled it back up, jumped on the bike and flew up the driveway. I turned on the tunes and headed down the lane and then…. Nothing seemed to matter anymore. The cool morning air caressed my face as the clock hit 80 – nothing worried me anymore. I looked at the time – ya I was late, but would rushing make me any earlier? After all, where I work – late is late. Five minutes or an hour – it doesn’t matter. So what to do? I think of this as falling from a skyscraper. Hey, there is nothing you can do. All the screaming in the world will not save you. You may as well turn on your back and enjoy the ride! I have noticed that as I get older, the sense of freedom when I get on my bike gets greater. When I turn the engine over and hear her growl, I stop and think about the first shaky experiences I had learning to ride and how far I have come. I think about the days of riding with my first Club and how it compares to the CMC. I think about the fact that I never knew what chaps were let alone electrics. About how we rode with one thing in mind – where the next fuel stop would be. Then all of a sudden I am brought back to life when I hear this loud obnoxious noise behind me. It is some jerry wad wanker who thinks he is right out of Sons of Anarchy (ya, don’t get me started on that one!). Reving and reving and just making a royal fool out of himself. As he gets closer – I notice he is on a Shadow with Vance and Hines (knock-offs) slash cuts, 12" apes, slit fender and forward controls. I have nothing against Shadows – they are great bikes, but come on, really!!! Now the good part – he is wearing a SOA vest!!! Oh Lordy!! A royal wanna be. I guess he thinks if he puts on a wanna be vest, he is actually part of something?? Oh ya, the "wanna be" club. So the question now becomes – do I hand him my card and ask him if he would like to belong to a REAL club? That answer came faster than the thought – NOPE! Yes membership is in the decline, but – there are some people that are just not a good fit and this is one of them. As he hit the throttle and sped by me and did a quick lane split, I knew that I had made the right decision. For my luck, he would wear the Madison and ride like that. When I jump on my ride, I put on my Madison 80% of the time. Not that it is protective gear, but because I am proud of it. It symbolizes Canada, freedom, choice, strength and fellowship. It tells all that see that I am a member of the best motorcycle group in Canada. I ride with pride.
    5 points
  33. After having the pleasure of starting a Chapter and seeing the differences between the two groups I can only do what I can do. It all comes down to what others want out of the group, what they are willing to give. If people are not willing to step up and be part of the group then the group will fade. One person can not be the group. My philosophy is to plan rides and ride. Whoever shows up shows up. At the end of the day you can really only worry about one person and that is yourself (well I worry about Baby Jack all the time) I enjoy the social aspect of meeting the others and going to new places. So lets concentrate on what we want and the others will follow. If not I will have a great time riding with the love of my life, meeting others and yes being an extrovert!!
    5 points
  34. I'm heading into year 5 of riding - and had no riding experience on anything before. I started riding after a boyfriend convinced me to get my licence, and after we broke up, I thought to myself, Screw him anyway! I can do this! I took a course, but it was a disaster - too challenging (going over a teeter totter) and I crashed I took a few months off, and then my bike mechanic convinced me to try again. I practiced on my own with friends, and I got my full licence two years ago. I joined CMC to find people to ride with and to make new friends - my CMC family helped me immensely! I started with a 1988 Virago 250 for 3 years, and put 28000 kms on it. I got my Vulcan 500 last year and did some challenging kms for me on a ride to Gettysburg - total 7000 kms last summer. I find I have to keep riding to stay comfortable, even with short trips. I prefer riding with my CMC peeps in smaller groups of less than 10, while larger groups really intimidate me. As silly as this seems, I prefer being in third behind the leader. While I can ride anywhere, I really don't like being at the back of a group with a smaller bike. I prefer riding with CMC peeps who use the hand signals - it makes me feel like part of a professional looking group and seems more cohesive. I have faith in the people in front of me and beside me to give me a heads up. Some day, I will take the Surviving the Streets course, as I think it will be good for me. But the last course I took scared the poop out of me, and it will likely be one of those that I just make up my mind to do, and JUST DO IT.
    5 points
  35. I cannot even begin to properly thank your son for his service Mike. Also happy that you get to have him home again. I too marvel at some who arrive in Canada to start a new life and yet somehow fail to understand what their newly adopted country is all about. They are enamoured with the freedom and opportunity, but fail to give anything back but lip service to our wonderful country. I too am an immigrant. Arrived on these welcoming shores 36 years ago come This August. I cannot express enough the wonderment of assimilating into a new culture. Was not always accommodating or easy; but anything worth having usually never is. Not only do I love this country, but I vigorously pray that many who call Canada home, actually start demonstrating true affection and proper appreciation for it. While I will always be thankful for the country of my birth, I am who I am today because of Canada, and I will not trade that for anything.
    5 points
  36. Ok here is a first draft First time working with Photoshop - Downloaded a 30 day trial from Adobe.
    5 points
  37. The past few weeks, jayhawkr and I have been dealing with family "stuff". It will all work itself out in the end, and as I repeatedly tell myself, every time I feel like I have Life under control, He/She kicks me in the rear just to remind me I don't. I read with envy all you folks who go on long rides and travel the country. While I certainly don't wish my life away, I wonder if I will EVER have the freedom that many of you enjoy. Maybe its choices? Realistically, this is what I am facing: - I'm 42, and I have at least 20 more years of work life left. The retirement ages creep up - by the time I'm ready, it will probably be 75! - My sons are 16 and 13, so I have a few more years left as Mom Taxi, taking them to sports and managing the teenage years. Lets count that as 8 more years til the youngest ones are out of the house. - My parents are 65, and in pretty good health, all things considered. My Mom will be storming the Grand Bend countryside for years to come! Lets count 20 more years for them, at which point, it will be necessary for me and my siblings to help them out a lot more. I owe them - they did a lot for me, and I wouldn't have it any other way. - My youngest brother has a lot of health challenges, and at 30, he still lives with my parents. When they get to an age when they can't look after him anymore, it will be up to my brothers and I. He certainly didn't ask for the hand he got dealt by Life - what the next 20 years brings for him, is anyone's guess. So, if we do some simple subtraction - realistically, I have 20 - 8 years = 12 years before family responsibilities keeps me at home once again. I have a lot of riding planned for those 12 years!!!! Jayhawkr and I talk about the challenges for the "Sandwich generation" - Generation Xers predominantly, who are balancing care for children and senior parents at the same time. I attend retirement parties for my colleagues who have had the same job for 30 years, and are retiring at 60. I feel like I'm whining, because I am sure that there have been generations before me with these same responsibilities. Is it a misplaced sense of entitlement that permits me to think that I should be any different? Some of my colleagues are reluctantly retiring. They love their job, love the people they work with, and only financial incentives are coaxing them out the door. Me? I LOVE my job and the people I work with, but I have 1000 other things I would love to do then spend my days at WORK. Maybe that's naive of me - maybe I will feel differently about it when my time comes (but I really really doubt it). I worry about the availability of the social safety net for people like my brother - although my parents have done their best to save money for his long-term care, it is also based on the availability of social health benefit programs. His medication alone costs a fortune - if those programs are not available in the future, or even if I have to contribute a greater percentage, it may mean working for much longer to afford it. I read a lot about the economy, and work, and I wonder if my children will ever be able to afford the things we have. Maybe they will be living with us longer, moving back in after post-secondary, or after a job loss, or whatever Life Challenge they face. (That will be fine provided they don't turn into Couch Turds - at which point, I WILL be on my motorcycle so I don't hurt anyone). I think of how hard it might be for them - and I realize how lucky I really am.
    5 points
  38. My eyes go directly to the Cenotaph as I look out my window today. You see, my office faces Memorial Park – a great green area in the heart of this little Municipality; so it is hard for me not to get off into “day dream world” every now and then, especially on days like today when the sun is in its full glory and the temperature just begs me to leave this office and jump on my trusty stead and head off to wherever the front tire points. But as I look at the Cenotaph, I can’t but think of all those that served our country so proudly and lost their lives for the freedoms that we have today. A very dear friend of mine – Hairy (yes, spelled correctly), was a bike messenger in WW2. His job was to move messages between commands on his WLC – a 45 cubic inch Harley that was designed for the military. He did this for three years, catching chunks of lead in his shoulder, his back, his leg and his arm and not to mention breaking his leg not once but twice. The life expectancy of the biker messenger was only 6 months, a year if you were lucky. Old Hairy did his time, going through eight WLC’s, several Royal Enfields and a handful of captured BMWs. When he returned home, he opened Harry’s Bar and Grill on Mission Bay in San Diego. Over the years, the bar took its toll, but the clientele remained true to Hairy. If you’d bring in your stein and he would proudly display it on the back of the bar. If you were a biker, it would go to the right, military would go to the left and if you were both – it would be proudly displayed front and center. Each stein had its story and old Hairy knew them all as well as the people that would drink from them. It would be about 20 years since I saw the old geezer, but when I eventually made it back to San Diego, I made sure that I stopped in. The place was still as dingy as ever. Peanut shells all over the floor and duct tape holding the bar stools together and as I made my way to my old spot at the end of the bar, Hairy so nonchalantly grabbed my stein, blew off the dust, filled it up and slung it down the bar like he had done so many times before. With a raspy grunt, he just said “It is about f’ing time you show your f’ing mug! I was getting ready to sell that F’ing stein of yours. Thought you was either f’ing dead or in the pen.” and the conversation carried on like I had never left. Every other word was that old f bomb and his voice got raspier as he spoke and chewed that old fatty (which I am sure it was the same one he put in his mouth 35 years ago!). His stories were the same, a little more colour and took a bit longer to tell, but it was Hairy that was telling it. When I returned a couple of years ago, I learned that old Hairy passed and the bar was sold and torn down. My heart was ripped from my chest. Why do I tell you all of this? Well, because as I look out the window at that Cenotaph, I realize that none of us are getting any younger and we do not tell the people around us just how much they mean to us. Hairy meant a lot to this ex-military biker. His stories, his wit and just him being there with his long grey hair and ZZ-Top beard. He was a character, a friend, a confidant, a biker and a brother. He would always yell as we departed “Vita initum iam”. “Your adventure starts now (actually translated - life starts now, but he always meant it to be adventure and who was going to argue with him?)”. Because for him, there was never a good bye and life was always an adventure. He took the time to know you, something we don’t do enough today. So as we jump on our rides and head out – Vita initum iam!
    5 points
  39. Hi Grizzz, as you know our chapter 037 doesn't go to restaurants or pubs very often anymore. We found the high cost (including tips), slow service, and often poor menu selections to be a bit much. Most of our day trip rides (and many evening rides too) now are picnic rides. Everyone eats what they want and we can all eat together at the same time. "Potluck" picnics work really well and can be quite amusing when the members try to outdo each other's gourmet addition to the picnic meal. Ah, good times... I can hardly wait for winter to end and to get back on the road with the CMC family.
    5 points
  40. As I sit here, staring out of my office window, staring at the wet roads and the rain soaked gardens, my mind slowly drifts to the simpler times in my life when I could throw open the door, grab my vest and jump on my trusty old ’52 Hyrda glide and cruise from Phoenix to San Diego. Gas was at thirty-five cents a gallon and Happy Hour at Fred’s was 10 fer a buck. My mind slowly moves to the 2015 CMC065 ride to Sturgis…. Oh yes, this could be a chance to relive those days. A group of close friends, the thunder of the bikes and long open roads ahead before we make our way to the Chip and the activities that are laid before us. This will be number 19 for me, and probably my last kick at the cat before I make my final exit. I look forward to sharing my stories, experience and knowledge with the members of my riding family and to enjoy this ride as one of those “simpler days”. Jump on the new breed of Glides and ride to Devil’s Tower or to Wall. Take in the sounds of ZZ or just the calm before the storm. Not real sure where this is taking me, but I do know one thing for sure….. this dream is far nicer than the work sitting on my desk that needs attention. Damn, reality just kicked back in, guess I had better get back to the budgets, spreadsheets and numbers. Where did that simple life just go?
    5 points
  41. Hi there and welcome to ‘Wheelspin’ A new blog documenting rides, events and the motorcycling lifestyle. For those of you that don’t know I’ll be embarking on a 6 week x-Canada ride starting at the end of June with stops at ‘Freedom Machine’ a vintage, custom and antique bike show in Durham Ontario, held at this really cool fake ghost town on private property with lots of space for camping. www.freedommachineshow.com Also on the list, Port Dover for Friday the 13th, Magnetic Hill in New Brunswick, Riding the Confederation Bridge into P.E.I. the Bay of Fundy and of course the one on everyones bucket list, The Cabot Trail and since I’m already on that side of the country, the CMC National Rally (Yes I’m already registered for the National) on my way back west. The idea of this blog is to share information on things like road conditions, those must do rides, tips and tricks on camping, packing the bike, gear reviews, places to eat, where to find service or parts, places to avoid as well as documenting some good times, because as we all know… It’s not the destination it’s the ride. A well traveled route that has some notoriety around here is the Duffy Loop as it’s known locally by the riding community, depending on which direction you travel it’s the #1 Trans Canada from Vancouver to Hope, up the Fraser Canyon to Cache Creek, then onto highway 99 south from Lillooet and down through Pemberton, Whistler, Squamish and back into Vancouver. Another option riding out to Hope is highway #7 but this adds another hour, hour and a half to the total loop ride but is far more scenic and twisty. Dr.Mucker, first officer from the 056 and myself did our 1st loop ride of 2018 last week, you can watch a video of that ride here The last few years I’ve been averaging 3 loop rides a season as it’s one of my favourite local rides. Last year I stretched it out into an overnighter and more kilometres by adding the loop of highways 97C and 8 taking you through Logan Lake, Mamatte Lake and Lower Nicola, some of BC’s old copper mining country and into ranch lands before joining back up with the #1 Trans Canada at Spences Bridge back in the Fraser Canyon. Some stunning country and views along 97C. A few of us have the extended loop ride scheduled for next weekend, I’ll bring you up to speed on that here after the 15th of May. A few other rides I’ve got down on my calendar in spray paint… May 26th is the first flat track races of 2018 in these parts, Pemberton Raceway and a few of us from the 056 are going. May 27th I’m a registered rider in the 'Ride To Live' charity ride to raise awareness and money to fight prostate cancer. There’s a BBQ, a poker run (I love poker runs) and entertainment, looks like I might be a tad sore for that one but that never stopped me before. to learn more www.ridetolive.ca Come early June I’m registered for flat track school hosted by Go Flat Track and I’m looking forward to writing about that experience. If you check their website they have links to some good video, note that it’s not recorded at Pemberton, I think it’s in Ontario somewhere. www.goflattrack.com That covers the start of the 2018 riding season, I have a few other rides and events to see when I get back but I think I’ll leave that for later. **A Final Note on the Duffy: We saw some fresh slides in the chutes along the highway as well there is rock and debris coming down right now, please check road conditions and ride it with extreme caution. The road had been swept of winter gravel and was in pretty good shape overall. We didn’t do the Cache Creek run we did the shortened Lytton to Lillooet route, highway #12. Check www.drivebc.com for all BC road travel updates and camera views. 3 days after our ride Cache Creek was flooding.
    4 points
  42. So, here in Ontario, we are just 5 degrees away from breaching the 0C temperature threshold. It has been what, 4 to 5 weeks since we were above that level? While I will say most anything to massage my state of denial, it’s way past the time when a man’s (or woman’s) heart turns to that old standby…envisioning being on the open road on two wheels. There are only so many winter-encased bike shows (approximately 2 per year in Toronto & Ottawa) wherein you can fawn and drool over machines that stir the soul. Even more sad is after carting home bags full of new bike brochures from dealers along with pamphlets from motorcycle tour companies, after the bike show ends, you rush home and lock yourself in a dark room, watching videos on YouTube about the bikes you just sat on, less than 2 hours prior; like some deviant outcast of society. I am embarrassed to say that I seem to be developing a love-hate relationship with the purveyors of online motorcycle video reviews; those who post video exposés of their seemingly always-new motorcycles. These individuals always seem to live and ride in such exotic places as Tahiti or Hawaii; or at a minimum, someplace with an annual mean temperature that would allow for palm trees to grow in Canada on a year-round basis. I assuage my guilt by blaming Winter. Another thing; where on earth do they find the time and means to go galavanting on 4 week Adventure Rides, touring Europe, or blasting along some Amazonian trail seemingly at will? You would need to be either independently wealthy, or single, or devoid of offspring. Most likely all of the above. I have a mortgage and have to pay bills. In order to accommodate these pseudo-involuntary wallet-leeching endeavours, I have to work! Ahh...if truth be told, I am submitting (slightly) to envy. I even have friends and associates who actually tour the world's continents on their motorcycles for a living. (Ok, maybe I am more than slighty envious) I am thankful about one thing though...the current ride is paid off. So, until Summer tells Spring to grow a pair and dethrone Winter’s insolence, I will have to live (and ride) vicariously through YouTube. Oh the shame of it all!
    4 points
  43. I got this message earlier this evening. Anne and her husband Larry both lost a parent just before Christmas. From Anne & Larry Hello CMC Members: Larry and I want to take this opportunity to tell you how much it meant to us that you "lit a candle" in memory of my Dad on his personal page through the Hardy Lee Funeral Home in Harriston. Also, the personal messages of sympathy that were left on this same page, as well as our home computer, both for the loss of Larry's Mom and my Dad who were buried three days apart, were so much appreciated. Your caring thoughts of support were very special and certainly let us know that you were thinking about us both and the loss of our Parents. Your kind words were exactly what we needed. Your thoughtfulness was very special and will not be forgotten. Thank you for caring. Anne & Larry Boehm
    4 points
  44. I know he wouldn't want any accolades for anything he ever does but Alex "Bigdaddy" from 094 is always the first person to offer any assistance to help out other people. There have been numerous occasions where he has gone out of his way to hook up his trailer and pick up many riders who have broken down no matter how busy he may be. He has answered any and all calls for help no matter how far he has to go out of his way. He has gone to the aid of riders at the Highway Of Heroes ride and jump started their bikes and the same at the Bikers Reunion. He has organized events to help out at the local Salvation Army and to help sponsor 10 families for Xmas. Alex and Tammy are always the first to offer condolences, help, and gifts to anyone who has experienced any unfortunate circumstances this year. Like I said, he would not want any recognition as that is the kind of guy he is, and a great leader for the 094.
    4 points
  45. General Amalgamated Industries, feeling it was time for a shakeup, hired a new CEO. The new boss was determined to rid the company of all slackers. On a tour of the facilities, the CEO noticed a guy leaning against a wall. The room was full of workers and he wanted to let them know that he meant business. He asked the guy, "How much money do you make a week?" A little surprised, the young man looked at him and said, "I make $400 a week. Why?" The CEO said, "Wait right here." He walked back to his office, came back in two minutes, and handed the guy $1,600 in cash and said, "Here's four weeks' pay. Now GET OUT and don't come back." Feeling pretty good about himself the CEO looked around the room and asked, "Does anyone want to tell me what that goof-ball did here?" From across the room a voice said, "Pizza delivery guy from Domino's." Read more: http://www.ajokeaday.com/Clasificacion.asp?ID=93&Pagina=11#ixzz2xaOHxtGA
    4 points
  46. Looking forward to your blog. I started riding when I was 58 years old. My first purchase was a 2010 Honda SH150i Scooter. In Alberta you can get your Class 6 Motorcycle licence on a scooter and then ride any size motorcycle you want to. Not sure if this is still the case now but it was back in 2009. I now ride a 2009 Honda DN01 which is an automatic transmission motorcycle 700 cc. It was an easy transition from the scooter to the motorcycle. After 5 years of riding I still question my riding skills and will likely plan to take a safety course to upgrade what skills I have. I agree with Duffer, watch, listen and ask lots of questions and look into some safety courses.
    4 points
  47. One our members (Opie) came across this and it totally worth the share!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nppH4WLytzc Just a tip - if you leave the back part of the belt stick out, you have a handle.
    4 points
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