[jimsjinx]

I joined 4 years ago. I have made some good friends there. I have found that it can indeed be "clicky". Some of the older past admin. are always complaining about the new people that take over, once somebody retires from a position. I have found that most EVERY ride is to eat someplace. I have found that your monthly meeting and dinner is gonna cost you about $75.00 a month, due to the "drawings". I also found that if you break down in our group, there is a good chance no one will stay behind with you. (this has been addressed,as I think it sucks). I got bamboozled into taking an "educator" position, and never could wrangle any help out of anybody. You now have to fill out forms every month, and be a certified team member, which requires you take a class and pass a test. I could never get anywhere trying to do this job right. "Ah, don't worry about it", was the only response I got, everywhere I went. I found that the title of "Non-Profit" is a big deal. The upper echelon makes big bucks,and that kinda rubs me wrong. I don't know, I guess each chapter is different, and don't expect it to stay the same. It changes all the time. Some leaders will break their backs to help you, some won't lift a finger. Personally,I made some good buddies there, but I am not a big GWRRA fan anymore. The last go round, was members trying to convince us that my wife has had enough time to heal up from recent cancer surgery, and should ride 170 miles round trip for a spaghetti dinner! EXCUSE ME? They just don't know how to take NO for an answer sometimes. No one means to be a jerk, but jeeze. Of course we would love to go for a ride, but it is not a good time right now! So, if you are into a basically "human resouces" kind of relationship, with you being the employee, go for it. I'm not meaning to bash em or anything, it's just my opinion. You may stumble into a fantastic chapter, and they are out there. Good luck with it, should you give it a try. You WILL make some friends. jimsjinx

 

[Ol Stevie Boy]

craigmri

You sound a lot like me when it comes to riding styles. If you are lucky, you can do what I do. I have a riding buddy that I have ridden with for years. We are just as good coast to coast as we are to the next town for supper. Our wifes get along great and the four of have gone of trips together for as long as a week and a half. If my wife and I want to go on a three day trip somewhere with them, they are ready. If they can't go, no problem.
I used to belong to GWRRA but gave it up because I like riding more than socializing.

You didn't mention a wife. For me the fact of the matter is that riding with her is more fun than riding with a group. We go where we want, and do what we want to do. But If the wife can't go, I am perfectly captable of going off for a week on my own and enjoying myself.

Steve

 

[dudeboy]

I allways thought gwrra stood for Gold Wing Restarant Review Asociation.

 

[bking]

my wife and I joined this past summer. Mainly for the insurance but was also looking for someone to lead me on roads I've never traveled. Dont knock those ice cream rides. kinda fun riding to the next town over with 10 to 15 other bikes on roads I've never ridden before. I too think it depends on your chapter, ours is laid back. there are more people without vests than with them at the meetings and we even have a few harley riders in our group. my work schedule keeps me from doing a lot with them and no one gives me any grief. I guess my advice would be to join for the mag, insurance and gold book then try out your chapter and see how it fits.

 

[DaveW]

I, too, have only had one experience with a member of the GWRRA.
It's when I picked up my new to me GL1200, and an 1800 owner said to me:

When you decide to get a real bike, maybe you can join the GWRRA.

I've been able to ride over 50K happy miles, cross country, rode the rockies, ozarks, San diego to san franisco, all without the GWRRA.

 

[CrystalPistol]

I, too, have only had one experience with a member of the GWRRA.
It's when I picked up my new to me GL1200, and an 1800 owner said to me:

When you decide to get a real bike, maybe you can join the GWRRA.

I've been able to ride over 50K happy miles, cross country, rode the rockies, ozarks, San diego to san franisco, all without the GWRRA.

He didn't represent GWRRA .... I know of NO members like that and I know a bunch .... but if that's all it takes to disuade you .... so be it. I can say I'm sorry but that is not for me to say. :?

So I'll just say that I've been in GWRRA since 1995 and we started visiting the chapter about an hour's ride after getting some handwritten newsletters in 1997 .... the chapter had just started up is why.

In 2001-05 I was CE, in 06 ACD and for 2007-2011 CD and we absolutely love our chapter members and meetings and rides .... but we aren't limited to riding with the chapter. We've seen members come and stay, we've seen them come and go after trying it out. A fun chapter needs some members who will step up and shoulder some staff positions.


Some of our rides are local, say under 300 miles in a day, and often do include a meal stop or maybe even a DQ stop as well .... some have been known to go several weeks long. Wife and I, or maybe just I .... take rides alone or with just one or two others as well. We have a lot of fun gaming each other and if something "unfortunate" does happen .... it's great comfort to have friends nearby.

And I still show up on either a 27 year old GL1200 or a 15 year old Trike ..... as the mood so strikes me.



:waving:

 

[bking]

so what did you do

how about it Craigmri, did you join? If you did what is your impression?

 

[77Pinto]

how about it Craigmri, did you join? If you did what is your impression?

Maybe he does not do impressions....



Bill

 

[unionjk]

I was a member for 9 years and a Chapter Educator for two. I found the people to be wonderful and a lot of fun, plus the education programs available to be a very good asset of the organization. I love the local Chapter district and region.

HOWEVER

Two years ago someone at the top did a few things that hurt a lot of people including myself and when I called him on it it began a nasty rampage against me and others. As a result not only was I removed from office but my membership was also cancelled. This is when I found out that the organization is privately owned by one man who employes his own family in Phoenix, and any perceived threat to his profit will be dealt with harshly.
The local chapter finally quit GWRRA and is now called the North County Social and Riding Club. Same people doing the same thing and having the same fun without all of the restrictions and hassle coming from the top down.
This is unfortunate since the members and programs within GWRRA are so good to be around and involved with, and if it were a national organization run by the members instead of by one man/family dictating his demands it would continue to be endorsed 100% by myself. I do not regret having been a member, and if I and a dozen or so other people had not been accused of things we did not do simply because we spoke up, then I would still be proud to be a member and a chapter educator today.

I still have very good friends and acquaintances who are members in many of the local chapters and they continue to have my full support in all that they do.

 

[tlbranth]

The real advantages to GWRRA are the Gold Book and Stu Oltman's column in the magazine (the rest of the magazine is mostly reviews of new chrome and electronic gadgets and pictures of old, fat guys standing proudly next to Goldwings that all look the same). The local chapter part, as mentioned already, is mostly an eating club, not a riding club and my wife and I always felt like outsiders to the group who had obviously been together a long time. We went on a few chapter rides and they were enjoyable except I'm a pretty conservative rider and the group routinely exceeded speed limits which felt unsafe to me. So we would ride behind and meet up with the group at the next stop.
I looked into the towing package and it looked shaky at best. There was an article in Wingworld a while back where a couple called the tow outfit and they were given some excuse why nobody was going to show up. I wrote to Wingworld about this and editor Sharon Stanley emailed me that she would look into it and get back to me - which she never did. The tow coverage is not guaranteed. I called the outfit that actually covers the towing and got all the info I could and just went with AAA.
Conclusion: I'm still a member only because of Stu Oltman and the gold book. I think that's worth the price.

 

[Hondadiver]

The real advantages to GWRRA are the Gold Book and Stu Oltman's column in the magazine (the rest of the magazine is mostly reviews of new chrome and electronic gadgets and pictures of old, fat guys standing proudly next to Goldwings that all look the same). The local chapter part, as mentioned already, is mostly an eating club, not a riding club and my wife and I always felt like outsiders to the group who had obviously been together a long time. We went on a few chapter rides and they were enjoyable except I'm a pretty conservative rider and the group routinely exceeded speed limits which felt unsafe to me. So we would ride behind and meet up with the group at the next stop.
I looked into the towing package and it looked shaky at best. There was an article in Wingworld a while back where a couple called the tow outfit and they were given some excuse why nobody was going to show up. I wrote to Wingworld about this and editor Sharon Stanley emailed me that she would look into it and get back to me - which she never did. The tow coverage is not guaranteed. I called the outfit that actually covers the towing and got all the info I could and just went with AAA.
Conclusion: I'm still a member only because of Stu Oltman and the gold book. I think that's worth the price.

For a second with some of your less than flattering comments I had to check and see if I wasn't at the gl1800riders forum

 

[CarolinaYellow]

Dont worry ..soon the GWRRA like everything else in this New Country will be dictated and you will have to pay a new tax to participate ...oh and you will have to pay a fine if you dont pay the tax..just saying...

 

[jaxn]

I belong to GWRRA. The roadside assistance package has more than paid for my dues I've paid. It covers any vehicle you own. The Gold Book is a very good thing to have in your possesion while traveling as it lists dealers and members. I've been to one Wing Ding and it's interesting to go to. Never will you see so many wings in one place. Yup I like it.

 

[OnaWingAndaPrayer]

He is selling/sold the 1500 and now has a BMW .

 

[bking]

He is selling/sold the 1500 and now has a BMW .

i saw that he bought a bmw but you dont have to have a goldwing to join. they have something called an associate membership for non goldwing riders, all the same benafits just cant hold a leadership position. Our chapter has a few harley riders in it because they like the group and they arent treated any differntly