ILLINOIS STATE DIRECTOR HOSTS SPRING GET - TOGETHER
Written By Ron Schmitt, IL Chapter “G”
On March 13th, Illinois AGWA held an Ice-Breaker Party. We've had these events in the past to break cabin fever, chit chat with old friends, meet some of our new members, and get over the last hump of winter before the long - awaited riding season. It was open to all chapters, friends and relatives, and members from other clubs who cared to join us. Everyone wore a nametag, so if you met someone new, you knew who you were talking to. It was much easier to get familiar with newer members that way. As before, we tried to pick a nice motel with rooms available for those wishing to stay the weekend and make a mini vacation out of it. This year 60 people participated in the event and made it a real success. Several people were involved in bringing it about. It was spear -headed by our great State Director, Russ Densmore and Wanda. They formed a committee with Charlie Trombatore and Theresa Jones, searching for a place that would suit our needs with ample food and a banquet room. Charlie also made up fliers. Chuck Rowell found a DJ who was very reasonable. Les Chapman from Chapter "H" worked on centerpiece decorations. Since we had a patriotic theme, he made a little Statue of Liberty for each table. Helen made a little bag of red, white, & blue wrapped candy and novelties for every place setting. We can always count on Denny & Roz Lange, Bob & Helen Priester, and Theresa Jones to help decorate, work registration, and any number of little things that needed to be done. In the beginning, the locating committee only found places we didn't want to use. Either the prices were too high, rooms or amenities weren't available, or they weren't willing to offer the ample amount of food that "Gold Wingers" have come to expect over the years. Then Russ and I remembered there was a Best Western in my hometown of Elk Grove. He talked to the manager and found out the owners were the same people that owned the Best Western in La Crosse, where we had our last Rally. As a credit to our Club, they were impressed with the way AGWA people conducted themselves in La Crosse and the good time and fun we were having every day. We are a group that is welcome to come back any time. So they did their best to work out the details with Russ and Wanda. The motel is laid out just like the one in Wisconsin, so if you went to our last Rally, you know it was very nice. Weekend rates on our rooms was $59.00. The pool and amenities were great. There was a cash bar, which was no big deal because in our Club we usually care more about food and ice cream than we do about liquor.
Some door prizes were donated by the good people of Chapter "H" and their "unruly" rep, Dick Scalpone. These included several "ring of fire" lights for front wheels. Steve Orlich is the top salesman at Des Plaines Honda, our favorite local dealership, and also an active AGWA member. He brought in several gift certificates for $15.00 and a grand prize of a set of tires including installation. WOW!! There were three cash door prizes that totaled $300. Helen Priester also got several gift certificates for local restaurants and one for a stay at a local motel. This was given to Russ and Wanda for putting this event together. This way, on one of their trips in from their new house to visit family, they can stay over instead of making the 80-mile trip home the same day. So, the list of door prizes was very impressive indeed.
The food was very good. We had soup, salad, beef, chicken, sausage, roasted potatoes, beans, and tortellini pasta. For dessert we had éclairs and canolli. And Wanda Densmore baked enough home made cookies to have a tray full for each table. After all this and some socializing, people were up on the dance floor. Recently, Roz Lange had double knee replacements. She decided to break them in real good by doing the Twist. Deb Ford's daughter, Wendy, and Don Jones took over the floor a couple of times with some really fast moves. The door prizes were handed out and then the 50/50 drawing. This group was so generous buying tickets that we had two winners of $115.00 each! Thanks to all who came and made this a real nice time.
To Illinois AGWA members who came but didn't make the Rally in La Crosse, I would like to say: add to this 5 days of scenic tours, banquet, breakfast & dinner, bike show, light show, field events, trophies for all categories and poker runs, an ice cream run, a hospitality room, the national business meeting, where you can see how our Club works, relaxing at the pool, a lot of laughing and good-natured teasing and joking, and meeting some great AGWA people from 10 or 12 different states who have become friends over the years. This is some of what you can expect from an AGWA Rally. Try to make one soon. Or one of our weekenders in Tennessee or Indiana. Otherwise, you'll miss a lot of what it means to belong to a great club. Hope to see a lot of you in Indiana in September!
Sincerely,
Ron Schmitt, Illinois "G"