Chapter W - History

The History of GWRRA Chapter VA-W By Jane Bennett December 4, 2004

Many of the Chartered members of Virginia Chapter W were formerly members of Virginia Chapter D, who at the time was growing so fast they were bursting at the seams. In 1990, Virginia Chapter D was located north of the James River and encompassed the entire Richmond Metropolitan area, including the Tri-Cities. The State Directors, Earl and Cathy Banton, suggested it would be nice if a Chapter could be started south of the James River to serve the Tri-Cities area.

The late Jerry W. Tyler and his wife Phyllis volunteered to take on the responsibility of becoming the Area Representatives for the new Chapter in Southern Chesterfield County with Bill and Jane Bennett serving as their assistants. On October 26, 1991, with the blessings, help, support and encouragement from our �Big Sister�, Virginia Chapter D, a successful kick-off was held at Aunt Sarah�s Pancake House just off I-95 and Willis Road for the new Virginia Chapter W. Ryan�s Steak House, in Colonial Heights, is where Chapter W started having their monthly dinner meetings. Chapter W�s motto was �Wings Over History�. Their colors were �black and gold�. Phyllis Tyler made the Chapter banner and Chapter flags for each member�s motorcycle. Chapter W�s goal was to become educated in the proper motorcycle care, maintenance and safe riding skills. The staff dedicated themselves to the growth, good imagery, family enjoyment and safety of their membership.

Charter members were: Jerry and Phyllis Tyler, Bill and Jane Bennett, Ora Linden-Brooks, Kathleen Fisher, Jerry and Linda Bracy, Joseph Edmonds, Ray and Coralee Baker, Virgil Talley, Doug and Liz Talley, Bubba and Claudia Brooks, Randy and Shirley Brooks, Al and Wanda Harvey, Ron and Rae Vincent, Wes and Joan Richard, David Lee, Joe and Sheila Bowles, Al and Debbie Dowell, Randy Clevenger and Jerry and Gretchen Phinney.

The Chapter quickly became known as the �friendly, fun filled, family centered and caring� chapter. Chapter W slowly started to grow, losing some along the way and gaining new membership. In 1995, Chapter W changed their location for their monthly dinner meetings to its current location of Pietro�s Pizza and Italian Restaurant in Chester.

Chapter W can look back with pride and fond memories of the many wonderful adventures and accomplishments that has taken place in Chapter W and GWRRA over the past years. Members of Chapter W worked very hard, coming up with fresh, new ideas, developing skills and their involvement in helping to make this motorcycle association the best it can be. These past years have included many rides in all types of weather and conditions. We took trips on two wheels, three wheels and four wheels all over Virginia and surrounding states.

During the years of 1995 to 2000, several members of Chapter W visited every chapter in the State of Virginia. Members have attended functions such as: dinner meetings, bowling, Old Dominion Opry, All-Chapter picnics, socials, MSF Rider Courses, Skills Day, White Elephant Auctions, poker runs, the Pony Express Cancer Rides, Teddy Bear Runs, Chapter kick-offs, mall shows, bike shows, Road Captain Training Classes, pre-registration packet stuffing parties, Halloween parties, motorcycle safety courses, (storm chasing and deer hugging), motorcycle photo sessions, benefits and fund raising events such as Ride for Kids, Muscular Dystrophy, attending local and District GWRRA events and/or rallies, Wing Dings, Horizon Programs, dances, Christmas parties, adopting Christmas families. The Chapter W members visited oceans, beaches, mountains, dinner theaters, parades, social get-togethers, visits to fellow wingers� homes, moonlight rides, New Year�s Day rides, ice cream and food runs, antique shopping or attending flea markets, over-night trips and camping trips, Cass Scenic Railroad, State and local fairs, historical sites, parks, lakes, and of course, Wingless Weekend, just to name a few. Our Chapter even created its own version of the �Achy Breaky� (Chapter W style) dance.

Chapter W members have written news articles that have been published in Wing World and local newspapers. Charles Fishburne (TV 6 anchorman) did a video/interview and ride with Chapter W to Rodes Farm Inn. Mr. Fishburne actually rode on a motorcycle in 19-degree weather! We have given awards and also received or won awards. One of our �special� awards is the infamous Pacifier Award for anyone who accidentally drops their motorcycle.

A special �Thanks� to Jane Bennett for her memories!!

CHAPTER LEADERSHIP

Chapter Directors

• Jerry and Phyllis Tyler: 10/1991 -8/1993
• Bill and Jane Bennett: 10/1993 � 12/1996
• Joe and Sheila Bowles: 1/1997 � 12/1998
• John and Wanda Stancil: 1/1999 � 12/2000
• Fred and Emily Shiles: 1/221 � 3/2002
• Ken and Georgia Siadak: 3/2002 � 12/2004
• Bill and JoAnn Rayfield: 1/2005 � 12/2006
• Joe and Sheila Bowles: 1/2007 - 12/2007
• Ed and Mary Kay Land: 1/2008 - 6/2010

• Bill and Jane Bennett: 10/1991 � 9/1993
• Jerry and Linda Bracy: 11/1994 � 12/1995
• John and Wanda Stancil: 3/1998 � 12/1998
• Fred and Emily Shiles: 1998 � 12/1998
• Ken and Georgia Siadak 1/2002 � 3/2002
• Bill and JoAnn Rayfield 1/2004 � 12/2004
• 2005 position vacant
• 2006 position vacant
• Ed and Mary Kay Land: 1/2007 - 12/2007
• 2008 position vacant
• Al and Debbie Dowell 2009
• 2010 position vacant

• Ora Linden-Brooks and Kathleen Fisher: 1991 � 1992
• Glen and Mona Harris: 1993 � 1995
• Butch Hazlett: 1996
• Wanda Stancil: 1997
• Emily Shiles: 1998
• Linda Thompson: 1999 � 2000
• Becky Gibson: 2001 � 3/2002
• Mike Mitchell: 3/2002 - 5/2002
• Bill Bennett: 5/2002 � 12/2004
• Daryl Grove: 1/2005 � ??
• Ed Land:
• Jeanette Shelton:
• Joe Bowles:
• Sharon Glass:

CHAPTER W FIRSTS

1991

• 9/9/1991: Met at Jerry Tyler�s home to discuss starting a Tri-City Chapter
• 9/25/1991: Last meeting as Virginia Chapter D�s Members
• 10/8/1991: First �Unofficial� Virginia Chapter W Dinner Meeting (led by Earl Banton)
• 10/11/1991: First �Unofficial� Rally In The Valley as Virginia Chapter W
• 10/26/1991: Chapter W�s Kick-off and Chartering
• 11/1991: First Chapter Newsletter published
• 11/9/1991: First Officers Meeting (Lynchburg, Virginia)
• 11/10/1991: First Blue Knights Teddy Bear run/Chapter I�s GoldWing Give-Away
• 11/12/1991: First Official Virginia Chapter W Dinner Meeting (conducted by Jerry Tyler at Ryans Steakhouse/Col. Hgts.
• 11/14/1991: First Official Virginia Chapter W�s Staff Meeting (Tyler�s Home)
• 12/5/1991: First Christmas Parade (Colonial Heights Christmas Parade)
• 12/7/1991: First Christmas Party: Guest at Virginia D�s Christmas Party

• 1/1992: First Spotlight (written by Jane Bennett)
• 2/11/1992: First Dinner Meeting conducted by Bill Bennett (Jerry Tyler had an Operation)
• 2/14-16/1992: First Wingless Weekend (Virgil Talley received his Gold Card and a nice plaque
• 4/18/1992: First Picnic (Iron Bridge Park)
• 5/16/1992: First �Social� Picnic at the home of Bubba and Claudia Brooks.
• 5/24/1992: First CPR Class (at Fort Lee, Virginia)
• 5/30/1992: First �Happy Birthday GWRRA� (in Buena Vista, Virginia)
• 6/17/1992: First Overnight Camping Trip (to Montebello)
• 7/11/1992: First Poker Run (Temper Park in Prince George)
• 7/17/1992: First trip to Cass Scenic Railroad (Cass, West Virginia)
• 9/23/1992: First trip to North Carolina State Rally (Cherokee)
• 10/5/1992: First Pre-registration Packet Stuffing Party (Veterans Hospital)
• 10/9 � 11/1992: First �Official� Virginia State Rally (helped work Registration)
• 10/26/1992: First Anniversary Dinner (Ryan�s Steak House)
• 10/30/1992: First Halloween Party (Home of Lonnie and Carolyn Gettings)
• 12/4/1992: First Christmas Party (Hopewell)
• 12/31/1992: First New Year�s Eve Party (home of Glen and Mona Harris

• 1/10/1993: Received our Chapter Jackets (Black with gold lettering)
• 5/22/1993: First Multi � Chapter Ride (D, T, U, and W to Buggs Island.
• 9/1993: Tylers Step Down as Offices (due to Jerry�s illness)
• 10/17/1993: Chapter d and W Social on Annabel Lee (Richmond)
• 11/1993: Bill and Jane Bennett conducted Dinner Meeting as Area Representatives

• 1/1/1994: Area Representative first called Chapter Directors and Assistant Chapter Directors
• 1/15/1994: First 50s/60s Dance (DAV�s Newbys Bridge Road)
• 1/1994: First purchased GWRRA Training Videos
• 5/7/1994: First White Elephant Auction Fund Raiser (for Bensley/Bermuda Rescue Squad)
• 5/10/1994: First �Guest� speaker at Dinner Meeting (from Bensley/Bermuda Rescue Squad)
• 5/22/1994: First Native American Pow Wow (King William County)
• 7/15/1994: First Dinner/Movie Social (Western Sizzlin/Chester Cinemas)
• 7/16/1994: First Visit (with Chapter D) to Lucy Corr Nursing Home Ice Cream Social
• 8/6/1994: First All Chapter Couples Picnic (Buena Vista)
• 10/2/1994: First Member/Motorcycle Photo Shoot (Front of Old Chesterfield County Courthouse)
• 10/1994: Chapter V adopts slogan of �Wings over History�
• 11/13/1994: GWRRA First Officer Training Horizons Program (Mechanicsburg, PA)

• 2/14/1995: First Dinner Meeting at Pietro�s Pizza and Italian Restaurant (Chester)
• 3/11/1995: First District Officer�s Meeting held in Charlottesville
• 3/1995: First Article published in Wing World (written by Jane Bennett)
• 3/23/1995: First Group riding Class (Presented by VAD at Peitro�s)
• 4/15/1995: First Death in Chapter (Virgil Talley�s wife, Mary)
• 9/9/1995: First VAW and VAD Go Cart Racing (Petersburg)
• 11/8/1995: First District Couple of the Year from VAW (Joe and Sheila Bowles)
• 12/9/1995: First trip to Old Dominion Opry (Williamsburg)

• 1/1996: First Chapter to Receive the Newsletter Award ( Coralee Baker, Editor)
• 1/20/1996: First Bowling Party (Hanover)
• 2/21/1996: �Spur of Moment� Social in Ice Storm (to Olive Garden)
• 3/9/1996: First �televised� Ride to Rodes Farm Inn in Nellysford (TV6)
• 3/15/1996: First Ride to Texas (by 13 members of Chapter W)
• 6/15/1996: First White Elephant Auction (White Banks Park)
• 7/14/1996: Fist worked the Pony Express Ride (Ride/Picnic)
• 12/8/1996: First Ballet (Nutcracker)

• 9/6/1997: First Wedding (Tere Taylor and Claude Patierno)
• 8/3/1997: First Capture the Region N Wandering Plaque (VAR-Harrisonburg)
• 10/12/1997: Won Largest Chapter by Percentage and Largest Chapter in Number (District Rally)

• 1998: First web page (Thanks to Buddy Pettit)
• 1998: First �Pacifier� Award (to Mike Thompson for dropped Motorcycle)
• 7/14/1998: First got Virginia Traveling Plaque (from Chapter Z)
• 9/19/1998: First Chapter Flea Market Sale (Bellwood-Willis Road)

• 10/29/1999: First Halloween Party (DAV Bldg � Newbys Bridge Road)
• 12/31/1999: First New Year�s Eve Celebration (�Millennium�/Williamsburg)

• 1/2000: First Dinner Meeting of the New Millennium