Hello!

We are PA-I. More correctly…
GWRRA - Northeast Region B – District of Pennsylvania - Chapter I (the letter)

In order to tell you about us I need to tell you about Gold Wing Road Riders Association

WHAT IS GWRRA?
GWRRA was established in 1977 by Paul Hildebrand and Shirley Stevens-Garcia. We are NOT A CLUB; rather we are a not-for-profit SOCIAL ORGINAZATION. Our motto, “FRIENDS FOR FUN, SAFETY AND KNOWLEDGE” says a lot about our goals.

GWRRA is an international organization with members in all of the 50 USA states and several other countries. Headquarters are in Phoenix, AZ.

STRUCTURE:
The National office of GWRRA appoints Regions, Regions appoint Districts and Districts appoint Chapters. Guidelines and information are passed down from National through the network of Regions and Districts to the Chapter Director whose job it is to keep the Chapter participants up to date on all that is happening and in turn pass participant information upward through the proper channels.

In a nutshell… National is the head – Region and District are the arteries - Chapter participants are the heart and soul of Gold Wing Road Riders Association.

We (Chapter I) are one of 24 Chapters in the District of Pennsylvania, Northeast Region B.

Because of the unique structure of GWRRA you JOIN the organization and have freedom to PARTICIPATE in ANY chapter.

PA-I HISTORY
In 1981 Bill & Peg Zortman bought a Honda Gold Wing motorcycle and joined GWRRA. They rode alone or with friends attending BMW rallies until being introduced to the phenomenon of a GWRRA Chapter in 1985 when attending the Gold Wing Road Riders Association International Rally in Knoxville, TN. There were no chapters in the Reynoldsville, PA area so they started one.

GWRRA PA-I was Chartered on January 6, 1986 following a “kickoff” meeting in the Blueroom Restaurant held during a major winter storm and attended by 59 people. Of those 59 hardy soles six were Region and District officers (Bill & Betty Kitchin, Region B Directors; Leroy and Teeny Hake, PA State Directors and Danny & Peggy Travis, PA State Safety Coordinators). Six were GWRRA members [Bill & Peg Zortman, Vaughn and Sharon Tapper, Dallas (Bud) and Charlotte Douthit]; and the rest were there to see what it was all about.

Bill & Peg Zortman accepted the post of Area Representatives (now known as Chapter Director) and Vaughn and the late Sharon Tapper were appointed as their assistants.

During the first year there was much to learn. The new chapter traveled a lot and quickly grew into a large, happy family.

In that first year a Chapter logo was created by member Bud Howell with input from all the chapter participants. A Chapter Banner was put together by chapter participant Nancy Rash. Nancy also sewed the denim vests on which the new chapter participants hung pins and sewed patches.

They were a camping chapter. Most hauled a “TraveLite” popup behind their Gold Wing Motorcycle. As chapter leaders changed they morphed from camping to moteling then back to camping again. The one thing that has never changed is the camaraderie and the fun the PA-I people have.

WHAT DOES PA-I DO?
We ride. We have ice cream rides. We have camping trips. We have picnics. We travel to interesting places near and far. It might be an evening ride to see bats fly out of a cave or a daytime ride to see eagles soar. It could be a weekend camping trip, a week long “Big trip” or even something like the multi-week tour recently made to Montana with stops in all the most interesting places.

We join with other PA Chapters at their events and at our PA District Rally each year where the location and the theme may change but the bottom line is always FUN.

We meet and travel year round in all weather. If it’s not good for riding the motorcycle we use other means of transportation; but we still go, do and see. We travel as a group or simply meet at a predetermined destination.

There are GWRRA guidelines; but only few hard and fast rules. The Chapter Staff takes care of all the business with input from the participants; and all you need to do is participate and enjoy. We have Chapter T-shirts; and GWRRA logo vests; but wearing them is optional unless you become an officer.


The only thing about which we are serious is SAFETY. There are free seminars and hands on training available to GWRRA members. We are constantly learning new things about motorcycling and a broad spectrum of other subjects as well.

HOW CAN I BE A PART OF GWRRA PA-I?
To be a participant of Chapter I there are only two criteria… be a member of GWRRA and attend PA-I functions. We might suggest you also bring a good sense of humor.

Come for a gathering, a ride or any Chapter I event. We’d love to meet you.
Our Gatherings (we don’t call them meetings) are normally short, informative and fun. We are still centered in Reynoldsville with participants coming from many surround communities. We meet in the same restaurant (under a new name) where the “Kickoff” was held those many years ago.

Come see what we’re all about….
Eat n Park Restaurant – Route 255 – DuBois, PA
Third Saturday of each month. Brunch is at 11:30 AM with the Gathering to follow at 1:00 PM.

Our Chapter History