Drifters MC Newsletter November 2014
IMPORTANT UPDATE – Drifter’s Christmas Party
A Message from Mike….
Drifter’s Christmas Party a go go.
After a couple of episodes of jerking us around ( as usual ) an agreement has been struck with the Bloomington Country Club for our annual Drifter Christmas Dinner and Gift Exchange. This is a wonderful venue complete with Christmas decor including a tree. We’ve gone there for many years and everyone enjoys it. I apologize for having to change the date for the party AGAIN but its the best we can do for this year. It would be helpful to get a count of who is planning to attend and to get your money in to Lynne as soon as possible. We have to get a count of how many diners we expect so we can have the proper amount of seating and food available. The deadline for this is a week before the dinner. Start getting your white elephant gifts together for the gift exchange that follows the dinner. Each person who wants to participate in the exchange must bring a gift in order to receive a gift. Gifts should be wrapped to add to the Christmas spirit and to be a surprise to the person who picks the gift from the gift table. This adds to the excitement of deciding which gift to chose when your number is called. Gifts should be less than $10.00 in cost if you purchase your gift. White elephant gifts are encouraged, especially if they add to the entertainment and mirth of the dinner guests. This is your chance to re-gift those classics that have been cluttering up your closet for years. Also those useless or embarrassing items you received last year from your Drifter pals. Some gifts reappear almost every year and have become Drifter legends ! Hope to see you all there ! Details for the party follow below.
Drifter Annual Christmas Party
Bloomington Country Club
The Lounge Room
Friday, December 19th
$35.00 including tax and tip per person, buffet, no host bar will be available in our room
6 PM Social Hour, Dinner Buffet at 7PM, gift exchange to follow
Send your reservation money to Treasurer Lynne Piper
Menu
Prime Rib and Chicken Marsala, you can have both
Salad bar
Green bean almandine
Mashed potatoes and gravy
Rolls and butter
Coffee, tea, and soft drinks with refills
Apple cobbler and cheesecake with strawberry sauce desserts
Mike
Drifters MC Newsletter for November 2014
President’s Message….
Drifters,
Many of you have already heard that I don’t plan to run for Drifter President for 2015. I feel the membership should have some lead time to think about who they feel would be good choices to carry on in my place. Serving as your President these last five (is it really that long?) years has been an honor and a pleasure. The friendly and welcoming way the Drifters accepted Trish and I into the club when we moved here from California, made me feel like doing all I could to contribute to the Drifters. Moving to a new state and having such a great group of people to ride with made the transition a pleasant one. Of course, it helped to have old friends like K and Margrete but to meet so many new ones was wonderful. Thanks to you all for your help and support as I served as your President. I need to acknowledge K’s efforts that were such a driving force to the success of our club. He was truly, “Mr. Drifter”, and he is missed by us all. Thanks for your patience as we continued on without his guidance and energy. We are indebted to Jeanne Sjo, who stepped in to serve as Interim Secretary after K’s passing. I have been buoyed by all the time and help she has given to keep our club communications humming. We’ll need someone to serve as Secretary next year, too. Jeanne doesn’t plan to run for the office. Our Treasurer, Lynne Piper, will continue on for 2015 if that is your wish. New Webmaster, Dawn Derenski, will volunteer to serve next year as well. As I step down from office, I plan to continue being a Drifter and will be active in the club. I’ll just be “Mr. Regular Member” instead.
Thanks again to you all,
Mike
Editor’s Corner…..
“Yes, it’s true!” I cannot continue as Secretary without our Mikey! Who else but Mike could possibly remain sane and patient with a Western newbie as myself??? I still have difficulty pronouncing Hurricane as Hurricun. If the route takes me off SR 9, I-15, Bluff or Telegraph, I’m lost. When he requests I email “Drifter So & So”, I usually reply with a “Who’s that?”. To his credit, he has not rolled his eyes at me even once (at least not within my eye sight)! I’ll bet Mr. President has worked harder during these last months than at any other time. So you see, I MUST retire. I do not wish to be responsible for the next President’s sanity! All jesting aside – Mike is the best and I appreciate his kindness/friendship. Most important of all, Mike has taught me lots of important things like where to find all the places offering senior discounts &/or the lowest rates possible on gas, food, bike insurance, etc. etc. Thankya, Mikey!
Jeanne
Ladies Luncheons…..
November’s luncheon schedule is as follow:
Wednesday, November 5th at Red Lobster (noon)
Tuesday, November 18th at Green Valley Breakfast at Tifiny’s (noon)
October Rides…..
***Thursday, October 2nd – Las Vegas Bike Fest – Drifters attacked Bike Fest 2014 at the Convention Center in “Lost Wages”, Nv cruising the vendors and scarfing as many free brochures, key chains, pens, product stickers, nibbles, business cards, flashlights, free samples or whatever. Demo rides were available for all the new Indian motorcycle models including the new Roadmaster and the Scout. The only casualty for the day was poor “Hawkeye” LaSalata who got a bad burn on his calf after trying to mount a Scout demo bike wearing only shorts!
***Sunday, October 5th – Drifters rode to historic Pioche for lunch at the famous Silver Café. The weather was the finest that Fall in this area has to offer. The higher elevations featured temps in the 60s and the flats registered in the low 70s. Sunny and bright skies were over our heads. Vern Gillihan led an after lunch ride searching for an old power plant that served the mining camps of the boom past. The highlight of the search was watching John Marshall expertly execute a three point turn on a narrow dirt and gravel track on his 800 pound F6B.
***Saturday/Sunday, October 10th-13th – Flagstaff Ride – Canceled due to lack of interest
***Sunday, October 12th – Grand Canyon North Rim Ride (Flagstaff replacement ride) – The Rim ride morphed into a ride to Navaho Bridge near Marble Canyon to see if the condors wanted to be photographed by Drifter camera jockey extraordinaire, John Marshall. Alas, a windy day kept the sightings to zero. There has been talk that some of the condors have been moved to another site. Weather was sunny and temps sublime. Jacob Lake was a little nippy at 57 degrees earlier when we passed through. Lower elevations were in the upper 70s.
***Saturday, October 25th – Drifter 6th Annual Chili Cook Off – The Sky Mountain Golf Estates Clubhouse with it’s magnificent views was the venue for the Drifter 6th Annual Chili Cook Off. Five delicious chilis were presented by Drifter members for the tasting and judging portion of the gathering. After ballots were cast, the entire assemblage pounced on the steaming crock pots and the feast was on. Many tasty items were also brought by the members to go with the chili. Desserts were in abundance as well and enjoyed by all. Thanks to all Drifters who attended and those who contributed chili and other food to share. The final results in the chili voting follow below:
1st Place – Trish Wild
2nd Place – Margrete Ramos
3rd Place – John Templeton
Honorable Mention – Cletha Walstrand
Hottest (EGAD!) – Eric Vaillancourt
November Rides
***Saturday/Sunday, November 1st and 2nd – Page Balloon Festival Ride – Clarion Inn, Page, Az. (928-645-9000) – Drifter room block has ended. Call for rates. Meet at Zion Harley, Saturday, Nov. 1st at 11:30 am. We will eat at their free burger and hot dog lunch and then head out to Page, Az. All bikes are welcome so you don’t have to ride a Harley. Cages ok, too. Drifters who don’t plan to go to Page for the festival are welcome to join us for lunch. You can even ride part way with us and come home when you wish. See you there! Daylight Savings ends Sunday am.
***Saturday, November 8th – Drifter Dinner – Rusty’s Steakhouse – Cedar Canyon Hwy 14 at 6 pm – Beat the winter cold that’s on it’s way! Last Drifter Dinner of 2014 (except Christmas Party) Please RSVP Mike!!
***Sunday, November 16th – Turkey Trot Ride – Ride to be eligible for winning an almost free Thanksgiving turkey – Need not be a turkey to win! Entry fee is $2.00 per bike (or car). No competitions, just a drawing. Lunch spot TBD. Meet at Bloomington Chevron, exit 4 at 10 am.
*** Thursday, November 27th – HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!
Drifters Ride Calendar Schedule December 2014
Saturday, December 13th Drifters Xmas Party
Thursday, January 1st Drifters New Year’s Day Ride