Drifters Newsletter February 2015
President’s Message
Greetings fellow Drifters. Soy yo, El Presidente. For reasons yet unknown, the annual business meeting was not too well attended, resulting in (1) plenty of food and (2) a limited field of officer nominees. Combine that with some behind the scenes, double top secret meetings, and the result was my name being placed into nomination, seconded, voted on, and decided within a New York minute.
No harm done – as some fellow members somehow knew – I (years & many pounds ago) was President of a car club in Chicagoland. So I was aware that in these matters, serving is something few do, but many appreciate. It’s also a great way to expand one’s enjoyment of the folks that make it worth being a part of the club. I’m terrible with names anyway, so this “assignment” aligns well with my need of face/name recognition and association. My first executive order: FREE name tags for all!
Already the task is lightened in having Lynne Piper continue as (Secretary of the) Treasury, and Web-mistress Dawn Derenski came forward and accepted the nomination and position of Secretary (of state). Before I close on position announcements, special thanks again to Jeanne Sjo for accepting past Interim Secretary responsibilities.
Something of my past:
I have only been riding for about five years, so a long-time, experienced road hog I am not. I started riding at the suggestion of a neighbor who was going to buy a scooter for in-town commutes when gas was nearly $5/gallon. Well, I said, “Good idea, but I’m not buying no stinking scooter!” So I happened into a good price for a very pretty, Anniversary Issue Sportster 830. Shows what little I knew. But, 10,000 miles and a few day trips later on that little thing, where I wished the 300 mile adventure was over 150 miles ago – I moved up to something larger. It might have been a BMW if my wife had not already filled two closets with Harley clothes.
I chose a beautiful Fat Boy, which Ken Montgomery still jokingly gives me crap for selling. This photo was taken at Jackson Lake, Teton National Park.
Forty some thousand miles, and five, six, or seven tire changes later, my good flying friend, Roger Fraser, invited me to cross the continent with him. We set out for the barrier islands of North Carolina where my rear tire again needed replacement. So Roger wheeled into the Nags Head Harley dealer for an oil change, and I for that fancy 200cm tire.
The “salesman” took one look at my gypsy style of packing and exclaimed: If you want to tour, you can’t do it on street tires. And you can’t put touring tires on a street bike. What you need is one of these…..
Some days later in Acadia National Park – Maine. All I said was, “if you can give me enough for the Fat Boy so I can put the difference on AMEX and pay it in my next billing cycle, let’s go for a test ride.” Yea – right, just a test ride. And my friend Roger, the guy that likes convincing others to spend money, he’s since bought a new ride as well – but he stays with Road Glides, and keeps his bling and the flag. 
So you can see, I know nothing about motorcycles, and have the weakest of will-power in show rooms.
On to the future:
We have retained the Advisory Committee of Six to help plan club activities. One of the items I will be proposing is that we have a regular monthly or quarterly “social gathering”. Many of us are riding less, but could still enjoy the comradery of the Drifter gang. My guess, if there is something to eat, members will show. And that is where an exchange of activities you’d like to do might be fostered. The Advisory Committee and officers will be meeting in February to start formulating an events calendar.
Also – rather than a monthly newsletter, our web page will become kind of an active blog. Secretary Dawn has told me that the website “itself” can send announcements of new postings automatically to members, complete with a hot-link directly to the new posting of interest – you don’t have to scour the entire website to find the new items. So the news of the club will be “LIVE”, and almost automatic. Those last minute changes are just a mouse click away.
AAANNNNDDD – we already have one rather interesting event planned for August. Vern Gillhan is promoting a Ride to the Black Hills August 24 – 29. Similar to the destination ride centered on Minden, NV last summer, this will be a ride or trailer trip with day rides out of Deadwood, SD. Several rooms have already been reserved at the Cedarwood Inn (800-841-0127). There may not be any left, but other lodging is available in town. Call early – this timing is in close proximity to the Sturgis Rally. Vern can provide other information (435-586-5311).
That’s all from me at the moment. Thanks for your vote of confidence (as though there were others). Please let me know at any time questions, concerns, comments, ideas.
See ya!
John Templeton 
President, Drifters MC
435.669.4544
john.e.templeton@gmail.com
Secretary’s Notes:
Ladies lunches will continue in February. We will be meetimg at Red Lobster on Tuesday February 10th and Village Inn on Wednesday February 25th, both meet at noon as usual. All ladies are encouraged to attend. I am always open to suggestions as to venue and date you would like to meet, so please feel free to contact me with your favorite places.
Reminder, all interested Drifters still meet every Friday at Golden Corral at 9:30 am for breakfast. Be there or be hungry!
One last item… I’m conducting a poll of our female members…Jeanne has suggested a ladies-only ride. If you don’t ride a bike, that’s ok, you can bring your car and maybe carpool with those that are like-minded. (It would be so nice to have that trunk space,should the rest of us go on a shopping jag!) Maybe an afternoon in Mesquite for a little fun & dinner, or a ride to Springdale for lunch & gawking at the shops? Let me know your feelings…anything is worth considering! If these day rides pan out, we might even consider and overnighter in the future.
Thanks, and keep the shiny-side up…
Dawn