Officers and Staff

CHAPTER DIRECTOR (CD) - Paul & Susan Neely

We are Paul and Susan Neely, Chapter Directors, AL-H, the Eagle Wings of Athens, AL. While Susan is fairly new to motorcycle riding, I have been doing so off and on for nearly 42 years utilizing a number of different bikes. Starting on Honda 50s and progressing up to 90s, a 350, a 500/4 when they were new, a Magna 750 and ultimately my Black Gold Wing, Stress Relief. Nothing enhances the feeling of freedom, or general well-being like being on a motorcycle enjoying the countryside. After all, only a motorcyclist knows why a dog rides with its head out a car window.

We have been with GWRRA since 2002 and served as Ride Coordinators and Ride Educators. We are now ready to tackle the added responsibility of Chapter Directors in the hope that we can help a group of Wing riders better enjoy their investment through application of those lessons we have learned as they pertain to group, or in GWRRA’s words, Team Riding. It is my strongest desire that Chapter H develops a reputation as “the Safe Chapter” and toward that goal I want to enlist the aid of all who choose to ride with us as well as the skills of our Ride Educators and other staff members. I am always available for questions or comments and sincerely want your input regarding our chapter.

pjn48@mchsi.com
256-777-8852

ASSISTANT CHAPTER DIRECTOR (ACD) - Steve Stelk

I was introduced to motorcycles when I was just a kid. Learning to ride in the dirt had its advantages and has taught me a lot about riding. I have been riding on the road since I was 15 years old. I have been riding now for more than 35 years and through out that time there are only a couple years that I did not own a motorcycle. There were many years in the past when the bike was my only transportation. My dream has been to own a Gold Wing since they were first introduced in 1977. In 2005 the thirty year anniversary edition came out and it was time to make my dream came true. I picked out my wing in July of 2005. It seamed only appropriate for me to name my bike “Dream Wing”. I have to thank my wife for making my dream come true. We have been members of GWRRA since we purchased the wing. I look forward to serving as ACD and are always willing to answer any questions or provide any help I can.

stelksmj@knology.net
256-509-2703
 

CHAPTER EDUCATOR – Kay & Bill Leonard

We are Kay and Bill Leonard. We are honored to serve as the Ride Educators for Chapter H. We’ve both been riding motorcycles for many years, though we are fairly new to Gold Wings. We bought our first Gold Wing in 2002, but didn’t ride it much until Kay happened to meet a group of Gold Wingers on a Chapter B ride one Sunday morning. That got us started in GWRRA. After we converted our Wing to a trike in 2004, Kay discovered she liked driving too much to share. ☺ So Bill bought his own two-wheeler in 2005, and we’re both much happier. Kay recently “upgraded” to a 2007 Gold Wing Champion-conversion trike.

As Ride Educators, we hope to help our participants learn more about riding safely and promote the GWRRA Rider Education Program. We both feel that our strongest tools are good communication and setting good examples. As a fully-qualified Trike Rider Course Rider Coach, Kay brings many skills to the chapter to help all riders with questions about safety. We look forward to helping our chapter become safe, knowledgeable, and most of all active riders who ride for FUN!

SECRETARY—TREASURER - Julianna Polka

CHAPTER PHOTOGRAPHER- Mickey”Papa Razzi” Polka

We are Mickey and Julianna Polka, originally from PA and SD. We're both retired from the aerospace business and enjoying the freedom of riding our 2000 two-tone red GL1500SE CSC trike and touring with our 31' Starcraft fifth wheel RV. We've been motorcycle enthusiasts since the 1960's when we rode the Mojave Desert on our Yamaha 250 and Honda 125 dirt bikes. Our first "touring" bike was a 550 Honda. This led us to purchase our first Gold Wing, a 1977 Blue 1000 cc with bolt-on Vetter wind screen, saddle bags and trunk.

Upon being transferred to Huntsville in 1988 via Los Angeles and New Orleans, we took a break from motorcycling and decided to try RV'ing. It wasn't long before we realized how much fun we were missing by not having a bike. We purchased a Suzuki Cavalcade in 1990. Then in 2000, we purchased our second Gold Wing with matching Dart trailer and had it triked so that both of us could take our turn at being the co-rider.

Soon after that, we became aware of GWRRA and the like-minded folks at AL-B. That was the beginning of our active participation in the GWRRA family. We still enjoy RV'ing, but when possible, our first choice is "Let's take the trike!"

HOSPITALITY COUPLE - Carl & Jan Breeding

We are Carl and Jan Breeding, Chapter H Hospitality couple.  Although new to Goldwings, I have been riding motorcycles since my first overseas tour in northern Japan back in 1969 when I bought my first Honda 350 motorcycle.  Since then I have owned both dirt and street machines to include my current 2005 ST1300 and 2002 GL1800.  Jan started riding behind me on the ST, but quickly made two decisions: the ST wasn’t comfortable enough, I NEEDED a Goldwing, and she needed to learn to ride on her own.  Being a reasonably sensible husband, I bought a 2002 GL1800 for me and a Honda Shadow for her to learn on.  That didn’t solve the problem for long… Kay Leonard gave Jan a ride on her trike, and my bride decided she NEEDED a trike; I bought her a trike to match my motorcycle, and it was instant LOVE.  I joined GWRRA as soon as I took ownership of my bike, and was sensible enough to realize Jan needed her own membership.  We ride as often as our work schedules permit, having been to both the Honda Hoot and Wing Ding after just three months of Winging. 

NEWSLETTER EDITOR - Chris & Linda Miller

We are Chris and Linda Miller, both originally from Oklahoma. Linda & I grew-up in nearby towns, but met after high school, and married in 1968. We survived a 20-year career in the Marine Corps before retiring at El Toro Air Station in southern CA in 1988. Then I transitioned to a new career in Aerospace with Rockwell International and now Boeing.  We remained in southern CA until 1999 when we were offered the opportunity to relocate to either Washington DC or Huntsville. The choice was a no-brainer, as we spent 4 years in WDC while on active duty, and Linda said she wasn’t going back. 

I had ridden motorcycles some over the years, but never owned a bike prior to moving to Huntsville. In the summer of 2000, Karl Henry, our neighbor was selling a 1986 GL1200 for a friend.  The bike was low mileage, but had sat for several years without any maintenance. Well, I took the plunge and bought the bike. I rode it a little off and on over the next year, but Linda was always afraid to ride. Well, one Sunday, we bought Linda a new helmet and went for a two-up ride. The bike broke down in Florence and I paid $125 to have it hauled home, but we knew we had found something we enjoyed together.  That November, we purchased our 2002 GL-1800

RIDE COORDINATORS  - Randy & Pam Crockett (effective September 1, 2008)

Hi Everyone, We are Randy and Pam Crockett.  We have recently moved back to Huntsville again from Tucson, AZ and are delighted to be your new Ride Coordinators.  I have been riding motorcycles for most of my life and Pam started riding with me a few years ago.  We also rode while we were in Okinawa, Japan for 3 years.  I, like others started with a Honda Mini-Trail 50, then moved on up through numerous bikes. Honda’s, Yamaha’s, Kawasaki’s, even a Harley.  We bought our Wing new in 2006 and had a Roadsmith Trike kit installed in December 2007.  Now that it is triked, Pam is learning how to ride it and threatens to put me on the back.

When we were with Chapter A in Tucson, We had the honor of being their Ride Coordinator.  Hopefully, we can take some of the ideas we learned there and add them to the great job that Bill and Kay were doing and keep a robust and enjoyable ride program in place for Chapter H.