By David

As you noticed, the newsletter took a vacation in July and I am sure it left a void in your reading list, but I hope you kept up with all the activities of Retreads because they certainly didn’t take a vacation.

The meeting was very thought provoking because we talked about the future of Retreads. We all agreed that for Retreads to continue to grow it is vital that each of us takes personal responsibility for actively soliciting new members. We need to make it a point to walk up to those we do not know and say hello and pull them into our conversation circle. Just about everyone in attendance recounted a story about Jim Riley striking up a conversation with him or her at a bike shop. Now that Jim has retired and Bud Adams isn’t paying him to make the rounds of the bike shops, the rest of us are going to have to take up the call. Retreads is what we, the members, want to make it. Everyone echoed that one of the values of Retreads is the diversity of the membership.

There were lots of ideas including one about developing a single page folded brochure telling folks about Retreads.

I am working on a photo directory for our members and so far have 40 pictures but need that many more. We plan on having these color copied and selling them at cost to those who are interested.

This has been a busy month with a very noticeable increase in participation from the members. We started the month with our Annual 4^th of July Ice Cream Party at the Beverly’s on the Bay. There was a threat of rain all around us, but it never came down. Several rode their bikes, but most had to don their rain suits on the trip to San Leon. We had 30 in attendance and as usual, the best entertainment was to listen to everyone’s stories. The lack of bikes put a damper on any bike games. We had one batch of homemade ice cream but plenty of Blue Bell. I want to challenge some of you to buy an electric ice cream freezer and learn to make "homemade" before next year’s social. We will provide the ice and salt, you just need to bring the freezer and your "special mix."

Out of our discussion at the meeting we restarted the Wednesday night rides. Everyone felt that it would be better to meet near town instead of in League City. The League City location tended to limit us to that area for our ride so now we will leave at 7 PM from Kelley’s on Park Place (our Saturday morning meeting location). Our first Wednesday night after the meeting we had 7 riders and went across the Baytown Bridge to Ninfa’s. Great dinner ride. So the plan for the future is to meet every Wednesday evening at Kelley’s except for the last Wednesday of each month which is a ride to Angleton for HamWed.

Our July Ride was an evening event leaving from League City going to Galveston to eat at China Border. We had 21 in attendance with 15 bikes and the best surprise was the great buffet awaiting us. For less than $10 each we had excellent food and a big long table to keep us all together. I wish I could say the evening was uneventful but another Honda GoldWing let us down. That’s right, the battery shorted on Ben Del Giorno’s bike and it refused to leave China Border under its own power. Ben pulled the battery and headed for the Wal-Mart behind Pete Soullas on his "never-let-you-down" Harley. In what seemed like forever they were back and we were on our way for a tour of Galveston Island behind Jimme Buchanan. China Border is worth a visit.

August 6 - 12: Sturgis, South Dakota

Sept 19-21: Golden Aspen in Ruidoso, NM

Oct 11 - 14: South Padre Island for Bikerfest

For motels www.SPIBikeFest.com

Oct 18-21: Biketoberfest in Daytona FL

Nov 2-4: Texas Hill Country Ride – Y.O.

Nov: There is talk of a Fall overnight ride

Because of the poor participation in the Wolf Creek Campout on Lake Livingston in October, I think we are going to cancel it for 2001. We discussed this at last month’s meeting and I got little argument one way or the other. Over the past few years we’ve not been much of a camping group, motorhoming yes. Throw out some ideas on a replacement. Notice I placed a November ride holder in the calendar. A good replacement is Bikerfest at South Padre Island October 10-14.

Sure has been nice to see Jim Riley lately. He has been to breakfast several times and even came in on his yellow Suzuki so Jim is back on two wheels. Hope to see more of you Jim.

By the time you read this Bob Abrasley will be out of his wheel chair and going to his rehab sessions to get back in shape for his "new motorcycle." It’s a good thing too because Mabel was up to here of waiting on Bob hand and foot. It was great to see them at the July 1st Ice Cream Social.

Jack Thomas keeps us up to date on Martha who we miss having along on our rides. Hope you get that cancer bug controlled and come ride again with Jack.

Speaking of Jack, he has taken delivery of a Valkyrie this weekend that he bought from Skip Smith (ex Retread who moved to Phoenix). Jack has no plans to sell his GW so he is a two-bike family for a while.

Welcome new member, Clyde Redmon, who rides a Valkyrie and lives in League City. Clyde found out first hand why you shouldn’t be drag racing a Camaro in League City early Sat. morning. He said the cops came out of the woodwork – and yes, of course, he beat the Camaro.

Welcome returning member Bob Drouillard. Bob sold his bike several years ago and recently decided he had to get back into riding. He has a new Kawasaki and is become a breakfast regular again – Welcome back Bob!!

Bob Drouillard

We’ll look forward to hearing ride reports from all of you who are out on bike trips this summer.

8/3 Eddy Hanlen

8/4 Richard Schneider

8/5 Cornell Benkendorfer

8/6 Sue Keeling

8/6 Lauretta Maxwell

8/10 Chuck Warwick

8/21 Joyce Jackson

8/30 Ed Malone

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