GWRRA MAINE DISTRICT NEWSLETTER
DECEMBER 2009Another year is nearly gone and we are getting prepared to greet 2010. We are honored and proud to announce a new addition to the district staff. Bob and Sheila Chevalier have become our Assistant District Directors. They are currently Chapter "A" Directors and will carry on with both positions for a while. Both have done an excellent job in reviving a chapter that nearly closed just a little more than a year ago. Congratulations to you both for your accomplishments thus far. We also want to announce a new district treasurer for 2010. Ruth Hall will be stepping in as treasurer beginning in January. Ruth is in Chapter A along with her husband Russ. She is an attorney and a pretty good murder mystery player as well. Ruth will replace Nancy King who has done a super job this past year. Nancy will now have more time to devote to her family and her other duties as Chapter C webmaster . Thankyou for your service Nancy. Without volunteers our organizational wheels do not turn.
A District Staff meeting was conducted on November 14th with all the chapter directors except Jim & Linda Cyr of Chapter V who were unable to attend. We discussed year end administrative duties and requirements and ways that we could serve the membership better. Ideas regarding rally's, rides, group activities and fundraising were discussed at length. The staff came up with some very good ideas and events that will be shared with you all at future chapter meetings this winter. Another topic discussed was the recent mandate from region which directs us to provide the following district key staff positions by 2010:
1. District LTD (Leadership trainer)Trainer.
2. District Ride Educator. (we have Mark Bennett for this one)
3. District MED Coordinator. (membership enhancement)
4. District Couple of the Year Coordinator.
5. District Chapter of the Year Coordinator
These 4 positions are open for anyone who is interested and need to be filled asap. Further explanation of the duties is available on the GWRRA.org website or you can call me to discuss the details.
The positions are necessary to provide the full benefits of GWRRA membership that everyone is entitled to. If these positions are not filled very soon our district is at risk of being merged with the other five New England states as one district under a single leadership as proposed by Lorraine Knight. The merger proposal is something that all 6 district directors are very much against and we all have voiced our concerns.
The 2011 New England Districts Rally has been revised to be held in Maine instead of Connecticut. We hope to have more info available after the new year. Next summers rally will still be held at Gorham, N.H. Rally registration and information is available on our district website www.gwrra-maine org.
The chapter holiday parties are coming up and I wish that we could attend each every one however we cannot be everywhere at once. Please drive safely and have fun. For all you snow birds in Florida, we plan to be there by the end of January.
Barbara and I would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas
Ed & Barb Mushlit
GWRRA Maine District Directors