GWRRA - GA - Chapter A


	In my attempt to get the Chapter A history written down for posterity, I asked for input from Tom and Ellen Jeanes – mainly because of their longevity with the chapter. I figured if anyone had some information, they would be our best chance at getting it all down. Boy, did they ever – they handed me a huge stack of past newsletters. I also received some information from past chapter staff members Cal and Erlene Hicks. When you start going through all of that paper, many things can be found – from the good times had at the local restaurants – including a food fight or two, to the fun in attending and winning awards in regional events – and, last but not least, the camaraderie and deep friendships built over the decades. That’s right I said decades – this chapter has been around for a very long time. Even though I’ve only found information dating back to the late eighties, I’m sure there’s even more that’s around somewhere. If anyone has additional information, please contact me and I’ll gladly add it. The first record I found for the meeting location was at Shoney’s in Union City in 1989. The chapter met in that location until October 1992 when they outgrew the Shoney’s and moved to Davis Brothers Restaurant (which was located inside the Farmer’s Market in Forest Park). Chapter A was meeting there until Davis Brothers closed after several years in business. This forced a search for a new meeting location. They first tried the Holiday Inn on Highway 19/41 and finally settled on the Golden Corral in Stockbridge. Meetings were held there until 1998 when they moved into Teddy’s Diner on Hudson Bridge Road. The meetings stayed at Teddy’s until mid 1999. Then Teddy's closed, which caused another move to the Shoney’s on Highway 155 in McDonough. In mid 2000, the meeting place was moved to O.B.’s Barbeque in McDonough. For a few months in late summer of 2001 the group tried the Piccadilly Restaurant in Stockbridge, but later that year they moved back to an old location with a new name – Pasta Mia, which was the same building as Teddy’s Diner. During 2002, the group had to move once more due to the closing of Pasta Mia. They found a meeting location inside the Kountry Fisherman Restaurant, at base of the bridge in Stockbridge. The chapter stayed there until the beginning of 2003 when the move was made to a larger meeting room at Rico’s Mexican Restaurant on East Atlanta Road. In January of 2005, again due to those wonderful "growing pains", our meeting location was changed to Uncle Sam's American Grill on Hwy 155 near Racetrack Road. Please take a look back to some of our past leaders and staff members. Many of the people seen here are still involved in GWRRA – some leading at the District or Region Level – many leading other chapters in Georgia or other states. Remember, our maxim is “First in Georgia” – several chapters started and grew from being involved with Chapter A many, many years ago. As I was looking back through the old pages, I could see members from cities close and far away – Stockbridge, McDonough, Ellenwood, Atlanta, Tyrone, Lawrenceville, College Park, Griffin, Forest Park, Milner, Morganton, Riverdale, Rex, Covington, Hampton, Morrow, Jonesboro, Newnan, Douglasville, Peachtree City, Fayetteville, Locust Grove, Stone Mountain, and Jackson. Our hearts are with those who have brightened our lives by sharing great times with us in the past – and with those members (and new friends) we have yet to meet. If you haven’t been by – come visit with us, pull up a chair, kick back and stay awhile. And, if you’ve been by in the past – you know you miss us, come on back ‘cause we miss you too! by Bob McCroskey February 2005 *Our Leaders and Friends…* 1989-1990 Area Representative – Billy Brand Asst. Area Representative – Jim Julian Treasurer – Darlene Hazelrig Safety Educator – David Privett 1990-1991 Area Representative – Mike Gazaway Asst. Area Representative – Tom & Ellen Jeanes Treasurer – Johanna Brand Safety Educator – Alzona Houser Newsletter Editor – Diane Mitchell 1991-1992 Area Representative – Tom & Ellen Jeanes Asst. Area Representative – Glenn & Patti Gibson Treasurer – Jerry Hardegree Safety Educator – Alzona Houser Newsletter Editor – Carolyn Wilson 1992-1993 Area Representative – Tom & Ellen Jeanes Asst. Area Representative – Larry & Rita Fulford Treasurer – Jerry Hardegree Safety Educator – Glenn & Patti Gibson Ride Coordinator – Ken Goode Newsletter Editor – Tom Jeanes 1993-1994 Area Representative – Tom & Ellen Jeanes Asst. Area Representative – Gary & Barbara Thayer Treasurer – Jerry Hardegree Safety Educator – Glenn & Patti Gibson Ride Coordinator – Ken Goode Newsletter Editor – Tom Jeanes 1994-1995 Area Representative – Gary & Barbara Thayer Asst. Area Representative – Dan & Cathy Bowman Treasurer – Jack & Gloria Farabaugh Chapter Educator – Tim & Nicky Marlin Ride Coordinator – Ken Goode, Mike Knowles Public Relations – Paul & Mary Brewer Activities Coordinator – Tom & Ellen Jeanes Newsletter Editor – Charles Frey 1995-1996 Chapter Director – Paul & Mary Brewer Asst. Chapter Director – Ed & Janice Carter Treasurer – Jack & Gloria Farabaugh Chapter Educator – Tim & Nicky Marlin, Mike Knowles, Bill & Cathy Lowe Public Relations – Cal & Erlene Hicks Activities Coordinator – Tom & Ellen Jeanes Awards Coordinator – Terrald & Doris Weaver 1996-1997 Chapter Director – Dave & Mamie Wells Asst. Chapter Director – Charles & Kimi Ivey, Tom & Sharon Lash Treasurer – Jack & Gloria Farabaugh Chapter Educator – Bill & Cathy Lowe Ride Cood – Ed & Janice Carter Activities Coordinator – Ron & Susan Parks Newsletter Editor – Paul & Mary Brewer 1997-1998 Chapter Director – Charles & Kimi Ivey Asst. Chapter Director – Tom & Sharon Lash Treasurer – Jack & Gloria Farabaugh Chapter Educator – Ben & Carol Thomas Ride Coordinator – Doc Montgomery, Karen Foust Newsletter Editor – Dave Wells Webmaster – Jim & Sue Lynch 1998-1999 Chapter Director – Charles & Kimi Ivey Asst. Chapter Director – Tom & Sharon Lash Treasurer – Jack & Gloria Farabaugh Newsletter Editor – Dave & Mamie Wells Webmaster – Jim & Sue Lynch 2000-2001 Chapter Director – Sam & Sami Hall Asst. Chapter Director – Russ & Judy Handley Treasurer – Tom & Ellen Jeanes Chapter Educator – Russ Handley, Phil Piotrowski, Sam Hall, Bill Stanley Ride Coordinator – Brian Allen Secretary – Joyce Piotrowski Webmaster – Patti Gibson, Sami Hall, Judy Handley 2001-2002 Chapter Director – Russ & Judy Handley Asst. Chapter Director – Brian & Cindy Allen Treasurer – Tom & Ellen Jeanes Chapter Educator – Bill & Carole Stanley Ride Coordinator – Vernon & Luann Harp Secretary – Joyce Piotrowski Membership Enhancement – Gary & Linda Cawthon Newsletter Editor – Carole Stanley, Cindy Allen Webmaster – Patti Gibson, Judy Handley 2002-2004 Chapter Director – Brian & Cindy Allen Asst. Chapter Director – Bob & Karla Greer Treasurer – Tom & Ellen Jeanes Chapter Educator – Phil Piotrowski Ride Coordinator – Don Severs, Steve Fagan, Bob McCroskey Secretary – Joyce Piotrowski Membership Coordinator – Karla Greer Newsletter Editor – Cindy Allen Ride for Kids Coordinator - Ray & Daphne Keys Webmaster – Bob McCroskey Couple of the Year 2003 - Bob & Karla Greer Couple of the Year 2004 - Bob & Bonnie McCroskey 2005 Chapter Director – Bob & Karla Greer Asst. Chapter Director – Bob & Bonnie McCroskey Treasurer – Tom & Ellen Jeanes Chapter Educator – Phil Piotrowski Ride Coordinator – Don Severs, Steve Fagan Secretary – Joyce Piotrowski Scrapbook Coord./Historian - Judy Severs Membership Coordinator – Karla Greer Newsletter Editor – Cindy Allen Ride for Kids Coordinator - Debra Law Webmaster – Bob McCroskey Couple of the Year 2005 - Brian & Cindy Allen Special Events Coordinators - Rick & Faye Reece 2006 Chapter Director – Bob & Karla Greer Asst. Chapter Director – Bob & Bonnie McCroskey Treasurer – Tom & Ellen Jeanes Chapter Educator – Steve Fagan Ride Coordinator – Dave DeWinter Secretary – Joyce Piotrowski Scrapbook Coord./Historian - Judy Severs Membership Coordinator – Karla Greer Newsletter Editor – Cindy Allen Ride for Kids Coordinator - Debra Law Webmaster – Bob McCroskey Couple of the Year 2006 - Phil & Joyce Piotrowski Special Events Coordinators - Rick & Faye Reece 2006-2007 Chapter Director – Bob & Bonnie McCroskey Asst. Chapter Director – Steve & Dottie Fagan Treasurer – Tom & Ellen Jeanes Chapter Educator – Roy Degler Ride Coordinator – Don Severs & Jim Sallee Secretary – Joyce Piotrowski Scrapbook Coord./Historian - Judy Severs Membership Coordinator – Bonnie McCroskey Newsletter Editor – Cindy Allen Webmaster – Bob McCroskey Couple of the Year 2007 - Don & Judy Severs 2007-2008 Chapter Director – Bob & Bonnie McCroskey Asst. Chapter Director – Steve & Dottie Fagan Treasurer – Tom & Ellen Jeanes Chapter Educator – Roy Degler Ride Coordinator – Don Severs & Jim Sallee Secretary – Joyce Piotrowski Scrapbook Coord./Historian - Judy Severs Membership Coordinator – Bonnie McCroskey Newsletter Editor – Cindy Allen Webmaster – Bob McCroskey Couple of the Year 2008 - Steve & Dottie Fagan Motorist Awareness Coordinator - Dick Hopkins