TRA Times & Travels THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE TEMPLE RIDERS ASSOCIATION MAR 2018 NOW IN OUR 30 TH YEAR

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1 TRA Times & Travels THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE TEMPLE RIDERS ASSOCIATION MAR 2018 NOW IN OUR 30 TH YEAR Executive Committee Article By Cliff Beattie Keeping the TRA Growing Recently I ve observed that a couple of the big marques offering touring motorcycles, and who have among their devotees riders who enjoy throwing a leg across the saddle and taking off across the country, a concern over declining numbers. I m thinking mainly of Harley Davidson and the HOG (Harley Owners Group) groups, and Honda and the GWRRA (Gold Wing Road rs Assoc.) groups. Sales of the motorcycles and membership in the respective clubs are not what they have been. I sense that it is not just these two larger groups, but the numbers would apply to all brands and all clubs. For one reason or another, there doesn t seem to be the enthusiasm for motorcycle riding that there once was. Part of it may be the aging of those currently riding, the costs of the newer and more advanced bikes, less leisure time, more time spent on social media and less actually interacting with real people, etc. There are probably PhD candidates somewhere who are investigating it all. For a while in the TRA everybody knew everyone else. Ogden, Salt Lake & Provo members met once a month as one group. If we had a multi-day ride, probably half the TRA was involved. We d go to St. George over General Conference weekend and do sessions at the St. George and Las Vegas temples. You may have heard the stories of how people riding in cars behind us would see everyone on these motorcycles would all raise their right arms to the square at the same time. The explanation is that we were listening to and participating in the sustaining of officers as we rode along. A member who passed away recently, Rich Caldwell, used to plan a President s Day ride to Death Valley annually, and it also involved a high percentage of the entire TRA membership. As the time came that we had enough members to support separate chapters in Ogden, Salt Lake and Provo, we still did many things together, but each chapter could do more things locally, and be more spontaneous with their activities. We have still tried to provide opportunities each year to mix and mingle on a larger basis, and to keep all the friendships alive and meaningful. One event is our annual Soup Supper, coming up on the 17 th of March. We ve tried to have an annual Winter, and that is March 8 th to the 13 th this year. Every Page 1 of 12

2 even numbered year we have a Rally, with temple service, scenic rides, and various fun activities and dinners to participate in. On the odd numbered year we schedule a Super somewhere, often to Church History sites, but also to points of scenic beauty in our great land. These are memorable not just for the places we see and the experiences we have, but because we have learned that when we are on the road with friends, real connections take place. At the beginning of each year we observe that the TRA roster is missing some familiar names. Some have passed on, some are getting older, and some are serving missions or other demanding church callings. We can t do much about those who have progressed to the next estate. However, if you don t feel you can safely pilot a motorcycle, be aware that you can still keep your TRA membership and eat with us, attend the social and special events, go to the Temple Nights, even follow a ride in your car. Once you ve been a TRAer, the by-laws state you can stay a TRAer as long as you d like. If you re called on a mission, let the EC know and we ll carry you on the roster through your missionary service. Usually, as the year goes along, we have new members find us and our membership stays consistent or grows a bit. Because we enjoy a foundation in the gospel, and a desire to participate in fun activities with other spiritually minded people, it seems like we are a bit more insulated from the declines of other groups. The EC has been mindful of the need to have input and representation from our sisters and also from among the younger generation of our membership. We have really felt the benefits of the expanded views brought into our Executive Committee meetings. We also appreciate all the contributions of our chapter leaders, their helpers, and each member in supporting TRA activities. We can all help the TRA to grow by telling other good people about the TRA. We can also help new members feel welcome and needed. Our website and Facebook presence helps quite a few find the TRA if they are looking, but the personal invitations of existing members still help others to discover us. If you re in an area that has an active chapter or riding group, invite others to join. If you re isolated in the lone & dreary world from regular TRA activities, make a mini vacation by hooking up on occasion with folks who are somewhat close - you can do a search within the website member roster - and work on finding other folks near you who you can help to find a home with the TRA. Re-read my November 2017 article about getting as many TRA pass along cards as you need. Let s all do what we can to help expand the TRA circle. Page 2 of 12

3 New s ATLG At Large Chapter Steven Tatum 1445 Furnas St. Ashland, NE Tatertatum66@gmail.com (712) Michael Moore 21 Barbara Mac Donald Drive Corinth, NY mngmoore5@gmail.com (262) UTSL Salt Lake Chapter David May 3575 S West Temple #16 Salt Lake City, UT Davidshanemay13@gmail.com (801) Randy Oliphant 3508 West 4850 South Taylorsville, UT Randys16197@gmail.com (801) NVLVRG Las Vegas Riding Group Jared Richards 272 Torngate Ave. Henderson, NV jared.r.richards@gmail.com (801) UTOG Ogden Chapter Robert & Mindy Baker 5395 South 2800 West Roy, UT robaker7269@outlook.com (385) CAMRG Modesto Riding Group James Smith 1940 Sequoia Street Ceres, CA jsmith@dryerventwizard.com (209) Gary Wixom 212 Clear Creek Dr. Sandy, UT Wixomga@gmail.com (801) Page 3 of 12

4 Chapter & Riding Group News TRA Ogden Chapter 2018 Schedule By Brent & Abby Stuart Current as of: 16-Feb-2018 Date - Day Event Type Event Leader January 20 - Sat UTOG Meeting 9am - Breakfast meeting - Stuarts - Planning February 17 - Sat UTOG Temple March Th-Tu TRA Spring 16 - Fri TRA Ladies Night Out 8am - Breakfast meeting & ride - Golden Corral - Talking Safety - Ogden Temple (probably in cars) Boulder City, NV - See website for details Bear Lake - See website for details 17 - Sat Soup Social 5pm -8:30pm - West Valley City - See website for new location 24 - Sat UTOG April 21 - Sat UTOG WEEK LATER THAN NORMAL - 8am Breakfast meeting & ride - Golden Corral - Great Salt Lake Circumnavigation. This is a 400 mile, 9 hour ride. 8am Breakfast meeting & ride - Golden Corral - Thanksgiving Point Tulip Festival via Tooele and Fairfield, stop at Camp Floyd State Park. May 18 - Fri UTOG Meeting 7pm at Stuarts. Service Project - Ogden Marathon prep and load up. Page 4 of 12

5 19 - Sat UTOG Service & Service Project - Ogden Marathon. 5am leave Stuarts or 5:30am at Mile Marker 5 of race course. After clean up, abbreviated Dams ride. Lost Creek and East Canyon. June F-W TRA Rally Ruby's Inn, Bryce Canyon - See Website for details 23 - Sat UTOG July 28 - Sat UTOG WEEK LATER THAN NORMAL - 8am Breakfast meeting & ride - Golden Corral - Chesterfield ID, possibly add overnighter at Lava Hot Springs. WEEK LATER THAN NORMAL - Pickleville Playhouse. Meet at Stuarts. Kickstands up at 10:00am. 1pm show. Via Monte Cristo up. Lunch in Garden City. Logan Canyon down. This is for the Tarzan Production, not Juanito Bandito. August 11 - Sat UTOG September Fri- Sat UTOG Overnighter October 20 - Sat UTOG WEEK EARLIER THAN NORMAL 8am Breakfast meeting & ride - Golden Corral - Minnetonka Cave, St Charles, ID Star Valley Temple, Tin Cup 8am Breakfast meeting & ride - Golden Corral - Wolf Creek Pass November 18 - Sat UTOG 8am Breakfast meeting & ride - Golden Corral - Cache Valley Bear River Massacre, Logan Temple December 29 -Sat TRA Party TRA Annual Christmas Party Page 5 of 12

6 St George Chapter By Dick Bluff The St George, Utah weather turned to winter after a very mild January. We scheduled our ride for the 10 th and went for it. With five bikes we headed to Kanab for lunch. It got a bit windy on the way but the temps were still in the 60 s. We had a great lunch and headed out to the bikes. It was cold and windy! We took a new return route home which gained a little elevation. Although the new route was great the SNOW was not. It didn t stick but it was a bit chilly. Reaching a lower elevation, we got rid of the snow but the wind picked up. All in all, it was a good day but can spring / summer be too far away? We discussed having a pot luck dinner this spring as well as sneaking in an extra ride each month. The Winter Thaw and National Rallies were also discussed. Provo Chapter Lunch Roots of Knowledge Viewing 2/17/2018 By Gail Paxton For a little change-up to our chapter s first get together of the new year, we had a lunch meeting at the Black Bear Diner in Orem. This is a very popular place that doesn t take reservations. They managed to seat 17 of us as a group in just 30 minutes. I think we were all very glad we waited. The food was delicious and the portions were huge. After lunch, most of us traveled a couple of miles to the Fulton Library at UVU where we viewed the Roots Page 6 of 12

7 of Knowledge stained glass panorama of the history of the world. It is an amazing 10 by 200 piece of art work by Tom Holdman and Cameron Oscarson that took 12 years from conception to completion. Tom is the son of Floyd and Ann Holdman. It was really special to have Ann with us to help guide us through the many panels. We also had a docent (guide) to lead the tour (which is really a must if you want a tour that will enlighten you). It is definitely a MUST SEE and I can t wait to go back for a second helping. After viewing the art display a couple of us road our bikes to the Red Barn in Santaquin for, you guessed it, ice cream. MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS New for Frank Reese Frank Reese has a new . It is: frankpondreese@gmail.com Page 7 of 12

8 2018 TRA ANNUAL WINTER/SPRING RIDE By Bart Howell MARCH 8 13, 2018 BOULDER CITY, NEVADA Notes: Bring National Parks Pass if you have one. Warm gear/electrics. The weather won t be cold, but it will be on the cool side. Always bring Rain Gear! Bring: In Case of Emergency Card (ICE) The Las Vegas Temple has clothing rentals Best Western Hoover Dam Motel Nevada Hwy Boulder City, NV Trailer parking available RATES: Thursday, Friday, Saturday: $ Sunday, Monday: $ ITINERARY Thursday March 8 th Arrivals and socializing. Dinner plans TBA Friday March 9 th 9:30 Temple Session/Lunch/ to Lake Mead Blvd, Valley of Fire. Page 8 of 12

9 Saturday March 10 th s: Oatman, Chloride, Rt. 66 to Hackberry. Entertainment? Sunday March 11 th Attend Church, local rides on own at personal discretion Monday March 12 th s: Searchlight, Nipton CA, Joshua Tree, TRA Devotional Tuesday March 13 th Breakfast, Departure return home New By Eric Robison During our committee meeting last night, it was brought up that some people would like to see a ride to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. I had looked at it earlier, but the distance seemed to be too far for a day ride. After looking at a different route than the one my computer mapped out, it seems like it can be done. It will cover about 312 miles and with a couple of rest stops, lunch, and sight seeing will take about 10+ (give or take) hours. We can include this ride in with the others, but the rally committee thought that it might be better for those who really want to take this ride, that they plan on doing it before the rally or stay a couple of days after. Page 9 of 12

10 Mike Thomas Accident Submitted by Cliff Beattie Mike Thomas was in an accident on his dirt bike. Here are the highlights from his and Rebecca's Facebook posts. Feb 17 [from Rebecca] - Prayers for my husband Mike Thomas. Crashed his dirt bike in Victorville, (middle of nowhere) California. Was life flighted to the Trauma Center for emergency surgery with a shattered left femur. I m flying there now. It is Arrowhead Regional Hospital. Feb 18 [from Mike] It s fun when something horrible happens and it turns out to be a great, although maybe a little painful??...experience. Thank you all for the well wishes and prayers. Surgery went well, I have been screwed and nailed back together. Now I m sitting in the hospital watching a good cowboy movie...life is good! Feb 18 [from Rebecca] - Mike Thomas made it through surgery and is a new man with a titanium femur instead of the pieces it was in. Recovery well wishes now. Might be here for a while. Feb 21 [from Mike] - Just want to let everyone know, I got released today, so now the healing begins. Apparently, it s all on me now... lots and lots of hard work. I want to thank everyone for the prayers and well wishes. With a very special shout out to my beautiful wife Rebecca Tinder Thomas who dropped everything and flew down here, to my wonderful daughters, Jordyn Leibovich and Emily Thomas who drive down here as well. My mother Carol Thomas who also dropped everything to be with me. Also, to the Norris, family, David Norris, Shelley Nielsen Norris, who are always there for me and always make me feel welcome. Family really is everything. Oh, and I can t forget Mary Norris who never left my side until I was loaded in the helicopter! Life is good!! Happy Hour 5:00 pm Dinner 6:00 pm Annual Soup Dinner March 17, 2018 Submitted by Cliff Beattie For new TRAers, or those who haven't been able to attend for a while, this is one of the really fun get-togethers of each year. Happy (visiting) hour is from 5 to 6 pm on the third Saturday of March. Prior to that, you decide if you want to bring a soup in a crock pot or big pot or a Page 10 of 12

11 salad or dessert, then call Barbara so we'll know who is coming and how many of each item we'll have. Watch the weather and decide if you want to bring your bike or the car. We always appreciate a few folks that will come around 3pm to help set up tables and chairs and set the tables. Looking forward to seeing everyone at the annual Soup Dinner on March 17 th - 5:00pm Happy Hour - 6:00pm Dinner 3120 West 4700 South, West Valley City Call Barbara Bawden (801) SAFETY CORNER Be Careful Out There By Cliff Beattie We need to be safety conscious not only of our motorcycling, but in everything we do. We can lose a riding season if we're involved in a car accident, get hurt doing home repairs, or pull some muscles shoveling the walks. Winters come with plenty of seasonal hazards. It doesn't hurt to think ahead and to be careful in anything we do. Page 11 of 12

12 TRA Chapters and Riding Groups UTSL (Utah Salt Lake) - Clint & Connie Beecroft UTPR (Utah Provo) - Gail & Lois Paxton UTCV (Utah Cache Valley) - Dennis & Candida Jensen UTOG (Utah Ogden) - Brent & Abby Stuart UUBRG (Utah Uintah Basin Riding Group) - Kim & Emily Christiansen UTHM (Utah Horseshoe Mountain) - Paul & Cynthia DeGrey IDTV (Idaho Treasure Valley) - OPEN IDMV (Idaho Magic Valley) - OPEN IDSR (Idaho Snake River Valley) - OPEN CALA (California Los Angeles) - OPEN CAMRG (California Modesto Riding Group) - Alan & Allee Hamilton CAIE (California Inland Empire) - OPEN ATLG (At Large Chapter) - Alan & Allee Hamilton COFRRG (Colorado Front Range Riding Group) - Mike & Sandy Bahr AZPX (Arizona Phoenix) - Rob & Sharon Richardson AUS (Australia Sydney) - OPEN UTSG (Utah St George) - Dick & Peggy Bluff NVLVRG (Nevada Las Vegas Riding Group) - Jeff Lycan TXNERG (Texas Northeast Riding Group) - OPEN TNMT (Tennessee Mountain) - Barry & Susan Creek Temple r Directory TRA Executive Committee Chairman General Director - Cliff Beattie - Howard Ellison - Mike Simmons - Abby Stuart - Sandy Hansen - Bill Boulter - Cindy Caldwell - Clint Beecroft - Bart Howell TRA General Officers Founder / Emeritus EC - Frank Reese Secretary - RuthAnne Noel Treasurer / CFO - David Harris Armor of God Coordinator - Charles Richards Safety Director - Newsletter Editor - Eric Robison Newsletter Distribution - David Harris Sunshine Lady - Bev Cozzens Web Master - David Harris Public Relations - Sandy Hansen Newsletter Articles - news.at.tra@gmail.com Page 12 of 12