President s Message April was a busy month for Chapter XXII as we participated in two fundraising events and of course our own Law Enforcement Ride. Our ride was a great success with great weather (after many years) and a pretty good attendance. I would like to thank those members that showed up (about two thirds) and participated and helped out. Whether if it was the food, registration, t-shirts, parking, or staying to clean up you did a great job and made the event a success. The motors were great and the ride was just right. I think riders will remember the great time and come back next year. Membership keeps growing as I have contacted by a few who showed interest in joining Chapter XXII. As May comes our chapter will remain active. Thanks again for letting me be your president. RIDE WITH PRIDE Gary Monthly Meetings: Second Wednesday of each month, 7:00 pm, at the Flagler County Emergency Operations Center, 1769 E. Moody Blvd., Bldg #3, Bunnell, FL (Next meeting Feb 12 th ) Web Page: http://blueknightsflxxii.com/ ****** Our Website has been submitted in the Blue Knight International website of the year competition. ****** April Membership Meeting At the April meeting 37 members were in attendance. There were special visitors with familiar faces in attendance; JimVares (Past President) and Sue visiting from New Jersey, Wayne Campbell in town from Pennsylvania, and Dave Townsend from BK NY. We also had special guest Carlo Celico personally present to the club his appreciation for the help with the Celico Memorial ride last October 2013. President Gary Watkins discussed final preparations for our LAW Ride April 12 th. To date the club has donated $770 to local charities. Our BK NY visitor Dave T. was the 50/50 winner. Page 1
Blue Knights FL XXII OUR RIDE WAS A SUCCESS! Thanks for joining us for the 2014 Law Enforcement Memorial Ride scheduled on April 12th. On April 12 th, The club successfully hosted its annual Law Enforcement Memorial Ride. Honoring & Remembering the Fallen Our Leaders The Escort Ready to Roll Page 2 The Lady Knights & Doc Help Out
Blue Knights FL XXII Ride Supporter Cycle Gear Here We Go! A lot more pictures of the Law Ride event can be seen at our website. Page 3
Breakfast Rides Every Tuesday 12 to 15 members or more show up at Denny s Restaurant, 7 Kings Way, Palm Coast, for some breakfast, camaraderie and about a 100 mile ride. Road Captain Jack Pierce leads us on varying routes. After the April 22 nd breakfast get together Lenny was dispatched to rescue a stranded alien. Chaplain s Corner Mike Palmer King Solomon s Wisdom: Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. Proverbs 16:3 Last month s issue went to press just as Allan Schule s wife, Sue, experienced life threatening surgery due to a leaking stomach. Her recovery has been nothing short of a miracle and they both express gratitude for the prayers of Blue Knights, family and friends. I would also like to recognize the following members of the Blue Knight Care Committee who walked closely with the Schule s and contributed resources during their time of need: Bill and Donna Gallagher, Jim and Jan Nichols, Ken and Camile Montelbine, and Jack and Miriam Pierce. Thanks to all others for your support and concern. In continuing to recognize members for their care and concern, both John Fiend and Lenny Fleischer deserve acknowledgement. John, the winner of our Memorial Ride 50/50 immediately donated a large portion to Joseph Parthemore. Member Jeff Parthemore, upon receiving the donation on Joseph s behalf, expressed gratitude and said the timing couldn t be more perfect because of Joseph s need for a very expensive pair of shoes. Even though Lenny s generosity is widely known, he still deserves recognition for donating his half of the 50/50 back to the Ride for Our Heroes sponsored by Gratitude America and the Flagler County Realtor s Association. Although the exact amount is unknown, much speculation places his Page 4
donation in the amount of $800.00. Way to go Lenny! Please continue to pray for Sue Schule and Diane Reynolds as they recover from surgery. Also remember Jeff and Judy Flammer, and Judy s father as he recovers from heart by-pass surgery; George and Lori Fountain s son Dillon as he is being tested and treated for cystic fibrosis; and Mike VanBuren s aunt as he is standing with her for successful chemo treatment. May God continue to bless our Chapter with continued faithful friendships and concern for one another. QM Karl Grunewald I have submitted a shirt order for the board to approve. This will give us an in-stock supply as well as fulfilling requested shirt orders. Hopefully I can send in the order before our next meeting. See you second Wednesday in May. Riding Safety Tips of the Month Be Safe. Conduct a pre-ride check to identify any mechanical defects that could jeopardize your safety. Be Visible. Signal your intentions Blue Knights FL XXII Make sure your headlight works and is on day and night. Use reflective strips or decals on your clothing and on your motorcycle. Flash your brake light when you are slowing down and before stopping. Dress for Safety. Wear a D.O.T. approved helmet and eye protection. Wear bright colored clothing, over the ankle foot protection, long pants, long-sleeved shirt, and full-fingered gloves. Use Common Sense. Keep a safe distance from other motorists and give yourself enough time to react to dangerous situations. Use lane positioning to be seen; ride in the part of a lane where you are most visible. Avoid weaving between lanes. Ride Unimpaired. Don't ride when you are tired or under the influence of alcohol or other drugs. If someone has had too much to drink, intervene. Be Courteous and Responsible. Respect other drivers. Don t speed; know the local traffic laws and rules of the road. Be Prepared. Practice. Develop your riding techniques before going into heavy traffic. Know how to handle your bike in conditions such as wet or sandy roads, high winds, and uneven surfaces. Page 5
Last Month s Rides On April 5th, members of the club participated in the Flagler County Association of Realtors / Gratitude America Poker Run. Blue Knights FL XXII A generous Blue Knight had the winning hand and donated the winnings back to the charitable organization. Thanks Lenny! On April 19 th, The club participated in the Knights of Infernos Celico Ride. Scholarship On April 22 nd, Dave Lydon, Jim Nichols, and Doug Brown presented Flagler High School Senior Troy Wingerter, with our $500 scholarship. Page 6 Upcoming FL XXII Rides and Events May 6 th Flagler County Sheriff s Office Memorial 10 am, at FCSO. May 10 (Saturday) to Lake Weir for lunch at Gator Joe s May 23 (Friday) to De Leon Springs for breakfast
June 8-12 to Charleston, South Carolina July 17 (Thursday) to Ponce Inlet for dinner at Down the Hatch August 28 (Thursday) to Jacksonville for dinner at Fish Camp September 20 (Saturday) to Amelia Island for lunch October 11 (Saturday) to Starke Bike Fest November 1 (Saturday) to Sugar Loaf for lunch December 6 (Saturday) to Spring Garden Ranch, Deland for lunch Dates are subject to change based on weather etc. Information will be forwarded via email and the newsletter regarding additional details for overnight trips. You are encouraged to make suggestions for any rides you d like to the club to consider. May 18 th, Red Knights, Shands Poker Run. May 25 th, Patrolman Phillip Cardillo Scholarship Poker Run. Other Upcoming Rides /Events May 9 th, FOP Fishing trip Page 7
Patriot Guard First Mission Tony D and Karl G. went on their first Patriot Guard mission on April 4 th. The family of Charles Earl Dixon Tumey had honored the Patriot Guard Riders by requesting their presence at services for their loved one, a Fallen Military Hero, Charles Earl Dixon Tumey, 87 years old, United States Navy, WW II Veteran who was laid to rest. After a two hour ride down to Cocoa, Karl Grunewald, Tony Dolce and a friend, Ray Wright showed their respect at the memorial services along with seven other Patriot Guard Riders. Standing in tribute and meeting the family members, we were given many thanks and signs of appreciation for the sincere respect we showed for our fallen hero and his family. We stood at the burial ceremony and after showing our support, we were greeted with many handshakes of gratitude after the service was over. It was a very rewarding experience for all three of us and we were very happy to have had this opportunity. With Respect, Tony Dolce Page 8
Recruit New BK FL XXII Members Our club presently has 65 members. Let s see if we can get to 70 by year s end. Spread the word about your club. Humor A rookie police officer pulled a biker over for speeding and had the following exchange: Officer: May I see your driver s license? Biker: I don t have one. I had it suspended when I got my 5th DUI. Officer: May I see the owner s card for this vehicle? Biker: It s not my bike. I stole it. Officer: The motorcycle is stolen? Biker: That s right. But come to think of it, I think I saw the owner s card in the tool bag when I was putting my gun in there. Officer: There s a gun in the tool bag? Biker: Yes sir. That s where I put it after I shot and killed the dude who owns this bike and stuffed his dope in the saddle bags. captain. The biker was quickly surrounded by police, and the captain approached the biker to handle the tense situation: Captain: Sir, can I see your license? Biker: Sure. Here it is. It was valid. Captain: Who s motorcycle is this? Biker: It s mine, officer. Here s the registration. Captain: Could you slowly open your tool bag so I can see if there s a gun in it? Biker: Yes, sir, but there s no gun in it. Sure enough, there was nothing in the tool bag. Captain: Would you mind opening your saddle bags? I was told you said there are drugs in them. Biker: No problem. The saddle bags were opened; no drugs. Captain: I don t understand it. The officer who stopped you said you told him you didn t have a license, stole this motorcycle, had a gun in the tool bag, and that there were drugs in the saddle bags. Biker: Yeah, I ll bet he told you I was speeding, too. Officer: There s drugs in the saddle bags too?!?!? Biker: Yes, sir. Hearing this, the rookie immediately called his Page 9
White Shirts Order Your Today!! Just Kidding Ken.laverne@gmail.com Services: Airport pick up/drop off, home security audits, handyman and pet sitting. 10% Off for BK members. Members in Business Please give us your feedback, photos, and suggestions for what you d like to see in future newsletters. Page 10