Re: State Newsletter

Dear Fellow Members,

It’s that time of year to start knocking off the cobwebs and shinning up the chrome. The Dogwood and Redbud Trees are a full bloom, so winter is just about over and spring is well on its way. The last couple of weekends have brought the bikers out, after months of cold and wet weather. We have several rides scheduled over the next couple of months.

All Units need to show support for the State Commander Russ Richards next month in Austin for the Annual MAP “Ride For The Troops” Run. This year’s run will be in the Hill Country around Austin on April 14^th with the 15^th as a back up bad weather date. VFW Post 8787 has graciously volunteered to be the Rally Point and Final Stop. Lots of comradeship, good food, and entertainment are planned for Saturday Night after the Rally. Every Unit should be represented for this Rally. If not there personally to ride, at least send donations of some type, be it goods for the auctions or cash to help support our troops. It has been almost two years since we had a State Wide Rally of Motorcycles to help support the MAP Program and it needs to happen again. One of the main reasons we were able to Charter the Motorcycle Group in Texas was because of the funds we raised to assist the MAP Program in 2004 – 2005. We need to come together once again and show everyone what the Motorcycle Units can do for the VFW Programs.

Every month for the remainder of the VFW calendar year there is a ride happening and we need to get involved with as many as possible. April is the “Ride For The Troops” Rally. May has the “Run For The Wall” as many of you know as “Rolling Thunder” in Washington, D.C. June is our State Convention in Corpus Christi, which is a biker friendly town. We will have a ride again for those that missed last years. Finally in August the “Vanderclute Memorial Ride” to Kansas City for the National Convention which will be even bigger than previous years. This is where National has finally included the Motorcyclist in the Opening Ceremonies of the Convention. Recognition of the Motorcycle Groups from all over the country is something we need to get more involved in.

If you have not done so yet, please log in to our Website, http://www.vfwmgtx.com/. Rides and events from all the Units as well as rides outside of Texas are being posted there. Go to the eagle on the bottom of the page. We are trying to link to groups from other states that have formed or that may be formed in the near future. We have a golden opportunity to make the VFW Motorcycle Groups something really big if we work together. We need to participate and get out into the public and demonstrate a positive image for the VFW Motorcycle Group. We are still in our infant stage of growing to become something really big and prosperous. So please attend as many of these statewide functions as possible. We can make a difference and have fun doing it.

Your Fellow Veteran Rider,

Norm Brawner

Norm “Squid” Brawner

Unit 1 President

CNB; jmb

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