Great Work Everyone!!!

Richard will turn the funds and the registration list over to Scott

While 17 Members in attendance was held at Thunder Valley on Day Road in Aiken

1. Chapter Coordinator- Mick Prendergast present, called meeting to order at 7:00 promptly & led the Pledge of Allegiance.

2. Secretary-Donna Randall present, reading of minutes waived.

3. Treasurer- Richard Farr present, made known General & Down Rider balances.

4. Membership Coordinator- Karen Barnes present gave total for membership as 159, noting many still need to pay dues.  Attempts have been made to collect: initially Connie Collier sent out a letter via mail, secondly Mick sent emails out to those in rears. Calling post discussed, without conclusion.  Connie totals memberships mid-month.

5. BOD Informant- Mike Bryce present, nothing to report. (No BOD meeting has taken place since last meeting).

6. Web Site Coordinator- Becky Raymond not present. However all are in agreement, how great her works have accelerated the group in many areas of communication, including the monies assisting Rooster and his family through the Rock and Ride Autism Website.

7. Road Captain- Robert Beard not present. Mick took this time to mention the need to be cautious when traveling on the wet highways. PR added again to keep check on your tires air pressure for better control.

8, Product Reporter- Coach not present.

9. Legislative Reporter- Dan Randall not present.

10.  Down Rider Reporter- Tom Luta not present. Mike noted no members down.

11. Bereavement Reporter- Mike Bryce present announced all members live.  Unbeknown to Mike – it was later some one mentioned Sue Green passed away last night.

12. Events Coordinator- Richard Farr notes upcoming events:
Feb 20 Sat Polar Bear Run leave Hoze’s 1:00 pm
Feb 23 Tues Bike Night at the N. Aug Sno-Cap 7:00 pm
Feb 28 Sun Dixie Thunder Meeting @ Hoze’s 1:00 pm
Mar 6 Sat Lisa Blackburn Fundraiser
Mar 13 Sat Abate BOD Mtg @ Natures Deli 1:00 pm ((note date changed from 3/3, need member to attend, Mike nor Judy may be able available))
Apr 3 Sat Down Rider Event (incomplete)
May 2 Sun Motorcycle Awareness Rally in Col.,SC

13. Reporter’s Report- Denise Axtell present, some information to be added to the Carolina Chrome Magazine was discussed as needed to go thru P R one month in advance.  Per Mick, flyers are made accessible on State Web site, our website, and Facebook.

14. Old Business Discussion of membership dues. Richard re-instated membership recruiting promotion: 10 newly recruited member applications added per person, warrants a paid membership for the next year. These must include recruiter’s name on the back of application, and needs to mail to Karen’s address to be counted towards the goal. Motion made by Richard Farr, 2nd motion made by Mike Bryce with all in favor in attendance.

15. New Business Discussion includes:
(A). Many are contributing to the 1-24-10 Burnt Home Crisis, including people in other countries. It is truly a blessing for Rooster and his family.  This closely related to the pay account set up for the cause on the Autism Rock n Ride Web Site.  $2.00 raffle tickets being sold to win a beautiful quilt.  Still in need of monies towards replacing the family’s home, it was noted to add a fundraiser to the Polar Bear Run. Including but not limited to a Road Runner Bike Repair gift certificate of $100.00 to be raffled.

16. General Discussion:
(A). Thoughts and prayers go out to P R’s 9 month old nephew with leukemia.
(B).   Biker Monthly Radio Station 105.7 W_ _ _
(C).   Do your part and e-mail SCDOT with location in regards to pot holes on the roadways. This poses a liability for them if not fixed, and adds in safety for all motorists.

17. Chaplin Wayne Cheselka spoke on behalf of our brotherhood, with Ecclesiastes chapter 4, verses 9-10 “Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall one will lift up his companion, but woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up.”   A moment of silence for those who have passed, and a prayer for those on the roadways.

18. Meeting Adjourned by Chapter Coordinator.

Transcribed 2-11-10 Donna Randall

By Barclay Bishop | WJBF News Channel 6 Anchor/Reporter
Published: January 30, 2010

Clearwater, SC—-

An Aiken County family has a lot to be thankful for this weekend. Last Sunday, the Keenan family lost their home to a fire. They’re part of a big biker community, and today they all got together to raise money for the family. Folks stopped by the Waffle House in Clearwater for a bake sale in honor of the Keenan’s.

Holly Keenan, Fire Victim: “Ya’ll don’t know how much it means to us that we have so many friends that we didn’t even know we had. And, of course, God- he’s watching over us and he’s helping us, too.”
All of Saturday’s proceeds are going directly to the Keenan’s. To help, visit the ‘Keenan Family Fire Relief’ Facebook page.

Original article here…WJBF

Aiken, SC—Holly Keenan, fire victim: “Ah…that’s my baby right there. You love mommy? Mommy loves you, too.“

Holly Keenan has her family in a hotel room, because across town, their home, lies in ruin. Sunday, the family was inside, when Kenneth Keenan says he saw smoke coming from the dryer.

Holly: “My husband said, ‘Holly, get Nicholas and get out.‘“

Nicholas, just one pound when he was born, has cerebral palsy. Holly calls him her miracle child. She left his wheelchair, grabbed her son, and put him in the car with his sister. When she went to move it, it woulnd’t start, so she pushed it to the road.

Holly: “And, then we stood there, and we watched all of my memories just burn.“

There’s not much left. The brand-new TV the couple saved up for their son to watch his favorite wrestling DVD’s on was ruined.

Holly: “The security of having a place to live is gone.“

Their memories…destroyed and melted, and in the middle of the damage, you can see there is a beloved pastime in this family…motorcycles. Twice a month, Kenneth meets with a biker group to help others in his community.

Kenneth Keenan, fire victim: “The Helping Hands, over here in Aiken, we visit them twice a year, we take them school supplies, and we take them Christmas…“

Now, the biker family in his life, is paying it forward.

Wayne Cheselka, biker Pastor: “Every biker event that they have, that family supports it, and they take out of what meager things they have…to help somebody else.“

The Midland Valley First Church of the Nazarene’s biker group, called “Driven By The Spirit”, and Dixie Thunder, are collecting clothing and money to help give the Keenan family a new beginning.

Cheselka: “What they have is their home, and it may not be much to most of us, but to them, it’s where they raised their children, and it’s devastating to see it gone…they need help. They need help…“

These parents work full-time to keep their family together…they own the land and the home that they had…they give back to others. Now, the community is putting them on the receiving end.

Holly: “I’m telling you, right now, you never know how many friends you’ve got, or how many people love you, until you get to a point where you just don’t have anything.“

This Saturday, the Waffle House, in Clearwater, will host a car wash and bake sale. The profits will go towards helping the Keenans buy a new home.

Original Article Here: WJBF