One of a number of possible designs for a logo
A new independent Club is to be launched in UK shortly – the second one in a matter of weeks. After considering various alternatives, the name GoldWings North West has been chosen.
A very well know and widely respected Winger in the North West has agreed to be Chairman-Designate (take heart, it’s not me!) and the Club will have its inaugural meeting in Central Lancashire early in the New Year.
The Blackpool Light Parade will be in safe hands for 2009 too. This isn’t just some little breakaway group; those “organisers and doers” in the North West who have a track record of running club and larger scale events are already committed to GoldWings North West, which will operate a full program of events and activities for 2009.
Most importantly there has been no falling out with other Wingers in the North West in what has led up to the formation of this new Club, which is purely down to the need to have freedom to run things without interference from outside. Wingers will be welcomed by the new Club, whether they personally want to stay in GWOCGB or not.
Friendly dialogue is already taking place between the Wingers who are in the process of forming GoldWings North West and GoldWings North Wales. An informal discussion took place last weekend. As you might expect when open-minded and friendly Wingers gather to explore new ideas and to look forward to the 2009 biking season, it was a happy and upbeat affair.
Both new Clubs will be actively considering joining the Federation of UK GoldWing Clubs as its Founder Club Members and work on the new Federation is also moving forward briskly. As you will see by looking back a few Articles on this Blog, a bold new badge has already been designed for the Federation.
That both new Clubs have similar names and identical initials (GNW) is pure coincidence. If anyone else is interested in forming an independent Club please don’t get the impression that there is a formula which has to be followed when naming your new Club. There is no obligation, not even a suggestion, that you should call it “GoldWings …………”. The whole point of being independent (likewise of the new Federation) is that you are free to do your own thing – there will certainly be no rules telling GoldWing clubs what they can and cannot do.
There is lots going on in the UK GoldWing Community – watch this space!
Well done Guys and Gals…….it’s great to see what I consider will be an unstopable wind of change begining to blow through the dull and outdated Goldwing comunity that exists at present……..( By that remark I mean the system not the members personally )..LOL…………..Good Luck to all
Stuart
You say the BLP is in good hands,but correct me if I am wrong the BLP has allways been a L&L event do you intend hi-jacking this event from them.
The 2009 Blackpool Light Parade is being organised by much the same Team as organised the very succesful 2008 Event Last year it was organised under the auspices of the Lancs & Lakes Goldwing Owners Club, which was an independent Club formed by the organising team for the purpose when it became necessary to secure reliable PLI cover independently of GWOCGB. This was a Club within a Club in that all its members (i.e. the Organising Team) were also Members of Lancs & Lakes Region of GWOCGB. The finances of the 2008 BLP were completely separate from the Regional money and there was never any financial risk to either Regional or GWOCGB funds.
The 2008 Committee of Lancs & Lakes have all announced their intention to stand down at the Region’s AGM this coming Sunday. I haven’t asked them individually and I don’t speak for them in this respect but I don’t know of anyone among them who is planning to renew GWOCGB Membership. I know of other longstanding Lancs & Lakes Members who will not be renewing either.
GoldWings North West will effectively be a continuation of the independent Lancs & Lakes Club which was formed last year to run the BLP; the name has been changed to avoid confusion with Lancs & Lakes Region, in case that continues. I am no longer involved in running Lancs & Lakes (since my expulsion from GWOCGB) but as far as I am aware there are no plans to transfer any funds from Lancs & Lakes Region to GoldWings North West, even if the bulk of Lancs & Lakes Members join the indpendent Club in preference to remaining in GWOCGB.
“Hijack” is a pretty emotive term and suggest that you have your own view of the situation and that you are not really asking a question at all.
Another way of putting it would be that the same people who have run the BLP since its inception will still be running the Event in 2009 but, as in 2008, it will not be done under the GWOCGB banner. It could also be said that GWOCGB’s Committee threw away the BLP as a showcase event by failing to support it over the years and, during 2008, so alienating its Lancs & Lakes organisers that they have now been lost to GWOCGB altogether. When I took over as Lead Organiser in late 2007 I was very keen to make it a showcase recruiting opportunity for GWOCGB and said so loud and clear at the time – but it fell on deaf ears. It’s one of the tragedies of 2008 that Wingers who might otherwise still be working together as friends to make improvements have lost insight, maybe even interest in trying to understand another viewpoint.
By the way the delay in announcing the 2009 BLP formally on its own website has nothing to do with Lancs & Lakes issues, it’s purely a delay obtaining some important official confirmations. The provisional date for the Parade is September 5th and this will almost certainly hold firm – but don’t try to book Pontin’s yet, they will charge you brochure prices.
how do i join goldwings northwest? i get my
1800 wing trike w/c 9 march (gl1800) also
where do u meet would appreciate a reply
many thanks Dave
Hi Dave I have replied to your email address directly, but for anyone else I suggest checking the Club’s website at http://www.goldwings-northwest.org.uk, which is developing rapidly and provides a very good read. We meet on the first Sunday, so you’ve just missed one, but there are events on the websitebefor the next one and you will be most welcome to come to those.
Hi Stuart, if needed, you can give me Dave’s e-mail and I’ll send him a membership form to fill in and return.
Done
thanks guys for giving myself and toni a very warm welcome to the club today we cannot come on all the trips but will endevour to go on some. hope the open day went well at appleyards and everybody came home safe.