Michigan Chapter I, Battle Creek

"Gold Wing Road Riders Association"

"Friends for Fun, Safety and Knowledge"

Chapter I was born in March 1983, with many of its original members coming from Chapter D in Kalamazoo.  Gerald Gaecke & Slim Olmstead were the original Area Rep and Ass't Area Rep, holding their first meetings in Speed's Restaurant, in Battle Creek, MI.   Starting in 1987, their meetings were moved to the Eagle's Lodge on M-66 in Battle Creek.

I'm not sure who Jake was, although he was the area rep, and it may have been a nickname for Gerald, but when he stepped down, Eugene Jones became the new Area Rep and Slim stayed on as Assistant.  Their first Poker Run was a joint effort with the Kiwanis and was called the Gathering of the Wings.

Later in 1987, the chapter was split, most of the members joining Gold Wing Touring Assoc., including the AR & AAR.  Gary & Marge McKee were appointed new Area Reps by Larry Terryn who was the State Director at the time.

From here most of the information I have is just who was AR, later to be known as CD.  In November 1991, Herb Troutner was Area Rep and James Dun was Assistant.  James was the initiator of the DIRT-J Free Fun Run that is held to this day on the 1st Sunday of October. James came up with the idea of having a free fun run that would be organized and run by the Assistants. He and the rest of the DIRT-J Chapters thought it would be a fun way to end the riding season by having a fun run that cost the members nothing, plaques or prizes would be given out for winning spots and all 50/50 money would be paid back out to the participants. Chapter T was quite small at the time and they brought the prizes. Basically Chapters D, I, R, & J were the hosts of the fun runs. Food was bought and prepared by Jan Smith, Chapter T brought the plaques/prizes. After all the expenses were turned in to the host chapter, they were divided up and the chapters all paid their share and everyone had, and still does have, a wonderful time. It is still today, a fun run set up and hosted by the Assistant Chapter Directors.

James Dun became AR in Feb 1993.  In April 1993, Gordy & Linda Leonard became AAR's.  In January 1993, Gary & Carolyn Geeting were appointed 2nd AAR.  James Dun stepped down in December 1994, and in January 1995, Gordy & Linda Leonard stepped up to become CD's and Gary & Carolyn Geeting were ACD's.

In the early summer of 1995 our chapter meetings were moved to the Elk's Lodge on Harmonia Rd.

In January 1997, Gordy & Linda Leonard stepped down and Gary & Carolyn Geeting were appointed CD's and in February, Russ & Rose Hollister joined as ACD's.

Gary & Carolyn stepped down as CD's in January 1997, and Russ & Rose became CD's with Ron & Jan Smith becoming Ass't CD's.  Russ had a serious heart attack later in the year, and Ron & Jan Smith carried on in his place for the remainder of Russ' tenure.

Ron & Jan Smith were named Chapter Directors in January 2000 and in January 2003 were named Senior CD's, stepping down as CD's in December 2003.

In January 2004 Carolyn & Gary Geeting were accepted as Chapter Directors.  This is the first time a woman has been CD for Chapter I and it is also the first time in the Chapter that both spouses in one family have held the Chapter Director position in our chapter.

During the period from 1993, I (Carolyn) have known of several campout/fun runs and summer campouts.  We've had a few fall campouts also.  For the last 2-3 years, we've combined our summer campout with Chapters D & X, calling ourselves the DIX campout.

Chapter I started a men's fall campout at the Cycle Moore, headed up by Gordy Leonard.   Gordy passed away in August 2003, and at one of our chapter meetings we started naming it the Gordy Leonard Memorial Men's Campout.