AMCA Board Approves Two New Chapters

[D.A.Bagin]

The new Bear Mountain Chapter is having another meeting and ride this Sunday May 3rd. For info read above posts.

[stevekleincustom]

Congratulations to The AMCA! Applause to AMCA Executive Director Keith Kizer and Director of Chapters Fred Davis!
All AMCA Members and Chapters need to promote the AMCA. We know who we are but unfortunately the rest of the World does not! Our average AMCA Membership age continues to get higher. By promoting all our regional events plus attending non-AMCA events all Members and Chapters can spread the message of the AMCA and attract new younger members interested in Vintage and Classic Motorcycles. The Cherokee Chapter has started a "Future of Our Sport Program" and we are attracting the 20 and 30 Something Enthusiasts into our club... This lowers our average club age and brings in fresh membership enthusiasm. The Cherokee Chapter Future of Our Sport Director, Buck Carson, age 22, has his weekly Chrome Classics Radio Show via the Internet on Road Hawgs Network. Over 75,000 people log on every Wednesday evening. Now that is proactive marketing for the AMCA! Buck has had many AMCA Members, Cannonball Riders, and also AMCA ED Kizer has been on the show twice now!

Help promote the AMCA folks! Bringing "new blood" into our organization also brings in fresh enthusiasm, ideas and energy!

For the Love of The Sport!

[D.A.Bagin]

Just a reminder, the Bear Mountain Chapter meeting is tomorrow, Sunday the 22nd, 12 noon. Contact info is in post 18 if you need it. All are welcome.

[hogchild71]

HD48FL
It takes only eight AMCA members to start a new AMCA Chapter. Send your address in a PM or to frednan2@gmail and I'll mail a New Chapter Packet to you. You can look over the requirements and decide if you would like to start a Chapter in your area. AMCA National has a way for you to reach out to members in your area.

BTW: We approved the new Smoky Mountain Chapter at the Board meeting last Thur. They are in north Georgia.

Best, Fred.

[D.A.Bagin]

The new "Bear Mountain Chapter of the A.M.C.A." is having a meeting on Sunday, March 22nd, 12 noon, at the location described in previous posts. For any further information you can P.M. me or call me directly at Nine One 4, 5 two 3, three 5 three 1. As most A.M.C.A. clubs, we are a family oriented social and riding group of men and women that enjoy all aspects of the national club. All are welcome and invited, whether a member of our chapter or not, irregardless of the type of motorcycle, age of the bike, or the member. LOL. Stop on by to see what we are about and if you would like to join up. As mentioned before, we will be planning numerous rides and social activities over the course of the riding season for all to enjoy.

[D.A.Bagin]

Congratulation D.A. on the new chapter. It is a lot of work, but very rewarding to be involved in leading a chapter.

Thanks Dan. It took a while and yes, a lot of work, but with the support and encouragement from the others that wanted this to happen, it was worth every minute. We have a great group here, that love to get together on a regular basis and have fun riding our old junk.

Yes, it is a lot of fun. That's what it's all about.

[DanM]

Congratulation D.A. on the new chapter. It is a lot of work, but very rewarding to be involved in leading a chapter.

[D.A.Bagin]

I'll agree that the Bear Mountain chapter is closer than the Hudson Valley chapter for me. But I still think that a chapter for the areas of Bergen/Passaic/Hudson/Essex counties would attract people because these areas are densely populated.

Where in West Milford do they meet? Is that the starting point for rides?

We meet at the Pioneer Bar and Grill on Warwick Turnpike in Hewitt, (Upper Greenwood Lake), N.J. usually on a Sunday at noon. You listed Passaic County as one of your areas and that is where we meet. I lived in Bergen county for almost 50 years and one of the reasons we meet where we do, is because there is not the hustle and bustle of Rt. 17 or Rt. 4 where the speed limit is 50 or so, and they blast by you at 75 on the shoulder, blowing the horn and saluting you, if they are in a hurry to get to church. We don't want any of that insane traffic that is not conductive to riding an old bike with 15-20 other riders. Our Vice President, Angelo Di Censo, rides his Pan from White Plains in Westchester to the meetings. Bob Hoene, our Treasurer, rides from Piermont ,N.Y. As soon as they reach Rt. 17 in Suffern/Sloatsburg they take all back roads. As you stated that area is extremely densely populated, something we try to avoid.

We usually meet for the rides at the meeting place or about 15-20 minutes from the meeting location out in Pine Island, N.Y. but will be changing up the meeting place periodicly for rides this season. We will try meeting up at the tower on Perkins Memorial Drive by Bear Mountain in Harriman State Park to do some rides near there or on the other side of the river.

I don't know where you live in Bergen, but it is only a ride out Rt.208 to Skyline Drive, at the end turn right on Greenwood Lake Turnpike and follow past the reservoirs, go thru Greenwood lake and keep right at the deli and go straight up the mountain to the meeting place. It's located on the right at the only traffic light up on top of the mountain .Take you on an old bike about 45 mins. or less to get there depending on where you are. I don't know how much more convieniant it needs to be for you but PM me your contact or e-mail me and I'll let you know when the next meeting is. Right now, it looks like Sunday March 22nd I think it is, but will confirm this.

[HD48FL]

The Bear Mountain Chapter often meets in West Milford, very close to Bergen County.

I'll agree that the Bear Mountain chapter is closer than the Hudson Valley chapter for me. But I still think that a chapter for the areas of Bergen/Passaic/Hudson/Essex counties would attract people because these areas are densely populated.

Where in West Milford do they meet? Is that the starting point for rides?

[larry]

The Bear Mountain Chapter often meets in West Milford, very close to Bergen County.

[exeric]

I think it's important to support a chapter. I left one chapter, and joined another and it cost me $10.00. That is dirt cheap considering how much the volunteers do, and even if you only go to one weenie roast, it's money well spent. I'm not trying to 'guilt' anyone, in any way because that is a decision you are totally entitled too. It's just a nice way to possibly meet some people with a common interest.

[Rubone]

Most of these "local" chapters are more than an hour away from where I am located. What is the difference between the AMCA dues and local chapter dues? I don't belong to any local chapters, just curious as I already pay my AMCA

That's funny. My "local" chapter is five hours away. The next closest are ten and twelve hours away.
National dues have nothing to do with chapter dues, two separate entities.
And there could be two different chapters in the exact same location if folks wanted them. Just like the clubs in the old days. Some chapters like riding, some like shows and swap meets. Join the one (or ones) that suit your needs.

[HD48FL]

The Bear Mountain Chapter was started for people that may not belong to any chapter and were looking for local like minded people that enjoy regularly RIDING their bikes with others on back-roads that have little or no traffic in the N.Y., N.J. Pa. tri-state area. I belong to multiple chapters and will continue to do so to show my support for them. Oh, and it's only 20 bucks to join. LOL.

What is the difference between the Bear Mountain Chapter and the Hudson Valley Chapter? Seems like such an overlap there? Personally, I would have liked to see a chapter in the Bergen County area of New Jersey. Most of these "local" chapters are more than an hour away from where I am located. What is the difference between the AMCA dues and local chapter dues? I don't belong to any local chapters, just curious as I already pay my AMCA dues.

[D.A.Bagin]

The website should be up by June or before. We are working on our logo and want to have that done for the site. This has been a longer process than anticipated with the IRS but everything worked out great in the end. We typically ride in that Tri-State area of N.Y., N.J. Pa. utilizing all back roads with a 55mph limit and little traffic. Usually leave by 9-10am, have a lunch stop, and back by 4-5pm. Typically 125-175 miles or so. Usually have between 15-20 riders. We have been meeting in Pine Island N.Y. for the rides and then leaving from there. This is located on the Jersey border about 30 min. or so from the Pa. line by Port Jervis N.Y. and Rt. 84.


Hollywood, I think timing had a lot to do with the attendance at the dinners on the same day as I also try to make both of them and wasn't able to. Alot of people try to get away from winter at that time of year also and may have affected attendance also. I can't believe that forming of this chapter had anything to do with it as very few members are members elsewhere. Most are new joins to the National and this chapter.

[harleytoprock]

D.A.Bagin, Does the bear mountain chapter have a website? What area do they typicaly ride?