 Over the course of 2011, there will be 25 locations throughout MA, NH & VT that are to be visited on your Wing. At those locations are points of interest. You take a photo of that point of interest with your Wing and yourself in the picture. If you are alone when visiting the location, obviously you can only take a photo of your Wing and the location. Maybe you can find someone nice enough in the area to take your photo for you. Whenever safety is a factor and you cannot safely get a picture of you and your motorcycle, a photo of the location is sufficient. We know which locations may be an issue and which ones aren't, so if you take a photo of a location where no safety hazard exists of only the location, your photo may or may not be accepted.
There is 1 contest but two different requirements. 1 for the "retired" members and the second is for the "workin" stiffs. The retired members are challenged to take photos of all 25 locations. The workin' stiffs need only take photos of 15 of the 25 locations. Obviously the retired folks have more free time to go off and find these places where as the workin' stiffs don't. In both situations 20% of the photos MUST be taken with fall foliage as part of the photo. We're doing this in an attempt to have you out riding all season long.
In this day of digital photos, most folks no longer use film cameras, we know that, but we ask that all your photos be printed out in some fashion. Most printers now a days will print photos, some printers can print 2, 4 or 6 photos per page. We'd challenge you to print out your photos and place them in an album something you can look at over and over sharing with family and friends. The more creative your photos and photos albums are just might earn you extra credit with the judges ;-)
Since some locations are close to one another, you could plan to visit more than one per ride. We will be scheduling a few rides through-out the 2011 season on a Sunday where I'll lead a ride to one or more locations to help you get started or fill-in some of the locations you're missing. We will not be visiting all the sites this year on our official Sunday group rides. Most of them you'll need to do on your own or with an impromptu group rides.
For some of the more adventurous, you could call some of your friends and set up an overnighter to visit several of the locations over the course of a weekend.
In November we will have a special chapter meeting, possibly on a Sunday afternoon for all of the contestants to bring their photos and share some funny stories behind them. There are three judges that will review your photo album - Rich Davidson, Don Mahn and Kevin LeBlond. We will review your photos albums ensuring the photos are genuine, taken in 2011, meet the 20% fall color requirements, meet the requirements that you, your Wing and the location are in the photo and that you have photos from all the 15 or 25 locations. Once your photo album is approved your name will be placed into a hat for the Grand Prize drawings later that day.
We have (2) $50. Venco gift certificates that will be awarded to (1) retired winner and (1) workin' stiff.
Remember, this contest is all about having fun riding your Wing, the winners will be chosen at random, drawing from all those completing their mission. It is not about how fast you visit all the sites, remember you must have at least 20% of your photos with fall colors and NO PhotoShop won't work! So go out have fun, ride safely, have fun and try to remember some of the funny stories that happened during your ride or taking the photos. We'll ask you to share those stories with the chapter in November.
The legal stuff: with any contest someone will look for loopholes, looking for ways to cheat, grip and complain.....all we ask is please don't take the fun out of this contest.
We want to thank Don Mahn and Rich Davidson for suggesting this contest at the Ride Planning meeting, putting the contest rules together and for selecting the 25 fun and interesting locations, it was a lot of work - thank-you guys!!!!!!
FYI, at the last Sunday breakfast at Brother's Don brought in his photo album from one of the last times Chapter A ran this contest. We all had a lot of fun looking at the younger faces and remembering members that have moved on but most of all remembering the fun that was had finding the locations (remember this was pre-GPS days).
Ok here's the good stuff, the locations:
Again, the workin' stiff get to pick 15 locations from this list of 25.
Bash Bish Falls State Park Falls Road Mount Washington, MA
Battle of Bennington Monument Bennington, VT
Chesterfield Gorge West Chestfield, MA
Clarksburg State Park Clarksburg, MA
Day & Night Diner Palmer, MA
Forefathers Monument Plymouth, MA
Fruitlands Museums Harvard, MA
Giant Chair Elm St. Gardner, MA
Hail to the Sunrise Statue Mohawk Park Charlemont, MA
Kennedy Memorial Hyannis, MA
Louisa May Alcott's Grave Author's Ridge Sleepy Hollow Cemetery Concord, MA
Miss Florance Diner Northhampton, MA
Miss Wakefield Diner Sanbornville, NH
Nancy's Airfield Cafe (Closed Tuesdays) Minutemen Airfield Stowe, MA
Paper House Rockport, MA
Peterborough Diner Peterborough, NH
Poet's Seat Tower Greenfield, MA
Purgatory Chasm State Park Reservation Sutton, MA
Quabbin Reservoir Tower Ware, MA (planning to do a Sunday picinc ride here with the chapter)
Railroad Museum Prospect Street Chester, MA
Santarella Gingerbread House 75 Main Street Tyringham, MA
Sargo Tower Dennis, MA
Southwick (Zoo) Wild Animal Farm Mendon, MA
Willard House and Clock Museum North Grafton, MA
Yankee Soege "Punkin Chunkin" Greenfield, MA
So get the scooter out and have some fun, let us know if you have any questions or need help getting started. We will be traveling to a few of these locations throughout the riding season to help you along. Kevin & Georgia |
