Gold Wing Road Riders Association (GWRRA)

VIRGINIA DISTRICT - Region "N"

Vernon L. Needham "Spirit of Virginia" Award

2011 Recipient
Bobbie Jo Harrison- Chapter VA-K (Roanoke)

Honored Former Recipients

Betty Needham - Chapter VA-A (Northern Virginia) - 1997
Frank Gillespie - Chapter VA-F (Winchester) - 1998
Orin Thomas - Chapter VA-F (Winchester) - 1999
Chris Hooper - Chapter VA-D (Richmond) - 2000
Curt Dixon - Chapter VA-A1 (Stafford) - 2001
Dave & Melissa Timbs - Chapter VA-I (Manassas) - 2002
Bruce & Gayle Babcock - Chapter VA-I (Manassas) - 2003
George Craddock & Isabel Gray - Chapter VA-I (Manassas) - 2004
Linda Carlyle - Chapter VA-W (Chester) - 2005
Ed Talbott - Chapter VA-J (South Boston) - 2006
Keith & Carol Lindgren - Chapter VA-L (Chesapeake) - 2007
Mike & Carol Lucas - Chapter VA-E (Fredericksburg) - 2008
Mike & Angie Mitchell - Chapter VA-U (Hanover) - 2009
Greg & Karen Kestner - Chapter VA-E (Fredericksburg) - 2010

The "Spirit of Virginia" award is presented to an outstanding person or couple in the Virginia GWRRA. All members within GWRRA are outstanding members, but there are those few who continue to help others and exemplify the motto of this organization, "Friends for fun, safety and knowledge." These members deserve to be recognized for their contributions.

With that in mind, an award has been initiated to recognize those types of member. Only one award will be made in any year. If a deserving recipient or couple is nominated and selected, the presentation will be made at the District Rally. The member or couple receiving this award does/do not have to prove themselves by any type of test or oral presentation. They do not have to present themselves in any way after they have been nominated. In fact, it is preferred that it be kept a secret from the person or couple that have/has been nominated. A committee consisting of District Officers and/or former recipients of the award will be appointed each year to consider a recipient or couple from among those that have been nominated. The nominator will also be contacted upon selection to ensure that the recipient or couple will be attending the Rally for presentation of the Award.

Rules of the award are as follows:

• The nominee or couple must be a Full or Associate member(s) of the Virginia GWRRA with membership fees paid in full for the year they are nominated.
• The nominator(s) must also be a Full or Associate member(s) of the Virginia GWRRA with membership fees paid for the year they are nominating.
• The nominator(s) does/do not have to be an officer or hold any position within GWRRA.
• The nominator(s) must submit a written dissertation stating why they believe the person or couple should be considered for this prestigious award. Try to be as comprehensive as possible as to why the nominee or couple should be considered. The nominator's GWRRA Membership Number, as well as the nominee's GWRRA Membership Number(s), and the nominator's address and phone number must be included as part of the nomination submission.
• The written dissertation will then be turned over to the Chapter Director or Assistant Chapter Director of the nominator's Chapter. The nominations must then be sent to the District Director so that the nominations are received no later than 1 September of the year of the potential award.
• The committee will then consider the written dissertations to determine if a "Spirit of Virginia" award will be presented at that year's District Rally.
• How does a member or couple qualify for this prestigious award? "By their works you shall know them."