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Written by NW ON Motorcycling

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GEEZERS GONE WILD!

Thunder Bay: It is being reported that there has been a coup within the Ontario Northwest Chapter of the Retreads.

On Sunday May 15th breakfast goers at a local eatery were left stunned following an early morning attack on long-time chapter rep Joe McEachern. Local club members were barely into their first cup of coffee when a two-man hit team from southern Ontario paid a surprise visit and handed Joe his resignation.

To a chorus of boos the Retreads Canadian Rep and the Ontario Rep said that they didn't care what the local members wanted or didn't want, Retreads International makes the rules and that's that. Not only did they oust Joe as the local chapter representative, they also declared that the local Retreads website would be shut down effective immediately.

They announced that Merv Donohue would now be the new local chapter representative and that club business would just roll on as always.

It was noted in a communiqué issued by the newly installed regime that, due to a blatant refusal to accept the direction of Retreads International, they felt that they had no alternative but to surgically remove the leadership from the local chapter and proceed in a new direction with the local club. Apparently some actions taken by the local incumbent administration were "detrimental to the public image of The Club".

No further information has been forthcoming from Retreads International so one can only assume that they are carrying on with their "I Don't Care" policy towards the membership of North America's second or third largest chapter.

May 30, 2011

If you're lucky this will be the last time I mention the latest goings-on with the Retreads in Thunder Bay. Although you never know when I might get a bug up my nose and have to spout off about something.

Not much has changed since my last report. There has been some clashing of ego's, some truths, half-truths and some non-truths being spread around and lots of rumors floating around. What I find hardest to believe is that the actions of three people could rip the heart out of the Retreads chapter here in Thunder Bay in a matter of a couple of days.

The once vibrant chapter is now divided and crumbling. But to paraphrase some of the old sayings, change is good, we cannot change the past and we cannot change the fact that some people act in a certain way.

But positive change has already begun here. Between a third and a half of the membership of the old Retreads chapter has already expressed an interest in starting a new club free of the draconian regime of the old club. Time will tell how everything will pan out but it sure feels great to be out riding unencumbered of the old organization.

And didn't we get into this for the love of riding? Let's leave the politics and the mud slinging to the professionals in Ottawa and enjoy our all-too-short summer of riding with our friends.

And speaking of riding, a dozen of us headed down to the Gunflint this past weekend for an impromptu ride and had lunch at the Trail Centre Tavern. It turned out to be one of the nicest days that we've had on a weekend this year.

Now that's what riding is all about, enjoying a great day on the bike and the camaraderie of friends.

http://www.nwomotorcycling.ca/

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