June Calendar

Montverde Ride - 5/10/08

What a great ride we had this weekend. On Saturday, Boyd, Preacher and his step-father, Richard, and Gunny set out from Plant City for Montverde. En route we covered some very twisty and scenic roadways, including Rockridge, Green Pond, Sloans Ridge, CR-455, and Old CR-50. This route took out around the back side of Sugarloaf Mountain, up and down some significant hills and through the town of Montverde and the picturesque Montverde Academy. After lunch in Mineola we headed back via Lakeshore Dr., CR-561 & back across Green Pond. Great ride, great company, great scenery, great day.
Gunny

Recruitment Challenge

At our last meeting "Ace" issued a recruitment challenge to all members and it seems that he took the challenge seriously. Today he handed me 5 applications for new and renewing members. "Ace" will receive 4.5 recruitment credits and "Tommy Traffic" will receive 0.5 credits.

These applications will be discussed at a special membership meeting to be held at 8:00 a.m., Saturday, May 10, at Snellgroves. Please join us if at all possible.

Thanks, "Ace" and "Tommy", for your hard work.

SRC - Day 3

Yesterday was the final full day of the SRC conference. It consisted of unguided rides to several local areas of interest, parking lot games and a fish fry in the afternoon and culminated with a mass ride of a couple of hundred bikes to the Plant City Bike Fest. It was nice to see Blue Knights vests everywhere and everyone enjoyed the event and their visit to Plant City. Many, many Knights expressed their appreciation for the efforts extended by the City of Plant City, the Plant City PD and, especially, Chief McDaniel. Well done, folks. Gunny

SRC - Day 2

Day 2 of the SRC conference began with a breakfast at the Red Rose Inn followed by a Chapter Presidents' meeting where we learned that there were 280 participants representing 28 Chapters at the conference.  The majority of the meeting consisted of minor housekeeping matters and politicking by Brothers running for International offices.  If you are interested, you can read their bios on the International website and the SRC website.

Things got a whole lot more interesting well over 100 motorcycles, escorted by PCPD and Chapter XXVII members and led by "Ace" set out from the Red Rose at 11:00 for Country Roads Ride via SR-39, Old Hopewell Rd., Henry George Rd., Keysville Rd., Virgil Hall Rd., Walter Hunter Rd., Jameson Rd., back north on SR-39 to Keysville Rd then to Turkey Creek Rd. and Medard Park.  The ride and those escorting the ride were highly praised by all.  I have had several requests for a written copy of the route so others can enjoy it in the future.

Once we arrived at the park, we were served an excellent pulled pork and baked bean lunch.  We were also treated to the presence of a large alligator swimming the waters next to our pavillion, much to wonder, appreciation and apprehension of those not accustomed such sights.

At 7:00 p.m., we all gathered back at the Red Rose for the conference banquet.  The food was up to their usual excellence, but the best part of the evening came the comments ofd the keynote speaker, our own "Ace" McDaniel.  Great job, Bill.

SRC - DAY 1

The conference began today with registration in the Red Rose Ballroom. A hospitality room was also set up for the free use of registered attendees. Nice room, but far too small for the number of people trying to get in. At about 6:15 p.m. about 80 bikes set out for dinner at the Spaghetti Warehouse in Ybor City. We didn't make it very far before we suffered our first mishap. I was traveling near the end of the pack and as I entered the eastbound I-4 entrance ramp from Wheeler, I saw a sea of brake lights ahead. A Knight from Georgia failed to negotiate the tight left curve and ended up in the weeds. He was taken to the hospital with a dislocated shoulder and bruised ego. Unfortunately, his Harley suffered a broken drive shaft and multiple bent up body parts. While I sat on my bike waiting for the situation to resolve, I kept hear J.T. whispering, "I told you so" in my ear. After clearing the accident scene, we headed towards Tampa. Upon exiting I-4, the leader decided he needed to stop to make a phone call. As it was then after 7:00 p.m., I judged that it would be very late by the time 120 people were seated and served at the restaurant. So, I decided to head back to Plant City for a quiet meal and a nightcap at the hospitality room. Hope tomorrow fares better. Gunny

Blue Knights Southern Regional Conference Spring Conference

The Blue Knights Southern Regional Conference Spring Conference takes place in Plant City on May 1 thru 4, 2008.  Consequently, there will be no Chapter Ride on Saturday, May 3.

April 19 Ride

Ace, Preacher, his wife, Boyd and yours truely set out from Plant City this morning for a great ride on the some twisty back roads to Peck's Old Port Cove on Ozello Trail in Crystal River. We enjoyed a great seafood lunch, then set out for thew return trip. After a few more twisties and some hidden, shady lanes, I ended up back in Lakeland at about 3:00 p.m. I put about 220 happy miles on the Wing today. See you all next Saturday for a trip to Leesburg for their bike fest. Note: Click on a picture to see a larger image.
Gunny

May Meeting

Our May meeting will be on the 22nd at 6:00 p.m. We will meet at the Plant City Police Department for a parking lot drill conducted by our Safety Officer, "Tommy Traffic." Afterwards, we will be grilling dinner. All members, prospective members, significant others and honored guests are welcome. Be sure to join us.
Gunny

April 12 Ride

Yesterday's ride started out normally with breakfast at Snellgroves. Afterwards, Eddie, Boyd and I headed south to meet Eddie's son, Paul, who had found a new route to Punta Gorda that he wanted to share with us. We wound our way down to Myakka City and, after a brief stop, headed south and west on Singletary Road. Along the way we came upon Hermann's Royal Lipizzan Stallions. Here, the descendants of the Lipizzan stallions rescued from the Russian advance by General George Patton and Colonel Ottomar Hermann in the final days of World War II, have established their winter home. Every Thursday, Friday and Saturday from mid-December through the end of April, the Hermanns put on free shows with these amazing horses. For a real treat, try going on May 1, 2 or 3 for the dress rehersals for their 2008 world tour.
After the show we continued down to Punta Gorda for lunch on the pier at Fishermen's Village. This was my first visit to Punta Goarda and Fishermen's Village. It is an amazing place that is well worth the trip.
Paul then led us via the back roads towards home. The ride ended around 4:00 p.m. Thanks, Paul, for a great ride on a beautiful day.

Gunny

Blue Knights Video

Fellow Knights,

I ran across this video about Blue Knights and some of the camraderie and fun that is part of the Blue Knight experience. I enjoyed watching the video and thinking about all the things that a chapter can be...that our chapter can be...if only the members understand and embrace the spirit that lies at the heart of Blue Knights membership.

Please take a few minutes to watch the video...heck, watch it a couple of times if you feel the urge...and think about what our chapter could be like if we were all to become active and involved members of the very chapter that we worked so hard to found, build, and preserve.

I don't know about you, but I am proud to be a Blue Knight. I am proud to be a member of the largest law enforcement-only motorcycle club in the world. I am proud to be associated with an organization that contributes millions of dollars and services to charities and that strives to enhance the reputation of our chosen and noble profession. And I am most proud to be a member of Blue Knights FL XXVII!!! I am proud to be a fellow member to each and every one of you. I value you and your contribution to our chapter. I enjoy spending time with all of you in the social settings that FL XXVII affords to us. I enjoy traveling with you, whether on a short day-trip or on a week-long escape to the mountains. I enjoy sharing the wonderful experience that is motorcycling with you.

Over the past year my enjoyment has been tempered by the fact that there are fewer and fewer of us sharing in the rides, the meals, the meetings, and the good times that are part and parcel to chapter activities. I miss riding with many of you. I miss hearing your stories and your tall tales. I miss exploring new roads with you and sharing a breakfast or a lunch with you in some out-of-the-way mom-and-pop joint that we happened upon in our travels.

Blue Knights membership is not a burden, fellas; it is a blessing. We are each uniquely qualified for membership in both the International and our local chapter. Not everyone can be one of us...and that includes others who honorably wear a badge and work the streets with us. We are a small, interesting, and unique minority within our profession: we are cops who own and ride motorcycles. We are cops who enjoy the freedom and adventure of two wheels. We are cops who feel comfortable sharing our riding time with other cops. And we are cops who made the decision -- and the commitment -- to become Blue Knights.

My fellow Knights, it is time for us to quit making excuses. It is time for us to quit forgetting or avoiding chapter activites. It is time for us to quit taking who and what we are for granted. It is time for us to get involved, to participate, and to shine as Blue Knights. We have a great thing going with this chapter of ours, lets start taking advantage of it!

I'm not preaching and I'm not scolding; I am speaking from the heart. Every member of this chapter is important to me, and you are each important to this chapter. What I wrote above is the sincere truth: I miss riding with the many of you have gone inactive. And I miss the fire and the magic that this chapter seemed to have in its early days. I want to recapture that sense of excitement and I want to share miles with you, my fellow Knights.

All that being said, it is also time for each and every one of us to work seriously to rebuild and to grow this chapter. We lost several members this year because they simply didn't renew. I have talked to a couple of them and encouraged them to rejoin the chapter. You can each help me to encourage them further. As I told them, Blue Knights is not about obligations, it is about relationships; the relationships that we build with kindred spirits who share not only our professional calling, but also our love of motorcycling.

Beyond recapturing lost members, we each need to do our level best to seek out and recruit new members so that our chapter can grow and be strengthened. The more members we have in our chapter, the more fun we have. The more members we have, the more good ideas we have to act upon. The more members we have, the more effective our chapter becomes. The more members we have, the better our own membership experience becomes.

Prospective Blue Knights are all around us. We meet and work with them on a daily basis. Why not start recruiting some of these people into our chapter? Let us all make it our personal goal to recruit two new members to the club. Just imagine what FL XXVII could be this time next year if we each brought in two new members!!!

Do your part to grow the club...I will certainly do mine!

Do your part to be an active member of FL XXVII...I will certainly do mine!

In closing, I remind you that this all started with my recommending that you watch a short video clip about being a Blue Knight. Well, here is the link to that video. Enjoy!

http://www.dailymotion.com/Danilyn/video/x4tt9o_bkbel1_creation

-- Ace

Indian River Ride

Six riders met in Plant City on February 16 for a ride to Indian River. After breakfast at Snellgroves we set off via I-4 as far as Celebration, then by back roads for Cocoa Beach, crossing the Indian River and Merritt Island en route. Shortly after hitting A1A we stopped for lunch at Lori Wilson Park. There we were treated to a spectacular view of the Atlantic Ocean, surfers, cruise ships, sail boats and various bits of beach candy. After lunch, we gave up the cool ocean breezes, mounted our bikes and headed out on A1A. The trip south treated us to occasional views of the Atlantic and the Indian River. While those views were greatly appreciated, there were far fewer of them than I had anticipated. A1A is almost completely built up with high rise hotels and condominiums that block the water vistas. After riding south to Ft. Pierce, we decided to head towards home. Turning north to Vero Beach, we picked up SR-60 for the ride home. Although the water views were not as frequent as we would have hoped, it was still a very enjoyable, 320 mile ride through the Florida countryside.

Gunny

Chapter Sales Items

The following chapter items are available from Jesse @ PCPD:

Plant City P.D. challenge coin ..... $10.00
Capsule for same .......................... $ 1.00
Challenge coin in lucite ................ $15.00
Plant City dog tag ......................... $ 7.00
Chapter XXVII dog tag ............... $ 7.00
Plant City P.D. key fob ................ $10.00

Small Blue Knights decals (inside & outside) are available from Gunny @ $0.50 each.

Club to Purchase Software

An emergency board meeting was held on September 26, 2007, for the purpose of considering the purchase of a copy of MS Publisher for the club's use in producing newsletters. McDaniel made the motion to purchase the software for a price not to exceed $150. Shultz seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. The software will be retained as a club asset and passed along to subsequent newsletter editors as the need arises.

Meeting Minutes - 09/20/2007

Meeting was called to order by Chapter President Bill McDaniel at 6:10 PM. The first order of business was to conduct the election of new club officers.  Following the counting of votes represented by nomination forms from members not in attendance, plus votes cast by those members attending the meeting, the following members were elected to offices within the club: President - Glenn Monroe; Vice-President - Jim Watkins; Secretary - Carl Lane; Treasurer - Bryan Bergau.

Treasurer's Report: Bergau reported that the club has a current bank balance of $1081.00, with another $127.27 in the petit cash fund, for a total balance of $1,208.27.

Bergau advised the Blue Knights coins as discussed previously could now be obtained at a 10% discount.  Discussion ensued on this matter.  It was understood that the purchase of these coins and any resulting sales of them would be a loss or break-even proposition for the club.  The coins would be procured and sold to members at cost as tokens  of club membership.  Additionally, surplus inventory of the coins could be used as a promotional item or exchange souvenir with other Blue Knights chapters at events and upcoming conferences.  The approximate cost of the coins will be $approximately $7 each and this would be the cost per coin for members to purchase them.  A motion was made by Bergau to purchase 100 coins of a design to be selected by him. Motion seconded by Lane.  Motion passed by unanimous vote.

Bergau advised that framed portraits sets will be promoted by the club in October.  He will mail out flyers advertising this service, as well as all other FL XXVII merchandise available for purchase.

McDaniel suggested that the club take over the annual blanket sale from PCPD as a potential fundraiser.  Support for this proposal was unanimous.  McDaniel will work with Bergau to make this happen.  The club will also investigate a Blue Knights version of the blankets for sale to club members.

Other Business:

McDaniel briefed newly elected Chapter President Glenn Monroe on some of the various issues he will need to make decision about, to include: signatures on club checks; the club's email account; the club's website (this blog); the monthly newsletter; and, the selection/election of a board of directors.  Discussion ensued and it was decided that McDaniel will rotate to the board as a director based upon his status as Immediate Past President.  Monroe will secure additional board members as necessary to the effective management of the club's business.  The total number of officers and directors shall be set at an odd number in accordance with International bylaws.

McDaniel advised that the club's upcoming Fall Leaf Ride is officially locked down with seven persons participating; four club members and three non-members.

Monroe - Discussed the upcoming club ride scheduled for this Saturday.

Meeting adjourned at 1910 hrs.  Dinner at First Choice BBQ followed.

Election Results - 09/20/2007

The results of the election for club officers held on Thursday, September 20, 2007, are as follows:

President - Glenn Monroe

Vice President - Jim Watkins

Secretary - Carl Lane

Treasurer - Bryan Bergau

Congratulations to these newly elected officers.  They will serve a two-year term that expires on 09/30/2009.

Nominations for Upcoming Elections are Due!

Everyone is encouraged to get their nomination forms turned in as soon as possible.  This is especially important if you are not planning to attend the club's regular business meeting this month.  The elections will be held at that meeting and nomination forms from absent members will serve as those members' votes.

Meeting Minutes - Regular Meeting of July 19, 2007

Treasurer's Report: Bergau advised the club's current checking account balance is $851.00. Another $110.00 in revenue from coin sales has been received, but is not yet deposited. Bergau advised that to date he has sold approximately 40 of the new dog tags. These sales are split at ~30 PCPD tags and ~10 Blue Knights tags.

Secretary's Report: McDaniel (filling in for secretary) reminded all members to regularly check the club's blog site for updates, news, and information. Also advised that efforts are ongoing to recover the club's records from Eric Daniel. This is an important effort as Daniel is in possession of all of the club's original records.

President's Report: McDaniel reported on the club ride that was undertaken last weekend. Participants met at the depot, had breakfast at Snellgrove's, and then rode to the Sunshine Skyway. All who participated cited this as an excellent ride. The club will do this ride again in the next few weeks and will make it a picnic event with all members, family members, and guests encouraged to participate.

McDaniel reminded all assembled that the club's regularly scheduled ride for this weekend falls on Sunday. Meeting place is the depot parking lot at 8 AM.

McDaniel advised all that the Blue Knights' Southern Regional Conference meeting will be hosted by FL XVII in May 2008. The conference will be held in Plant City at the Red Rose Inn. This is an excellent opportunity for all members of FL XXVII to attend a regional conference, meet and interact with other Blue Knights, etc. The conference is scheduled for May 1 - 4, 2008, so mark your calendars and make plans to attend as much of the conference activities as you can.

McDaniel reminded and encouraged all members to continue efforts to recruit new members for the club. FL XXVII is not exclusive to PCPD and we should actively promote the club and its benefits to qualified persons who are current or retired with other law enforcement agencies.

Other Business:

Monroe - Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation Ride is scheduled for 11/04/2007. McDaniel advised this has been discussed with members and this should be a club event.

Monroe - Experienced Riders Course is coming to St. Petersburg on 11/17/2007. Good opportunity for members to get some advance rider traininig close to home. Monroe provided copy of flyer, which McDaniel will make available to all members.

Monroe - The 2008 GWRRA Wing Ding has been confirmed for Greenville, SC, in July 2008.

Sims - Questions concerning the upcoming Fall Leaf Ride were asked and answered.

Meeting adjourned at 1830 hrs, followed by dinner at Snellgrove's Restaurant.

The Plant City Police Department's Traffic Management Unit is pictured in the Spring 2007 unit gallery of The Mounted Officer Magazine, a publication of the Harley-Davidson Corp.

Several members of FL XXVII are members of the PCPD Traffic Unit. They appear in the photograph in the following order from left to right: Chad Rader, Trent Eckard, Matt Combs, and Tommy Morris. The guy in the center is their non-member supervisor, Sergeant Dale Peterson.

Dashboard Video Of Franconia Officer, Shooter Deaths

A reminder to NEVER let down your guard on a stop.