VISALIA STAR CHAPTER 163
5/29/2010
I had the pleasure recently of meeting with several members of the Visalia chapter of the STAR Touring & Riding Association. The chapter was well represented at the get together hosted by Ryan and Teresa Duerksen, who are the Central California State Directors. Also in attendance at the informal sit-down were chapter president Michael Chapman and his wife Jackie; Vice-president Ray Callahan; Ladies Of Star rep Carol Fina, who started riding at almost 60 years old; and the group’s sergeant at arms Dwayne Barton. The local Visalia chapter, who are supported by D&E Yamaha of Visalia, was organized in 2001 by Colleen Meyer, who was the area coordinator for the chapter in its initial years. Ryan, who was president several years later, praised Coleen’s hard work and conceded she was a tough act to follow.
The association itself was conceived in 1995 and founded in 1996. According to their website, www.startouring.org, it is the “Official Riding Organization of Star Motorcycles.” It defines itself as a non-political, non-confrontational association. Its main focus is on family, fun, camaraderie and RIDING. Having a wide mix of members with varied riding experiences and all brands of motorcycles being welcome, the organization recognizes safety as a first priority. Chapter rides follow all highway laws and speed limits in order to keep riders as safe as possible. This policy allows everyone to enjoy the rides and allows new riders to come along without the stress of “keeping up.” STAR chapter rides don’t include tavern runs and prohibits alcohol consumption. They want to see everybody back safely for the next ride. It is a family-friendly atmosphere, ripe with pride, passion, and camaraderie. But without the “attitude” of other groups. Since the association’s founding almost 15 years ago, it has grown to over 285 chapters with over 65,000 members worldwide.
The organization has several other branch organizations under its umbrella. They include Ladies of STAR (LOS), whose purpose is to unite women motorcyclists within the association whether they be operators, passengers, or enthusiasts, to encourage more women to participate, and to promote a positive Image of women riders. STAR VETS, founded in 2001 to honor and commemorate “the sacrifices of the men and women who have served or are currently serving their country. The TIN STAR organization was formed to identify a team of volunteers professionally trained as a first responder to help in a time of need. Whether it be an accident, simply a breakdown and you’re stranded on the side of the road, or any other type of situation where help is required, these volunteers can be called on to take control of the situation until emergency services arrive. STAR KiDs/STAR TEENS was formed to compliment the family aspect of the STAR Touring & Riding Association. As a member of STAR, family membership is included for up to 4 STAR KiDS (ages 1 – 12 years old) or 4 STAR TEENS (13 – 18 years old). With events designed for their specific age groups, this branch of the organization is helping to shape the future generation of motorcycle riders.
The STAR Touring & Riding Association is also an international sponsor of the Feed the Children organization. Throughout the year, the association, dealers, and chapters provide donations to food banks throughout the world. They provide semi trailers stocked with food that are then distributed by local members to food banks, as well as various independent and state agencies to families in need.
The Visalia chapter members proudly list other charities they are involved with. Each year, they organize a local canned food drive at Thanksgiving. For four years now, they have been involved with the annual Teddy Bear run, which provides teddy bears and stuffed animals the emergency first-responders use to comfort traumatized children. Ryan recalls that the first year, they were able to put together 2 boxes of teddy bears. The second year, they increased the total to over 700. By the third year, with the support of local schools, they amassed over 1500 bears that were distributed to various local law-enforcement agencies, fire departments and other groups often responsible as first responders for providing critical care. Ray and Dwayne then bring up another STAR project here in the valley. Each year, several valley STAR chapters gather in Merced to support active-duty servicemen and women in deployment, as well as VA Hospital patients by donating simple items like toothbrushes, magazines, and DVDs to help ease the strain of their often isolated assignments or hospitalizations. Carol and Teresa also mention the chapters involvement with another local club, the Lost Girls, in promoting the local annual Breast Cancer Run. It is this kind of community involvement that got the chapter invited to form the “tunnel” for the Lindsay High School Football team’s entrance onto the field during the school’s annual homecoming game.
In talking with the group, a common theme quickly emerges. Simply put…it was FAMILY. As Carol put it, “If we get a phone call, we’re there.” Example after example was given about members stepping up and helping out when someone needed their help. Ryan told of a chapter member from Modesto who had suddenly passed away. STAR chapters throughout the valley pulled together and donated a substantial amount of money to help get the member’s family back on their feet. Ryan spoke about his sister-in-law, whose family went through a very tough time that included an accidental prescription overdose; her husband suffering a heart attack; then tragically, her husband’s sister was found murdered in Fresno. With burial plans delayed due to the ongoing police investigation, and family coming in from all over the country, the family lacked the means to handle large influx of kin. The call went out, and within a few days, 2 carloads of blankets and supplies were delivered to the family.
Carol recalled how a couple of weeks earlier, she had put out a call. Her daughter had received custody of her grandchildren and needed help. By that afternoon, she had clothes, bedding, beds, etc. “That’s just the way this family is,” says Carol, “if somebody calls, we try to be right there.” In another case, a member of the chapter discovered the house they had been renting had been foreclosed months earlier as the landlord continued to collect rent payments. The bank informed him that he and his family had hours to move out before the house’s locks were going to be changed. In no time, 2 trucks and a SUV were on the job, moving their belongings to storage as they made housing arrangements. “You really find out who your friends are!” said the STAR chapter member.
Ryan says that on every run they’ve been on, they’ve never left someone behind. “Everybody gets home together,” he emphasizes. Dwayne and Ryan joke that they are starting to call themselves “Rescue 51,” referring to a recent run to Monterey. Dwayne had just gotten home when his phone rings. Chapter president Michael Chapman was having electrical issues with his bike, and had lost his headlights. Ryan just happened to show up at Dwayne’s house at the same time to haul some items for another fundraising project to a storage facility. “We hop into the pick-up, swing by D & E to borrow a ramp and some tie-downs, and off we go! We got to Casa De Fruta about 10:30 at night and load the bike up,” recalls Dwayne. “We’re expecting to find a bunch of upset bikers,” Ryan adds, “But everyone was having a good-old time!”
“And, it’s not just chapter members we help out.” says Dwayne. “One time, a friend from Tulare, who was in southern California at the time, calls me and she’s just in a panic,” says Dwayne. “Her son had been side-swiped in Tulare, and fortunately hadn’t been seriously injured, but being out of town, she didn’t know what to do. We tell her not to worry, and we headed over and got the bike. We just look out for each other,” he says, “The association has an internal support system called STAR Family Foundation, which is basically association members helping members” In her usual understated manner, Carol says “It’s just nice to be in this family.”
As we conclude our conversation and start to leave, there’s some of the typical joking and ribbing that goes with a group of good friends (seems no matter how hard he tries, Dwayne can’t catch Carol’s odometer). But, as we begin to part, the tight-knit fabric of this group is further evidenced. There’s some handshakes, but mostly hugs. And besides their closeness, they share the common bond of what they enjoy to do most – RIDE. I have to mention that every event I have been to this year, there are riders from this chapter that are there. It has allowed me to get to know them better and form new friendships. It has also given me the opportunity to appreciate even more the camaraderie they enjoy and the good works that they and the other STAR chapters do here in the valley. Keep up the good work STAR riders, and of course, keep riding!
PHOTO GALLERY
NOTE: For more information on the STAR Touring & Riding Association, visit www.startouring.org. For more information on Visalia STAR Chapter 163 or if you are possibly interested in joining a chapter near you, visit www.star163.org or you can e-mail centralcastatedirector@startouring.org.
