Volume VII Issue XII

Trails End Minutes by Stan Viets

December 2008

Members attended our November 13th meeting, Danny Parker, Charlie Gibson, Rick Totty, Terry and MC Scott, Dan Randall, Melissa Atkins and children, Paul Romesburg, Tod and Cindy Beers, BJ Max, Jake Abrahams, Paul and Dian Talkington and Stan Viets. Welcome to our guest Lynn Meer. Visitors and guests are always welcome.

MTR lost a charter member and good friend, Hubert Gross on the 24th of November, Hubert has been sick for a long time but was keeping up with our MTR activities by email. Hubert insisted on paying his membership dues for 3 years, Betty Gross mailed a check just a week before he passed away. I called Betty and thanked her but wanted to void the check but she told me Hubert wanted to pay his dues for 3 years, this was one of his last requests, she said he appreciated all his MTR friends and enjoyed the times he was able to attend our meetings. Also Betty said his motorcycle and trailer shown on our Members Page has not yet been sold. God Speed Hubert, we will miss you.

Don Oller had surgery and both knees replaced on November 5th, He is up, getting around and recovering, hopes to be back riding soon.
Please continue to keep our ailing members and friends in your thoughts and prayers.
We have six January Birthdays: Dana Totty on the 3rd, Kim Pauley on the 7th, Dian Talkington on the 8th, Hildia Max on the 9th, Charlie Gibson on the 17th and Myron Coney on the 18th , Don Hester on the 31st. No January Anniversaries: As always our best wishes to all.
Our current bank balance to date $ 894.00.

If you need the MTR member page user name and pass word, please contact Eddie or me.

We do appreciate and thank all our sponsors for continuing their ads; we value their contribution and support. As always please visit our sponsors when you have need for their services or products.

Danny through his Life Church of Memphis located (2) needy and deserving families that MTR could help anonymously this year.
We gave each family a Wal*Mart gift certificate in the amount of $300. The certificates were distributed in early December.

Remember our MTR Christmas party (in lieu of our December meeting) Saturday, December 27th, at 6:00 PM, BJ has reserved a private dining room at Old Timers Restaurant in Millington. Additionally each person will bring a $10 gag or practical gift, your choice.

Dan is going to explain later a unique way to pass them out, thus a gender gift is not important. Details on the above mystery will follow later. As always visitors and guests are welcome and if you haven’t replied to BJ’s RSVP email yet, now is the time.

Here's a number worth putting in your cell phone, or your home phone speed dial: 1-800-goog-411. 1-800-4664-411 This is a service from Google, and it's free -- great when you are on the road. Don't waste your money on information calls and don't waste your time manually dialing the number.
Example: When driving and you need to call A Chinese Restaurant and don't know the number, hit the speed dial for 1 800 goog-411. The voice at the other end says, "City & State." Say, “Washington, DC." He says, "Business, Name or Type of Service." Say, China King Restaurant." He says "Connecting"
and China King Restaurant answers the phone. This is nationwide and it is a free service. It really works.

The WALL AMERICAN VETERANS TRAVELING TRIBUTE
The Vietnam Memorial Traveling Wall is an 80% size replica visual presentation; standing over 8’ tall and will be on display in the Marshall County
Court House Lawn, several MTR members made the ride to see it on November 29, 2008. Pictures and de-briefing is on the web site.

Quotation of the Month: The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money.………………………Margaret Thatcher

Thanks to all that brought door prizes, win one bring one.
This was our last regular meeting of 2008; our next regular meeting will be January 8, 2009 at Fox Ridge Pizza. Eat at 6:00 PM, Meet at 7:00 PM, gone by 8:00 PM.
Merry Christmas and a happy New Year to all.

Adjourned at 7:35 PM…………Stan

The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money.

Margaret Thatcher

Door Prizes
Win One Bring One
Donated by	Prize	Winner
Stan Rick Terry/MC Stan Terry/MC Dan Dan Dan Dan Paul/Dian Paul/Dian Paul/Dian Paul/Dian Paul/Dian Paul/Dian	Box of crackers Heated grips Candy dish Mouse pad Bath accessories Microfiber towels Ultra shine Towels/hand cleaner Towels/hand cleaner Gourmet taffies Gourmet taffies Gourmet taffies Motorcycle ornament Santa MC ornament Blue MC ornament	Jake Dan R. Danny Jake Jake Paul R. Danny Stan Rick Jake Dan R. Danny MC Dan R. Danny
50/50 Jackpot	$40.00	MC Scott

By Chris Flood

Published: December § 2008 11:591 Last updated: December 52008 18:28 Crude oil prices sank below the $42 a barrel level, a near-four year low, as commodity markets marked a new stage in their retreat, with US petrol prices falling below the $1 a gallon mark and copper dropping to the $3,000 a ton level.

The huge fall in US employment in November, announced, underlined fears that the world's biggest economy was beading for a deep recession and prompted renewed selling pressure across commodity markets. Nymex January West Texas Intermediate fell $2.86 to a low of$40.81 a barrel, its lowest level since January 2005, down 25.02 per cent this week.

No excuse not to ride now at 0/1 ... editor

Subject: teacher job duties

After being interviewed by the school administration, the teaching prospect said, "Let me see if I've got this right!" "You want me to " go into that room with all those- kids, correct their disruptive behavior, observe them for signs of abuse, monitor their dress habits, censor their T-shirt messages, and instill in them a love for learning. You want me to check their backpacks for weapons, wage war on drugs and sexually transmitted diseases, and raise their sense of self esteem and personal pride! You want me to teach them patriotism and good citizenship, sportsmanship and fair play, and how to register to vote, balance a checkbook, and apply for a job.
You want me to check their heads for lice, recognize signs of antisocial behavior, and make sure that they all pass the state exams. You also want me to provide them with an equal education regardless of their handicaps, and communicate regularly with their parents in English and Spanish by letter, telephone, newsletter, and report card. You want me to do all this with a piece of chalk, a blackboard, a bulletin board, a few books, a big smile, and a starting salary that qualifies me for food stamps!? You want me to do all this and then you tell me...

I CAN'T PRAY??????!"

Subject: Sears - Christmas shopping has already started

I know I needed this reminder since Sears isn't always my first choice. Amazing when you think of how long the war has lasted and they haven't withdrawn from their commitment. Could we each buy at least one thing at Sears this year? How does Sears treat its employees who are called upon for military duty? By law, they are required to hold their jobs open and available, but nothing more. Usually, people take a big pay cut and lose benefits as a result of being called up. Sears is voluntarily
paying the difference in salaries and maintaining all benefits, including medical insurance and bonus programs, for all called up reservist employees for up to two years. I submit that Sears is an exemplary corporate citizen and should be recognized for its contribution. I suggest we all shop at Sears, and be sure to find a manager to tell them why we are there so the company gets the positive reinforcement it well deserves. Pass it on.

Feeds a family of four for Christmas