Free at Last
Party
To all those involved in the Free at Last party held for me back on
March 24th. Thank you for your presence, your concern and
your friendship .I had a great time and truly would like to thank my
bro Jerry Cooch, Teresa, Barb, Rick, Ellen, Pat, Mona and anyone
whom I might have missed that assisted them .You know who you are. I
love you all and also those that attended for making it a memorable
day in my life. Recently told to me while at a Jeeping event in
Utah. What we do today is important, because we are exchanging it
for a day of life for it. So make sure that you take care of
yourself first and enjoy what you do with your life. Jobs are a just
a part of life, but when all is said and donejobs are just a small
part of it. Your caring about our family, friends and what we do in
our life is indeed what counts. You made me feel as I always have
that our family (the motorcycling community) our relatives and
friends are indeed what life is all about and most important.
Everything is OK and summer is here. We do enjoy riding our
motorcycles so lets go and do it. So God Bless you all.
But a couple of
other TFT tid bits before the Motorcycle Riding Cheat Sheet
listing for the months of May / June and July.
Ray Moose Mussato TFT
member #735
Sadly
Ray Moose Mussato TFT member #735 lost his battle with cancer
back on March 14, 2007. Our condolences to his wife Joyce and all of
his family. Thank you to all the TFT members who attended his
services, as he indeed was one whom defines what volunteerism means.
He will be deeply missed for his smile, harmonica playing,
collectible participation and hustling of bike raffle tickets. He
had suffered quite a bit the last few months but always smiled when
TFT friends were around him in his last days. Currently a memorial
patch is being worked on via Arturo. They should be available at the
Kick Off Party in September. Moose will also be our first memorial
Honoree for this years Parade. We know his smile and spirit will
always be with us and especially for our 30th this year.
As stated at his services loving in all his ways, a nature you
could not help loving, a heart purer than gold, to all those who
knew him, his memory will never grow cold. Godspeed to Moose
and his family and May he forever rest in peace.
The
Stempiens VFW Post
A
rumor that is not a rumor. Our Headquarters of many years aka The
Stempiens VFW Post is being offered for sale. They will be hosting
us through the end of this year. If anybody has any ideas or
suggestions for a new headquarters location please leave your
suggestions on our Hot Line or via our web site or simply advise any
of our current officers.
TFT
cheat sheet of some of the events and rides
Here
is a TFT cheat sheet of some of the events and rides we are indeed
involved with and we encouraged member participation for the next
few months to get your tires burning at least through Sturgis in
August. We know you can not make them all but we do encouraged you
to try to make some of these, as they all are important in aiding or
somehow assisting our motorcycling community and it friends. There
are also some new rides for this summer. So takes note of the
First Medinah Motor Corps Annual Flag Day run on June 10th
and the First Girls Gone Riding Charity scheduled for June 23
this year. In July will send out a cheat sheet for August /
September / October riding.
BENEFIT! BENEFIT! BENEFIT!
FOR DEAR FRIEND SAL D'ANCA MAY 5TH,
2007.
May 5th
Sal's Benefit Saturday. Before
the rides we do have a benefit this coming week for Sal D'Anca. band
member extraordinaire in the Tony Rome and the Wanderers. For many
years they have performed for both Toys for Tots and the Illinois
Motorcycle Freedom Run for gratis. Sal has been stricken with cancer
and the prognosis is not that good. So this week is the last pitch
for one and all to try to attend his benefit to aid the financial
burden his family is facing. The benefit will be this Saturday May 5th,
2007 at Harry Sports Bar and Grill. Located at 9901 W. 55th
Street in Countryside, Illinois. Doors open at 5:00 pm. to midnight.
There will be entertainment, raffles / silent and live auctions.
Tickets in advance our $10.00 and $15.00 at the door. Lets help
someone who has always been there to entertain us via his musical
talents with Tony Rome and the Wanderers for year. A few prayers
might also help as he has been having a tough go of it. For more
information or advance tickets contact Debbie at: 708-299-0353 or
Cooch at: 773-255-2822.
May
5th-Saturday Polish Constitution Parade
WE
NEED TFT PRESENCE HERE. at
this parade via our motorcycles. We have been participating in this
parade for quite a few years via George Goras networking for us.
This is one of Chicago Largest Parades and is always a lot of fun.
It is a short parade about a = mile along Columbus Drive by Grant
Park. Our TFT History has a bit of influential officers being
Polish. Our founder Ed Aminal Wisniewski and a few presidents
since happened to be of Polish ancestry. Anyways we are hoping for a
large turnout this year as this is great Chicago event and thousands
show up to this parade every year. We are planning to have all our
characters there, Biker Bear, Flakey and Whiplash .So if someone
has a ragtop jeep or convertible available .we could use your
vehicle for them to ride in. Just leave a message at 773-255 2822 if
you can chauffer them. If you plan on attending will be meeting at
Green Acres on Archer Road in Summit. Otherwise you can meet us near
Roosevelt and Balboa near the Parade start. The Parade kick offs at
noon, staging is at 10:30. We plan to leave the restaurant at 10:00
am. Be there earlier if you would like breakfast. This summertime
parade is always a lot of fun. Decorate with Red and White and of
course TFT stuff.
May 5th Saturday. Run for
the Sun sponsored by the CMA
We
have lot of CMA members; so if not attending the Polish Parade try
to make this ride. First bikes are out at Noon. Fees are $15 for
singles and $20 for doubles. Registration is at 10 am at the United
Methodist Church, 339 W. Haven, Ave., in New Lenox, Ill. It will end
at the United Methodist Church at 144th West Ave. in
Orland Park for a spaghetti dinner and raffles. For more info: call
815-351-5631 or visit
www.christianeagles4u@yahoo.com
May
6th _ Sunday. Car Show.
Bill Wildt From Motorsport Unlimited Telecast
He
will be taping a car event in La Salle, Illinois for a large
automotive mail order company? It is their Spring Car Show. They
also have motorcycle classes for trophies. It is from noon until
4:00 pm. A few us have attended this previously. This is usually our
first TV appearance for our TFT campaign for the New Year. So if
anyone would like to attend this event will be departing from Green
Acres restaurant in Summit about 10:30 am to promo our 30th
Anniversary for TV. All entrants are free if registered before noon.
First 200 receive car show dash plaques.
May 6th Sunday. Poker
Run
(in lieu of TFT Member #1400 Dale
Branskes Bachelor Party). It will start at noon at the Third Down
Sports Bar at 4839 S. Central in Stickney. Both men and women riders
are welcome for this Poker Run Bachelor Party being held for this
TFT member .It will about a 130 mile ride with the first stop being
at Fat Daddys in Seneca not faraway form the car show in La
Sallecannot advise any other Poker run stops. $5 per person with all
the proceeds being donated to the following charities: Toys for
Tots/ Illinois Motorcycle Freedom Run and MS .So have some fun, food
and prizes and give him your regrets I mean best wishes for his new
commitment. Good Luck Dale!
May 6Th Sunday . Reds
Motorcycle Swap Meet
Lots of vendors and
parts to buy and a nice ride. .Held at the Will County Fairgrounds
in Peotone. Located one mile east of Peotone exit marker off Highway
I-57.
May 19th Saturday. Our
Second Annual TFT SWAPARAMA
We are having another swap meet. We
once again will be selling anything anyone would like to donate to
us. So it is a great way to clean out your house and garages for the
summer. We also will be selling whatever we can in old TFT product
that day. Including some of our old posters and stickers for your
home dicor. So if you have any junk you can either donate it or rent
a table for a small fee ($5.00), but once again the catch is to
donate = of your profits if you feel you can to our organization.
There will be an early bird for members and once again we will have
remaining members only product for sell. The early bird will be from
10AM until Noon. From Noon until 7 PM?all TFT and swap meet items
will be available to the general public. So once again tell all your
friends, as you never know what kind of valuables you might find. So
stop by and have some fun, there might be some light entertainment
inside, along with some auctioned items and door prizes for
attendees throughout the day. Another nice reason to get together
this summer. See you there.
May 19th. Saturday .
Chicago Abate Spring Fling
Noon until 6 pm at Labagh Woods near
Cicero and Foster Avenues. Enter on Cicero one block north of
Foster. Everyone is welcome. Adult admission is $15 in advance, $20
at the gate. There will be games and a bike show. Live music and
raffle prizes. For more information call Andy at: 773-206-1956 or
visit Chicago Abates website at:
www.ChicagoAbate.org
May 20Th Sunday .
The 20th Annual Little Angels Pledge Ride
Sponsored by the Elgin Area
Organization of HOG, Ride starts at Woodstock Harley Davidson.
Registration is from 10 am until Noon. First bikes go out at
10:30am. This ride benefits the Little Angels facility in Elgin.
Assisting children and young adults with severe disabilities. Little
Joe got us involved in this many years ago. For more information you
may call: 847-741-1609 or visit their Web-site at :
www.LittleAngels.com
May 20th - Sunday. Park
Lawns 10th Annual
Spring Tour and Anniversary Parade
2007.Registration: 9:00 am at Oak Lawn Harley Davidson, 11040 S.
Cicero. First bikes out at: 10:00, last bikes out at 10:30 am .If
you cannot make registration you can meet up at the Anniversary
Parade at Good Time Charlies, 330 W. North St, in Manhattan.
Registration: 1:30 pm with Bikes departing at 2:30 the Post Run
Party. $15.00 for rider and $10.00 for passenger includes: raffles /
door prizes / Bike Show / Run pin to first 800 riders /
entertainment and food. For more information: call 708-425-6867 or
visit:
www.parklawn.com
June 9th - Saturday.
Fifth Annual Green Ribbon Motorcycle Ride and Rally
This is our fifth year as a sponsor to
raise money and awareness for gastro intestinal liver diseases. Once
again the rally site will be the Kendall County Fair Grounds located
at Rt. 71 & Eat High Point Road in Yorkville. 1 mile west of RT. 47.
The Poker runs will start at Illinois Harley and Wild Fire Harley.
There will be live music, food, beverages and live auctions and a
custom bike Show .The popular band Five Guys Name Moe will be back
again along with their Celebrity Guest George Wendt formally aka
Norm from Cheers. Also note once again they will be raffling a
Harley Davidson motorcycle that day. It is a 2007 FXDL Low rider and
tickets are $10.00. Drawing will be held at 3:00 pm. For more info
you can also call: 866-842-2003 or visit their web at:
www.greenribbonrally.org.
June 10th -Sunday. The
First Annual Medinah Motor Corps Flag Day Run
It begins at 8:30 am at the Medinah
Shrine Center in Addison, Illinois. Located at I-355 and Army Trail
Road. Bikes will depart in small groups through out the morning from
10 am until 11:30 am. This ride will benefit them in the many
benevolent things that they do. They have been know to motorcade in
with Santa Claus to aid our parade for many years . For more info
e-mail
fdr@medinahmotorcorps.org
June 16th _ Saturday.
Illinois 5TH Anniversary Motorcycle Freedom Run
Line up starts at 8:00 am and run
departs at 10:00 am from Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Illinois.
As you should know by now this has become a major event in the
summer time. Last years motorcades had nearly 30,000. They need more
help. If you have not volunteered please do so. Their meetings are
the first Tuesday of the month at the VFW post located at west of 63rd
and Harlem. The one famous for their fish frys on Friday. Once
again there will be a very emotional service at the Middle East
Conflict Wall Memorial in Marseilles, Ill. .It truly honors the
lives lost that had served our country, which is the heart of what
they do to forever remember those serving our country. Afterwards
the town again will host a memorial service celebration to raise
awareness and funds to assist their movement to support our troops.
The celebration afterwards will be featuring JACKYL at 9 :00 PM
along with other main stage performers starting at 3 pm among them:
Ronnie Baker Brooks, country artist Tresa Street and Evil Weasels
and Ground Control. . For more information visit their website at: www.ilfreedomrun.org
June 23th -Saturday.Third
Annual; Museum Awareness Run
As you know a couple of our members are
involved with this Mario Arroyo and Glenn Barrera.So lets try to
make this event to aid those that aid us. Also indeed it honors
those that have serve our country. Noon departure locations:
Illinois Harley Davidson, Windwalkers Motorcycles of Naperville, and
Brat Stop in Kenosha, Wisc. They are also working on a location
currently in Calumet City. Riders $15 per person and $5.00 each
passenger, .Non riders are $15 per person and may attend beginning
at Noon. Presented by Viet Nam Vets M/C Second Brigade. There will
be food, beverages, entertainment and prizes available. For more
information, call: 312-326-0270 or visit,
www.nvvam.org.
June 23rd
Saturday. The
First Annual Girls Gone Riding for Charity
Women Riders Wanted and a few
good men (Kidding). Men are welcome also.
This motorcycle ride will feature a starting line up of women
riders. Guest Celebrity leading the motorcade will be former Chicago
Bear Shaun Gayle. Proceeds from the ride will benefit the Chicago
Abused Womens Coalition and their children. The ride will leave
Soldiers Field around 10:30 am and head north on 41 and ending up at
Woodstock Harley Davidson for a party to celebrate the ride. Tickets
are $20 per rider and organizations with 10 members or more will get
a $5.00 discount per member. Presidents and directors / officers of
MC organizations will be able to ride free if they wear their
colors. For more information you may contact Brawin at: 312-953-0906
or visit their web-site at:
www.brawin.com or:
www.cawc.org
July 14th Saturday. The
28th Annual Midnight Tour
Departs Maryville Academy at the corner
of Central and river Road in De Plaines. Sponsored by the Jersey
Pine Cruisers registration is from 5 pm until 10:30 pm. It is $10
.00 per person and $5:00 per passenger. This is an oldie but a
goodie. It has become the midwest's largest and most unusual road
tour. All proceeds benefit Maryville Academy. For more information
call: 847-427-9890.
July 14Th Saturday .
Big Bikes helping Little Tykes
This pledge
motorcycle run goes to Lake Geneva. It is about 130 miles one-way.
It started with Kevin O'Meara a few years back you all know he was
major volunteer in the MS UGLY Run for years. Registration start at
8:00 am at Dukes Italian Beef located at 81st and Harlem.
Depart time is schedule for about 10:00 am. For more info flyer are
available at both Oak Lawn Harley Davidson and Dukes. You may also
call: 708-599-0576 or visit their web-site at: info@littletykerun.com
July
15th Sunday. Ride for Kids
Starts
at Allstate Insurance at 51 W. Higgins Rd. South Barrington, Ill
60010. Registration opens at 7 am and closes at 9:15. Free coffee
and donuts and a light lunch Generally our friend (TFT member Phil
Dustin # 590) needs us to assist him with some for road blocking
that day. If you are interested we will meet at the Green Acres in
Summit across from Summit Park for breakfast at 6 am with a
departure at 6:30 am .For more info on this great cause which aids
pediatric brain tumor research you may call: 800-253-6530 or go to
their web at:
www.rideforkids.org You may also contact Phil Dustin at:
847-875-6699
July
20 21st Saturday . The 21St Annual South
Suburban Helmet Roast
Saturday
the 21st being the main event. This Abate function has
been going on for years. Once again it will be held at the Glenwood
Resort located in Marseilles Illinois. It is a great time to learn
about what Abate is all about and to have a good old time doing so
with some adult like fun. Especially as the entertainment besides
the music can be a bit underdressed for both the men and women. They
also have a bike show / music entertainment and field events for
prizes. This event assists them in funding them to maintain our
motorcycle freedoms .For more information visit them at:
www.ssabate.org
July
21st Saturday.The Second Annual Poker Run for Toys for
Tots in Memory of Garrett Wilking
Departure
is at 12 pm at Rt. 5 North Bar in Manteno. Sign ups are from 10am
12pm. This ride is very honorable due to Garret commitments to make
our ride form Chebanse, Ill. Last year they contributed $7500 from
this event to us. We gave half back to them to do good deeds in
honor of Garret in their communities. We like to see more TFT
members attend this. They had tons of door prizes and participants
were truly there for the right reason to honor Garrets giving. All
modes of transportation are welcome. Tickets are $ 10 per person,
$15 per couple in advance. $15 per person, $20 per couple at the
doors. Bring a toy for the ride. Toy donations will be given to the
Kankakee County Toys for Tots .Try to make this one remember Garret
did not use inclement weather as an excuse for us. He rode in for
out Toy ride from Chebanse,Ill nearly 50 miles to assist us. For
more information call: Brenda: 815-468-8058 or Dave 815-693-9311.
July
28th Saturday. Hogs for Hope
Ride
with the Oak Lawn Harley Chapter from Oak Lawn Harley Davidson at
1:30 pm.. The rides end up at CC Groves for the after party which
will starts at about 3:00pm. $15.00 admission includes food,
beverages and music. All proceeds go to the Hope Childrens
Hospitals for their Ronald McDonalds House. As you know many of our
members are from the Oak Lawn Hog Chapter and they are involved in
raising funds to help children. So this is right up our alley. So
try to make this one if you can as they have been helping us for
many years. For more info call Oak Lawn Harley at :708-423-9005 or
their Hog secretary Wanda Nielsen at :708-301-5280
July
29 th- Sunday . Mixed Nuts Ride
This
Ride aids the Shadys Oaks Facility out south and was started a few
years back. Currently information is to follow but it is a great
charitable cause and we will put on our calendar of events when we
have all the details. But at least you can mark your calendar, as
the 29th looks a bit open.
So hoping to see you on the road soon at
a few of the above rides or events,
Keep the rubber side down and assist
those in need, especially our motorcycling friends that help us.
Sincerely ,
Robert "Cooch" Kuczera
President Toys for Tots Motorcycle Parade
