Each New Year, we all take a moment to reflect on the year that has just past, and think about what’s ahead for the year to come.

For those of us, Segway Enthusiasts Group America Members, 2005 was quite a full year! SEG America Members enjoyed their machines for more than just basic transportation; they continued to form Local Segway Enthusiast Groups to share their interests. Local SEG’s have set up group glides, participated in parades, and formed Segway sports teams, like Segway Polo.

With three SegwayFests around the country, Sacramento California, Manchester New Hampshire, and Washington DC, members got together to celebrate their passion, the Segway HT! And SEG America’s election this past summer got members more involved in the national organization, not only running for office, but offering to help steer the group into the future.

The Segway Corporation, who paid for a one year SEG America membership for all who bought new machines this year, has helped SEG America in 2005. Segway sent top-notch employees to participate in each of the three SegwayFests in 2005, offering members an up-close and personal relationship with the manufacturer, which has become an important part of the Segway ownership experience. SEG America is very grateful to the Segway Corporation for its continuing help and support of this organization and it’s membership.

A special thank you goes out to each Segway employee for his or her participation in SEG America in 2005.

In 2005, gliders have found themselves no longer the loner group they were just a few years ago. Segway dealerships and tour operators are now found in just about every major city, showing that Segway related businesses have an important niche in the community. With plenty of new models, and a growing used HT market, Segways are starting to show up “in the wild” all the time and in some of the most unexpected places.

So with 2006 ahead of us, what can we expect?

Formalization of SEG America with official By-Laws, The Seg America By-Law Committee has been hard at work writing a set of workable by-laws that this group can grow with. By-laws will be presented to the membership early in the 2nd quarter of 2006 for a vote.

An exciting SegwayFest for 2006 is already in the planning phase. Work has begun on identifying a location for Segway owners to gather to celebrate the Segway. Though 2006 will be a “one fesT year,” SegwayFest ‘06 will be a great one, bringing together gliders from all over the world for one heck of a tremendous party!

SEG America will continue to work helping local groups develop and formalize themselves in 2006. With active local groups, there will be more things for gliders to do in their home territory. Segway sports teams, like SEG Polo, are sprouting up, and competing all over the globe. Local groups are planning and participating in a lot of events, like community parades, environmental demos, Segway sports and social activities that take advantage of using the Segway HT. No matter what the reason for gathering, gliding with a group is a lot of fun, and you will want to share it with other Segway HT owners.

In 2006 make a decision to attend a local glide, start a local group, play some Segway Polo, attend SegwayFest ‘06, and take part in SEG America, by being an active member of this community of gliders. The best way for you to be apart of that is to use your SEG America membership to it’s fullest; get active at the local level. If you do not have a local Segway Enthusiasts Group in your area, start one! If you want to be more involved on a national basis, the 2006 SEG America elections are only eight months away, think about helping lead and direct SEG America for the future, by running for national office in 2006.

2006 will be a banner year for Segway owners and enthusiasts, with fun events to attend and interesting people to meet.

In 2006, make it a point to, Enjoy The Glide!

Will W. Hopper, President,
Segway Enthusiasts Group America
12/29/2005

SEG America is looking at a variety of options for SegwayFest 2006. Would your SEG, town or Segway related business like to be a host to Segway owners and Enthusiasts in 2006?

SEG America is asking for proposals to host SegwayFest 2006, and for SEG America members to review those proposals.

SegwayFest is the largest gathering of Segway owners and enthusiasts each year. For 2005 SegwayFest attracted a wide number of SEG America members from the world over to three SegwayFests. Each time a SegwayFest is held, it is a great way for a local SEG to bring the benefits of the Segway to their home town, not to mention show off their turf to other gliders.

Are Your Ready For A SEGWAYFEST?

Is Your Town Segway Friendly?

Do You Have Interesting Ideas That Would Excite Segway Owners & Enthusiasts?

Is Gliding FUN Where You Are?

If you can answer YES to any of these questions, put together a breif proposal for your town/city/community/business to host a SegwayFest. And send it to President@SEGAmerica.org

SegwayFest 2006 will be one of the best!

Send a one page proposal to President@SEGAmerica.org on what your town and SEG or business can do to host a SegwayFest. And in 2006 you may be the Most Segway Friendly Place In America!

Please submit proposals by December 31 2005 to President@SEGAmerica.org

If you have any questions on hosting SegwayFest 2006, please contact SEGAmerica!

By Donating your Segway to the Segs4Vets program of Draft - Disablity Advocates For Technology (www.DRAFT.cc) you can help an Americian Veteran of the Iraq war who has lost their mobility, regain it.

It’s a great time to buy a new Segway product, with all the colors and options available now, and even a better time to help a returning soldier who has lost a leg. DRAFT’s Segs4Vets Program needs both new and refurbished Segways to meet its goal.

This September, just before the SEG America’s SegwayFest DC event, DRAFT awarded Segway HT I-180’s to Three veterns at the United States Capitol Building. Hilbert Caesar, Keith Davis, and Kevin Pannell wounded in battle while serving in Iraq resulting in the amputation of their leg, and in Pannell’s case both legs found that with the Segway HT they could resume much of their mobility.

If you make the donation before New Years Eve you’ll not only be changing the life of one of our Segs4Vets honorees or other worthwhile disabled recipients, but you’ll also be entitled to a charitable deduction for your 2005 Federal Income Taxes!

If you would like to donate money or a Segway to DRAFT contact us either by e-mail; gkerr@draft.cc or by telephone; 314-965-4938. We’ll ship you a Segway shipping box with the packing materials inside and a prepaid label for the return shipping. Simply disassemble your Segway, repackage it in the provided box and ship it off to DRAFT.

If your Segway has mechanical problems let us know because we may need to ship it to Segway Inc. in Bedford, New Hampshire for repairs instead of to St. Louis. Once we receive your Segway we will perform any necessary refurbishment to it prior to placing it into adoption.

DRAFT will also let you know where your Segway has been placed. We’ll let you know who the recipient of your Segway was, and on our web site we’ll profile our recipients and our donors. DRAFT will always respect the privacy of our donors and will honor any donor’s request to remain anonymous.

DRAFT www.draft.cc
Championing Universally Designed Technology Solutions

This SEG America posting is a courtesy to the fine folks at DRAFT