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AUSTRALIA
WIMA Australia, PO Box 172, Ingle Farm, SA 5098
email: aus@wima.org.au
Website: http://www.wima.org.au
Australia was there at the beginning - Hazel Mayes of Sydney,
was invited by WIMA founder Louise Scherbyn to become the first international
member of WIMA. Hazel owned a BSA but was well known in central Sydney
as the pilot of the Harley 'buntruck' provided by her employer. Very little
is known about WIMA from the mid-fifties until it seems to have faded
away in the late sixties or early seventies. In 1985 WIMA Australia was
reborn in Adelaide, under the leadership of Linda Bootherstone. Now in
2000, WIMA Australia has 360 members. The National President and Committee
are elected at the Annual Rally. Responsibility for the national organisation
and newsletter moves to a new state every second year. All states have
an active local network which can include meetings, rides, track and training
days, advertised in state newsletters. Membership subscriptions are paid
to the national body, but 25% is sent back to the state groups to help
organise local activities. The WIMA Worldwide 2000 rally, celebrating
the 50th birthday of WIMA was held at Kiama south of Sydney at which Hazel
Mayes was an honoured guest.
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AUSTRIA
email: info@wimaworld.com
Website: http://www.members.a1.net/wima-austria
The first rally held in Austria was in 1969. WIMA Austria was re-founded
in 1996, though a very successful international rally was held here in 1993.
There are around 15 members who meet monthly and organise trips and trials
training.
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BELGIUM
email:iris_trui@yahoo.com
NL : Wij kozen ervoor om niet 3- of 4-talig te publiceren
op deze website, maar ééntalig Engels, in de veronderstelling
dat wie op het Web surft, voldoende Engels begrijpt. Nederlandstalige
informatie is echter wel beschikbaar op het kontaktadres voor WIMA/BAM-Belgium.
FR : Nous avons choisi de ne pas publier en 3 ou 4 langues, mais
en Anglais uniquement, en supposant que celles qui surfent sur le Web,
comprennent suffisamment l'Anglais. Par contre, notre information est
bien disponible en Français par l'adresse de contacte WIMA/BAM-Belgium.
D : Wir wollten bei unseren Texten die Übersetzung
in 3 oder 4 Sprachen vermeiden und haben deshalb beschlossen sie auf englisch
zu veröffentlichen, in der Annahme, dass WebbenutzerInnen ausreichend
des Englischen mächtig sind. Informationen auf niederländisch
und französisch findet ihr jedoch unter der Kontaktadresse von WIMA/BAM-Belgien.
The Belgian devision of WIMA originated as BAM (Belgian Amazon Motorclub)
after the very first motorbiker's run organized exclusively for women
in 1992: the first Amazon Run, launched by some women riders "who were
curious to find out how many more women were riding bikes". After this
tremendous success having more then 200 women showing up and amid large
media coverage, the organizers decided to found a women's bikers club
with regular meetings, rides, evenings and weekends. In 1995 more and
more contacts were made with foreign clubs. At the beginning of 1997 we
applied to become the Belgian WIMA division, aiming at extending these
very interesting international contacts. This way, we are now WIMA/BAM-Belgium
with an enthusiastic, solid core who rides out together often, and keeps
a club alive who already encouraged many women to ride themselves and
stimulated their passion for motorbikes.
Our aims
are quite simple : encouraging motorbiking amongst women. We welcome
all women with an interest in motorbikes: riders, pillions and other enthusiasts.
Our members : Women of varying ages and backgrounds, with a lot,
a little or hardly any motorbiking experience, riding (or not) on the
most diverse motorbikes.
Events : Please contact us for details. From February till October,
we ride out at least once a month. One or two weekends, an Opening and
a Closing Dinner or Event, and other special activities such as a mechanic
introduction day are also organized.
Becoming
a member, you will receive :
- an agenda at regular intervals, with dates and locations of rides, weekends
and evenings, and other activities;
- the possibility to participate in the "International WIMA Rally", an
extremely interesting international meeting lasting one week. The "International
WIMA Rally" is each year organized by and within another WIMA-country;
- a group of women friends of varying ages and backgrounds, with a lot,
a little or hardly any motorbiking experience, riding (or not) on the
most diverse motorbikes. Some are always there, some come every once and
now again. Some are members of other clubs, others are not. Some ride
the year round, some are nice-weather-riders. Some like to race, others
prefer to wander, and most are somewhere in between. And this might be
one of the MAIN differences between a women's motorbiking club and other
motorbiking clubs : the huge variety of people and bikes !!!
For more
information, feel free to contact WIMA/BAM-Belgium iris_trui@yahoo.com
We'll send you our brochure and inform you about the next events on the
agenda. Annual contribution is 12,40 EUR, but come and have a look first,
on a ride, or any other event that suits you.
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CANADA
Website: http://www.wimacanada.com
email: angela@wimacanada.comangela@wimacanada.com
The Canadian division is the latest addition to the WIMA family, their
website going online in January 2005. Angela Olah is their first President
and can be contacted via the email address above.
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CZECH REPUBLIC
email: onw@post.cz
Started by Lida Abrahamova in the fifties, Czech WIMA hosted international
rallies in 1967 and 1979. The above organised the highly successful 1996
rally at Lubenec 80km west of Prague, Marie and Alena have restarted WIMA
and now have 10 motorcycling members within a larger organisation they share
with car drivers. They do lots of rallies and activities for abandoned children
and arrange meetings especially Christmas and Easter. Organised International
Rally in 2002.
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ESTONIA
Website: http://www.hot.ee/wimaestonia
WIMA Estonia has 19 members and is now officially registered in Estonia.
They are actively involved in the organisation of Jõgevatreff, an
annual international motorcycle rally which attracts about 1000 participants
from 10 countries.
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FINLAND
email: president@wima.fi
Website: http://www.wima.fi
The "Ladies Bike Club" in Finland started May 93 and now has around 250
active members all over Finland. They have changed their name to Ladies
Bike Club - WIMA Finland.They hold many different meetings and happenings
during the riding season ... and even something in the cold non-riding season.
WIMA Finland hosted the European 50th anniversary International Rally in
August 2000.
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FRANCE
email:info@wimaworld.com
Started by Agnes Acker in the fifties, French WIMA first hosted an international
in 1970. French president Chantal and family organised the last French rally
in 1990. Currently active in Alsace with 25 members.
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GERMANY
email: info@wima-germany.de
Website: http://www.wima-germany.de
A WIMA presence was established in Germany around 1952 and was led for many
years by Ellen Pfeiffer who organised the first international rally in Germany
in 1959 on the Nürburgring. There are now approximately 340 German
WIMA members, many of whom are also members of Women on Wheels or Hexenring,
with whom WIMA has friendly links. Germany organised the 1999 rally in Tyrol,
Austria.
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GREAT BRITAIN
email: webmistress@wimagb.co.uk
Website: http://www.wimagb.co.uk
Started early in the 1950's (date unknown) and first rally (8 attendees!)
was in 1956. Currently around 470 members and is the largest division. Last
international rally in UK was in 1994, at Usk in Wales. GB has a lively
monthly newsletter, annual rallies, track days, off-road days, exhibition
stands at several shows round the country and loads of local events throughout
the year. GB hosted the 2003 rally.
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ITALY
email: wimaitalia@libero.it
Italy is
one of the newest divisions of WIMA, the official launch being in July
2004. Alessia Di Matteo is the organiser.
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JAPAN
email: wima@wima.gr.jp
Website:http://www.wima.gr.jp
WIMA Japan launched April 1996 during international WIMA visit to Japan.
Currently about 70 members. One of several women's bike clubs but the only
international one in Japan, and many members now regularly travel to Europe
for the WIMA international rallies. Most members come from Tokyo or Osaka
and they hold spring and autumn meetings often in the Japan Alps. Quarterly
newsletter. Their website is mainly in Japanese, but they have a foreign
language section and would love to hear from anybody who would like to contact
them.
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NETHERLANDS
email: info@wimanederland.nl
Website: http://www.wimanederland.nl
The Dutch Wima organisation started in 1981 and has now about 50 members.
The Dutch department organised several international rallies. On the national
level there are monthly activities such as bike tours, driving/technical
courses and weekends on campsites. All activities are organised by enthusiastic
members. A monthly news magazine informs members about activities and news
flashes. All international WIMAs are warmly welcome to attend our Dutch
activities.
>>>>>>>>>
De WIMA-NL is een club voor en door motorrijdende vrouwen, verspreid over
heel Nederland. Iedere vrouw met een motorrijbewijs kan lid worden. Het
belangrijkste doel van de WIMA is het promoten van motorrijden onder vrouwen.
Dat houdt in dat iedere motorrijdster bij WIMA-NL welkom is, of je nu veel
of weinig motorervaring hebt. We houden rekening met elkaars kunnen. Daarnaast
staat vooral gezelligheid voorop. De samenstelling van de Nederlandse WIMA
is gevarieerd, zowel in leeftijd, als in interesse en het type motor dat
wordt gereden. Jaarlijks staan er diverse activiteiten op het programma
zoals kampeerweekenden, tourritten en bijeenkomsten bij leden thuis. 10x
per jaar wordt er met zorg een nieuwsblad samengesteld om de leden te informeren.
Neem gerust contact met ons op voor meer informatie. Nieuwe leden heten
we van harte welkom!
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NEW ZEALAND
email: info@wma.org.nz
Website: http://www.wima.org.nz
WIMA Australasian Division was run from Rotorua in the 50's. WIMA NZ in
its current form started in 1984. Each member keeps her number for life,
so there are about 500 members, about 100 or so of which are currently paid-up
members. They have members on both islands but more in the North Island
and mainly in the Wellington district. Annual rally held in November and
is open to all motorcyclists. New Zealand are organising an International
rally in 2005.
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RUSSIA
email: info@wimaworld.com
There is no WIMA organisation as such in Russia, and the main activity appears
to be competition riding rather than leisure riding. However motorcycling
in general is growing and women also take part in competitions. In fact
Olga, our WIMA Russia contact, was the 1970 Motocross champion for Ukraine.
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SPAIN
Website: http://www.wima-spain.com
WIMA Spain is our newest division and July 2001 saw a week long rally in
Andalucia to celebrate the event. Currently there are about 20 Spanish members.
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SWEDEN
Website: http:// www.wimasweden.se
Wima Sweden started around 1960 and has 200 members. Have organised several
international rallies, including 1995. They hold spring and autumn meetings
and publish a quarterly newsletter. Most members live around Stockholm and
the south of Sweden.
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SWITZERLAND
email: wima-schweiz@gmx.ch
Website: http:// www.wima-schweiz.ch
Founded 1978, WIMA Switzerland now has 70 members and has organised several
international rallies. Organiser of 1998 International Rally.
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USA
email: president@wimausa.org
Website: http://www.wimausa.org
WIMA's original national group. and birthplace of our founder Louise Scherbyn.
WIMA USA is currently being re-established on the women's motorcycling scene
by co-ordinator Alice Sexton. More details...
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