ABATE OF WASHINGTON
Ambassador at large Reports
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Ambassador at Large September 10, 2007
Special Report for September, 2007 The MRF Meeting of the minds is at the end of this month, which I will be attending to represent ABATE of Washington. I’ve been asked many times, “What does the MRF do for us?” “We give money to the MRF through memberships and sustaining memberships, so what do they give us?” I will try to answer these questions with my own thoughts and some thoughts and information from Kirk ‘Hardtail’ Willard, MRF President, ABATE of Wisconsin, and Steve Zimmer, MRF SSMRO Representative, Charter member of the MRF and Life member Freedom of Road Rider Inc. of Missouri.
The question of what does the MRF, or for that matter any other national organization do for us (ABATE), comes up all the time. It is true that most of the information available can be obtained from the Internet, but I must first caution anyone taking anything they read on many of the e-zines and blogs as gospel. Too many times the sources of information on the Internet through these venues are second, third, and sometimes fourth hand information. Many times the reports are simply someone’s opinion which they have a right to but also can be based on misinformation or misunderstanding. I don't want to minimize the contribution of the Internet; it has revolutionized how we communicate. I've been around long enough to remember starting phone trees thinking we've got something here! But there has to be a great deal of caution with the Internet because the information circulated is instantaneous whether it is verified or not. Push the button and in milliseconds it can be around the world. What do you get from the MRF? The information in the MRF press releases come straight from Capitol Hill and has the integrity and reputation of the organization behind it.
The MRF was founded out of the need for representation in Washington D.C. Representation that stood for the average motorcyclist, we call them bikers. The MRF has been there since 1987 and will continue to be there as long as SMRO's continue their support. The Meeting of The Minds, MOTM, started in 1985 in St. Louis because a few individuals from several organizations felt there was a need to share information. We continue that tradition today at the BEAST of the East and The BEST of the WEST, and the MOTM. The conferences provide the opportunity to share information on how things work in other states in the hopes that through some of the sharing one state might find a new way to approach an old problem. The conference also provides an invaluable chance to network with people from other state one on one. The "hallway conversations" tend to be almost as valuable as the breakout session. This is where you meet people with all sorts of expertise and develop associations with individuals that can become a resource for the home SMRO. Sometimes a conversation or information in a breakout session might just trigger a person to pursue a topic further then they bring that info back to another conference or a meeting back home to share and so it goes. What do you get from the MRF? A network of motorcyclist rights advocates all across the country working and sharing information to promote the cause of motorcyclist rights.
The MRF Board is made up of people from their home state MRO's, the experience and amount of time and resources these individuals have donated to the motorcyclist rights movement is staggering. These are not people who have come on the scene in the last 5 or 6 years. Many have twenty and twenty-five years experience at the state and national level. We have members of the MRF Board that sit on national boards including the Transportation Research Board, The National Motorcycle Advisory Council. They attend and speak at meetings like the Lifesavers Conference, EPA guidelines, and NHTSA quarterly and regional meetings. We have members who are working in the international arena so that we have pertinent information regarding what is taking place in the EU so we are not blindsided by international regulations that will be forced on us through international treaty. What do you get from the MRF? A board made up of people whose experience and expertise goes from working poker runs to testifying in Federal committee hearings, and beyond, and always working to promote motorcycling and protect our lifestyle.
All this and the question still stands. What does the MRF do for us? The MRF has a policy that we do not interfere with any states internal activities or legislative agenda. This was a policy learned the hard way a few years back. However, that policy also states that if an SMRO would like our help with a state issue we will provide assistance to that state when they request it. That request must be sent in a formal capacity from the leadership of the SMRO to the President of the MRF. We can provide information, speakers, and expertise. It is our goal to provide what ever help we can to assist you as you direct. Too many times in the rights movement we are faced with someone wanting to see what we have done, they expect to see some tangible article laid before them for inspection and evaluation. Unfortunately we do not work within that realm of reality our world is one of influence and knowledge and things you cannot see or touch. We in the rights movement can’t stand at the end of the day and look back on a day’s production. The results come when we get to the end of a legislative session and we have passed or defeated some piece of legislation. When we defeat some outrageous sound ordinance in our local community. When we work with the local DOT to solve issues of road safety or rider education, this is what we do. Not just you, but every other rights organization, and the MRF have won and advanced the status of motorcyclists everywhere. What does the MRF do? We hope that the SMRO’s will contact us so we can share information to help facilitate these victories. What does the MRF do for you? The MRF does exactly what you do for the members of your state MRO, we represent. We represent every motorcyclist in the country, whether they are members or not, what we do affects everyone on two wheels. Each of us have accepted that responsibility when we stepped into leadership roles whether in our home state or in a position in a national organization. It is up to us to remember, what we do is for the benefit of motorcyclists everywhere, your state, our state, every state.
The following are some specifics from MRF president, Kirk ‘hardtail’ Willard. “In 2005 when Senator Frank Lautenberg introduced a mandatory Federal Helmet Law Amendment onto the Transportation bill late in the day it was the work of the Motorcycle Riders Foundation that first heard of this and let our SMRO partners know immediately. As expected they responded in force and our VP Government Relations visited all 100 Senate offices carrying those messages from the states consistent with ours. Another key in this is due to the numerous visits SMRO's have made to DC with the MRF accompanying them, most if not all legislators know now that when the MRF shows up we have the support of their active motorcycling constituents back home because they show up together year in year out and that critical relationship has been formed. Most lobbying groups cannot offer that direct connection so we are seen quite differently on the Hill than just a hired gun.
I did not see this helmet law amendment on the internet until after our press release/call to action nor could the internet or a few states take care of killing this amendment as we all did 69-28. It took accurate and immediate dissemination of the information and a concentrated call to action in less than 24 hours and this happened because of the partnership with the MRF and the SMRO's. With 535 congressional office in DC no one state or even several states banding together pass a law, it takes an overwhelming amount of us to work together and the MRF offers that avenue to do just that.
I would also take the bet that no other grass roots activist organization can bring 200-300 people to DC and visit hundreds of offices each year. The SMRO's and the MRF do accomplish this over and over; it is the very basis of our strength and influence in DC, along with a passionate and accurate message that can be counted on as the right thing to do for motorcyclists.
Skip forward to 2007 when Rep.Hensarling from Texas decides to make a political point and wipe out the motorcycle safety grant monies, again at the last minute. The only place I ever saw this in print was from the MRF and then covered most everywhere by our SMRO partners once we got the word out with what we needed our SMRO partners to do to stop this. This of course resulted in quick and effective responses from the states. If this would have snuck through motorcyclists in this country would have lost 20 million dollars of funds, a mere pittance of what we pay into the federal government aimed specifically at motorcycle safety but still critically important for our safety across the states. How else without being on the ground and inside the offices in DC would we hear about this stuff? Again it took a concentrated effort with a consistent message and bodies in offices in DC that very day to deliver this same message that the congressmen were hearing from their SMRO/motorcycling constituents back home. The amendment was never introduced because of the calls that came into DC tied with our MRF visits on the hill, again no amount of internet chatter or states acting alone could accomplish this single minded message and action that the MRF and SMRO's acting in partnership can deliver.”
Hopefully this information helps to clarify the intense value that the SMRO’s and MRF share when partnering in Washington DC.
One last thing I would like to address is Motorcyclist Charity Events. It seems that a lot of folks believe that the image of a motorcyclist will improve in the public eyes if they are seen doing “charity” things. Other wise the public only sees large groups of “bikers” rapping off pipes or running bar to bar which would be counter productive to riding sober initiatives. Would it not be fantastic if we could end up with some of the same numbers of participants at Legislative events as we have at charity events? I am not against charity events at all. I would just like to see a little more activation in legislative matters: “Motorcyclist Rights” and “Freedoms” I would never want to put down the folks who continue to love doing the fundraising that often foots the bills for Legislative work. Where would we be without the charity/fundraising events? I guess the point I’m trying to make here is that the general, non-riding, public does not see the charity event results the day after the event is over. Keep on doing the charity events and fund raisers to finance our legislative events and issues, but please save a little time and energy to be ACTIVE in our Legislative events. “How do we find the solution to keep the folks who prefer to do only charity/fundraising happy and the rights/education workers happy and funded? It is, after all a family operation.” (Cindy Hodges, MRF member rep to the Board)
Respectfully submitted,
Michael Campbell ABATE of Washington Ambassador at Large
Credit for some information and comments to:
Kirk “Hardtail” Willard, MRF President Steve Zimmer, MRF SSMRO Representative, MRFPAC Chair Cindy Hodges, MRF Member Representative to the Board Posted by Dragoni: 09/12/07
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Posted by Dragoni: 08/15/07 AMBASSADOR AT LARGE Report for August, 2007
Summer is almost gone and hopefully we’ve all made the best of it with a good riding season, and attending all the runs we could. Washington weather may not have contributed to our summer runs, but a run and party are only what you make of it. The destination doesn’t matter when you are riding and with good people. I will have attended several major chapter runs and events by the time this newsletter gets out early in September will and hope to have seen you there. Several events are coming up shortly and ABATE of Washington needs your help and participation. Please contact your coordinator and/or state officer or committee chair person to let them know where you would like to help out:
1. Fall Swap Meet, Sept 9th – Rona Smith, state secretary 2. NCOM Regional Meeting, Sept 29th, Spokane – Chris Dulas, NCOM Ambassador 3. Chapter elections of Officers – Get involved and help take this organization forward and all interested members (not just officers) need to attend STEAM in October. 4. Legislative issues for 2008 – Not too early to start thinking about what we all need to do for legislation this next year. Talk to your chapter LAO (Legislative Affairs Officer) about issues and where you can best put in foot in to get involved. Your participation is needed at all levels. Are you a verbal person: phone calls, membership booths? Are you literary: letters, petitions? Office skills: typing, formatting, organizing, recording. No volunteer skills will be turned down or turned away.
ABATE of Washington will be having a booth again this year in December at the International Motorcycle show in Seattle and your participation is needed. To volunteer to help out in the booth please contact Mike Campbell, Ambassador at Large.
Ride SAFE, PARTICIPATE - FREEDOM IN NOT FREE
Respectfully submitted: Michael Campbell ABATE of Washington Ambassador at Large Posted by Dragoni: 08/15/07 |
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Posted By: Dragoni 07/25/07 BEST of the WEST 2007 Elko, Nevada The first part of this report is exactly the same as the report submitted by Lesta Campbell, Tacoma Chapter since we traveled together and we were in the same general sessions until the work shop break outs. The second page is where I attended different work shops than she did. The MRF Best of the West conference, hosted by A.B.A.T.E. of Northern Nevada , started with a general session and introductions of the MRF Board and then all the participants. Although Oregon and Idaho had more attendees than Washington State—we still had 14 participants from 4 different MRO’s. The great state of Wyoming had two people there and they said at least they had 20% of their population there. Jeff Hennie, MRF VP of Government
relations spoke about the TEALU Grants and gave us the amounts distributed
to each state that applied for the grants (only 44 states plus Puerto Rico
applied). Some states said there wasn’t enough time to apply and not
worth it. Washington State got $118.102 in 2006. The deadline for SAFE
TEA LU grant dollars is August 1, 2007. Legislation at the Federal level in
2008 to watch and be aware of is the Right to Repair (HR2694) and the EPA
clean air acts. NTSB has no new recommendations at this time. Pat Murray
from Washington State has stated there are more fatalities because of more
registrations and sales which mean more vehicles, but no more roads than
before. NHTSA has 3 main concerns, ALCOLHOL, LACK OF ENDORSEMENTS, and
RETURNING RIDERS. If the Motorcycling community does not do something to
correct and/or remedy this situation, then Government will step in and do
it for us. NSTB is also Cable barriers are here to stay awhile! The Feds do not have any statistics that says they are dangerous to motorcycles. The United States does not recognize the data from other countries. Europe has more motorcycles so FEMA has been able to form a data base for injured and fatalities caused by cable barriers and has had some success in getting rid of some of them. Washington State is only removing some cables on North I-5 where some cars broke through cables and there were fatalities. Those cables are being replaced in that area with concrete barriers. HIPPA and insurance issued of risky activities loop hole: Contact Washington, D.C. switchboard at 202-224-3121 and voice your opinion that this is a Federal issue and not a state issue since many employers cover more than one state. (S616 and HR1076). New to Washington DC is US DOT Secretary, Mary Peters. She owns two bikes and rides. She is for reducing fatalities: does not support a national helmet law, but promotes helmet use. She reports directly to the President. Any state passages do effect what happens in Washington DC. Some good tools (arguments) to use for freedom of choice on helmets are: vehicle miles traveled (“0” miles in South Dakota, according to data), what social burden statistics in our state, and volume of motorcycling $ (19.8 BILLION $) generated nationally through dealers and shops and that does not count retail stores and tourism. What is the motorcycling income to state and what is the motorcycling tourism $ to state. INTERNATIONAL ISSUES The MRF has been working with Federal level politicians, agencies and the United Nations. There are several treaties and charters being worked on and watched. It is mind boggling when you hear about all the agencies trying to regulate your motorcycle and your lifestyle. What is happening on the state and national level is peanuts compared to the international levels. How about the TREATY? “Global Harmonization of Motorcycle Technical Regulations “. Wow! We’ll all be riding the same moped. There are Tier Levels that we are being regulated by. Europe is already at Level 3. We are still at level 2 in 2008, which means we can still have air cooled engines but will run lean. Mfg’rs of less than 3000 only have to meet tier 1 level, but over 3001 have to meet level 2 until 2010 and then have to meet level 3 with water cooled engines. It may work out that they only have to have water cooled heads. Kirk “hard tail” Willard, President of the MRF and is the MRF representative to IMCG (International motorcycle co-operation Group) has been involved with the working parties dealing with one safety issue and 29 technical issues. There are several agencies federally and internationally that are working at regulating all motorcycles world wide. Sometimes it is hard to figure out who is doing what and why. Some agencies work on their own agenda with no input from the motorcycling community at all. They accept information from statistics and only from what they consider reliable sources, such as States, Insurance industry, and Safety Agencies.
Following is a list of Organizations and Agencies you have read in this report and in our state newsletter:
NHTSA Nat’l Highway Traffic Safety Administration NTSB Nat’l Transportation Safety Board IMCG Internat’l Motorcycle Co-operation Group FHWA Federal Highway Administration SMSA State Motorcycle Safety Administration (Nat’l Association) HIPPA Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act WHO World Health Organization EPA Environmental Protection Agency WMTC World Motorcycle Test Cycle VTR Vehicle Technical Regulations GHMTR Global Harmonization of Motorcycle Technical Regulations MAC Motorcycle Advisory Committee MRFAE Motorcycle Riders Foundation Awareness and Education, Inc. FEMA Federated European Motorcycle Association MRF Motorcycle Riders Foundation AMA American Motorcycle Association FIM Foundation International de Motorcyclist ADVANCED RIDING COURSE and STATE RIDING TEST Workshop. Participation in this workshop was fun and a learning experience. The basic state test and training courses give a new biker the needed skills to initially get on the road legally but are they enough to make that rider safe? These were some of the issues we discussed and the census of the group was that further training and practice should be required. Perhaps even upgrading to a more advanced license or endorsement for beginning riders, specifically for new returning riders who have not ridden in quite awhile. Experience and Safety was the issues. We had an Almost Course test area set up and several people tried the course. ALMOST (Alternate Most Skilled Test). Not to brag too much, but I was the only rider to pass the test and at 100%. Riding the cones is pretty basic although some folks forget to look out at the horizon, but the obstacle swerve (hidden obstacle) and quick stops, and sharp turns were a little more difficult. We discussed in detail the appropriateness of test for licensing, that being the basic and advanced MSF test. I will close this report encouraging motorcyclists to become legislatively active and have some fun while you are doing it! Make new friends, go for a ride, give back to the community, increase your biking skills and teach the driving public to be aware and watch out for us and learn a thing or two about how negative legislation affects you on a daily basis. We are Lifestyle riders, fair weather riders, off road riders and we are all brothers and sisters with a common interest………………FREEDOM……………Lets all work to protect that freedom. Freedom isn’t Free!
Respectfully submitted ABATE of Washington Ambassador at Large
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Posted 05/11/07 Dragoni:AMBASSADOR AT LARGE Report for June 2007
What does ABATE mean to you? Have you
looked up the word in the dictionary? Black Thursday has come and gone and only a few
of the doers where there. I have met with several west side chapters this past month and I am pleased to see most of the chapters growing and some folks that are very interested legislative issues and freedoms. All the chapters were very motivated with their charity events but still stressed that they want to work for our rights and freedoms. Support those other chapters in their charity events as some of their proceeds go into Legislative coffers. As a State Officer, I am trying to attend each Chapters major run and am trying to get other state officers to do the same. I know we can always use the excuse that we are busy doing State ABATE business, but we have to be sure not to alienate the chapters while doing that business. Hopefully, we can do better at following the lists of each Chapters major runs and not schedule meetings on the same day. I guess that’s why it is important for each chapter to get that list into the State Secretary and/or Coordinator as soon as possible. Our State Coordinator, Rich Bright has been trying to get all the chapters to get a group photo sent in and their events list, so we can put out a yearly calendar and then we will all know what events there are ahead of time. Some runs will have already happened by
the time this report comes out in June newsletter, I will be attending the Best of the West at the
end of the month and it will be a good learning experience. More news next month after I speak with a group
of folks out in the Elbe area about a new chapter. Ride safe, see you on the road. Will be at your
chapter soon. Respectfully submitted, Michael Campbell
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Posted By: Dragoni 04/23/07 AMBASSADOR AT LARGE Report for May 2007 Apology’s for no report since
January. I had to take time off for some health reasons, but back on
board now. Thanks to everyone for their support. I did have some
responsibilities I was suppose to deal with for Spring Swap Meet and again
I want to thank all those who stepped up and took over my job as well as
their own when
I have been back at visiting some west side chapters and will get to more as time goes on. I have also been visiting with several non-abate groups to see where they are at and how we can support each other for motorcyclists rights.
I would like to express my thanks to Sheriff Dave of Southwest county chapter for his work with ABATE of Washington and Southwest Chapter. Sheriff Dave has moved on with personal endeavors and will still support us while there. Thank you to Ed Baker for stepping up for the job of Southwest Coordinator. Southwest Chapter just had their first Mountain Jam Bike show and it was fantastic. They had lots of bikes from all categories entered and lots of vendors and sponsors at the show. With the little bit of sprinkles going on, the inside under cover bike parking could not be beat. What a great way to get dried out while enjoying the show.
Lots of Chapters having runs on weekends and I hope other chapters will look to attending those runs giving their support. We have a BOD meeting coming up on April 28th so I will see a lot of you there.
We still have new chapters trying to form and have had several new members to several chapters. It does seem our word is getting out and I would like to thank Don Cuda, our new PR person for a job well done so far. He seems to have some good ideas for getting new members interested and also for getting the word out about ABATE of Washington. The areas of interested new chapters are Northeast Washington in the Metaline area and the Elbe area of South East Pierce County and North east Lewis county. Tri-cities is still trying to become a viable chapter and I’m hoping to see them at the April BOD so they can become confirmed.
Also, remember we have an election coming up for NCOM Ambassador with two qualified candidates running for the position. Some of you may have seen some emails floating around about their qualifications and I want to assure you that both candidates are well qualified and experienced in the position they are running for. With that said, please vote your mind, but please remember to vote and mail your ballot when you receive it.
Spring Opener is coming up soon and ABATE of
Washington Respectfully submitted, Michael Campbell, Ambassador at Large
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Posted By Dragoni: 01/08/07 AMBASSADOR AT LARGE REPORT January 2007 The
month of December has been a very busy time for everyone. "I for one, would
love to see at least one half of the motorcyclists that showed up for toy
runs ..Get those bikes tuned up and ready to roll for the Spring. Stay safe. Respectfully Submitted, Michael Campbell ABATE of Washington Ambassador at Large
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