Black Thursday was the big event for January followed by Lobbying Mal-functioning traffic light bill.
It looks like you will be able to taste beer and wine at your local grocery store ( ESB 5751) while we wait
for the traffic signal to turn for another year. (HB 1625).
Motorcycle Rider Safety Tack Force – Texas Larry Walker polled the Safety schools informally to see what they
thought about the Mal-functioning light bill. One of the schools representatives stated: I have to back you up on that one. It’s much safer to follow the way it would be with the Mal-functioning light bill, than to try to look back 180 degrees, to turn right, and go down the road, make a U turn and go the way you needed to go in the first place.
We now have a New State Treasurer, "Karen Blakely" to be confirmed at the April 19th Board meeting.
Karen Blakely, has been a member of A.B.A.T.E. of Washington since November of 2005.
She has been Chapter Treasurer of SKCC for 2 years. She does booking professionally. In addition we have a professional bookkeeper to do our accounting for free. Koeta Imhof, does bookkeeping, tax accounting professionally. She is also a member of the South King County Chapter. We will still retain our CPA firm to do our annual taxes.
United we stand divided we fall.
It is time for all members, chapters, executive committee, committees, chairpersons, and Board of Directors
to strengthen our bonds and unite in our quest to be heard.
If you have an idea or want to contribute let your leadership know.
We have room and need those who want to get involved.
We know that many of you have talents that you use every day that can help to make ABATE of Washington more viable.
We are listening to those who have spoken to us with there concerns. Again our goal is to build on what we have and
find a way that is acceptable to as many as possible. We are searching the records of old policy’s that were forgotten to
see if they are viable today. Our goal is not to burden the Board with committee work but well thought out plans and
organization. We have many written documents of how we operate and function as an organization.
We are working on making those available year round, not just during S.T.E.A.M. in October.
We are also working on fostering good relationships with other Motorcycle Rights Organizations, Local and State Governments (Like the, Department of Licensing- Motorcycle Riders Task Force, Department of Transportation, State Patrol and Cities). We need to work for our common goals together. We may not agree with everything that they do.
We want them to know what our goals are and find common ground
that we can work together on the things that we can agree on.
By doing this we can stop bad laws and work together for good laws.
It is better to stop bad laws at the agency level than when they are becoming law or enacted as bad law.
Let’s get ere done,
Mick Gillispie
State Coordinator