STEAM (Seminar To Educate and Motivate) was very positive again this year. I want to thank all of those who made the weekend successful.
Congratulations to all of the Award winners and to the new Coordinators who were presented Gavels and the most current Roberts Rules Revised Book. Welcome to all of the Coordinators’ who were sworn in for the new year.
At the last Board of Directors meeting Dutch Phillips resigned as Webmaster and Rick Ward volunteered to be our new Webmaster. Dutch and Rick have been working on the transition from that evening on. We have been working on major problems that have existed from the inception of our webbing adventure. These problems have been passed down from Webmaster to Webmaster and Administration to Administration. Big Rick has taken the ball and went to the heart of our problems. We are getting total control of our foundation. (When you are up to your neck in Alligator's, sometimes you forget that the main mission is to drain the swamp.)
We have made major progress in draining the swamp, so we have a good foundation to build on. We are very close to having the control of the technology that powers this modern and fantastic communication tool.
Rick has done some emergency, temporary adjustments, to work with our broken e mail system. Rick has bulldogged through the different providers and managers of Domains, Registries, E-mails and ISP’s. We are working to have ABATE of Washington the registered owner of all parts of the Internet environments pertaining to ABATE of Washington. Security measures are being set up so it can be passed on to future generations of ABATE of Washington.
The following week Ron Fryer, Jay and Glenyce Jackson and I all rode down to Sacramento for the Regional National Coalition of Motorcyclists meeting.
ABATE of California Mac Henderson, Insurance Officer, gave a presentation on insurance for motorcyclists and organizations. Mac and I have been corresponding about insurance, the types of coverage we have and the coverage’s we may need. I will be presenting more information in the near future as we examine our coverage’s.
It was great to talk with Richard Lester and Marty Fox. At the meeting the order “Restraining Sale or transfer of Trademark” of the Mongol’s Motorcycle club was read. It basically said that in the event of the defendant’s convictions, the trademark would be subject to forfeiture to the United States. What was disturbing to the Legal council of the National Coalition of Clubs was the order that the defendants in the alleged criminal action, and any of their agents, servants, employees, family members, and these persons in active concert or participation with them, surrender for seizure all products, clothing, vehicles, motorcycles, books, posters, merchandise, stationary, or other materials bearing the Mongols trademark, upon presentation of a copy of the order. This was signed by a Federal Judge and the order would be enforced before they were found guilty of a crime. Basically, going against the Constitution of the United States. They have started a Trademark fund to go as a friend of the court with an attorney from the ACLU to fight for the Constitutional rights afforded in the Constitution. What this means, is anyone with a Trademark could be subject to this kind of treatment. This kind of action has not taken place before.
I am very excited that his edition of our “Freedom” magazine is printed in color. To continue I encourage you as members to find more advertisers.
Hats off to Donnie “Mr. Breeze” Landsman, our Legislative Affairs Officer. He has been traveling around the State helping and encouraging Chapters to get involved in the Legislative process.
At this time of the year many of the chapters are busy helping BASH, Toy Runs and families in need. My best wishes to all of you in this Holiday Season. Be careful, with the winter road conditions. It is time to make all those new years resolutions and make plans for the new Year.
Let’s get Err done!
Mick Gillsipie
State Coordinator
ABATE of Washington