TO ALL
CHAPTERS, OFFICERS, MEMBERS
AND OTHER INTERESTED RIDERS/ CITIZENS
WHO BELIEVE IN OUR LIBERTIES
Your Chapter may be active in fund-raising for charities, going on runs, or other ‘fun’ stuff.
Some of your Chapters have strong Black Thursday participation. However, Black Thursday is only one day and the legislative sessions are 90 or 105 days, depending on the year…this year is 105 days.
Are you a registered voter?
What Legislative District do you live in?
Do you know your Senator and Representatives? Not just their names, but who they are (personally)?
Do they know who you are?
Do they know you ride and give a *%@# about your rights?
Who is your Chapter’s Legislative Officer?
Does your Leg Officer know what’s going on in Olympia?
Do you get monthly reports from him/her at your meeting?
Do you check your email often? Or check with someone who does?
Are you signed up for the alert list? (It’s on every page of the website…and no one else gets your information!
If you are, do you get the alerts sent out asking you to contact your legislator(s)?
Do you make that call or send that email???
ABATE…A Brotherhood Against Totalitarian Enactments…It’s a mouthful and really means what it says to many thousands of riders…in other states and a few dozen here. We are going to be dancing to other's music if we don't band together, as our name suggests, as a brotherhood!
Just this session alone, with little or no support from you, the concerned voter:
SB 5134 - the Impound bill for Drivers/Riders without Required Special Endorsements (heard in the House Transportation Committee March 28th; & SB 5273 Increasing subsidized training fees to $125 (heard - in Executive session-same Committee, same day), among others, have passed through the Legislature like greased lightning and are sitting on the Governor’s desk awaiting her signature. The one good thing in this bill is that it took the power of oversight of training programs out of the hands of the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (based in Southern California) and put it back in the hands of our own Department of Licensing, via Steve Stewart, Project Manager fo Washington State Motorcycle Safety Program.
SB 5797 - The “Endorsement Required for Renewal of Tabs” bill got jerked around so that, if passed, each of you who will renew your licenses and endorsements between March 1, 2008, and March 1, 2010, (about 40% of endorsed riders) will be paying an extra $10;
HB 1625 the Signal Light bill was skewed with an amendment that required you to have liability insurance to
enter the intersection against the red light. That was stripped by another amendment It was further bastardized with an amendment returning it to left-turn only language. And it moved to the Senate;
And HB 1639, the helmet by choice for adult riders amendment went exactly…NOWHERE!!!
It died in the House Transportation Committee.
There are some extraordinary people in ABATE of Washington who truly believe in the purposes of
ABATE - Legislation and Education:
Rich Bright - great heart and greatly overworked;
Dutch Phillips ( Dragoni ) - who works hard to keep everything up to date on the website
so you can be informed if you even bother to look;
Mike Campbell - a true ambassador learning and sharing; every day;
Leroy Herrick - so awesome behind the scenes…he even informs me of some
legislative things…every day or two;
Becki & Jingles DiLorenzo (they both gave us everything they had until their health gave out
and they couldn’t do it anymore. Thank you both more than words can say!);
Bruce Ramsey - who keeps on top of membership.
(By the way, do you know it is his effort that keeps you informed
of your time to renew on you Newsletter…check your last issue and this one!);
Your State and Chapter Officers - who give their time and time and time…
Without them we wouldn’t have a potentially great organization; and
I wouldn’t be here letting you know of your chance to repay their efforts
with a little effort of your own and you wouldn’t be getting ragged on for being half
(or less) of what you could be to this organization supporting you;
The Executive Committee who did such an awesome job on the Spring Swap Meet
to bring in money to support other events like Spring Opener and Black Thursday;
Bruce Arnold (he’s not even in Washington and I hear from him several times a week asking for our help supporting Motorcycle Rights Organizations in other States.
I know he would do it for us, too. I won’t ask him to do what our own members
can’t get off their butts to do for themselves.
There are really too many to name all of those who do contribute above and beyond.
And that doesn’t even include the brothers and sisters who are gone who fought so valiantly
to make this organization known to the Legislature!
Just know that you are my heroes…and I want to grow up (did I say that?) to be like you!
These members, people just like you and me, who care about you and me, should be your heroes, too!!!
I am gathering a list of Legislative Officers to put together a true slate of legislation for next year
and for contact purposes to keep everyone updated. Some smaller chapters have their coordinators
doing double duty as their Leg officers (Pacific County & North Olympic Chapters are prime examples).
Please contact me if you are interested in being part of the process and not part of the problem!
To be more effective in Olympia, we need voices and bodies. Bodies when you can be there, voices
when you can't. Legislators are listening to other organizations and taking their word that they represent
all motorcyclists in this state. That is how some of the bad bills are getting passed into bad laws!
Is that really what you want? Then why did you join ABATE? I think somewhere inside you is a hero
and freedom fighter waiting to be set free to wreak havoc on the Legislature and other organizations
passing laws for your good! Let that ABATE member out and let that ABATE member carry
membership apps with you wherever you go…Let’s build an army of freedom fighters!!!
If you don’t have a Legislative Officer in your Chapter, maybe you will consider stepping up to help your friends remain free to choose how, when, where, with whom and on what you and they ride. You can be their hero!
Belong, Become, Be more…Support your organization with your heart!
Spring Opener (Now that’s fun!!!); Black Thursday; contribute to the legislative fund (if you can)
and to the Legislative Committee (this you can do…); volunteer…do Something!!!
Freedom isn’t Free!
And, if you’re not adding your voice to the effort, you are stealing a ride!
Someday someone may want to grow up like you…
What kind of an example are you?
Don’t be a thief…Be a Hero!!!
Ride FREE!!!
Ginger “Mama Wolf” Magures
Registered Voter
Member # 15789 exp 3/09
Legislative Affairs Officer
ABATE of Washington
legislative1@abate-wa.org
Legislative Officer
North Kitsap Chapter
mamawolf50@comcast.net
360/697-2659 home
360/271-3092 cell (anytime - I’ll answer if I hear it! If not…page me!!!)