March NCOM Report
It was cold as Jimmy the Troll and I rode south. Passing time and temp signs that Wednesday night that said 35 degrees just made us feel colder. We got down to Milersylvania Park that evening and after some running around in the dark we ended up with the rest of the ABATE delegation (thanks Critter.) I knew the next day would be a long one, so I hit the sack early.
We had to meet the pack sponsored by the US Defenders of Washington State early Thursday morning at Hawk’s Prairie, so it was rise and shine, bright and bleary the next morning. After some futzing around with motorcycles left out in the cold for the night, we were off to the staging point. We were later than I wanted to be, because by the time we reached Hawk’s Prairie the parking lot was mostly filled with motorcycles. Many clubs were represented, but so was ABATE. As I pulled in I noticed two ABATE chapter flags (Tacoma and Rat City). Just before the pack formed up Troll and I left for the capitol, so we could be there to catch pictures of the bikes arriving and parking. Nice sight as nearly two hundred bikes roll onto the grounds, under the dome of the capitol and slide into parking spots on what’s called the North Diagonal.
Everyone had a nice straight shot to the capitol steps; not having a gauntlet set up by the Washington State Patrol to walk through as we did last year. On the steps we took some pictures and then Donnie “Mr. Breeze” Landsman, the ABATE of Washington state Legislative Affairs Officer, made a short speech followed by David “Double D” Deveroux, Commander of the Washington State Defenders. Both individuals emphasized the unity of purpose that had brought so many members of the motorcycle community together on that cold day in January.
Many individuals had already been at the capitol for hours that morning visiting legislators, dropping of literature and discussing the issues. As the show and tell on the steps broke up I and others headed for ABATE central, where we picked up the packets defining our issues and headed off to visit legislators and drop off the informational paperwork. I stalled around in order to sit in on a Senate Committee meeting that addressed four different motorcycle issues---most of the bikes were gone and the sun was starting to set as I headed for home, I finished my ride in the dark that day, not hard to do in the sunny Northwest.
Eight days later (a Friday) it was dark that morning as I walked into SeaTac airport to catch a flight to the regional conference of NCOM. As the ABATE of Washington representative to NCOM (National Coalition of Motorcyclists) I sit on the national board and represent region I; California, Oregon, Idaho, Washington, Alaska and Hawaii. This year’s regional meeting was in Honolulu---Oh stop it! It’s a tough job, but someone has to do it! Along with the Regional meeting a meeting of the Board of Directors was also scheduled; so after a two hour flight to San Francisco, a five hour flight to Honolulu and riding the shuttle to the hotel (about a two hour trip after we stopped at every hotel on the Island) I had time enough to find something to eat before the board meeting that evening. By the time the meeting was over it was still evening, local time, but for me it was after mid-night---someone else will have to do the math, by that time I was too tired.
Saturday was informational sessions for the vast majority of the day. The sessions that stood out in my mind were: Mitch Proner’s (Aid to Injured Motorcycles attorney for New York & Connecticut) presentation on the federally funded motorcycle only “safety” stops (while these are not legal in the state of Washington, it could impact your freedom of movement in other states and it only takes enough money to change the law.) Marty Fox’s (AIM attorney for Washington State) successful litigation of a profiling suit here in this state (a $90,000 stipulated judgment of your hard payed tax dollars.) And the presentation by Double “D” and Twitch (Outsiders Motorcycle Club) and Lucky Les (Bandidos Motorcycle Club) on the US Defenders in the state of Washington; their actions in the state in helping to end commercial discrimination by convincing venue owners to open their establishments to all motorcyclists, the Defender’s and ABATE’s political activism that could possibly cause the enactment of the first motorcycle profiling legislation in the country and the production of a video documenting these events.
While all of these things were going on, it was also learned that helmet law legislation had been introduced in the Hawaiian legislature. Much time was spent in discussion with the locals about what could be done to head this legislation off. One can only hope that “they” don’t cover up Paradise.
Sunday was a travel day and with the Pro-Bowl going on it was a complicated one. I opted to get to the airport early and miss the crush of the crowds. I walked out of SeaTac airport coming home about seventy-five hours after walking in.
Twenty-four hours later I was watching the Senate Judiciary Committee pass our anti-profiling bill out of committee before our very eyes. Maybe by the time you read this…
Are you having as much fun as I am? If not, why not?
Respectfully Submitted
IRISH
Ambassador to the National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM)