TACOMA CHAPTER A.B.A.T.E.

A Brotherhood Against Totalitarian Enactments

Articles & Reports
2008

Hello All,

Hope everyone is doing good. I don’t know about you but life seems to get more hectic every day. Tacoma Chapter along with EPCC (East Pierce County Chapter) and SKCC (South King County Chapter) just did something that was extraordinary; all three chapters came together, worked together and had an excellent Halloween party. We had some great raffle prizes. A very nice 50/50 of $173.50 was awarded to "the wiener" Mark Green from EPCC, who was kind enough to donate $50 of it to BASH (Bikers Against Statewide Hunger). And Autumn Brown (pictured here with Lyle explaining her prize) who works at Niftys won the grand prize which included an Amtrak round trip for two from Tacoma to Portland and back plus $135 for the Portland Spirit for a mini-cruise on the water.

I would like to thank Beckie McMichael from EPCC and Karen Blakley from SKCC for representing their chapters in the planning stages of the party. (Wilma Flintstone & the Angel under the 'Nif' sign in the picture of the women's costume contest winner) I was the voice for Tacoma Chapter, but we were not the only ones that worked to make this a success, so thank you to everyone who helped out. Hey, why don’t we do this again next year?

On to things that are coming up; once again we are doing a Toy Run to benefit the YWCA in Tacoma. The YWCA tries to do every thing they can to take care of abused women and children, something that there should be no call for. THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR ABUSING WOMEN AND CHILDREN !!!!! But since some uh, let's see, I guess we will call them males (can’t call them men) cannot act like men it is a very worthy cause and we will do what we can to help. I hope there is no one reading this that belongs in this category. If there is, GROW UP!!!

There is also a lot of other toy runs, food drives, and fund raisers. We can’t make them all, but there is one thing coming up on January 22 that everyone should attend; BLACK THURSDAY. Let's go down to Olympia and see if we can convince our legislators to see things the way we do.

Ride Safe,
Lyle Coyle, #4756
Tacoma Chapter Coordinator

Hey Everyone:

My name is Lyle Coyle. I am the new Coordinator for Tacoma Chapter (again). I would like to thank Chapter Officers Jay Frazier, Windy Blum, Bruce Ramsey, and Peggy Miller for doing an excellent job. The chapter has done very well under Jay’s excellent guidance, and Windy has done a great job as Jay’s Deputy. Peggy has also done an excellent job as chapter Secretary. Bruce, our chapter Treasurer and Membership person, has not only been doing an excellent job for many years, but has volunteered for another year.

We have Blender doing a great job on our quarterly Calendar/Newsletter, and our Webmaster Helen Wolfe maintaining what I believe to be one of the best websites in ABATE of Washington. Mailman took care of our Road Captain duties. And Neal Parrett, our current products person, has also volunteered his excellent services for another year. Mike Campbell has been filling the chapter Legislative position and his wife Lesta Campbell is our chapter Ambassador. All of these people exemplify the meaning of great volunteers.

Now we have a new group of volunteers; Bill Julian is our Deputy Coordinator, his wife Jamie Julian is our Secretary, Boris Stefanoff is our new Road Captain, and John Lacy is our new Sergeant-at-Arms. Along with the volunteers who are keeping their old jobs and the outstanding members in the chapter I should be able to just sit back and enjoy the ride (ha-ha).

We have some upcoming events; one is the Halloween party on November 1st that is being put on with EPCC (East Pierce Co Chapter) and SKCC (South King Co Chapter). Imagine that - three chapters working together! We have our Tattered Flag Run on November 8th. The following weekend on November 15th we'll do our Road Cleanup that was scheduled for Oct 4th - chapter members please come on out and get your exercise and then maybe get a nice breakfast ride and earn some In The Wind miles to boot! Then we have our 29th Annual Tacoma Chapter Toy Run to benefit the YWCA Women’s Shelter on December 13th.

And Breakfast Rides are making a comeback! You can find out what is going on in Tacoma Chapter and what we are about all over this website and especially the calendar. Check out our whole site and then all the other chapter websites in Washington too.

Ride Safe,
Lyle Coyle, #4756
Tacoma Chapter Coordinator

Hi Everybody:

I must apologize to not only the Chapter but to everybody at the Spring Opener for not making last month's deadline for the newsletter. Congrats to all the winners in the Bike Games and Bike Show. You will find a list of winners on this page just below this report. Wow what a party! Attendance is not yet back where it once was, but we're getting there. We had a GREAT CAMP and a good time was had by all.

The 20th Annual Tacoma Chapter Memorial Run will be over by the time you read this, and once again Mailman helped out with this event. I will be in Arizona for Mom and Dad's 60th Wedding Anniversary, so I will miss this one. It's a poker run with 100% pay-out. 50% to the winner, 30% to second and 20% to third place. Check it out on our website. Hope all of you enjoyed the run.

September 7th is the Fall Swap Meet in Enumclaw and your help is needed in setting up booths, selling spaces and working the door. The Chapter will have a table so feel free to bring your stuff to sell. As always, if you do sell anything, 10% of what you sell up to $10 will go back to the Chapter to help pay for the table.

Onto chapter business. At the July business meeting we opened nominations for Chapter officers. Lyle Coyle accepted the nomination for Coordinator, Bill Julian accepted the nomination for Deputy Coordinator, Bruce Ramsey accepted the nomination for Treasurer and Jamie Julian accepted the nomination for Secretary. Nominations will be open until the September business meeting - which, by the way, will be September 17th, so people coming back from Milwaukee can attend the meeting.

This will be my last newsletter article as the Tacoma Chapter Coordinator. I would like to THANK EVERYONE for your support and confidence over the last four years. Its been a HOOT.

This is the last time,
Jay Frazier, #14444
Tacoma Chapter Coordinator

Spring Opener Game Results

Hi Everybody:

May was a busy month for the Chapter. May 10th was the Dice Throw Run. Congrats to the winners! New member Frank Burton (see picture below) was the Second Place winner AND he took home $231 because he also won the 50/50. Tacoma HOG won the most supportive award. Thank you one and all for your support and to those that helped out on the run. The Chapter made $522.02 on the run and we voted at the June business meeting to make it an even $600 to the State Legislative Fund that will be donated at the July 12th BOD meeting in Ellensburg. For the full report visit the Dice Throw Report page.

May 17th was the Tattered Flag Run and what a turn out! FORTY people tried their luck to win the flag and/or the $122 side pot. We voted to have a $3 a person pot but some how our Coordinator (me) short changed someone $2 so we had two-thirds of a member on the run Ha Ha. Anyway, Cathy S. was on a roll; with a possible 60 points she rolled 52 and won the Flag and the side pot of $122. Congrats Cathy. She will have the Flag for six months and has the privilege of selecting the starting point for the next Tattered Flag Run on November 8th. Windy, after the third roll, was in the running but I guess age got to him and at last, he crapped out. WAY TO GO CATHY!

The Haven asked us if we wanted to help out with the bike raffle they are involved in. There was not enough time before the flyer came out to vote on this at the June business meeting to get the Chapter name on the flyer so I told her no. What the deal is, they went in with three other bars on a bike to raffle off and asked if we wanted to be involved to promote ABATE and Motorcycling along with the bike. It sounds great and I would like to buy a ticket or two but as I said there was not enough time for the whole process. Thank you HAVEN for thinking about us anyway.

It seems law enforcement has a new trick up their sleeve. The report is that when they do their seat belt emphasis patrols, they have been handing out helmet tickets as well. Please contact me if you receive a ticket so we can work together on this to get it off of YOUR RECORD and the state's books as well.

Nominations for Tacoma Chapter Officers will be open at the July business meeting. If you are interested in an office PLEASE feel free to put your name in the HAT. DO NOT THINK YOU CANNOT DO THIS JOB. The rewards are GREAT and if you get stuck help is but a phone call away. It may seem to be a tough job but the Chapter needs your support, your help, your new ideas and YOU. New blood is always welcome and needed. This organization can only survive if YOU GET INVOLVED. Now is the time to put your best foot forward. This organization is not about people, it's about people who ride motorcycles that want to RIDE now and tomorrow. It's about giving your grandkids the same opportunities you had. It's up to you to preserve your GOD given right as an AMERICAN to keep this thing we call a hobby (MOTORCYCLING) alive. It's up to you to get on your bike and ride it like you stole it. It's up to you to make a difference.

'til Next Time,
Jay Frazier
Tacoma Chapter Coordinator

Hi Everybody:

Looks like we might get some warm weather some day. The reports I've been getting from Cayuse/Chinook passes are they should have Cayuse open the 2nd full week of May, then they’ll start on Chinook. There's lots of snow to deal with and when it melts onto the road then refreezes at night there's ice all over. I hope you planned accordingly before heading to Fossil for the Memorial weekend.

April was busy with the Highway clean-up. See last month's issue for the report or better yet visit our website. Lots of good up-to-date info and it’s really cool. April 12th was Windy Blum and Debbie Meier's wedding and they are now newly weds. Congratulations you two. April 19th was a memorial run for a friend of mine, so Lyle attended the BOD for the Chapter. The bylaw change was about the only thing to vote on and it failed. Thank you SKCC (South King County Chapter) and Performance Bar and Grill for hosting this important event. April 26th was EPCC (East Pierce County Chapter) Support the Supporters Run. They had a great turn out of 100 people and great weather. Nine Tacoma Chapter members attended and fun was had by all. May 4th was the benefit for Dutch and it was a really nice day. In the words of Don Cuda, “God and Mother Nature love EPCC; Just look at the weather we get for our runs.”

'til Next Time,
Jay Frazier
Tacoma Chapter Coordinator

Hi Everybody:

April 5th was the Highway clean up and our 13th Anniversary for this event. We had a good turn out with two new volunteers; John Lacy and Boris. Sorry Boris, I don't get your last name. The weather was great and the road wasn't that bad this time. Just remember to point your bags in the correct direction.

Last month some of the Tacoma Chapter members attended the EPCC (East Pierce County Chapter) Bunny Run and the SKCC (South King County Chapter) Dart Throw Run. Both were a lot of fun. In April we have the BOD (Quarterly State Board of Directors Meeting) on the 19th. Windy and Lyle will be attending the meeting as I have a Memorial Run to do. An old friend passed away and this Run is in his honor. Looking forward to May, we have the Dice Throw on Saturday, May 10th and the Tattered Flag Run on Saturday the 17th. Blender is in charge of the Flag and has the honor of selecting the starting point for this event. At the April business meeting she picked the Hangar Inn at the Pierce County Airport (16919-A Meridian E, Puyallup). We will be leaving at 11:00, but meet early for breakfast, like around 9:30 AM. Check our website for this update and future updates on Runs and Events. Helen is always on top of things and this is a great source of info, as things are subject to change. Thank You Helen for a great job.

Here's Jay on Chinook Pass near the end of April '08, hard at work

With summer coming and hopefully warm weather, if you need to get your bike up and running with service items like a new rear tire (as I do), now is the time to do so. Also, September is when chapter elections are held. If you would like to hold an office, you might want to start thinking about it. The chapter voted in April to postpone the September business meeting until the 17th because so many chapter members will be on vacation and we need a quorum to have an election. If you have any questions, please contact me.

'til Next Time,
Jay Frazier
Tacoma Chapter Coordinator

Hi Everybody:

Hope everyone had a good time at our Chapter Anniversary / Valentine's Party and that things went well. Thank you Haven, Haven staff and all that helped out. I would like to express to the chapter my regrets for missing it, but Pam's mom passed away on February 9th and the the memorial services were on the 16th.

In your business meeting on March 5th we had Mick Gillispie, State Coordinator; Jerry Fox, SKCC Coordinator; and Flagpole as guests. We discussed the Dice Throw Run and the Spring Opener. Mailman has the May 10th Dice Throw Run layed-out so all we need to deal with is a few small details.

As for the Spring Opener, Lyle is working the games and Mick Gillispie gave me some Spring Opener tickets to sell. If you are in need of a ticket or two let me know!

March is busy with the EPCC Bunny Run, SKCC Dart Throw Run, the Easter BASHket Run and the Bike Blessing. To check on these runs take a look at our Chapter website for info and the all important updates. April will be a little slower. April 5th is the Hiway Clean Up. April 19th is the BOD at the Performance Bar and Grill in Auburn. If you would like to attend or just come for lunch The Performance Bar and Grill has great food.

'til Next Time,
Jay Frazier
Tacoma Chapter Coordinator

Hi Everybody:

After all the years of attending Black Thursday I always felt I was missing the point, probably because I did not take the time to educate myself and do a better job of being prepared on how things work in Olympia. We (SKCC, EPCC, and Tacoma Chapters) were in Senator Pam's Roach's office when she explained to us how bills are processed. At that point the bell went off in in my head. I now understand to a small degree how things work.

By the end of the day we talked to Senator Pam Roach (R), Representative Dan Roach (R) and Representative Chris Hurst (D), all in the 31st District, Senator Brian Weinstein (D) from the 41st District and Representative Dennis Flannigan (D) from the 27th District. Also we left messages with two other Representatives and one Senator thanking them for their support of HB 2919 and now HB 1625, the Turn Signal Bill. It's not a perfect bill but it’s a start. The Senators and Representatives thought it was a great idea that we were only going after one bill instead of three or four. This is a short session and we will be lucky to get it through to the Governor's desk but we might make it. I'm totally gassed about how things went this year and I'm looking forward to next year which will be a long session. Bear in mine it is also the budget year so they (the Senators and Reps) will be busy with all of that.

I hope you are getting your bikes up for a safe riding season because at last night's business meeting we worked on the In-the-Wind miles for March. The weather is not the best yet, but man, we already have a bunch of rides to go on. And we had three new members in attendance at our meeting. We voted to get together with EPCC and SKCC for the Halloween Party as a three Chapter event. Lyle will head the committee for Tacoma Chapter. If you have some suggestions or feel up to helping out, PLEASE do so by contacting Lyle or me. Thank you one and all for a GREAT meeting.

'til Next Time,
Jay Frazier
Tacoma Chapter Coordinator

Hi Everybody:

Black Thursday is over but you still need to keep the pressure on your Legislative Districts' Senators and Representatives. It's a short session this year but we, the Bikers, need to be heard. Please take a moment and call, write or email these folks.

As for the BOD (Board of Directors meeting), election results are:

• State Coordinator - Mick Gillispie
• West Side Deputy - Dutch Phillips
• Ambassador at Large - Mike Campbell

These positions were unopposed and were seated by 2/3 of the BOD members present at the meeting. Rich Bright, now ex-State Coordinator, stepped down at the adjournment of the meeting but said he would be around to help with Black Thursday. Also he said he would help out with the transition of office. Darla Hale resigned the Treasurer's position at the adjournment of the meeting but will keep the books updated until someone steps up to take the position. I would like to thank Rich and Darla for their hard work, as it’s a thankless job they took on.

The lifetime membership proposal that the Chapter came up with did not pass.

February 10th is Rat City's Freeze Your Butt Off Run. See the flyer for details. I hope to attend the run.

The Anniversary/Valentines Day Party will be at the Haven on Saturday, February 16th. See the website or flyer for details. Hope to see you there.

The Chapter has a table for the Spring Swap Meet in Monroe on Sunday, February 17th. If you want to attend this event and sell your stuff contact Blender if you see her at a meeting or a ride, as she will be in charge of the table. As for the Fall Swap Meet, it will be held at the King County Fair Grounds in Enumclaw on September 7th, 2008.

'til Next Time,
Jay Frazier
Tacoma Chapter Coordinator