I have been meeting with several chapter and non-ABATE organizations this past month and ABATE is gaining a good reputation in its fight for motorcycle rights and freedom of the road. Our local state efforts only lost a battle this past short session of Legislature, but we have not lost the war. We made ourselves heard in Washington DC with the combined efforts of other state Motorcycle Rights Organizations (MRO) and the Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF).
As a reminder to Washington State ABATE members, I am the Washington state MRF co-representative. Roy Fisher of Rat City chapter was the other co-rep. until April 1st. He has resigned this position due to personal endeavors in the future. Jay Jackson of Southwest Chapter is applying to the MRF to become co-rep. and only needs an endorsement from the April BOD, which I’m sure will have happened by the time this gets to the newsletter. He has received endorsements from other MRO’s in Washington State. Jay will be a great help in getting the National motorcycle news to ABATE members and putting forth our state concerns to other states.
The April BOD will have had the honor of meeting and ratifying our newest chapter: Mason County Chapter, Shelton, Washington. Mason County chapter has been gone for some time, but with the combined efforts of some Olympia Chapter members and ABATE state officers, this chapter has been revitalized and is growing fast. As of the closing of the 3rd meeting of the proposed chapter, they had 32 charter members with several other participants taking membership applications with them. The new officers will be introduced at the April BOD, but for those not attending the BOD, they are as follows:
Coordinator – Mike Rutter
Dep. Coordinator – Steve Ellyson
Treasurer – Chuck Bridges
Secretary – Chris Dulas
These ProTem officers will be in place until September nominations and October elections. Please support this new chapter and members. This chapter will help give good representation on the peninsula, along with North Kitsap, Olympia, and North Olympic chapters.
I have visited chapters here on the West side, but I do promise to make it “over the hill” as weather permits. We haven’t always had snow in March and April, but this year we did and it’s a little hard to get to the highway when you live several miles in a rural area. Also, please note that our West Side Deputy Coordinator was in an accident and is recovering, but needs help and a benefit will happen May 4th. Watch for flyers from EPCC Flagman.
Respectfully Submitted,
Mike Campbell
ABATE of Washington
Ambassador-at-Large
Washington State MRF Co-Rep