Hello, Everyone--
I hope this finds everybody well and
happy, and that your appetite was as pleasantly satisfied after Thanksgiving
as mine was. I'm sending along my last Tiger Tales article for 2005 that
you can enjoy amid your Holiday planning. Speaking of which, be careful
riding in parking lots full of Holiday Shoppers that might not have their
minds on their driving! As I send this along, I'd like to deeply thank
those that have shown up and continue to turn out to preserve the honor and
dignity at Military Funerals for our loved ones in the Armed Forces that
have made the Supreme Sacrifice, most recently in Inola and Oklahoma City
last week. I sincerely believe that the cultists keep attempting to return
to our state precisely because our Motorcycling Community has become
successful at thwarting them. I'm supremely proud of my fellow riders and
Veterans that stand their ground against those that would seek to tarnish
the memory of our honored War Dead. Remember the words of Plato, echoed by
General Douglas MacArthur: "Only the Dead have seen the End of War". Well,
I hope you find my scribblings worth reading, and I look forward to seeing
folks at some of the Toy Runs and other festive events coming up this
month. I'm one of those dinosaurs that still celebrates my Christian
Heritage, so I'd like to take the opportunity to wish everybody out there a
very MERRY CHRISTMAS (you can have the PC Police swear out a warrant on me,
if you'd like! LOL). For those of other faiths, I'd like to, in the spirit
of Christian charity, wish you a very Happy Holiday Season, along with God's
richest blessings. Oh yeah--and with 2006 approaching, Happy New Year to
all, and I look forward to seeing you on the Road. Ride Safely, Sober and
Aware!
Yours in Freedom,
Tiger Mike
ABATE of Oklahoma
P.S. It seems as if I have a Secret Pal out
there--when I got home yesterday after driving six hours, what should I find
leaning against the front of my house but this really cool H-D Bar-and
Shield emblem made from barbed wire! There wasn't any note or anything, but
whoever left it for me, I consider that exceptionally righteous behavior on
your part, and hope your Christmas wishes come true! TM
TIGER TALES - DECEMBER, 2005
Season's Greetings to all my Riding Family members! I hope everyone had
a Happy Thanksgiving, and that you're able to get ready for Christmas and
New Year's Day without too much damage to your finances. Speaking of this,
I hope all of us will remember the workers at the Oklahoma City General
Motors plant in thought and prayer, as they were just notified that the
plant is closing early next year, with over 2,500 being laid off. I had
opportunity to be very thankful for being part of my Motorcycling Family
over the past month, for a number of reasons. As I mentioned last month, it
was great to have so many motorcyclists and trikers come out to support the
second Jaggers' Law Run on October 15. There were over 400 attendees,
which made for an excellent photo of massed bikers on the steps of the State
Capitol. After a very festive time at the final stop, ABATE received a
donation of Four Thousand Dollars to help achieve our 2006 legislative
agenda, which will begin with a renewed campaign to get Jaggers' Law passed
to increase penalties for negligent drivers. We also were blessed
with several commitments to support ABATE as Sustaining Members, including
Charley's Last Stand, Downed Bikers Association, and Hudiburg Chevrolet.
Many thanks to all the groups, organizations and facilities that supported
the event with contributions, and to the folks that both attended and worked
so hard to make the occasion an overwhelming success. Now, we need to
capitalize on that success by ensuring we have a large turnout of bikers at
the State House to urge the Legislature to pass Jaggers' Law! We can help
achieve this goal by attending the ABATE Legislative Breakfast on Thursday,
February 16, 7:30AM until 10:30AM at the Capitol Fourth Floor Rotunda--be
there, aloha!
I regret that I wasn't able to attend the Jaggers' Law Run, but I was in
Denton, TX for the Mid-South M.I.L.E. Seminars, representing ABATE of
Oklahoma, as mentioned last month. The lectures were very educational and
informative, and I was able to receive a great deal of information and
advice on how to get our bills passed. The AMA is supporting our Jaggers'
Law efforts again, as part of their Justice For All campaign, and I came
away with some excellent legislation passed in other states that will help
our legislative authors craft the bills we're supporting. We have our work
cut out for us, since 2006 is an Election Year and the Legislature is
unlikely to enthusiastically pass any type of Fee-Based bills or laws
involving taxation. Our primary author for Jaggers' Law is Rep. James
Covey, who is a member of ABATE and an avid motorcyclist. Other sponsors
include Reps. Corn, Braddock, Balkman, Duncan and Stumkey. We'll have a
bill number for this issue to publicize after the start of the 2006
Legislative Session in February. For right now, we've been notified that
the Legislature is unwilling to approve a Mandatory Drivers License
Suspension, and that the extra thousand dollar fine, if assessed, will go to
the Department of Public Safety to fund motorcycling safety and awareness
programs and drunk driving prevention. ABATE was informed that our best
chance of getting Careless Driving legislation passed this year will be to
have the bill come out of the entire House approved with the title still on
it. That way, it is not as likely to be re-worded and have the content
severely altered. For that to happen, we need to have that large number of
bikers at the ABATE Legislative Breakfast I was talking about. Remember,
there are over 70,000 bikes registered in Oklahoma, and if a tenth of those
riders were actively involved in defending their rights, we'd be a force to
be reckoned with. If we can't get a Red-Light Intersection bill written on
its own, we'll try to network with Rep. Duncan on having it attached to
another bill as a rider. There's no author signed up as yet to write the
Construction Signs bill to routinely have Warning Signs erected at road
construction sites urging motorcyclists to use caution. We're looking
for someone in the Senate to step forward and help us on this issue. So,
our developing Legislative Campaign is full of challenges as you can see,
but I'm thankful we have a number of dedicated souls to help get us started
on the right foot, especially Holly, our Political Director. I want also to
thank all our riding Veterans and those backing our Military for all their
involvement with ABATE's ninth annual Veterans' Day Run to the State Capitol
Veterans' Memorial Park on November 11. Over 450 motorcycles and trikes
attended this year's services honoring all our men and women who have served
in the Armed Forces. After a dignified program featuring an inspiring
speaker from Tulsa, riders adjourned to Charley's Last Stand, where the
American Legion Riders Post #1340 hosted a cookout enjoyed by all
attendees. I very much look forward to seeing everyone at our 14th Annual
Memorial Day Run in May of next year! Between events such as this, the
Moving Vietnam Wall bike escort into Oklahoma City, and our riders
protecting the honor of Military Funerals from disruption by those that
would seek to trash America, our Community has demonstrated the highest
level of Patriotism, integrity and loyalty to our great Nation--as a proud
Veteran myself, I salute all of you!
The ABATE of Oklahoma State Board has elected the present slate of State
Officers for the 2006 and 2007 calendar years by acclamation, as there were
no opponents running. Your ABATE State Officers will continue to be: Mike
Penix from Sunset Chapter as Sergeant-at-Arms; Carmaletta Lara from Central
Oklahoma District as Treasurer; Rachael Turner from Sunset Chapter as
Secretary; and I'm afraid you're going to have to put up with me again as
your State
Coordinator. I want to express my deep appreciation to all of ABATE's
officers, appointees, and members for your dedication to enhancing our
riding Quality of Life in Oklahoma, and to all of you members and non-member
enthusiasts out there that support our efforts. I'd also appreciate it if
you folks out there that aren't members would seriously considering joining
us--if you value Freedom, you belong in ABATE! The Three Sands Chapter in
Ponca City led the charge this year in signing up members, with them
enlisting over 95 new members at ABATE's annual State
Party--congratulations! ABATE will officially shift 2006 into high gear
with our annual State Membership Meeting on Saturday, January 14. It'll be
held at the Holiday Inn, I-244 Garnett Rd. Exit in Tulsa, OK. The ABATE
State Board Meeting will be held from 10:30AM until 12:30PM, with the
General Membership Meeting starting at 1:30PM. As in the past, we'll have
some educational seminars going on, and we'll feature a Keynote Speaker from
the Legislature. This year's meeting is being hosted by the Rogers County
ABATE Chapter, based in Claremore. It's also going to be a good party, with
a Hospitality Suite, a great band, and Prize Drawings. I hope we'll enjoy a
large percentage of ABATE members showing up as we map out strategy to face
the challenges ahead.
After the November ABATE Board Meeting, I needed to immediately
head to the Bricktown Central Plaza Hotel for the Oklahoma
Confederation of Clubs meeting,
where over 200 riders representing over 30 organizations were present to
address a number of issues. The Congressional fight over the USA un-PATRIOT
ACT's renewal was one of the many topics discussed at this important
get-together. There is a large battle developing over making permanent some
of the Act's provisions that infringe on American Civil Liberties. While
the House has passed it, the Senate is very divided, and a filibuster
is definitely possible. Riders are urged to contact U.S. Senators Inhofe
and Coburn to let them know their feelings on this potential threat to
our Constitutional Rights. Between this Act and potential Federal Anti-Gang
legislation that would subject three or more that look the same to increased
scrutiny, all riders are in danger of having their Freedoms infringed upon.
Speaking of negative impact on motorcycling, here's something that'll make
your blood boil. The Department of Energy has embarked upon an energy
conservation campaign, with a cartoon character called the "Energy Hog" that
uses energy irresponsibly. These bureaucrats, for some reason, had to make
the Energy Hog look like a Biker, despite the fact that motorcycles are the
most energy-efficient vehicles on the road! Could you imagine the outcry
from the trucking industry if they made the Energy Hog a big-rig driver? I
personally would've liked to see him as a Conspicuous Consumer in a suit and
tie, driving a Hummer. If you want to stereotype, those are the types
sucking up our natural resources in this country without a care for the
future! The Government, in response to motorcyclists' queries, stated that
they only were attempting to reach out to "the children" and convince them
to conserve energy. Yeah--my bet is that they want to convince them to stay
away from motorcycles! Anyway, the Motorcycle Riders Foundation has come
out in opposition to this advertising campaign, and ABATE of Oklahoma has
voted to support their efforts. Hopefully, more sensible attitudes will
prevail at the Department of Energy and this harebrained scheme will die a
quiet death. After an hour break following the Confederation meeting,
Oklahoma riders got to experience "Slider" Gilmore's "Two-Wheel Trauma"
Accident Scene Management multimedia seminar. We had several hundred
attendees show up to enjoy this educational and informative event, which
provided a great deal of content designed to help save lives and reduce more
serious injuries during a bike wreck. Slider gave a terrific presentation,
and was well-received by the crowd, who at the very least remembered to "Pee
For Slider" before getting on the road to ride home. Riding with a full
bladder could increase your chances of catastrophic injury to that organ in
a wreck, so that's where that rallying cry comes from! Slider was impressed
by the quality of Oklahoma hospitality, and he enjoyed the interacting
with Sooner State motorcyclists as much as we enjoyed his seminar.
Beneficial presentations such as this are what ABATE and the OK
Confederation want to continue to provide to Oklahoma's Motorcycling
Community in order to increase our knowledge and informational base, which
will certainly help reduce deaths and injuries better than a Helmet Law.
Don't forget, your most effective safety equipment is what's UNDER your
helmet--namely what's between your ears!
I've been serving on the National Coalition Of Motorcyclists Board of
Directors for over eight years now, and attended the mid-November
Semi-Annual NCOM Board Meeting in Detroit, MI. I was able to network with a
number of Rights Activists on legislative issues we're addressing in our
state, since a number of other states are trying to get similar bills
approved. The NCOM Board also mapped out logistics for the 21st Annual NCOM
Convention, which will be held May 11-14, 2006 in Louisville, KY. Two of my
recommendations for Silver Spoke Awards to be given out at the Saturday
Night Banquet were approved: Senator Jim Inhofe for the Government Award
because of his efforts to defeat the Federal Helmet Law this year; and the
Entertainment Award to Paul Revere and The Raiders for their Ride to The
Wall campaign to raise money for Disabled Veterans. Then the NCOM Board
sprung a surprise on me: yours truly will receive the 2006 Ron Roloff
Lifetime Achievement Award, the Convention's most prestigious honor. I'm
deeply humbled to receive this on behalf of so many of my Oklahoma Brothers
and Sisters that have worked so hard along with me to make our great state
one of the best in the Country for motorcyclists and trikers!
Well, I guess that'll do it for 2005, my dear friends. YOUR Motorcyclists
Rights Organization has done much for our community over the past twelve
months, but there are still battles yet to fight and threats to meet
head-on. I encourage all of you to join me as we rededicate ourselves in
ABATE to continue to improve the riding environment for everyone in our
great State of Oklahoma. With all of us working together in a spirit of
unity and cooperation, we'll vastly increase our political effectiveness,
enhance the positive image of motorcycling, and have a great time on the
Road. Remember: the word Community comes from COMM, which all Veterans know
stands for Communication, and from UNITY, which involves all of us from
different backgrounds working together toward a common goal. It's important
for all of us to remember that we'll never achieve Unity without
Communication--that's so vital to our hanging together so we won't hang
separately! Tiger's Tip O' The Month: You notice how many disabled persons
drive around Oklahoma with those big Handicapped placards hanging from
their rear-view mirrors and obstructing their windshields--the placards that
read: "Do not display while driving"? Guess what--THEY'RE HANDICAPPED!
Give them a wide berth. Best wishes for a very Joyous Holiday--Merry
Christmas, Happy New Year, and may all your dreams come true! I look
forward to seeing all of you as we get our kicks in 2006!
Keep It On The Black Strip Between The Trees,
Tiger Mike