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Season's Greetings to all my Brothers and Sisters! As we approach the Holiday Season, I'm sure a number of you are checking out the Toy Run Schedule, and you're noticing that hardly a week goes by where there isn't at least one event listed designed to provide a Merry Christmas for families who otherwise wouldn't be celebrating. Motorcyclists traditionally turn out in droves for these occasions, since they have hearts as big as the Great Outdoors when it comes to helping out folks down on their luck--THAT's my idea of a Biker Stereotype! Most of our ABATE Chapters in Oklahoma have Toy Runs on the calendar, a few have already been hosted by the time you read this, and I hope every one of them is well-attended and successful. I'd like to mention a few specific ones: The Naysayers Motorcycle Club, one of ABATE's Sustaining Members, is sponsoring their annual Toy Parade in Midwest City on Sunday, December 3. They've been hosting this event for nearly thirty years to support the Red Andrews Christmas Dinner, which has been feeding hungry Oklahomans for over half a century! The Following Weekend will feature two ABATE Toy Runs, both being held on Sunday, December 10. ABATE's Tulsa Chapter has been sponsoring their event for going on thirty years now, and is presenting it in conjunction with the Marine Corps Reserve's Toys For Tots Program. It's a huge event, and one of the largest single gatherings of bikes in Oklahoma--take part in it sometime. For those in the Oklahoma City Metro area, the ABATE Central Oklahoma District is also hosting a Toy Run benefiting Feed The Children, also on December 10, and that one also has been going on for awhile, nearly twenty years. You can find out more information regarding these worthwhile causes elsewhere in this newsletter, or by checking out the ABATE State Website and linking to the Chapter sites. Participate--you'll have fun riding in them, and reinforce in your heart the true meaning of Christmas, which is the giving of Love every day!

I took part in the Mid-South M.I.L.E. October 27-29, our Five-State convention of Motorcyclist Rights advocates from Oklahoma, Texas, Missouri, Kansas and Arkansas. We had a pretty good number of Oklahomans show up this year, from COD, Sunset, Lakes Area, Rogers County and Muskogee Chapters. This Fifteenth Annual event, held in Springfield, MO, was very well attended and featured seminars on topics such as Federal Legislative Challenges, Bikers and Constitutional Liberties, Women In Motorcycling, and the EPA and Bike Manufacturing/Customizing. Also, our own Mitzi Miers from Rogers County, who's editor of Oklahoma Biker Magazine, a very informative publication on biker happenings in our state, presented a seminar on Bikers and the Media. The banquet on Saturday night was a colorful affair punctuated by a Halloween Costume Contest, and Bernie Williams from Muskogee won First Prize for dressing up as a Hippie Chick, with tie-died clothes, granny glasses, and Peace Signs. She really looked lost in the Sixties! Many thanks to our Lakes Area Chapter based in Pryor, OK, for their hard work in building the Oklahoma State Basket, and for all those ABATE Members and supporters who contributed Made-In-Oklahoma products with which to fill it. The basket, representing "Oklahoma Wine Country" received the first-ever People's Choice Award for the best design and brought almost $1,500 at auction! The money raised during the auction goes to finance the hosting of next year's M.I.L.E., which will take place in Arkansas. I hope we'll have an even larger number of Oklahoma folks attending this important event next year. Here's a heads-up: since the event rotates among the five member states, the 2008 Mid-South M.I.L.E. is coming back to Oklahoma, so we'll need to start thinking early about coming up with a venue where we'll host it. The next week, we had our Oklahoma Confederation Of Clubs Meeting on Sunday, November 5. Over 250 attendees were electrified by the Keynote Speaker, Sputnik, who is Chairman of the Texas Motorcycle Rights Association (TMRA-II). Sputnik is a dedicated Freedom Fighter, a Combat Veteran, and one of the most politically effective lobbyists on behalf of Riding Liberty in the country. He spoke at length on Liberty-themed issues, and issued an alarm on the proposed North American Union and NAFTA Superhighway designed to compete with Europe and Asia. These plans are actually on the drawing board, and our Federal Government is buying up vast amounts of property using Eminent Domain, including land in Oklahoma and Texas, for an eight lane trucks-only highway and accompanying railroad stretching from Mexico through the U.S. to Canada, with security administered by armed Mexican Military on U.S. soil. This idea may sound far-fetched, but it's already in the planning stages--use an Internet search engine to check these topics, read up on them, and prepare to be outraged! ABATE of Oklahoma has renewed its annual membership in the Oklahoma Confederation Of Clubs for 2007, and we'll be voting for new officers on the Confederation Board next January, as well as planning for the third annual Oklahoma Motorcycle Expo, scheduled for Mid-March at the Cox Convention Center (the Myriad to you old-timers) in Oklahoma City. This is shaping up to be a monster event, so look for more information on it soon!

Thanks to everyone for attending the Veterans' Day Run November 11--I was gratified that so many came out to honor our Armed Forces, over 450 bikes, and that the event went off with only a couple of minor glitches which fortunately didn't detract from the importance of the occasion. Remember that so many of our Veterans gave of their tomorrows, so all Americans can enjoy Freedom today! At the same time, I was irritated that none of the media outlets came to cover the event. It's sad, because Oklahoma City proudly boasts one of the finest Veterans' Memorial Parks in the country, in my opinion. If you've never seen it, head down to the State Capitol and spend a few minutes in solemn reflection on what your fellow Oklahomans have sacrificed for you--you won't be disappointed! Because I received a couple of communications regarding the orientation of the services, I feel it necessary to make clear ABATE's position when these events take place. ABATE has been hosting this event on Veterans' Day for ten years now, and it has grown fairly well over that time, precisely because it is an event designed to honor the service and sacrifices of America's Veterans, living and dead. This is emphasized throughout the event, from the drivers' meeting before the Parade even starts to the after-Parade luncheon. ABATE has also been hosting a Bike Parade on Memorial Day for 16 years, also to maintain focus on paying tribute to America's Armed Forces members, especially those who have made the Supreme Sacrifice. I regret I wasn't able to attend the Veterans Day event this year, due to important business out of town, and this is one of only two I haven't been present for. While ABATE is involved in the organization and execution of the Bike Parades, it is NOT involved in the organization and content of the ceremony at the Capitol--for Veterans' Day, that is the responsibility of the Oklahoma Veterans Council (the Marine Corps League of Oklahoma supervises the content of the Memorial Day services). I strongly feel this shouldn't be an occasion for expressing political views, and ABATE completely divorces itself from politics during these two events. Let's never fail to maintain focus on what Veterans' Day, and our Parade, is all about. We bikers, who represent the largest group in attendance at both events, take the lead in making sure that the primary point of emphasis be on the contributions of our men and women in uniform. As a longtime Air Force Veteran, I can assure you that I've been directly involved in these events ever since a very small number of us decided a LOT of years ago to take time to ride and remember what Veterans' Day and Memorial Day truly mean. I sincerely hope that the large number of first-time attendees will join us for the 2007 Memorial Day Parade next May, and that our Bike Parade will continue to grow larger. I had to attend the NCOM Semi-Annual Board Meeting in Albuquerque, NM on Veterans' Day Weekend, so I missed enjoying the company of my Motorcycling Family here. However, I was able to celebrate Veterans' Day with a bunch of terrific New Mexico Bikers. The NCOM Board hammered out logistics for the 2007 Convention to be held May 9-13 in Charlotte, NC. Carmaletta Lara, ABATE of Oklahoma State Treasurer and Newsletter Editor, will be receiving a special award for all her hard work supporting our Organization's success. Thunder Roads Oklahoma Magazine also received a first nomination for the Silver Spoke Award in Media for all this publication does to support the Riding Community's rights and lifestyles in the Sooner State. I'm confident some of the wonderful folks who publish motorcycling-related magazines in our state will eventually receive this prestigious accolade in recognition for their considerable efforts.

Well, that'll do it for 2006. ABATE is wrapping up a successful year legislatively, as you know, but we'll have challenges to meet next year. I'm very thankful for all of you who have demonstrated your commitment to meet those challenges by continuing your membership in ABATE of Oklahoma, and I'm confident that, with your support and continued increased membership, we'll secure more victories which will safeguard your Riding Freedom. With that, I cordially invite everyone who can to attend the ABATE State General Membership Meeting on Saturday, January 13, 2007, starting at 10:30AM at the Best Western Hotel in Altus, OK. The meeting, hosted by ABATE's Great Plains Of Altus Chapter, will begin with the January State Board Meeting in the morning, and the afternoon's Membership Meeting will consist of presentations by Keynote Speakers from the Oklahoma State Legislature, informative seminars, and an Open Format Town Hall-style session where individual members can air their views, make suggestions, and address concerns. It'll also provide opportunity to address our 2007 Legislative Agenda, which includes supporting legislation allowing riders to proceed safely through intersections after stopping if their bikes don't trigger the light to turn green; legislation prohibiting the use of hand-held cell phones while driving; legislation clarifying use of headlights, auxiliary lighting and aftermarket exhaust systems; and legislation to significantly reduce Turnpike Tolls for motorcycles. We also intend to fight any restrictive ATV-related legislation should it once again rear its ugly head! This meeting, which also will include a fun party Saturday night, will help us lay groundwork for the ABATE Legislative Breakfast on Thursday, March 1 at the State Capitol Fourth Floor Rotunda, so make sure to list this stuff on your calendar. Tiger's Tip O' The Month: I'm still gratified to see the large orange signs urging motorcyclists to use caution in Construction Zones, but remember that Winter's large fluctuations in temperature will cause road problems like large cracks and frost heaves that nobody is aware of, so be especially observant. Also, remember that other motorists are even less aware of motorcyclists during the Winter, since they don't expect us to be out there in the cold weather. Make your bike and yourself more visible to others, and ride with a mind-set like you're invisible on the roadway, because in more than half the cases, you are! As we settle down for a festive time with family and friends, I want to express my gratitude for the special relationship of unity and working together we have in our Riding Family, and we'll continue to improve our Motorcycling Quality of Life by keeping up that spirit of cohesiveness. Thanks so much for your continued backing of YOUR State Motorcyclist Rights Organization! Take care of each other, Best Wishes for a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, and I'll see you on the Road! May God richly bless you all!

Keep It On The Black Strip Between The Trees,

Tiger Mike