ABATE of Oklahoma

Happy New Year, everybody!! I trust all of you had an enjoyable Christmas and Holiday Season with your special family, friends and loved ones. Did all of you get what you wanted for Christmas? I’ll spend the next twelve months waiting for that ’48 Chief, and maybe the Biker Gods will smile upon me this time! It was gratifying to see our Riding Community, including so many of our ABATE Chapters, engaged in making so many children happy with successful Toy Runs to close out 2009. Many thanks to all our ABATE Family for continuing to reach out to those less fortunate and improve the Positive Image of Motorcycling! Now that we’ve just entered 2010, I’m very much looking forward to celebrating a new month and a new ABATE Administration at our Oklahoma S.M.I.L.E. General Membership Meeting January 8-9 at the Quartz Mountain Resort in Lone Wolf. I’ll be proud to be participating as President of ABATE’s Central Oklahoma District, and look forward to interacting with a large number of my ABATE Family there, both old hands and new folks. As with so many of our Sister Chapters, COD is starting the New Year with a new slate of officers, and you can follow our progress at the revamped Chapter Website, into which our Webmaster John Kirchen has been putting a lot of work. Link to it, and to all the Chapter sites, from www.abateofoklahoma.org As the new COD President, I’m excited about working with both our new ABATE State Officers and fellow Chapter Presidents at our upcoming Chapter President Symposium scheduled for Tuesday, February 9 in Oklahoma City.

A significant number of our Motorcycling Community enjoyed a Happy Veterans Day, and to my fellow Veterans, Thank You for your Service, and Welcome Home!! To expand on what I mentioned last month, I want to express my heartfelt appreciation for your support in attending our successful 13th Annual ABATE Veterans' Day Run to the Oklahoma Veterans' Memorial Park. The last bike count we came up with was 485 motorcycles and trikes, not counting cages. With many bikers riding two-up, we had well over 500 members of Oklahoma's Riding Family participate, and we continue to provide the largest number of supporters for the Veterans’ Day ceremonies. A number of riders even showed up after attending Veterans' Day Services at the 45th Infantry Division Museum as well. The event was highlighted by a change in the Parade Route, where the long line of motorcycles proceeded down the Avenue of Flags in front of the Oklahoma VA Medical Center to benefit a number of appreciative patients. The heartfelt services at the Memorial Park were conducted by the Paralyzed Veterans of America, and Oklahoma Lt. Governor Jari Askins was the Keynote Speaker. After her speech, I was completely floored by her presenting me with an Oklahoma State Flag on behalf of the Oklahoma Veterans Council. It was a complete surprise, and I have to accept it on behalf of all our Veterans and Motorcyclist Freedom Fighters, since these events happen successfully as the result of all of us working together! Many thanks to all the outriders for helping to keep us safe, to Ed Glendinning and Pastor Pickle for their inspiring prayers and spiritual guidance, and to the American Legion Riders Post #1340 and Ladies' Auxiliary for the logistical support, the hot dog/chili dog cookout, and the delicious Bake Sale goodies! Donations from the after-party are going to the American Legion Children's Home, a very worthwhile cause. Thanks also to Charley's Last Stand and new owner Linda Murphy for the tremendous hospitality and providing the live music. I'm supremely glad for everyone's cooperating to make this a safe and enjoyable event honoring the service and sacrifice of our Armed Forces members and their families. Thanks very much for attending, and I very much look forward to seeing all of you at ABATE's Memorial Day Bike Parade in May, 2010. You'll be able to recognize me--I'll be the bearded, smiling fat guy astride Orca, my big, white Road King!

I was able to make the NCOM Semi-Annual Board Meeting and Regional Conference November 13-15 in Philadelphia, PA, where over 300 motorcyclists took part in the seminars. Following the morning’s NCOM Board Session, the afternoon Conference consisted of a number of valuable and informative presentations on Biker Freedom-related topics, such as Freedom of the Road throughout the Nation, and Legal Issues such as Noise Abatement, Insurance Coverage, and interacting with Law Enforcement. The Regional Confederation of Clubs Meeting and Christian Unity Conference were also well-attended, with a lot of productive crosstalk, and Gimme Jimmy was there to present the Defenders’ Program. Incidentally, our recent successful Call to Action regarding Federal-level Right To Repair Legislation constituted a Nationwide test and fine-tuning of the Program. NCOM is very interested to hear more about the Strategic Alliance Program pioneered by our own Oklahoma Confederation. This Alliance of Spiritual groups, Clean and Sober Clubs, and community service-oriented riders such as the Downed Bikers Association, is designed to function as a quick-response force to support the Riding Community during incidents where motorcyclists get killed, injured or locked down. The NCOM Board has been expanded to include representation from the Sport Bike Community with a Board Liaison position for the National Sport Bike Association, now held by Brian “Seven” Lawson. Quite a large number of Sport Bike Riders attended the Conference, which was gratifying to see. All in all, the stage is now set for one of the largest and most festive NCOM Conventions ever, our Silver Anniversary event slated for May 6-9, 2010 in Orlando, Florida. Check out the NCOM Website at www.aimncom.com for a Pre-Registration application and make plans to attend!

Now’s the time to plan on attending ABATE's annual Legislative Breakfast, scheduled for Wednesday, February 10, 2010, 7:30AM until 12:30PM at the State Capitol Fourth Floor Rotunda. For going on 20 years now, we've invited the entire Oklahoma State Legislature and their staffs to join us for breakfast, and Sooner State politicians have turned out in force. It's a tremendous opportunity to get to know your State Senators and Representatives, and discuss meaningful issues with them. As you should know, ABATE will re-address the Motorcycle Safety and Mobility Act, our “Red-Light Bill”, which has been carried over to the 2010 Session. This bill covers motorcyclists whose bikes don't trigger the light to turn green at controlled intersections. They’ll be allowed to ride through after stopping and determining it safe to proceed. Biker deaths and injuries have been reduced in several states where this has been passed. Our Rider Safety, Education and Awareness omnibus bill has also been carried over to the 2010 Session, and ABATE and the OK Confederation Of Clubs (with nearly 70 member groups now!) have been working together to sign up thousands of motorcycle owners supporting these programs in advance of an Interim Study authorized by the Legislature. With Suzette Northcutt-Rhodes working as our Lobbyist again, and a number of dedicated ABATE Members backing her up, ABATE is optimistic that some valuable legislation will be passed this year as we continue to improve Motorcycling Quality of Life in our state. Other issues ABATE might look at include a bill increasing penalties for those causing death or injury while Driving Distracted. We could also pursue a Right To Repair Law on the State level, which would make the same computer diagnostic information, tools and training available to independent repair shops and vehicle owners that currently is only afforded to those under the dealership umbrella. You can read more about Right To Repair legislation on the Motorcycle Riders Foundation website at www.mrf.org Our newly-formed Defenders Program already responded to a Nationwide Call to Action to urge passage of this type of legislation on the Federal level. We also might need to again pursue in the future Equal Access Legislation eliminating Anti-Biker Discrimination, and legislation increasing penalties for negligent drivers who hurt and kill others; namely, putting more teeth in our Jaggers' Law! Options here could include supporting increased fines, imposing Driver License Suspensions and possibly mandating jail time. ABATE’s Legislative Agenda will be firmed up by the time our Legislative Breakfast kicks off, so stand by for more news next month!

Tiger’s Tip O’ The Month:

Well, we’re deep into Winter, whether you like it or not! There's nothing like a long stretch of cold weather to expose what might be wrong with your machinery, so be kind and patient with it. Take the time to properly warm up your bike, and send your thick oil through the system by kicking it through a few times (if you have a kickstart-okay, so I’m a dinosaur!). Trickle-charge your battery occasionally and remember, your tire pressure gets low more quickly in Winter so check it more often. Also, take advantage of one of our famous mid-Winter January thaws to wash the salt off the steel (especially from under the fenders) and slap a coat of wax on the paint. Take good care of your sled, and it’ll take care of you!

As I wrap it up for this month, I guess it's time to consider New Year's Resolutions. Man, that's a tough topic to address while working off the Goodbye 2009 hangover and hauling around the post-Holiday weight gain! With the State Legislative Session starting soon, we’ll continue to have important issues to tackle. There's still a lot of political game-playing going on (THAT'S a news flash!) and we in ABATE have to keep learning to play the game more effectively if we're going to continue to be a force for good in Oklahoma’s Motorcycling Community. Politics, by definition, addresses the skill of acquiring and utilizing power. By becoming more active participants in all levels of government through registering and voting, communicating with legislators, attending events like our Legislative Breakfast, and following the lead of the politically astute in our organization like our Legislative Committee members, we'll wield a greater degree of power as a special interest group of Oklahoma Citizens. I've emphasized in the past that the "B" in ABATE stands for Brotherhood, but we can't forget that the "E" stands for Education. Not only do we need to promote education for our elected officials as to the needs of the motorcycling public, but also to make ourselves smarter regarding the system that's supposed to be working for us, the American people. I consider that a part of becoming a more involved citizen, and getting a larger return on our considerable investment of tax dollars and service to our country. I intend to play a more active role in that regard, so that’s my major New Year’s Resolution for 2010. Well, that’ll do it for my first Tiger Tales as a “Private Citizen” since October of 1999. I look forward to working together with all my ABATE Family members as we continue to support and defend Biker Liberty throughout the year-see you on the Road!

Keep It On The Black Strip Between The Trees,

Tiger Mike