Hi, Friends,

    One of the most important events at Meeting of the Minds is the legislative strategy session. Each year, during this session, state motorcycle rights groups develop the federal legislative priorities for the following year. Items are discussed, debated and eventually voted on, with each Sustaining State Motorcyclists’ Rights Organization (SSMRO) having a voice and a vote. Legislative priorities are placed in one of three categories, “High,” “Medium” and “Monitor”. These priorities will serve as a roadmap for the Motorcycle Riders Foundation Washington D.C. team, as we focus on 2022.

    While you can see the full detailed list of priorities in the next American Bikers’ Journal, below is a brief preview of the “High” priority items approved during the session.

    Profiling:
Continue pursuit of the House anti-profiling resolution mirroring the Senate version that passed unanimously. Build momentum for inclusion of anti-profiling language in other legislation.

    Renewable Fuels:
Advocate for targeted changes to the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).

    Autonomous Vehicles:
Advocate and monitor any legislation or regulations related to motorcycles concerning connected and autonomous vehicles.

    Emission Regulations:
Engage the EPA & Congress on any activity related to motorcycle emission regulations.

    Definition of a Motorcycle:
Educate policymakers and advocate for change to current definition, that better reflects the current two- and three-wheel motorcycle landscape.

    Crash Avoidance:
Continue to promote the theme of crash avoidance versus safer crashing urging NHTSA and the DOT to focus on crash prevention and rider education.

    Helmet Laws:
Oppose any mandatory federal helmet, apparel or conspicuity standards.

    Black Box:
Pursue legislative language that any collected or available vehicle data is the property of the consumer and in which the consumer has the choice to opt-out of having their personal data communicated to interested parties.

    Surface Transportation Reauthorization (Highway Bill):
Advocate and pursue legislative efforts that impact motorcyclists in the Highway Bill, now set to expire in 2021.

    Additionally, new topics were added to the broader agenda including threats to the internal combustion engine, lane splitting and potential changes to transportation taxes.

                      Mike Stock,
              Chairman of the Board
              ABATE of Ohio, Inc.
                  419-654-5446
           chairofboard@abate.com
           Mikestock419@gmail.com

    Hi, Friends,

    Please read and check out the article at the bottom. !!!

    For several years now, ABATE of Wisconsin has been watching the feelings towards motorcycles and motorcycling slowly fade from a motorcycle friendly environment into what is now a question about the value of allowing motorcycles on the road.

    The threat is real, first pushing for higher ethanol fuel blends that the EPA says is illegal to use in a motorcycle. Then the ban on the sale of new combustion engine vehicles in California by 2035, all while we are watching autonomous and driverless technology being embraced although no studies have been printed on if they can operate safely on the roads with motorcycles.

    Motorcyclists need to pay attention and help ourselves. The push for ZERO preventable deaths on the roads can be helped by eliminating motorcycle fatalities. Motorcycles make up a disproportionate number of fatalities vs vehicles on the road and that trend only feeds into their decisions.

    Don’t think there is anyway this could happen?

    Here is an article written about it. Pay attention to what is happening overseas since that is where it will probably start. ABATE of Wisconsin will continue to do our best to protect motorcycling in the state of Wisconsin using the resources that we have, however it is very important for all motorcyclists to ride within their means. Stick to operating a motorcycle that you can handle, and keep it under control by traveling at the right speed for the conditions. Don’t operate your motorcycle impaired but most of all, keep riding!

    Banning Bikes on Public Roads

                      Mike Stock,
              Chairman of the Board
              ABATE of Ohio, Inc.
                  419-654-5446
           chairofboard@abate.com
           Mikestock419@gmail.com

    Hi, Friends,

    What will the rest of this year bring? That is the big question that no one can answer. We have had to postpone and cancel everything in April and now we’re waiting on May to see if we can do anything but stay-at-home. Many of us are out riding with no place to go and when we get there, it’s time to turn around and go home.

    Even with the slow down and limited miles we are making statistics that should be lower than they are. In 2020 we have 246 crashes with 10 fatalities and 61 serious injuries. In 2019 at this same time there were 291 crashes with 14 fatalities and 72 serious injuries. I feel that 2020 should be a lot less with the stay at home policy. The issue of speed is higher this year than last. What’s up with that? We should be enjoying that ride. It’s the single vehicle crashes that need to stop. Let’s stop killing and injuring ourselves.

    I know many of you are on social media and some are not. The thing that just gets me are the videos of a large group of bikes doing wheelies and riding crazy. Back in the day we had a very bad image in the non-riding community, and we have worked hard at getting this image behind us. We need to stop riding like this, and we need to quit posting and sharing these videos on social media. This just makes a lot of hard work doing charity runs and helping do good work go to hell. Enough said!

    A lot of issues have been pushed aside but one thing that we need to keep in front of everyone is distracted driving and riding. If you are doing anything other than driving or riding, you are distracted. Using your phone in any way, eating, drinking and even talking (especially arguing) is a distraction. You should see how many tickets are written and how many crash reports show distraction as part of the problem and you would agree it needs to get better.

   Motorcycle Ohio is planning on starting training classes on the 2nd of May. Please check in with them before showing up. If you are planning on taking a course this summer, get signed up now so when they go back to work you can get in. Contact info for MO is 800-83-RIDER and motorcycle.ohio.gov or if you need help, call me.

    One of the hardest things I had to do was cancel the Motorcycle Awareness Rally. We will be back next year on the first Saturday in May 2021 and that will be on May the 1st. We need to keep getting the word out to “Look Twice and Save a Life”, “Motorcycles Are Everywhere”. We need to keep educating motorists that we are a part of everyday travel. If anyone needs signs, banners and magnets please call. I will ship you what you need.

    Everyone please Be Safe until we get this virus under control. Ride Responsible, Be Responsible and Take Responsibility. It is up to all of us.

                      Mike Stock,
              Chairman of the Board
              ABATE of Ohio, Inc.
                  419-654-5446
           chairofboard@abate.com
           Mikestock419@gmail.com

    Hi, Friends,

    Here we are back at what most people call the beginning of bike season. March has Daytona Bike Week, Motorcycle Ohio started training the trainers and we are starting to see warmer weather. Unfortunately we already have motorcycle crash statistics. 2019 must have been a little colder out from January first to February 22, 2019 with 10 crashes and 1 fatality. The same dates this year show 42 crashes and 2 fatalities. Something even more frightening, 7 are drug or alcohol related. This can make for a bad year.

    Just a note to everyone, start the year out slow. Go down to a parking lot and practice slow riding, figure eights (keep making them smaller), quick stops and stopping in a curve. A little practice will make things natural and then when you need to use it, it will be a habit. Speed and single bike crashes are our number one cause of crashes and fatalities.

    Check out the Motorcycle Ohio Training program at www.motorcycle.ohio.gov. Get trained; it saves lives. Even the best rider can learn something they didn’t know or forgot. It only costs $50.00 and that gets you a 16-hour course, 4 in the classroom the rest of the time you are learning on a bike provided by MO. If you are an experienced rider you can take the one-day course and use your own bike. This is good for riders that have been riding for a long time on a temporary permit. Phone is 800-25-BIKER

    The Hearing Protection Bill HB129 has been signed by the Governor and in about 60 days will be law. Back in the day a law was passed that said you could not plug both ears. We just had to get it up to date and that took two years. Same with the handlebar height. A few years ago manufacturers were building bikes that broke the law, so ABATE of Ohio, Inc. helped get that law changed to shoulder height.

    The Governor is pushing for stronger Distracted Driving Laws and ABATE of Ohio, Inc. has been sitting at that table and will continue to work to get a stronger law. Distracted Driving is so underreported that we can’t use the statistics to show how bad it is. No one ever, when asked if they were using their cell phone, will say yes. They give some other reason why they drove off the road. Be ready to do a Call to Action when we post it, which means we’ll tell you how to contact your Legislator and support this law.

    At the federal level, with the leadership at the MRF staying vigilant, we are on top of the E15 problem. We know that supporters are going to keep pushing for higher ethanol blends so we need to make sure motorcyclists have a say in what happens. Most of all we need proper labels on pumps so we know exactly what fuel we are buying. Join the MRF and get on board to support this issue.

    Get your calendar out and mark Saturday, May 2, 2020 for the Motorcycle Awareness Rally. It begins at AD Farrows H/D in Sunbury. Sign in starts at 9am and we leave at noon for the Ohio State House. As always we’ll be shooting down I-71 in parade fashion. The Columbus Police will be escorting. This rally is to show everyone that we are back on the roads of Ohio. See our flier for more info.

    Hope everyone has a safe and memorable riding season. If you have not taken a Motorcycle Ohio riding course, please do - it works. See you somewhere this summer.

             Ride within Your Limits
                      Mike Stock,
              Chairman of the Board
                  419-654-5446
           chairofboard@abate.com
           Mikestock419@gmail.com

    Hi, Friends,

    Here we go starting a brand-new year – 2020. How long is it going to take to remember to write that the first time? We have some new changes coming and that is because the old ones are not working as well as we would like. The world is changing and we need to keep up to date. We need to get the word out that we are here to Preserve our Rights, Improve our Image and Promote the Safe Operating Practices of Ohio Motorcyclists.

    ABATE, “American Bikers Aimed Towards Education”, is a freedom of choice organization dedicated to the premise that the individual is best suited to decide the type of motorcycle to ride, type of safety gear to wear and their personal lifestyle. The reason I made this statement is that I hear so many times that people don’t know what ABATE is about. Every riding organization should join ABATE of Ohio because we are looking out for all riders. An organization, riding group, social group or club can be a sustaining member that covers the whole group, or you can form a legislative committee and they can be a member. What would be the best is for the whole group to become individual members. ($20.00 a year membership and you get a FREE raffle bike ticket and $3,500 life and accident dismemberment insurance policy)

    For many years we have monitored motorcycle related legislation. This year we have invested in a Call to Action program that will alert us to any legislation being presented that may influence the way we would like to ride our motorcycles. As a member you will have the opportunity to contact your legislator through this program. I belong to other Call to Action programs and I get answers from my legislators and they know the way I feel. We can make a difference!

    We are less than a month away from the State Seminar 2020. This is a great place to learn what is going on in the motorcycle world. The day will be packed full of informational workshops and legislative updates. Friday evening is a meet and greet, a great place to make some new friends and we may have a few games to play. For more information or reservation info see the flier, or you can go on the ABATE web page, ABATE.com. If you have any problems with reservations, please use the contact numbers and we will help you out. This is a great place for our new Region Directors and Officers to get information.

    Don’t forget that 2020 is an election year and we want to make a difference. We can donate money from our PAC Fund to candidates that look out for motorcycle rights. We give this money out from the suggestions of our members to support any state candidate. Please contact your region director or the state office if you know of someone seeking office.

    One of ABATE’s goals is to promote safety and to educate everyone to be aware of motorcycles. That is why we sell yard signs that say, “Look Twice and Save A Life”. We also pass out “Look out for Motorcycle” bumper magnets. Please help us promote Motorcycle safety.

    This year’s Awareness Rally kicking off May as Motorcycle Awareness Month will be Saturday May 2, 2020, starting at 9am at AD Farrow, Sunbury Ohio. Plans are in the works for the after-rally party. This year we will be giving an award for the largest group riding in from around the state.

                      Mike Stock,
              Chairman of the Board
          614 319-3644 -or- 419-654-5446
           chairofboard@abate.com

    Hi To All My Friends,

    As many of our members have found out, this is the second Outspokin that will cover two months. We started this as a cost saving measure during the least busy months. We will be back to monthly publications in May of 2019. I hope everyone can understand and if I can be of any help, please give me a call.

    November 10, 2018 is the last Board meeting of the year and we will be having our last nominations and voting for State Board members at this meeting. After the meeting the membership will be voting on the Chairman of the Board position. The ballot will be on the back of the Outspokin’ and electronic magazine members will get a ballot in the mail. If there are any questions, please contact the Office and your questions will be answered.

    The State board does have an opening that needs filled immediately. Our Secretary, Cindy Ballach, passed away recently and her death left a big hole in our Board as well as our hearts. We will miss her dearly. This is a very important meeting and we do need everyone that is a State Board Member to attend. If you cannot attend, please send someone that can talk for your position. We only have 6 meetings a year and it would be nice to see everyone. And just to warn everyone, we have made some new changes to the Board Room. We have been doing a very good job of managing our time and we adjourn the meeting by 3 to 3:30pm. Hope to see you.

    Meeting of the Minds 2018 was full great information and a good chance to see that everyone has the same problems that we do. One State had a 40% increase in membership and it was interesting that one of the things that they are doing is attending all kinds of events. Maybe not setting up a booth but just being a part of events and letting people learn what we do. More information to come.

    The 2019 State Seminar starts Friday, February 1st with an evening get together meet and greet and fundraiser. Saturday the 2nd has all day meetings and an Awards banquet in the evening. Please make plans to be there and bring a friend. It will be a fun learning experience. Check out the flier and don’t forget the FREE Manager’s Happy (2) Hours.

    I would like to wish everyone a great Thanksgiving, a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Till next year. Bringing All Riders to the Table

                Bringing All Riders to the Table
                Mike Stock
                Chairman of the Board
                chairofboard@abate.com
                419-654-5446 or 1-800-25 BIKER

    To My ABATE Friends,

    I hope all have had a great summer of riding. My miles are way down as I have been very busy. With this new position I have needed to drive the car, but that should be changing with experience. You will be seeing a lot more of me on the bike in the future.

    Please look at the cover of this Outspokin for something new. This and the next three issues will be covering two months. This is to save money during the slower months in the winter. It will go back to monthly issues in May 2019. We are considering new advertising rates and strategies to attract new ads to help pay for the magazine. Although we only charge you $10 for a year of the magazine, it costs more than that to produce and mail. Advertisers help bridge the gap.

    The products trailer has been at Ohio Bike Weekend, Freedom Rally and Wetzelland. The trailer has been stored by my house and we have not been running it back and forth to Columbus, saving a bunch of gas money. It has been reorganized and seems to be working better. The next event it will be at is Bike Raffle Day at Margaritaville. It will go back to Columbus after that and stay for the winter.

    I would like to thank Ed, Kay, Kolman, Monica and Mark for their hard work manning the trailer at Wetzelland. We did have the raffle bike there also and everyone did a great job covering both. We did not make Vintage Days because we could not get volunteers. We just cannot do weekend events with only two members stepping up. At this time, we will not be at Easy Rider Rodeo in Chillicothe because of not enough help. If someone wants to take charge of the trailer and get the volunteers to work it, we will get the trailer there.

    As we do every September we will be going to the MRF’s Meeting of The Minds. This year the event is in Denver, Colorado. With the lineup of workshops, I’m hoping to bring back new and great ideas to motivate us into the future. Currently, at the writing of this article, we have four members making the trip. Anyone interested in going, get in touch with me soon.

    At the office we had a little water leak compliments of the place next door so we ended up giving the office a good cleaning. Now it’s done and looking good. As I have found out since I have been at the office, we do have visitors. They come in to do Ride On’s Dice Game and sign up for the Thunder Run. This gives us a chance to get new members and sell raffle tickets. Our current members also stop in to renew their membership or just to talk. We decorated the wall in the front with many of the Proclamations we received in May for Motorcycle Awareness Month.

    To every member reading this article who does not regularly go to Region meetings, I would like to hear from you. As members and/or just concerned riders, my phone and email are open to all. If you go to meetings, you already have a forum to talk with someone about any issues. I notice that when I go to events, people talk to me about many problems. Some I can’t fix but lots of them I can. Please contact me and I will try my best get you an answer.

                Bringing All Riders to the Table
                Mike Stock
                Chairman of the Board
                chairofboard@abate.com
                419-654-5446 or 1-800-25 BIKER

    To My ABATE Friends,

    This is the August article and that mean summer has about come to an end. It has been busy and sometimes just not enough time in a day. The products trailer was at the Freedom Rally where we signed up some new members and as always, made some new friends. As I said last month, it’s kind of a surprise the number of riders out there who don’t know what we do and who we are. We need to get out more and let riders know that we are here fighting every day for all bikers and invite them to become a member of ABATE.

    With the Freedom Rally on my mind, I’ll tell you it was a hot 4 days. To all the good people that organized, worked and attended - Thank You! At events one of my favorite things is the bike games and I did enjoy the games. They did a great job putting them on and the participants, well, I think some had been doing some practicing. The entertainment was a great mix and very easy to listen to. There was also a bunch of vendors. All in all, just a very good time.

    Labor Day weekend is the Easy Rider Rodeo in Chillicothe. Very few members have showed interest in helping man a booth. If we do not get more volunteers it won’t be happening. if you are interested in helping contact me. It is a long weekend and its going to take more than 4 people to make it work.

    This is the last month to sell and buy tickets on the Raffle Bike. On Saturday, August 25th, everyone needs to be at The Original Margaritaville in Sandusky Ohio. The party will be on starting at 11am with the last drawing at 9pm for the bike. Remember this is a money maker for each individual Region and the tickets sell easy if you talk it up.

    This is an election year so support your local politicians and most of all, the ones that support us. This is a good time to stop in and see them because right now they are spending time at home, drumming up votes. Please study up on them and make wise choices.

    Its time to start planning for the ABATE of Ohio State Seminar 2019. It will be at the Embassy suites in Dublin, OH on February 2, 2019. Please start making your plans because lots of good stuff happens there. Back a few years ago we had the seminar at the Embassy Suites and the Managers Happy Hour is the Bomb. Don’t miss it!

                Bringing All Riders to the Table
                Mike Stock
                Chairman of the Board
                chairofboard@abate.com
                419-654-5446 or 1-800-25 BIKER

    To My ABATE Friends,

    It’s already July and that means summer is half over, and we still have a lot to do. July is always very busy moving from event to event and getting some casual riding in with everyday life. When this magazine comes out we will be at Freedom Rally. Hope I’m seeing you there. Everyone, please support your region events because that is what keeps ABATE going.

    Ohio Bike Rally was a little different this year. It was only five days over Memorial Day weekend. We had very good weather for the most part. I don’t like saying that it was too hot, but I will say it was HOT! I want to thank everyone that came out and helped man the trailer and sell products. Each person helped make it a success. Region 7 - Thank You for being there. We moved off the busy corner and went to the middle of the midway at Margaritaville. The Raffle Bike was next to us and Jim had his crew there selling tickets. We all worked great together and spoke to a lot of people about the ABATE organization.

    I have been working with different groups on how we can make our roads safer and bring more awareness to the motorcycle lifestyle. The questions that I get asked the most is who are we? and what do we do? American Bikers Aimed Towards Education is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to preserving the rights, improving the image, and promoting the safe operating practices of Ohio motorcyclists.

    First and foremost is that we are an organization, not a club or riding group. We represent all types, ages and genders. We don’t care what type of motorcycle you ride. We work as one body throughout the state and with other states to preserve our rights, improve our image and practice safe riding. Other goals we have are to have events for our members and friends, fund raising for worthy charities and PROMOTE ABATE. We monitor legislative activity regarding laws affecting motorcycling, especially ones that affect our lifestyle and freedom.

    We all need to work together, and support ABATE if we are going to keep striving for motorcycle safety, keep our freedom to ride whatever we want and to dress however we want. As motorcyclists we all need to also support the MRF, our federal organization and AMA, our world-wide organization.

    As my last note - every Region and member please get out and sell Bike Raffle Tickets. This is money for your Region. Every ticket you sell puts money into your account. Please don’t miss out on this.

                Bringing All Riders to the Table
                Mike Stock
                Chairman of the Board
                chairofboard@abate.com
                419-654-5446 or 1-800-25 BIKER

    To My ABATE Friends,

    Today is a nice sunny day, a high mid-40s, and it is the first of April. This has been a cold winter and beginning of spring and for the next week or so, not much better. So when I talk about May I’m hoping that we can get into some nice weather and have great Awareness rides to kick off May as Motorcycle Awareness Month.

    With that said, Motorcycle Awareness Month will be kicked off on Saturday May 5th at A.D. Farrow Harley Davidson, Northstar, 7754 St. Route 36/37 E., Sunbury, Oh 43074. Sign in starts at 9am and the ride leaves at noon sharp, which is an escorted parade to the Ohio State House. We will have some speakers to emphasize how important Motorcycle Awareness is, reading of a Proclamation from our Governor and Proclamations from around the state. Region 9 will be hosting a get-together at Victory’s a few blocks away. See Flier

    All of our Regions support Motorcycle Awareness Month and they have some great events that we can support. May 4th – Region 14, Friday at noon at the Courthouse in Fostoria. Next day State Awareness Motorcycle Rally. May 19th - Region 8, Look Twice Save A Life Run. May 19th - Region 7, Back in the Saddle Ride. May 20th - Region 5, Blessing of Bikes. May 27th - Region 14, Memorial Run. Fliers can be found on the ABATE.com website in the events calendar, as well as in this Outspokin’.

    With a great riding season coming together we need to look at the ways we can stay safe. We need to be properly licensed and insured, and then be trained by Motorcycle Ohio. They have a new program called MORE. Check it out. The Maintenance of your bike is also important so do that oil change and follow the check list in your owner’s manual. Check the bike over to see if anything else needs attention. And then ride alert. Always be scanning ahead, close then further out and watch for changes in traffic flow. Last advice, Ride Sober and watch out for your Brothers.

    Abate of Ohio, Inc. (American Bikers Aimed Toward Education) is here to support and educate motorcyclists. The organization is dedicated to the preservation of Motorcycling. And we need your support to keep up this fight. This is our 40th Year and we are running a $10 special on membership dues. Your club, group or organization can be a sustaining member for only $100 annually. Keeping you FREE is why we do what we do.

    To all of our board members, Thank You for all of your hard work and support.

                Bringing All Riders to the Table
                Mike Stock
                Chairman of the Board
                chairofboard@abate.com
                419-654-5446 or 1-800-25 BIKER

    To My ABATE Friends,

    You just cannot believe how fast this month has gone by. Between my part time work, my retirement, having fun and ABATE, I would be less busy if I went back to work full time. As soon as I get the ABATE work on schedule, I should be able to get some good bike rides that will take me to every corner of this state. Everyone will see me sometime this year at meetings or at events.

    Every State Board meeting is very important because we only have 6 a year, but I know that things come up and life happens. We have a proxy procedure that gives your Region a vote, but it does not get a lot of the information back to your Region if no one is there representing you. If a Region Director can’t make it, someone from the region should carry the proxy to the meeting. That person knows the feelings of the region and can vote in their best interests. If you have not been to a State Board meeting, we will make you feel at home.

    Communication is important to me. My phone and my email are answered as fast as I can. I think I have returned every call and email and if it’s not solved, I am still working on it. But please, if you think it is taking too long or that maybe I have lost or mislaid your note, please get back to me as you are very important. This goes for every Director, Coordinator, Officer and Member. I want to do all I can to get everyone an answer and/or solution for whatever is on your mind but NO, I cannot fix everything. My Number is 419-654-5446 and email chairofboard@abate.com

    As many of you know we have been shrinking in membership and we are working hard to reverse this. This year is our 40th year anniversary and as part of the celebration, all memberships are $10.00 per person, plus another $10.00 for the magazine. This price will be available for this year only. The big day forty years ago was in May and we will have more surprises so stay tuned. Any promotions will be retroactive to members who have signed up since the first of the year. May is also Motorcycle Awareness Month so help us celebrate our history.

    When you will be reading this article, the 2018 Seminar is next weekend, April 6-7. We would like to see you on Friday night but if you can’t, Saturday is the big day. Check out the flier in this Magazine. Be there by 8am to register and then your full day begins. Learn about what we are doing and listen to some very informative speakers. The day finishes with a banquet and awards and a Silent Auction. It is nice to stay for these festivities but not always possible. Even if you have to leave early, the day is packed with activities that will benefit any ABATE member.

    SAVE THE DATE Saturday May 5, 2018. The Awareness Rally and After Rally Party is the big kick- off for Motorcycle Awareness Month 2018 and the 40th Year Anniversary of ABATE of Ohio, Inc. Let’s get out and ride! Please ride safe. Bringing All Riders to the Table

                Bringing All Riders to the Table
                Mike Stock
                Chairman of the Board
                chairofboard@abate.com
                419-654-5446 or 1-800-25 BIKER

    To My ABATE Friends,

    I would like to thank everyone for all the help getting started and getting through my first month. Now it’s time to get things moving. We need to work on plans for celebrating our 40th year anniversary. This year we need to make it a year to remember, and one way to make that happen is to double or better yet triple our membership. We need members to make the government recognize us and know that we will make a difference. Sign people up, call and check on them and if they want to be active, give them a job. '

    As everyone should know, every organization’s membership is getting smaller. In our organization we are getting older and slowly dying off. To fix this we need to go after the new generation. Everyone is looking at ways to attract the younger generation and the millennials. It’s difficult to get them to join groups so we have to try to figure out ways that will attract them to us? If anyone has ideas that we could try, please contact me and I will be your voice.

    In 2018 every Region is going to be able to make money and not hardly do anything. And you say how could that be? The ABATE Foundation will give each region One Dollar for every Raffle Ticket the Region sells. On the back of every ticket sold, put your name and Region number and after the Raffle the Foundation will count the number of tickets sold by each Region. $1 for each ticket will be put into an escrow account, then your Region will have one year to spend that money any way they want. Examples could be a band for a party, a catered Christmas Party, a new tent or anything the Region wants. Last year one Regions sold 1,129 tickets. This year each Region will hopefully sell that many tickets to earn $1 per ticket. Ask your Region Director or feel free to call me.

    The 2018 State Seminar is just one month away. This is for all members of ABATE and it’s also open to the public. As an ABATE member you can meet some new people and gain a lot of information that you can use in the future. For those that can’t make the whole weekend, Saturday is the day you want to be there. There will be informational speakers all throughout the day and then the awards banquet is in the evening. Please try and make it and take part in as much as you can.

    Almost two months away in May is The Motorcycle Awareness Rally and After Rally Party. This is the event that kicks off 2018 Motorcycle Awareness Month in the State of Ohio. Check out the flyers in the Outspokin’ Magazine, on Face Book and on the Events Calendar in our web site. Take a few minutes and stop by your city Mayor’s Office, Village or Township office. Have them prepare a Proclamation declaring May 2018 is Motorcycle Awareness Month. If you need samples, contact me or the State Office and we can send you one. This is an important State Riding Event so try and make it. It’s a great way to start the year.

    Everyone please sign up a Member then take him or her to a meeting. Also, support our events and then we all can continue to ride free.

                Bringing All Riders to the Table
                Mike Stock
                Chairman of the Board
                chairofboard@abate.com
                419-654-5446 or 1-800-25 BIKER

    To My ABATE Friends,

    Thanks for your confidence in voting for me to be Chairman of the Board. As you are reading this I have had one month of getting my feet wet. My plan is to do whatever is in my power to help run a smooth organization. My goals this year include reaching out to more legislators, motorcycle awareness and safety, gaining more members and to be more visible around the state. If you are a member, region officer or state officer, feel free to reach out to me with any questions or concerns.

    My cell phone # is 419-654-5446, my personal e-mail is MikeStock419@gmail.com, my ABATE e-mail is chairofboard@abate.com and you can call the state office at 614-319-3644 or 1-800-25-BIKER and leave a message if I’m not there.

    This year, memberships are only $10 in honor of ABATE’s 40th Year Anniversary. We will be having celebrations all year. The big one will be on our birthday in May. Stay tuned!

    EZ Rider Bike Show is February 10th & 11th at the Greater Columbus Convention Center on N High St. This is our first state function of the year and I would like to invite you to attend. There are beautiful bikes, many vendors and live music. We have a booth with ABATE membership information, flyers for our upcoming events and some merchandise. By that time we are counting down the days until it’s nice enough to ride.

    I would like to thank Jim Elgin for his years of service and wish him good luck in the future.

    Bringing All Riders to the Table,

    Mike Stock

    December and now is the time to choose the next Chairman Of the Board for ABATE of Ohio, Inc. for a 1 Year Interim Term. Please use the Ballot printed on the inside back cover of this Issue of the Outspokin’ Newsletter opposite your Address Label for our Hard copy Members, also an Official Postcard Ballot will be mailed to our Electronic Members so all Members In Good Standing will have the opportunity to have their voice heard in making this selection.

    I want to give a Heartfelt “Thank You” to all our Members who have stepped up and have been elected as an Officer in ABATE of Ohio, Inc. in our current election cycle. No matter if it is a County, Region or State Office, all are equally important to the success and further development of YOUR State Motorcycle Rights Organization to maintain our lofty goals and achieve a positive political agenda and to preserve and protect the lifestyle we all so greatly embrace.

    To All our Members Past, Present and Lifers “Thank You All For Thirty Years of Brotherhood, Fond Memories and a Strong Sense Of Purpose for Me Your Humble Servant. God Bless You One And All.”

                  United We Stand,
              Jim “SNAFU” Elgin

    Nominations for ½ of the Offices on the State Board of Directors keyed to the Office of the Executive Director were opened at the September 9, State Board of Directors Meeting, and will be held open until the November 11, State Board of Directors Meeting where the nomination process for each individual Office will remain open until all nominees are entered in the Minutes, then nominations will be closed, for each Office one at a time, so a Ballot can be prepared so a vote can be taken on all contest’s to be decided with the exception of the Interim Chairman of the Board Election. Per By-laws the COB must be elected by a majority vote of the Membership. D.) Election is held via ballot printed in December State Newsletter for Members receiving printed copy or via Postcard Ballot for Members not receiving printed copy. Same as when I was elected to 6 consecutive terms as COB.

    33rd Meeting Of The Minds hosted by VABA and VCOM in Williamsburg, VA was most excellent again this year, as we have become accustomed to a first class presentation from some of the finest minds involved in State Motorcycle Rights in this Great Country of ours. After the conclusion of the Training part of the MOTM there is a Banquet Saturday Evening to recognize some of the outstanding Achievements’ of some of the Members. When this part of the Program concludes them SMRO’s and Individuals come forward with their 2017 donations to the MRF to help keep our Arlington, VA Office Open. ABATE of Ohio, Inc. raised $1,214.50 from the proceeds of our “Look Twice” Product Line purchased from our Sister Corp, ABATE of Ohio Foundation and with a Most Generous Donation to the fund by ABATE of Ohio, Inc. Region 16 and myself we were able to contribute $1,614.50 this year to keep the home fires burning in our Nations Capitol.

                  United We Stand,
              Jim “SNAFU” Elgin
           Chairofboard@abate.com

    To all my Brothers and Sisters in ABATE of Ohio, Inc., I announced at the ABATE of Ohio, Inc. September State Board of Directors Meeting that due to health concerns I would be stepping down as Chairman Of the Board, effective December 31, 2017. It has been my honor to serve you as Chairman Of the Board for past 11 years and also I am very proud to have been a Member in Good Standing of ABATE of Ohio, Inc. since 1987.

    As you know the Office of Chairman Of the Board is filled by a vote of the General Membership in a Statewide Ballot. The Election will be conducted the same as any other COB Election but in this case the term will be for an interim 1 year term, commencing January 1, 2018 thru December 31, 2018. The Official Ballots will be printed on the inside back cover of the December issue of the Outspokin’ Newsletter opposite the address label of the Members receiving the printed version of the Outspokin’ Newsletter and a post card ballot will be mailed to our Electronic Members so they can participate in the election process same as in the past . Due to the fact that this will be an interim election, all Members in good Standing are eligible for nomination for this Office. Please forward your nominations to be received at the State Office no later than October 31st so the Ballot can be finalized and printed in the December Issue of the Outspokin’ Newsletter or mailed on December 1st.

                  United We Stand,
              Jim “SNAFU” Elgin
           Chairofboard@abate.com

    Hello Freedom FIghters!

    August and we are in the heart of riding season here in the Great State of Ohio, Look Twice Save A Life, it might be your own. Looking back I was honored to be able to enjoy interacting with many of our Loyal Friends and Members having a good old time at the Region 8 Freedom Rally. At the Rally Friday afternoon a Monster Thunder Storm rolled in and pounded the grounds with a fierce 30 minute downpour and I witnessed an electric transformer being struck by lightning, what a light show, Amazing! A few more light showers through the evening hours and then it cleared off and we had a superb Saturday for all the events on the schedule for the day. Thank You Region 8 for a basket full of great memories I gathered during the Region 8 Freedom Rally 2017.

    I would also like to Thank the American Motorcyclist Association, for letting us be a part of their Vintage Motorcycle Days @ the Mid Ohio Raceway in Lexington, Ohio, and the Antique Motorcycle Club of America for letting us be a part of the Wauseon National, and also the Wetzel Motorcycle Cub for making us welcome @ Wetzelland 2017 in Grover Hill, Ohio. And a heartfelt Thank You, to all the volunteers who helped Staff these huge Events, during the Month of July.

    August 12th Region 9 will be co hosting their revitalized Sturgis East Run in conjunction with American Legion Post #490 in Whitehall, Ohio and on the same day Region 14 will make a run at hosting Rachael’s Ride for their first time in Fostoria Ohio, two great runs in different parts of the State, and even more fun rides coming up in September, so stay tuned and I will meet you down the road.

                  United We Stand,
              Jim “SNAFU” Elgin
           Chairofboard@abate.com

    July and I hope many of you are reading this @ the Region 8 Freedom Rally in Carrollton, Ohio. I know I am, it is wonderful spending this weekend with a whole bunch of quality people on the same mission as I am and that is to facilitate Motorcycle Awareness and Safety also to Preserve and Improve the Motorcycling experience here in the Great State of Ohio. With the Ohio Legislature enjoying their summer recess, now is a good time to stop by your Local Elected Officials Home Office and visit with them and review our Legislative Agenda with them for the 132nd General Assembly.

    The July riding calendar is really hoping, first weekend as I mentioned above is our R 8 Freedom Rally, next is the R 7 Lights of Freedom Ride Wednesday July 5, Sandusky, Ohio, July 7-9 the AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, in Lexington, Ohio, the State Products Trailer will be on site for the entire Event and we need Volunteers to help staff it, July 15th, R 6 S.L.U.T. Run, Piqua, Ohio, this is a good one, check it out. Next on the hit list is the Wauseon National, July 21-23, R 4 and the ABATE of Ohio Foundation have booths in there and could use some help staffing them and a great place to see some excellent vintage motorcycle racing and shop for some vintage motorcycle parts. Did you say parts? Well last weekend of the month is the 31st Annual Wetzelland Bash, parts, bike games, entertainment and vendors galore, this is one of my favorites each year and many Thanks to our Brothers and Sisters and all of the Members of the Wetzel M.C. for sponsoring us again this year.

    The Year Of The Member, Yes! We are offering a 1 year Electronic Membership for only $10. right now and as you know this includes the $3,500. Accidental Death and Dismemberment Policy all ABATE of Ohio, Inc. Members enjoy as part of their Membership Benefits so get out there and sell much Membership.

                  United We Stand,
              Jim “SNAFU” Elgin
           Chairofboard@abate.com

    Hello All, Heads up from Ohio! We had our semiannual Motorcycle Ohio Stakeholders Committee Meeting 1.18.17 @ the Ohio Department of Public Safety with all branches of ODPS in attendance. At this meeting we reviewed all 2016 “Crash Data” available at this time, with 192 confirmed Motorcycle Fatalities in 2016, the 2nd highest Fatalities total on Ohio roads since statistics have been recorded. NO mention of any proposed Mandatory Helmet Law Legislation was introduced. But!!! At the end of the Meeting and off the record Robert Wakefield (Director of Ohio Transportation Safety Office, the stat guys) did ask me if it was OK to start tracking Motorcycle Helmet Use in Ohio this year? I replied that ABATE has unofficially tracked Helmet Use at the many “Bike Nights” we set up at around the State each week during Riding Season and our observation is about 60% usage by choice of the riders in attendance at these type events and that ABATE of Ohio, Inc. would vigorously oppose any Mandatory Helmet Legislation if introduced. NOTE: Ohio has been a “CHOICE” State since 1977.

    State Government Relations Director, Kolman Fuzy, will bring you up-to-date on Legislative activity since the last issue and I want to thank Easyriders Events Staff for one more grand adventure at this year’s Easyriders Bike Show and all the Great People who stepped up to help man the ABATE Information Booth at this Event.

    Hey! Have You Made your Reservation for The State Seminar State Seminar Yet? April 7-8, 2017 @ Double Tree by Hilton, Akron, Ohio (330) 869-9000, be ther or be square.

                  United We Stand,
              Jim “SNAFU” Elgin
           Chairofboard@abate.com

    February and it is cold outside. Good time to get busy with the old scoot and get her ready for the coming riding season. Your tires are your life, so to speak, so this is the first thing you need to look at, check the tread depth and if any doubt your tires will get you through the coming riding season replace them. Next inspect your controls, throttle and clutch cables operate smoothly? If not replace the worn cables, now inspect your brake pads to see how much lining you have left, if the linings are halfway gone replace them, at halfway you are into the softer material and the will wear at a much quicker rate. Brake pads are much less expensive than a brake rotor and or caliper. Next fluids; check brake fluid level as worn pads will cause brake fluid level to drop and if the fluid looks cloudy flush system and refill with a new brake fluid from a sealed container. When was the last time you changed your transmission oil, in this day of synthetics trany oil has a long life but it does wear out, 3 years is my benchmark to refresh trany oil. Primary oil level is very important, as most motorcycles have a wet clutch these days so if you let her run low, big expense replacing clutch hub and clutch pack, pushrod and throw out bearing. Last but not least, engine oil and filter, I prefer synthetic engine oil for my baby because I ride hard and seems every time I roll her out it 100 miles one way, so I use the best.

    I have been through the cycle of Heart Tests and came through with flying colors, my pump works just fine and no trouble at this time, this is a relief as my younger brother had some major plumbing done on his heart and there was some question if it was genetic so I had to run the testing route on my heart.

    As of the due date for this article (1/1/17) we have not yet met with our Legislative Allies to plot our Legislative agenda for the 132nd General Assembly, but in the next 2 weeks we will be fully engaged and will have much to report in the March Issue of the Outspokin’.

                  United We Stand,
              Jim “SNAFU” Elgin
           Chairofboard@abate.com

    Freedom Rally Region 8, July 1, 2, & 3, 2016 in Carrollton, Ohio starts the Month off with a Bang! I went last year and had a great time, check it out if you can, guaranteed good time. Second weekend we have the July State Board of Directors Meeting @ the State Office, and Region 1 will be handling the Field Meet Duties for the AMA during the Vintage Days Racing and Swap Meet July 7-10, 2016 @ Mid Ohio Raceway in Lexington, Ohio, need volunteers to staff this one, be there if you can. Third weekend Region 4 and the ABATE of Ohio Foundation will be working the Wauseon National Races and Swap Meet @ the Fulton County Fairgrounds in Wauseon, Ohio and Region 6 will be holding their “State Legislative Unity Triumph” Run in Piqua, Ohio. Fourth Weekend Region 1 will be holding their Annual “Help Me Grow’ Run, in Mingo Junction, Ohio this one gets bigger every year, great ride through the hills. Fifth Weekend (yes there are 5 weekends in July this year) Region 3 will be working with our Brothers and Sisters in the Wetzel M.C. to bring you the 30th Annual Wetzelland 2016. The Crowning Jewel of all Ohio Swap Meets and Weekend Parties, hands down.

    With the Ohio Legislature on summer recess this is the best time to meet with your local Legislators in their Home Offices, stop in, say Hello and get to know them some if you have not already done so, and if you are old friends then brush up on our wish list with them so we can make progress before the end of session December 31st.

                  United We Stand,
              Jim “SNAFU” Elgin
           chairofboard@abate.com

    June and that means Ohio Bike Week, June Jam and Fathers Day. As always we need your help staffing the State Products Trailer @ Margaritaville all 10 days of Ohio Bike Week, stop by and visit with our great friends and sample the excellent menu at the best Tex Mex Restaurant on Lake Erie. June Jam will be a blast this year as the Committee has added a Flea Market and Swap Meet to the agenda to go along with the big fun riding events to help keep you entertained. We have cancelled the canoe races we had last year after all that rain at the Jam, so this year we are expecting perfect weather and a grand weekend outing for all our members and friends, make sure you are a part of the Best Little Biker Party the Buckeye State has to offer.

    In retrospect, I want to Thank all of you who traveled to Central Ohio April 30th to be a Part of the 2016 State Awareness Rally and Parade. The forecast was not great and about 150 or so bikes showed up for the parade. A.D. Farrow’s North Star Dealership once again provided us with a most excellent jump off point for the Rally and Parade, the coffee and donuts they provided for us were most appreciated on that cool damp morning and their staff is about the nicest people you would want to meet. Thank You Farrow’s you are Great! The Delaware County Sheriff’s Office did us proud again this year as well as the Columbus Police Special Events Motor Division, I have ridden in Motorcycle Parades all over this great country of ours and have not encountered a finer or more professional Group of skilled escort riders that our own Columbus Police Department.

                  United We Stand,
              Jim “SNAFU” Elgin
           chairofboard@abate.com

   May and what a busy Schedule of Events we have planned for ourselves this Month, 8 Events to choose from; May 7th R4 will be hosting their annual “Motorcycle Awareness Day” and R16 will be hosting their “Out Of Hibernation Run” now Sate traded weekends with R16 this year to accommodate the State Awareness Rally we had to move to the last Saturday in April because of a conflict with the Ohio Statehouse Schedule of Events on the first Saturday in May, Thank You R16. May 14th we have the State Board of Directors Meeting @ the State Office and R1 will be hosting their “Freedom Run” and R7 will be launching their “Back in the Saddle Run”. May 15th we will be in Xenia, Ohio to support the “16th Annual Blessing of Bikes”, May 21st R8 will be hosting their “Look Twice Save A Life Run”, May 28th R14 will be hosting their annual “Memorial Run”.

    I was asked recently why do we put so much emphasis on all these Events when our core mission is to Lobby and support Motorcycle Rights in the Great State of Ohio. My answer was, True, but according to our Mission Statement; ABATE of Ohio, Inc, (American Bikers Aimed Toward Education) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to preserving the rights, improving the image, and promoting the safe operating practices of Ohio motorcyclist. With that said our Events put us in the Public Eye to help improve our image and the motoring public’s awareness that we are out there and have equal rights on the road as Motorcyclist, and also promote the Cause, and this is a big part of how we pay the rent on the State Office. AND people join a State Motorcycle Rights Organization because they LOVE TO RIDE! AND they are willing to join the fight to protect their Rights. This is why we do what we do.

   Last month I mentioned a letter we received titled “Back to Basics” and said it would be a topic of discussion at the State Seminar, and it was discussed during Woody’s Legislative Report in General Session and later a spirited conversation in the Lodge Lounge. One of the points raised was why we do not have a State Lobby Day at our State Capitol Building? Answer Regions take it upon themselves to arrange Lobby Days at the Capitol Building typically R5 and R9 do this annually, if the Members want to do this as a State Wide Event, step up and join the State Government Relations Committee and make it happen.

                  United We Stand,
                  Jim “SNAFU” Elgin
                 chairofboard@abate.com

    April and we will be presenting our State Motorcycle Awareness Rally and Parade April 30th, as many of you know the first Saturday in May there was a conflict with that State House Schedule so we opted for April 30th, 1 day before the Start of the Month of May instead of backing up to May 14th when the month would be half over, not a good fit to declare the Month of May as Motorcycle Awareness Month. Speaking of the Awareness Rally I just returned from the Governor’s Office with the 2016 Resolution in hand and once again Governor John R. Kasich and Lieutenant Governor Mary Taylor have provided us with a most excellent document Proclaiming May as Motorcycle Awareness Month in the Great State of Ohio. Every time we have asked Governor Kasich for a Resolution, he has provided us with the most well thought out and professional work of art called a Resolution and this is why we have chosen him to receive our Legislator of the Year Award 2015.

    As you read this article the Sate Seminar will be in our rearview mirror and I would like to Recognize the Committee for a most Excellent Program and all of you who supported the Seminar by attending. I trust you gathered some very valuable information to carry one the good fight and a burst of energy to get the 2016 riding season off to a tremendous start. A Hearty Well Done! To the Staff at Mohican State Park for providing such a relaxed and warm place for us to hold the Event. Thank You One and All!

    We received a Letter from one of our hard working Life Members, Lion Man this week titled “Back To Basics”, this is the kind of feedback we are looking for to help keep the lines of communication open between the State Board of Directors and our Members, some good points were raised and will generate much discussion at the March State Board of Directors Meeting and also the State Seminar, next month I will keep you updated.

                  United We Stand,
                  Jim “SNAFU” Elgin
                 chairofboard@abate.com

    March is a very Important Month in this State Motorcycle Rights Organizations Calendar. With a State Board of directors Meeting on the 12th and the Presidential Primary on the 15th and our State Seminar on the 19th we are going to as busy as little bees touching all the bases. As usual I will be doing my part as a Franklin County Precinct Election Official on Ohio’s Primary Election Day to help further the Democratic Process in the Great State of Ohio. Please make the effort to have your voice heard in this Primary Election. VOTE!

    State Seminar at Mohican Sate Park Lodge, what a Beautiful Location for the Seminar this year, I took a tour in July and was most impressed with the accommodations, I think you will be to, please attend if possible, you will gain much from the experience. At the conclusion of the Seminar we will be 42 days out for the Annual State Motorcycle Awareness Rally so make plans to gather every rider in your neck of the woods and make 20126 the largest parade to date.

    Sustaining Life Member Program, we have approximately 180 Life Members currently in ABATE of Ohio, Inc. at this time. In view of the rain out of the first half of our 2015 riding events we took a huge financial hit on our State Treasury with a $3,000. Loss on the June Jam alone, due to 3 inches of rain over 2 days, these funds are what we depend on to pay the rent, so to speak. State Treasurer Kim Chafin and the rest of the Finance Committee worked up a plan to shore up our finances called “Sustaining Life Member”, you see it cost roughly $15.50. A year to send a hard copy of the Outspokin’ Newsletter and associated Benefits to each of our Life Members every year with little or no compensation, with our numbers shrinking we had to do something to keep the doors open. Life Members Please Support this Program, I know I will.

                  United We Stand,
                  Jim “SNAFU” Elgin
                 chairofboard@abate.com

    Membership, Membership, Membership, this must be our focus for the entire New Year. Our numbers are down and we need to turn things around. In 2015 310 Members failed to renew their Membership.

  On New Year’s Day we had our first Motorcycle Fatality of 2016 right here in Franklin County. A rider (Non-Member) road straight off the road in a curve and hit a telephone pole head on and was killed instantly. News reports stated that the crash was alcohol related. Do the math, 2015 Motorcycle Fatalities are up by 7% in the Great State of Ohio; 2016 on the very first day of the New Year we record the first Motorcycle Fatality of 2016. I think we are going to have MADATORY HELMET LEGISLATION to deal with right here in our Home State, this year. Connect with your State Legislators and stress, Freedom of Choice! Recruit New Members and try to bring lapsed Members back into the fold because we are going to need everyone on our side to protect our freedom of choice.

   Finances; the Finance Committee will have to take a hard look at the way we do things this coming year. Some of our Annual Events did not do well in 2015 and revenue generated from these events was low or non-existent. This revenue is what we all depend on to pay the rent, so to speak. The first half of the riding season was a wash out literally, more rain in the spring and early summer than I can ever remember in my life. We may have to make some very hard choices to keep the doors open as they are now. What can we do to recover? 2016 Events, push them harder than ever before, sometimes I feel like ABATE of Ohio, Inc. is the best kept secret in the State of Ohio.

   Public Relations; I want to restructure our Public Relations Committee and I am looking for Volunteers to step up and help put us on the Map, if you think you can be of help send me an e-mail and we can get rolling on putting our name in the public eye.

                  United We Stand,
                  Jim “SNAFU” Elgin
                 chairofboard@abate.com

    The New Year is here and we are loaded for Bear and ready to hit the ground running. 2016 shows much promise, we need to take full advantage of all opportunities that present themselves in our State Legislature and bring the wins home. With your help this is exactly what we will do. Take some time and stop by your General Assembly Members Local Offices and visit with them or their Office Staff and get on a first name basis with them, talk about the Issues we are focused on and put a copy of Woody’s Report or better yet an Outspokin’ Magazine or something from one of our many resources, that spell out our concern for the Issue at hand, this is how it is done, start at home base.

  Membership has been on a slide the past couple of Months and we need more Members, we must keep our Current Members and bring in new people to boost our ranks. How can we do this?

   Reminds me of an opportunity that presented itself at the Motorcycle Riders Foundation Meeting of the Minds 2013 hosted by ABATE of Ohio, Inc. in September that year in Columbus, Ohio. It went like this; I was talking with Gary Sellers R6, in the Lobby of the Plaza North Hotel Friday Evening after the conclusion of the Days Training Sessions and a young man rode up on a Sport Bike, parked near the Lobby Doors and walked up to us and said he was new to the Motorcycle World and was curios why all the Motorcycles were parked around the Hotel. Gary jumps right in, gives the Novice a brief explanation what an SMRO is and our connection to the National Motorcycle Rights Organizations’ AND offered to pay the Young man’s dues for his first year if he promised to renew for at least one year. Done Deal! They both broke out $25.00 and I signed the New Blood up for a 2 year Membership. Thanks Gary, no wonder you are World Famous. Terry Billy R2 has some great Ideas also so drop him a line.

                  United We Stand,
                  Jim “SNAFU” Elgin
                 chairofboard@abate.com

    The Annual November State Board of Directors Meeting is so very important to continued existence of our State Motorcycle Right Organization, known as ABATE of Ohio, Inc. I Thank each and every one of you newly Elected Officers today who have stepped up to help us continue the good fight, protecting our way of life and constantly trying to improve upon it. Without You, We Do Not Exist.

    2016 / 2017 State Board of Directors Election Results:

    November! Get out and Vote! This is the way the good people of this Great Nation keep our Country progressing towards a sound and secure future. You have the opportunity to choose the best Candidate for the job, each and every November when you go to the Polls and exercise your right to Vote. By the time you read this the State Board of Directors Annual Election Process will be complete, results will be posted on our State Website immediately and published in the December Issue of the Outspokin” Magazine, we have new/old blood coming onboard so make sure you check out the results at your first opportunity.

    State Products Director Office is still open. We have talked about a remodel of the interior of the State Product Trailer for a number of years, John” J.R.” Gantner Jr., Region 9, has stepped up to make it happen. J.R. has bumped around inside the trailer looking for merchandise, enough times while staffing the Trailer at various Events around the State to devise a most efficient storage system. At a glance you will be able to determine exactly what stock we have on hand and what sizes are available, and will lighten the overall weight of the trailer by about 500lbs and give you about 2 feet more elbow room to move about inside the trailer.     Thanks J.R., WAY COOL!

    Now that the Ohio Legislature is back to work, we can progress with your Legislative Agenda that we gathered at our State Seminar last March. Woody is the MAN in this Department so I will defer to him to bring you up to date.

                  Happy Thanksgiving!
                  Jim “SNAFU” Elgin
                 chairofboard@abate.com

    By the time you read this we will all be back from the Motorcycle Riders Foundation 31st Annual Meeting of the Minds, hosted this year by ABATE of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. I look forward to this Grand Event each year because I can think of no better gathering where so much vital information and technique is brought forward, if you have never been able to attend one of these most interesting forums please start now making plans to attend next year. September State Board of Directors Meeting, we opened Nominations for odd number year election cycle per our By-laws with Ed Schetter being Nominated for Executive Director and Ed accepted the Nomination, this made my heart glad because Ed is a great resource of Business Law Practices here in the Great State of Ohio and the tireless years he and the By-law Committee have invested in bringing our Handbook up to date with current good business practices and common sense.

    Kim Chafin was nominated for a full term as State Treasurer and accepted the nomination; Kim really stepped into the breach and with the help of Katherine Stock, made sense of our State Accounts where there were many errors from a previous Department Head who just did not get it. So I feel real good about this Group of nominees. The complete list of Offices and Nominations are printed later in this issue, the nomination process is always held open until the November State Board of Directors Meeting, where nominations are closed and a vote taken for each Office and as always every Member in Good Standing is eligible to hold any Office on the State Board of Directors.

    Ex-Officio is a unique Position the only Office per our By-laws that has a 5 year term and the Office is filled in years ending with 0 or 5. This year being 2015 nominations for Ex-Officio are open this election cycle, so if you have someone in mind please forward their name to me before the November SBOD Meeting.

                  United We Stand,
                  Jim “SNAFU” Elgin

    September is here and we are drawing to a close the wettest summer I can remember, seems like every time we had an event scheduled it would rain and rain and rain. When I was preparing for our annual trip to Wetzelland, you guessed it, it rained of and on for days as the much anticipated Wetzel M.C. Swap Meet was approaching and when I got there Wednesday evening to set up camp and get the State Trailer ready for the Grand Opening, I had to use my 4 Wheel Drive option to get back to our campsite that is right in the middle of the camping complex, well it was not raining and did not rain at all for the entire event, dried up nicely and turned out to be a most excellent weekend Event. AND, This singled the start of a dry spell with little or no rain right up to the time I write this article. The dry spell has allowed our remaining Events to prosper with good hard work publicizing our Events and the great teamwork and comradery we offer at our Events, shows the Riders in attendance what it takes to make us all a success. Job Well Done!

    Again, the September State Board of Directors Meeting is our annual Event Sanctioning Meeting, all Regions and the State Board must submit the Event Schedule for the upcoming year. This allows us to publicize our Event Schedule and get a jump start on promoting ourselves throughout the Motorcycle Community. Also, this is the SBOD Meeting where we open nominations for ½ of the departments on the State Board of Directors and being an odd number year, the election process cover the following Officers; Executive Director, State Deputy Directors B&D, Corporate Secretary, State Treasurer, State Events Director, State Technology Director, NCOM Regional Co-Director and ABATE of Ohio Foundation Seat B. Nominations will be closed and votes taken to decide all races @ the November State Board of Directors Meeting, all Officer will commence their new terms January 1, 2016. As always all Members in Good Standing (Dues Current) are eligible to run for any Office on the State Board of Directors.

                  United We Stand,
                  Jim “SNAFU” Elgin

    August and we have worked our way through the heaviest part of our Summer Event Schedule and can now focus on our Legislative Agenda as our State Legislators will be going back to work soon after the summer recess. State Representatives, Al Landis, Doug Green, Cheryl L. Grossman and Louis W. Blessing III, will be in our corner as we make the big push to have our Road Guard Bill become Law. Woody, Mike, Ed and I are going to do our best to make this happen. A Common Sense Solution to a Complex Problem.

    It is time to start putting the State and Region 2016 Event Schedule together to be ready to submit at the September 12, 2015 State Board of Directors Meeting. This is our annual Sanctioning Meeting and it is very important to have your next year Event Schedule ready at this Meeting so we can compile a complete upcoming Years schedule of Events and forward it to all parties concerned, to be able to compare dates so everyone has a chance to be successful staging their Event with little or no competition from other organizations. Also we will be opening nominations for the 2016- 2017 State Board of Directors Offices keyed to the Executive Directors 2 year term in Office.

    The Nominations for State Board Offices 2016/2017 that will be opened at the September 12th State Board of Directors Meeting are; Executive Director, State Deputy Directors B & D, State Secretary, State Treasurer, State Events Director, State Technology Director, NCOM Regional Co-Director and ABATE of Ohio Foundation Seat B. Nominations will be closed and votes taken at the November 14, 2015 State Board of Directors Meeting. As always every Member in Good Standing are eligible to run for any Office on the State Board of Directors.

                  United We Stand,
                  Jim “SNAFU” Elgin

    July and we are knee deep in the vigorous summer schedule set forth by your State Board of Directors, to have a presence at as many Motorcycle Rallies across the State as possible and July is the busiest month of the year for us, gathering volunteers and moving the State Products Trailer to these Events, so we have a chance to introduce Riders to the State Motorcycle Rights Movement.

    First on the “ Hit Parade “ is the R8 Freedom Rally, in Carrollton, Ohio, resurgence of a longtime great weekend gathering, I hope you all can check this one out, 7/3-5/15, Next we will be @ the AMA Vintage Days, Mid Ohio Raceway, Lexington, Ohio, 7/12-14/15. This year the AMA has asked us to bring the Field Meet back to Vintage Days so I need as many Volunteers as possible to pitch in and help R1 do the deed. Third weekend we can get down to supporting ourselves as R2 will host their “Ride For The Troops” Run and R6 will hosting their “State Legislative Unity Triumph” Run. Fourth weekend we will be @ Wetzelland, once again we have been invited to be a part of the Best Motorcycle Swap Meet and Campout this State has ever seen. What a pleasure it is to work with our R3 brothers and sisters as well as the Great Members of the Wetzel M.C., who make us feel most welcome at one of the Premier Motorcycle Events anyone can find anywhere in this Great Land of Ours.

    I want to back up for a minute and Thank all those who stepped up and worked the State Products Trailer at Ohio Bike Week in Sandusky, Ohio, a 10 day Event and the Products Trailer manned every day of the Event. Special Thanks to Brian, Larry and Ron, the backbone of R7 and an extra special Thanks to Michael Marlow for doing the Wednesday thing so State Officers can go to Lansing, Michigan to support, ABATE of Michigan at their annual Freedom Rally. And last but not least, I want to Thank all who Bought Tickets and were able to attend our June Jam in Logan, Ohio. 6/19-20/15, Without You Support, We Would All Fail!

                  United We Stand,
                  Jim “SNAFU” Elgin

    The May Motorcycle Awareness Rally and Parade, was a huge success! Robin & Taz from R9 worked the Registration Table and kept that end of the event in order, State Safety and Education Director, Mike Stock did a most professional Job of doing all the leg work, setting the schedule and follow ups to give us another most excellent Awareness Rally. ALSO the Region 9 Team put out a fun, stress free after Rally Event that I enjoyed very much. State Representative Al Landis and his beautiful wife Debbie honored us with their presence and helped lead the Parade from A.D. Farrow North Star Dealership to the State capitol Building, were I read Governor John R. Kasich and Lieutenant Governor Mary Taylor’s Resolution Declaring May 2015, as Motorcycle Awareness Month in Ohio.

    At the State House, Al Landis had a very special Proclamation of his own for us and Marie Wuelleh from the AMA did a well thought out presentation. Ed, Woody, Mike and all the Region Directors in attendance took part in recognizing all the Cities, Towns, and Villages and Public Officials proclamations were gathered from around the State.

    I want to Thank A.D. Farrow Harley Davidson Dealership and all their great employees, for the coffee and donuts and the warm reception afforded to all who attended. Hats off to the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office for their help in getting the Parade Started and the Columbus Police Special Events Division especially their Motor Unit, one of the most Highly Skilled Police Motorcycle Units you will ever find in the entire Country, for the excellent job they did directing the Parade. I also want to thank Dunlop Tires for their generous donation of a new rear tire to help us defer some of the cost of the event and A HUGE THANK YOU to the ABATE of Ohio Foundation for underwriting the full amount of the Rally, this will allow us to have a strong State Treasury going into June Jam 2015, if you have not preregistered, please do not wait.

   Ohio Bike week is this Month so any of you in the Sandusky area stop by Margaritaville and pitch in and give breaks and or hang out and have some fun with the Volunteers working the Trailer, we need all the help we can get.

   See You At The Jam!

                  United We Stand,
                  Jim “SNAFU” Elgin

   May is Motorcycle Awareness Month! I want to Thank; The ABATE of Ohio Foundation for sponsoring and underwriting this year’s Rally and Parade and also Dunlop Tires for donating a set of new Motorcycle Tires to help promote Motorcycle Safety and Awareness at this year’s Rally, AND A.D. Farrow Harley Davidson North Star Dealership in Sunbury, Ohio for hosting the Starting Point for the Awareness Parade and for the Coffee and Donuts they so generously provide for all the early risers who rode with us in this most impressive show of numbers to alert the Motoring Public that Motorcyclist are Back on the Streets and to “Look Twice Save A Life”. State Safety and Education Director Mike Stock did a most expert job of wiring this Ride tight so we all could relax and enjoy the Day, Thanks Mike !!!!

   Hey! One of our Life Members had a brush with near death, April 2, 2015, Scott “Tree” Greentree R6, hit a patch of gravel rounding a corner on a country road that put the bike down and rolled 4 times and landed on top of him breaking his neck and back, totaled his Ultra and nearly totaled Mr. Tree, but by the grace of God he survived and seems to have kept his motor skills intact, so please remember Tree in your prayers for a full and speedy recovery.

   We are partnering up with the Chrome Divas M.C., in support of H.B.93, Sponsored by State Representatives’ Al Landis and Nan A. Baker, to create a Breast Cancer Awareness (Pink Bow) Motorcycle License Plate, so get on the horn to you State Reps and ask them to support this most worthy effort.

                  United We Stand,
                  Jim “SNAFU” Elgin

    April, good to be on the bike again, winter was another one for the record books, so glad it is over. News from the March State Board of Directors Meeting; After careful consideration, By a vote of 21 Yes, 3 No, 2 Abstain and 1 Absent, the State Board of Directors voted to raise our Membership Dues to $30.00 per Single and $50.00 per Couple commencing in May 2015. It has been 11 years since the last Dues increase and during that time we have had 13 Postage Rate Hikes, 7 years of raging fuel prices that drives the consumer index up and up and up, end result, everything costs more. I am in my 9th year as Chairman of the Board for ABATE of Ohio, Inc., I run this corporation on a strict budget, zero waste is my goal, if it were not for donations of hardware, software and the Buy A Day/ Sustaining Supporter Programs as well as the generous donations that come in with Membership Renewals throughout the year, we would have had to address a dues hike years ago.

    May is Motorcycle Awareness Month and once again Governor John R. Kasich and Lieutenant Governor Mary Taylor issued a Stellar Resolution proclaiming it so. You can check it out or print your own copy by going to www.abate.com, our State Website. I hope to see all of you there for the Parade May 2nd starting @ A.D. Farrow Harley Davidson North Star Dealership, I-71 @ Exit 131 Sunbury, Ohio. Sponsored by; The ABATE of Ohio Foundation, this year. This is a $2,000.00 donation when we really needed a hand, our Sister Corporation really has our back so do your part to support the ABATE of Ohio Foundation by buying a raffle ticket for the 2015 Harley Davidson Street Glide, what a sweet ride, we got our first look at this magnificent machine at out State Seminar @ Deer Creek State Park Lodge, March 28, 2015.

                  United We Stand,
                  Jim “SNAFU” Elgin

    March is here, Start Your Engines! Old Man Winter has lost his grip on us so it is time to ride! With that said, if you have not already done so, now is the time to give the old scoot a good going over with the proverbial fine tooth comb. Start with the tires; check for wear and tread depth and any deformities that might have been caused by road debris, if any defects are detected replace the tire, your life may depend on it. If the tire is in good condition, check the air pressure, correct air pressure allows the tire perform as it was designed and gives you an even wear pattern so you get the best mileage for your investment. Tires good, next check your drive line. Look for wheel bearing seals that may be leaking, this means it is time to pull the wheel bearings, inspect for excessive wear replace and repack as needed and replace bearing seals. Now check shocks and drive belt and or chain, check swing arm bushings for wear and misalignment, any defect must be repaired or replaced, clean, lubricate and torque all fasteners to factory specifications. Be kind to your engine and transmission, change engine oil and filter, drain and refill transmission to specifications and now give your baby a bath and wax job. Now you are ready to ride.

    Something Amazing happened at the American Motorcyclist Association 2014 Awards Banquet, ABATE of Ohio, Inc. was selected as the “2014 Recreational Road Riding Organization of the Year” WOW! Having this great honor bestowed on us is a testament to the entire ABATE of Ohio, Inc. staff who work within the guidelines of the AMA Event Insurance Program, namely; applying at least 6 weeks out for event coverage with an approved Flier submitted through our Events Submission System on our State Website, returning accurate and complete Release Forms and Referee Reports to State Office no less than 7 days after your Event. Job Well Done by all Regions, I Thank You One and All from the Bottom Of My Heart.

    State Seminar, Deer Creek State Lodge, March 27-28, 2015. BE THERE! We moved the Seminar to the end of March so you can ride to it, do not miss this excellent learning experience in a most beautiful setting in one of your fabulous Ohio State Park Lodges, the Seminar Committee is putting together an event you will enjoy and remember for years to come.

                  United We Stand,
                  Jim “SNAFU” Elgin

    As we ring in the New Year, I want to offer a special Thank You and Welcome to every Member who has stepped up to hold Office in this Corporation for the 2015 Term of Office, those returning Member/Officers, who have stepped up to the next level or hung in there to keep the ball rolling in their current position and the New Bloods who are prepared to try their hand at making a positive difference for the Motorcyclist of Ohio and the Nation. Yes we keep an ever vigilant eye on Proposed Legislation here in our home State that might affect the lifestyle we have chosen and introduce our own Legislative Initiatives that we believe will have a positive impact for the riding community here in Ohio. We also keep our eyes and ears fixed towards our Nations Capitol to support the efforts of the American Motorcyclist Association and the Motorcycle Riders Foundation as they work together to protect Motorcyclist Freedoms on and off road and support their efforts to preserve our rights and freedom of choice.

    January, the start of a New Year and the start of a fresh 2 Year Legislative Session in the Ohio Statehouse. We are already working to prepare our Legislative Agenda for the 131st Ohio General Assembly, on December 2, 2014 Ed Schetter, Mike Stock and Marie Wuelleh, AMA Government Affairs Specialist and I, met with State Representatives Doug Green and Al Landis to prepare our Road Guard Bill to be reintroduced in the upcoming Legislative Session because at this time there was no time left to push our bill out of Committee and move through the House and Senate during the current Session. It was decided during this Meeting that we should contact many of the Ohio Motorcycle Clubs and Motorcycle Associations to seek Letters of Support for our Road Guard Initiative to be included in testimony presented to the Ohio House Transportation Committee during the Proponent Testimony phase of the Committee Hearing Process. This will be done as soon as we have a Bill Number assigned to our Road Guard Proposal when the new session comes to order.

    Next, I would like to give a whole hearted “Thank You” to all the Members who took part in the Chairman of the Board Election Process, via mail in Ballot. As I write this article we are in the midst of the voting process and this issue of the Outspokin’ Magazine will in print before the deadline for all ballots to be cast in said election. So “Congratulations” to the winner of this Election whoever that may be.

                  United We Stand,
                  Jim “SNAFU” Elgin

   Happy Holidays to One And All!

   Well with the November State Board of Directors Meeting in our rearview mirror, the annual election process of filling ½ of the ABATE of Ohio, Inc., State Board of Directors Offices 2015/2016 are complete, with the exception of the Election to the Office of Chairman of the Board. As many of you Know, that Office is filled by a Vote of the General Membership by Mail In Ballot only, and the Official Ballot for this race is printed on the inside back cover page of the December Issue of the Outspokin’ Magazine. At this time there is only one Member nominated for the State Chairmanship 2015/2016 and that Member is I. As always there will be a line on the Official Ballot for a write in candidate per Ohio Law. Please take the time to exercise your right to vote in making your choice for the Office of ABATE of Ohio, Inc., Chairman of the Board. All Ballots Must be postmarked no later than December 31, 2014.

   The results of the 2015/2016 State Board Officers Election are as follows;

    November, I love this time of year, no matter what direction you head on your Motorcycle the scenery is just breathtaking here in Ohio with the changing of the season and the explosion of colors that goes with it. For me this might be the greatest Driving Distraction anyone can encounter, Mother Nature is most impressive and I find I must concentrate extra hard to keep focused on the task at hand, operating a Motorcycle, while I travel around the State to further the Cause. I hope everyone was able to exercise their Constitutional Rights and Voted in the Ohio General Election November 4, 2014. I worked for the Franklin County Board of Elections as a Precinct Election Official / Voting Location Manager for Multiple Precincts again during this Election Cycle, and this is one way I personally contribute to do my part to further the election process for all the Citizens in the Great State of Ohio.

    The Motorcycle Riders Foundation 30th Meeting of the Minds was Held in Kansas City, Missouri, 9/25-28/2014 hosted by Missouri’s Freedom Of Road Riders. Ohio was well represented with 10 ABATE of Ohio, Inc. Members in attendance. This year’s conference was most excellent, starting with the Kansas City Harley Davidson Factory Tour for attendees who preregistered, this was a most interesting experience to be able to view a modern day Motorcycle Manufacturer’s Operation using the latest technology and how humans must be involved in every step of the way in the Manufacturing Process, every single Motorcycle Produced by that Plant is hand assembled and randomly a motorcycle is pulled of the end of the assembly line and thoroughly road tested and refined, so if you go into a dealership shopping for a new bike and a brand new one is sitting there with 30 some miles on it, that is the one to buy because Factory Quality Control Technicians have been over it with a fine tooth comb.

    The Conference itself was well put together from the opening ceremonies with Color Guard through the Awards Banquet to wrap it all up. As we have come to expect the entire spectrum of a State Motorcycle Rights Organization’s duties was covered and workshops on how to deal with specific challenges we all encounter as we work to further the Cause in our Home State. Being the 30th I found the Saturday morning General Session began with 4 Members of the First MRF Board of Directors, with a session of stories how we did it back then, the bumps in the road and growing pains all Rights Organizations must work through, to an open question and answer period to really understand what a monumental task it was to put together a National Grass Roots Motorcycle Organization that would be the voice for all SMRO’s across our Great Nation. Panelist were; Deb Buttita, Fred Harrell, Lee Richardson and Ohio’s own Garry Sellers. A Most Excellent Presentation! I was able to network with Mark “Mack” Backlund, State Coordinator for ABATE of Minnesota. Mack mailed me a copy of their Road Guard Training Manuel now available on the Minnesota Department of Public Safety website, so we have even more tools to try to Effect Road Guard Training in the upcoming Ohio Legislative Session.

                  Jim “SNAFU” Elgin

    At the September State Board of Directors Meeting, we submit our schedule of Events for all State and Region Events for the upcoming year, Open Nominations for ½ of the State Offices who are Members of the State Board of Directors. The State Offices open for nomination for the Term 2015/2016 are as follows; Chairman of the Board, State Deputy Directors A&C, State Government Relations Director, State Safety and Education Director, State Products Director, State Technology Director, Ohio MRF Representative and ABATE of Ohio Foundation Board Seat A. If you would like to nominate Member for any of these open Departments please forward to; stateoffice@abate.com.

   The State Legislature is back in session but being an Election Year not much will happen in the final months of the current 2 year session. We have more tools available with the Minnesota Department of Public Safety releasing their Road Guard Curriculum, so we can hit the ground running in 2015 with a re-energized effort to make Road Guard training happen in Ohio during the next Legislative Session at the State Capitol Building. We have many friends in our State Legislature, so reach out and touch base with them and volunteer in their campaign Headquarters, if you can give them some time to answer calls or pass hand bills for them, and more importantly get out and vote November 4th, because this is the strongest weapon we have to protect and preserve the Lifestyle we all enjoy so much.

   Thunder On The Strip, in Geneva On The Lake, Ohio was spectacular, this was the first time I was able to work closely with our New Region 12 Members and Officers and what a great bunch of people to be around. State Deputy Director A, Tim “T.J.” Johnson was there from start to finish and he and Mary Kay working with Jason & Jake & Crew, really had this thing wired and I just tried to keep out from under foot so they could do their thing. The ABATE Booth looked absolutely Professional was staffed at all times and they pulled off a successful Poker Run Sunday Morning to kind of put icing on the Event. Not Bad for a Brand New Region Board, walking in and making a stellar appearance at a Well Established Event. Job Well Done!

            United We Stand,
              Jim “SNAFU” Elgin

   WOW! September Already! Grab a hold of what’s left of the premium riding weather, because every day we will be getting closer to Old Man Winter.

    Wetzelland 2014, what a great time had by all, one reason is all the good people in, and friends of, The Wetzel Motorcycle Club; these folk really know how to put on a Party. This year the weather was not too hot and we had a small cloud burst Saturday, just enough to settle the dust, Great Entertainment, Good Food, a really good selection of Parts and Bling, as well as the People who attend this Fabulous Annual Party are the nicest People in the World, or so it seems to me. Thank You Wetzel M.C. for allowing us to be a part of your Most Memorable 28th Edition of one of the Best Weekenders to be had in the entire Nation, known as WETZELLAND.

   Back on track, September 1st, we will be wrapping up the Easyriders Rodeo in Chillicothe Ohio. Next up is the ABATE of Ohio, Inc. Region 12 / Thunder Roads Ohio Motorcycle Magazine,” Thunder On The Strip” Weekend Extravaganza September 5-7, 2014 in Geneva, Ohio 44041, with a most excellent Poker Run Sunday the 7th to top it all off. Saturday September 13th will be the ABATE of Ohio, Inc. State Board of Directors Meeting in Hilliard, Ohio and to round out the Month a bunch of us will be heading for Kansas City Missouri for the 30th Annual Motorcycle Riders Foundation Meeting of the Minds hosted by Missouri’s, Freedom of Road Riders, September 25-28, 2014. Also, Region 7’s Grub N Suds is 9/6/14, Region Zero’s Veterans Outreach Ride & Region 9’s Pickaway County 16th Anniversary Ride will be happening on 9/20/14 and Region 3’s Huge 29th Annual Toy Run will be 9/28/14, this one is early in the season but defiantly one of the best.

    Legislatively, Both Houses in the Ohio Legislature will be back in Session this Month so we have much work to do to move our Legislative Agenda before end of Session in an Election Year.

    Ride Safe! Look Twice Save A Life! The Life You Save Might Be Your Own!

            United We Stand,
              Jim “SNAFU” Elgin

    As I stated in my July COB Corner Article, I would report on our main State Fund Raising Event know as the June Jam, in this article because we were going to press with the July Outspokin’ edition before the June Jam occurred, so here is the deal. State Events Director, Carla Lawson, with the help of Co chair Region 4 Director, Ruby Worchuck, and Committee, put together one of the best Jams yet, with outstanding Musical Entertainment, silly Hillbilly Games, a Treasure Hunt and all the regular events that happen at our State Party. Problem is that Mother Nature did not cooperate with us; we had the worst forecast of any June Jam since the last year we were at the Blue Jacket Campground near Bellefontaine, Ohio many years ago. The Jam Forecast called for rain Thursday, Friday and Saturday, in reality we had a one hour shower Friday afternoon between 4p and 5p then it was done, but it was defiantly a soaker, we woke up Saturday Morning to a very light drizzle but it did not last long and when it cleared off Saturday turned out to be a Beautiful Day, the ground dried up and we held our Poker Run, Field Meets and all the rest of the Events designed to entertain our Members at our State Fundraiser. Bottom Line, we lost approximately $500.00 on the Event designed to turn a nice profit to help support the State Treasury for the coming year and that just did not happen. We had the lowest June Jam turn out (211) on record.

    What are we going to do about it? Preregister, doesn’t matter if you can make it or not, buy a ticket. And, Rededicate ourselves to supporting our own Region and County Events because these Events are going to have to pay the rent around here as to enable us to continue the Good Fight. I am asking every one of you to cross County and Region Lines to do your part to support the Cause, no matter what Region is hosting the Event, and you might just have a real good time in the process. We must be our own best friends.

   July was like hitching a ride on a Cyclone, with The AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, the Wauseon National and the 28th Annual Wetzelland 2014, throw in the July State Board of Directors Meeting and 4 Region Events, I think I can still feel the earth moving under my feet, Wahoo! A huge THANK YOU to The American Motorcyclist Association, The Antique Motorcycle Club of America, and The Wetzel Motorcycle Club for allowing us to partner up with them to bring an opportunity for all the people who attended these Events to have a chance to come visit with us and learn about the State Motorcycle Rights Movement here in the Great State of Ohio, we were able to recruit New Members at all of these Events, so Thank You All From The Bottom Of My Heart.

    August, I see 6 Region Events plus the Easyriders Rodeo Tour, Regions; Zero, 1, 5,6 & 9 are staging Events this Month so please support them. This is about all the room I have for my Article this Month so I will carry on in the next issue. Ride Safe! And Look Twice Save A Life! The Life You Save Might Be Your Own!

            United We Stand,
              Jim “SNAFU” Elgin

    July! With Ohio Bike Week in our rearview mirror, this appears to be the best one yet. Huge Thanks to Bob Crawford for inviting us to set the State Products Trailer up @ Margaritaville again this year, Bob put us front and center and we had a great volume of foot traffic stop in to chat and learn what a State Motorcycle Rights Organization is all about, and in so doing we gathered 12 new Members and sold the heck out of the Foundation “Look Twice” T-shirts and did well with our State Products Line. We could not do any of the above without a strong group of Volunteers, Hats Off! To State Deputy Director D, Brian Jordan who Managed the Entire Event Staffing and ABATE of Ohio Foundation Chairman, Jim Sprague who was there in a support mode for anything Brian needed and cover the State Trailer when we were short staffed, all the while managing the Raffle Bike Ticket Sales that kept everyone hopping . Teamwork is the key to success, Brian and Jim and Crew showed us what real Teamwork is all about. Thanks Team!

    June Jam is scheduled after the publication of this article. The Reports I am getting from State Events Director Carla Lawson and Committee sound like we are going to have an exceptionally “Great Time” this year and I will report to you further next Month.

    AMA Vintage Days, Lexington, Ohio 7/11-13/14; Wauseon National, Wauseon, Ohio 7/18-20/14; Wetzel M.C. Swap Meet, Wetzel, Ohio 7/25-27/14 are 3 Major Events where the State Products Trailer will set up and as always we can use all the help we can get to help staff these Events and Regions; Zero, 2, 6, 7, and 8 have Region Events this month so please get out and support Ourselves as well as the Major Events we will be working this July. Ride Safe! And Look Twice, Save A Life! The Life You Save Might Be Your Own!

            United We Stand,
              Jim “SNAFU” Elgin

    Motorcycle Awareness Rally and Parade 5/3/2014, was a huge success this year due to the hard work of State Safety and Education Director, Mike Stock, and the Region 9 After Rally Rally Party at Flangan’s Tavern in Blacklick, Ohio was a great location with plenty of parking for all our needs. I think we surprised them some though because the food was great but it was mighty slow coming out of the kitchen, seems like they could have used some more help in there, but overall I am very pleased with the entire Event in all aspects and a huge Thank You to Mike Stock and Kolman Fuzy and Crew. Job Well Done!

    On a sad note, while we were all enjoying the great weather and first class escorted parade from Sunbury, Ohio to the Ohio State Capitol Building in observance of May as Motorcycle Awareness Month, Ohio Highway Patrol Motor Officer, Sergeant Reggie Steicher, was helping direct traffic around the Columbus ½ Marathon and a motorist turned left in front of him in a right of way violation sticking his motorcycle and slamming him to the ground and breaking his leg in multiple places and also breaking his ankle. I ask you to keep Patrol Sergeant Steicher in your thoughts and prayers that he makes a full and speedy recovery.

    On a happy note, Mike Stock and I attended the Motorcycle Ohio, May Motorcycle Awareness Kick-Off Ceremony for the Ohio Department of Public Safety, Motorcycle Awareness and Safety Campaign 2014, May 14, 2014 @ Quaker Steak and Lube on 8500 Lyra Drive, Columbus, Ohio. The program was MC’d By Karhlton Moore, Director of the Office of Criminal Justice Services with presentations by John Born, Director of the Department of Public Safety, and Rob Dingman, President and CEO of The American Motorcyclist Association. The theme of this year’s Safety Program is Saved By The Helmet, this program goes back almost 30 years and ODPS decided to bring it to the forefront this year, the presentations were sharp and clear, emphasizing how well the Training and Education Programs as well as the Motorcycle Awareness Programs in Ohio have helped reduce MC Fatalities the past 2 years and the focus the Folks at ODPS have to continue the trend in reducing Motorcycle Crashes in 2014 and beyond.

    June brings us Ohio Bike Week in Sandusky, Ohio and our State Party in Logan, Ohio and also Regions Zero, 5 & 6 will be holding their Annual Events, so we have something going on in all 4 corners of the State this Month. I hope you are able to enjoy as many of these Events as your resources will allow. We will have a major presence again this year at Ohio Bike Week, the State Trailer will be at Margaritaville all ten days, and Managed by State Deputy Director D, Brian Jordan and State Safety and Education Director, Mike Stock will be working the Thunder Zone with Thunder Roads Magazine Team Downtown Sandusky, both Mike and Brian can use all the Help they can get to staff both locations, be there if you can, your help will be much appreciated.

    June Jam is right around the Corner, lest give it our best shot. Sell! Sell! Sell! State Events Director, Carla Lawson and Co chair, Region 4 Director, Ruby Worchuck, have been working their tails off to put together a solid fun filled weekend for us, remember this is our Largest State Fund Raising Event of the Year , so buy a ticket today! If you can make it, Great! If not you have helped fund ABATE of Ohio, Inc. for one more year. And don’t forget, you can buy Beverages, Ice and Snacks at the Campground Store.

            United We Stand,
              Jim “SNAFU” Elgin

    May is Motorcycle Awareness Month! Hope to see all of you in Sunbury, Ohio at A.D, Farrow North Star Dealership, May 3, 2014 to ride in the most awesome Motorcycle Parade this side of Heaven, or at least this side of the Ohio River. Also, ride in support of your Region Awareness Rides, the more Bikes we get in John Q. Publics Eyes, the better we get the message across that Motorcycles are Everywhere! Look Twice Save A Life.
    Blessing of the Bikes at University of Dayton Welcome Stadium, May 18th, this is a good one folks. Be there if you can possibly make it, Bill Jenks is looking for many more volunteers to help with the Motorcycle Parking at this event, So Be There!

    At the Statehouse, our Road Guard Bill H.B.406, is stalled in the water, we need to retool this one and deal with “Qualified Immunity Issues”. Law Enforcement Officials on the Negotiating Team feel we have overstated our position on this item and we need to find common ground that will be beneficial to all parties concerned. This is a relatively new proposal only Illinois and Minnesota have passed Road Guard Legislation to create a Supplemental State Certified Motorcycle Escort Corps, to assist or replace Law Enforcement Officers on Group Rides when a County or City Agency does not have the resources available to provide such service.

    The ABATE of Ohio, Inc’s, June Jam 2014 will be held @ The Woods at Kaeppner Place, 34070 Sutton Road, Logan, Ohio 43138, June 22-24, 2014. In my opinion this is a beautiful location for a weekender, State Events Director, Carla Lawson and Committee are really putting a great one together, buy your preregister tickets now because this is our biggest State Funraiser and we need all Members to support this Event. You have my personal guarantee that if you take part in the June Jam, You will get your money’s worth 10 fold.

            United We Stand,   Jim “SNAFU” Elgin

    The ABATE of Ohio, Inc., March State Board Meeting is the time where we get a firm grip on the upcoming Riding season here in the Great State of Ohio. With the State Seminar in our rearview mirror, this is the hot time of the year in our State Legislature, this is when Department Budget Bills are being finalized for the current year and these are the vehicles we have found most productive to move our initiatives forward, “GO WOODY!”

    On the Riding Side, the State Awareness Rally and the Dayton Blessing of the Bikes take Center Stage, Mike Stock Chairing the Awareness Rally and Bill Jenks chairing the Blessing of the Bikes are 2 of the best in the business, they can use all the help they can get, pulling of two huge early season Events, so volunteer to help them help us all. Note; The Columbus Crew, a Major League Professional Soccer Team, wants to do a Motorcycle Awareness Event at Crew Stadium with us this May, Mike Stock and I will work out the details and get back with you ASAP.

    Ohio Bike Week, this is going to be a Region Effort if we are going to be involved this year because I am on the road to recovery and will not be physically able to perform, at a usable level this year at this event. Brian Jordan is the State Deputy Director for that part of the State and whatever plan he makes for Bike Week I will support as best I can, I am hobbled and the corrective surgery I had is going to take 2 or 3 more months to fully recover and I will not do anything to compromise the healing process if I can help it. Speaking of that, I might need a friend with a sidecar to haul me around at the Awareness rally this year.

   June Jam Committee, chaired by State Events Director Carla Lawson, is coming together but there is still much work to do, Carla would like a Volunteer from each Region to act as the information pipeline for their part of the State, to help promote the Event as well as recruit some vendors from their area that support us to improve Vendor Row, we are the least expensive State Motorcycle Rights Rally in the Country, and we bring in a decent crowd to our Largest State Fund Raiser of the year so vendors are in a win win situation, Do not forget to preregister for the Jam Now!

   The best way I can think of to promote State Motorcycle Rights here in Ohio is for all our Members to help Advertise our Events. Call local Radio Stations all flavors, and ask them to do a Public Service Announcement (PSA), for us starting 1 week prior to the Event Date, contact Local Newspapers and try to get our message in their PSA section, if you are at a meeting and pick up a flier, Make copies and distribute them to your local Motorcycle Friendly Businesses. After All, our Events is how we fund the State Office; after all we do not want to go back to operating this Corporation out of a cigar box like we did in the beginning.

            United We Stand,
            Jim “SNAFU” Elgin

    The ABATE of Ohio, Inc. State Motorcycle Rights Seminar, February 1, 2014 @ the beautiful Deer Creek Lodge and Conference Center, in Mt. Sterling, Ohio was a great success. Thanks to the tireless efforts of the Seminar Committee co chaired by State Government Relations Director; Scott “Woody” Wood and Motorcycle Riders Foundation Ohio Representative; Robin Biltz Pickens. I am not sure who all was on the Committee, but a well laid plan allows you to succeed, and that is just what they did, in fine fashion. The Deer Creek Lodge Staff were great to work with and the Lunch and Banquet charges were most reasonable. I would go back there in a heartbeat. Seminar Keynote Speaker, State Representative Doug Green, made a very good presentation about how to work with your State Legislature and talked about our Road Guard Bill HB 406 and how he plans to move it forward rapidly, and we have a Proponent Testimony Hearing, tentatively scheduled for the first week of March, this is when we will get a feel of where the Committee stands on this issue.

   During the Banquet after the Seminar has concluded and after the Keynote Address has been delivered, traditionally we present Achievement Awards for the previous year. The first on the Agenda for the Awards Presentation are the Region MVP Awards or “Gold Eagles”, this year’s recipients are : Region 1 = Vickie Rayl, Region 2 = Terry Billy, Region 4 = Ruby Worchuck, Region 5 = Scott “Woody” Wood, Region 6 = Bill Jenks, Region 7 = Christina Dobson, Region 8 = Becky Pierce, Region 9 had a Husband and Wife Team who really carried the load = Brian & Susan Nissley, Region 14 = Steve Lindsay, Region 16 = Chase Whitman. Next on the Awards Agenda would be Department Directors Spirit Awards, this year the State Treasurer, State Safety and Education Director and The Newsletter Director, recognized the Members who really stepped up and helped them complete their tasks and whole heartedly support the cause.

   The Second Highest Award presented each year by ABATE of Ohio, Inc., is the Martin Meister Award. Created in 2009 after the untimely death of a truly fine, dedicated, and unwavering force behind the cause, The “Marty” denotes a person who gives their all, every day to keep us on the path to success. The 2013 winner of the Martin Meister Award is; T. Lynn Hardin, former 3 Term State Treasurer, Lynn joined the State Board of Directors as the Interim State Treasurer, September 2008, when our finances were a wreck. She balanced the books and set us on a path to regain solid financial footing for the Corporation and stayed with it 3 full 2 year terms, until we were double solid financially. This Award is well deserved!

    The Highest Award presented each year by ABATE of Ohio, Inc., is the Lifetime Achievement Award, recognized by every State Motorcycle Rights Organization Nationwide as reaching the Pinnacle of the never ending fight to protect the rights of the Riders here in our Home State as well as supporting all the SMRO’s around the world and the AMA and MRF who maintain constant vigilance in our Nations Capitol, protecting the lifestyle we have come to love. The 2013 winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award is; Imre Szauter, Imre is the Government Affairs Manager for the American Motorcyclist Association and also a Member of ABATE of Ohio, Inc., rumor has it he is going to retire from the AMA in July 2014 and move somewhere in the Great Northeastern United States. Imre is known and respected worldwide without a doubt. Here in Ohio, Imre has been a Guiding Light for many Freedom Fighters regardless of age when they decided to join the cause. I call him; FRIEND, I also think of him as a Trailblazer, Mentor, Leader, Coach, Quarterback, Teammate and one of the best resources I have on the History of Motorcycle Rights in America, on or off-road. When it came time to make the presentation Ed Schetter and I called on 2 of our Life Members Gary Sellers and Rod Taylor whom were in attendance and also Trailblazers in State Motorcycle Rights, to say a few words about the man chosen to receive the Highest Honor that we can bestow on a true leader for our cause in the year of our Lord 2013. Needless to say when Imre’s name was announced the entire room came to their feet for a Standing Ovation.

            United We Stand,
            Jim “SNAFU” Elgin

    I attended the 2014 Motorcycle Safety Rider Group Meeting, November 15, 2014 @ the Ohio Department of Public Safety Building, 1970 W. Broad Street, Columbus, OH 43218, The Meeting was hosted by Motorcycle Ohio and Chaired by Melissa “Missy” Armstrong, acting Director of Motorcycle Ohio, with the help of staff members, Pete Cline and Clairissa Vandergriff. Also attending the Meeting were; Michelle May, Bob Painter, Lourie Lang, Bob Wilson, Charlton Moore from ODOT AND ODPS, and Imre Szauter and Jim Witters from the American Motorcyclist Association, Chuck and Kati Geggi from Ohio Gold Wing Riders Group, Bill Bish, Ridin’ On Motorcycle Magazine and Barbara Clements representing the Ohio COC and from ABATE of Ohio, Inc., Mike Stock, State Safety and Education Director, Ken Howel, State Public Relations Committee Co chair and myself.

    Missy provided us with a very detailed recap of the 2013 Motorcycle Ohio Training Season with 13,562 Students Trained that is 1,046 fewer Students that went through the program in 2012 compared to 2013. This fact is causing some concern, classes not filling and being cancelled for the first time in recent memory. Of the 132 ( lowest yearly total in 21st century)people who died in Motorcycle crashes in the State of Ohio in 2013 over 30% of them were not endorsed, not trained how to safely operate a Motorcycle on city streets. If you or someone you know is riding a Motorcycle without an endorsement, do everything in your power to get them to register for a class and make sure they attend the class, so we can do an even better job of reducing Motorcycle fatalities in the State of Ohio in 2014, and I know you do not want to see your beautiful Motorcycle end up swinging from the hook of a Tow Truck.

    Michelle May, Director of the Ohio Department of Transportation, made a very important and detailed presentation on current road building and maintenance work going on around the State, detailing new and better techniques for increased traction and durability and design of all road building in the State of Ohio, and a comprehensive study of the Contributing Factors and Emphasis Areas of all crash fatalities for the current year (2013), as well as the past 3 year in the State of Ohio, and did an excellent job of gathering a detailed report of how, when and where Motorcycle Fatalities are occurring in our Great State. Did you know if you are a Motorcycle Rider between the ages of 36 and 55, your are most likely to die in a Motorcycle Crash any day of the Month of July @ 5pm at an intersection or driveway? And 61% of the Motorcycle Fatalities and Serious Injuries in the State of Ohio in 2013, the Motorcycle Operator was at fault. I hope these details make you stop and think before you drop her in gear.

            United We Stand,
            Jim “SNAFU” Elgin

    Happy New Year to One And ALL! Welcome to all State, Region and County Officers, with the help of our Members, let’s make 2014 our Best Year Yet! Looking back on all the accomplishments we achieved in the last 2 years in the Ohio State House, under the guidance of State Government Relations Director, Scott “Woody” Wood, with the help of many friends in our State Legislature, the 2012/2013 Session was banner years for Motorcyclist in the Great State of Ohio. Let’s keep the momentum going; with the post election realignment that will occur this month in both Houses, it looks like we will be in a very advantageous position to advance our agenda in this new Legislative Session. We need to hear your Ideas, so we can truly represent you to our State Legislators. Now comes the plug for our State Motorcycle Rights Seminar, February 1, 2014 @ The Deer Creek Lodge And Conference Center, 22300 State Park Road #20 Mount Sterling, Ohio 43143. This is the venue for you to be heard, we need as many of our Members as possible to be in attendance because this is where we map out our Legislative strategy for the upcoming year, and your input is extremely valuable to us.

   We need more Members, in these harsh economic times, our Membership numbers are dwindling, invite a Non Member to the Seminar so they can see what we are about and maybe they will want to join the Cause, we need all the Freedom Fighters we can find, regardless of what they ride. We are going to present some Old/New Member Getter Strategies at this Month’s State Board of Directors Meeting, so hold onto your hat, we are going to grow in 2014.

    Something else we are going to focus on is State Events. With the help of our new State Events Director, Carla Lawson, we are going to put all of our State Events on the Map. We have great people such as State Legislative Director, Scot “Woody” Wood, to Chair our Sate Seminar, and State Safety and Education Director, Mike Stock, to Chair the State Awareness Rally, Carla Lawson is going to work her Magic (with the help of a dedicated Committee) to produce the best Primary State Fundraiser, we have had in years, known as the ABATE of Ohio, Inc. June Jam. This is our State Party, we do presale on tickets for it, and every Member should buy a ticket, regardless of the fact if you can attend or not. If you do attend you are going to have one heck of a good time, if you cannot attend, you have supported your State Motorcycle Rights Organization’s Primary Fundraiser, and this helps us keep our Membership Prices Affordable.

            United We Stand,
            Jim “SNAFU” Elgin

    I want to thank and welcome all our Members who have stepped up to help us further State Motorcycle Rights here in the Great State of Ohio by accepting a nomination and being elected to a 2 year Department Directorship on the ABATE of Ohio, Inc. State Board of Directors. At this time I would also like to thank those Members who have served the Membership as a Department Head in the outgoing 2012/2013 State Board of Directors Officers Slate. Job Well Done!

    The results of the State Board of Directors election for the 2014/2015 Slate results are:

    The results from The Motorcycle Riders Foundation 29th Meeting of the Minds 2013, in Columbus, Ohio and according to all the MRF Officers I have talked with, this one is the best attendance in the last 4 years and also the best financially possibly ever. I am bursting with pride for every Member of ABATE of Ohio, Inc., who for the last 2 years have been preparing and supporting this fantastic undertaking to Host a World Class Event. OUTSTANDING!

    I have been able to attend a few Region Meetings recently and the Nomination Process for Region and County Officers for the 2014 term are progressing well, REMEMBER, November 14th is the last day Membership received in the State Office will be processed and added to the Region Voting Rosters. Speaking of Membership, with the Holidays rapidly approaching, think about giving a Membership to a Family Member or Friend, the economy is slowly getting stronger and we need to reach out and bring our Brothers and Sisters back into the fold who has had to step aside because of the hard times we all went through. We need Sport Bikers and Off Roader Riders to join the Cause to help us protect their Riding Lifestyle, the younger generation needs to step up and shoulder the responsibility to Preserve Motorcycling and work with the Legislature to improve the Motorcycle Experience in the Great State of Ohio.

    Legislation: Government Relations Director, Scott “Woody” Wood working with me, Executive Director Ed Schetter, State Safety and Education Director, Mike Stock and Imre Szauter with Marie Esselstein from the American Motorcyclist Association, have been working our Road Guard Bill, furiously in 3 interested parties Meeting with State Representative Doug Green and his staff to address a shortcoming in Ohio Motor Vehicle Law, read Woody’s article to get the scoop and do not forget to read Matt Mesarchick, Government Relations Director for Ohio Motorized Trails Association article this month, we must support our Off Road Brothers and Sisters.

            United We Stand,
            Jim “SNAFU” Elgin

    By the time you read this the Motorcycle Riders Foundation 29th Annual Meeting of the Minds will be in the History Books. I want to give a Great Big Heartfelt, Thank You! To the MRF for choosing ABATE of Ohio, Inc. to host the 2013 MOTM and all our Members and Friends who volunteered their time and effort to make this one something special for the attendees at the conference. I would also like to give special recognition to MRF Ohio State Representative Robin Biltz Pickens, who Chaired the Event Committee and oversaw the volunteer schedule and provided a first class leadership effort to fully staff all areas of our responsibilities before, during, and after the Event, as well as State Deputy Director Kolman Fuzy who Directed the Secure Motorcycle Parking Area for going above and beyond to give all our guest a relaxed and positive learning environment. This was an opportunity for ABATE of Ohio, Inc., to show the World how well organized we are and what Teamwork is all about.

    Woody has been busy with the Road Guard Bill, we had a 2nd Concerned Parties Meeting, August 27th hosted by Representative Doug Green with ABATE, AMA, FOP, OSHP, and Ohio Association of Chief of Police, in attendance. Coincidently OSHP had a crash report from the weekend before the Meeting, seems up in Northwest Ohio, a very large benefit run with about 400 riders was attempting to leaving the rally point parking lot when a couple of the riders on the Charity Ride, acted as traffic blockers to allow the parade to move out onto the road uninterrupted, seems they decided to block traffic on both sides of the road not only the direction of travel of the benefit ride. Well 2 motorcycles not associated with the benefit run and traveling very quickly in the opposite direction of the benefit run, ran straight into one of the blocker bikes crossways on the wrong side of the road. According to the OHSP it was a mess. With this information in hand, all sides seemed to agree that if the “BLOCKERS” had been properly trained this tragedy may have been avoided. So the difference between this Meeting and the one we had in May is, Law enforcement is now saying maybe when in May they were saying no way.

    OMTA vs. ODNR update, interested parties met at the ODNR HQ. in Columbus and come to find out the ODNR is doing a most excellent job of getting Federal Grant money and investing it in our State Parks and the problem they are having with the off-road riding community is a lack of communication on what, where and how much money is being directed to the maintenance and/or creation of new off-road trails for our citizens to enjoy, so the ODNR is establishing a information pipeline to the presidents of various off-road riding clubs and interested parties. GREAT!

            United We Stand,
            Jim “SNAFU” Elgin

    The Motorcycle Riders Foundation’s, Meeting of the Minds, September 26-29, 2013 Hosted by ABATE of Ohio, INC. @ Crown Plaza Columbus North, 6500 Doubletree Ave. Columbus, Ohio 43229. I am a veteran of the past 13 Meetings of the Mind Conferences and I urge you to be a part of the one In Columbus, Ohio this year. The information and training you will take away from this event working with your peers from around the world, will help keep you squared away for the next 12 months with many tools added to your toolbox to help you to promote Motorcycle Awareness and Safety to all peoples you encounter in your travels. BE THERE OR BE SQUARE!

    Also on the schedule for September is the R7 Grub ‘N Suds 9/7/13, State BOD Meeting 9/14/13, R5 Toy Run 9/14/13, R1 Sternwheeler Festival Bike Rodeo, R9 Pickaway County Anniversary Run and R14 Toy Run all on the 21st of September, as well as the R3 Toy Run 9/29/13. Yes we have something going on every weekend this month, pick and choose wisely, so you do not overextend yourself and still have the where withal to make it to the Meeting of the Minds.

    I want to Thank Wetzel M.C. for the great hospitality and providing another superb Swap Meet this year 8/26-28/13, the entertainment, weather and overall wonderful time we all had again this year, this one is defiantly going down as a good one for the memory book. What a great group of people, knocking themselves out, to put on the Best Biker Party in the State of Ohio, Thank You All!

            United We Stand,
            Jim “SNAFU” Elgin

    Hang Onto Your Hat, Here We Go! June Jam was a total blast this year for me and practically everyone I talked to at the party. The Hillbilly games Friday were a hoot and lots of fun if you entered the competition, although I think I came in last, I still had bunches of fun doing it. Hats off to Dave and Carla Lawson for putting this one together, we all enjoyed these games and the comradery that they generated. The count through the gate was about 40 people better than last year and we have room for plenty more, so far we are not even scratching the potential of this location, what a great place for a weekender, Committee Chair Carla Lawson and Co-Chair Ruby Worchuck, did a fantastic job putting our State Party together and are already busy building a bigger and better Event for next year. JOB WELL DONE!

    AMA Vintage Days and The Wauseon National are both July 19-21, we need volunteers to help at both events, I want to Thank the Volunteers for Vintage Days and they are: Diane Thompson, Carla Lawson, Bill Jenks, Paul, Vickie and Josh Rayl, Mike Stock, Paul Baskey, Kolman Fuzy, John “JR” and Kathy Gantner. Ruby Worchuck and John Shankster are gathering Volunteers for Wauseon, we will have a Report on that Event Next Month. Wetzelland 2013 is the following weekend and again we need all the help we can get. Great Party, Great People and a Roaring Good Time. Come one come all, and you will have a ball ( at least I do, every year).

    MOTM 2013 is right around the corner, PLEASE! Get all donations into the State Office so we can inventory the goods so we know what we still need to procure to make this the most memorable Hospitality Suite on record and get your preregistrations in so we have an accurate number and can pay for your banquet meals, and get a handle on Staff for this Event. OMTA Language was stricken from the 2 year State Budget Bill, so we will be starting over, to try to get the ODNR to accept a Selection Committee to determine how to spend the SRV Funds

    United We Stand, Jim “SNAFU” Elgin

    July and it is officially Summer, as of June 21st and things are really heating up, if you think June was a busy month, July we have 6 of our events on the schedule as well as 3 national events that we work plus a State Board of Directors Meeting crammed into just 31 days. Full Bore, Hot Foot Boogie! Let’s Get It On! AMA Vintage Days @ Mid Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, Ohio and the Wauseon National @ Fulton County Fairgrounds, Wauseon, Ohio share the same weekend this year and ABATE will be working in both locations again, with a little luck you could catch some of the best Motorcycle Racing in the State of Ohio, by traveling back and forth between the 2 venue’s, you see they are only about 120 miles apart and some of the racers do just that because both tracks are well put together and a great place for some motorcycle races. If you have been to Vintage Days, you know what I am talking about, if not, you really should check it out, same with the Wauseon National, racing and many vintage parts you may not see anywhere except maybe the Vintage Days Swap Meet. Once we have these 2 in the bag the following weekend is Wetzelland, again if you have not been there you really ought to check this one out, I am a veteran of many Wetzel weekends beginning with my first time being the first year Wetzel M.C. moved to the property where the party is now held. Words just do not do this one justice. Every time I have been there, I have had a great time.

    Backing up for a minute, I want to thank everyone who helped work Ohio Bike Week, the temperature was a little cooler than we are accustomed to, but all in all it was well worth it. Diane Thompson, T.J. & Mary Kay Johnson, Paully Baskey, Michele Marlow & Claude Schindorff, Brian Jordan, Springer, Ed Schetter, and any others who helped us make it happen. A Huge THANK YOU to Bob Crawford over at Margaritaville for providing a base of operations for us again this year, we were in with a good mix of vendors at one of the best restaurants in the area with the nicest help anyone might want to work with and great food to be enjoyed while you are there, this was a good one. I also want to thank everyone who supported the June Jam this year, I am writing this article a week before the Jam this year so I will catch up with you on the Jam Report next month.

        United We Stand,
        Jim “SNAFU” Elgin

    The Month of June brings us Ohio Bike Week, R 6 Greene County Poker Run, R Zero Not Just Another Damn Run, R 5 Car & Bike Show and the June Jam our State Party. Quite a busy month, we need volunteers to help staff all of these great events, I hope you can enjoy all of these great events so critical to our well being but most important, I need every Member to support the June Jam our State Party and chief fundraising event of the year, every year, we need your support. Buy a ticket for the Jam using the Preregistration form in this Magazine, even if you cannot attend this year. Strong attendance at our Events helps keep our Membership Fee low and affordable as well as providing the tools to protect the lifestyle we all enjoy, in our State Legislature and all over the Great State of Ohio.

    I want to back up a minute and Thank Everyone involved in the May Motorcycle Awareness Rally this year. Governor John Kasich, The Delaware County Sheriff’s Office, The City of Columbus and the Columbus Police Special Events Division, the Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board, the A.D. Farrow Harley Davidson Dealerships, Avon Tirez (thanks Ken Howell) and State Safety & Education Director Mike Stock, who gathered all the permits and escorts needed to carry out this event and all our Members who went out and secured over 180 May Awareness Proclamations from all around this Great State and all our Members and Friends who rode with us in the Parade to the State Capitol Building for the presentation of the Proclamations and also, State Representative Al Landis, who met us at the State House and gave a great Motorcycle Awareness presentation and also a talk to our Veterans, urging them to contact him if they need help with their Veterans Benefits and last but not least, Robin Biltz Pickens for managing the Registration Booth at the beginning of the run and Kolman Fuzy and the Region 9 Team for the fun After Rally Party at the end of the run. Beautiful Day, Wonderful People and a Great Ride!

    July is going to be just as busy, but we will get into that in next month’s article. We are still looking for someone to step up and take over Newsletter Editor Duties, and we are still looking for a State Products Director. The Supporter Banner Program for the MRF Meeting of the Minds here in Ohio, September 26-29, 2013 is our main focus now so go out and sell a banner to one of your favorite Motorcycle friendly business’s in your area, with your help the Meeting of the Minds is going to be GREAT!

        United We Stand,
        Jim “SNAFU” Elgin

    May Is Motorcycle Awareness Month, I hope you were able to join us for the Parade from the A.D. Farrow North Star Dealership in Sunbury Ohio, to the State Capitol Building in Downtown Columbus, on May 4th, for the reading of Governor Kasich Proclamation and the list of the rest of the Motorcycle Awareness Proclamations gathered by our Members from all over the Great State of Ohio. This was truly an Event to Behold. Great Job Everyone!

    Woody has done it again! State Representative Al Landis, offered an amendment to the State Operating Budget Bill, and It is now legal to park 2 Motorcycles in 1 unmetered parallel parking spot. If the parallel parking spot is metered, then you may park only one Motorcycle in this spot, same as always, Uncle has got to get his duckets. Now I must say Woody is on the job, we have respect and much support from elected officials in both Houses here in the State Capitol, the likes of which I have not seen since Gary Sellers and Lee Ryan used to pound the pavement in and around the State Capitol Building. Read Woody’s Article so he can bring you up to speed on the rest of our legislative initiatives for the 130th General Assembly.

    I traveled to Swanton Ohio, April 11th, to the Fulton County Courthouse, and met up with Newsletter Director, Diane Thompson. We were there to observe the Earplug Trial of a Brother Rider. Ralph Buss and his legal team were representing the accused in Judge Colin J. McQuade’s Courtroom. With expert testimony from Dr. Eric Quahley from The Ohio State University, who is conducting research in the Clinical Practice of Hearing Enhancement, testimony we could use at the Ohio Statehouse when we endeavor to get the verbiage in Ohio Revised Code: 4511.84, corrected so the statute would allow hearing protection foam type earplugs for operators of any motor vehicle. We believe Statute 4511.84 is unconstitutional as it is now written, because it prohibits any person operating a motor vehicle other than a Public Service Vehicle or Highway Department Vehicle or Machinery from wearing hearing protection devices such as Sound Deadening Foam Earplugs. The United States Constitution gives every citizen the right to take steps to protect their personal health and we have proof that a full face helmet only amplifies the high pitched frequencies that cause permanent hearing loss, so if you wear one of those suckers, you better have foam earplugs in your ears when you ride. One more reason why Adults should have a choice to wear a Crash Helmet or not. United We Stand! Jim ”SNAFU” Elgin

        United We Stand,
        Jim “SNAFU” Elgin