Abate Region 20 May 2017 Newsletter

May is Motorcycle Awareness Month.  Help spread the word! 

No meeting for Shiawassee.

At Genesee, no new members or guests. 

Secretary and Treasurer’s Reports were read and approved. 

Membership Report by Audrey:   Welcome new member Bruce! Thanks for coming to Our Awareness Ride and Party. We look forward to seeing you around and Thanks for Giving' a S**t!

The new business cards seem to be generating some buzz, please take some membership forms and leave them places that you frequent.

Who would be interested in participating in dinner runs? Let's get together and get ourselves out there. Being seen as a group is another great way for us to be noticed in our community. Please contact myself 810-342-8960 or Kritter 810-723-8711.  Let's get something going!

L.O Report by Larry:  Things to watch: 

HB4306 – Increase motorcycle endorsement fee $2.00 for the Safety Education Fund; 24 co-sponsors; Passed Transportation Committee, 14 yes – 0 no.  A floor vote was attempted, but opposition from the Republican Caucus stated this is a tax increase.  It is a user fee created for “Look Twice Save A Life”. The cost is an extra one-time $2.50 on the original motorcycle endorsement and $2.00 on the 4 year renewal. This would raise the plate fee from $23.00 to $25.00 with $2.00 going to the current Motorcycle Safety Fund. 

SB160 – Autocycle passed.  Expect a possible compromise bill. 

SB240, 241 – Introduced by Region 11’s Senator Steve Beida.  Bills are to change the make-up of the MCCA Board. These bills would mandate a yearly audit and subject MCCA to the Provision of Open Meetings Act and FOIA. Bills are currently in the Senate Insurance Committee. 

CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATORS!! 

Senator Ruth Johnson is having a ride on May 9th from Vehicle City in Flint.

Legislative Days are: May 17th.  May 31st – Freedom Rally at the Capitol Steps at Noon. 

Listening Tour Town Hall Meeting, May 15, 2017, 6:00pm to 7:30pm at Grand Blanc City Hall. Reps Tim Sneller, Pam Faris, Phil Phelps and Sheldon Neeley; House Democratic Floor Leader Christine Greig.

Jim Ananich Coffee Hours:

May 5, 2017: Scotty’s in Burton – 9am to 10:30am.

May 5, 2017: Thetford Twp Sr. Center – 11am to Noon.

May 5, 2017: Mt. Morris Library – 12:30pm to 1:30pm.

May 15, 2017: Swartz Creek Sr. Center – 10am to 11am. 

MRF News:  9th Annual Bikers inside the beltway – ride to DC – meet with Senators and Representatives – May 22 and 23, 2017. 

Meeting of the Minds – September 21-25, 2017 – Williamsburg, VA. Considered “Seminar on Steroids”. 

“STOP THE TEXTS – STOP THE WRECKS” - Pass it on!   46 states including DC, Puerto Rico, Guam and the US Virgin Islands have banned text messaging for ALL drivers.

The biggest fundraiser for ABATE of MI is the bike raffle.  Please see Larry Flood for tickets.

Cares & Concerns by Carrie: 

Thoughts & Prayers: Ray Martin and Family; Booboo and Bubbles; Carrie and Larry; All Bikers; All Military. 

Birthdays:  Becky Towns, Santa, Ron Conroy, Lumpy, Kenny Malley. 

Facebook:  We now have 570 likes with a goal of 600!! 

Awareness by Kritter: 

Taught 114 students for April.  Total for the year 322. 

ABATE of MI has 3 responsibilities:  Political; Rider Safety and Awareness.  We won’t have a billboard for 2017, but will have one for 2018. We are currently pre-paying for that billboard.  Kritter appreciated all the support at the Awareness Ride and at the Awareness Party.  A great big thank you to Captain’s Quarters to letting us have our event there.  Also thanks to all that threw water balloons at me and Audrey.  It was a bit cold but we toughed it out for such a great cause.

Kritter needs help with the Awareness classes! In your spare time come on out and check out a class, pass out supplies, listen in, see if it is something you feel you can do, it is not hard.  We really could use more on the team.  

Awareness signs available for $10.  Feel free to pass that on to Motorcycle supporters to purchase signs for their lawns as well.  The more eyes looking for bikes, the better!! 

There will be an events meeting, May 15, any event ideas, please contact Sassy, sassyregion20@yahoo.com. 

RC Report by Mike:   Field Meet, June 9, 10 and 11.  Mike will be towing the trailer so you can put your stuff in it, put your name on your items and get them to Audrey’s house by Wednesday, June 7.

Need Sergeant of Arms to temporarily fill in until Booboo is ready to take the job back.  Thanks Bubbles for your assistance this meeting. 

Our Shiawassee meetings will be held at 2pm at Hickory Lounge on Sunday, June 4.   Our next Genesee meeting will be on Monday, June 5 at Sharky’s in Burton at 7pm.

Starting Monday, July 10, Genesee Meetings will be held at Captain’s Quarters, 6011 East Atherton, Burton at the Corner of Belsay and Atherton.