STATE COORDINATOR'S REPORT | |
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I had the opportunity to attend the Spokane Motorcycle Show this past weekend. Thank you to the Spokane Chapter for their hospitality. What a great group of people. Spokane Chapter signed up over twenty new members in three days.
During the Spokane Show, I attended the WA State Department of Licensing and Motorcycle Safety Advisory Board. They will run a scholarship program for primary rider education to get your endorsement. Their next meeting will be at Spring Opener in June.
You, as members, should vote on several things at your chapter meetings, and some of these will be sent out to each member as part of the new bylaws. Under the new bylaws, each member will get a vote on State Executive officers and changes to the bylaws.
You can click here for my full letter with more information about these important votes and some reminders for our Chapter Secretaries, Treasures, and Coordinators. See you all at the Board of Directors meeting on April 20. Get out and ride; the weather is changing. SELL bike Raffle tickets, please; we only made 5000 tickets. Better odds than the lottery.
Andy McAfee
State Coordinator
ABATE of Washington
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Greetings friends!
This is my first newsletter article as your State Ambassador at Large. I wanted to do a couple of things in writing this. First is to let you know we have a small but eager group of folks who are working hard to get a chapter back in Olympia. Their first meeting is planned for April 14 at 3 pm at the VFW post in Olympia. They also have already had a couple of rides and socials to get folks interested. Please keep an eye open for these events and make time to attend to support them in getting their flag back.
The next thing I will ask you for is some help with points of contact in areas where we don’t currently have a chapter. I’m thinking of Whidbey Island, Wenatchee, and Vancouver. I’d love us to have a chapter in Winthrop or the Grand Coulee area. If you know people who ride in these or other unrepresented areas, please contact me Ambassador2.AbateofWashington@gmail.com
Thanks for reading. We’ll see you out in the wind!
Chad Holtquist
Abate of Washington
State Ambassador at Large
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June 27-30
Keep Selling Those Tickets!
Thank you to those who have turned in their ‘sold’ raffle tickets and money. ABATE has 5000 tickets to sell. Please let’s do what we can to get these sold. If you need more tickets, reach out. Andy or I will meet up with you.
I would appreciate it if you brought the tickets you sold and money to the April BOD meeting so you can check out more.
Also, make sure the person purchasing the raffle ticket uses their ‘real’ name and that it is legible. They need not be present to win!
Thank you for helping make ABATE and this raffle great!
Chris McAfee
Click here for the Raffle Ticket rules
Spring Opener Flyer
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We are in need of a new State Products Coordinator. If interested, please contact Bubba Bowen at srdeputy.abateofwashington@gmail.com. A special thank you to Cheryl Holtquist for all her hard work. | | | |
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Thanks to all of you who have submitted articles, chapter reports, and photographs for our Freedom Newsletter.
I will send an email confirmation of each submission I receive. If you do not receive written confirmation from me, the submission did not arrive as planned. Please reach out to me so that I can ensure your submission is included in the next month's newsletter. I will respond with an email confirmation. As always, thank you for sending your submissions by the 15th of each month.
With respect and gratitude,
Shari Carlsberg
ABATE Freedom Newsletter Editor
newsletter.abateofwashington@gmail.com
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American Income Life - FREE Accidental Life & Dismemberment | |
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If you are a current non-expired member of ABATE of Washington, you will be receiving, or have already received a ‘beneficiary card’ in the mail from American Income Life (AIL).
These cards are mailed out annually to ABATE members as a reminder to update your beneficiary or add some ‘life insurance’ for yourself and/or your family. AIL provides a free ‘accidental death and dismemberment’ of up to $4000 to any non-expired ABATE member. What this means is: if you are involved in an accident and die or lose an arm/leg/eye, etc. AIL will pay you or your beneficiary up to $4000. AIL also offers other life insurance, and if you are interested in getting any type of life insurance or adding to what you already have, they can help you out.
What I’m asking of you members is, please, when they call, be considerate. They are just trying to do their jobs. If you are not interested in any other insurance, let them know and ask them to send you your certificate. If you would like to hear more about the insurance they provide, they will schedule a meet-up with you and give you other options. If you feel that you are being harassed after saying no, please get the person's name and phone number and send it to me.
I cannot stress enough about making sure your beneficiary is up to date with AIL or any other insurance policy you have. Finding out, after the fact, that someone you did NOT want to be the recipient of your demise is too late!
Please, this is a FREE benefit that AIL provides to non-expired ABATE Members, be courteous to them. Click here to read more.
Andy McAfee
State Coordinator
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MOTORCYCLE RIDERS FOUNDATION | |
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MRF Roadshow Stops: Missouri Freedom of Road Riders
On March 9th, MRF Director of Memership Eric Ross and MRF A&E Board Assistant Ron Braaksma attended a Freedom of Road Riders conference in Jefferson City, Missouri. Engaging discussions were held on topics like the 2023 MRF accomplishments, the Legislative Agenda for 2024, Right to Repair issues, and more.
Read the full story here.
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MRF Reps Visit Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Test Center
Last week, Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) Vice President Jay Jackson and D.C. Lobbyist Rocky Fox visited the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) at its crash test center 100 miles outside Washington, D.C. in Ruckersville, Virginia. The meeting was a combined effort to find common ground on policies that can help achieve mutual success.
Read the full story here.
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What is the Chevron Deference, and Why Does it Matter?
Earlier this year, the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in a case that could upend the current regulatory framework in Washington, D.C. The current case is questioning a 40-year-old precedent that impacts all three branches of the federal government.
Read the full story here.
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Ed Youngblood, Former President of the AMA, Passes at Age 80
The Motorcycle Riders Foundation is sad to announce the passing of an esteemed figure in the motorcycling community, Ed Youngblood.
Ed was a strong supporter of the motorcyclist rights movement. In 2018, Ed was inducted into the Motorcycle Riders Foundation Freedom Fighter Hall of Fame.
Read the full story here.
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“Texas” Larry Walker
Legislative Affairs Officer, ABATE of WA
360-271-9285
The MRF and You
What we do on the state level, the Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) does on the national level, maintaining a full-time lobbying presence in Washington, DC. It also assists State Motorcyclist Rights Organizations (SMROs) in pursuing their state-level goals, as well as working with their federal representatives. Two events that the MRF puts on are the Bikers Inside the Beltway, where riders come to DC to work with their state congressional delegations, and The Meeting of the Minds, an annual conference where riders from all over the nation get together to learn from each other and the national leaders. Some of the issues that the MRF is working on include...
Read the full update here.
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2024 Session Review and Looking Forward
The Legislature has adjourned Sine Die (Without a day) and everyone has gone back to their regular lives, many of which to run on (or from) their record. This moves us into the campaign season, which is our opportunity to get involved on a local and personal level.
The good news is that we can get back to our regular lives and ride motorcycles. The bad news is that we have a lot of work to do during the interim, as well as some hard choices to make. Do we continue to pursue the pure lane sharing/splitting issue in accordance with the California model, or do we opt to look at a filtering option such has been implemented in Utah and Arizona? Colorado is…
Read the full update here.
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“Texas” Larry Walker
Legislative Affairs Officer, ABATE of WA
360-271-9285
Background:
“Texas” Larry Walker is a nationally certified Rider Coach for novice, intermediate, and advanced training. He is the Senior Instructor for Navy Region Northwest, a long-time motorcyclist rights advocate with over 45 years of riding experience.
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Out of Hibernation
Now that “riding season” is around the corner we need to bring our bikes out of hibernation. We also need to bring our brains up to snuff after spending more time than we would like under a steering wheel and not behind the handlebars.
First, let’s consider the bike.
Of course, tires are some low-hanging fruit, but they are more than just the air pressure. What is the overall condition of the tires? Sidewalls? Tread? Traction capabilities? Sidewalls and tread are pretty easy, but what about that traction portion? It's very important because as tires age, they get harder, ergo less grippy, and what might have worked well on Chinook Pass last year might not be as effective this…
Read the full update here.
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CLICK IMAGE TO VIEW T-SHIRT ORDER FORM | | |
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Foothils Chapter Terry Home Easter Ride
April 7, 2024
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All Motorcycle Swap Meet Kliever Memorial Armory
April 21, 2024
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South King County Chapter Otta Control Night
May 4, 2024
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17th Annual Memorial Ride
May 18, 2024
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Sky Valley 27th Annual Motorcycle Show
May 19, 2024
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Spokane Chapter Let Them Stare Make Them Aware
May 19, 2024
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Spring Opener
Mark your Calendars!
June 27 - June 30, 2024
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Demolition Derby and Fireworks
July 4, 2024
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RIDER REIMBURSEMENT
Complete a State-Approved Rider Safety Course to receive $50 reimbursement & more!
CLICK IMAGE TO VIEW FLYER
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COLUMBIA GORGE
Greetings from Columbia Gorge.
Here are our upcoming events for May, June, and July. Join us and have some fun!
READ MORE
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KEY PENINSULA
Greetings from the ‘Pen!
Did you get out and ride today!?! Looks like decent weather is back and there’s no good reason for any of us not to be getting our knees in the breeze. The yard work will wait and be there when you get back. Be mindful of the bugs and gremlins that seems to attach themselves if you haven’t ridden for awhile. Small stuff unchecked doesn’t fix itself, it only gets worse. Oh and have a look at your brakes and tires, trust me.
READ MORE
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PACIFIC COUNTY
It looks like Spring finally arrived! Last week I was 4-wheelin’ in the snow, and now it looks like Riding Season!
Be sure to check your bike over before that first couple rides, little issues can crop up over the Winter.
READ MORE
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SKCC
Hello, Brothers and sisters.
Spring has sprung, we all lost an hour but have gained some light at the end of each day.
We slowly claw our way to summer, dryer and warmer days are in our future, get out there and ride any chance you get.
READ MORE
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SPANAWAY
Hello from Spanaway ABATE!
The weather is starting to cooperate for some fantastic rides, now is the time to make sure your bike and tires will keep you safe.
We had our annual ‘wing-ding,’ which was one of Billy De’s favorite events. Unfortunately, we only had 5 entries’ however, they were all extremely yummy.
READ MORE
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Need to reach a specific Chapter?
Get their contact information here:
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Who We Are
We’ve been helping people for almost 30 years. We’re smart, efficient, and sophisticated. We measure success by the results achieved for our clients. Most of our cases involve a motorcycle, bicycle, and auto collisions. We work on a contingent fee basis. We only get paid if there’s a recovery. Not only do we do all the work, we also advance all the costs necessary to prepare the case for trial. Clients don’t have to pay any money upfront.
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Pinewood Derby
When you get past the surface, no one is an average or run-of-the-mill person.
That begs the question: Does it make sense to go beyond the surface? In a case with $8,000 of chiropractic treatment it probably doesn’t move the needle. And it’s probably not necessary when someone has lost limbs or been rendered quadriplegic... Click here to read more.
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The Pen is Mightier Than the Sword
Not many First Amendment cases get filed. The vast majority—maybe 99 percent—get dismissed.
But ours didn’t. Last week we tried an important First Amendment case in the federal courthouse in Richland.
Click here to read more.
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Thirty Years in the Saddle
And just like that it’s been 30 years since I started practicing law.
My first job was at a law firm. But I didn’t like being told what to do. So three years (and three firms) later I started Myers & Company. My first business card read: Comprehensive Legal Services.
I didn’t want to miss an opportunity. Ever since then I’ve been narrowing my practice. At this point I just represent people who have been hurt—physically or financially—by someone else.
Click here to read more.
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Small Things Make a Big Difference
Most stories have a theme:
Fate v. Free Will
Good v. Evil
Man v. Nature
So do personal injury cases. Themes help tie together evidence and remind juries why what they’re hearing is important.
One of the big struggles is figuring out what theme really fits the facts of the case. A theme that isn’t quite right... Click here to read more.
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Filling in the Blanks
Most people have a pretty clear memory of how they got hurt. Frequently their memories are punctuated with very specific details. “That son of a bitch looked me right in the eye before turning left.” “The front door mat was a bright pastel color.” “The impact made a sound just like an M-80 going off.” But when you go through something traumatic, like a motorcycle wreck, the brain isn’t focused on making memories—it’s focused on survival. The same mechanisms that keep the brain sharp enough to escape immediate danger may also make it harder to accurately recall the event.
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He Passed Me Going 90 MPH
In just about every motorcycle case we have there
are allegations that our client was speeding. There are a couple of important things to know about the issue of motorcycle speed. The first relates to the reliability of witness observations. The second deals with the way courts deal with favored drivers exceeding the speed limit.
Witnesses are almost always wrong about
motorcycle speed. It may be based on the relatively small size of motorcycles compared to other vehicles. Or it may be based on witness bias.
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Public Health and Relations Crisis
The concept of public health has really expanded. It used to focus on disease. Now it includes things like gun deaths. New York’s Governor recently declared
a gun violence disaster emergency. This new strategy treats gun violence as a public health crisis. We have a public health crisis of our own in Washington. It doesn’t have anything to do with guns. Or COVID-19. It has to do with motorcycles.
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What the Jury Doesn't Hear
The evidence rules have a big impact on what the jury gets to hear (and what it doesn’t get to hear). Evidence can seem a lot like an iceberg: 10 percent visible, 90 percent below the surface.
A lot of the evidence rules are counter-intuitive. Here’s what the jury doesn’t get to hear in a personal injury case:
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