STATE COORDINATOR'S REPORT | |
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You should see new State Bylaws and Articles of Incorporation soon to vote on. Those votes will be taken back to BOD for a vote. Under the new bylaws, each member will get an individual vote on bylaws and state officer positions. So, we will also send those out via email to vote on. If your email is not current with the State, please contact Joe Cain, and he can help you with that. If you opt out of emails from ABATE of Washington, that is opting out of all emails, including voting.
Nominations for State Officers positions happened at the Board of Directors Meeting. Nominations were as follows:
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| Andy McAfee | State Coordinator | | Jeff Bowen | Deputy State Coordinator | | Steve Carlsberg | State Secretary | | Chad Holtquist | Westside Ambassador | | |
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As there were no other nominations. Those people were elected unopposed and will take office in July at the Board of Directors meeting. January 2025 there will be the following positions up for nomination: Deputy State Coordinator, State Treasurer, Eastside Ambassador. The current board is working hard on your behalf, and I am honored to work with each and every one of them.
Click here to read my full letter.
Andy McAfee
State Coordinator
ABATE of Washington
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ABATE Rider Remembered
A small crowd was allowed to meet with Kitsap County Public Works to unveil a sign erected in honor of Todd Snyder, a downed ABATE rider, on October 14th, 2019. The vehicle driver that crashed into Todd admitted to driving while distracted by an electronic device in the police report.
At the time of this writing, it is unknown if she ever was cited for turning left into Todd’s motorcycle while looking at her GPS.
Todd struggled to heal after spending months in Harborview and in and out of rehabilitation facilities. He never fully recovered from being driven into with a 2900 lb wrecking ball.
Todd Snyder was an ABATE member since 1990 and former Kitsap ABATE Chapter Coordinator (not to be confused with North Kitsap Chapter). In 2016, he won the ABATE Spring Opener Harley Davidson Street Glide. That was the bike he was riding when he was plowed into that . It’s also the bike he had been fixing, while he struggled to heal from his injuries. Often seen going to Silverdale Destination Harley, and buying parts from a used bike, he labored so that the Street Glide could be pieced back together. Todd finally succumbed to his injuries, as it took a toll on his heart. The surgeries, the infections, the stress, all took a toll, until his body gave out. While the bike was able to come back together, Todd wasn’t.
Read the Full Article
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By now, the 2024 Black Friday event is in the history books. Hopefully, everyone who attended was able to navigate the process successfully and had a decent experience. I want to thank everyone who helped put this Black Friday together and especially thank those who came to this important event.
Our legislative session is still underway, and it’s always a good idea to keep an eye on bills that affect riders, regardless of who presented or supports them. The bills that carried over from 2023 are:
- SB 5401 (Randall)/HB1063 (Corry): Modifying the operation of motorcycles on roadways laned for traffic (Lane Sharing)
- HB 1487 (Orcutt) Improving motorcycle safety by authorizing the use of the right shoulder of limited access roadways (Right Shoulder usage by motorcycles)
Read the Full Article
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We are in need of a new State Products Coordinator. If interested, please contact Bubba Bowen at [email protected]. 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
[email protected]
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MOTORCYCLE RIDERS FOUNDATION | |
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Is Green the New Gray Area?
Those of us who love riding motorcycles have known for a long time that the ultimate goal of the enemies of motorcycling is to get us off the road entirely. We've seen it with the recent push to outlaw internal combustion engines. There is a big push for this, but is it really feasible?
Read the full story here.
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Feds Hold Hearing on California Plan
On Wednesday, January 10th the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will hold a hearing on California's plan to eliminate the sale of cars and trucks powered by internal combustion engines by 2035.
The Clean Air Act allows California to seek a waiver of the preemption which prohibits states from enacting emission standards for new motor vehicles. The EPA must grant a waiver before California’s rules can be enforced. Put more simply, this hearing is where the California Air Resources Board asks the EPA permission to enact its plan.
Read the full story here.
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MRF Roadshow Stops: ABATE of Michigan
The MRF Roadshow is already in full swing as MRF Vice President Jay Jackson was present along with Michigan Representative Tim Walberg for ABATE of Michigan's Officer Training. Representative Walberg is Co-Chair of the House Motorcycle Caucus in Washington D.C., as well as the initial Sponsor of the Motorcyclist Anti-Profiling Resolution passed by the House of Representatives at the end of 2022.
Read the full story here.
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Scheduled CARB Hearing On Zero-Emission Motorcycles Has Been Postponed
In a move late this afternoon (Friday), the California Air Resources Board (CARB) announced a postponement of the planned hearing on motorcycle emissions policy. The hearing, scheduled for January 25th, does not have a new date announced.
Read the full story here.
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MRF Roadshow Stops: ABATE of Illinois
The MRF Roadshow pulled into Springfield, Illinois, recently. The ABATE of Illinois Seminar was held during a cold snap. Despite the frigid temperatures, the event was well attended and featured several key presentations.
Read the full story 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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Cutoffs Are Coming
I have been having, and continue to have, meetings with transportation leadership about our issues. It looks like a pilot project; driver/rider education may be the key to moving the lane-sharing bill forward. I can tell you that gentle but polite pressure from consistuents can make miracles happen.
We're also close to getting a sponsor for a weight fee mitigation bill. The proposed language is to create a new weight class of 1,300 lbs., which would cover all two-wheeled platforms and all but the most insane three-wheeled ones.
Read the full update here.
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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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Sauce-Off Challenge
February 24, 2024
| CLICK IMAGE TO VIEW FLYER | |  |
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Inland Northwest Motorcycle Show
March 8-10, 2024
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Sky Valley Shakin the Winter Blues
March 23, 2024
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Swap Meet (Forms & Info Below)
March 24, 2024
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Sky Valley 27th Annual Motorcycle Show
May 19, 2024
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Spring Opener
June 27-30, 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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CLICK IMAGE TO VIEW FLYER | CLICK IMAGE TO VIEW T-SHIRT ORDER FORM | | |
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Swap Meet Info
It took a bit however, we did it! Flyers (thank you, Tina Lawson) & forms have been updated and sent to the printer to be sent out to vendors.
We will do our best to make this a fantastic Swap Meet, but please remember that every one of us is new at planning and organizing it.
The forms are on the www.abate-wa.org page under EVENTS and linked below. Feel free to print off the registration form and send it along with payment to: ABATE of Washington Swap Meet, PO Box 8369, Tacoma, WA 98419, or email a request for forms to: [email protected] and we will get them sent to you.
Looking forward to seeing you all
Chris McAfee
Swap Meet Chair
Swap Meet Cover Letter
Swap Meet Reservation Form
Vendor Agreement Non-Food
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CLICK IMAGE TO VIEW FLYER | | | |
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EPCC
Greetings from EPCC!
By the time you are reading this, Black Friday will have happened, and I am sure I saw a lot of you at the Capitol! Coming up in March we have 2 events for EPCC we would love to see you at. The first is A Night Out With EPCC, March 2nd, 6 PM to Midnight at the Water Hole Pub on Main Street in Sumner.
Read More
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KEY PENINSULA
By now, the 2024 Black Friday event is in the history books. Hopefully, everyone who attended was able to navigate the process successfully and had a decent experience. I want to thank everyone who helped put this Black Friday together, and especially thank those who came to this important event.
READ MORE
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MASON COUNTY
Hello, and Happy New Year to all,
Every year, the Mason County Chapter adopts families and individuals, ranging from babies to the elderly, for Christmas.
This year, our chapter members adopted three families who were in need.
The holidays are all about giving. It is the best feeling knowing that we've made sure that several local children will indeed have a few gifts to open Christmas morning.
READ MORE
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NORTH KITSAP
The North Kitsap Chapter has an Annual Toy Run, that benefits ST. Michaels Center in Silverdale and surrounding communities over 30 years now, with the help of Key Peninsula Chapter these last few years.
To start our Annual Charity Event, we deliver barrels and donation boxes to our local bars and other establishments throughout the Mason, Bremerton, South & North Kitsap Count areas and have a Wing Ding at the Garage Bar and Grill, where we have Silent Auction Items, Raffle Items, and Live Entertainment.
READ MORE
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PACIFIC COUNTY
Black Friday is behind us, but the work goes on. If you are in the Olympia area, drop by and say “Hi” to your Legislators.
If that isn’t possible, send them an email. And……….(big And here) mention you need yard signs and want to be in the loop for election season. It never hurts to be helping the people you are asking to help us!
Stay sharp, and ride safe.
John Tschannen
Coordinator
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SPANAWAY
Brrrrrrr….
This cold weather can end anytime now!
How was all that Chili!! Thank you, Tony and Medicine Creek Riders, for running the show! Lots of good stuff out there so start getting those recipes together for next year!
Spanaway ABATE’s Soup Challenge will be held on February 24, 2024, @ VFW Post 969, 3510 McKinley Ave, Tacoma, at 6 pm. To be considered, soup MUST be entered no later than 5:45 pm. Let’s see what Ya’ll got!
READ MORE
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STAR LAKE
Greetings, everyone, and Happy New Year from Star Lake Chapter,
We had our Chapter meeting on January 7th, 2024, 11 am at Purdy’s Public House in Sumner. The chapter Coordinator gave a brief report on the BOD meeting that was held at the Eagles on January 6th. The chapter discussed and voted on changing the benefit ride event from Hopes Closet to CCS (Catholic Community Services) Kinship Support group on the ABATE calendar for June 1st,2024. Some of the chapter members were involved with CCS Kinship support group Christmas event in Kent on December 21st, 2023.
READ MORE
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Need to reach a specific Chapter?
Get their contact information here:
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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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