State Coordinator's Report | |
|
|
Has Summer finally arrived? I hope everyone has had a chance to get out and ride in this beautiful weather!
Spring Opener is fast approaching, let’s get those raffle tickets sold. As you know, the State of Washington has put a damper on what we can raffle regarding guns. I have had discussions with the Gambling Commission, and they have approved that, in place of the top two guns, we were going to raffle, replacing them with the cost of them, so prize number 1 is $2300 and prize number 2 is $850. A press release was also sent out regarding the gun raffle. Camping is still first come, first serve, beginning Thursday, June 22nd, 2023. We are still looking for vendors if you know anyone who might be interested. Contact Billi Bowen or Scott Robinson for information. It is shaping up to be a good year, so let’s all have a great time...Click here to read more
Andy McAfee
State Coordinator
| |
|
We are happy to announce that raffle tickets for our 2023 Spring Opener raffle are available for sale. Thanks to our sponsors Jake's Gun and Pawn, Apple State Harley Davidson, and Mike Myers Motorcycle Attorney, we have some amazing prizes!
Please reach out to your Gambling Representative, David Crawford, to check out raffle tickets. His cell for call or text is 206-427-0091.
Below are the rules regarding distribution and selling of the raffle ticket, please review them carefully and Happy Selling.
Spring Opener Raffle Ticket Rules:
- You must be an ABATE member in good standing to sell tickets.
- The ABATE member that checks out the tickets from our Gambling Representative is responsible for returning the whole ticket or the ticket stub & $10.
- The buyer and the seller must print their full legal first & last name as legible as possible. No nicknames, road names or initials please.
- Please be mindful that when selling the Raffle Tickets, we need to make sure everyone has a fair chance when it comes time for the drawing. Therefore, the ticket stub cannot be altered in any way. This means no lamination, stickers, tape, rips, folding or creasing etc.
- We ask that all SOLD tickets stubs & $10 be returned to the ABATE Gambling Representative by the June 11th, ECOM Meeting. The unsold tickets the member can keep & continue to try & keep selling. This is to help minimize the amount of cash & ticket stub counting we have to do the day of the event.
- By 12 noon on Saturday of the Spring Opener ALL tickets & sold ticket stub / $10 must be turned back into the ABATE Gambling Representatives for counting. At that time there will be sperate tickets checked out that will be sold at the event between 12 noon & 6pm. The Gambling Representatives & State Officers could stretch out the selling time up until 8:30 pm depending on where the Gambling Committee is at with counting the sold tickets & money.
- The drawing will be held at 10pm on Saturday, June 24, 2023
- The member that sells the winning ticket for the 2020 Road King will get a $200 Pre-paid Visa (The member will be asked to complete a W9 for us to report your winnings)
- The member that sells the winning ticket for the Tommy Gun will get a $200 Pre-paid Visa (The member will be asked to complete a W9 for us to report your winnings)
- The members that sell any other of the winning tickets will get 1 Spring Opener member ticket for the 2024 Spring Opener event.
- For any Chapter that sells 50 of the bike tickets OR 50 of the gun tickets (but not a combination of the two together) will get a Gift Certificate good for 1 Free Member Spring Opener ticket for the next year’s event. The Gift Certificates will be given to the Chapter Coordinators to pass out to the winning members of their chapter at the BOD in October.
The Vendor Registration form is attached here!
| |
Official 2023 Spring Opener T-Shirts On Sale Now! | |
|
We will take preorders WITH payment before the event. We have a limited number of shirts, sweatshirts, and bandanas. | |
|
Sizes
T-Shirts:
Sweatshirts (Pullover Hoodies):
Bandanas:
| |
|
To order
Message Cheryl Holtquist through
FB Messenger OR Email at [email protected]
(copy/paste the Email address into your Email’s address bar if link is not working)
Payment Options
Payment can be made in one of four ways:
- CC info over the phone -Processed through our PayPal acct
- Venmo
- Check
- Cash
| |
|
Delivery
Orders can be picked up at the Products booth at either the Swap Meet or the Spring Opener or you can pick them up at BOD (or have your Chapter Coordinator pick them up for you). I can also mail them but there will be an additional $3 per shirt fee for postage ($5 per sweatshirt).
| |
|
PRINTER
Parsons Printwares
https://www.parsonsprintwares.com
Shirt design by Tina Lawson and Scott Robinson
ABATE of WA Spring Opener
NOTE:
The Poker Run T-Shirt can be purchased through Spanaway who is the sponsoring Chapter for that event.
| |
ABATE Gun Raffle 2023 - Press Release | |
|
|
As most of you know, the State of Washington has outlawed the sale and transfer of high-capacity magazines and semi-automatic guns. Whether you agree or disagree this is where we are at. The top two guns in our raffle can no longer be raffled off. I have contacted the State Gambling commission and they understand the situation we are faced with...
Click here to read more.
| |
|
“Texas” Larry Walker
Legislative Affairs Officer, ABATE of WA
360-271-9285
“Texas” Larry Walker is an 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 well over 40 years of riding experience.
Into the Interim We Go
If you have been living under a rock and do not know, none of our proposed bills for congestion relief, i.e., lane sharing and shoulder riding, made it out of committee. This will make things more difficult next year, but not impossible. We will need to get enough popular support in the House and Senate so that they can be brought back to life and reported out of committee. Everyone needs to contact your Representatives and Senator, meet with them back in district, and (politely) press the case for keeping the bills moving forward. To recap the bill numbers, HB 1063 and SB 5401 are the lane sharing bills, and HB 1487 is the shoulder riding bill. HB 1063 never got a hearing, so it has the lowest probability of moving...
Click here to read more.
| |
Motorcycle Riders Foundation | |
|
|
Life-long Freedom Fighter - Still Ray Fitzgerald
Sadly, the motorcycling community has lost another life-long motorcycling freedom fighter. STILL RAY FITZGERALD died peacefully in hospice care in Prescott, Arizona, on May 2nd.
Still Ray was an ABATE of Arizona lifetime member since January 1, 1987. He had been ABATE Yavapai Chapter Coordinator, ABATE of Arizona Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Arizona Confederation of Motorcycle Clubs Chairman, the Journeymen Motorcycle Club President, the first Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) Club Rep., a member of the Sturgis... Click here to read more.
| | | |
|
Bikers, Bikers Everywhere!
This week bikers from across the nation descended on Capitol Hill. The 2023 Motorcycle Riders Foundation’s (MRF) Bikers Inside the Beltway was the largest event in the 14-year history of the event! Motorcyclists from 34 states made the trip to Washington, D.C. to advocate for issues that matter to the street rider... Click here to read more.
| | | |
American Income Life - FREE Accidental Life & Dismemberment | |
|
 | |
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
| | | |
|
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]
| | | |
|
Rumor has it that summer is coming, and with the weather getting more amenable, many riders load up their bikes and head cross country. Spending multiple days on the road covering longer distances has its’ own set of problems. Careful consideration should be done prior to heading out to see Finley’s Ball in Weston, MO. (Google it, Campers)
Click here to read more.
“Texas” Larry Walker
ABATE of WA
Safety and Education
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 well over 40 years of riding experience.
| | | |
|
Hurricane Ridge
June 4,2023
| CLICK IMAGE TO VIEW FLYER | |  |
|
Scleroderma Foundation Ride
June 10, 2023
| CLICK IMAGE TO VIEW FLYER | | |
|
Pacific County 25th Annual 101 Run
June 10, 2023
| CLICK IMAGE TO VIEW FLYER | | |
CLICK IMAGE TO VIEW FLYER | | |
|
Spring Opener
June 22-25, 2023
| CLICK IMAGE TO VIEW FLYER | | |
|
Demolition Derby
July 4,2023
| CLICK IMAGE TO VIEW FLYER | | |
|
Columbia Gorge Chapter 4th of July Poker Run
July 4, 2023
| CLICK IMAGE TO VIEW FLYER | | |
|
Columbia Gorge Chapter Barrel Racing
July 4,2023
| CLICK IMAGE TO VIEW FLYER | | |
CLICK IMAGE TO VIEW FLYER | | |
|
Bowl-a-Thon
July 16, 2023
| CLICK IMAGE TO VIEW FLYER | | |
|
19th Annual Kickback Campout
August 20,2023
| CLICK IMAGE TO VIEW FLYER | | |
|
Run to the Desert
August 25-27, 2023
| CLICK IMAGE TO VIEW FLYER | | |
|
Oyster Run 2023
September 24, 2023
| CLICK IMAGE TO VIEW FLYER | | |
RIDER REIMBURSEMENT
Complete a State-Approved Rider Safety Course to receive $50 reimbursement & more!
CLICK IMAGE TO VIEW FLYER
| | |
|
KEY PENINSULA
Greetings from the 'Pen!
We recently ran our annual chapter Sunday Fun Run to what we consider a great success. We had over 30 bikes show up and ride with us and members from SKCC, North Kitsap, Mason county chapter and members of Freedom Rider R/C from Spanaway came. READ MORE
| |
PACIFIC COUNTY
Our Pigout Charity Run is behind us. We had beautiful weather and a great turnout. Thanks to our Brothers and Sisters from North Coast and Lower Columbia Chapters of ABATE of Oregon for supporting us. The mileage champions were Silas (Vancouver) and Randy (Kalama), riding out for a good ride and BBQ. READ MORE
| |
SKCC
Hello from South King County Chapter.
The sun is here, thank God.
We have been getting out on rides and events with other chapters and having a great time.
Our chapter has resumed hosting a beer garden at Jet City Harley Davidson, it is a good venue to meet new prospective members and share information about ABATE. It is always good to see friends stop by to say hi.
Spring Opener is just around the corner, we are excited. Our chapter will be organizing and holding a Corn Hole tournament this year. There will be games held Thursday, Friday and Saturday with prizes given out each day. See us to sign up.
Everyone ride safe.
See you out on the road.
Eric
SKCC
Secretary / Treasurer
| |
|
SPANAWAY
Here we are mid-May, and things are really getting busy.
We attended Tacoma’s Taco Feed, as always a great time. Good job to everyone that helped put the event on.
John K run was a moderate success. A few folks braved the chance of getting wet for a fun ride down through Shelton and back. READ MORE
| |
STAR LAKE
Greetings everyone from Star Lake Chapter,
We had our monthly chapter meeting May 7th, 2023, 10am-11am at Purdy’s Public House in Sumner. The chapter is still making great progress with planning for upcoming year events and rides. The Chapter discussed the upcoming Lakes Run ride on May 13th and finalized details for the event. Huge Kudos to our Road Captain and the entire Star Lake chapter members for a great ride event support. We are small but we are mighty. READ MORE
|
|
Need to reach a specific Chapter?
Get their contact information here:
| |
|
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.
| | |
|
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.
| | |
|
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.
| | |
|
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:
| | | | | |
