STATE COORDINATOR'S REPORT | |
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I hope to see many of you at STEAM, BOD, in Yakima at the end of this month. If you are a new officer or thinking about being an officer in the future, STEAM is where you should be. It is a chance for you to learn and become a great leader in ABATE of Washington.
I have had a chance to attend a few events in August and September. The South Kitsap’s Steal Horse rodeo was a fun experience, and it was great to see it coming back post-COVID. I look forward to going again when I can spend some more time there. Lewis County's Kick Back Camp didn’t disappoint, as expected. Both events are on the same weekend for several reasons, but they are quality events worth checking out. I know, if possible, they are trying to fix that, if possible, for a number of scheduling issues. Tacoma had a great fallen brothers and sisters ride, where they paused to remember all of the members of ABATE, we had lost in the past. Dan Barker is trying to get a list of people so no one gets forgotten. If you have lost someone in your chapter, please get that name to Dan Barker from Tacoma.
Chapter Coordinators, please bring your 2025 event calendar to STEAM, BOD in Yakima. This is a chance for chapters to look at events and try not to double-book things on weekends. All of the chapters are doing some great events, and we should try to support each other. Chapter Coordinators, please remember not to schedule events on State event days.
As I stated in my last newsletter, a Bylaw change proposal must be voted on this month. Be sure to check your emails and spam folders.
We have found one Bylaw problem. The following article was somehow changed, and the intent must be corrected.
4.3.6 CHAPTER COORDINATOR. A candidate for this position must have (i) been a member in good standing for a minimum of two (2) years continuously; and (ii) held one (1) of the four (4) elected Chapter Officer positions for at least one (1) year.
This article was intended to have minimum standards for the five state executive board positions: the State Coordinator, Deputy Coordinators, State Secretary, and State Treasurer. This was never intended to address chapter coordinators. It would be hard to start new chapters if this were a requirement. And this would be in the wrong place to address chapter officers in the by-laws. As bylaw changes now become a membership vote, you will see a proposed change to the by-laws to address this soon.
There are some really great events coming up this fall. Get out and support your fellow chapters.
Andy McAfee
State Coordinator
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ABATE of Washington
By-laws Change Proposal
This article was changed when the new bylaws came out. The old bylaws described the requirements for being the State Coordinator. When the bylaws committee met to work through the changes provided by the attorney, the bylaws committee decided this requirement would be good for the executive officers, not just for the state coordinator. However, it should have excluded chapter coordinators. It would be hard to start new chapters if chapter coordinators had to have served for two years as officers already.
Currently Reads:
4.3.6 CHAPTER COORDINATOR. A candidate for this position must have (i) been a member in good standing for a minimum of two (2) years continuously; and (ii) held one (1) of the four (4) elected Chapter Officer positions for at least one (1) year.
Proposed Change:
4.3.6 Executive Officers: State Coordinator, Deputy State Coordinators, State Secretary, and State Treasure. A candidate for these positions must have (i) been a member in good standing for a minimum of two (2) years continuously and (ii) held one (1) of the four (4) elected state or Chapter Officer positions for at least one (1) year.
Purpose: Change to the original intent. Currently approved wrong. Also, if it was intended for chapter coordinators, it should have been in the chapter coordinator section of the bylaws, not the state officer section. If left, this will make it challenging to start new chapters.
Submitted,
Andy McAfee
State Coordinator
ABATE of Washington
August 15, 2024
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MOTORCYCLE RIDERS FOUNDATION | |
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Musical Chair(people)
With Congress back in town after an extended summer recess, conversations about who will be in charge come 2025 are swirling. While the Presidential contest is the main event, the narrow margins in the U.S. Senate and U.S. House also have huge implications.
Read the full story here.
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The MPP Survey Continues To Produce Valuable Data
One of the tools the MRF used to get the Anti-Motorcyclist-Profiling Resolutions passed in Congress was the Profiling Survey at the Motorcycle Profiling Project (MPP). This quick and easy survey is renewed yearly with no personal information collected and only about four to five questions. The survey is not only for those profiled, nor only for motorcyclists. The survey is open to everyone with an opinion on the subject. Every opinion shared helps keep the margin of error on this survey below 1%. Annually, thousands of people from all walks of life take the survey.
Click here to read more.
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Internal Combustion - A Hot Topic
Recently, at both the state and federal levels, lawmakers have been fighting against the effort to kill the internal combustion engine (ICE). This past Friday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.J. Res 136. The vote was 215 in favor and 191 opposed. The resolution blocks an Environmental Protection Agency rule to more strictly regulate passenger vehicle tailpipe emissions and accelerate the transition to electric vehicles. Click here to read more.
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Greetings!
Been a minute since I have reached out to you fine folks so I figured I’d make a presence in our newsletter and let you all, and especially to reach out the Independent members who might be interested in getting connected with a chapter or maybe starting up a chapter in an area not currently being served. I can help you with either if you take minute and reach out via email at: Ambassador2.AbateofWashington@gmail.com
If you are a member looking to find the closest chapter to you, head over to our website at abate-wa.org There is a list of chapters in there with the times and locations of their business meeting along with points of contact. There is also other good info in there from state points of contact, events, our current by-laws and policies. It is current info, check it out!
If you take the time to reach out I’ll make the time to get back to you regardless where in the state you are. We are currently underserved by chapters in several areas including metro Seattle, Port Angeles/Sequim, Grand Coulee and surrounding areas, Wenatchee, Vancouver, just to name the obvious. If you live and ride in these areas and have the sand to put together a chapter, I’ll work with you. Current state bylaws require a board of principal officers (chapter Coordinator, Deputy Coordinator, Secretary and a Treasurer) and at have 10 members all who are members in good standing of Abate of Washington. If you all are new members, that’s okay. No time requirement for new chapter officers. Reach out if this is something you want in your area or if you are already a member and know someone who you think is interested and a good fit, email me the contact info after you talk to them first. I’m not great at cold calls but good at follow ups! I do look forward to starting to hear from some of you about getting new chapters stood up. Again, my email is Ambassador2.AbateofWashington@gmail.com
Stay cool!
Chad Holtquist
Abate of Washington, Ambassador at Large
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STATE PRODUCTS COORDINATOR - NEEDED!! | |
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We are in need of a new State Products Coordinator. If interested, don't hesitate to get in touch with Bubba Bowen at srdeputy.abateofwashington@gmail.com. A special thank you to Cheryl Holtquist for all her hard work. | | | |
American Income Life - FREE Accidental Life & Dismemberment | |
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Dear Members of A.B.A.T.E of WA:
You may recall receiving letters from American Income Life Insurance Company (AIL) over the years. As a member of ABATE of WA, you automatically receive a $4,000 Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance benefit at no cost to you or ABATE of WA.
ABATE of WA has partnered with AIL for several years to offer these benefits. Each letter included a reply card, which you must complete to receive your certificate of coverage. An AIL representative will contact you to designate a beneficiary. If you do not name a beneficiary, the $4,000.00 will be paid to your estate and may be taxable.
ABATE of WA does not provide AIL with your name or contact information. The only way they have access to your information is when you send the reply card back or CLICK HERE to request your benefits. AIL offers several supplemental programs, which will be discussed when an AIL representative calls.
If you have any questions, please contact AIL at 1-800-495-1213 or Fran Christie, AIL Public Relations at 778-231-0226.
Over numerous years, AIL has helped ABATE of WA families by paying multiple claims. ABATE of WA has no financial interest in AIL in any way.
To request your benefits, click below:
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Spaghetti Feed Benefit
October 19, 2024
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STEAM 2024 BOD Meeting
October 19 - 20, 2024
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CLICK IMAGE TO VIEW FLYER | | |
STEEPLE CHASE T-SHIRT ORDER FORM | CLICK IMAGE TO VIEW FLYER | | |
RIDER REIMBURSEMENT
Complete a State-Approved Rider Safety Course to receive $50 reimbursement & more!
CLICK IMAGE TO VIEW FLYER
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KEY PENINSULA
Greetings from Key Pen!!!
A hearty thank you to everyone who made time and came out to show their support for not only our Chapter/annual fundraiser but, more importantly, our benefactor... Key Peninsula Community Services, for yet another successful Brewery Run (#12).
A sincere Thank You to Star Lake, Mason County, and North Kitsap chapters for representing and Veterans Allegiance for supporting, as well as the following establishments for their much-appreciated contributions: Olalla Bay Market ... Click here to read more
Nick Gourley
Key Peninsula Coordinator
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PACIFIC COUNTY
Fall is in the air! Our Fall Run came off as planned (oysters….yum), and now we are preparing lawn signs for Political Season. Hopefully, we will get some more supporters elected in Olympia so we can make some gains.
Our Chapter favors simplifying the endorsement process so that the percentage of endorsed riders increases. The State claims endorsement as a priority, so maybe they will simplify and streamline the process.
John Tschannen,
Pacific County Coordinator
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SPOKANE
Our new officers were elected at the September meeting. Congratulations to Diana Picone, Coordinator, Michael Paul, Deputy Coordinator, Shelbie Archibeque, Secretary, Leslie Brockman, Treasurer! The Chapter is very excited to have our new officers.
We look forward to the next year.
Our next general meeting is on October 8th and November 12th at @Combat Vet Outreach Center 2405 N. Dick Rd. Spokane Valley. 5:30 pm potluck/social, 6:30 pm meeting. One-hour meeting.
Diana Picone
Spokane Chapter Coordinator
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SPANAWAY
Greetings from the Spanaway Chapter. As I write this, I am listening to the rain fall on my roof. We were hanging out in the sun just a few weeks back at Kick Back Campout. It was a great event and my congratulations to the Lewis County Chapter for putting on such an awesome event under such challenging circumstances.
Looking ahead, we have STEAM / BOD in Yakima and a Halloween party
with the Tacoma Chapter on October 26th.
Stay safe on the roads with Fall arriving and Winter on its coattails.
Chris McAfee
Spanaway Chapter Report
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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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The Value of Human Life: May 1st, 2024 | |
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How much is a human life worth?
It’s a question that’s asked in every wrongful death case.
It’s also a question that’s asked when proposed regulations are evaluated. The government weighs the cost of implementing the proposed regulation and the value of the lives it will save.
For a long time, the government focused on how much people earned and equated their income to the value of their lives.
View the original newsletter here! We want to work on issues that are important to you. What kind of help can we provide to your club?
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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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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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