|
P.O. Box 160223
Nashville, Tn
37216-0223
615 262-1119 -
Office
Go here to Join
Map of Tennessee Charters
| |
December
In the December 2002 newsletter I listed 25 goals for this
organization for the next year. How did you and I do? The organization has won
some. I’ve lost some. Some are still being worked on.
The list of goals I came up with is below. It is important
to review where you have been and adjust based upon new information and
understanding. So, let’s go through those same goals and see where we stand as
we approach 2004. My comments about each follow in italics. In the next
newsletter there will goals for 2004.
- Passage
of our Helmet Modification Bill – Well, not yet but we are making
progress. It is alive and needs your support. It is HB952. Will YOUR
representative be a co-sponsor? How will you know if you don’t call
him/her? This one is squarely on your shoulders.
- 1,300
members (50% increase) – Not even close. We are still struggling. We
can’t seem to find that magic process to retain old members and attract
new ones. Any ideas?
- 20
Charters by end of 2003 – Hey, it looks like we will have 19 by the
December BOD! There are several more on the horizon. I’ve been at two
meeting in this last week to start new charters. I understand one or two
more will be starting in the next week or two. This is exciting!
- $7500
budget for Legislative Efforts – Budgets have not yet been set. This is
still a desirable goal but funding all the way around had been difficult. We
could sure use some Legislative Fundraisers. How about it? Is that on your
schedule for next year?
- Completely
manned state committees by end of 2003 – I’ll miss this by one
quarter. They will be completely set up by the BOD on March of 2004.
Although, some are starting to work and interest has been growing by
prospective participants. Remember, at the last BOD we asked each charter to
confirm their committee volunteers. You need to bring these to the BOD on
December 14, 2003.
- MRF
Representative and three people to the Meeting of the Minds gathering in
Green Bay with room and board paid. – Well, we had two people there but
we as an organization were unable to provide any financial assistance. This
is ridiculous and we should be ashamed. I’d like to thank John Pierce and
Mark Moore for their selfless dedication and commitment. We’ll try not to
let you down next year.
- NCOM
Representative and 3 people to NCOM Convention in Milwaukee with room and
board paid. - I was the only person there. Once again, we are missing an
opportunity to participate in the larger community of motorcyclists focusing
on many things that affect us. We have a great deal to offer but we also
have a great deal to gain from being ‘plugged in’ nationally and
internationally. Recently the fight was taken to the UN by NHTSA. We must
look outside our state borders.
- Establish
our first Annual Spring Event in Middle Tennessee to be an annual event
attracting 500 motorcyclists with auctions, bands, races, charter
challenges, beer sales, and advertising on the radio, TV and billboards. –
This is well underway with slight changes. I’ll leave that to our
Activities chairman to detail.
- Hold
two Executive Counsel Meetings with the Collation of Clubs to coordinate
legislative efforts. - Haven’t
gotten to this yet. We are working more closely with the COC however. In
addition I am now on the NCOM Board of Directors and have attended
conferences and conventions with the various COC’s, other ABATE’s and
many other motorcycle rights organizations. We will continue to pursue an
Executive Council Meeting of all motorcycle groups in Tennessee in the near
future.
- “TennesSEE
Motorcycles” Awareness stickers on all state and local police cars. –
Well, the entire Safety and Education effort is proceeding nicely. Bob
Edwards is running with this. It includes locating the money that is
collected off of your registration, PSA’s, MSF Class graduates receiving a
free short term membership and many other things. We’ve been working hard
on this and continue to develop more and more ideas. These will all be
addressed as the Safety and Education committee is established. There is
just so much going on here that I’ve handed off to Bob, Rhonda and the
rest. They’ve really picked up the ball on this one.
- Visit
to Tennessee legislators in Washington DC by a CMT/ABATE delegation –
Well not yet. We need to at least make our voices heard by use of the
telephone and mail. For example, I spoke with Senator Frist and Senator
Alexander and got them to support Senate Bill 423 which closes the loop hole
concerning health insurance. Additionally, Rep Blackburn signed on to the
letter to the EPA. I have been actively calling our Representatives and
Senators. Have you?
- Statewide
Poker Run – Hey, this has been fun!
I don’t know about you but I’m having a blast getting out there and
seeing this great state. We have 124 vendors although 13 of them have
closed, or moved. So, they are now free. Check the website or this paper for
that list of free vendors. Since you only need 15 to draw a hand, you only
need 2 more! We have sold or have commitments from the charters for about
1000 books. That’s $10,000! Between this and membership, it is what has
been keeping us afloat. Remember, you
have until May 22nd of next year to get you book filled out. So,
get out there. Buy books. Sell books. It’s fun! We’re going to do it
again next year!
- A
more encompassing and informative website with credit card capability,
product sales, registration and expansive news and communication capability.
– Well, the information part has
happened. We are still straightening out the credit card thing. That’s
because of a problem with some past records that we are straightening out.
More will happen on the website including credit card acceptance, and
membership renewal on line.
- One
legislative fundraiser from every charter – Well, you tell me – did you have one? I know who did and who
didn’t. Are you willing to step up next year?
- The
completion of our MSF Membership plan with implementation. –
This has not happened yet. Bob is now working on this as part of the larger
Safety and Education plan. We approved the concept of giving 6 month trial
memberships to all graduates. It will happen. We are shooting for spring of
2004 as that is when the classes will kick off again.
- Motorcycle
Awareness Cards in Driver License Renewal and Auto Tag Renewal mailings from
the Department of Safety. – We are
researching federal grants to see if we can accomplish this. Once again,
this is part of Safety and Education. Bob has taken on a lot. He will be
using that committee a great deal.
- Multiple
bills presented to the legislature each with different sponsors from both
sides of the isle. – Done and we did
great! We won three and still have one pending. As for 2004, fill out the
survey and let us know what you want passed. We need these by the December
BOD meeting on the 14th. You’ll find it on the website and in
the paper.
- Have
someone within the organization trained at how to find and apply for grants
for many things such as Awareness, Safety and Education or Training –
We are working on this. It is a slow process. Rhonda and Bob have both been
investigating this.
- The
sale of Products to supply 20% of operating revenue – Sorry, not even close. We have had our difficulties with
products this year but it will be straighten out in 2004.
- Database
of shops, dealers, biker friendly bars, restaurants, clubs and biker
organizations for fast and effective communications – We are compiling this stuff. Rhonda has been a tremendous help.
A computer database for this has been designed but not yet built. (Where
does the time go?) But this is VERY important! This will be completed in
2004.
- Increased
motorcycle awareness training in Drivers Education Classes in public schools
and private driving schools. – Well,
once again, this is part of the plan that is being put together. We have a a
video from ABATE of Florida that we can start getting into the schools. Many
other things are also being planned.
- Corporate
donations – and matching donations – 15% of operating revenues –
No one is out asking for this. How do you think we’ve done?
- Reasonable
and effective budgets – Nope, still
scraping by. The Fiscal Oversight committee will be doing this in 2004. We
have to run this like a business and budgets are essential. But, we have to
have money to budget as well.
- Advertising
on the web and in the newsletter to be 5% of operating revenue –
I don’t know yet. We are still compiling the numbers. But, I think we are
far short here as well. We need to do better next year.
- $25,000
in charitable giving and efforts by charters throughout the year – This
means being able to compile the value of all charitable efforts by all
charters. – Okay, have you kept
track of what you gave or contributed to charitable operations this year? It
is one of the ‘Challenges’ to each charter for 2003. We will compile
this information based upon the results supplied by you.
So, as you can see, we won some and I lost some others.
When we win – it’s the organization winning. When we lose, it falls to me.
I’ll do better next year. Will you?
Until later, always do your Wiring Harness Preventive
Maintenance.
Steve |
