Fighting for the rights and education of every Georgia motorcyclist October 2012 A.B.A.T.E. OF GEORGIA, INC. NEWSLETTER STATE OFFICE ADDRESSES Advertising Fees www.abatega.org (Mailing Address) A.B.A.T.E. OF GEORGIA, INC. Website 115 P.O. BOX 116 1 Month Austell, GA 30168 Phone: (770) 881-7438 Fax: (770) 234-4177 Newsletter A.B.A.T.E. OF GEORGIA STATE OFFICERS 2012-2014 Term Black & White Term in Months State Director (Acting) (404) 324 –2037 Ned Williams $ 40.00 1 E-mail [email protected] $ 110.00 3 Legislative Director $ 200.00 6 James F/ Trucks E-mail [email protected] 1/4 Page Treasurer Gary Bonds (404) 915-8778 Black & White Term in Months Email: [email protected] $ 70.00 1 Membership Director (706) 217-8317 $ 200.00 3 Heidi Stockwell $ 360.00 6 Email [email protected] $ 660.00 12 Asst, Membership Director Ann Crenshaw (229) 924-7449 Email [email protected] 1/2 Page Sgt. At Arms Black & White Term in Months Dave Woodruffe $ 125.00 1 Email: [email protected] $ 360.00 3 Activities Director POSITION OPEN $ 660.00 6 Secretary of State (Acting) $ 1,200.00 12 Ann Turner (770) 881-7438 Email [email protected] Full Page A.B.A.T.E. Legal Advisor Black & White Term in Months Steve Murrin (404) 221-0777 $ 225.00 1 Christian Motorcyclists Association GA State Coordinator Mike Cook (229) 268-4455 $ 660.00 3 $ 1,200.00 6 A.B.A.T.E. State Chair Wade Warnock (678) 271-2860 $ 2,200.00 12 Ads Must Be Received in digital format or ready to scan by the 10th of the Director of Education month, accompanied by full payment, to be printed in the next issue. Credit Dr. Sue Duggan [email protected] card payments are welcome. Ads must be paid in advance to receive the multiple ad discount rate. If you wish, we can lay out your ad for you for an Regional Director, Northern Region additional $25 charge plus any reasonable costs. Additional charges and David Norman [email protected] services offered at the discretion of the editor. Please allow additional lead time for all ads that we must lay out. Regional Director, Central Region Payment must be received in advance for ad renewals. If not you will lose Ricky Jordan [email protected] the discounted multiple ad rate and the account will revert back to monthly prices. Make your check or money order payable to A.B.A.T.E. of Georgia , Regional Director, Southern Region Inc. Send to: Jerry McDaniel [email protected] A.B.A.T.E. OF GEORGIA, INC. Webmaster and Newsletter Design P.O. BOX 116 Bill Mattison [email protected] Austell, GA 30168 A.B.A.T.E. of Georgia, Inc. All rights reserved. This newsletter is published monthly and distributed throughout the state of Georgia as well as to other motorcycle organizations nationwide. A.B.A.T.E. of Georgia accepts no re- sponsibility for the comments or opinions from reprinted materials contained within this publication. We welcome your news, opinions, comments, com- plaints, and suggestions on Motorcycle related issues. All articles must in- clude your name and address. We do not accept slanderous, accusing letters; profanities (photographic or written); non-A.B.A.T.E. related letters. A.B.A.T.E. of Georgia reserves the right to refuse or edit any article, photo, letter, or advertisement that is decided is not in the best interest of the organiza- tion or its members. 2 October 2012 A.B.A.T.E. OF GEORGIA, INC. NEWSLETTER ATTENTION ABATE OF GEORGIA MEMBERS If you have had trouble with your member card, a pin or a patch A new hotline has been set up to make sure your issue is addressed Please call the membership hotline At (678) 753-6018 (The hotline is monitored during business hours 7 days a week. Calls made after hours will be returned the next business day 3 October 2012 A.B.A.T.E. OF GEORGIA, INC. NEWSLETTER Some of A.B.A.T.E.’s accomplishments over the years: WHAT IS • Successfully lobbied for legislation that created the Georgia Motorcycle Safety Program (GMSP), our state’s rider education program that is available to all. A.B.A.T.E. OF GEORGIA, Inc.? • Lobbied to have legislation passed to modify the existing manda- tory helmet law to allow adults age 21 and older freedom of choice The letters “ A.B.A.T.E. ” stand for as to the wearing of a helmet. American Bikers Active Toward Educa- • Successfully lobbied for legislation leading to the repeal of the Georgia law prohibiting use of speakers or headphones while riding tion. A.B.A.T.E. is composed of motor- a motorcycle. • Fought and stopped legislation introduced in the 1992 Session of cyclists from all areas of the state, from the Georgia General Assembly that would have made it illegal for all walks of life, and who ride all makes kids age 10 and under to ride as passengers on motorcycles. • Established May as “Motorcycle Awareness and You” month of bikes. A.B.A.T.E. is not a club, it is a through a proclamation signed by the Governor and through resolutions passed by the Senate and House each year. This is an non-partisan politically active organiza- annual effort that raises public awareness of motorcycles. tion working on motorcyclist’s rights. • Successfully lobbied legislators to approve increased funding for the Georgia Motorcycle Safety Program, in the amount of We are affiliated with national rights $170,000 after the license tag rate was raised on all vehicles to $20. groups like the American Motorcy- • Successfully stopped proposed legislation that would have clist Association (AMA), the Motorcy- increased the size of motorcycle tags. • Successfully lobbied for handicapped tags for motorcycles without cle Riders Foundation (MRF) and the further enabling legislation, by bringing it to the attention of the National Coalition of Motorcyclists Department of Revenue that the code section was written in such a way that it was already authorized. (NCOM). • Successfully lobbied for antique tags for motorcycles in the 1998 legislative session. • Established a 15 District organization that has led to more Our main focus is to keep motorcy- participation locally, while raising our membership statewide. The more members we have, means the more clout we have at the cle legislation in its proper perspec- State Capitol. tive . Many restrictive laws are enacted • Sponsor and promote the largest Swap Meet/Bike Show in Georgia, 5 times a year. by uninformed legislators. A.B.A.T.E.’s • Successfully forced prosecution of a trucker who, while making an goal is to keep our lawmakers informed illegal turn, killed fellow motorcyclist Mark Bonner. • Successfully lobbied to pass the “Frank-Lee” (ROW) bill to enhance of our members collective position on penalties to those who cause death or serious injury to a motorcyclists by failing to yield the right of way. Motorcycle related legislation. • Successfully lobbied to pass the “Tag/Title” bill SB-437 that allows Preventing unfair legislation from be- for registration of kit/assembled bikes. Signed by Governor Purdue May 14, 2008. coming law is easier than fighting to get the law repealed. Your benefits as a member of A.B.A.T.E. of Georgia: Organized lobbying of State and Federal legislators to make your Rider education and public aware- views on motorcyclist rights known to your Representatives. Current information on all motorcycle related legislation and where ness of motorcyclists are goals of your legislators stand on the issues that affect your motorcycling rights and freedoms. A.B.A.T.E.. We are not against the Monthly newsletter with legislative updates, event dates and places, and information wearing of helmets, and we encourage Membership card, patch, and one year pin for new members. all riders to ride safely. An informed and Yearly pin for renewals. Admission discounts at most A.B.A.T.E. events around the state, educated rider is a safer rider. Helmet including ALL State Swap Meets. Discounts at many motorcycle shops and dealers around the state laws do nothing to prevent an accident, Personal satisfaction of joining your brothers and sisters in pro- moting the great sport of motorcycling while supporting your right to and a helmet only provides the illusion ride by participation at State and District meetings, toy runs, blood of safety, while rider education is drives, camp-outs, bike shows, swap meets, etc. Spiritual consultation with the Christian Motorcycle Association proven to prevent accidents and save (CMA) for ride prayers, weddings, and visitation. lives. A.B.A.T.E. OF GEORGIA, Inc. IS A TEAM EFFORT WE WELCOME ALL RIDERS, ALL BRANDS 4 October 2012 A.B.A.T.E. OF GEORGIA, INC. NEWSLETTER Ned Williams, State Director ABATE of Georgia continues to move forward. This past month we mailed out the updated sponsor and supporter supplies to our districts for their district sponsors as well as their Spon- sor and Supporter businesses who have added their names to the list of businesses willing to help ABATE of Georgia. Next month we will be sending out additional supplies for districts to continue this effort and help get the name of ABATE in front of riders who might not have known who we were before or who might have just needed that little push to sign up with us. To help illustrate this effort, checkout the article covering it on page 47. Our legislative survey has been reformatted after hearing from a few members who said the questions were confusing, we hope everyone will look over the new wording on page 45 and choose to either fill out and mail in the survey or fill out the online version at http:// www.abatega.org/legislativesurvey/ The swap meet has been postponed until April 6 and 7th.