Great meeting with ABATE this weekend, and we need your help!

[rforsythe]

On Saturday, I was invited to come down to the monthly ABATE meeting where all district reps and their main board get together. We had some good discussion around ways that we think our two organizations could get more involved with each other, a brief summary of which I'll include here:
- ABATE is composed of districts around the state (the same as other states around the country). They have a district rep, and state-level oversight.
- ABATE's primary focus is on rider safety, and advocacy for our rights within local and state government.
- Their driving force aligns well with a lot of the CSC's mentality and ideals.
- We'd like to see ABATE and CSC come together; their members would like to ride with us, and I'm sure some of you would enjoy riding with them. We'd also like to get some co-mingling at events, functions, etc.
- I did suggest that they put out that their members are free to show up at our weekend rides when it gets warmer. I know some of you will ride faster than the cruiser guys, but we also have a lot of people who enjoy toning it down a bit.

At this point I'd like to get names of you CSC members, who would be interested in helping with this venture. Your main duties would be acting as a CSC "point person" for ABATE to contact regarding rights issues and special announcements of interest to our club. I'd also like to see us set up two CSC-only Advanced Rider Courses with them this summer, so you would be working to set that up as well.

If you're interested in helping, please post here. I hope I get more volunteers than we actually need at the moment.

By the way, Terry (ABATE's State Coordinator) and I have been emailing and meeting up for months now, working on the CDOT Motorcycle Safety campaign with others in the local motorcycle scene and industry. These are good people, and I really see involvement with them as a positive move.

[pilot]

Promoting training is a great idea. It would be nice to be involved in some "rounding" activities with both groups.

[mtnairlover]

I'd love to help out where needed. Sign me up.

[merlin]

I'm in- just let me know when, where and what.

Merlyn

[Shea]

I'll help out Ralph.

[dirkterrell]

Ready to help where I can...

Dirk

[pauliep]

I'm up for it.

[Sully]

Me too !!

[InlineSIX24]

I'm game.

[pilot]

For fiscal year 2007 ABATE received a federal grant of approximately $38,000 for use toward the Operation Save A Life campaign. Sounds like they are getting funding to promote OSAL. What did they spend it on?

[Jason ON]

$38,000 doesn't sound like a lot for a nationwide campaign.

[pilot]

$38,000 doesn't sound like a lot for a nationwide campaign.

That appears to be the portion for Colorado--This according to ABATE's web site. Nationally, it was closer to $500,000.

[towneh]

Please add me to the list who'd like to work, etc with ABATE.

[KennyFish]

Id be more than willing to help out.


Kenny

[rforsythe]

Thanks for all the response so far! ABATE reps are probably reading this too, and should be in contact soon.

[mtnairlover]

Thanks, was gettin' kinda curious how the process would work.

[Sortarican]

I'd be willing to help as well as take part in any group rides or rider training.

[JPrider]

I'm in as well...fyi I'm also a MSF instructor

[FZRguy]

I see them frequently at Arapahoe Community College. If help is needed there, I live across the street.

[Repsol a095]

Ralph,
UnSuk and I will help if you still need people.

[THoward]

Hi everyone,

I appreciate all the responses for helping ABATE. Not only do we provide the BEST (in my opinion) Rider Training in the State, we also work on legislative issues regarding motorcyclists in Colorado. Currently we have 2 bills in the Legislature HB-1050 Trike/3 wheel licensing. This bill allows a person not physically capable of riding 2 wheels or a person that has no desire to ride 2 wheels to have an opportunity to ride a trike. This will not effect current M endorsements. This bill has passed thru the House and is now awaiting Senate hearings.
Our second bill HB-1104 is Aggravated Right of Way. Currently, there is no law in Colorado Statute to address a Right of Way violation involving injury or death. As many of you know, we have lost many brothers and sisters due to these type accidents. This bill will fill that void and allow law enforcement and District Attorneys an avenue to address such accidents. The penalties and fines would be comparable to Careless Driving.

What can you do to help? We need support on both of these bills but mostly HB-1104. It is scheduled for hearing in the Judiciary Committee this Weds at 1:30. We need emails and phone calls to these legislators on this committee. Please contact me and I will be happy to direct you who and where to email. If you have any other questions, please contact me.

[THoward]

One more note.....after reading some the posts here is an answer to Pilot's question:
For fiscal year 2007 ABATE received a federal grant of approximately $38,000 for use toward the Operation Save A Life campaign. Sounds like they are getting funding to promote OSAL. What did they spend it on?

ANSWER:
ABATE was approved for a grant ($37000) in 2006, we were funded June 28th 2007. Supposedly we had a year to spend the money. Well the Feds decided to tell CDOT that the grants had to be spent by Sept 30 of 2007 or the money would be lost. CDOT called me in November to let me know the "rollover" contract I signed was not valid, they had just been notified. We lost $26000, because we didn't spend it before September. So all we got out of the grant was brochures printed, bumper stickers, some equipment to do presentations and some banners for our Operation Save A Life program.

[Jeffro]

Ralph, I am an MSF RiderCoach and work for ABATE down here in the Springs. I'd be more than happy to help out.

[InlineSIX24]

..What can you do to help? We need support on both of these bills but mostly HB-1104...

You might post up some of the verbage and the contact email so everyone will know how to format their email. I'm sure a lot of people on here will send in for it.