News and other info from NCOM
AIM/NCOM Press Release 2011 NCOM Convention Memorialized in New Mexico
NCOM CONVENTION MEMORIALIZED IN NEW MEXICO
“Having Learned of the Outstanding Achievements and Exceptional Accomplishments of the National Coalition of Motorcyclists…”the New Mexico House of Representative declared May 5-8, 2011 “National Coalition of Motorcyclists Recognition Days, and expresses its Wishes for another Enjoyable and Productive Gathering in the Land of Enchantment,” read the official proclamation presented to AIM/NCOM Founder Richard Lester during the opening ceremonies by longtime NCOM Legislative Task Force member N.M. State Rep. Rick Miera.
The 26th NCOM Convention was held Mother’s Day weekend at the Hyatt Regency, and returning to Albuquerque after 15 years “was a real eye-opener,” said James “Doc” Reichenbach III, Chairman of the Board of NCOM and President of ABATE of Florida, Inc., continuing; “We’re all a little grayer and a bit wider, but we’re also a lot freer than we were back in 1996, as we’d just defeated the national helmet law and since then five states have repealed their helmet laws while many others have passed biker-friendly bills…but most importantly, no new laws have been passed against us.”
In fact, one of the highlights of the NCOM Convention was the report from Washington State that their legislature had just passed the nation’s first anti-profiling law to prevent police from targeting motorcyclists for enforcement. “This is something that can be done in every state,” said Double-D of the Washington Confederation of Clubs, who was instrumental in lobbying for passage of the legislation.
That same message of strength through unity echoed throughout the weekend affair, bolstered by meetings and seminars focused on legislative efforts and litigation techniques to benefit our right to ride and Freedom of the Road.
The size of the Convention itself has doubled since the last time it was hosted in Albuquerque, as this year’s gathering drew nearly 1,200 biker activists from across the nation to discuss topics of concern to all riders, such as biker discrimination, motorcycle-only roadblocks, and mobilizing motorcyclists to push pro-motorcycling agendas and defeat anti-biking bills.
During the Silver Spoke Awards Banquet on Saturday evening, several honorees were recognized for their contributions to “Improving The Image of Motorcycling”, including; GOVERNMENT: Congressman Allen West (R-Fla); MEDIA: Tim & Bonnie King of Salem-News.com, COMMERCE: John Parham, owner of J&P Cycles; ART: Jerry King, Cartoonist; SPECIAL RECOGNITION: Sharon “Lady Ninja” Cancel, Co-Director of the National Sport Bike Association and Bill Hodges, Author and member of the Boozefighters MC; and NCOM’s highest honor the Ron Roloff Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Harold “Gunny” Hutcheson, AIM Chief of Staff in Oregon and author of “The Gunny’s Sack” monthly news column.
Next year’s 27th Annual NCOM Convention will be held next May 10-13, 2012 at the JW Marriott in Indianapolis, Indiana. For further information, contact NCOM at (800) 525-5355 or visit www.ON-A-BIKE.com.
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