Hello, Friends--
I hope everybody is having a good Holiday Season so far, and that you're enjoying a festive time with family, friends and loved ones. I'm sending along my Tiger Tales article for December, and hope you find time to read and enjoy it among the host of activities you have planned--January's will be coming soon. Christmas is a time for remembering and looking out for those less fortunate, as Jesus dedicated so much of his Ministry to addressing the needs of the poor and destitute. Hope you were able to reach out to those less fortunate. Thanks for listening, Ride Free and Safely, and I'll see you down the Road. Best wishes for a very happy and prosperous New Year!!
In Liberty,
Tiger Mike Revere, President, ABATE Central OK District
TIGER TALES - DECEMBER, 2010
A snappy Salute to everyone in our Riding Community! Here it is--my last Tiger Tales article for 2010. It's hard to believe that the year is just about over. It's certainly been an eventful one, given the tremendous success of ABATE's legislative campaign this year. Laws went into effect on November 1 that will improve Rider Education, Training, Safety and Awareness Programs, clarify and enforce penalties against irresponsible motorists who hurt and kill people, and help save motorcyclist lives when they're stranded at controlled intersections due to Malfunctioning Traffic Lights. I'm fully confident that these enactments will directly contribute to reducing motorcycling deaths and injuries in our state, and I look forward to us being able to prove that in the future. By the time you read this, we'll have celebrated our FOURTEENTH annual Veterans' Day Bike Parade to the Oklahoma State Capitol Veterans' Memorial Park, and our National Coalition Of Motorcyclists Region 2 Conference in DeSoto, Texas. I’ll have more detailed information to provide regarding these occasions in next month’s article. Many thanks to all those Freedom-loving Patriots who took time out of their busy schedules to take part in both special events. Over the past two months, a good percentage of our ABATE Chapters have been gearing up for festive Toy Runs to benefit those less fortunate in our state's communities. These will be highlighted by Tulsa Chapter's 31st Annual Toy Run, which will be a three-day affair this year! Central OK District’s Toy Run to benefit Feed The Children in Oklahoma City will also be taking place December 12, Sunday of that weekend. I certainly can’t forget the Naysayers M/C annual Toy Parade in Midwest City on December 5, which has been hosted for over 30 years to benefit the Red Andrews Christmas Dinner. Be sure to put all these worthwhile occasions on your calendars, and check for event information at the State Website: www.abateofoklahoma.org!
Central Oklahoma District has opened nominations for the 2011 term. They include: Pat McManus and James Frazier as our Chapter Representatives; Donald Carr and Darrell Eagleberger as Sergeants-at-Arms; Jon Kirchen as our Treasurer; Carmaletta Lara as our Secretary; Manuel Lara and Debi Bohannon as Chapter Vice-President; and I guess it looks like yours truly will be continuing as Central OK District President for next year. I deeply appreciate the confidence the Chapter Membership has placed in me, am gratified that we’ve had some potential “Magic Members” join our merry band recently, and resolve to work together with the membership to make ABATE’s Central OK District, one of Oklahoma’s oldest ABATE Organizations, larger, stronger, more financially vibrant, and more politically effective. ABATE’s Founding fathers in our Chapter like Ripper Bailey, who we’re nominating for Lifetime Membership, won’t expect anything less. I also want to mention that James Frazier, our dedicated Chapter Rep to the State Board, has secured a good job after months of searching. Unfortunately, his job is going to require him to work weekends, and will make it difficult for him to honor his State Board commitments. So, this is a good time to appeal to others in COD to step forward and fill in for him, assist Pat, and ensure our Chapter is well-represented regarding State business issues. In any event, many thanks to James and Pat for your hard work and volunteerism, and to all in COD and in every ABATE Chapter for your continued defense of Riding Liberty.
I really enjoyed attending the 19th Annual Mid-South M.I.L.E. Motorcycling Rights Seminars, held this year in Sherman, Texas. Over 220 folks (55 from the Sooner State) took part, which represented about our best-attended event in its history. Texas Freedom Fighters went out of their way to ensure that all attendees from various parts of the country and overseas had a terrific time, and were able to avail themselves of a wide array of informative and educational presentations. Those arriving early got to socialize with their Brothers and Sisters of the Road in a well-stocked Hospitality Suite, courtesy of the Texas ABATE Confederation and the Texas Motorcycle Rights Association (TMRA-II). The Seminars kicked off early Saturday Morning with a thought-provoking motivational presentation given by “Slider” Gilmore, longtime Biker, motorcycle racer, Emergency Medical Technician and familiar to riders everywhere. After a down-home Texas-style Barbeque for lunch, the rest of the day featured seminars by representatives from the five-state area making up the M.I.L.E. (Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, Missouri and Arkansas), along with speakers from the Motorcycle Riders Foundation, National Coalition Of Motorcyclists, and the American Motorcyclist Association. Theo and Bart from MAG-Belgium again took part, and briefed us on threats to Biker Liberty in Europe. Attendees came away with a bunch of valuable information to take to their respective areas, with their enthusiasm to continue the Freedom Fight replenished. The day’s activities concluded with a sumptuous banquet of pork chops and fried chicken, after which everyone had a fun time with the silent auction, live auction, and DJ entertainment. The high point of the evening’s agenda featured the auctioning of the various “Baskets” crammed full of locally-made products from the respective states. Once again, Oklahoma made a fine showing, thanks to the hard-working and creative ladies from the Lakes Area Chapter. Thanks so much to the Three Amigas for once again coming through with Flying Colors! After a Spiritual Service early Sunday Morning, we convened for a wrap-up session followed by the first Board Meeting in preparation for the October 2011 TWENTIETH ANNIVERSARY Seminars taking place in Missouri. Keep checking the Website at: www.midsouthmile.orgfor informational updates, and I hope to see an even larger number of Oklahomans attending next year!
Our Organization has adopted many of the winning formulas from the M.I.L.E. event in organizing our Oklahoma State Motorcyclists Improving Legislative Effectiveness (OK SMILE). This weekend-long General Membership Meeting will take place January 7-9, 2011, once again at the Quartz Mountain Resort Hotel in Lone Wolf, OK. An event flyer is posted on the ABATE State Website, and members would be well-advised to make reservations early, as the resort should be fully booked. We’ll enjoy socializing as a Biker Family in a well decked-out Hospitality Room, and The Jukebox Junkie will once again spin smooth tunes and host Biker Karaoke. The ABATE Chapters are banding together to ensure that the attending Membership are well-fed all weekend long, and the Lodge also features a world-class Dining Room with a full menu. After the State Board Meeting on Saturday Morning, we’ll get together for lunch, after which the afternoon will be packed with beneficial seminars designed to prepare ABATE Members for the 2011 Legislative Campaign. The evening activities will be highlighted by State and Chapter Awards, giving out the annual Freedom Fighter Spurs, and most notably, another Lifetime Membership in ABATE of Oklahoma. There have been a number of deserving candidates submitted, so I’m really excited to find out who it’ll be! Then it’ll be time to party, with lots of food, beverages, Door Prizes, and music. This is going to be one of our most exciting and festive events in a year packed with them, so PLEASE make plans to attend. I very much look forward to seeing a large number of my Brothers and Sisters there!
Tiger's Tip O' The Month: I just saw a TV presentation dealing with the general lack of civility in American Society today, and nowhere is that more evident than on our roadways. Motorists are becoming more removed from what is going on around them, given all the electronic distractions from texting to loud stereos, and they're still not being Motorcyclist-aware when traveling. Combine that with the increasing numbers of road-rage incidents we experience, and Sharing the Road on two or three wheels becomes that much more challenging. So, increase your awareness of what's around you, and don't become consumed with anger at the negligent or inattentive--they'll always be with us, and anger itself is a distraction. We as motorcyclists also need to exercise some civility--racking excessively loud pipes, even in Quiet Zones, gives ammunition to our enemies seeking to pass oppressive Anti-Noise legislation and eliminate the Aftermarket Industry, and those who dart in and out of traffic, pull wheelies on the Interstate, etc. cause those who hate motorcycles to paint with a broad brush, and we all suffer. Everyone routinely practicing Civility will improve Road-Sharing, and help save lives and reduce injuries!
Well, it's time to wrap things up for 2010 and put this article to bed. I got a new vest outfitted at our ABATE State Party with a large ABATE State Back-Patch, along with my Chapter Patch, Lifetime Member Patch and ABATE Freedom Fighter Spur. I have to get used to wearing it after wearing my old vest for so many years, but I have excellent reason for doing so. With our expanded and increasingly enthusiastic ABATE Membership, expanded outreach to motorcyclists of all backgrounds in our state and Nationwide, and continued responsible leadership as Garry and Callie serve another term as State Coordinator and Treasurer, ABATE of Oklahoma's future into 2011 looks very bright indeed. I very much look forward to our celebrating the kickoff of that bright future with a large contingent of our members at the Oklahoma SMILE in January. Best wishes for a very Merry Christmas and joyous Holiday Season, and a Happy New Year! May God bless you richly, and may all your dreams come true as we rise together to face whatever challenges might confront us in the coming months. I'm a little older, grayer and creakier, but I continue to stand strong with you, and with ABATE of Oklahoma!
Keep It On The Black Strip Between The Trees,
Tiger Mike